Ministry Opportunities

We have made some headway, or should I (Yolanda) say we at least have gotten some answers in the area of knowing how we will progress working in the rural environment. We knew things would take time and were fully aware of the fact that being welcomed into new communities would evolve over time as we built relationships and made new connections. I had made prior relationships in several communities over the last few years during my travels back to Zim during the summers. But, things have changed. 3 years passed since the last encounter and trip back to meet with these individuals, i.e. due to finishing seminary, getting married, fundraising, and transitioning back to Zimbabwe. I had been welcomed by a few chiefs into their villages, which is customary and respectful. However, certain p0litical figures have also been placed within communities. These individuals are called headmen or bookies. They got the nickname bookie because each of them have a book, which lists the names of every individual in a village and all of those within a community. In their book they record where each person travels to, who they interact with and if they are actively involved in any p0litical arena. This entire system was set up by the higher-ups (vague on purpose) in a way to keep an eye on village folk that may be associating themselves with people they didn't want them to. Rural people have also been told that all white people are the opposition and therefore are strongly discouraged to have any interaction with whites especially as it relates to white people going to rural homesteads.

Meanwhile, with that background in mind, I will explain what information we have learned so far. We have been closely working with our Shona tutor and have enlisted her help and assistance with getting into rural communities in which we can minister. All of this has taken place over the last couple weeks. She was very excited and immediately starting calling on friends, fellow teachers in a rural school and those within churches that we may partner with in moving forward. Unfortunately, the unequivocal response she has received has been one question, “What color are they?” When she answers with, “Why does that matter?” they respond with, “You know why. We cannot put ourselves in danger, and we can’t guarantee her safety so ultimately no, she is not welcome.” This is an unfortunate occurrence and for obvious reasons is forcing us to revaluate how JM2Z will be doing ministry until this changes. Our vision all along was to be mobile and thus go to the people rather than expect the people to come to us, but clearly it looks like that is not a feasible option AT THIS POINT.

Now for the good news and our option B (you ALWAYS need an option B on the mission-field and flexibility is key). The group of women I met with last year for our first gathering has welcomed me back. They are excited for another meeting and an on-going relationship (this is where we have needed to put some boundaries in place and be clear what we are offering, etc). We are presently looking for a location for our next meeting, since their church meets in a schoolroom and they pay rent per Sunday. The ladies in this group all come from the high density area, which is generally a lower economic group of people. Many will have come from a rural setting to begin with and some/most have not had too many interactions with white people. We feel these are the women and children we will start working with now since our plans have changed a little, for the meantime. A lot of these women are single parents, widows, unemployed or HIV positive (some are more than one). Most, if not all, have children and those with work are vendors, maids or lower incomes that live on $2 a day. We also have another location within the high-density area (our Shona tutor’s mother’s home) that we are planning on having an event and welcoming all the ladies within that area. Multiple counseling opportunities have arisen as well. Some of these ladies are in prostitution or in the process of leaving the “trade.” Others are in abusive relationships and suicidal and almost all live impoverished lifestyles. I am needing to study and do some research as I prepare to meet with these ladies and do my best to come along side them as they struggle with these tough issues. Please pray that God guards my heart as I minister to them and that I am able to find the necessary tools and resources to best assist them.

I have had a couple weeks of Shona tutoring again, and will continue to do so. Recently my Shona tutor will only speak to me in Shona and she has given me strict instructions to prepare my entire introduction in Shona for our next meeting with the ladies. Introductions must include everything from the basics of your name, where you live, where you were born and what you like, as well as are you married, to whom, what do you do, do you have children and if not, why? Oh my, lots of studying ahead for me, but thankfully I am already able to say all of that, if only I can remember everything I’m expected to tell them in an introduction  :-)

I am excited about the opportunities and we are so grateful that even though one door is closed for the moment, another has opened. We continue to rest in God’s embrace as He encourages us to move forward and reminds us to be patient. We are saddened that racism, p0litics and other such facets are prohibiting us from reaching the people who need it most. We have so much to offer, most importantly Him and His story.

There are even more things we are learning, but that is for anther blog. We will let you chew on this for now. We ask that you be very careful in your comments, please make no p0litically based statements or mention any names (of people here in power). If you have any questions please e-mail us directly and word your questions carefully in e-mails too. In some areas we have needed to be vague on purpose, please be patient with us as we try our best to communicate everything to you of relevance.