Twenty-five ACU students and 15 Cisco college students partnered to load a container loaded with humanitarian supplies bound for Namwianga, Zambia in central Africa on Feb. 8.

This volunteer effort is part of the Zambia Medical Mission. Two containers in total have been sent from Abilene.

This first container, in particular, was filled with hundreds of bags filled with clothes meant to act as stuffing to protect an X-ray machine to aid the medical facilities. This is in  addition to many other humanitarian supplies meant to help the area. It takes approximately six weeks for these containers to reach their destination.

The Zambia Medical Mission is now in its 26th year. Every July for three weeks, a staff of men and women from nations like the United States and Canada journey to southern Zambia in central Africa.

This mission is based in a small village of Namwianga, a year-round mission point for those associated with the Church of Christ. This area of Africa has very few medical clinics and is devoid of doctors. The main purpose of this mission is to provide health services to the surrounding villages.

Dr. Neal Coates, chair of the department of political science and criminal justice, said, “The Zambia Medical Mission is one of the finest humanitarian efforts that I am aware of and because it’s been going in for more than two decades, it has quite a reputation.”

Joshua Loughren, a junior political science major from Trophy Club and 2019 participant said, “When I did it last year, we packed the container full, readjusting things to get it as compact as possible.”

A second container loading, volunteer opportunity took place this morning at 9 a.m. at Bontke Brothers Construction Co.

“It’s really a great opportunity to work for real good and change,” Loughren said.

“God’s love for people is world-wide and so to bee able to help is pretty moving,” Coates said.