Home based Care and other stories from Zambia

Today we went with the Home Based Care teams for the first time, we will be fgoing out with them twice a eek. They go and visit the sick in the communiyt, oraying and encouraging them with scripture, as well as helping them practically in any way they can.

We were in pairs. We went to a house where Elizabeth lived, a woman in her 70's. She sat on a mat in the front garden, sitting in her own urine, unable to get to the bathroom, flys all around her, and on the piece of bread which was her meal for the day. Her son was her carer but he was also taking care of his children while his wife was away. Elizabeth was not able to speak much, but we prayed with her. Then the carers saud we were going to bathe her. We helped her up and walked her to the back of the house where there was an outhouse, and a fire heating some water. We helped her undress and then helped her to bathe, and wahed here soiled clothes. We redressed her and took her back to her mat. She looked a million times better just with fresh clothes. She semed brighter and more alert, but it broke my heart.

We also visited a mother and her son we are sick with HIV/AIDS, she lost her husband last year and now takes care of her sons aged 4 and 10. The elder boy is not sick, and all the time we were visitin gwith them i just kept looking at his beautiful smiling face, he had so much joy. At the back of my mind i kepy wondering what his life would look like in a few months or a few years, and if his smile would fade?

We then visited Nicolas, he had been orphaned from AIDS and now lives with his uncle, he looks about 8 but told us he is 16 years old. He has sores all over his body and lookd weak and tired. He asked for prayer for healing. I flet so small. As i prayed i asked God to give me the faith to pray for this beautiful and frightened young man to be healed, for me to believe the words i was praying. Please pray for him also. I am asking for a miracle for Nicolas.

Life with the team continues to be fun. The farm gives us plenty of work and we all fall into bed about 9pm!! We do get up at 6 though so i guess it all even out. Last night we were kept awake by the hugest rainstorm. Lighteneing filled our little room, anf thunder rocked mangos out of the tree!

The night before we were kept awake by the pigs that live justa few meters from us. They are so noisy, and like to be the noisiest at about 5am!

Our first African church service last week was amazing and everything i could have imagined church to be and much more. During worship i broke down, and cried the worship was just so powerful. People singing and dancing, falling on their faces weeping and just shouting and screaming!! I LOVED it and can't wait to go back this week.

We are all keeping well and noone has got sick so far. On of the girls on the team had to take it easy one day because she had a mild case of heat stroke, but after drinking more water she was fine, and i think we all took that as a reminder for us to be taking water breaks!!

We also visited orphan schools and have loved dancing for them, doing own clown and puppet routines as well as teaching them fun songs and dances!! We will be doing lots more of this too!!

This is just the tip of the iceberg but time is limited and internet slow. I have to go and meet the team at the store to grocery shop!!