Packing Trunks

Today was a day of preparation as we packed trunks with medications, packed food supplies, and inventoried cooking equipment. We now sit and wait for the container and the main group to arrive. We are ahead of last year in having all the medical trunks marked, thanks to the work of Mike Murphy and the early team (Charlotte Bradsher & Linda Myers).

I still have just a few things to complete like exchanging kwacha, picking up bowls, and final food items. As usual, everything is on Zambian time.

Does the rest of the world operate on a different time management system than the United States. Are we to clock and time conscious? In Zambia, everything is truly Zambian. There is Zam-Chick, Zam-Beef, and most of Zam-Time. What is Zam-Time you ask?

It appears that in Zambia nothing has to be on time and nobody has to be on schedule. An activity begins when everyone arrives. If you are told to come back tomorrow that means come back in several days. If they say it be ready today that means it will be ready tomorrow. If they tell they don't know when it is going to be ready, that means look out you are in for a long wait.

Is that irresponsible on the part of Zambians? Maybe yes or maybe no! In America we are so time conscious that we have express lanes and fast food, drive thru banking and Post Office drop boxes, and of live in a world of lonely and detached people.

Could drive thru windows and home delivery have led to less and less personal touch and communication? I think, you bet it has! If I go in the bank, I meet people and talk to people and establish on-going friendships and relationships. If I go in the restaurant, I slow down, talk to people, identifying and appreciating humanity. No man is an island.

We are so busy that we have no time for each other. Today I was unloading a container, Nepa (a Zambian) happened by the work. He stopped and talked with Justin and me for several minutes. One of the things I really love about Zambians is they always have time for people. They don't watch the clock or worry about the time. They will always have time for YOU....

Maybe there are some things we can learn from our Zambian friends!!!!