The Resilience of the Human Spirit is Amazing

It is hard to get used to the frequent deaths that touch our community here. One has recently affected the human behavior class I am teaching. The student’s story is both unique and at the same time all too common.

It is hard to get used to the frequent deaths that touch our community here.  One has recently affected the human behavior class I am teaching.  The student’s story is both unique and at the same time all too common.

Persweden came to see me in the second week of classes, to let me know that she would be out of school for a week.  She needed to go to Lusaka with her husband for medical care at the University Teaching Hospital.  He had a heart condition that was deteriorating.  Both were in their late 20’s, parents of a 3 year-old.  Both were also “double orphans” helping support younger siblings.

We received word that Persweden’s husband died, and some of us went to Lusaka for the funeral.  A week later, Persweden was back at school.

She told me that her husband had worked as an accountant for the government for four years, but it requires five years to qualify for a death benefit.  She has no money to continue in school, but she doesn’t know what else to do.  She needs to finish the diploma program to pursue her career goal and enhance her chances to find a good job.  So she came back on faith that a way would be found.  Other students are helping to fill her in with notes and information on the material she missed, and she comes to class each day.

The resilience of the human spirit is amazing.

And so we go on…

Ann Nichols

Ann Nichols serves as a long-term volunteer with the Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation in Kitwe, Zambia.  Ann teaches social work and leadership development.