Day 14

Day 14
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The Feast day of St Theresa, patron saint of the Sisters of the Child Jesus
We begin the long drive south with Kaoma again as our driver. Baptista is especially relieved not to have that responsibility. We have bid a fond farewell to the Sisters in Kasama, thanking them for all their love and care during our time with them. Our goal today is Mpima, the seminary we stopped at briefly on our way north. We do decide to make a brief stop at St. Therese school in Mpika because today is a school day and the children are there. Last time they were not. Paula takes some pictures and tells them how we enjoyed the video of the drama they did on HIV/AIDS, while I sit wearily in the car. I really am feeling stronger but don’t want to push it too much.
We are privileged, on arriving at Mpima, to find that the Sisters have planned a party in honor of St Theresa and invited the faculty and staff of the seminary to attend. As usual, they know how to do it right (of course, knowing the Sisters as we do now, we believe that there are similar parties going on this evening at all the places we have visited). The entire courtyard is set out with their best chairs, the tables are laden with food and drink and at the appointed hour the festivities begin with, what else, a prayer of thanksgiving to Theresa! The head of the seminary, Fr. Cale, is from eastern Montana and I could understand him!! No accent, just good old American English! We talked over news from America, commiserating over the state of the world. He is a Sulpician and their order is devoted to work in seminaries. He has been there 16 years. A delightful man. Fr. Michael, who teaches Church History and English, is from Cork, Ireland. Also a delightful conversationalist. Two Zambian faculty I only had brief conversations with (I wasn’t moving around a lot). One was leading a seminar on church planting and looking forward to a visit from a woman from the US with a focus in that area with a special emphasis on social justice. Everyone seemed very in touch with the Church and the World.
The delightful surprise of the evening for me was the presence of a young Swiss couple who run the farm. He has been there for three years, she for just one. Both very bright, scientifically trained in modern agricultural methods, focussed on sustainable farming. Since farming is not my line, being a city boy born and bred, he spent a good bit of time opening my mind to the realities of the business end of farming. And it was an eye opener. What a pleasure to have that opportunity. What a serendipidy to come down with malaria and have to travel back to Lusaka by way of Mpima. As Beatrice and the rest of the Board of HFZ keep reminding us and each other, God’s timing is best!
After an energizing evening like that (I even managed a small glass of sparkling wine) it seemed best to rest up for the final leg of the Zambian journey to Lusaka on the morrow.
Bruce and Paula