Whirlwind Month - Part 1

Mission Team's Arrival

We were so honored to host friends who came on a mission trip to serve alongside us over the past several weeks! After two long days of travel from Oregon, they almost immediately got to work. Like us, they worked tirelessly in any and almost all areas of the Children’s Program. They lived out the motto we have for all mission trips, “Learn. Observe. Serve.” And in true mission trip fashion, they were given plenty of opportunities to experience flexibility in multiple areas. Needless to say, they passed with flying colors! To say we are grateful for all that they did, often last minute or not even asked to do, is an understatement. My (Yolanda) energy levels were still not at 100%, even though I gave every day my all until I flopped into bed at the end of each day. We truly are not sure we would have accomplished all that we did had it not been for Pamela and Michael and their incredibly good work ethic that went above and beyond. Their generous hearts and service minded attitudes made the past several weeks so much more enjoyable. An attitude can make or break a mission trip experience, but if one comes ready to serve and willing to be flexible in all situations, you are guaranteed an experience of a lifetime! This type of attitude is also an incredible blessing to us, the host missionaries. 

Ladies' Gatherings

We had told the ladies in advance that our guests who would be visiting were some of the friends who had helped with food hampers, school fees, medical assistance, and so forth and so on. Although Michael and Pamela may not personally be sponsoring all these programs, we knew they represented their church who had - Myrtle Point First Christian Church. Anytime we help the ladies or give them some kind of assistance, we make it clear that the gift is not from us, but from Christian friends in the USA, and ultimately from God. Naturally this meant they came prepared to the next week’s Ladies’ Gatherings with signed cards of thanks and songs of praise (to and for God). They were eager to hand out hugs and share many, many testimonies of God’s goodness and His provision through JM2Z (they did not use that name, but it was implied by giving my (Yolanda) and Andrew’s names). 

In addition, we finally finished the last verse of Psalm 23 in our Bible study, just in time before HBF (Holiday Bible Fun) started the following week.

Mai Tracy and Mai Baleni, reading today's passage

Taking notes from the Bible study

Mai Dean and Mai Tracy, discussing their Bible reading

Pamela, having her first taste of sadza

In typical generous American fashion, Pamela and Michael showed up with a wrapped gift for each and every lady (including the 2 who haven’t been able to attend weekly since they have started jobs). And like us, they were quick to point out that the gifts were not only from them, but also from other Christian friends. The gifts were welcomed with joyous song and excitement and big smiles and clapping and obvious gratitude and appreciation. We opened one sample gift (so they could take the wrapped gifts home to open in front of their families, since wrapping paper is extremely rare) and went through each item explaining it - the ladies oohed and aahed and sat wide eyed and with gaping mouths, with complete shock that they were being spoiled so abundantly. The gifts were Bible covers, so their Bibles will be protected from the weather, dusty conditions at home, and each pocket and sleeve were stuffed with items like pens, pencils, notebook, batteryless light, and even a very nice magnifying glass that lights up. These gifts once again proved to them how loved they were, how seen and valued, what a light they were in their own right within their families and communities, and how lavishly God blesses us by allowing “our cups to overflow.

The Tuesday group showing off their gifts

The Wednesday group with their gifts

Mai Tamoline, clapping in thanksgiving

Michael and Pamela, showing some of the ladies where Oregon is on the map and Mai Whisper pointing to Zimbabwe

The kids were not forgotten during the groups. They got to color in pictures, play together with toys, and eat some candy after lunch. They also got special attention as the adults went out at separate times to compliment their coloring or hear about their stories, even if there was a language barrier. Andrew even held little Adele while her mom was getting some things done. Of course Little Western and Angel felt extra special since they got extra attention from our guests too (on other days).

Some of the kids showing off their coloring pages

Pamela, with Little Western and Angel

Michael, sharing a story with a few of the kids

Andrew with Adele, Mai Dean's new baby

Water Containers

As many of you are aware, we have mentioned before about the drought that Zimbabwe is presently experiencing. Many of the ladies and their families have been struggling with the lack of water. City water only comes on maybe once a week at random early hours of the morning (1am-4am), completely unannounced. Many of the ladies walk down to the river to do their laundry and fetch heavy buckets of water for bathing, cleaning, toilets, cooking, and drinking. The water which may very well be bilharzia and/or cholera infected. In the past year, over 600 people have died of cholera and over 30,000 have been infected.

Two weeks ago, we heard of 4 adults who had been taken by crocodiles (and who died) down by the river here in Chinhoyi - the same river the ladies frequent for their own water supply. We’re not even talking about a rural area, this river is right here in our town, in the high density area. 

A picture on Mai Whisper's phone, showing where she usually collects water in the river. Here she is washing her clothes.

Anytime someone comes on a mission trip, we encourage them to raise funds for a special project that they will cover. We had several ideas for Michael and Pamela before their arrival, but they all seemed to fall through - sewing project, jungle gym project, etc., etc. - needless to say, God knew! It became apparent to us that we needed to assist the women with larger water containers so that when the city water came on they had a larger storage container for the water, that would last them much longer than small buckets. Before Michael and Pamela had arrived, we asked the ladies to research where to purchase 55 gallon containers, how to get a deal on about 20 of them, how to source good quality containers with lids that sealed, and so on and so forth. They also researched the cost for transport for all the containers to their respective homes. When we finally told them our guests, along with their Christian friends, would be blessing them with these as gifts, they were overwhelmed. In typical African fashion, they broke out in song and worship thanking God for His provision.

All these pictures show the water containers being loaded up for delivery to the women's homes.

We were able to hire a truck to deliver all the containers to the ladies. We also delivered 3 of the containers to the ladies who lived the farthest away from the market. This also gave our guests the wonderful opportunity to see more of the high density area and be welcomed into several ladies’ homes. The ladies we visited were excited to show off their different micro-enterprises (small businesses), as well as the homes in which they live. As always, they were gracious hosts, welcoming us to sit down and visit with them for a time. Giving our guests the opportunity to experience these tiny, basic homes, with minimal furnishings and yet filled to the brim with people, was both a cultural and spiritual experience. These small spaces were filled with so much joy and so much gratitude for all that they had. The pride in the voices of the ladies as they showed off their small businesses was obvious too. We wish we could welcome each and every one of you to experience this too.

Delivering one of the containers

A lady collecting water in small buckets

Sitting in one of Mai Whisper's two rented rooms, after delivering her water container.

Holiday Bible Fun Prep

In addition to our regular weekly Bible study, special gifts, and lunch, the ladies also helped with HBF prep. Everyone got plugged into working on all types of tasks to frantically get it all done for the following week. And even once the ladies left, myself, Andrew, Pamela, and Michael kept working on stuff. A group of 10 of the women even returned on Friday to help with additional cutting, sorting, organizing, counting, and food prep. We have scores and scores of pictures showing just a little of the prep involved in hosting an event for over 120 kids. 

Enjoy this gallery of pics below, showing some of the food shopping, food prep, laminating, gift wrapping, craft cutting, paper counting, and organizing that we all accomplished. (If you’re wondering why Yolanda isn’t in many pics, it’s because she’s usually the one behind the camera).

Look out for another blog post next week to see how the week of HBF went with all the children and volunteers!