It's the morning of June 16th in Mpika. I'm sitting at my usual internet cafe as the world wakes up outside. Before arriving here, I sat under the verandah at my favorite restaurant, sipping on a cup of coffee and eating a hearty breakfast of fruit and biscuits, observing the tiny shop vendor across the street hang the used closed she sells that have worn out their use as hand-me-downs in countries oceans away. Cantor trucks and bicycles passed by packed with goods and people, and of course there were some near-accidents as they noticed the blindingly white blonde sitting just off the side of the road. Although I enjoy the usual sound of birds and straight-up nature that accompany my rising out of bed in the village, sometimes its nice to be in a place where you can witness the daily interactions of shop-owners and businessmen and women, a place where the pace of life is just a bit faster and you see people working together to get by in what promises to be another beautiful, sunny african day.

I'm staying in Mpika for a couple days to check in with different NGOs and work on some projects. I believe I've written about NZP+ in previous posts, but they are a wonderful organization in Zambia that works with those who are HIV+, helping to support them in living positively while also doing work in prevention and battling social stigma. One thing I've realized I'm very passionate about is providing support to those living with HIV and AIDS. Slowly, slowly I have been working with certain members of my community to create Lufila Support Group. They only have 4 members right now, but I'm working on linking the group with NZP+ so that there can be more sensitisation in the community and the group can be registered officially with a reputable organization in Mpika in order to strengthen and build their own group capacity. Two members of the support group are Mary and Michael Chamanga. A few weeks ago I invited them to my hut for lunch and they told me their story. Michael was an engineer in Lusaka who was forced to retire when he found out he was HIV+. Him and Mary then decided to move back to the bush, where they farm for the little income they are able to acquire, barely enough to make bi-yearly visits to Mpika District Hospital to get their CD4 counts. They rely solely on the Lufila Clinic in-charge (my main counterpart, Mr. Chikwaba) to transport their medicine the 120km from Mpika. It's about a half-day's journey from their home to the clinic...and they have been diagnosed with a virus that will eventually kill them as it has countless others this side of the globe. Yet this is a fact they make so easy to forget immediately upon meeting them. They are two of the most strong-willed and well-educated people I have met in my community. They not only look physically strong, but they have a spirit that communicates to the world around them that they will not be so easily defeated. They are the model of what it means to battle social stigma and live positively, and a source of inspiration not only for those who are sick but for others like myself who have the privilege of their trust and friendship. I've been seeing them more consistently as we work together to build and strengthen the first support group of Lufila catchment area. :)

It's officially cold season here in Zambia. I didn't realize how much of a debbie downer rainy season is until the clouds blew away, the sun started shining, and the rains subsided. Of course, in the next month they'll start burning the country but for a small window of time the weather is perfect. It's comparable to early september weather in minnesota, but it lasts for 3 months and I plan to never take it for granted again. Come November, the rains will start again, and a general lack of motivation to work on anything but farming throughout Zambia. Right now, people are motivated to do community work and all the meetings I had in my first year of service of finally bringing about action and associated results. Along with the support group, I am working with Mr. Chikwaba on a possible proposal for a computer for the rural clinic. I have also been working with HBC(home-based care)/OVC(orphans and vulnerable children) club as they draft a proposal to ZNAN(Zambia National AIDS Network) that focuses on providing support to those living with HIV/AIDS. At the mid-term conference in Lusaka, we had the opportunity to participate in a permaculture workshop with a guy who works for the Peace Corps in Tanzania. He taught us how to implement 'perma-gardens', small-scale sustainable agricultural practices, in our communities in order to improve food security as well as basic nutrition at the very rural level. We got dirty making compost piles, double-digging, and working on our own sample garden at the Peace Corps office in Lusaka. I loved it. I returned to my site axe and hoe in hand, hoping to start my own garden before the next rainy season. I also am planning to work with the agricultural officer in my community to do some workshops on composting and more sustainable agricultural practices in general that are guaranteed to lead to higher crop yields. We all know the agonizingly slow process of behavior change...but it's worth a shot.

I returned to my village after the mid-term conference in Lusaka to find out that my dog is knocked up. Oh man, once those puppies come I might as well just tell everyone I'll be MIA for a week playing with them in my hut. :) My neighbors have already laid claim to 2 of them, and various other community members want an offspring of Imbalala as well. True to her Zambian nature, my dog, although preggers, still manages to accompany me on my daily runs...never failing to make me feel a bit out of shape... The gestation period for dogs is 63 days so I believe she should give birth sometime in July or August, as she isn't showing much yet.

Since I've been in Mpika I've been staying a guesthouse where I've been able to watch the Confederations Cup on television every night. Watching soccer only makes me realize how much I miss playing it. I also forgot how beautiful footballers are. (wink!) I wish everyone back in the states got as pumped about this amazing sport as they do over here in Africa. Because here it's not just a sport, it's integrated into the fabric of life.

I've also been busy working with some other volunteers on planning a girls' empowerment camp we hope to put on next December. I'll write more about it later, and I believe I've mentioned it before. If we can pull it off, I believe it will be an experience that is unmatched for the girls able to attend from our villages.

Sorry this post has been kind of all over the place. Such is my mind these days...I hope you all are enjoying the summer wherever you may be. :) I'm headed to Namibia over the 4th of July with a couple friends. Hitchhiking, camping, driving along the coast, and maybe trying my hand at sandboarding...promises to be another memorable Independence Day!

Stay well.

.Peace&Luv.

Katie