Mbereshi (29 Nov - 2 Dec)

Mbereshi is a long way from Lusaka, almost six hundred miles. It would be quicker and shorter to cut through the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but that would mean leaving the country and re-entering, which was not feasible.

Driver Moses and I left Lusaka at 6.40 am, arriving in Mbereshi at 7.10 pm, with very little stopping en route. When we arrived we were greeted by Alison, torch in hand, as the power was out, part of Zambia’s programme of ‘load shedding’, and leading to considerable interest in solar power and its possibilities. The United Church of Zambia (UCZ) is currently trying to broker a deal that would bring solar farms to a number of communities around the country where they have schools. Alison does not have running water in her house at all. Despite that I had a ‘bucket shower’ with hot water almost immediately.

Alison is the headteacher of Mabel Shaw Girls’ Secondary School. She is a mission partner from the United Reformed Church who has served in Zambia since 1997. Before that she served in the Solomon Isles, and then in Tuvalu, from 1985 to 1987. A trained teacher, her work has always been in schools, but she has been a well respected and experienced headteacher within UCZ schools for a considerable period now.

When I last visited Zambia, and Alison, in December 2017, she was headteacher at the UCZ school at Mwenzo, near to the town of Nakonde, which is situated on the border with Tanzania. Alison had expected to remain at Mwenzo until retirement but, just as she was leaving Zambia to come to the UK on furlough leave was informed that the church wanted her to relocate to Mbereshi as those responsible for such things felt that the school there needed some new leadership and that Alison was the right person to provide this. Initially she was concerned about this request, and so it was good to see that she has settled in so well and feels that she is definitely in the right place.

In the end, despite returning to Zambia in early February, she did not move to Mbereshi until late April. Initially, she had to overcome a range of difficulties but, with good support, especially from her deputy and the local minister, she has settled in well and got on well with addressing the school’s problems, including exam cheating, pregnancies and the catering. I discovered that the girls are often given ‘just cabbage’ to eat. It is supposed to be enhanced by cooking oil and relish, this latter possibly being bits of chicken or fish, though one of the ways the cooks can enhance their income is to fail to add these elements. Of course, key among the problems with which the school struggles are the problems with electricity and water supplies, especially the latter. A large community of girls (around 500 girls, all boarders) really needs significant supplies of water. Water is therefore a major problem and has to be managed carefully. She would like to have a borehole on site.  Load shedding is obviously another problem, and she is very interested in a scheme for solar farms which is being worked on in combination with somebody from the UK.  Mabel Shaw is earmarked as one of the possible sites.

For me, it was particularly interesting to visit Mbereshi as it was originally a mission station of the London Missionary Society, founded by the society in 1900. As well as the school and the church, there is a hospital and, in times past, it was quite an extensive community, with paved roads and street lighting, neither of which survive, apart from the occasional indication of what was once a paved road.

The school is a complex of single storey buildings on a large site. It includes classrooms, dormitories and ancillary buildings. The school is better equipped than was the case at Mwenzo. For instance, there are three science labs, against one, and better equipment. There is a covered area (thatched) somewhere around the centre which tends to get used as a sort of staff room. The library has very few books, and so is currently being used to store Alison’s excess possessions, ready for when she can occupy the head’s house, which is still not available to her. I also saw the kitchens where there are big boiling pots, and the outside kitchen, complete with fire, for when the power is down. 

There is a small cultivated area and they are looking to develop the area under cultivation in order to augment food supplies. The school also currently has some pigs. There is a sports field, a large assembly hall, and a tuck shop.

Alison said that she has an excellent deputy, and some good teachers, though others a bit less so. She does feel that some members of staff will need to be changed, notably on the cooking side. She wants to do various things to improve the school. She has already tightened up significantly on discipline and improved the security over exams, where there was a lot of cheating. Apparently, a lot of girls were upset because teachers were not allowed to invigilate their own subjects in the exams. She has created a strong room to protect exam papers. Because the possibility of cheating was removed, she expects results to be poor, and to go down, this year, but that is a necessary step in improving the school. 

On Sunday we got to the school just before 7.30 am. The girls were gathering in the main hall for morning worship, and the service stared soon after that. The girls themselves led the service, with the various roles allocated. There was a praise group which sang, but no communal singing, prayers - at different points led by different girls, all very “professional”, the readings, which I had chosen, notices, offering, though only a few brought offering forward, and I “preached”.  I also presided at Communion, with about 20/25 girls receiving, those who were confirmed members of UCZ.  At the end the chaplain gave a very nice word of thanks.

The service was shorter than usual, and less singing, probably because Grade 12s would be key, and have gone.

But that let us get to the church in good time.

The service is scheduled for 9, but usually starts at 9.30, which is what happened. We were there in very good time, so had a look at some graves of missionaries which are adjacent to the church. The church is of very traditional construction, built of bricks and with a tiled roof, and, a hundred years old, is beginning to feel its age and may need replacement or extensive repair before too long. Frederic, the minister, has 22 churches, though this is the main one. The service was preceded by Sunday School, happening outside when we arrived. The service itself had lots of praise with different people/groups leading at different points. The offering had everyone coming forward, but directed by a steward. There were readings, notices, prayers.  The language was a mix of Bemba and English - and I preached, Frederic translating as I did so.  The service was just short of two hours.

After worship, Alison, Frederic and I went to one of his other churches. It’s a growing church in a very large village, still under construction. It was interesting because we drove through part of the village to reach the church with traditional thatched dwellings and very rough roads. The church was by a shopping street. The main church has walls and benches but, currently, just canvas covers to give some roof protection.  There is also a small hall. It was good to meet the elders briefly. Lay leadership is key when you are caring for 22 churches!