Last Day in Ndola -- Thoughts from Several Girls

This is Julia Goldman on June 16... Fathers' Day!! Today was a very fun and relaxing day. We had the chance to wake up at any time this morning. My room woke up at 9:00 AM. We had eggs and bacon, which is very big for us! We got ready for mass afterward and everyone dressed up in long dresses or skirts. At 11:00 AM we boarded the bus for a 45 minute bus ride. It was very bumpy towards the back! (personal experience) When we began getting close to the church everyone on the streets started clapping and waving! It was amazing to see how happy they were to see us. When we arrived at the church there were hugs and hand shakes. It was very cool to see how they were so interested in us. All of them came up and greeted us with a friendly smile and handshake. Mass was started with beautiful singing and dancing from the younger side. Service was led in Bemba so it was a very difficult mass to process. Communion was served in a different way here. They had one massive line and the priest dipped the host into the wine and placed it into our mouths. At the end of a long mass (2 1/2 hours) we all got called up to the front and everyone in the community shook our hands. They were all so friendly and nice. It was a great opportunity to experience a mass in Bemba. We got back to the Fatima school around 4:00 PM. The sisters were very nice to make us a "bready type" doughnut. Those were delicious. We had to clean up and pack all of our things for tomorrow. We are leaving tomorrow for the safari lodge. Tonight we are having our "goodbye" dinner with the sisters of Fatima. See you on Friday!

This is Grace Hansen on June 16. Yesterday each member of Team Mutomo got the opportunity to shadow a student at the Fatima School. We all got to wear their uniforms and hear about their interesting lives.  It was truly amazing to hear how different our lives are compared to the girls'. In my experience, I shadowed a girl named Choolwe, and being with her the whole day helped me to feel more connected to her culture. I learned about popular music, movies, and hobbies that she enjoys while she stays here. I got especially close with her and was so privileged to spend a day with Choolwe. I can't wait for the last few activities here in Zambia!

This is Anne Lamberton on June 16. This past Thursday Team Mutomo packed into two separate busses and drove out to outreach clinics in remote areas - the middle of nowhere. At the outreach clinics we helped weighing babies, taking their heights, and giving them the vitamin supplements they needed. Hundreds of mothers, fathers, and children came to these clinics hoping to receive the attention their kids needed. This experience was incredibly satisfying knowing we were able to give them the attention they deserved. It may have been an incredibly overwhelming day, but in the end it was an amazing experience. Tomorrow we leave Ndola and head to the safari lodge. It has been a memorable week here at the Fatima Girls' School!

This is Grace Blevins on June 16! We've had the privilege of experiencing countless amazing activities here in Zambia. So far, one of everyone's favorites was visiting Saint Anthony's Orphanage in Ndola. Many of us had lots of questions after that life-changing visit (which Elsa will elaborate on) and we are lucky enough to be travelling with Dr. Dana Johnson. He is a Professor at the U of M, pediatrician, and head of Adoptive Services in Minnesota. Needless to say, he is very knowledgeable on all things regarding orphans around the world. Some members of the team were thrilled to attend a lecture that Dr. Johnson gives on the effects of institutionalizing orphaned children-which answered many of our questions after leaving St. Anthony's. His research-based lecture added to our own personal experiences thus far and only widened our view of the world. Thank you, Dr. Johnson!

This is Elsa Ayotte on June 16! This past week we visited St. Anthony's Orphanage, and I believe I speak for the whole team when I say it was an incredible experience. Each time we return, it is even more amazing than the time before. When we go there, we really interact with the kids and get a feel for how they live. It was really rewarding to return there again after last year's experience, and have some kids remember us. It's a perfect example of how big of an impact we are having on these kids. It was also a different experience when we went yesterday because they were celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the orphanage. The first day we went, all the kids wanted to do was play with us, but the day of their anniversary they had a bouncy house with a rock climbing wall and music playing. The kids loved it! Overall, it has been a very rewarding experience. As Grace Blevins mentioned, Dr. Dana Johnson had a very powerful presentation that helped us piece together our experience and our sadness for their conditions. We learned our impact on their early life will be very beneficial in their life. Can't wait to see you all on Friday!

Hi everyone this is Maddy Kranz on June 16th as well! We are all very overwhelmed with emotions from our trip. We have all learned so much about ourselves and the world outside of the United States. Last night the Fatima girls invited us to the annual Miss Africa Night where we were able to connect with the students we shadowed and dance the night away! We performed a well-practiced dance routine for the whole school and they absolutely loved it. I'm limited on time to write more about our experience because we are headed to a reflection with all the Sisters, but to summarize what we are taking from the trip, I think all of us girls have truly learned to appreciate the lives we are blessed with upon seeing how many other people are living. Whether it's the poverty and sickness seen at the outreach clinics, or the sense of isolation in the children at the orphanages, we have exercised our skills of nurturing and appreciating those around us. Our hearts are filled to the brim with sympathy for the sad sights we have seen, but also with a universal love and eagerness to keep serving and working to better the lives of others, all while maintaining gratitude for our own lives. Thank you to everyone for blessing us with such an inspirational trip!!!

To conclude: Thanks to all of the girls and Nick for the inspiring, heartfelt words. I hope this blog has given you a glimpse into what they are experiencing in Africa. These are just a few opportunities they've experienced here. I'm sure there will be many more stories to come.

Thank you for sending your children to Zambia! You have made a difference in their lives, much like they have made on the lives they have touched here. Ann Mattson