What in the World Are You Doing in Zambia?

Well, I can't believe it has been two months since I wrote about my time here. Christmas has just ended for me since I received my last package on February 27. I still have my Christmas cards posted on the refrigerator. The cats, Esther and Mordecai, especially love the one that plays music when you open the card. Thanks for all the packages, cards and emails during the past three months. I really like a three month Christmas season!

The past two months have been rather busy and also a struggle for me. I have experienced some minor health issues, financial setbacks and overall fatigue. Although Zambia is a "laid back" culture I still find myself way too busy. There is so much to do and it is so hard to set priorities because everything needed to be done yesterday. I know I should spend more time teaching the Zambians how to do some of the things I do but there just doesn't seem to be precious time available.

Can you tell I have become a little overwhelmed by the tasks at hand?

Some of you may be wondering exactly what it is that takes so much of my time. Well, here is a list of the Building projects I am currently working on:

Zimba Mission Hospital Staff Housing - One of the issues at the hospital is staffing. There are not enough nurses for the number of patients seen daily. Because the hospital staff is employed by the government, the hospital is required to provide housing for its professional staff. Competition among the hospitals in Zambia for quality staff depends on the quality of houses. ZMH currently owns 12 houses and rents 17 houses to accommodate their existing staff. The rental property consumes 50-60% of the grant money received from the government each month. That means that there is very little money left to medicate the patients, feed the patients and provide diagnostic testing. Each month the finance committee has to make a decision on what area(s) will be funded. If the 17 rental houses can be eliminated the money used to pay landlords can then be applied toward direct care for the patients.

Beit Trust House - This was an unfinished duplex that was funded by the Beit Trust Fund (UK). For several reasons the money awarded did not allow for the completion. The hospital matron (Nursing Director) now lives on the hospital campus rather than in one of the rental houses.


5nOne Block - Another unfinished project when I arrived was two concrete slabs meant for 10 apartments for single nurses. Each slab would be a block of 5 apartments. One of the slabs had the beginning of the brick structure for the houses but there was no money to finish the building. The other slab was poorly constructed and it was undecided whether the bad slab could be used for a permanent structure. The targeted date for occupation of the first five apartments is April 1st.

Hospital Owned House Renovations - Most of the houses on the hospital compound were built in the 60's and have had very little maintenance since then. This house did not have indoor plumbing (it was once the morgue) and the single female nurse who occupies it had to go outside to bathe and use the toilet. The house now has a shower, toilet and usable kitchen sink.

House Purchases - The cost of building a two to three bedroom house in Zimba is approximately $15,000. Occasionally existing houses become available for sale and for a price much lower than it can be built. This house is being offered at $7300.



Land Purchase - The hospital has a limited area for expansion and in order to fulfill their vision for growth more land is needed. there is an area of "no man's land" that has been identified adjacent to the hospital. It is believed that this land will be awarded to the hospital by the council at no cost. It would be used for future staff housing projects. Another piece of land has been identified across from the hospital along the main road in Zimba. A Zambian resident has offered to purchase this land and it would be used for the expansion of outpatient services.

Office Renovations - As the hospital has grown there has been no consideration for the addition of professional staff. Now that there is a Chief Medical Officer, two Medical Licentiates and 6 clinical officers space was needed for each level of caregivers to be practice. Under utilized space was identified and now everyone has an area of their own without "bumping" into one another.

Now, of course, I am not building these houses myself or renovating the existing buildings. My job is to coordinate the various contractors (bricklayers, plumbers, electricians, painter, etc.), manage the bank account by writing the necessary checks and purchasing materials, and provide reports to the donors providing the funding.

In addition to the building projects listed above, I also help with the accounting office (creating electronic records, implementing Quickbooks, and performing bank errands), drive the "ambulance" when a patient needs to be transported to Livingstone Hospital, drive the hearse or family vehicle during funerals, coordinate mission teams from the United States, work with the Pilgrim Wesleyan National office (newsletter, website, conferences,etc.) and anything else that may be required.

You might even ask, because I ask myself, how does this have anything to do with building God's kingdom? Shouldn't you be teaching a bible study, working with children, caring for the patients? Well, in Matthew 25 Jesus says, "Whatever you do for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." My work allows the hospital to hire the required nurses, doctors and other healthcare workers to care for the sick and abandoned (the least of these brothers). I do it for Him.