Acholi-related reflections after a ‘tricky’ few days

 

The past few days have been a bit tricky for me. The focus of the schedule has been visiting Acholi Quarters each day, and supporting a small team of wonderful folks from UK who have come out to give input to the community in various ways.

For me, AQ is such a special place. I feel so welcomed and accepted there, and it’s been such a privilege to be journeying with the community for so many years, watching the children grow, supporting the adults as they navigate the many challenges of their lives.

So, when I went on Sunday with the team and found that I just couldn’t manage the terrain without significant pain,  and therefore had to sit out of the tour, and the games, and the activities – it was gutting. And then the next day the pain was still sufficient that I just didn’t attempt to go in, and so spent the day working away from the team.

Tuesday was a bit better and I went via another route to find them, but still it was a struggle. I was able to visit some friends in a different bit of AQ however, and that was a big treat. And then today I’ve found a little place where I can sit and work on the edge of AQ, and as a result have been able to have a really good and in-depth conversation with Harriet (my main contact in AQ) about various things when she came to find me.

The emotional rollercoaster of all this has been ongoing and tiring – trying to keep the upbeat attitude going for those who live in AQ and can’t do anything about the difficult terrain which is proving such a challenge, feeling frustrated at not being able to take part in all the activities, feeling tired of the pain that is still there, rejoicing that the team have still had a really good time and my injury hasn’t  marred their trip too much, being grateful for all the interactions that I have been able to have despite my very limited access to elements of the programme.

Two conversations really helped put my minor challenges into perspective, and for these I am very grateful.

One was about a lad that we (CRED) have started supporting to go to school. He is 13 years old, and lives with his gran, along with 2 siblings and foster sibling. He used to go to school but had to drop out of school when his gran couldn’t cover his school fees anymore. This was due to her being knocked down by a motorbike taxi and sustaining significant injuries to spine and pelvis that mean she can no longer walk, and can therefore no longer work properly.

The lad, along with his older sister, was determined to get back to school, and so started going out at 4am to collect plastic bottles which can be exchanged for money. When I heard about this, CRED stepped in and said that we would cover his fees so that the pressure was off him. And that is what we did from the start of this year. Under Harriet’s advice we covered 75% of his fees, and the family just needed to top up the fees and pay for his pens, pencils, books etc. This is fairly standard to avoid a culture of dependency, and I always look to Harriet to advise as she knows the personal circumstances best.

But today I learned that he is still going out to collect bottles, as gran has deteriorated and can’t work at all, so the household are totally dependent on the lad and his siblings to collect enough bottles to cover the top up of school fees, and money for food. After chatting it through with Harriet, we agreed that the situation is now such that it is best for CRED to cover all of his fees and requirements, and that is what we will do going forwards.

The other conversation was about a lady who is HIV+ve, and is just struggling so much to afford the food that she needs on a daily basis so that her medications work well. This lady has 3 children of her own, and fosters 4 others. One of the children is also HIV+ve. She is a single mum, and has no regular work. She earns money where she can selling silver fish in the community, and if there are opportunities to sell other items then she will take those as well.

So she is doing all she can, but to find enough money to feed her household is proving to be too much. Even a very basic diet is feeling beyond her reach at times, and this has an impact on the effectiveness of her ARV drugs, and similarly for the child who is on ARV’s. It was so simply told to me, with no expectation of any particular support, but I came away determined to find a way to support this incredible woman who gives so much of herself for others, and just daily prays that there will somehow be enough to feed the family, and if possible with something left over for her.

Both the conversations were heart-rending to have, but I’m so glad that we were able to have them. Suddenly my injuries seemed very insignificant, and it was good to know that, despite them, I can still play my role in helping to make life just a little better for others.

One week on – the injury update

 

One week ago, I went for a run in Chingola, Zambia. An innocuous start to the day, fairly standard for me when I’m away with no pool to swim in or bike to ride or gym to go to. It was the run that ended with my ankle in plaster and me hobbling around on one crutch, due to also having a badly bashed up elbow that isn’t happy to take any weight through it (no, it’s not broken).

One week on, here’s the update in case you are interested.

My ankle is still in a back-slab and heavily bandaged. Partial weight-bearing is proving to be OK, as the alternative would be hopping and my balance is just not up for that. Very little pain in the ankle, although it was sore by the end of a day of navigating airports, not least becuase I had to demo several times that I can walk around in a plane with no crutches before I was allowed on the plane. My elbow has gone through a colourful range of bruising, which extends the length of the arm. It still won’t straighten on its own, although I can passively straighten it with my other arm. There’s definitely more movement in it now, and more that I can do with my left arm now compared to before, so I can see signs of improvement and healing, but it’s the elbow that is keeping me awake at night more than the ankle.

But all that aside, this past week has taught me many things.

First off – the kindness of strangers. I have been overwhelmed at the acts of kindness and generosity from so many people as I have hobbled my way through each day. People offering to carry my bag, hold the door, let me go the shorter route, or give me their chair. Flight attendants offering me chocolates on the sly during the flight and finding ways to ensure that I can have maximum number of seats in a row so that I can stretch out my leg. So many little experiences of positive humanity that just help make life a little bit easier, when things are feeling hard work, and a bit tiring and sore.

Am also grateful for the various friends near and far who were such a wonderful support. From advice on best painkiller combos, to sending out useful equipment to help with mobility, to sourcing new crutches... - God has lined up all the support just when it is needed. 

One of the other things that I have been reminded of this week is the joy of slowing down. I’m not about to say that once I’m out of plaster I will continue to go this slow – those of you who know me well will know that’s like asking a leopard to change its spots! But, the enforced slowness of this past week has provided opportunities to just sit, and watch life, and take notice of the little things that often go unnoticed. I hope that I’ll keep this going a bit each day even when more mobile – as the practice of slowing down has been a beautiful one to be reminded of.

And the other thing that this week has been a good reminder of is to give thanks for mobility and healthy body. I am very mindful that for some people, my reduced mobility and level of independence is their norm, and for others, mobility and independence is even more curtailed. I thank God for the mobility I have, and for the increased mobility that I know I will be able to build back up to. And I pray for those for whom mobility levels are more of a struggle and less guaranteed. I’m not saying that you have to have good mobility in order to have a fulfilled life – but I have had an insight into the additional challenges that reduced mobility brings, and I pray for those for whom this is the norm.

This week has had some good life lesson reminders. Nothing deep or profound, but still it has been good to have the reminders. I have some wonderful testimonies of how God has used this situation to speak into the lives of others and enrich them, as well as how God has spoken into my life through the acts of others. May I seek to incorporate the reminders into my life, and in so doing give to others, as others have already given to me.

Zambia assignments completed – for now!

Today I move onwards to Uganda. All my assignments in Zambia have been completed.

With my CRED hat on, I’ve had a time of catching up with the Chisomo team, and visiting the programmes that they run to reach out to children living on the streets, provide them with a day-time drop-in centre, and where possible facilitate a repatriation between child and family, or into a foster home.

With my 360-Life hat on, I’ve led a 3-day workshop in Chingola for 56 participants who represent churches, prison chaplains, other non-profits, and community roles. And I’ve done similar in Lusaka for another 34 participants. Both workshops have been facilitated by the Good News Global team here in Zambia, headed by national director Fortunatus Mwenya, and the GNG Africa lead (who, as a Chingola resident and ex-national director, is also strongly involved in the Zambia ministry) Samuel Kawilila. I feel so honoured to have worked with these folks who are now very much more friends than just co-workers.

Obviously there has been the minor aspect of the fracture to my left ankle, but even that hasn’t been a hindrance too much. It hasn’t got in the way of delivery of the workshops – everything has still been achieved. I’ve been slightly more static in my presentation style, but the workshops have still been very interactive and participatory, with positive feedback.

A few have said to me how, seeing me smiling and laughing despite everything, they have been reminded to find the inner smile inside themselves again. It has maybe also led to me asking for help to achieve some things which in the past I’d have sorted on my own. As a result, there have been some lovely interactions and times of joint problem solving which might not otherwise have taken place.

But for me the main positives from this trip are hearing the workshop participants share about how the content of the workshops has had such a positive impact for them. That is when I really feel assured that this ministry I am taking out to others is in line with what God wants me to be doing.

I shared a few reflections from Chingola previously; these two in particular come to mind from the Lusaka workshop. At one point in the workshop, one lady shared a little of her life-story: of being in prison, and of now feeling called to minister to other women and girls in prison, and how she could see that the workshop teachings were going to really help with that. After the workshop ended, she came up to me and admitted that she had never spoken so openly before to a group of people about her previous story. She’d always kept it hidden away as she wasn’t sure how others would respond. But the workshop felt so safe, and the content tied in so well, that she felt that the others in the room, although somewhat strangers to her, would be understanding and supportive. She said that, as she shared, she could feel herself growing inside, as though something previously squashed down was now released. What a wonderful outcome to have from the workshop – praise the Lord!

Another real encouragement came from the Chisomo team as they spoke about how they could see that the training would really help in the process of preparing the child and the family for repatriation. The training has helped them to view challenging behaviours and mental health struggles from a trauma-informed perspective, as well as having insights into how we have different personal preferences which can affect why we don’t all do things the same way. As a result, the child can be supported in getting a better understanding of themselves, but equally importantly, the family can be supported in understanding the child better. In that way they can be helped to see that some of the behaviours of the child are not just wilful disobedience, or just because the child is trying to be annoying and different, but because of ways that the child has adapted to survive previous traumatic experiences, and also because the child might just find it more natural to do things in a different way to the parents. The Chisomo team were so excited about how this new learning they had received from the workshop could be implemented in some really positive ways – it was wonderful to hear, and I thank God that I could be part of it.

And now it’s on to Uganda. No workshops there, some different assignments to fulfil instead, all of them good ones! It’ll be my first time of navigating airports and planes on crutches, but God is healing me well, and I know I’ll be OK. And waiting at the other end are my wonderful Ugandan friends who know that the first thing I’ll want is a hug and a bowl of fresh pineapple, and both will be waiting!

Thank you God for my time in Zambia – what an adventure, but what wonderful friends made, and I look forward very much to my return.