Welcome to Zambia!

Mission Lusaka: Work Permits and Registration Thank you for all your prayers – we have been in Zambia for a whole week! The first leg of our journey to Lusaka was very straightforward. We were granted our visitor visas without too much trouble and it was wonderful to be greeted by Becs, a kiwi nurse working at Kalene.

Our accommodation in Lusaka was very comfortable. The CMML (Christian Mission in Many Lands) guesthouse accommodates missionaries flying in and out of Lusaka. Although we weren’t excited about the prospect of staying in the capital for a whole week, the comfort of the guesthouse really helped us to relax after a very busy few weeks preparing to leave the UK.

We had two missions whilst in Lusaka: to register with our respective nursing and medical councils and to obtain work permits from the immigration office. This process certainly helped to hone character and develop patience in us! In total, we visited immigration four times, spending between 1 and 3 hours there at a time. We would sign in each day, after much pushing and shoving in the ‘queue,’ then wait at various desks to find out which stage our application was at. Christopher’s work permit was ready on Day 3 but they had simply added me as ‘wife’ on his permit, even though we had submitted two separate applications. Although this kept me legal to remain in Zambia, I would be unable to work. We were scheduled to fly out on Wednesday and we only found this out on Tuesday! Anyway, we arrived on Wednesday morning, waited one hour and my permit was ready – a huge answer to prayer!

Registering with the nursing council was relatively straightforward. I had a brief interview, paid my money and was granted temporary registration. I will have to return to Lusaka in June to sit an exam for this to become permanent. Christopher had a little more trouble with his registration. He travelled between the medical council and the University Teaching Hospital several times before his exam and interview. He was examined in paediatrics, O&G, medicine and surgery, with his best mark in paeds and worst in surgery?!?! He then was interviewed by a panel consisting of an orthopod, a gynaecologist and a physician. They must have been happy with him as they granted his registration.

First Impressions
I was particularly excited by the African sun! When we stepped off the plane, the airport looked all of a blur in the midday heat but by the time we reached customs, our shirts were wet with sweat. Although I enjoy tropical temperature, I usually experience this while on holiday but I think having to work in the heat with all the smells of a rural hospital may prove quite a challenge.
Another stark impression is poverty. This is apparent wherever you look – roads, cars, buildings, clothing, people.

We were also surprised by how green Lusaka was for an African city. Running alongside the roads are miles of long grass being hacked back by men with blades. We have arrived at the beginning of the wet season and so I have invested in a pair of pink wellies and a golfing umbrella! One of the missionary staff had requested some make-up from town but this was one mission too far and despite asking in several stores (no doubt to the amusement of Zambian service personnel) we failed to obtain mzungu (white people) foundation!

Other than visiting the nursing and medical councils and immigration, the rest of our time in Lusaka was spent between the two malls, Manda Hill and Arcades. These modern shopping centres are very luxurious compared to the rest of Lusaka and we enjoyed western food, cinema and stocked up on supplies that would be unattainable out in the bush. It was great to have Becs on hand to advise on essential items.

Destination: Kalene Mission Hospital, North Western Province
Having collected our work permits, we headed to the airport to fly up to Kalene. We were met by Captain John Loudon and escorted to our aircraft. The plane was a Cessna and looked like it was constructed from Lego!! It was tiny. I sat next to Captain John to try and avoid motion sickness. It was most entertaining wearing the headsets and saying things like ‘Roger’ after each sentence and ‘Broadsword calling Danny Boy’ – entertaining for possibly five minutes! It wasn’t as bumpy as I expected but nonetheless, I clutched my sic sac for the three hour duration. We flew over plains and bush and the odd village and John pointed out various landmarks until we could see the Kalene airstrip. We were finally at our destination. We were greeted by several of the mission staff who helped us carry our bags to our apartment. Becs helpfully put my wellies in the fridge! The apartment is part of the hangar and looks out over a beautiful garden. We have electricity, hot water and internet access so it is very comfortable. We will only be here temporarily before Bamboo Cottage is available for us.

All for now.

Love from Emma and Christopher x

Hwyl fawr Gogledd Cymru / Goodbye North Wales

It is our last day in Caernarfon and as I sit writing this, I am surrounded by packing boxes and chaos! We certainly have mixed feelings about leaving this special place but we know that God has laid Zambia on our hearts and we are looking forward to new challenges at Kalene Hospital.

There is so much to do when you move house, especially it seems when it is abroad. I don't know how anyone could manage to flee the country unnoticed, even if they wanted to! I once found £500 in cash in an old glasses case of Chris's and gently suggested that the bank might be a suitable place for such a large amount of money. He told me that it should remain where it was in case we ever needed to escape the country and leave no trace of whereabouts...I have since confiscated Adventure Stories for Boys as that fine line between fantasy and reality seemed a tad too blurred!

I am very pleased, not to mention relieved, to have qualified as a midwife! I am still awaiting confirmation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of my registration but hope to have this by the time we leave.

There are many people we wish to thank:
- All the staff in maternity, general surgery and anaesthetics (Christoph had a whistle-stop tour of anaesthetics and obstetrics and, so he tells me, learnt all there is to know in a week, rather than the usual 5 year training programmes?!?) Nadine, Marie and Pat - thank you for being fantastic mentors. Thank you Karen and Gwen for donating your stethoscopes - Chris will have to relearn how to use one! Karen, Kizzy, Carol, Kelly and Lynda, trainee baby catchers united!! It has been a privilege to train with you all - you are going to be fantastic midwives.
- The wonderful Segontium Terrace Crew - we have so enjoyed living on 'Y Terrace' and have had a fab time. We loved our party and will wear our T-Shirts with pride!
- All those at Hope who have encouraged us with words and prayers and in practical ways. We will miss you very much.
- All those at the NEC who have shown such interest in our plans and the work at Kalene.
- The folk at Street Baptist who have also supported us.
- Our parents who have done all manner of things from packing boxes to knitting cases for Kindles - we love you.
- Thank you for the many cards, emails, texts and phone calls of encouragement - we feel very loved.

We are getting our van tomorrow and will be heading down to Somerset/Dorset to see Chris's family. We leave for Lusaka on Wednesday and our next blog will be live from Zambia! We will be in Lusaka for about a week. We hope to have sorted out visas and registrations during that time in order to fly up to Kalene on or before 23rd Feb. We understand internet access is pretty reliable so we will soon be in touch. We are excited to hear from Becs, one of the nurses at Kalene, that she is putting together an orientation programme for us. We will have a lot to learn but are eager to get cracking.

Diolch yn fawr iawn / thank you very much.

Cariad / Love from Emma and Christopher x