A few snapshots

Clinic Progress....

Some facinating children....MUSUNGU!!!

A favorite village snapshot

A Roosting Village Chicken

A Welcome Village Get-a-Way

Benefit Concert

.

Clinic Blueprints

.

(just click on the blueprints for a larger view)

October Updates

.

Fall is a season of change in much of America. Children are back to school, leaves are turning magnificent shades of oranges and reds, and a welcome crispness enters the air. However, on the other side of the globe things are warming up. The majority of October days reach 95-100 degrees Farenheit. The earth is dry and Victoria Falls has taken a rest from its massive explosion seen each spring.

.

This October is no different. Shomeka Outreach is warming up to provide the desparately needed maternal health care in a rural community of Zambia. The project is within reach!

Here are some updates on the growing momentum in Kazungula:

1. Sarah Hesch, Project Manager, spent September and October in the Kazungula and Livingstone areas spearheading clinic preparations. Much of her work consisted of discussions with government officials planning the project and discussing details of construction and operation. Some foundational developments:

• Approval of an alternative construction method done by Eco-build Technologies (http://www.ecobuildtechologies.com/) which boasts limited need for electricity and water during the construction process, ability for most of the work to be completed by local community members, and use of local, commonly available building materials. (More details to come!)
  
• Approval of building plans (see above)
  
• Mobilization of the Kazungula chief, local council, and women's group to provide volunteers for the project

2. Adam Swenson and Trevis Underdahl, US volunteers, joined Sarah for 2 weeks in October preparing the land for construction. With the help of local volunteers, the ground was leveled, rocks moved, and brush burned. (If you remember, this had already been done on another plot earlier this year, but that area is to be used for other future community development projects.)

3. Givas Kalangu will be filling Sarah's position as Project Manager as she returns to the States. Givas has been with Shomeka since the beginning and has been a central force in propelling the vision of Shomeka forward and coordinating the partnership between community members, government officials, and the US team.

.

Shomeka Concert Saturday 9/13 @ 7pm!

.

Join us as we raise funds for Adam Swenson and Trev Underdahl to help build the Nico Memorial Clinic in Kazungula, Zambia--not to mention hear their awesome new band play some original music!

Email: adam.swenson@swikecreative.com for details.

.

SARAH HESCH PROJECT MANAGER


Welcome aboard, Sarah! With an extensive international background, Sarah Hesch is a priceless asset to both the Shomeka team and the people of Kazungula. She has spent several years living abroad in the African countries of Uganda, Morocco, and South Africa, as well as Eastern Europe. Her flexibility and cultural insights greatly complement her take-charge attitude and make her not only a wonderful volunteer, but also a great leader.


Sarah has already begun her work in Zambia and is adapting to the 100 degree weather now present in southern Zambia. She will be organizing the clinic construction and working with the local community to faciliate the operations of Shomeka. Also, she will be coordinating work for 2 American volunteers, Adam Swenson and Trevis Underdahl, during their time in Zambia from October 4-18.


Please keep her in your prayers as she serves away from home and family, and paves new roads for the ministry!

.

Reports from the Penn State Trip

Rachel Zimmerman was one of the students participating on the recent medical trip to the Kazungula area. Thought I'd share with you a glimpse of her experience in rural Zambia:

.

"We spent three days in the Kazungula area and saw about 100 or more patients a day. It impressed me how much patience the Zambian people had. They waited for many hours in line and walked such long distances to be seen by the doctor. Even more impressive to me was the dedication of Dr. Steve Rudman who was accompanying our group from Virginia. Often he stayed at a clinic until the last patient was seen. We were able to test many people for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria."

.

Medicine by Candlelight