Day 8: 600 Backpacks for School Children

It's bitter sweet to think that today is the last full day we will be seeing the beautiful, smiling faces of the people of Zambia. Our final visit was to a primary school where we delivered 600 backpack, packed and donated by Highland's Church in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Initially we were brought into one of the classrooms to hear from the student WASH Club, where students discussed how they advocate for the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene. They welcomed us with two songs. The second song was catchy and stuck in our heads: "If your happy and you know it, wash your hands! Washie Washie!" and they would simulate a hand washing gesture. 

The students of the WASH Club expressed how they maintain proper sanitation and hygiene on school grounds, coordinating bathroom upkeep and sanitation around the school well. Many of them expressed that they take these practices back home to their families, encouraging their parents and siblings to wash their hands. Some students even built their own tippy-tap hand washing station for their family. 

Following our welcome, we were escorted around the school grounds by students and teachers, shown the brand new latrines built by World Vision, and several under construction to be completed this year. The students demonstrated the tippy-tap, showing how it was built and allowing Amanda to use it. We observed their bore hole well, very similar to those we had seen during the village dedications.

Finally, we made our way to the open field in front of the school. 30 large cardboard boxes, stuffed to the brim with various colored backpacks were arranged on the field. The children lined up by their grade, not entirely sure what to expect of their new visitors. Debbie explained to them that we were distributing backpacks to all. As she pulled out and displayed the contents of the backpack -- a toothbrush, soap, washcloth, pencils, paper, a letter from someone from the States just for them -- with each item the children cheered with excitement!

Each of us were assigned a grade to distribute packs. As each student stepped up for his or her new backpack, we placed it on them, as if dressing a nobleman or woman with a magical cloak. As we placed a backpack on each child, their face lit up with pride and sheer joy! One would think we had adorned them with a jet pack, as their expression reflected a new found ability to take flight!

And it was for them, as so many of these children do not have their own possessions, let alone necessary school supplies. This backpack and its contents are more than a tool or accessory. These backpacks are an opportunity. They are a message that someone out there is rooting for them and their successful futures, that we believe in them. 

The joy was palpable as each student walked away with their new backpacks. As with so many things that happened during our journey, again, it was difficult to tell who was receiving the ultimate gift, the people we were there to meet, or ourselves. 

Day 7: Simple Gifts

Aaron Copeland's "Simple Gifts" begins with a light ascendance and the  movement swells until finally a grand chorus is reached in marching fortissimo. As the cadence marches with full symphony in unison it elicits a powerful emotional response.

Two wells were dedicated today, one in Chiyalusha and the other in Kangombe. As the final well dedication came to a close we observed a poignant display of simple gifts. 

Villagers from Kangombe formed a line outside the well enclosure and began singing and dancing in unison. Their line wound its way from one side of the well to the other until it reached the entrance where Lori Ogren, who dedicated the well on behalf of her mother Geraldine and sister Diane, was standing. One by one they approached her, each expressing gratitude by presenting a plow, an axe, a carved stool, a live chicken, a bag of sweet potatoes. What they had to give, they gave. And their joy was palpable. 

Many of us who watched were moved by their sacrificial gifts. So often we give out of our abundance, but these families had little material abundance and they still gave. Generosity seems to be the cornerstone of this culture.

Beth Moore too experienced this generosity as the well she dedicated in Chiyalusha was met with a full showing of villagers singing and dancing adorned with banana leaves. Beth provided the well along with her sister Lynn in honor and memory of Wesley and Betty Young. The group enjoyed a moment of levity as the chicken gifted to Beth nestled close to her shoulder and fell asleep. 

The theme of generosity continued as we visited a women's savings group. As we sat in a circle on the ground the women shared how their collective savings have allowed them to grant loans with low interest in order to start businesses and pay for community needs. They are completely transforming their communities by creating a safety net woven together by savings and accountability. 

Life here teems with generosity-every movement, every word giving thanks. The chorus of Copeland's "Simple Gifts" could have danced over every moment of this day. The stories shared, songs sung, dances taught, babies held and hands grasped-these are our treasures-our simple gifts. 

Day 7 Reflection from Lori- Heart Strings

As I travel this morning to Lusaka's airport, it is hard to put into words all the joy, emotions and love that's been shared during our time here. 

Davison J. Phiri, our driver and Senior transport coordinator of ZWASH/SAR/PMU has told us how his home was built on a "miracle property." As his story unfolded, it was in his prayers that he would give some of this back to God and His work, if he was given the chance to purchase it. And true to his word, "DJ" and his wife Dorothy founded and run Mercy Minitries International & Chifundo Mission School on this property. Hiring amazing people from the communities to which they serve, is the backbone of World Vision's success. "DJ" is just one of many wonderful people who work there. 

Many heartfelt events, stories of success, visions of a better tomorrow have been celebrated. This story, is a love story, about a communal people lifting each other up, of sharing in the joy of the process and in each of us in our own way having our hearts filled with their kindness, warmth, appreciation and joy. 

The celebration that is near and dear to my heart is the dedication of the well I sponsored at Kangombe Village. 

Though I have many strong men in my life and family, because the impact of clean water so greatly effects the lives of women and children, I decided to dedicate my well in honor of my mother, Geraldine Marie Ogren (Renier) and sister, Diane Marie Ogren. 

Arriving in Kangombe Village we were met with songs and dances of welcome, praise and joy. Water board committee members were introduced. Two women shared their stories of what life was like before the bore hole well was in place. They talked of the dangers of fetching water from the stream, holding unbathed children back from school because of lack of water, and a story of diaherra throughout the village and a child dying during transport to a clinic. I couldn't imagine the pain of this caused the family and the village. 

I couldn't help but reflect on my mother and father, and what they must have felt and gone through when they went from Universities and clinics trying to find a cure for my sister Diane. She died of congenital heart complications at 3 months old in 1960. Her heart was in need of repairs that far out weighed the medical knowledge at that time. 

From our gathering place beneath the baobab tree, we all marched together in joyous song to the well site. Baskets of wild flowers were placed at the four corners of the well. A lace veil covered the pump and plaque that had our names on it. It was beautiful! The headsman of the village expressed the importance and his appreciation for the gift of clean water. 

My feelings of gratitude to Betsy King and Debbie Quesada (the founders of Golf Fore Africa) and to World Vision and Kathryn Compton, and all their workers from the community was foremost in my heart. Having this opportunity to give back and be present there this day was possible because of the great work they do. 

To the women of this community I expressed how my mother is like them, finding joy in each day no matter what challenges come her way as she bravely struggles with advanced Parkinson's. And though my sister Diane's heart was not completely formed when she came into this world, I knew her heart was perfect in heaven. I pictured her in heaven playing together with all the other children who had passed on. 

As the women sang songs of thanksgiving in a procession giving gifts from the community, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. It was then that I knew my prayers had been answered, I have always prayed for a sister and today I had many. 

In giving this gift of a well and pump, I felt complete. My soul was full. Water brings life, and a pump pumps water, and every heart pumps life giving blood. We are all connected in so many ways. We are all connected by "heart strings". 

 In reading this may the warm people of the Kangombe village, their appreciation and joy reach right inside your soul. The Zambian people, their songs, their beauty, their joy in thanksgiving, their "richness and love of life" is something I will always cherish.

Day 6 Reflection from Carol- Mutual Gifts

I had long wanted to spend time in Africa to do my small part in helping the less fortunate. When I heard that one of my golf heroes - Betsy King - and her organization Golf Fore Africa were on an incredible mission to bring clean water to remote villages in Zambia, the stars were aligned. So I headed to Zambia on a goodwill mission to dedicate a water well and spend time with people in these communities. What I did not expect is that the wonderful people of Zambia would return the generosity threefold.

It is impossible to convey in any meaningful way the level of poverty in the remote villages we visited.  Imagine walking almost a mile round-trip multiple times a day to gather polluted water from a ditch so that you can bathe and feed your family, hoping to avoid diarrhea and infant death. Also consider housing a family of eight in a single room with a detached makeshift cooking area and latrine, all set on a dirt floor without access to electricity.  This is the reality for millions of people in Zambia. So, the impact of contributing a water well to people in Kapuka village took on a far greater meaning once I visited the community. 

The dedication of the water well opened yet another door for me into the souls of the Zambian people. The villagers greeted us dressed in vibrant colors singing and dancing their hearts out.  Their spirit and warmth were only surpassed by their overwhelming appreciation for the water well they were given - a borehole with a manual pump for running water, often situated as far as fifteen minutes from their homes. As you talked to the people in the village, you came away believing that they would persevere through any adversity to make things better for their children and communities. 

Of course, the much needed work of bringing clean water to remote communities could not be done without the broad footprint and lasting trust established by World Vision.  It is not a relationship based on handouts but exacts accountability and integrity.  In real terms, before a water well is drilled, all villages in the community must incorporate hygiene and sustainability into their day-to-day living.  As teachers and mentors, the good people of World Vision are heroes in these communities. 

No doubt, the people in Kapuka village will benefit greatly from now having access to clean water.  But I gained so much more from spending time with them.  I was reminded of the power of perseverance, the true value of appreciation and the spirit of life in its purest form.  A water well was a small price to pay! 

Carol Ann Petren

Day 6: Untapped potential

Africa is a continent rich in potential. The world has long coveted Africa’s natural resources buried deep in its red soil. Today we witnessed the power of unearthing the potential of one of life’s most needed resources—water.

Zambia’s Minister of Gender Professor Luo graciously sat down to breakfast with us where she explained what access to clean water and other health measures means for women and girls in her country. She told us about the complexity of changing entrenched cultural beliefs about roles. For instance, women and girls are the primary carriers of water in Zambia. Changing that standard will take at least one generation.

We would see first-hand how water is a women’s issue as we made our way to Kapuka Village, the site of our first well dedication. Women dressed in bright blues, oranges and yellows surrounded us, singing and dancing. They led us to the old water reservoir which was little more than a four foot deep hole filled with stagnant water and larvae. Men in the village waxed poetic about the importance of clean water as the women hung to the back. When it was time to demonstrate how the water used to be collected, the roles immediately reversed, with women swinging into action and men blending into the background.

The women spoke, almost professorially, of the disease that dirty water carried—diarrhea, guinea worm, parasites.

Families then led us to their homes giving us a glimpse of the terrain they covered walking to fetch water as many as ten times a day. Norah and Felix proudly displayed the five sanitation and hygiene points they were required to install before World Vision drilled a borehole for clean water.

We toured the latrine, the tippy tap hand washing station, the rubbish pit, the enclosed shower and the elevated dish drying rack—the combination of which is necessary to keeping families healthy. Their home was immaculate leaving many of us to comment that we were taking notes!

The day would unfold with two very special dedications of new wells. The well in Kapuka, a gift from Robin McInnis and her husband Jim, shared with her daughters Amanda and Jessica.

The well in Chisengo, a generous offering from Carol Petren, her husband Floyd, her sister Linda and husband Chris. One couldn’t help but notice the outpouring of gratitude from the women in both villages. It was their lives that would be most affected as the new water source meant less time spent fetching water and assurance that the water was safe for their families. 

Water flowed from the new spigots like glistening diamonds exposed to the sun. We looked on as the villagers cupped their hands and clapped in the traditional manner of showing gratitude. As we were joyfully enveloped by the community, we saw the people and especially the women and girls for what they truly have—the greatest untapped potential on this continent.

Day 5: Kapululwe and Sponsor Children

Rarely are those that sponsor a child through World Vision, living across the world, fortunate enough to ever get to meet them. In spite of distance and communication barriers, Carol, Debbie, Betsy, Beth, Ashley, Jessica and Lori had the opportunity to meet their sponsor children today, who, only weeks ago, seemed worlds away. What was at one time just a photograph of a precious face that came in the mail, became a hug, a smile, a giggle, a true gift, and a reality face-to-face. These are some of the photos and words from each sponsor about their experiences meeting their sponsor child for the first time:

Ashley meeting Ruth

"My visit with Ruth was incredible. We picked her up from school and she at first was very shy as she doesn't speak a lot of English. But her face... oh that sweet face... was so warm, welcoming and her eyes were alive. I immediately knew she was meant for me. After a few minutes at her home we pulled out the soccer ball and that's where we bonded. Her little cousins joined and it was Ruth and me against the boys. We made a great team; giving each other high fives and always finding the open pass to each other. It was priceless. When we sat down after soccer I noticed she sat a little closer to me. She even leaned up against me in the most comfortable way. We gave the bike to Ruth which put the biggest smile on her face. I couldn't have asked for a better experience and I feel so privileged to be a part of her beautiful and bright future!"

Beth meeting Grace

See Beth's incredible reflection with photos in the previous two posts.

Betsy meeting Anford

"Today I had the wonderful experience of meeting my sponsored child. Anford is almost three years old. When I arrived at his home he was like most children his age when meeting a stranger somewhat scared. He began crying and sought the comfort of his mother. I met Anford's mom, Elizabeth and his two older brothers, Nelson and Dexter. As we sat and talked we began to connect, particularly when we opened a few toys I had brought for Anford. His favorite gift was a soccer ball which we played with outside along with his brothers.  The simple act of hitting a soccer ball together proved to be the activity that crossed all cultural differences. 

I will be praying for Anford and his family. May God bless them, and keep them safe." 

Carol meeting Belita

"Over the years, as my parents sponsored many children through World Vision, I often wondered if they even existed.  I can now tell you that these children are not only real but that we can truly make a difference in their lives and communities.  Today, I visited my sponsored child, Belita, and her family in a small village in Kapululwe, Zambia.  Upon arriving, I was taken aback by the extreme poverty that most of us cannot imagine - no running water, dirt floors and a single room housing a family of nine.  But I immediately felt their warmth, vibrancy and richness in spirit,   I left knowing that Belita and I would help one another experience the fullness of life."

Debbie and Amanda meeting Anna and Caro

"Today I was reminded why I believe in World Vision and the work we are doing to support children in Africa. Amanda and I had the chance to visit two sponsored children today in the Kapululwe ADP. 

The first visit was to see Anna and her family. Anna is a quiet girl with hardworking parents that are rural farmers. Irene, Anna's mom, is a strong, feisty woman that was excited to show us her home and maize crop. We sat together on a mat under a tree talking about our families and getting to know each other. It was very apparent that they love Anna and her four siblings. They were full of complete joy and gratitude for our visit. 

Our next visit was to meet Caro, a 4-year-old girl that had just joined child sponsorship but was not yet sponsored, living with relatives away from her mother. The sadness of her eyes troubled me. Amanda tried very hard to make her smile and laugh, reading her stories and talking like Sesame Street characters. No emotion--she just sat rubbing the fur on the brown bear we brought her with her head down. Her aunt, loud and intense, continually pressured her to say thank you in an aggressive manner. Caro was left with family who did not seem to recognize her need for quiet love, maybe someone to listen.

We left feeling disturbed that Caro seemed so alone and so vulnerable. Tears welled in my eyes as I recognized, that more than anyone, this little girl needs support, someone to say I care about you and believe in you. That was when Amanda decided to become her sponsor, so that she will be given a better chance and feel like someone supports her and wants her to thrive."

Jessica meeting Gertrude

"I have always dreamed of meeting my sponsor children. My husband and I have sponsored children through World Vision for the past 15 years and today was my first time meeting one of them in person. I was so excited to meet little 4-year-old Gertrude here in Zambia but I was warned by World Vision that she can be especially shy and a bit difficult to connect with. I was disappointed to hear this but appreciative of the warning so I could lower my expectations and not take the situation personally.  I was hopeful that I could break through to her as I also have a 4-year-old at home who can be shy and willful when he wants to be! Perhaps that's exactly why God put Gertrude and I together. Although she had moments of challenging behavior we truly bonded and had a wonderful visit. We played with dolls, balls and colored together. I knew we had made a special connection when she touched my face and kissed my cheeks several times. The highlight of the visit was going with her to see the well that World Vision built in her village. Her family now has access to clean water...this is life changing for them and especially so for Gertrude and the other girls in her village. In many African cultures, the girls are tasked with fetching the water each day for their family. This often means walking long distances to collect water, water that is often dirty and disease-infested. This also means many girls miss going to school and therefore have their futures stifled. To see the joy on Gertrude's face as she ably pumped the clean well water and to know that she will now be able to get an education was truly a heartwarming sight!"

Lori meeting Dana

"Today was a special day. I was blessed to be able to visit my sponsor child Dana Shiyala, a shy little three-year-old. She lives with her parents and two sisters in a brick and mud home with a thatched roof. Dana was timid when I met her, but after talking to her and her mother and father through the world vision interpreter Irene, Dana relaxed and became a typical three year old girl.  I sang Dana a lullaby that my mother would sing to my brothers and me before going to bed. She enjoyed it and we shared a very special moment. 

Gifts were brought into the room and Dana's favorites were a soccer ball and a stuffed animal. We were also blessed to deliver a special gift to the family from World Vision: a mosquito net and durable bike, suitable for the rough terrain. This bike will greatly improve their standard of living enabling them to spend less time going to market and allowing them to transport sick family members to the hospital. The family was so excited. I will never forget this day."

Beth's Photos with Grace Continued