Multiply Zambia 2014 Day Five - Sunday

At 5.10am the muezzin started up again.  Len later comments, "It's alright for a few days.  But if it went on any longer I think I'd be finding ways to sabotage the noise."  Steven didn't make it to breakfast, and Farayi grasses him up that he's only had water.  "Steven you didn't make it," I gently chide him.  "I was still full from last night," he protests.  "That was Brother Ass's reward for yesterday's service.  He needs some hay to start the new day."  What can you do with these stoic types?

Len rings Ali and finds out that the team in Kitwe have spent the day playing outside with the orphanage kids.  Len and Farayi hide away in the swimming pool enclosure to pray about their meeting at Derek's church.  Steven and I climb into the car that's been kindly hired for his use while we're here.  It's new a top-of-the range Toyota 4x4, complete with reversing camera and air-con that works.

We head off to David's church.  It's in a multistorey building just by Kabwe roundabout.  It was a Government office, but then got converted for commercial use, including a multiplex cinema facility.  I remember David from the MILC conference in 2012, and he emerges as a genuine and serious-minded pastor.  There are some long introductions, and I begin teaching.  I speak of Lusaka attracting people with ambitions, and mention Absalom who sowed division against King David's leadership.  It hits the mark: I don't know any details. 

As we draw to a close, and adjacent theatre overflows with shouting and ear-splitting music.  It's another of the several churches that use the facility.  Do decibels dismiss demons?  It's a cultural thing, I guess deriving from the big chief and witchdoctor model of leadership.  But our model is 'grey matter grows the church', and it's no better.

Steven has bumped into several old friends in the concourse, including Kampamba, a fouth year law student who was very close to the family in Kitwe.  The ladies seemed to be having a babysling-fest, which I captured for Kat.  We drove round the corner to a brand new shopping mall for a cocacola.  Eventually Steven's son, Tusa, Derek and Len join us for a pizza and to plan tomorrow's conference.  David should have been there, too, but his leaders' meeting over-ran.  Farayi had promised to see his parents for the afternoon.  I ask Steven's son if he may consider doing his third-year six-months' industrial placement with us in UK.

Steven suggests we go to the Munda Wanga zoo park.  This was a new one on me.  It lies on the Livingstone Road, in Chilanga, the next substantial township.  The reception office boasts we'll see crocodiles, lions, ostrich and zebra.  It's all a bit scruffy, and the Zambians are discussing how the Government have let it get run down.  The ostriches have sauntered off to the far side of their enclosure, but the warthogs have captivated Len.  He and I spot a line of ants crossing our path.  In his enthusiasm, Len get too close and the mites swarm up his socks.  He feels the bites on his legs and tries to shake them off.  One will only yield after tearing away several strands of fibre. 

"The lions." Steven called from ahead.  Sure enough, there's a lioness calmly surveying us from a make-shift platform just ten metres away.  Lying between us is just a mesh fence that in UK would have disgraced an average recreation ground.  We return via the unhappy-looking birds of prey compound and the crocodiles.  The baboons earn the distinction of electric fencing.  Nasty creatures.

Back in the hotel I expect Len to jump in the shower an recover from his molestation.  He picks his way through his socks and finds ten ants, of which three are still very much alive (briefly).   I console him with a cup of tea.  The room-service staff have moved everything around, but nothing's missing and the room is tidy and spotlessly clean.  I get out the laptop and add 'Brother let me be your servant' to tomorrow's Powerpoint.  When Len checks, Steven has forgotten to order our menu choice for the evening meal.  The Wi-Fi's still out of action.  As someone commented earlier in the week, "It's impossible to die of stress in Zambia."

After dinner Len and Farayi head of for a walk along Cairo Road.  Before going to bed I wash out a couple of shirts in the shower.  I've trying to learn these 'travel' ways.  I hope they'll dry before I have to pack for the flight to Malawi.