First Day Back in Mongu

Lianne, Jess, and Mr. Mumbuwa

First morning back in Mongu just started like any other day, waking to the sounds of Sister Christina already out in the garden. Man did I ever miss that woman! Our house feels like we never left it, Lianne and I even get to sleep in our old rooms.
The weather is hot, even at night! Thank goodness for our fans.....

I will never EVER forget our first day back in Mongu. Never in my life have I had a reunion like this before! Everywhere we went; from the hospital, to the school, to the only restaurant in town (Oasis) it was just one big reunion!! All of our old friends and acquaintances came to greet us....word is out that the 'Two Canadian Nurses" are back in town. Now a Zambian greeting isn't like a typical Canadian one. Zambians are full of big hugs and squeals of delight, excitement and always lots of laughter!

Just to walk around the hospital and School of Nursing felt like I was in a parade. I think the greatest feeling was to see our nursing students that we taught last year who have since gone on to graduate, and are now finally working in the hospital as real nurses!


With our nursing students

In one day I think we managed to reconnect with pretty much everyone we had met in the time we spent living in Mongu. From Max (our old taxi driver), to Prince Angola (the gardener), to Mr. Mumbuwa (our teaching colleague and closest friend)…it was just so exciting to see every single one of them. I don’t think we fully had realized the impact we made on the people here, until we returned. Everyone just kept saying how much they had missed us and were so excited that we came back.


Lianne, Dr. Liywalii, Jessica

I have realized the importance of returning to a place where you begin a project. It says to the people here that we are serious and committed to them. In Africa, many groups or NGO’s will start work in an area only to end up pulling out shortly after. It is so wonderful that OkaZHI has chosen to remain working in Western Province, and area that is often forgotten by even their own government. I feel so lucky that our team is back again this year, and will continue to come again and again!!!!