World Aids Day

Kum dang ang bawkin kuminah pawh World Aids Day chu 1st December 2008 khan urhsun taka hman a ni leh a. He niah hian AIDS avanga thi tate hriatrengna hun te, AIDS avanga fahrahte tan leh AIDS avanga hmeithaite chhawmdawlna hun atan te hman a ni a. Heng hun urhsun leh rilru khawih takte hman a nih hnuah, tlai lamah High School field-ah Manchester fans leh Chelsea fans ten football khelin inelna kan nei a. Thatho leh hlim takin he ni pawimawh tak mai hi kan vui liam thei a ni.

Kan fapa Marcus-a football hi Zambia kan thlen thlak tirh khan Shoprite atangin kan lei a, company tam takin he ball hmang hian an thil siamchhuah an lo pho ual-au a. AIDS pawhin hmun khat chang vein awareness siamna tha tak a ni a, an remhria ka ti khawp mai.

He sign-board, kawngpui sir khata lo intar phenah hian thilthleng tam tak a awm. HIV positive pa pakhat chuan dam duhin traditional healer a pan a. Ani chuan damdawi atan, "hmeichhia mipa la pawl ngailo mutpui la, i dam mai ang", a lo ti a. Chu HIV positive chuan dam duh avangin naupang a pawngsual ta a, dam a hnehin chu naupang khawngaihthlak hnenah chuan HIV hrik a kai ta a ni.

HIV positive kan nih leh nih loh hriat hma hian nasa takin hamthatna a nei. Negative ka lo nih chuan negative ni reng turin ka inveng fimkhur chhunzawm ang a. Positive ka lo nih palh pawhin midang hnena kaidarh lo turte, hrisel taka awm chho turin damdawite ka la thei ang a, ka hma hun lo kal zel tur atan inbuatsaihna tha ka siam theih phah bawk ang. Ka nun la hman chhoh zelna turah thil dah pawimawh hmasak tur ka thlang thiam thei zawk bawk ang.

Kan hmeithai nu hoten lemchan zirtir nei tha tak an chang. Zambia ram hmeichhia za zela 11.3 te hi HIV positive an ni a. AIDS avanga hmeithai tam tak an awm bawk. Hmeichhe dinhmun a la hniam a. An hnam 'widow inheritance' danah hmeithaite chu a thihsantu a pasal u emaw nau mipain nupui atan a chhawm a thiang, nupui pawmlai nei pawh ni sela. Thita a pasal kha AIDS avanga thi anih chuan a nupui kha HIV positive a nihna chance a sang hle a, nupui atana chhawmtu a pasala unaupa tan pawh HIV hrik pumpelh chu thil har tak a ni tawh ang. A nupui pawmlai dangte leh an fa la piang leh turte pawh dinhmun hlauhawmah an awm vek tawh a ni.

Heta kan naupangte hian AIDS avanga fahrah tate hre reng turin min fuih a ni. Zambia ram mipui maktaduai 12 awrh chennaah hian AIDS orphans nuai 6 tehmeuh zuk awm a. Heng fahrahte chhawmdawl tur hian pawl leh mimal inpe tak takte hmangin Pathianin hna a thawk a. Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) programme chu Chikankata-ah pawh tha taka kalpui mek a ni.

Yes I care. Mimal tin zawhna inzawt ta ila. Mahni chhungte bakah hian tute nge kan ngaihsak/duat mamawh leh phu ber? Ka chhanna chu "HIV positive leh AIDS veite" tih a ni. A chhan chu tun hunah rih hi chuan AIDS veite tluka thinhrik leh ngaihthah hi khawvelah an awm lo. Mamawhtute chu anni hi an ni e.

He hmeichhe naupang hmel fel tak sathau khawnvar vuantu hian hma huna 'Beiseina eng' awm chu min thlir tir a. Ani anga he khawvela eng thlentu ni ve thei turin Pathian hnenah ka inhlan nawn leh a ni.

AIDS hian thliar bik a neih loh avangin he natna tudai tur pawh hian inralban thei bik awm loin kan tang tlang vek a ni. Kan puithiamte pawhin an theihna zawnah hmangaihna nen theih tawp an chhuah takmeuh. Mingo hi kan Commanding Officer, Social Worker ni bawk a ni a. Mihang officer ve tho hi Nursing College-a kan Chaplain a ni.

Mapuii leh kan fate nunah pawh Chikankata hian thil danglam a thlen nasa tih ka hmu thin. Kan fanu Melissa-i school bangin a thiante nihphung awta 'nu chauh' neih a rawn ngen haw hlawl mai te hian heta kan naupangte dinhmun a hrilhfiah a. Eng pawh nise, Christmas leh Kumthar aia Good Friday leh World Aids Day ngaihhlut zawkna hmun, Chikankata hi hmun danglam tak chu a ni ve hrim hrim a. Kan tana malsawmna min thlentu a ni leh zel te hi a mak lehna chu a ni.

Care Givers Day Celebration

In Chikankata where Christianity is practically at its best, hardly a day pass by without some sort of celebration - a celebration of friendship, care, love, peace, hope, and of course, LIFE!

This time round, it's a DAY for the 'Care Givers', who earned the title of 'heroes' through their commitment and sincere dedication towards the care of people living with HIV/AIDS within the community and the homes.

Zambia, with 15% of its 12 million people having HIV and with a heavy disease burden to bear upon its own shoulder, however, does not lose hope or give up the fight. People like our care givers here are assurance we had with whom we share a common faith of overcoming one day. It's hard to predict when that day will be. But once a change has occured 'inside' with resultant resolve to face positively, then it's already happening. We are heading towards dawn.

<--The main carers of orphans due to AIDS are aunts and uncles but, with increasing ill health and deaths among them too, elderly grandmothers are increasingly also becoming the main carers. In Zambia, more than one-quarter of all children under 15 are already orphaned, and an estimated two-thirds of rural households like here in Chikankata already look after one or more orphaned children. To be in a household containing orphans has become the norm, not the exception. It can also be said that there are only two kinds of people. Those infected with HIV and those affected by it.

The first response to problems caused by HIV/AIDS comes --> from the affected children, families, and communities themselves, not from government agencies, NGOs or donors. This is because the impact of AIDS is experienced first at individual, household and family levels, and gradually more widely in the community. Since such is the case, I think Chikankata AIDS programme is doing the right thing by empowering the individual, family and the community in its fight against AIDS.

<--However, given the scale of the problems and the fact that those hardest hit are often the most disadvantaged, this first response will be insufficient on its own. Additional assistance from governments, NGOs and donors is crucial. For example, like here where each community health assistant is given a bicycle through funds coming from certain donors like the ones mentioned below.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-->

<--The Salvation Army Red Shield Services and others

The Salvation Army World Services Office (SAWSO)-->

<--Our 4 year old daughter Melissa has already started learning much about HIV and AIDS through her father's demonstration using her multipurpose learning board. And I belief this is a simple but significant step every individual can take towards making our community and the world a better place to live in.

"I am a very lucky little boy. My father and mother died. I am an orphan and I am infected. But I am living with a foster family and I am strong and healthy....You can't get AIDS by hugging, kissing, holding hands - we are normal. We are human beings". A testimony of Nkosi Khumalo Johnson, an 11-year-old boy with AIDS, a presentation he made during the XIII International Conference on HIV/AIDS in Durban, July 2000. He died one year later in June 2001.Your care and concern counts. Whoever we are and whatever we may do, we all can be 'Care Giver'.

Medicine in Africa Can Be Fun

Medicine in rural Zambia, sometimes, can be fun. I had a young gentleman in the hospital recently. He mentioned that he was having concerns about his penis. I told him that I would need to examine it just to be sure. So, he undid his trousers for me. To my surprise, the young fellow was fully erect! In medical school, we are taught that when you are examining a male and he has or gets an erection, you should stop the exam and tell the patient that you'll come back later when his erection has subsided. Not in this case. I found out that he had ‘priapism’.

Priapism is an emergency medical condition where there is a persistent, usually painful, erection that lasts for more than four hours and occurs without sexual stimulation. The condition develops when blood in the penis becomes trapped and unable to drain. If the condition is not treated immediately, it can lead to scarring and permanent erectile dysfunction.

The causes of priapism can be many. Beside various medical conditions and illegal and legal drugs which are the common causes, the use of certain roots and herbs for performance enhancement is a common practice in this part of rural Africa. (Viagra is quite out of sight, still).
Photo courtesy: Gunilla Elam, Science photo library

Apparently, this young guy was visiting his fiancé the night before, who was staying some distance away in the neighbouring village. A storm came up while he was visiting her and she insisted that he stay the night in her single bedroom house. According to him, during the night, she crawled into bed beside him. Fireworks ensued, as you can imagine.

A good twelve hours had already gone wasted since the calculated time of the onset. So I had to attend to him straightaway. But mind you, I am neither a surgeon nor a urologist and never before had I seen and treated the condition. Quickly I went through my surgical references, anatomy texts and finally came up with information and a resolve strong enough to tackle the problem on my own. Whatever the treatment options be, the goal of all treatment is to make the erection go away and preserve future erectile function. And I decided to apply the Aspiration method. Under the cover of short acting anaesthesia, I sterilised the organ with antiseptic solutions a number of times and finally introduced a 20G canula exactly on the left corpus cavernosa. Through it I drained and aspirated about 150 millilitres of the trapped blood. It worked perfectly. The organ which pointed 12 O’clock before had finally given up and came down to its normal 6 O’clock position. It was a great relief for my patient. Oh, the fun we doctors have!

Jesus-My Hero

October ni 11, 1999 khan khawvel mihring damlai hi 6 billion tling chiah anga record buah ziah luh kan ni a. He leia mihring awm tirh atanga chhutin (thi tawhte chhiarin) 60 billion vel kan tling chiah bawk. Heng zinga a tam zawkte hi chu mite hriat lem lohin an tham ral tawh a, mi thenkhat chuan an vela mite hriat an hlawh hram a, mi tlemte khawvel history-a danglamna thlen phak an awm bawk. Mahse mihring tumah hian, Israel rama kum 2000 vel kaltaa piang, Nazareth Isua aiin mihringte nunah hnuhma chhinchhiahtlak an la hnutchhiah ngai lo. Hengte hian a tifiah:
~ A pian hun leh ni tak hriat a ni lo a, chutichung chuan mihringte hun chhhiarna hi a pian hma (BC) leh hnu (AD)-ah then a ni.
~ Lehkhabu pakhat mah a ziak lo a, chutichung chuan ama chungchang ziahna lehkhabu hi lehkhabu zingah a la tam ber a, hralh tla leh chhiar hlawh ber an ni.
~ Milem ziakmi ani lo a, hla pakhatmah a phuah hek lo, chutichung chuan ani tluka mihringte lemziak, hla, lemchan leh art dangtea nghawng nei thuk an la awm ngai lo.
~ Sipai dinin helna vawikhat mah a chawk chhuak lo a, chutichung chuan ama ram chhan nan mi maktaduai tam takin an nunna an thap tawh a, kum tinin mi sang tam takin an nunna hial an la hlan zel a ni.
~ A dam chhungin a pianna hmun Bethlehem khua atanga mel 200 aia hlaah a zin lo, Aigupta rama a nu leh paten an tlanchhiatpui tih loh kha chu. Chutichung chuan a huhang hian tunah chuan khawvel hmuntin a fan chhuak a, amah zuitu Kristiante chu khawvelah an lo tam ber ta.
~ Vantlang zinga a rawngbawl/zirtir hun chhung khan kum thum chiah a awh a, khawvela ram te berte zinga mi Israel tlangram velah a ni lehnghal, chutichung chuan tunah chuan a chanchin hrilh nan satellite tha ber ber kahchhuah a ni a, he lei boruaka radio leh television network lian ber berte chu a chanchin hrilin an hmanhlel mek a ni.
~ A kein vawikhat mah zirna in chhung a rap lo, mahse university, seminary, college leh school sang tam tak chu a hming pua din an nih lawi si hi.
~ A damlai hun khan a chenna ram pawnah chuan hriat a hlawh miah lo, tunah erawh Encyclopaedia Britannica bu chhungah a hming kaihnawih thumal 30,000 (singthum) hmuh tur a awm tawh.

Isu ropui takin leng rawh, i Lalzia lantir (zel) ang che.

Whose Neighbour Am I?

One of our

Community Centres

and a local bar called

'Chiller's Den'

are found standing side by side

Once I happened to pick by chance a copy of June 21, 2008 issue of the USA national publication of the War Cry. Inclusion in the magazine’s column of 'Quotes of the past and present' was Commissioner Lalkiamlova, International Secretary for South Asia’s verbatim - “The question is not who’s my neighbour, but whose neighbour am I”. Together let’s try to answer this question.

How easy it is to count ourselves as acquaintances of people whom we admire, the rich and famous elite, and how hard we may try to have them accept us! But equally difficult is even to simply consider ourselves as neighbour to the poor, infamous and the down-and-outs of society. Still more unlikely is this latter category of fellow beings accepting ‘us’ as their neighbours!

Today, where image seems to be all-important, we note that Jesus cared nothing for his image. He made himself ‘nothing’. He came into our world, into our mess, into our shoes and ultimately into our place. He embraced the cross. He made total identification with us sinners. (Philippians 2: 5-7).

Two thousand years later we still need to hear the Master’s words - ‘Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant’. The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us how easy it is for us to be so committed to our standards, practices and work schedules that we fail to make an impact in the ‘real world’– a world of chaos, violence and suffering, where our faith and service are most needed.

Jesus identifies himself with me, so shall I with the suffering world.

AIDS Nge Hlauhawm Zawk Cholera?

He zawhna 'AIDS Nge Hlauhawm Zawk Cholera?' tih zawttu doctor hi tunge maw ni le, a hlauhawm zawk chu a hriat sa vek alawm, zawhna zawh awm pawh a ni lo e, i ti a ni mai thei. Mahse hei hi mak ti suh, Zambian ho chuan AIDS aiin Cholera (Tuihri) an hlau zawk tih hi thu dik a ni e. Hengte hian a tifiah ang-

1. Tunhnai maia Chikankata catchment area chhunga Cholera hri leng avangin Chikankata Hospital Infection Control Team din a ni a, AIDS hi inkaichhawn theih natna (infectious disease) ni ve thoin, hun kha leh chen kha bu lo khuar tawh mahse AIDS avang hian Infection Control Team meuh din a la ni ngai lo. (Tuna he team thar hian AIDS hi a hma tel ve chauh zawk a ni).

2. He Infection Control Team hi chairman nia hruai tura kan hotuten mawhphurhna min pek anga hma kan lakna kawngah pawh kan sorkar District Health Office lam hlei hlei hi Cholera chungchangah hian an lo 'sensitive' zawk daih mai tih ka hmu chhuak a ni. AIDS veite hospital ward chhungah zalen taka dahluh leh enkawl theih an nih laiin, Cholera avanga damlo nia rinhlelh ringawt pawh, kan district health office inkaihhruaina chuan isolation room-ah takngial pawh dahluh min phalsak tlat lo mai! Khawchhung atanga hla tak hmun fianrialah camp siama dahkhawma enkawl tura tih kan ni.

3. Vawinah female medical ward-a AIDS avanga damlo awmpuitu nu (attendant) pakhat chu Cholera nia rinhlelh a ni a, Isolation ward-a dah ka rawt nain ka thawhpuiten rem an ti tlat lo mai a, mi tam zawk thutlukna a lal zawk avangin kan in kianga bawkte (shed) sak sa lo awm remchang takah dahluh a ni ta. In ka haw hnua Mapuii ka hrilh chuan min lo hau titih deuh a, hlauh tur a nih loh zia ka hrilh hnu pawhin, "Heta a mi chengten an hlauh viau chuan hlauh ve mai tur a lawm, chhan a awm a ni ang," la zuk ti talh a! Nu ber hi chuan an dawn kim thin a, a awm tho e.

4. Vawinah bawk, ka ward round pahin (ka colleague te pahnih an awm remchan loh avangin ka kep a, ward panga ka round chu!) ka Danish medical student kaihhruai lai pakhat nen kan nurse-te zingah unofficial poll kan la a, AIDS nge an hlauh zawk Cholera tih zawhna an chhanna chu 'Cholera ka hlau zawk' tih a ni tho mai. Enge a chhan: Cholera kills faster than AIDS! I wish they also remember that Cholera is curable.

Engvangin nge Zambian ho hian heti taka Cholera an hlauh a, AIDS ai pawha mipuite leh sorkar thuneitute ngeng a chhun nat zawk (?) tlat mai le. AIDS hi a ram mipui 15% ngawtin an vei mek a ni a, a hluar lutuk avang hian ngaiah an nei tawh nge, kan nurse-te chhanna ang hian thawk leh khata nunna la thut chi natna anih loh vang hian an hlau lo zawk? Engpawh chu nise, AIDS avanga natna leh thihna (morbidity and mortality) hi a tam a, ram leh hnam hnuk thalaite a tuartu an nih deuh ber avangte hian ram ei leh bar dinhmun a nghawng pawi thui thin a. He rama kan thangtharte, ram hruaitute leh roreltute pawh hian AIDS chungchangah hian thlir dan thar leh zau zawk an neih chu a hun ta hle niin a lang a ni.

A Testimony of Paul and Persecution of Christians in India

The recent persecution and hatred meted out against the Christians in India calls for a greater need of joint prayer effort on the part of the worldwide Chriatians. And here in Chikankata Corps atleast two prayer sessions are already offered for the same cause, for we know that if we do our part God will work out in the following ways-
* that Christians in India will be physically safeguarded

* that come what may, they will remain steadfast and strong in their faith
* that out of the persecution, more souls will be forgiven (for they know not what they have done) and be saved

Here is the General's call for his worldwide soldiers to prayer:

Urgent request for prayer - India Northern Territory
"I am asking on an urgent basis for prayer for our Salvationist comrades in the India Northern Territory. Salvationists in the State of Orissa have been directly impacted by recent civil disorder and are in need of our loving thoughts and earnest prayers.

"Following the deaths of local Hindu leaders, some fundamentalist Hindu citizens have been offering violence to their Christian neighbours, including Salvationists. Two corps halls have been destroyed together with a quarters building, and 100 Salvationists are now hiding in fear in the nearby forests. Please pray that God will protect them. Also our Boys' Home has been destroyed. Thirty children and the officers caring for them are now in police protection. Please bring this situation to God in prayer. Efforts are being made to relocate the children to another of our homes.

"Please pray for Colonels Kashinath and Kusum Lahase, territorial leaders, and all their staff, and especially for the divisional leaders in Orissa. God grant a swift return to normality and a restoration of tranquility in these communities. To date there are no reports of Salvationists injured or killed.

"Thank you for your fidelity in prayer.God bless you all.

Yours in Christ,
Shaw Clifton
GENERAL
The Salvation Army International Headquarters,
London

And here again, it is with utmost courtesy to Commissioner Lalkiamlova, International Secretary for South Asia, London that I have been posting this article of his entitled 'A Testimony of Paul', which he himself has dedicated to the persecuted Christians around the world. I hope it finds the readers with apt timing.

A TESTIMONY OF PAUL

“Paul, we have all heard about your dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus: Could you tell us more about what happened that day”?
“Yes, it is true I encountered Jesus Christ on the Damascus Road but that was not the beginning of my conversion”.

“So how did you come to be converted”?

“I think it began on the day Peter and his friends were brought to be questioned before the Sanhedrin. It was a very tense scene - this was their second appearance before the council; they had already been warned to stop speaking about Jesus, and remember too, it wasn’t so long since Jesus himself had been crucified. Peter and the others stood there and the High Priest, Annas, demanded in his booming voice: “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name?”

Without hesitation they answered: “We must obey God rather than men”.

That surprised all of us. Knowing their vulnerability, we thought they would beg for forgiveness, or at least show respect! So their answer enraged us.

But even more incredible to me was to hear my master, Gamaliel, whom I regarded as next to Moses, speak in their defence. Gamaliel never raised his voice; he always spoke slowly: “Men of Israel”, he said “be careful what you do with these men. Some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about 400, joined him. He was killed and all who followed him were scattered and came to nothing … Now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it - otherwise you will be fighting against God”.

I thought ‘He’s gone mad!’ Then, my second thought was; ‘They’ve bribed him to say this!’ but I realised that could not be, so I had to think about what he said - in fact, for days his words and their bold response: “We must obey God rather than men”, kept resounding in my mind. I didn’t talk to anyone about it, but the struggle inside had begun.

I did not give in easily; I didn’t want to accept what I had heard. Part of me was convinced it was all not of God. Then, one day, Stephen disputed with my friends. Unable to answer his arguments, they induced some men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God”. Stephen was dragged before the council where the liars made their accusations.

When the High Priest asked him “Are these things so?” to my astonishment, Stephen preached a sermon and a long one at that! Beginning right back with God’s calling of Abraham, he went right through our history, arguing that our nation has resisted the Holy Spirit and not kept the Law of Moses.

He said that in the Sanhedrin! Well men stood up, enraged, some thumped the furniture, others shouted, but then Stephen looked up to Heaven and said “Look I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God”. My friends could not tolerate this; they dragged him out of there and right out of the city.

STEPHEN’S DEATH

I went with them but at one point, amid all the commotion and noise, I remembered Gamaliel’s warning: “Be careful … if it is of God …” So I pulled back from doing anything to Stephen myself. Fortunately my friends asked me to hold their coats whilst they collected rocks and stones.

As they hurled the stones on him I stood there watching. There was yelling and hatred, blood and pain, but you know, that was the first time I saw the face of Jesus. I saw it in the face of Stephen. There was no sign of fear in his face. Actually, he looked as happy as if he was going to a marriage party. Looking up to Heaven he said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”. Then he knelt down and repeated the sentence Jesus had called out from the Cross: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”.

That troubled me deeply. I guess you could say I became a zealot with an uneasy conscience.

Basically I still believed we were right to stone Stephen. These people were blasphemers and enemies of Israel. I have always been a passionate, determined person - stubborn, you could say - and I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. No-one was going to be allowed to destroy those and dishonour our God!

But at the same time I was unsettled, and I asked God to tell me if I was wrong in persecuting them.

DAMASCUS

That prayer did not stop me taking letters from the High Priest to the synagogues in Damascus so I could flush out any Christians there, male or female.

So the day came when I set out with some other men, servants and soldiers. As we travelled I prayed: ‘O God of my fathers, if my experiences with Peter and his friends and at the death of Stephen were genuinely from you, please reveal yourself more clearly today and I will stop my opposition to these people’. There are no words great enough to express my gratitude to God for answering my prayer.

As we got near to Damascus, suddenly a light came from Heaven and shone around me and I heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

I asked, “Who are you, Lord?”

Then the voice said to me, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do”.

So I became a Christian, My whole life was changed and I became a new person.

That is how it all began”.

(This article is dedicated to Christians who are under persecution because of their faith, in the hope that at least, in some way, it will help them to face their trials boldly, knowing that the trials will ultimately have a very profitable outcome, just as the trials of those first Christians did for Paul).

Commissioner Lalkiamlova,
International Secretary for South Asia,
The Salvation Army International Headquarters
London

And me too, dear commissioner, I strongly believe this persecution will indeed accelerate the growth of Christianity in India.

Kan Bial Inkhawmpui Ve A

August 20 - 24, 2008 chhung khan Divisional Congress hlawhtling takin kan hmang a. Kan hun inher danin min phalsak ve avangin keini chhungkua pawhin duhthalin kan chhim ve thei a, a nuam kan ti khawp mai. Heta kan khawmpui danglamna chu thlengtu bik khua/kohhran (corps) an awm ngai lo a, ram palaileng (bush)-ah buk sa chawpin kan riahchilh (camp) mai thin. Tun tuma kan inkhawmpuina hmun pawh hi Zimbabwe leh Zambia-in British laka independence an sual hun laia indo thlawhna tum hmun ni thin, hmun rai leh thengthaw nuam tak a ni.

Chhungkuaa riah luh vek anih avangin palai kal kan tha thei a, chhungtin mahni ei-in leh mutbu intodelh vek anih avangin 'inkhawmpui thlen hautak' tih a awm ve lo. A thatna ber chu hetiang hunah hian inunauna leh inkawmngeihna tha tak kan nei thei thin a, 'community spirit' tha tak chawh nunin a awm thin a ni.

Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war!! The future of the Army in Africa is BRIGHT!--------->

<---The Territorial Commander, Colonel John Wainwright & the TPWM (in full Army fatigue) were the speakers.

<-----All types of vehicles were used, from MITSUBISHI COLT to BULLOCK CART (please don't miss sight of the Cowgirl at the backdrop!)

Keini chhungkua pawhin TOYOTA LANDCRUISER kan hawl chhuak ve a, a zau thain chhungkuaa chaw chhun kilho nan kan hmang nghal thei. Khawmpui pandal hnung maiah kan hung thin a.--->

<-----The Scouts are a disciplined lot who add colour to the occassion and are of great help in the smooth organisation of the event.

Here the Scouts are guarding the main entrance of the Congress shed--------->

<-------The Congresss Hall, erected in a traditional style with elephant grass, woods and wild ropes. We need no other materials!

A young Captain in action during the open air (street) preaching. A new generation William Booth?------->

<------The Army once again shows its presence wherever and whenever the need arises. Who says its open air service is dull and ineffective? The picture proves that seekers still respond to the Army's street altar call.

The meeting usually averages a duration of 4.5 hours. Then you have to apply various tactics to make sure that your children are entertained and allow you to stay through the marathon meetings!! Here Melissa with her Jigsaws---------->

<-------We all love Army colours. Just try how many flags can you make out from this photo!

A section of the crowd during one of the meetings. Salvationist women here in Zambia are really doing a lot with their smart uniform. They are still the Founder's 'Best Men'!------------------->

<------The Junior Soldiers having their share of praise. Songs without dances here is like a mortar without a pestle.

Because THIS IS THE REAL AFRICA!--->

<-----The brass band leading all the way. The sound of the drum beat, among all the musical notes, is and will always be the one generating the greatest vibration of the ear drum during our stay in Zambia.

Kan bandsmen-te hian India Eastern Territory (Hqrs. Mizoram)-a kan thalaite angin hmanrua leh uniform an nei tha hauh lo a. Chutih laiin rimawi hmanga Pathian chawimawina kawnga an inpekna erawh a nep chuang bik lo'ng e.--------->

<------Our Hospital Administrator Mr. Richard Bradbury (behind the wheel) and his team also heading toward the Congress site. Chikankata is often said as 'the heart of the Army's operation and internationalism'. Or permit me to call it the Salvation Army's 'Swiss army knife'!

Tual mei khuk ngeia khawmpui hman leh thil dang tih ho thin hian inunauna leh inkungkaihna tha a siam thin a lo ni e. -->

<------Now my BIG question is - Can these boys be the future EPL players? And what will become of the girls too? The answer depends on you and me!

Who believe in 'generation gap'? Please not here.------->

Drama in real life – (Not a) Bush Fire!

Chikankata, the 30th August 2008
13:15 hours Zambian Time
A Mizo doctor in Africa was ready for any challenge, except this.
The neighbours’ extraordinary heroism and much more………….
By Dr. Zairemthiama Pachuau with Laltlankimi Tochhong

One of Melissa’s favourite rhymes goes –
Fire, Fire, Fire,
It burns the bush at night,
When animals come -
They are all afraid of its hot and yellow flame…
Fences here are done with freshly dried tall elephant grass. Comes autumn, it is the order of every year that houses will have, around them, nicely trimmed fences replacing the old ones. This year ours is not an exception and we loved it. Of course our garden boy received extra allowance from us as a token of appreciation for the excellent work he did.

Now here comes my role as a concerned ‘fire preventer’. Fearing that the old grasses discarded outside the new fence might catch accidental fire, I’ve asked my wife and the two kids out to first do a clearing work, gather the grass in one or two heaps and then burn it. Honestly saying, in doing so I expect my kids to have their own share of fun by watching this demo ‘bush fire’, which they longed to see for sometime now. But once I lit the fire, things go out of control, portions of the new fence catch fire and soon the fire spread everywhere. Passers-by come, our neighbours follow and they all help us in extinguishing the raging fire. The scene of the backyard after all the commotion was even more dreadful - hose pipes, rakes, hoes, buckets and shovels were lying everywhere, which reminded me of the potential damage the fire can do if it were not put out on time. Thanks neighbours and others who come to our rescue. You are real heroes.

As with any other catastrophe, whether major or minor, the first question asked was the judgemental ‘Who did it?’ It’s not that I don’t know the answer to their question, but for some good reason I left it for my wife to answer them. Reluctantly she has to say, “It’s the doctor”, after hearing which they all burst out laughing!!

I have to comfort myself with the fact that of course, doctors are not expected to be fire experts, if not for the skill to treat victims of fire. Yes we are for patients, as fire-fighters are for fire. At least I wish my kids had their grand treat of (but not a bush) ‘fire’!!