Packing donations before leaving for Africa
During our final week in Zimbabwe, we were in Chinhoyi. We stopped by the house where we will be living, in order to drop off donated items that we received from people in the US. We had been planning to put them to use within the communities where JM2Z will be ministering. However, due to the timing of the election, we were advised to stay closer to where we were staying. So, we will make use of those donations when we return.
While at the house, we took note of maintenance that will need to be done, either upon our arrival, or within the first year that we are living there. One area that needed work was a room where we are storing things while we are gone. This room used to be an outdoor patio, but was closed in with plywood, so that it could be an inside room. This was done several years ago, and the wood is now rotting (especially along the bottom). We wanted to make sure the rain and rats stay out, so we had new wood installed in the openings. This was a perfect solution until we return, yet an unplanned expense. Ultimately, we plan to put in windows, and make the room an office for all of the administrative work that will need to be done for JM2Z.
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Another issue at the house, and in all of Chinhoyi, is water. The house uses city water, which the city regularly turns off for 8-10 daytime hours each day. Even when it is on, the water is not drinkable. The solution to this problem is to drill a borehole, which is a well. Many houses in Zimbabwe have a borehole, but this one does not. If a borehole is drilled, then water will not be an issue. There are obviously costs associated with making this happen, but if this can get done, then drinking, cooking, bathing, and gardening (which are things we all take for granted) will be made immensely easier.
As I stated, the presidential election took place. Thankfully, during this time, the country was peaceful, as opposed to the last election (2008), when mass violence broke out and all sorts of atrosities to humanity took place. It looks like the current president will be staying in office (there's no surprise there). At this point, we are unsure of all the ramifications of this, but we will keep ourselves updated of things in the coming months. As we find out new information, we will be sure to keep you informed as well. Many rumors are circulating as to what this (election outcome) means for the future. A guranteed ramification of this is that the previous prime minister (who has been running for presidency for the last 12 years) loses his office. Because he stands for democracy and is probably the primary reason that the US dollar is used in Zimbabwe (causing the economy to stabilize in the past few years), optimism is fleeting. One current rumor that we heard from multiple sources is that the Zimbabwe dollar may be reintroduced into circulation. At this point, we are unsure of how this might affect JM2Z, but we are glad that God is in control, no matter what happens. Ultimately, He is in power, and we are thankful for that!
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