In our last blog, we shared about our visits to four of the Wednesday group women, who we are helping with micro-enterprises. Since then, we have visited the other nine, who are all going to be rearing chickens. All of their chicken coops that are being built have slight differences, but are the same idea. We were able to not only see their structures, but also see each of their homes and got a better idea of how each of them lives. Below is a slideshow of the ladies with their new, yet unfinished structures, but before that, we wanted to share a little more information about two of them.
Mai Tamoline
 Mai Tamoline, with her chicken coop | Out of all the problems in Zimbabwe, water is one of the biggest. Most people go to a river or some type of well in order to draw water. However, in towns, there is city water, which isn't clean, but is an option. Mai Tamoline has a well next to her house (below). This is completely different than the well that we have, which has proper piping and an electric pump, that is connected to the plumbing in our house. Mai Tamoline's is just a hole in the ground. It's not very deep and her outhouse happens to be just to the side of where the picture was taken. I can't imagine the contamination that has taken place. |
 Mai Tamoline, next to the well by her house | This has always been her water source (no running water). Since she is going to be rearing chickens, she wanted to make sure that she had consistent water nearby. She asked us if we could help her get connected to city water. We've only done this once or twice, but we offered her an interest-free loan in order to do all the necessary connections for her to be able to receive city water. Below you can see a picture of the single faucet, which is outside her house (which is what most of the women we work with have). We wrote a contract and she won't need to pay anything back until the second month of her chicken business. She will still need to boil the water when she drinks it, but she now has plenty of water for when the chickens arrive. |
 The well, which has next to no water in it and some garbage floating |  The new faucet installed next to her house and connected to city water |
Mai Maka
| Mai Maka is the least well-off financially out of the women with whom we work. She and her husband have been renting a room in the high density area, but they have been building a home in an area designated for low/no-income people. This section of land is organizationally-run and they had to pay something for their lot, but much less than it was worth. The chicken coop (to the right) is next to their new home (below). Her new home is one room (not one bedroom, just one room). There are community bathrooms for all who live in this area. She has no electricity or water hookups. As you can see from the |  Mai Maka, with her chicken coop |
| picture, the tin roof is not complete, there is no door for the home, and it does not have a window. While we were visiting, she told us that she was being forced to move out of the room where they had been staying, due to the homeowner doing some maintenance. In two days time, she and her family of 5 were going to move into this one-room house. As it is the middle of winter here, she asked us if there was anything we could do to help her with the roof and door. She had a door, but didn't have cement to install it. What do you say when you're standing in a dusty, dirty, partially finished room and it's the middle of winter and two adults and three children will be sleeping here from now on? We told her that we would loan her the money for the extra materials. After this, we went straight to the store, where we purchased the needed two sheets of tin roofing and two bags of cement. Just like with Mai Tamoline, we wrote up a contract and she will pay us back, interest-free, after the second month of her chicken business. Upon arriving home afterwards (and really after our visits to each of the ladies), Yolanda and I couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of blessing for all that we have been given. While we are abundantly aware of the sacrifices we have made and the conveniences we have given up to live in Zim, we were both feeling an immense amount of gratitude and thankfulness that we have every need met and more. We have indoor plumbing, electricity, food on the table, and warm blankets to be under at night. Thank you Jesus! |  Mai Maka, standing in her home |
During each home visit, we were invited inside and were offered tea and something to eat. Each woman was very hospitable and welcoming. They wanted to show off their homes to us and were very proud of where they live. They wanted to show us their garden and anything else they thought was note worthy, even if they had a single faucet outside. They wanted to show us. We were sent home with a "chipo" (gift), such as avocados, sweet potatoes, and corn to be ground into mealie meal for sadza.
Sweaters
The Wednesday group recently handed out the sweaters they knitted last year to children they knew who didn't have one. It is quite chilly now at nighttime and in the morning, as July is the coldest month of the year (enough so that you can see your breath). When most homes aren't properly insulated, are without windows or roofs, and children walk 3-6 miles to school, they can get pretty cold. The ladies prayed over the sweaters, that those who would be receiving them would stay warm this winter, but also feel God's love in a real way. Each of the 13 ladies handed out at least 4-6 sweaters each, and got a handful of pictures of the children wearing them, which can be seen below. The picture quality isn't the best since the ladies took pictures on their own phones. Several of these ladies went to rural areas where children live in mud huts and much worse off conditions than themselves, to hand out these sweater. It is so exciting to see JM2Z reach even further than we thought possible. Even though we are prohibited to visit these rural settings (without invitation, etc), the ladies are able to move freely and meet these needs even more specifically, since they have a greater understanding of those who are in need.
Tuesday Group
The Tuesday group ladies have just finished knitting winter hats, which they will be handing out to children shortly. Before parting ways last week, they prayed over the hats, for those who would be receiving them. They are so excited to not only have mastered crocheting skills, but also to be able to make a positive difference within their community and share God's love in this way. Two of the ladies are taking hats to two different orphanages and others already have kids in mind who desperately need the warmth that these hats will bring them.
Vacation Bible School
Please be in prayer for our upcoming VBS next month. We are making final preparations as we plan to have another set of children take part in August, during their school break.
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