Meyer's Parrot, My Sermon, and the vanishing wild birds of Zambia

Muka Sikutanta (wife of Sikutanta) with girls at church in the ciicuta.

June 30 (Sunday)

               Today was my first time to preach a sermon.  I thought of it as teaching a Bible study without asking or answering questions.  We had 12 adults and about 30 or more children. One of the adults was the Headman for the area who works for Chief Mapanza.  Blu introduce me as Sikutanta (He who climbs), and Lynne as Muka Sikutanta (wife of Sikutanta).  After church he asked Blu again to tell him my name, and Blu said Sikutanta.  The Headman asked, “What is his real name?”  Blu told him, and the Headman wrote down my Tonga name and real name in the Tonga Hymnal he was carrying.  I am going to interpret that as a good thing. 

               I thought the sermon went well since I finished exactly on time at 12 PM, and I had covered all of my points.  The Headman was shaking his head in agreement all the way through my sermon.  Lynne participated in my practical demonstration.  It is hard to describe the feeling of being able to serve and minister here at New Day.  I have had more opportunities to serve and minister during our 4 ½ weeks here at NDO than I have since I became a Christian in 1977.  Some would say that they are desperate here for teachers, preachers and people to serve/minister.  Even if that were the case, and it isn’t, I would still be appreciative of the many opportunities I have been given to serve, teach, and preach while at NDO.  I have been so blessed!!!

               Monday starts our last full week in Mapanza.  Oh!!!  It is Malaria Monday . . . I have to take my malaria pill tomorrow.  I could probably stop taking them, but if I start something I like to finish it.  I do have a mosquito bite, so it is best to be safe.  No other parasites to worry about.  While at Auburn earning my B.S. in Marine Biology, we studied trypanosomiasis (kissing bug disease) and schistosomiasis (endemic in the Lake Karibe north of here), but I am grateful to say I have experienced neither.  I did meet an Iranian once with schistosomiasis while visiting the flight surgeon in Pensacola.  You might remember that before the Shah of Iran was overthrown we were training Iranian pilots here in the US.  Rather than describe the disease I will let you look it up if you are interested.

Meyer's parrot  (wild) in the tree behind our hut.

               Lynne and I were watching an episode of NCIS Season 9 this afternoon and hard a strange whistling sound behind our hut.  I went out with my binoculars and found the bird in a mimosa tree.  It was a parrot I later identified as Myer’s Parrot.  The distinctive blue-green belly, and yellow shoulders and nose patch were the giveaway.  We have both seen parrots in cages and in stores, but never in the wild.  Some of the Rosemont team were surprised they did not see more birds while here in the bush.  The answer for the dearth of bird life is simple.  People in the bush live by subsistence.  Those beautiful birds you and I enjoy seeing are dinner for them.  When Toby was driving the truckloads of river sand to NDO, he met a young boy who was hunting birds with a sling shot.  There are not a lot of mammals or birds roaming the bush here in Central Zambia.   There are supposedly 700 species of wild bird in Zambia.  During our safari in Chobe National Park in Botswana I logged 43 new species of bird for my life list.  During my time at NDO I have logged 4 new species here.  Not complaining, just saying.  Lynne told me Guatemala is the same.  Very few birds and no wild mammals, because the natives subsist on the wildlife.  You can't blame them for eating to survive.

               This is the Rosemont teams first Sunday back at Rosemont.  I hope they receive a hero’s welcome.  They were like Army ants swarming the bush here, ministering, teaching, encouraging and building nesting boxes and bookshelves.  The bunnies are happy with the nesting boxes.  Some of the teachers wish they had built more bookshelves.

               The NDO children are finally starting to adjust to my clean-shaven face.  Darbi tells me I look much younger without the beard.  I appreciate that compliment.  I did find that Zambians treated me differently with a beard.  I receive more respect and deference from them.  When we checked in at the Zambezie waterfront for our tent stay, the guys with the keys took Lynne and me to our tent first and settled us.  He refused to let me carry the suitcases.  In the market place they called me “Papa” and were very respectful.  It did not help me get better prices.

               It has been a quiet, relaxing Sunday afternoon here at NDO.  Lynne is down at the kitchen helping them cook dinner.  Kalenga, our regular cook, is at the regional church conference.  He will return tomorrow.  Lynne is helping the NDO social worker and two of the teachers cook dinner.  She has experience helping Joyce on Wednesday nights.  After I slice off my fingertip with the mandolin, they will only let me wash dishes.  So I have a while before they will need my assistance.  I will stop by after climbing the tower to watch the evening’s sunset.

               Thanks again for the letters of encouragement.  We have opened all that we received.  Lynne and I will re-read them to get us through the next 12 days.  Your prayers are effective and appreciated.