Kalinglinga is a very large compound! We started off from the Service Center gate at 10:00 and we walked for over 30 minutes! We headed out past PHC and AFM and kept walking, when we got to the next crossroad we turned left, and then right again. Soon we were up to Kamloops Road (the one we take to go to Bob and Mary's, the same one the Kalingalinga Post Office is on) we crossed the road and kept going, and going. Finally we turned and walked along a football (soccer field) and then we turned down an alley and found ourselves at a gate. This was the house of the club coordinator for Pilgrim Wesleyan. Her yard was much larger than that of Idah's last Saturday, and totally enclosed with the tall brick walls. They were all in there small groups working on their lessons. They were all sitting in plastic chairs, in three circles. I listened and watched as they were teaching, they were doing well. Catherine had said this club really struggled after Annette's death. Annette was the club coordinator and ran this club. The club coordinator is doing well, she is very excited about the club meeting in her yard. She introduced me to her husband, and I thanked him for allowing the GEMS to meet in their yard. He said it is OK, it is the work of the Lord. I gathered the groups together for a club picture and then we were off to the next club.
Awareness Small Group
Advanced Small Group
Pilgrim Wesleyan GEMS
This would be the Mtendere Baptist club. It being very dangerous to walk into Mtendere, and also being on the extreme western end of Kalingalinga we looked for a cab. Catherine is just standing on Alick Nkhata Road waving at every car that passes by. Is this how we catch a cab? Then she says, maybe we should just take the bus. Oh great, I don't want to take a bus......been there done that.....don't ever need to do it again! But it is too far to walk, and so we wait for a bus. I send up a little prayer, "Lord, please I really don't want to take the bus." About two minutes later a very nice car drives up and the driver says, "Need a ride?" I thought so, a mazoongo can't walk near a road without every taxi peeping to see if you want a ride. We jump in and I am once again awe struck at God's goodness! Am I ever going to learn that He takes care of his children? There was Christian music playing! Thank you Lord! Catherine speaks to him in nanja and makes all the arrangements. He will drive us to Mtendere Baptist and wait for us and bring us back to the Service Center when we are done! PTL!
Mtendere is another hard to describe place. It is also a very large compound, but unlike Kalingalinga only having a few roads, Mtendere has tons of roads, and they are very narrow roads and there are markets set up along both sides of the roads and people bustling up and down the streets. With lots and lots of traffic, cars and minibuses! It is a crazy place to try to drive. After weaving our way, through the streets, we end up a the church. They let us in the gate with the car, and our driver parks. We get out, the girls are playing games with the sports equipment. They quickly gather and begin to sing for us. They say the GEMS aim and sing a few more songs. I snap some pictures and watch the CIT's leading. They have some great CIT's!
When it is time for us to go, the club coordinator and another counselor ride back to the Service Center with us. They have come back to collect the Hand'n'Hand supplies. The club coordinator works at a school in the administration, so it is very difficult for her to come to the Service Center on weekdays.
Playing Games
Mtendere Baptist
Catherine and I showed them both, the hot pads, and how to cut the material and braid it. We gave them instructions and they asked questions. It seems to be most difficult for them to not braid the hot pads to tightly, so we went over that and I showed them our samples. They both were excited to try to make one, but they want to bring it by when they are finished to make sure they are doing it correctly. I said that would be a great thing to do.
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