Six travellers stalled in Addis Ababa.
Flight late, I guess it is a blessing in disguise for we probably would have missed it if it were on time.
We will be posting videos after we arrive home. Zambia internet not fast enough.
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| Waiting in Addis Ababa. |
This morning we went on the Chaminuka Lodge Game drive with Sr Catherine and Sister Gloria.
https://www.chaminuka.com/day-visits/
What a day! It exceeded all our expectations. Our first adventure was the boat ride on one of the lakes in the forty square kilometre property which is home to many African animals. We saw some water birds and learned about the lake.
Next was a game drive through the extensive trails throughout the property. Our first sight was a giraffe standing by the roadside lust looking at us. What majestic animals. We saw lions, a cheetah, elephants, ostriches, many kinds of antelope and gazelles, a monitor lizard, baboons, zebras, and still more. We returned from the drive, for an excellent meal on the deck of the lodge. Next was a bush walk where we encountered some monkeys and got caught in the rain. Our last activity was a wine and cheese tasting, situated in a simulated cave/wine cellar. The room had a beautiful table created from a slab of stone and they told us it was built by a person called Flintstone. Quite appropriate we thought.
This trip was a fitting end to our trip in Zambia. We thank our hostess at every location we visited. African sisters are a whole lot of fun!
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| Our team, John MacInnis, Sr Gloria, Lacey, Winnie, Colleen, John Gillies, Charlotte, Betty Jane, Sr Catherine |
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| Tour boat for the lake |
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| We had to walk the plank to get to the boat |
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| Our Chaninuka wagon |
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| The best welcome to the park |
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| Royalty |
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| Beautiful beast |
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| A great way to see the animals |
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| One of the many species of gazelles |
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| Zebras |
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| Ladie's room |
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| Gent's room |
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| Excellent meal and wonderful company. |
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| Excellent |
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| We were picked up after getting a bit wet. |
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| Jolly sisters Catherine and Gloria. |
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| Wine and cheese tasting on a table built by Mr Flintstone...honest! |
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| Beautiful bird by our vehicle. |
This morning we left Samfya after breakfast to catch our flight to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Geoffrey, Sister Marjory and Sr Agnes accompanied us to the airport. We just made it in the airport when the skies opened and we had torrential rain and much thunder, this delayed our flight for an hour. We said good bye to our dear friends hoping we will see them again. Their hospitality was the very best and we are proud to call them friends.
We stopped over in Ndola and continued on to Lusaka where we were met by Sister Catherine and Lacky. Will stay with the Servant Sisters of Mary Immaculate in Kasisi for two nights. It was a pleasure to see than again. We took a walk through the gardens and grounds which we think resemble the Garden of Eden. So many crops growing in such a wonderful atmosphere.
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| Boarding the plane to Lusaka |
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| Saying farewell to our good friends. Charlotte, Betty Jane, John G, Sister Marjory, Geoffrey, Sr Agnes, John MacInnis, Winnie, Colleen |
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| More good byes on the tarmac. |
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| Tree in the Kassi garden |
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| Kasisi garden tree |
This morning the electricity was still off but luckily there was still running water. There was a crowd for breakfast with the parish priest, brothers and more sisters who were in town for a meeting. Despite the power outage they served a great breakfast. We bid farewell to our wonderful hosts the Sisters of the Child Jesus. They took care of us for almost five weeks and did it with a lot of humour and laughs. They are exceptional people and are doing such an excellent job caring for the blind, students with albinism and the visually impaired. They love each student and it shows in the conduct of the children.
We left for Mansa on the Chalice bus, accompanied by Sister Agnes and Sister Marjory, with Geoffrey driving. As usual he dodged all the potholes, goats, chickens and people and brought us to Bishop Patrick Chisanga’s residence at noon. We met with him and he again expressed his heart felt gratitude for the positive changes made at Kawambwa and Mporokoso. Their appreciation of Inverness County Cares’s work is a great incentive for us to continue to support their cause.
We had takeout lunch from “The Hungry Lion”, which is almost the same as Kentucky Fried Chicken in Canada. We drove to Samfya Beach on Lake Bangweulu and spent time there and took a drive to see more of the beach along the lake. Our accommodations are on Lake Bangweulu where we had a nice supper.
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| At Lake Bangweulu - Winnnie, Sr Agnes, John G. Charlotte, Betty Jane, Geoffrey, John MI, Sr Marjory, Colleen |
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| It s amazing the loads these ladies can carry on their heads. |
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| Goats seem to like resting on the pavement. |
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| Geoffrey, John G, Betty Jane, Bishop Patrick, Charlotte, Sr Marjory, Winnie, Sr Agnes, Colleen, John MacInnis |
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| Hungry Lion Chicken |
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| Most of the houses have thatched roofs |
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| Sr Agnes and Betty Jane. |
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| Fishing on the lake |
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| Lake Bangweulu |
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| Supper by the lake |
Mass this morning was lovely with the harmonies of the students’ choir. We visited the dining hall and were amazed by the amount the students can eat. Plates piled high with nshima (a thick maize porridge which resembles cream of wheat), vegetables and chicken. This dining hall was refurbished by ICC a few years ago.
In the afternoon, there was loud thunder and strong winds which knocked over a tall tree on the power lines to St Mary’s. We went to visit Sr Maria and Sr Charity at the Good Shepherd Orphanage. They provide a loving environment for the children living there.
Tomorrow, we drive to Mansa where we will meet with Bishop Patrick Chisanga and the following day we fly to Lusaka.
At our last Inverness County Cares (ICC) meeting, before our departure, a motion was passed giving our group in Zambia, permission to use our discretion in the use of available funds where they are most needed. Since we arrived on the ground at both schools, we are able to see the urgent needs more clearly.
What was most evident to us on our arrival and pointed out by school administrators, was the need to replace 140 cracked or broken window panes and an electrical system which needed an update. In particular the replacement of sockets and light bulbs at St Mary’s was a priority. In addition, the water system at both schools was in dire need of a major overall. We found broken toilets and sinks; and showers without running water.
When the water was connected to the boy’s dorm at St Mary’s, it became evident that the sewer line was plugged and had cracked and broken pipes located behind the boys’ dorms and was pluged all the way to disposal field. Today we bought ninety meters of four-inch sewer pipes, which will run to the disposal field, with work beginning tomorrow. This will be dug buy hand, down two feet and should eliminate the problem. It will take about 3-4 days to complete.
We have been able to improve these situations with the assistance of capable local trades people, but more financial help is needed to complete this situation. One of the major needs at Kawambwa is a bore hole well, which would provide an ample supply of water, which in turn would increase the water pressure to all buildings.
The Sisters home and convent at St Odilia, in Mporokoso does not have running water. They use rain barrels to supply their needs and boil it for human consumption.
The refundable bottle and can collection sites in Mabou and Port Hood contribute a significant amount to our revenue. The proceeds for eleven months of bottles and cans go toward the needs at the Zambian schools. The month of November proceeds go to our local food banks.
As for our own personal expenses for this trip, ICC members don't accept any donations to cover our personal costs, but we do gladly always accept any personal or corporate donations to Inverness County Cares. These donations, because of CRA regulations, are passed on to Chalice. Chalice issues tax receipts and sends it on to the Kawambwa and Mporokoso sites after an application process and follows up with yearly audits.
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| Beginning of mass |
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| Children's mass |
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| Parishioners. |
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| Betty Jane styling with her new gift dress. |
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| Lovely ladies |
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| More lovely ladies and Paul with a great shirt |
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| Geoffrey is the man who helps us go places and provides very useful information on local goods. |
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| John MI, JOhn G and Emanuel our great Plumber. |
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| Lunch in the boys' dining hall. |
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| Lunch in the girls' dining hall. |
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| She is hungry from all her dancing yesterday. |
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| Hungry young man |
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| Kitchen Staff |
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| That is a good portion of nshima. |
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| Tree across the power lines. |
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| John MI, Sr Maria and Betty Jane with the children at orphanage. |
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| At orphanage |
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| Saying good bye |
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| Last supper with the 12. |
Ken Bacon picks the wining ticket Winnie holds Eva MacInnis' winning ticket. Eva is from Port Hood. Winnie Rankin presenting the quilt...
