We learnt at Street Kids (it's a work we are involved in here amongst street
children) that Ndemba had been knocked down in the road by a vehicle and
had been admitted to hospital. There were plenty of stories about when,
where and how, so Phil Cole, Joyce Phiri, Dorothy and us went down to
Nchanga North hospital to see him for ourselves. He was sitting up cross
legged in the middle of a short bed in children's ward (no.7). He recognised
us straight away, but was not his normal self. His gran was staying with him
but had gone out to buy some food. We tried talking to him but the normally
lively Ndemba didn't say much, but apparently today was the first day he had
said anything since being admitted. The visitors of other patients filled us
in with some of his story until his gran came back. He had apparently been
sniffing 'jenkem', the concoction of petrol and lighter fuel - a highly
addictive and abusive mixture and had wandered out into the street. The
oncoming car was unable to stop quick enough as it was wet, so he was
knocked down. He was taken to the hospital on Wednesday afternoon. His
friends went to the market to call his gran to the hospital. Mercifully, he
didn't have any broken bones and not much in the way of grazing, but must
have banged his head as he seems dazed or in shock. He vowed never to touch
jenkem again.

We were able to find out a bit more about his background. He is 7 and
believed to be originally from the DR Congo border, not too far away. His
parents died when he was 6 months old and has been looked after by his gran
ever since. He has an uncle who doesn't want to know. For the last 10 years,
his gran has been bringing palm nut oil from Congo (as it's only grown and
produced up there) and selling it at Chiwempala market. She stays until all
stock has gone and returns to Congo with another stock to sell there and
returns later to Zambia with more palm nut oil. At night she stays at the
market stall and Ndemba with her. He stays while she goes on her trip to
Congo. It is to this market stall, that they call home, that they will have
to return to if he is discharged in the morning. We prayed there and then
for Ndemba and his gran. This story has really highlighted the need we have
already felt for some sort of hostel in one of the towns bordering Chingola
for these boys and sometimes girls to come to for somewhere to lay their
heads if even for only a night or two.

Please pray for Ndemba and many others in similar circumstances, and the
need for a hostel somewhere around town. We hope we can do something soon.