Mindy Roberts

hurray! Mindy sent photos

Here are Mindy's comments:

ok, I have no patience in waiting for these photos to upload on this … slow computer!!! ((I'm asking her to reduce the size so we'll get MORE!))  But at least one or two. Don't even know if they'll go through but hopefully it works! I'll try to send more and an up date in a few weeks after our midterm conference and our Namibia vacation.

So there’s one of the new sunset at my house... pictures don't do it justice! One of my neighbors, the baker, and yes that’s his oven and he makes fresh buns they are good! love to all, Mindy

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a Long Awaited update

Following is an email from Mindy telling of her recent activities.  You KNOW she'd love to hear from you.

So I moved just about a month ago now ((from one village to another))... and I love it! I’m still in the same catchment area, just about 3k down the road. It’s a much safer house, my neighbors are close and there are always people at their house, so they can keep an eye on things for me. The house itself is actually a little smaller, but I just cemented the floors and it feels much homier than my other place. I did have to get used to an outdoor bathing shelter. Guess I was spoiled with one inside. It’s not that I’m a bath snob, it’s just that it’s hard to feel clean when you're standing in the dirt bathing... oh well.

I do have termites in this house too, but what’s new. For all the fuss they make of termites in the states, we are learning to live together just fine, but they do make a lot of noise at night while they are eating my roof! Those earplugs I brought are coming in handy.

I’ve been very busy work wise too. My favorite group is the HIV positive living support group I work with. We have a garden and are adding to it little by little. Our newest trial is pineapples. I’m in the process of working with a carpenter to build some rabbit cages too. That’s our other big project.  We have purchased 3 rabbits and want to breed them for an IGA (income generating activity) so let’s hope this time, they actually do "multiply like rabbits"!

I’ve also been working w/ 3 different school. Two of them have gardens. I just spent yesterday making compost with one of the groups.  We're hoping to make better soil, as fertilizer here is way too expensive. I work with the anti-aids clubs too. They are so fun they are grades 6-9. In a culture where they only teach abstinence at school and you don't talk about sex, but everyone is having it... the kids seem so happy to finally get to ask all kinds of questions and have discussions. Sometimes I think they just like trying to ask funny questions, but I always seem to have an answer. Never thought I'd be so comfortable or do so many condom demonstrations in my life!

I’ve been doing a ton of biking these days.... trying about 50k a day. We are hoping to bike to Mansa in November over 2 days. It’s about 270k, so I’ve been trying to get in shape for that. The roads here are crap and of course the cars don't give right-of-way here, so it’s always a little risky on the bike... but those are the chances you take.

Can't believe I’ve been in my village for a year now! I’m headed to Lusaka next week for our midterm conference. We have dr. appts. dentist cleaning and some general meetings as well as a 2 day agriculture workshop. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in my intake again... the ones that are left at least. We've lost about 11 kids now, or 1/3 of our intake. I’m definitely learning that this life isn't for everyone.

It’s tougher than I thought being away from the family, especially when stuff like what’s going on with grandma happens ((she is very ill)). But I’m so excited to see them ((her parents)) in February and as my work picks up and is becoming so rewarding, the time is starting to fly. After Lusaka, Becca and I are off to Namibia for vacation. We're hoping to do sand boarding and dune bugging through the desert.... so excited!

OK everyone, that's it for now - I'm really really hoping for some photos soon!  pk

Mindy's Library Project - and you can participate!

KABUTA BASIC SCHOOL LIBRARY PROJECT

Reading

Books are one of the most important tools for education.  They teach, they inspire, they grow and expand the mind.   Children and adults alike have much to gain from books.  As children learn to read, they learn to ask questions.  They gain confidence; they see the possibilities and dream about their futures.  Even for adults reading is important.  Everyone should have the opportunity to read because it is a vital and necessary part of learning.

 

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
                   ----     Nelson Mandela

Donations
To donate to the Kabuta Library project go to www.peacecorps.gov
Select Donate Now         
Select Donate to Volunteer projects
Select the “Kabuta Library Project” (M. Roberts)

Kabuta Basic School

Nchelenge District of Luapula province has many schools, none of which have a library.  Why Kabuta?  It is one of the largest schools in the district with a population of over 2000 students.  It is a large community and centrally located in the district.  It provides educational access to many of the surrounding villages.

The Library Project

It seems only fair that the school, community and the students should have a library.  Library books would be available to thousands of people; from students to teachers to adult literacy groups and community organizations.  In an area where there are so few educational and learning resources, a library would make a whole new set of resources available.  The books will help children learn to read and practice their English.  But it will do more than that.  When children can read and write they become empowered!  They take responsibility for their futures and their educations and are able to make better life decisions.

The library itself will serve as a place of support and encouragement.  It will be a place where children can go to study and ask questions and where they feel safe and supported by the school’s teachers and staff.

The Funding

The Peace Corps is not a fund raising organization. However, the Peace Corps volunteer in your area has friends and family back home who want to help and support the community of Kabuta. They can’t do this by themselves.  The community has to help.  It is a shared effort.  The community must be motivated enough to mobilize the resources.  If Kabuta thinks the library is important they have to contribute through building materials, labor and time.  But help is on the way.  The other 50% of the funding, as well as shipments of books will come from America to make this project the best it can be!

Mindy thanks you for your support.  Please go back to the top again and read about how YOU can participate!

Mindy's Outpost project

Here are some pictures of Mindy and her first project.  Actually it is the end of the project that the Peace Corps volunteer who was in her village before her started but ran out of time to finish.  She was able to get all the funding done, but then ran out of time to get the material and labor.  Mindy has been working on this since she went to this village.  This is an out post clinic.  Basically is is a small building where people can be treated that sits BETWEEN the two towns that now have medical clinics.  Those clinic's are currently almost a day away so if someone get sick they have to spend a day getting to the clinic.  Sometimes someone will be dispatched from village, that has no clinic or medical help, and try to get someone to come back to the that village.  That can take almost two days.  With this clinic now they can have some small amount of medical service. 

Now the next step is to get it staffed, or at least figure out a rotational schedule for the medical help to staff it. 

 

Mindy gets a cat

 As some of you might already know the area where Mindy now lives is not the cleanest and rodents, bugs, etc. are a real problem.  If you've viewed the video I've put up on utube you can see that Mindy's house looks nice, however one of the problems she had was the grass / thatched roof.  It is a nest for bugs, including rats.  Mindy has never been one to be comfortable around rats.  Ok lets call it like it is...SHE HATES THEM.  So to solve the problem Mindy has gotten a kitten.  Just so she never feels that far away from home she has named the kitten Hollywood.  What she tells us is that it is common in her village for pets to be named after places so what better idea.  Mindy says it's working.  Word appeared to have gotten around amongst the rat population that Mindy's roof was no longer the local Bed & Breakfast.

  

Video of Mindy's hut

Sorry that it has been a while since I have posted anything.  My new years resolution is to get better at this and keep you informed of what is happening with Mindy in Zambia.  To start with I've posted a video we received from Mindy with a tour of her hut.  At least for Cheryl and I it looks much better than we imagined.  The video was taken by another Peace Corps volunteer, Becca.  Becca is the nearest Peace Corp volunteer to Mindy and they live about a 20K bike ride from each other.  Needless to say they have become good friends since they live so close and share so much being alone in Zambia.  The video is posted on utube so you should be able to click on the link below to get there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2F0oETt9x8&feature=channel_page 

As always remember to keep Mindy and all the Peace Corps volunteers in your thoughts and prayers

New Pictures From Mindy Roberts

We received some new pictures from Mindy.  These were taken while she was at her host family during her training outside of Lusaka.  That means they are about 6 weeks old but at least we now have some pictures.  She also wrote on the back of the pictures what they description is.  The words in Italic's are her's from the back of the pictures.

  I love this picture! Me & Lucy.  She is my favorite.  She is home all the time so I spend the most time w/her.  She is so sweet and kind. She has an adorable little laugh and she loves to sing Jesus songs.  So we take turns teaching to each other.  But I found out we both know "Deep & Wide".  Her new favorite is "This is the day".  Hope the picture can capture some of how precious she is.  I want to bring her to visit me in America some day.

 

 

 

 

 The Family – In front of MY house for home stay.  It actually is really good size, but I have to duck when I walk in.  I’m about 2 inches too tall for Zambia.  (L-R) Memory, Bamayo, Lucy.  Bamayo means mother and the other 2 are her grandkids

 

 

 

 We went to wedding a few weeks ago w/ a few of the PCV’s & Bamayos.  The ceremony was awesome and merits a whole letter, but for now you can just see us in our "best dress" (yes Kim, that’s best dressed TIA) L – R Memory, Bamayo, Lucy, me, Sydney, Mark, Matt, And yes they were ready for the picture, but Zambians just don’t smile & pose the way we do – I’m working on them

 

 

 

 

In the "cruiser" on our way to 2nd site visit (L-R) Me, Laura, Mindy (the other one), and Ba Mercy, our language instructor.  Oh Yeah and the back of Collins head – our PCVL , or chauffeur.  

 

 We even climbed to the bottom and went swimming.  I probably contracted some African water disease, but it was worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

As always remember to keep Mindy and all the Peace Corp volunteers in your thoughts and prayers.

 

Mindy's first day's in her village

We received our first set of pictures from Mindy in a letter we got the other day.  The one I’m putting up right now is Mindy and Felicity.  Felicity is Mindy’s Bankashi or “sister”.  She is the daughter of the women who Mindy stayed with during her home stay and training.  She is the same age as Mindy, speaks good English, and works 7 days a week so Mindy did not get to see her as much as she would have liked.  OK and how about Mindy? Doesn’t she look great?  Raise your hand if you agree.

Now for a little update.  Mindy has now been sworn in as an official Peace Corps volunteer.  That took place on September 26.   She has been assigned to a village in the Luapula province.  She is outside the town of Mansa.  You might have picked this up in the new address I sent.  The village is in the northeastern part of Zambia.  In fact she is very close to the Congo.  She is on a large lake and her porch faces the water so she says she has an incredible view of the fisherman and lake.

Her village is a second generation village meaning that a Peace Corp volunteer was assigned to the village previously.  In fact Mindy got to meet her during a site visit.  The project that she started is not yet completed because of funding so Mindy will prorobaly be picking up this project.  It had something to do with building a health clinic but the details a little fuzzy.  More on that as we hear.
The nice thing about a second generation village is that her living hut had already been built.  Mindy says it is one of the nicest huts she has seen and she actually has a private “shower” area.  I’ll leave that up to your imagination but apparently it is a rarity so Mindy is pleased about that.  She recently received a package we sent her which included a solar shower bag.  Once she gets that hooked up and working she thinks people will be standing in line to take a shower.  Isn’t it amazing at the little things that we take for granted can mean so much to people in Zambia. 

As you might expect Mindy has good and bad days.  But if you know Mindy most of them are good.  Right now there is a lot of idle time as she is waiting for funding and the rainy season to start and then end.  Apparently now much happens during the rainy season except sitting in your hut, hoping the rain will stop soon.  She is also getting acclimated to the village, the people, and the leaders.  A lot of time is spent getting to know people, getting comfortable and building trust.  On the few bad days we have talked to Mindy it has to do with the poverty and living conditions that exist in the village.  Some days it just overwhelms her as it would any of us. A few minutes in the village and we would all stop complaining about anything and realize how lucky and blessed we are. 
The solar charger Mindy took is working great so she listens to her IPOD a lot.  She also made a comment on how thankful she was for all the letters she received as part of the packet we put in her suitcase and the ones people have sent.  She reads them over and over again.  When she gets a little down she pulls out a letter and re-reads it.  What everyone sent was very encouraging and always helps build her spirits.

As we hear more I’ll let you know.

As always keep Mindy and all the Peace Corps volunteers in your thoughts and prayers. 

Mindy Gets Her Village Assignment

Mindy has received her assignment.  She is in the very North, Eastern portion of Zambia.  I'm not near a computer where I can get to Goggle Earth and show you where she is but once I get back in the states I'll do that.  Below is an email we received from Mindy describing her visit to her village.  The italicized text is from Mindy's email.

Hi guys!!! Hope all is well.  Anyway, things are good here.

We went and saw our new sites over the weekend. Sunday night we actually got to stay in my hut.  Usually the volunteers we are replacing are already gone, but mine is a special case. Lea was finishing a huge project so she had to extend her stay, and we actually helped move her out on Monday morning as we headed back down to Moans. It was awesome getting to visit with her and hear all about the village.  Then we walked around and she introduced me to some of the local village people, including the headman that owns my house, who I will be working with a lot. So, about the house...

I have the best house in all of Peace Corps Zambia!   It is a lake house, or should I say hut. It’s about 150 yards up hill from the lake. It’s just a five minute walk down to the water, where all the women are washing their clothes and the fishermen are bringing in their boats.  From my porch, you can sit and watch the water.

It is a fishing town, so there is a lot going on, and I am right on the road (usually not the case with volunteers, but I’m not complaining).  On clear days you can see the boats from my house, and at night the fishermen are out on the lake.

Here they eat a small fish called Kapenta (sort of their version of sardines). The Kapenta are attracted to light. So the fishermen go out at night, and their nets have 12 or 14 lanterns on them that they cast into the water and the fish swim to the light. It makes for an incredible view! Across the darkness are all the glistening lights and it actually looks like a sky line.

So, at night when I’m missing home, I can sit on my front porch and it actually looks like I’m driving over the hill in to the valley... ah LA.   Because Luapula is the "land of lakes" even in dry season it is greener than most of the country.

My village is Nchelenge. I am actually the most northern volunteer in the country so unfortunately it is about a 20 hr. bus ride to Lusaka, but is an overnight bus so I can sleep. In exchange I actually have one of the closest PC (Peace Corps)  "neighbors"... Becca! We requested to be near each other, but didn't know they would put us so close. She is only about 10 k away or a 40 min. bike ride as the case may be. We should get to see each other at least once a week.

So, things are good here. We are going to spend a couple of days in Monsa, where the provincial house is, along with all the provincial offices.  W will make some introductions and just tool around town. It’s back to Lusaka on Sat. for 2 more weeks of training.

Our induction ceremony will be on the 26th. We have all kinds of tests first, language, medical, safety and security, so it will be a busy week, but if all goes as planned I should be moved into my new home by the 30th or so.

As always keep Mindy and all the other Peace Corps volunteers in your thoughts and prayers.

A letter from Mindy

Stef received a letter from Mindy this weekend and Mindy asked that we pass on the following.  The italicized text is from Mindy's letter.

So about Africa…it is amazing.  You are right the people smile so much.  It really makes you realize you missed the boat in America. They get something that we don’t – they get that time is not money, and things are not security blankets. And when you get that life is about family and friends, and laughter, how can you not help but smile all the time. They are teaching me so much – to slow down most importantly. To Zambians, waiting is an event. What a concept to not be bothered by the wait, but instead to realize that’s what life is all about, the waiting.
The landscape is awe inspiring….the rolling hills, that all lead to the fiery sun which glows brighter than anything I have ever seen.  The hues of red spill out all over the sky and bleed onto the distant hills – it’s incredible. And then, almost as quickly as you can point at it , it vanishes and a dark, deep blue sky appears, as clear as a bell and filled with more stars than you can count. There is no smog from cars. No skyscrapers to block the view and no sirens to interrupt the night’s silence. I sleep more than I ever have in my life.  I go to bed at 9 every night, as it’s too dark to do much of anything else.  I sleep great and am up with the sun, and the roosters, at about 5:30.  Our training schedule is packed.  We are in classes each day.  Language goes from 8-12:30, lunch break, then technical teaching from 2-5. We bike to and from class which is great exercise – especially since I’ve eaten more carbs in the last 3 weeks than I have in the last three years.  But, the food is a whole other story.

As always keep Mindy and all the Peace Corps volunteers in your thoughts and prayers.