Day 4 feeding program and clinic visit

Julie Eide "He is able to do far more exceeding abundantly than all we can ask or think" What an overwhelming.....sobering......amazing.......joyfilled......musical.......extraordinary day!!!!! Our day started with a visit to the local health clinic in George (the large community compound we have been working in). They see about 300 patients each day with only two doctors on staff. They handle everything from AIDS and tuberculosis screening/treatment to infant birthing and malaria. The waiting area overflowed with mothers and their sick children. The eyes of the children are the hardest for me to look at as they seem to tell the story of their suffering more than anything. Yet there they were, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers all patiently waiting, believing, hoping for help and health. Leaving the clinic we drove to one of the feeding programs that is located at one of the schools in George. This feeding program serves a healthy meal three times a week to 120 children. We were quickly absorbed in to the activities upon our arrival. Some of the girls were immediately lead off by the children to play futbol with the soccer balls we had brought...others sat before tiny little hands to have their hair braided.....while others just held close, those who wanted to be cuddled and loved. A very dull knife and squawking chicken awaited Karen for its be-headal (not a word I'm pretty sure). Emily followed up with be-headal number two and I followed up with the last chicken to be-head (videos available upon our return for viewing:-) Kathy was whisked away in to the kitchen to pluck the dead chickens that had recently been beheaded by the others.....swept the floor....stirred the shema ( similar to grits) and listened to hearts and stories of the Zambian women who running the feeding program. Megan, with her mothers heart, took the children one by one with the help of some of the other girls, to put a tattoo of a lamb and the words "God loves you" on their arms while she anointed them with with words of blessing and Gods love. After eating we asked the Zambian women if they would sing for us....I can not even begin to describe what it sounds like to hear the Zambian people sing.....it is truly an act of worship for them when they sing.....they sing with their whole selves....totally absorbed in their praise.....the result is breath-taking!!!!! Our next stop was the "market" where we were able to shop for traditional Zambian arts and crafts. The whole bartering gig definitely got mixed reviews from our team. I believe the Tamtes made the best bargains of the day. And finally we ended our day at a local pizza shop where we spent some time sharing stories of our day and our conversations. I will end by telling you what one very soft-spoken young man said to Megan as we were leaving the feeding program. He asked if upon our return we could bring some young boys as well as all these girls. Wishing all who are reading this that they could be here with us in this experience. We miss you!