We all arrived at Nyoka Guest House in Kalabo and got settled in. The three boys shared a chalet, Mualuka ( our interpreter), Frederick (Our driver who is now our manager in Mongu at The Silozi Seed Bank & Trees for Elephants) and Dominic (Njmaba, Kufuku and Mutiowa’s father) shared another one & Carl & I a third and this is what they looked like. There is a picture of us last year 2011, on our last day together.
Carl & I unloaded all of the groceries onto the spare single bed in our room and into the little fridge. I had a small table in our room that was my work station. I brought plastic plates ( even though I hate plastic) donated by my sister Karen and plastic cutlery that was left at our cottage when we bought it. Carl was filling our stainless steel water holders with bottled water and Tang that I had brought from home.
We had purchased five hand made baskets in Lusaka at the Kabwata Cultural Village. There are not a lot of apple trees in Western Province, although we are now trying to change that. they are all grown in South Africa so I made up a basket with apples and oranges for each room just incase they got hungry. They grow bananas, Mango’s, Papaya, lemons and oranges, but apples would be a treat.
We had gone to Kabwata Cultural Village to meet Max’s wife Fair. Max was our driver in 2011 on my first trip to Zambia. Fair is a nurse at the clinic there and I wanted to meet her and say how sorry I was for her loss and what a great man Max was. Max passed the year after he drove Jamie and I to Kalabo in 2011. I ironically he had Diabetes, like I have now.
About a week before Max passed away ( complications from diabetes) I had spent $105.00 and purchased business cards, fridge magnets,2 hats, 2 T-shirts and 2 large sign magnets for the side of his buses online from Vista Print. I had chosen one of Vista prints logo’s and Wakmaf Bus Services Came to life. The name comes from Max &Fair’s initials.
Max was laid off from World Vision in September 2011 after he & David had taken Jami & I to meet Njamba that August. Max was a go getter and managed to raise the money to buy two buses. An 8 & 30 seater to try and earn a living after he was laid off.
I was taking the advertising materials to surprise him but he didn’t get to see the surprise.
Max & Fair have five children so I hope they are able to use what we brought and continue the business. I only met Fair briefly and we hugged and cried but I now know what she looks like and I can see her and Max together in my mind. Max was an amazing man and will be dearly missed. I can still hear you saying “shuwa” Max.
That’s what it sounds like when Zambian’s say “sure”.
God Bless You Max for even from your death bed you fulfilled your promise and got me to Kalabo by putting me in touch with Frederick.
Thank You. Thank you Thank you!
Max Katyamba ( 195?-2012)
May you rest in Peace like your Country!
Here is another blog I wrote in memory of Max back in April 2016.
I still think of you often! To read on our web site http://sendseedstoafrica.org/in-memory-of-max/
Stay tuned for the next blog. Our visit in Kalabo. The Real Africa!
