“The love of God for us is mediated through community through the love of others for us. It is in the solidarity with each other in community, in the relationships that we build with each other in community that we find both fulfilment and security.....”
The last few days are always hard, emotions are mixed as we say goodbye to the many friends we have made in Zambia. Our Irish night was filled with speeches, dance and songs. Fair play to Phil and Eamon who led the way in the ‘Siege of Ennis ‘. Boy did the Zambians make it their own with their swaying hips…. Irish dancing will never be the same.
In some way it is the beginning of something new and I have no doubt that this experiences will live on for time to come. Finding God in all things is what we are about and I can say hand on heart we did see God smiling on us in many different ways.
As we come to the last few days of our visit, we are mindful of all the support we have received not only from the Jesuits in Lusaka but the many people back home who ‘journey’ with us over the past nine months. We want to say thank you.
St Laurence's Home of Hope - By Claire Dunne and Derek McGee.
It doesn't feel like we have been here for over 2 weeks. It feels like only a few days ago that Brother Isaac came to collect myself and Derek to bring us to St. Lawerence Home of Hope. We were greeted by lots of smiling faces. Over the three weeks the boys have taught me lots of things including making Nshima and how to eat it, how to hand wash clothes and grounding peanuts (ground nuts) with a pestil and morter.
Brother Issac brought me out to the street in the early hours (6am) to where some of the boys spend their time. We were out for about 2 hours talking to the boys who live on the streets.It was an real eye opener.....
Derek cooked lunch for Sister Veronica, Brother Isaac and my self. When it was over, one of the older boys (Dan) called me out and wouldn't tell me why he wanted me. He took me by the hand and made me follow. He brought me to the sink to help him wash his clothes.
Overall it has been an amazing experience and I will be sad to leave.
Claire
My heart is wide open, feeling the unconditional love that the kids at St. Lawerence Home of Hope have taught us. In the mist of pain and suffering that street life has brought them. The kids have nothing here but when you look at them closely they have love of God and happiness deep in their hearts.
Thats all for now lads and ladies.
Our Lady's Hospice Kalingalinga - by Will Flanagan and Helen Murphy
On July 12th 2010, we arrived at Our Lady’s Hospice, Kalingalinga, Lusaka. When one thinks of a Hospice it is natural to think of death and suffering and while there is no doubt that these are realities in OLH it is, however, a place of life and a place of hope.
When we arrived at OLH we were greeted by Sr. Tecla who gave us a tour of the facility, introduced us to the wonderful staff and gave us a very clear insight in to everyday life in OLH.
I (Will) spent my initial few days in the admin department helping to
update files and patient records. From here I moved to the outpatients department of OLH where I was meeting people living with HIV who come to collect their medications and receive their check ups. This was a wonderful experience and and it was great to meet so many lovely people and see, sadly, and see first hand how this awful disease is affecting Zambia and her people.
I (Helen) spent time in the accounts department in OLH. This provided me with an opportunity to see first hand the tremendous work being done by the staff here in keeping the doors of OLH open. The Hospice relies mainly on donations and receives very little in the way of government funding and support. The dedication of the staff in the hospice can be seen in their incredible hard work and the genuine interest they have in each other and the patients.
Helping out in OLH for the past two and a half weeks has been a wonderful experience for us both. It is a place of life, of hope, of dignity and of love. We both feel very privileged to have spent some time in the company of such remarkably visionary and brave people, both staff and patients alike. It has left an indelible mark in our hearts and we will be very very sad to leave.
St Laurence’s’ Home of Hope - By Claire Dunne and Derek McGee
It doesn't feel like we have been here for 3 weeks. It feels like only a few days ago that Brother Isaac came to collect myself and Derekt o bring us to St. Lawerence Home of Hope. We were greeted by lots of smiling faces. Over the two weeks the boys have taught me lots of things including making /cooking Nshima and how to eat it, how to hand wash clothes and grounding peanuts (ground nuts) with a pestil and morter. Brother Issac brought me out in the early morning (6am) to the street in down town Lusaka to where some of the boys hang out. We were out for about 2 hours talking to them, it was sad to see them living on the streets.
Derek cooked lunch for Sister Veronica, Brother Isaac and myself. everyone was impressed with his cooking skills as in Zambia culture woman do the cooking . When it was over, one of the older boys (Dan) called me out and wouldn't tell me why he wanted me. He took me by the hand and made me follow. He brought me to the sink to help him wash his clothes..... such is life !
It has been an amazing experience and I will be sad to leave.
Claire
My heart is wide open, feeling the unconditional love that the kids at St. Lawerence Home of Hope have taught us. In the mist of pain and suffering that street life has brought them. The kids have nothing here but when you look at them closely they have love of God and happiness deep in their hearts. Thats all for now lads and ladies.
