CHALLENGE: Replacing the water tank

This past week has been focused on trying to replace the water tank in Chongwe. The current tank was leaking and the loss of water became more and more of a problem. One of the first hurdles was to determine the size of the tank since there were no visible indications as to how big the tank was. Since it is on top of a metal tower almost 30 feet (9 meters) up in the air there are not too many volunteers to go up there and measure it. After measuring the heights of the rings on the tank and the size of the platform we determined that it is about a 7,500 liter tank.

So we bought a new tank this past Wednesday and got it transported to Chongwe on Thursday. On Friday we bought some ropes and other tools so that on Saturday with the help of about 10 guys we would try to put the new tank in place. Many of the helpers were there when the first water tank was installed a couple of years ago and under the leadership of James and Lucky a plan of attack was put together.

The first step was to bring the old tank down in a controlled fashion since we want to use the tank again for future camps. James took it on him to climb the tower and connect the ropes.

Ropes were tied to the tank and it was brought down relatively quickly although not as controlled as we had hoped. Once the tank tipped, one of the ropes snapped on the edge of the platform and the tank made a hard landing but it is still in good usable condition with some patching.

After that we found out that we had all pieces needed for the connections to the new tank except for one, a 1 1/2 inch female-female connector. With Lucky we went to Chongwe in the hope to find one there but we ended up having to go to Lusaka to buy this one missing part, costing less than $3 but we needed it. In the meantime Humphrey was on his way to Chongwe as well with 2 connectors for the water pipers that we had cut from the old tank so that we could hook up the water lines again once the tank would be installed.

After we had fitted the new connections a plan was put together as to how to get the new tank up onto the tower and platform. Different options were discussed and then James and Lucky agreed on the approach to take. And with even the help of some of the kids from the homes the tank was lifted up but as it turned out, we got stuck just under the platform and had no means to get it up unto the platform. Not completely unexpected, gravity was working against us and made it impossible without other equipment to get the tank unto the platform.

 

 

So after weighing the options, we decided to call off our efforts for the day and look for other options for getting the tank onto the tower and platform. It is better to get some "experts" involved and make sure that the tank gets up there in one piece than to keep trying with the risk of damaging the tank.

 

Unfortunately, the homes in Chongwe have no running water in the homes for now but they have water from the poultry farm. We use a big hose and a tap so that they can get water in buckets, containers, etc. for all the chores in the homes and the gardens. There is no shortage of water, it just doesn't come out of the taps as it usually does. Early this coming week we hope to find the answer to our challenge of getting the new tank up onto the tower and platform in one piece and being able to provide the homes with running water again.

 

Anyone who has an idea on how to do this, please let me know by commenting to this post. Hiring a crane is one, but probably an expensive one. So we're looking for other options with hiring a crane as our last resort.

Two amazing weeks of Camp Hope with TeenMania

The past three weeks have been very busy but also absolutely amazing. We had 55 teenagers and their leaders from the US arrive on June 18 and 19 for a two-week stay with us. During these two weeks they were the teachers for Camp Hope for a week. This Camp Hope we had over 250 orphans attending from a wide area around Nyangwena (Chongwe). As a result, about 70 orphans would stay overnight at our village for the week.

The preparations for this week of Camp Hope included the buying and delivering of all kinds of food items, including Machteld delivering 1,500 eggs without breaking one.

 

 

This year we built with the help of Lucky, Peter and others more permanent structures for toilets and showers. This was very much appreciated by the TeenMania kids although their request is to have slightly warmer water for the showers since it often came almost straight from the well. Even with the showerhead at "Zambian height" the fact that they could take a shower was greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

The campsite for TeenMania was situated around the volleyball court. The area was cleared from shrubs, rocks and other unwanted objects and provided a welcome sight for the villagers. It is always exciting to get visitors and there are never enough. The Zambian people always welcome "muzungus" (white people) with great interest and enthusiasm. They love to get to know you and put great pride in being able to pronounce (and remember) your name correctly.



 

The teenagers from TeenMania did an excellent job at teaching and interacting with their orphans. The kids were all very involved and paid attention to what the teachers and translators were telling them about Jesus. Even the smallest ones were soaking in the teachings on Truth, Faith, Hope and Love. They didn't always have their t-shirts put on right but they got the message right!

 

 

 

After the teaching in the mornings it would be time for lunch and all groups would come back from the area surrounding our little village of orphan homes in Chongwe (Nyangwena). It was an amazing and colourful sight to see all the groups come back to the village.

 

But before lunch it was time to worship. The orphans would sing their hearts out under the inspiring leadership of some of the translators, mama Mary and Thoko. The singing and rhythm comes very natural to the Zambian kids and they love to show that. It didn't take much to get them very excited and involved in singing and making the moves.

 

 

During the lunch break TeenMania would have their meal served in a shelter made from all natural materials. Wooden post for the structure, grass to cover the roof and the sides and bark from trees to tie it all together. The posts of the structure were cut from the field that is owned by a couple that I had the privilege to visit together with Peter. The couple was 106 and 102 years old, living with one of their daughters who is 82 years old in a very simple clay hut. They donated the posts to us and were very happy to contribute to our camp. It was an experience I will never forget, meeting these people who live off what is provided by the land that surrounds them.

 

After lunch and some more worship all the groups would go back to the field and continue their teaching. It was great to see the orphans line up in groups with their coloured bandanas, Camp Hope t-shirts, crowns, etc. and follow their translators. I wonder if little kids in North America would follow the instructions from their leaders as diligently as these kids.



 

 

The last day of Camp Hope, Friday, is always a very special day. It is not only (sadly) the end of Camp Hope for the orphans but it is also the day that every orphan is blessed with a warm blanket. Some of the translators (Lubasi included) showed off their skills of carrying loads in their heads.

 

 

The orphans were very excited and appreciative of the blanket that they received. This time of year is winter in Zambia. It might not get as cold as in Canada and the US but it is still very cool in the early mornings 5-10C (or around 40-50F) and many orphans don't have something to sleep under to keep them warm. So these blankets received a very warm reception from the kids. For many it will be one of the very few personal possessions they have and it will be treasured for a long time.

As always, this year we have an amazing team of translators who helped the TeenMania missionaries in translating the teachings into the local languages (Nyanja, Soli, Bemba, etc.). Many of them have done many camps with us for many years and will be there again in August for the next Camp Hope. Without the help and support of these volunteers we would not be able to reach these orphans and teach them about Jesus Christ. We are very grateful for their time and efforts in making Camp Hope possible together with us.

We are also blessed with three great ladies who are our interns this year. Molly, Lucinda and Rebecca (l-r) are here in Zambia for two months helping with the coordination of Camp Hope and being the liaisons between the missionaries and our local staff to make things run as smooth as possible. Rebecca was a TeenMania missionary to Camp Hope two years ago and Lucinda was here last year August. It is Molly's first experience with Camp Hope but she didn't show that at all. Accompanied by Thoko and Lubasi from our homes in Lusaka they were the vibrant heart of our organization that made these past two weeks unforgettable for many of the TeenMania team members. We hope to see many of them again sometime in the future.

 

Last but not least we have to mention and thank our local staff and mamas for everything they did behind the scenes. From cutting unions, marinating chickens, shuttling food, visiting clinics with missionaries and orphans to filling water tanks, cleaning pots, pans and dishes they did it all with a great passion and without complaint. It was a busy time but also a rewarding time. To see the joy in the eyes of an orphan when served a warm meal is priceless.

 

This past week was a week of holidays in Canada, Zambia and the United States. It was Canada Day, Heroes Day, Unity Day and Independence Day and there were probably more holidays in other countries. So we have a lot to be thankful for but most of all that we have an amazing God who sent His son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into this world to redeem us so that we may live! We hope and pray that these past few weeks will have made a difference in the life of the orphans we served as well as in the life of the ones that served them so that we all may be SHINING LIGHT and SHOWING LOVE to the world around us.