Why a tree of life?

For many years now, I have felt a tugging on my heart to go to Africa, to experience a completely different part of the world, and to serve God there. Yet the time has never seemed right, and when it did finally seem that I had an opportunity to go, that fell through. Proverbs 13:12 says - "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life".

Finally, after years of dreaming, I have the chance not only to travel to Africa, but also to experience nursing there.

One neat fact: the Moringa oleifera is a tree which is cultivated in many parts of Africa, and is sometimes referred to as the "tree of life", as it is arguably the most nutritious source of plant-derived food discovered on the planet, and has been considered by some as a possible solution for the treatment of severe malnutrition and as aid for those with HIV/AIDS, both of which are major issues in the area to which I will be travelling.

I shall have to keep my eyes peeled for Moringa trees :)

Friday, May 06, 2011

A Bit About Zambia

To give you a bit of a taste of where I will be and what I will be doing over the next month, here is a brief introduction to the nation of Zambia and the town in which I will be staying.

The Republic of Zambia is a nation in southern Africa, just above Botswana.  Its official language is English, although a number of other languages are recognized, including Tonga, the predominant language spoken in the area which my team will be visiting.

Zambia became the British colony of Northern Rhodesia towards the end of the 19th century, and gained its independance in 1964.

Zambia is a fairly large country - approximately 4/5 of the size of British Columbia, although its population is almost three times what ours is.  Of these people, almost 70% live below the established poverty line.

The official religion of Zambia is Christianity, but a wide variety of religious traditions exist, including Islam, Judaism, the Baha'i faith, and a number of syncretic churches.

The literacy rate is approximately 80%, however most children drop out of school after year seven, as schooling beyond that is no longer publicly funded.  If children do go on to complete primary and secondary school, pursuing further education is very difficult, as there are a limited number of universities with a very competitive entry system and many cannot pay tuition.  One alternative to university education is to attend a nursing training program at a missionary hospital.  One such hospital is the salvation army hospital in Chikankata, which is where my team and I will be spending the majority of our time in Zambia.

This hospital is well known throughout Zambia as a leader in excellence, and people come from all over to take courses in HIV prevention and management (the prevalence of HIV in Zambia exceeds 10%).  The mission includes a high school, hospital, and nursing school.  We will be working alongside the hospital nurses and student nurses there.
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1 comment:

  1. EmilyMay 14, 2011 at 12:28 p.m.

    Hi Everyone!

    Cayla wanted to me to give you all a very short update for her. Unfortunately the internet is much less reliable than they thought it would be, so she is unsure how much she'll be able post, if at all.

    She was really sick upon arrival and missed out on a few things, but she is mostly recovered now and back on schedule. She is loving the music and the kids there.

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