The families of both of these children are working to provide for their basic needs, and paying transport cost required for their children to join them when they move about was an extra burden on their household and often resulted in the need to leave them at home.  Not only did this need capture our attention, but the relationship that the caretakers had with their children also stood out to us.  For any mother going about their business, it’s easy to become distracted from the important job of caring for a child, but these women were extremely attentive toward their children with special needs.  The grandmother was careful to prop Mapalo up against her so that he could was comfortable and could observe what was happening around him.  Similarly we watched Blessing’s mom lovingly dote over her as if she was the only other person in the world.  As the team observed and later talked with these families, we knew that when we got back to the US we wanted to find a way to help these two children remain a part of the society through providing some sort of wheelchair.

Upon returning we searched for options to be able to provide for this need, including making our own wheelchairs out of PVC and supporting Simon to search around Zambia for options. One of the team member’s mother learned about a group that made PET carts here in the US.  These seemed to be perfect since they are designed to travel on non-paved, less-than-ideal roads and paths.  When communicating with Von Driggs of PET International, we learned that they had a person who made these carts in the neighboring town of Kitwe, Zambia! The communication was a breeze – Von was quick to respond and introduce us to his Zambian counterpart, Delbert, who manufactures the PET chairs from the New Life Center in Kitwe.  He was able to build specialized chairs for the children, which were ready for pick-up in a short amount of time.  We are very grateful for the work of PET International and the New Life Center in Kitwe for stepping up to meet the needs of disabled children and be a visible expression of the love of Christ.  These chairs are now improving the lives of Blessings, Mapalo, and their families by providing them with increased mobility.

If there is an equivalent to a village within a village, Jennifer and Rudia reside on it in Murundu. Jennifer is the mother of eight children- ranging from eight to twenty-three-years-old. Rudia, Jennifer's eldest daughter, is the mother of four children who also reside with their grandmother. Walking on to the property is comparable to a Zambian version of the Stately Oaks plantation from "Gone With the Wind." Built in 2002, the plot consists of three buildings and a covered, outdoor kitchen. 

Jennifer's property also contains a well, which Jennifer and her family share with other locals. Neighbors come round daily to gather water and socialize- Even before our group entered the front yard, the grounds were buzzing with activity. There were villagers at the well, two girls working in the outdoor kitchen and children everywhere, while Jennifer and Rudia stood ready to welcome Megan and I with giant smiles.

Jennifer is regarded as the leader of the home. She went to school through grade seven and went on to marry at 17. Her husband left the family fifteen years ago. He travelled to Lusaka, Zambia's capital, while Jennifer stayed behind to raise the children. It is obvious that Rudia has also taken on a leadership role for the family. With four kids of her own, Rudia was left by her husband as well and chose, like her mother, to stay behind with the children. Now these two women support the family on their own- by selling charcoal and beer.

The beer production brings in most of the family's income. They sell a local sweet beer that must be fermented for seven days. The large pots pattern their kitchen floor and they look upon them with pride. This legal beer sells well, but the women still need another income, so they also sell charcoal and work for pay on a local farm during peak season.

Past the kitchen, Jennifer's hallway is partially blocked by a large bag of maize, which will last the large family almost a month. Just past the bag of maize is the main house bedroom where both Jennifer and Rudia sleep. There is no mosquito net. Across the hall is a second bedroom where four of the younger girls sleep on a packed dirt floor below a line of clothing that holds the family's clothes off the floor. The hallway then juts and opens up to the outdoor kitchen, which holds a stove and large amount of space for cooking. Unlike any other homes we saw, Jennifer's home had doors complete with locks and keys. A huge amenity in this area and probably vital for protection of their fermenting beer. 

Enfys is impacting the health of this community by supplying the well located at this home with chlorine tablets to help prevent disease and illness to any who draw water.