Things to do for the diesel queue


An apple, a natchie,
Water bottles times two,
Necessary and nice for the diesel queue.


A mystery novel and patience,
Hours two times two,
Just what you need for the diesel queue.


A fistful of kwacha at the pump,
hopefully, should do,
“Only 20 litres, Madame, at this diesel queue.”


“But our bush clinic, my patients,
what will they do?”
“Sorry Madame, such is the diesel queue.”


So back to Mwembezhi
with my precious fuel.
Only hospital runs for now
is our new rule!


A full pantry and patients that are never too few
Should cover me a week
until my next diesel queue!


Zambia’s run out of fuel,
In case the news hasn’t hit you.
One more African adventure—
the diesel queue!


Rebekah Carey



The Central Africa Medical Mission is a WELS women’s organization that supports two medical mission programs in Africa. Rebekah Carey has been on the field as a Central Africa Medical Mission nurse in Mwembezhi since June 2001. “Things to do for the diesel queue” describes the long lines she had to wait in to buy gas for the medical mission’s truck.