“Here and there.” “Not far.” “Oh, very far.”
“Just a bit.” “It is difficult.”
“There is not enough.”
“You are welcome” (accompanied by the brightest smile one will ever see!).
“Our food expenditures are right on budget at 7 million/7 days.”

Six students attended to patients at Our Lady’s Hospice in Kalingalinga. While most patients receive palliative care for RVD and PTB, and are discharged to home on ARV’s, some arrive in a terminal condition, suffering from Stage 4 AIDS. Today, MUVI Tv interviewed the staff – watch for us on the evening news!

The six students at Beit Cure Hospital observed surgeons in theatre, doctors performing ENT exams, and a clinical officer tapping a baby with a blocked shunt for his hydrocephalus.

Pastors Mutentami, Kawiliza, and Phiri shared the History of the LCCA and Lutheran Seminary. They encouraged is to continue building relationships through these study opportunities. The Millenium Development Goals (MDG’s) are the basis for program development in health and education.

Each morning three student taught health education classes at the Matero Community School. The students are already sensitized to nutrition, hygiene, and dental health.The MDG’s are well integrated into their curriculum.

Two students per day accompany Mr. Alisad Banda and the home-based caregivers to West Chelstone compound, where they assist with the needs of the chronically ill.

Our students appreciate their semester-long preparation at WLC where they studied the MDG’s, WHO, NGO’s,ARV’s, AIDS, and perinatal and Under 5 M&M.

Tomorrow we depart at 530 hours for Livingstone and a weekend viewing Victoria Falls, as well as taking a game drive. We will return to our Practicals bright and early Monday morning!

We spent the night in the village of Kamamba – about 4 km from Lumano, where the Mwembezhi Lutheran Rural Health Center is located. We enjoyed a village supper of nshima, relish, and chicken by candlelight, since the village has no electricity.

There’s no plumbing either! The chimbuzis were clean, albeit challenging. Most of us chose to limit fluids rather than take the chance of a midnight walk down a path to the chim – especially after hearing the missionaries’ dramatic snake stories!

The star- filled sky of the southern hemisphere was magnificent.

Earlier in the day, we were escorted by Pastor Baloyi, who introduced us to many of the villagers. Of special interest was Mr. Shachiendi, a prominent village elder. He welcomed us into his home, shared his pumpkins, watermelon, and mucoyo with us, and returned to the study center this morning to say farewell. He is notable for his 3,000 head of cattle, which are pastured several kilometers from his farm.

Tomorrow the students will go to different clinical sites throughout Lusaka in small groups – Beit Cure with Tara Brennan, Matero Community School with David Brighstman, home-based care visits with Alisad Banda, and Kalingalinga Hospice with Rebekah Carey.

Nursing students at Wisconsin Lutheran College, as part of their Global Health studies, just arrived in Zambia. Prof. Rebekah Carey sent this post about getting settled:

Today five pastors graduated from the Lutheran Church of Central Africa seminary. The first hymn we sang at the service says it all:

We are called to service,
To witness in God’s name.
Our ministries are diff’rent; Our purpose is the same:
To touch the lives of others
With God’s surprising grace,
So every folk and nation
May feel God’s warm embrace.

We were all moved by Pastor Mwete’s message to recognize the calling by the Holy Spirit. The three choirs, interjected by ululating, sent echoes through the church building!

This afternoon, we walked to the Chelstone post office, hoping to also stop in at the local grocery store. Because it is Africa Freedom Day today, most Zambians are on holiday.

However, the little shop is owned by an East Indian man, who interested in our shopping excursion for groundnuts, soap, rice, and baking soda. All will be used as part of the student health education classes at the community schools in Matero and Kaunda Square.

On our way home, some of us stopped for fresh vegetables, sugar cane, and bananas at the street vendor, Joyce.

By WLC assistant professor of nursing Amanda Passint

On Friday, May 18, 2012, the School of Nursing held a reception in Generac Hall to commemorate the first graduating class from the WLC School of Nursing. Throughout the night, participants were able to celebrate the hard work, joys, challenges, and fruits of labor of the students, faculty, families, and supporters of the nursing program. Approximately 100 guests attended the reception.

During the short ceremony, Department Chair Prof. Rebekah Carey recognized a few of the many supporters of the program and helped participants to reflect upon the many triumphs of the program (see her comments at the end of this post).

Dr. John Kolander, WLC Provost, reflected upon the beginning of the nursing program and discussed the importance of having WLC nursing graduates in the community to act as servant leaders.

The 10 graduates from the class of 2012 were individually recognized and received their WLC nursing pins (receiving a pin with the school’s logo is a time-honored tradition among nursing graduates). The ceremony concluded with a song of thanksgiving to God for the blessings he has bestowed upon the WLC nursing program.

Congratulations to the Class of 2012, and thank you to all who have supported the WLC School of Nursing!

Prof. Carey’s remarks:
As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good to all – this bit of scripture is the underlying theme of our nursing program. Our opportunities have been many – our students’ goodness has shown through in multiple ways. The support from colleagues, friends of the college, and family members has been abundant! This evening we celebrate the hard work, the joys, the challenges, and the fruits of our efforts.

Our students stand before us. Our colleagues and families stand beside us. And the CCNE accreditation body has recognized us!

With a new program, comes many “firsts.” Besides a whole new curriculum, the members of the class of 2012 pioneered in other areas as well:

Kristen Luebbe was the first WLC Student Nurse Association president, essentially developing the organization from the ground up in 2008. Additionally, she is the first in her class to land a real nursing job – already in February!

Jillian Jackan was the first nursing student to present at the 2011Undergraduate Research Symposium, sharing her data on vision and hearing screening of elementary students in an urban school setting.

Amanda Kamla was the first second degree nursing student, as well as the first to attain a Level 3 in the ATI review, a distinction shared by fewer than 10% of nursing students nationally. She is also my first relative to be accepted into the nursing program!

Nathanael Rosenberg was the first nursing student to attain Scholar Athlete status as a WLC football player.

As written by the apostle John, “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

To our loved ones, friends, and colleagues in this room, you have loved with actions and in truth. Know that your prayers and support have blessed us greatly.