Another Amazing Day at Mutala

We divided our efforts on Wednesday, and spent time focused on two areas, church construction and education.  David and Mary Beth treated boards with creosote so the men could build rafters for the church building.  Sherry and I continued to work with teachers.  I asked everyone to tell me a story they wanted me to share, so I will try to retell those and illustrate with pictures.

David thoroughly enjoyed the labor of the day.  He managed to ruin his border-war t-shirt by wiping his stained hands on the bottom of the shirt, but he said he didn't mind, because KU lost that game anyway.  David spent all morning applying creosote to the boards that would become rafters for the church building.  He said that he really enjoyed that time visiting with Oscar, because Oscar is fun to talk to and he makes everyone laugh.  Incidentally, Oscar wore dress clothes and managed to remain spotless.  The temperature was cool, so David didn't get too hot.  It was a perfect day for him.

Mary Beth's story for the day is really the story of a 7th grade girl, Emelda who maybe 13 or 14 years old.  She will probably never pass grade 7 because the exams are in English, and although she is bright, she has not had much education, so she is very far behind.  When we arrived on Wednesday morning, Ruhtt noticed that Emelda had applied powder to her face, and Ruhtt sent her to wash.  Ruhtt explained to us that girls did this when they were looking for a husband.  Emelda attached herself to Mary Beth on Monday, and Mary Beth had many opportunities to observe Emelda interact with others.  Emelda is a natural leader; unfortunately she is leading in the wrong direction.  Emelda requested Mary Beth's address, and MB also wrote a note, encouraging Emelda to use her leadership qualities to lead people to Jesus.  I love the way God puts just the right people together at just the right time.  Mary Beth was the perfect person to encourage Emelda, and plant the seed of Jesus in her heart.  Now we will pray for someone else to water that seed, and for God to give the increase.

Sherry had an incredible day.  She had the rare opportunity to experience what teaching is all about.  On Monday, Sherry noticed that neither the students nor the teachers had any fun, so she set out to convert them to the idea that learning is fun.  She encouraged them to smile and praise one another.  Her enthusiasm is the best model of positive behavior support I have ever seen.  Sherry also noticed that many of the students in 6th and 7th grade did not know basic math facts.  She asked me if we could make flash cards for them.  I was willing, but we were both thrilled to learn that the flash cards were available at the school --- no one knew how to use them.  Sherry taught the teachers how to use the flash cards, by explaining and modeling, and together they designed a game for the children where they could practice the facts. Sherry also showed the teachers how to let the students lead the games, so the practice could be held in smaller groups with student leaders. Bit by bit,  the game evolved and improved until the Zambia teachers were interjecting their own idea.  Sherry was on cloud nine, and I wanted to hire her as an Instructional Coach.  I'd love it if I could get the kind of response from teachers that Sherry did.

My story is just a reflection.  While Mary Beth was serving lunch to David and Oscar, she was giving them the choice of different apples. David was saying he didn't care, but Mary Beth wanted him to choose.  Oscar said, "There are so many choices, soon you will be asking what kind of water to choose."  Little does Oscar know that people in North America make that choice many times each day.  Just prior to lunch, during a meeting with the teachers, I asked them why they had become teachers.  They laughed at me and said this was a funny question.  Finally, two people answered; one became a teacher because of her mother; one became a teacher because her sponsor could only afford a teacher's education, not one for a nurse.  This is a significant difference between North Americans and Zambians; we just have so many more choices than our Zambian friends. 

Thank you for your comments, especially, Devona, our most faithful responder.  We'd love to hear from more of you either by email.  We are so thankful to be the ambassadors from the generous people of Southside and beyond, to these grateful people of Zambia.  God is doing great things here, and we are so thankful to be a part of His work.