Zambia: What a Difference a Dish Rack Makes!

What a Difference a Dish Rack Makes!

Posted on November 12, 2012 by emansfield

A dish rack in Moyo

You’ve heard the expression, “What a difference a day makes”?  I believe its origin may have come from Dinah Washington’s 1959, top 10 hit, which dons the same title – or maybe that’s vice versa – but you get my point. And if you haven’t heard the song, please take a moment to listen and appreciate it because it’s truly a classic.

Mechanized water

In Moyo Zambia from where I recently returned and am STILL suffering from a major case of jetlag, comes my own take-off on the expression/song.  A simple thing like a dish rack can make a world of difference in a place like Moyo.

Actually, our team of trip participants learned of the 5 simple things Moyo residents are being encouraged to set-up in order to “earn” World Vision’s installation of Mechanized Water.  A system that provides “nearby access” to clean water within their community.

1)  a dish rack,
2)  a trash pit,
3)  a shower area,
4)  a pit latrine with a “tip-top” (a mechanism rigged for hand washing),
5)  and a generally clean an tidy living area.

Pit latrine with tip-top for washing hands

These 5 things have so much impact on their living conditions, just hearing about it alone is not enough. You just have to meet the people it impacts to truly understand.

With a surgically created anus, because this child was sadly born without one, she is now able to thrive because she has nearby clean water to drink.

Not only does it decrease deaths from waterborne disease, the children are able to focus on things like attending school because they no longer have to walk miles and miles just to carry dirty water from a stream for drinking/cooking/bathing.

There is still much work to be done but it was exciting to see first hand the impact World Vision child sponsorship can make by not only addressing the immediate physical needs but also the transition toward the behavioral changes that must also occur in order to make a sustainable difference. If interested in learning more, please do not hesitate to ask about how you can make a difference in Moyo.

Just one (of many) examples of the impact…  Since our first visit in May 2010, World Vision and CPC (my church) have helped make Malaria, fall from the 1st to the 4th position in terms of cause for disease related deaths.

Upon delivering new bed linens to nurse Katherine in the Moyo clinic on behalf of CPC, it was a total blessing to see the once full clinic beds bringing new life instead of the alternative!

Mother and newborn in Moyo clinic

 
I feel so blessed to have been able to visit a second time to see my amazing, hard working, friends at World Vision Moyo ADP as well as my sponsored child, Beene!

World Vision Moyo ADP Team and CPC Go-Trip 2012 Team

God bless them all!

Eli

PS:  Please stay tuned for more Moyo stories to come!

Zambia: Time to Process

Lots of mixed emotions among Team Moyo as this trip winds down. We've seen and done a lot during our visit and our hearts will never be quite the same.

We are taking a little time on safari to process what we've seen and learned with discussion and prayer among God's amazing African creations before returning home.  Our team has already identified the "gifts" shown/given to us during our time in Moyo.  Among them are generosity, relationships, humility, hope and an appreciation for "just being" in the moment. 

I know I speak for the team when I say that we already miss the WV ADP team we left in Choma and it has truly been a blessing to travel with Mike Owen of World Vision. We are all bonded by new friendships solidified by sharing such an amazing experience together.  

Brianna Gustafson writes;  I love the simplicity of life here. In fact, I slightly envy the people of Choma & Moyo that we've met. Unfortunately, this type of life is so foreign to us in the States.  The landscape is so pure and untouched - absolutely amazing!  The people of Moyo are a beautiful people - so much happiness and so many smiles in the midst of such extreme poverty.  Zambia and Moyo will forever be in my heart and this will definitely not be my last trip here.  

This will likely be the last post before we return home on Sunday morning.  Many thanks again for your continued prayers for safe travels on the long journey home which begins tomorrow morning.   

God bless, 

Eli & Team Moyo