Satan

Did I get your attention with the title?

I think that I have previously written about my impressions of Zambian politics. One of the basic problems is that there is a lack of quality leadership among the ranks of the politicians. While the issues are very complex, one can not deny that this basic facet of a functioning society is missing. Most problems, whether they relate to the issue of voting patterns or to the issue of corruption, can be traced back to a lack of vision and leadership from all Zambians. While the Zambian culture does not necessarily promote innovation and optimism, the Zambians leaders must be counterculture in setting a proper standard for behavior and vision.

This has not been the case lately in Zambia. Over the past two weeks, the major headline in the news has been the fact that President Banda has been calling the leader of the opposition party Satan because Banda disagrees with the policies of this man. The man’s name is Sata by the way; therefore, that is how Banda sort of gets away with his name calling. Can you imagine if Obama came out and called Huckaby, Palin, or McCain Satan? Though different politicians or parties may think these things in America we at least hold ourselves somewhat accountable.

The saddest thing is not that Banda keeps calling Sata Satan, but that the Zambian people just accept that this is the way of life. There are definitely exceptions, but the majority just accept that things will never change.

“Politicians will always insult each other and get nothing accomplished. We will always be poor.”

This attitude and coexisting mentality quite possibly are the most difficult things about working here. At least when I worked in the inner city of DC, there was still some prospect of hope and change found among the people.

I was teaching a lesson on investment to a group of teachers. One of the parts of the lesson focussed on using role models in the classroom. It was so hard for the teachers to think of role models because no one has come up from the slums. There are no rags to riches stories except in the case of politicians who did it through dishonest gains. We can’t accept that this is the way that it is going to be. Someone will one day rise up from Mapalo to a position in society, and I will rejoice that day like never before. Then we will have a proper example that demonstrates that life can be different. We must hold out hope for this day because if we don’t we will be defeated.

Termites :(

Try this for a food that many Zambians like to eat: TERMITES. Supposedly, a specific type of termite comes out during the rainy season, and they are a delicacy. It is amazing the things people consider delicacy. In some places you have snails (escargo) and squid (calimari), but in Zambia we have caterpillars and termites. Whatever happened to a good piece of chocolate cake? Can't we consider that a delicacy because I have not seen one of those in a very long time? Plus, it tastes a lot better than termites and caterpillars. I have eaten caterpillars, but I will not be seeking out the termites. I just think that if a little bug can destroy a wood house then it can probably destroy me if I put it in my body. Call me crazy, but that is just my thought process.

In other news my mother wants a picture of me on my blog. Not much has changed except the fact that I keep my hair short, and I also keep a goatee. Unfortunately, my blog will not allow me to upload pictures at this moment. When it does I will be sure to upload one. Peace!

Customer Service Please!!

Well we are approaching the third week of my car not being fixed. (For those who have not read past blog posts, another man hit my car from behind a while ago.) The insurance company is still holding things up. Uuuugggghhh. It is really starting to get on my nerves that whenever I go over bumps my trunk opens and closes. The truck is tied with rope, but it still opens. It may be Christmas before my car is fixed.

On another note, I tried to open a basic banking account today. Little did I know that it would be such a trouble. There is seriously a checklist of ten things which you have to do before you can open an account. All I want is a safe place to put my Zambian money. It is not like I am trying to buy out Walmart.

I have gotten used to the adage in the USA that "the customer is your first priority." That is not the case in Zambia. There is a zero return policy at most stores and you better be able to jump through fifty hoops and frustrations if you are going to accomplish anything. It always makes life interesting because there are no guarantees.

In teaching news this week was a very good week. I saw teachers trying to implement differentiated instruction in their classrooms (that means that they are trying to teach to all of the student's skill levels instead of just teaching to the middle.) I also had the opportunity to meet one on one with most of my teachers. They were all very appreciative of the program and excited to tell me how they were going to change their teaching practices. One of my star teachers, Sam, told me this week not to get frustrated even if there was no implementation. He told me that it takes them time to change. It is hard to get frustrated when someone as nice as Sam asks you to be patient.

Answers- You Decide :)

I received an email the other day from a guy in Seattle that I met during my first week in Zambia. His home church partners with a church and their school here. We presented the idea of teacher training to them, and they were very excited about the opportunity; therefore, their school, Morning Glow, become one of the schools that we are training. Little did we know, but their church's main concern with the school and their partnership was a lack of trained teachers. They had specifically just prayed for that and become discouraged over that situation when I show up out of the blue. They had never had any partnership with the Jubilee Centre before our arrival.

I was supposed to give a talk yesterday to a Women's Mission Union in Thomaston, GA yesterday over Skype. The only problem is that during the rainy season our internet is terrible. An hour before the scheduled session the internet goes out. I do the only thing that I know how to do in those situations, I pray, and I know the ladies were doing the same. One minute before we are supposed to start the internet comes on and is perfect for an hour. The internet connection is not dropped for the whole time which is a miracle in itself. Usually you talk for ten minutes, get disconnected, and then try to pick back up where you left off.

Two examples. If you are not a Christian, maybe you just think these are coincidences and don't really matter. Unfortunately, I know some Christians who would probably have the same response. I don't claim to know exactly how prayer works, but I know that Christians are commanded to pray. Some may be saying, "David would you still be saying that if those prayers had not been answers?" My answer is yes because I have many prayers that have never been answered. I believe in the power of prayer, but I also believe in the sovereignty of God and I know those two concepts can fit together.

What I do know for certain is this? Many Christians don't even have a chance to debate these occurrences because these occurrences are not happening in their lives. These occurrences are not happening because most American Christians are too safe. I am not saying you have to move to Africa to be a real Christian, but Christians need to get serious about setting ministry goals that are unattainable. Comfort and safety are ruining American Christianity. If you think that setting up a teacher training program in poverty stricken areas of Zambia is attainable, you need to go back and reread this blog. Only if we are willing to take the risk and set unsafe ministry goals will Christians need the power of the Holy Spirit. Many church ministries are very safe and don't require the Holy Spirit; therefore, we don't see occurrences like this in our midst. Just something to think about. :)

Water, Water, and More Water

Another post concerning the rainy season:

You have not experienced Africa until you experience it during the rainy season. Everything changes, the trees bloom and the grass grows. It is a beautiful place, but what you have to realize is that the drainage systems are terrible/ nonexistent. When it rains, it pours around here; therefore, you have a lot of places that have at least two feet of standing water. I was in Mapalo today when the rains started. Mapalo is purely dirt roads with no drainage system. Many times on my ride back I thought that I would be stuck even though I was in a 4x4 truck. I seriously felt like that guy in Jurassic Park when he is driving through the jungle in the middle of the rainstorm. Only difference was that I did not get stuck, and I did not have spitting dinosaurs about to eat me.

I thought that I was safe when I reached the pavement at the edge of town until I came to the lowest portion of the Ndola where all the water flowed toward. In front of me was two- three feet of water for 150 yards. I said that there was no way I was going through that mess until I saw small cars going through it and making it safely across. That prompted me and my 4x4 truck to venture on the journey. It was scary. Your tires are always slipping and waves are constantly bashing your car because you have to go through a tunnel. I would not recommend the venture, but I finally made it safely. Someone must improve the design of this city because this is ridiculous. The problem is that everybody just accepts that this is the way of life. Acceptance of these facts is a tough mindset to challenge because people have never seen change or growth.

One thing that I have been enjoying about the rainy season is the thunder. Growing up in rural Georgia, I loved the summer when the thunderstorms would roll in over the piedmont. I now am able to experience the thunder and lightening again here. I truly consider it a joy to be awaken at night by the clashing of thunder. It reminds me of home.

Nothing New

Nothing much to report from Ndola. Life has finally developed somewhat of a routine, and that in itself is a weird feeling. Today I am just writing curriculum for our teacher training sessions. Tomorrow is my birthday which is weird in itself. My mother on Wednesday actually had to remind me that it was my birthday this Saturday. I had totally lost track of time. I am kind of sad because back in the day it was different. When I was young, I started thinking about my birthday in October and could not sleep the night of November the 6th. How I wish I still had that kind of excitement over the small things in life like birthdays. Now it is just another year that has passed by. Who knows what this 25 year of my life will bring? I did not think that the 24th year of my life would bring me to Zambia. Till next time... peace!

Christmas in November???

Ok... I know that you experience this in the states, but I never expected it here. I walked into the grocery store on November the 3rd (Monday), and Christmas music was playing over the loud speakers. The place was also decked out in decorations. I was appalled! Now I love the holidays like it is nobody's business, but this is ridiculous. Of all the things American can bring to Zambia, we had to bring the fact that we start celebrating "Christmas" at the beginning of November. I put quotations around Christmas because all we are celebrating with this ritual is our ridiculous consumerism. I am not casting stones at all. I am in the same boat, but I still think our consumeristic boat is going to sink one day.

There is nothing that I can do about it though; therefore, I started singing along with the music. It is 90 degrees F outside, but I am singing Christmas songs in the grocery store. I already stick out like a sour thumb, but add to the fact that I now sing in the grocery store, I may get kicked out of this country for being a lunatic.