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Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. This year, STS-Zambia set a big goal. Their plan was simple- gather a team of nurses and counselors, travel to school and get students to participate in VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing). The execution, however, was much harder. Many people aren’t aware of the attitude across Africa largely taken towards VCT. Stigmas about HIV/AIDS and testing have progressed over the years- comprised mostly of fear of infection and overall misinformation about the disease and its prevention. For the large amount of free testing, treatment and education there is available, many Zambians are misinformed about both the testing process and the disease itself. STS-Zambia sought to defy the stigma and re-educate as many students as possible. Then, they took it a step further. Instead of just seeking to educate groups, they actually brought nurses in and offered VCT. Throughout June, STS-Zambia partnered up with clinics and school management and successfully completed the VCT School Visit Program in six schools: Butondo High School, Kantanshi High, Mufulira High, Ipusukilo High School, Pamodzi High and Mufulira College of Education. Working with The Ministry of Health and The Ministry of Education, STS-Zambia began each program with a stage of pre-counseling and sensitization. At each school, students were divided into small groups in order to discuss the details and benefits of VCT. Counselors spent time with students discussing interventions in HIV and AIDS prevention and care, condom-use and behavior change. Students were then able to volunteer to be tested and the turnout was remarkable. As students watched their peers volunteer, more and more felt comfortable joining in. For the students that tested positively, STS-Zambia will be working to coordinate for counseling care on living with HIV/AIDS in order to complete their current programs. Terry Simpaka, one of the leaders of STS-Zambia recalled, “Other schools after hearing about this initiative are requesting that we visit them to and do the service in their respective learning institutions.” Following his words and inspired by STS-Zambia, the Kibaha Boys’ Secondary School in Tanzania recently held a similar VCT event. Furthermore, the Kibaha Girls’ Secondary School is setting up a VCT project which will be done at both Tumbi special hospital and Kibaha Girls’Secondary School in coast region of Tanzania later on this year. *LRPI and STS-Zambia would like to thank everyone who made these events successful: The Ministry of Health- the provision of the testing kits and the nursing staff to help in testing and counseling, alongside our trained counselors was a milestone to us, The Ministry of Education- your permission to carry out this important program in your learning institutions enabled us to fulfill our dream, all the guidance counselors, all school management and specifically Mr.Tembo for the support he rendered throughout the entire process.
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 LRPI Zambia leaders Terry (back row, far left) & Martins (back row, 2nd from right) with Kantanshi High teachers and the clinic 1 staff during the VCT School visit In May 2012, over 200 students and teachers from Butondo and Kantanshi High Schools put faith into practice and participated in a VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) Program. The STS clubs partnered with the Zambia Ministry of Health, which provided HIV testing kits and 2 trained counselors from a local clinic to not only test the students, but to provide pre- and post- test counseling. Care was taken to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the brave students who volunteered to be tested despite the threat of stigma. To begin, the students were separated by gender, then divided into groups of 10 for a counseling program. Each person who wished to be tested then entered the testing room separately to receive individual counseling before and after their test. Historically, a thick cloud of stigma has surrounded VCT, especially among high school students. By God’s grace, through the hard work and dedication of the LRPI-Zambia and LRPI-US staff, and of course the STS clubs in the respective high schools, it appears that that cloud may be lifting from Mufulira. Many encouraging responses were noted on the monitoring forms passed out on the testing days, including a majority of students who reported · A more positive attitude toward testing · Using abstinence (only) to avoid HIV infection · Having been tested before · Requesting a personal follow up counseling On top of that, other local schools saw the wonderful testimony of these brave students and are requesting a VCT program for their school as well. Pastors Terry and Martinz, as well as the many other members who work tirelessly in the STS Clubs, have turned these two high schools into cities on a hill, shining the light of truth that cuts through the darkness of stigma.  The Head Boy- an STS Club Member- sets an example of attentive listening during the pre- testing counseling  Female students waiting to be tested.  Several of the Earn It participants help to construct an extra area for the feeding program and school. LRPI introduced the EARN IT program led by Martinz Kampapa to the ENFYS orphanage headed by Pastor Joseph Bwalya in Mufulira, Zambia, in 2010. The EARN IT program targets high school-age youth in ENFYS and the surrounding community and provides them the opportunity to earn school materials, transportation to school, tuition, and personal items. The overall goals of EARN IT are: Educating youth Empowering young people with useful skills Equipping young people spiritually Mentoring young people to work to meet their needs Unlike in America, the cost of transportation to high school in Mufulira can be up to 80% of the total cost of attending school, dwarfing tuition and books. Inclusion of transport costs as part of Earn It helps to mitigate that barrier which can stand between our youth and an education. Martinz says that EARN IT gives the students hope when they realize they are capable of helping themselves. The students attitudes and accomplishments as well as Martinz’ management has not gone unnoticed by the community. Now in its second year, the success has been noticed beyond Mufulira. On April 13 a Government leader visited Martinz, and said "We have heard much about your program, we would love you to come and guide us on how we can use our block-making machine to benefit the youths in Mufulira district, using your program and methods." Martinz says, "Having done this for some time it was very easy for me to give the idea to the government official and they have asked me if I can put up a plan and then show them how I have been keeping up the hours each participant earns each day. If the Government can take this idea, it means that our friends have been supporting the right thing. We should copy the good ideas in order to foster development in our country." "I personally thank you. Your support to this program will see other benefit from many areas not only in Mufulira but in all the country." EARN IT is managed stateside by Jeff Hamilton with support from Renelle Tompkins. 
Innocent is one of the students who helps with the maize mill. Many from the community come to have their maize ground by the Earn It students to prepare the maize that they have grown for use in their homes as food.
Martinz looks through a new Bible. He leads studies for the Earn It group that improve their biblical knowledge, encourage a right relationship with God, and build unity within the group.
On a recent trip to Tanzania, the leaders of the Tanzanian STS clubs and the visiting American team were interviewed for "The African". This newspaper is widely distributed around Africa. They were able to pick up a copy of the article, attached below. The students that graduated from the STS program are from the Kibaha Sec School that consists of the top students in all Tanzania (hand selected). The visiting Americans were impressed with the students HIV/AIDS knowledge and their passion for the STS program going forward.  LRPI clubs meet weekly throughout the semester to learn about various topics, ranging from HIV education to small business basics. Most recently, the clubs at Jack Moffat and SICA in Mufalira, Zambia engaged in lessons on community service and the importance of giving back to the community around them. These lessons, led by their teacher Martinz, inspired the students to band together and give back to the community. Students from both schools brainstormed throughout the semester and came up with the idea to take a trip to an elderly home in Chibolya, just outside of Mufulira.  Before the visit, club members coordinated the collection of sugar, almost 100 tablets of bathing soap, washing soap, meal and relish. At the home, students presented the collection to the group of elders in the home. Students and club leaders also took the time to sit and talk with some of the elderly. It was enriching experience to not only the home members, but also to the students themselves. Martinz recalls, "It was a blessing that Chibolya [elders] were very happy to be given the donation of sorted items by the club members of the side schools." These students and teachers are a testament to the strength and hope that comes from everyone coming together to build better individuals and a better community. We are proud to have them all as a part of LRPI. They inspire us all.  Students share supplies and smiles with an elderly woman in Chibolya.  Two club schools came together to donate much needed supplies to the elderly.  A club leader lends his time to an elderly woman in Chibolya. “…You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD…” Psalm 70:5 Mapalo with his grandmother On a trip to Zambia in July 2011, our short term ministry team was taking time to follow up with OVC Advocates with whom we have developed a partnership. There are so many orphans and vulnerable children in Zambia, but there are also many local people who are working with them daily to meet their needs. One of our favorite things to do in ministry is visit with people and see first-hand what the Lord is doing. God is working. While many of the things we observe are a testament of the work that God is doing with individuals and communities, there are also unmet needs. On one particular day we were visiting with an area in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia with a man named Simon. Many needs were presented to us, but we developed a special burden for two children, Blessings and Mapalo. Blessings and Mapalo both suffer from Cerebral Palsy. In the US we often see those suffering from CP getting around in motorized wheelchairs and sometimes a van that will lift the chair for ease in transport. In contrast, the 6 year old girl, Blessings, arrived tied to her caregivers back using a Chitenge. As one would imagine, it is not easy to take her places, but at age 6 she is still small enough to transport. Mapalo, on the other hand, is a 12 year old boy who has grown larger than his grandmother who serves as his primary caregiver. He could stand and take a few steps with assistance from his grandmother, but in a society where walking is a way of life, he is rarely able to go far.  Blessings giving her mom a kiss 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.  Mapalo & Blessings with their new PET chairs! 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.
On the last trip to Zambia, we wanted to find out what types of homes the children that are helped in our Enfys projects live in. This is a snapshot of what Jennifer and Rudia, two of the mothers, showed us about their daily life. We hope to be a witness for Christ and a positive influence in the lives of this family through the Christian programing offered through Enfys. Jennifer and Rudia 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.  In the heart of a village in northern Zambia, there is a woman named Agnes taking care of three grandchildren. And even though they are decades apart, Agnes and her grandchildren share a bond of loss. Years ago, a mother and father fell to HIV and, in their passing, left these four together. Agnes has roots in this village. She has lived in Murundu for 32 years, her latest home is the most intricate and well equipped that we saw during our interviews. Each room is clearly distinguishable- a kitchen, living room and two separate bedrooms. Each of the beds is adorned with a mosquito net and small accent pieces. Her house and yard is clearly the social hub for other women as well. By late-morning, many other caregivers are gathered on her front steps, laughing and preparing lunch for the orphans at the neighboring site on which LRPI & Enfys run school classes. Agnes' income is provided by a stand she runs just outside of her front door. She sells charcoal, groundnuts, cassava and chikanda (Zambian bologna) from the merchant hut. All together, the items bring in about 120,000 Kwacha a week- just enough to feed the family once a day.  On a typical day, before the family’s only meal, Agnes begins by completing chores with the children. Once the children leave for school, Agnes begins cooking for her shop. Chikanda, the special Zambian bologna, is made every day and bought up every night by men who walk home late from one of the multiple village bars. By mid-morning, anyone walking near the center of the village is greeted by loud, aggressive tunes blasting from the bar huts with men staggering around the edges. In a place with already so many hardships, it is absolutely disheartening to see how much more damage alcohol can cause. To supplement the income she needs to travel into the city once a month to buy supplies for her shop, Agnes also helps create specially woven bags to sell around the village. Megan and I saw many of these bags being made while we walked around. It's nearly the equivalent of watching your grandmother knit or crochet, except these women weave recycled plastic bags into intricate patterns, shapes and sizes that you would actually love to receive for Christmas.  LRPI and Enfys work together to provide the women of the village with tools to help them grow as a community. This past season, Enfys provided money to the group so that they could fertilize and finance a 50x50 plot for crops. In return, Agnes and the women gave a tin back to Enfys in appreciation- a sign that the women are learning not only receive aid, but also give back.
Along with being a caring grandmother, Agnes also serves as a caregiver to two additional children in the village. When a member of our team asked Agnes to take a child to the clinic, an activity that requires a careful calculation of time and loss of profit to a villager of Murundu, she did it without hesitation. There are rare moments in life that I've had the honor to meet someone so incredibly strong and nurturing. It's as if Agnes has harnessed as much love in her heart as what's usually spread between three people. Like the love of those family members she and her grandchildren lost just swells up inside of her. She is a rarity and we are honored to be a part of her life and, more importantly, to have her as a part of ours. At this moment, 20,000 inhabitants in a northern Zambian village called Murundu are lying down to sleep. You see, in Murundu, when the sun sets, the light is out for most people. Out of the 20,000 villagers, only four or five families are lucky enough to have electricity available. Judith is one of the 19,995.  Judith is the mother of six children: Abram, Carol, Dinnes, Davis, Rosemary and Josephine. Josephine, the youngest, is somewhere around ten months old, but she is already helping her mother cut the vegetables- with a rusty eight-inch knife. Judith is a rarity- She owns the land, which was inherited from her grandmother, her home is on. The house is self-built, well manicured, extremely tidy and has a vibrant red base trim, which Judith herself painted using a mixture of soil and a special root. As she takes Megan and I around, she shows us the garden as well as the shower and drop-toilet her and the children share with surrounding families. She also shows us the most important feature of her home- the brewing system. Judith brews her own beer, illegally, to make enough money for her family to survive. The contraption sits and steams as Megan investigates, through a translator, how exactly it all works. Judith gathers 10kg of sugar and lets it ferment with maize for seven days. Then, she puts it in an extremely hot drum. The same drum she is holding Josephine just inches from as I snap photos. The mixture drips into two large jugs at the end of the spout and is so violently concentrated, it is potentially fatal if it is not first diluted with water. Judith makes one batch of the brew per week and makes about 100,000 Kwacha per batch- the equivalent of about $20.00 in the United States. Judith's business success is based off of word-of-mouth. Since it is illegal, homes like Judith's are the only place men looking for a stronger beer can get it.  Inside the house, Judith explains that she was once married, but her husband left about ten years ago. She spends most of her time working around the two-room hut. She prepares meals twice a day- once in the morning, usually sweet potatoes that she grows at home and once in the evening, always nshima and relish. The family gets meat on extremely rare occasions. Judith and the children sleep in the side room of the small house, most on the floor spilling into the main room. The family lacks finances to provide enough bedding and, even more importantly, for mosquito nets to protect from malaria-infected mosquitoes. This is in a country where, according to the World Health Organization, "A child dies every 45 seconds of Malaria, the disease accounts for 20% of all childhood deaths."
At one point, I interrupt Megan's interview to ask, "Are you happy?" Judith looks at our translator, lowers her eyes and just shakes her head. She doesn't want to brew beer. She hates it, in fact. But this is what she must do to keep her family alive and so she takes the risk. Judith is a caretaker to orphans in the village and takes part in ENFYS, a group that is helping bring together the women of Murundu in order to help empower women and people of the village. Last year, she was part of a group that was given money through ENFYS to help provide fertilizer for their corn crop. Judith is an inspiration to the other women of ENFYS and the reason all of us at Life Restoration Partners, International continue to work so hard. We thank Judith for being so brave to share her story with us and for allowing everyone to be part of her life for a day.  VCT Event: Student being Tested for HIV It has been a busy month of careful planning and prayerful anticipation for the STS clubs (boys and girls) of Kibaha Secondary School, located in eastern Tanzania. They hosted a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) event that allowed 41 students the opportunity to be briefed by local leaders and medical professionals on HIV/AIDS education, testing procedures, medical records, and family planning. The students visited the Tumbi hospital as part of this five hour VCT event that included classroom instruction and tours of the hospital facilities. One of the many praise reports from the event was that several students consented to being tested for HIV during the hospital visit. The STS Club-Kibaha students, facilitator, and parent leaders obviously prepared very well for this event, as it went off very smoothly and the participating students are now better equipped to make in difference for STS in their own lives as well as in their community.  VCT Event: Classroom instruction from medical professionals |
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