Golf in Zambia

The previous mission president really liked to golf and indicated that along with working hard, we would be playing hard.  I never got to play with him the first three weeks and since arriving it has been the work hard half of the promise.  I felt that strange malady creeping up on me again and decided I needed to take care of my mental health and got up early one morning when the new president was out of town and headed to the Chainama golf course.  It is only fifteen minutes from our house.  Here is the entrance.

There were a group of six or seven caddies watching the road and Jolan got to me first and became my caddie.  We then had to wake up someone sleeping in a back room who had a set of clubs I could rent.

Then I had to buy some balls.  I headed out to conquer eighteen holes without a warm-up or hitting the driving range.  It had only been about a year.

However, for those that have golfed with me, they know that any practice would not help.

On about the third hole I knew I had "lost  one" but Jolan insisted he could find it.

He came out with the same ball.  I would have substituted one or not gone in at all, there are nasty things hiding in Zambia's grass.

As I was getting ready to address a shot I looked down and saw what looked like flowing lead making a path.  I asked Jolan what they were called and he suggested relocating the ball.  They are called "Lead Ants" because that is what they look like as they travel, flowing lead.  He said they sting a lot but I didn't give them a chance.

Whack and he was off to find the next shot.  This round was fun as I just hit a-way and Johan wanted to get back and see if he could pick up a second round of golfers.  I never saw another golfer the whole time and I was still the only car in the parking lot when I left.  It was a very quick three hours and fifteen minutes.

Some of those photos show plenty of blue sky but the clouds were building fast in the east.

As soon as I got in the car the rain started and these were two of my photos heading home to shower before going to the mission office.

It didn't seem like much effort to play eighteen holes, but I slept like this little baby that night, I was worn out!

President and Sister Erickson brought their clubs to Zambia, I suppose on the counsel of Pres. Padovich.  They have yet to use them, but I am sure I can now talk them into it, and I know the phones work well out there.

Accidents of Zambia

If a truck or car has a problem you just stop.

There is no thought of pulling off the road because usually there isn't a shoulder, just a ditch, or if it looks like a shoulder you could sink in the mud.  So everyone is trained to just stop and traffic will figure a way to get around you.

Even if there happens to be a new road with a shoulder, just stop.  Perhaps your buddies will warn you if another vehicle is bearing down on you.

You will notice that tires are put out to warn others that there is a hazard.

That car will be fixed right there.  It is a lot cleaner than the dirt lot.

When you take to the highways for an hour or more, you can count on seeing at least a couple of accidents.

Notice the triangles.  Each vehicle is required to carry them in case of a hazard.

It is more common to see tree limbs torn off and placed ahead and behind to warn oncoming vehicles.

Sometimes the loads shift if not secured properly.

Some loads are a little awkward for normal traffic.

The wrecking yards are the parking lots/spaces around any police station.  Once they are stripped then they are hauled off.  There always seems to be a fresh 10 or so cars around each neighborhood station.  This car below got T-boned at an intersection between the mission home and where we live.  This driver was in a hurry and pulled out in front of a truck.

Speeding is usually a big factor along with poor vehicle maintenance.  This truck was jack-knifed as we were leaving town.

After passing the turn off to Livingstone and before the Zimbabwe border there is a wonderland of wrecks.

There is a bit of a downgrade and plenty of turns.  It seemed every curve had a wreck in it.

Some places had evidence of wreck after wreck.

Where these trucks come to a stop there is usually another truck off-loading or perhaps scavenging the load and parts.

Here is a truck almost loaded from the wreck.

Below is a sample of what causes a lot of problems.  The road condition shown here is the same road the previous trucks were on.  I know it looks a lot worse but it actually keeps the traffic slower.  The pot holes are what the trucks and cars are trying to avoid at a high speed.  This is why vehicles are always aiming at you head-on, trying to avoid damage.  Some holes or drop-offs where a shoulder should be could be one or two feet deep.  Is it any wonder why a load would shift?

This truck is moving down the highway.  I knew my truck driving son would appreciate the tires' condition and lack of tires.  This is daylight.  At night the movement is scarier as they know it is dangerous and they think they can not be caught.  They are correct.  Driving at night on an open highway is insane.  We have come home from a long day having to drive the early hours of dark.

No street lights, weaving vehicles coming at you and pedestrians and bicycles along the edge.  Many vehicles have only one light and you don't know if it is the right or left one working.  There are very few motorcycles.

Of course one man's tragedy is another man's fortune.

Some trucks look like an accident but just keep running.

Don't worry we'll fix it right here.

Night driving without any outside lights or reference is tough on these lonely roads.

Once you drift off, you have multiplied your problems.

Sometimes you see trucks and wonder what the other vehicle looks like.

Here are a lot of branches to keep you from running into the stopped truck.

Zambians are very helpful.  If you blow a tire just wait a minute or two and you will have a crowd to help get you on your way.  A nice tip would be helpful but no anger if you don't have anything to spare.  These guys are helpful for another reason.  The pickup they were riding in the back of broke down.  They helped it get up this hill so they could all get back to their jail cells and a nice meal.

The big ditches are always a problem.

After it has been studied a while and a consensus taken the car will get out of the ditch without a tow truck.

I really have endless photos of wrecks.

This is a truck that hit another truck head-on at night, of course no survivors.

This past weekend the news had a bus/truck head-on that looked pretty much like this except the bus was burned and gutted.  It made the news because it killed instantly twelve people and twenty four went to the hospital.  Maybe the dead were the lucky ones?  It happened around two or three in the morning.  NEVER, NEVER get on the highways at night!

Metal Workers of Alick Nkhata

Alick Nkhata was a popular Zambian broadcaster and musician.  This road that is named for him runs in front of the area known as Mass Media or the hub of Zambian broadcasting.  We drive down this street everyday.  Other senior missionaries refer to it as the "Home Depot" street.  If you are building a home or repairing one, this is a good place to start looking for supplies.

One group of craftsmen are the metal workers.  Businesses tend to clump together when they have a similar product much like in the U.S.  There are many metal workers in Lusaka, as there is much building going on.  Next to that trade are the tin smiths.  They produce all sizes of tubs and buckets, along with watering cans and many many chicken feeders.

Door and window frames are a staple.

The metal is laid out wherever there is room.  I am amazed that items turn out flat and square.

Mbaula's are produced and sold everywhere.

Perhaps you would like to splurge and get the sink model but I have never seen one used.

Recently, a new billboard appeared in this neighborhood.  The sign encourages the use of new the improved mbaula.  I don't know where you would buy one yet.  They appear to be more efficient and more difficult to make, therefore more time and materials and hence more cost to the consumer.  These are all the same difficult choices we make.  Do we just look out for ourselves or do we sacrifice a little for the good of the community?

Here is a welder producing a special order.

Some welders specialize in playground equipment.

At the end of the day many men congregate here to chat, sitting on slides and swings.  There are not many places to sit along the road otherwise.

Here is a new project just beginning.

Lately, there have been quite a few water towers for tanks made.

It wasn't placed next to the road.  It was made right there and painted there.

Many people help when it is delivery time and a truck needs to be loaded.

I believe only the main crew of three are going to get paid anything but people are very helpful and very happy for others' good fortune.

Here is a typical shop that does a little of everything.

Most of the metal workers have a storage container to store the raw materials in.

At first I couldn't understand why they would point them at the road.  Every time a 20 foot piece of rebar or angle iron is removed, traffic must stop.  I thought, this is ridiculous.  Now I realize the property they work on is only 20 feet deep.  This makes for a little inconvenience but optimal use of the space they have.

Gates are a big business.  Here is where a metal worker can show off his artistic skills.

I do worry about them being propped up with just one board and kids playing around them.

When I got out and chatted with them one day I noticed they were mostly propped up with metal and it was driven into the ground.  But still ….

Wherever there is room, commerce takes place.

A gate installed will run you about $ 1200 US dollars for a simple one to about $ 2000 for the most intricate design depending on how much steel is used.

 

There are a lot of funny signs around and made funnier to me by the misspellings.  I believe Xavier was a catholic saint.  I don't think even the Catholics would understand what is meant by "Ex Savior".  

Window bars or grills.

Different designs.

Most stands are wood and cardboard but one metal worker is now putting out all metal shops.  This one is quite futuristic but lately the more traditional square with overhangs for the rain are being made.

That is a lot of heavy steel to be packing!

One grinder and one electric welder and you are in business - as long as the electricity stays on.

New project being laid out.

This one is ready to go.

More options.

This is the type of home made welder that everyone uses.  I have never seen acetylene bottles.

Do you think that looks a little dangerous?  Remember it rains often and hard and there are BIG puddles!

Another layout.

I asked if I could see their welding glasses.  They are just normal sunglasses and none of them were as dark as mine.  What sort of vision will they have in twenty or even ten years?

I never walk in the footprint of these traps.

So life goes on, on Alick Nkhata road.  Hard work, six days a week, some beer and music on weekends.  Slowly, the family improves its' circumstances, but perhaps the welder will have to change careers because of damaged retinas?

I must look for welding goggles and convince them to wear them.

If anyone has an extra box - please send them over.