On the Way to Zambia

After a rather frustrating 5 weeks being stationary in Durban.....We experienced the most violent weather at night, we had 3 massive storms come over with fork lightening and thunder claps all around, we all felt a little vulnerable in the temporary shed they have placed there, but very exhilirating !!!! Especially when the lightening hits the ground about 10 yards away!!! I just love it there, James and I both said we could live there, if it wasn't so far from home and all of you.... and it helped us make a decision that we have been rather putting off for some time,

in the hope that James' back injury will improve enough to allow him to work in Zambia. After much thought, talk and careful consideration, we have decided that James will come home (on monday) and I will move onto Zambia without him, and live up to our committment to those who are expecting us in Zambia. I was fine with this decision, but woke up with a panic of what am I doing? Yes, I am nervous about going on my own, and I will miss James muchly, but I am also very excited to be able to go and offer my help where needed, and set up some sustainability projects with the money we raised....I will see what the people want though, as its down to them and not me at all. No way am I going in there, saying the West knows Best. Cause that just ain't always true!!!

Its only for 6 weeks, and that will go so quick.....I will be very busy......and it will be important for me to go, and important for those in Zambia to have some help. So, with a deep breath, and a smile, I go on my way to beyond.......Zambia here I come......(and at the expense of the travel insurance company, who are paying for me to get there as I postponed my trip to help James)....wow...travel insurance.com...that is who you want...they have been soooo helpful and good, hard to believe that an insurance company like that existed, but they do, hurrah!!!!

Anyway, I sign off now, as I need to go get my lift...Durban is so car orientated....have to rely on lift....
Please, it would be great to hear from you, when I am in Zambia. Without James there with me, I gonna need all the support I can get, so emails, jokes, pictures, whatever contact from you would really be wonderful.....

Love you all very much. See you in May....
Clare
xxxxxx

Comments

[Peter]

I shall be ever interested to hear about your work in Zambia, and to correspond if it helps. If I can do anything practical to help I will do my best. Our son (Will, his Zambian name is Mwape) was at Tithandizane briefly last year, hoping to meet up with the late Linda. He only stayed a short while, finding it very hard to share sleeping accommodation with live rats. Apparantly, Linda had a very extreme take on ahimsa. However, he loved Tithandizane and developed very warm feelings for his temporary host's family (John Zulu and his wife and childen). He felt very guilty about his decision to leave, and hopes to return to Chipata quite soon, perhaps to establish a small business. He made friends with a young woman police officer, and her family, while there.

I've not visited Chipata, although I lived and worked in Zambia for several years since 1970, and my wife Berlina Loti is an ethnic Zambian (from Luapula Province). During our work there I travelled very widely to rural areas. Our last extended stay in Zambia was in 1993/4, when we established a clinic there.