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We have to go finish getting ready. I will give you a more detailed update when we get home. Ephraim and I arrive in Tennessee on Wednesday 12:30 EST.
We are now back in Harare. We have come full circle and we are leaving tomorrow (Tuesday). It has been an amazing trip, but I will debrief the trip later. After we left Chiredzi we visited the game park and we saw antelope, deer, buffalo, zebra and giraffe (and many other animals). It was amazing, were blessed to see so much game. The Pemberton's go to church with people from the national park service, so they took us out further into the restricted area in their Land Rover. It was an amazing experience.(I have to leave so here is the short version)
We traveled to Mutare for the youth conference after the game park. Thursday through Sunday were packed full of preaching, teaching and counseling. Ephraim, Joel, Kara, Jenn and I all spoke. Ephraim preached, Joel preached 3 sermons and I preached 2. We had many who rededicated their life and others who decided to pursue ministry. Joel and I counted and I think we have both preached about 10 times a piece since we've been in country. I only brought 3 sermons to preach, so it has been amazing to see God fill us with his message.
We love you guys!
(Picture of baptism in Chiredzi)
This morning I spoke in Chapel for one of the primary schools. There were students from grades 5-7 with over 640 students. I spoke about the favorite food of Zimbabwe, Sudza (a corn meal mixture eaten with most meals). All the kids know that they need to eat lots of sudza if they want to grow big and strong. Instead of comparing Jesus to the bread of life I told the kids Jesus was the Sudza of life. Sudza alone will nourish the body which will last temporarily, but Jesus will give life that is eternal. Jesus will make the spirit strong, like Sudza makes the body strong.
In the morning we are getting up very early (4:30am) to visit a game park on the way to Mutare. We hope to see elephant, lion and giraffe (as well as zebra, antelope, buffalo, etc.) in their native wild habitat. They say that now is not the best time to view the animals because the brush is grown up tall. Zimbabwe has finished with their rainy season and everything is green and beautiful, but when it is brown and dry the animals are easier to see.
Tomorrow is Jenn’s birthday. She will be 25, she’s so excited to celebrate her birthday in Africa. We’re looking forward to an exciting birthday celebration in the truck on the way to the youth conference ;-). She said she has really enjoyed the children in Zimbabwe. Today we visited two orphanages in the Chiredzi area, and she really connected with the young children and the girls. They were following her around and showed her their gardens and games they enjoy playing.
The longer I am here, the more I understand that this trip is merely a drop in the bucket of the ministry that is currently being done and the ministry that needs to be done in Zimbabwe. In Chiredzi, we are staying with the Pemberton’s who lead Hippo Valley Christian Mission. They have been here doing mission work for three generations since the 1950’s and they have over 24 schools, 2 orphanages and hospitals that they have been a part of starting. They have also planted numerous churches and currently support the entire salary of nine local pastors. They have made a large splash in the bucket, and continue to impact the Kingdom in major ways. As I write this blog post I am looking at a proposal of ways they can cut their budget over the next year in order to make ends meet. You have all supported me generously, and if you wish to support this mission I plan to send money back when we get back to the states.
In the evening we spent time at a lake visiting with students Ephraim impacted in his ministry at the University. I am now learning how much Ephraim has impacted this country in his ministry. The students he taught are now in influential positions in the Zimbabwean government and private sector.
On Sunday we all went our separate ways to different churches. Jenn stayed on the Zimbabwe Christian College campus and taught children's church at Harare Church of Christ. Joel went to the church I preached at on Friday in Budiriro, Ephraim went to Greencroft Church of Christ, and I preached at Kuwadzana Church of Christ. It was a great Sunday and we all had positive responses, and one new believer came to Christ! I am still unable to upload pictures, so I will have to describe the location I preached. It is a new church plant, and they are working on their first church building. They currently have the foundation finished, but need to buy the materials. The materials to finish the building will cost the people at least 30,000. I was amazed at the sacrificial giving of the people raising over $500 dollars for the building above and beyond the regular offering (this amount is even more amazing after I found out that most families do not make more than $150 a month per income).
I preached under a covering without walls, that was just tall enough for me to fit under, I am the "Murungu Mukuru" The big white man. There were just over 250 packed into this small shelter. I continue to gain encouragement from the vitality of the Zimbabwean worship services. Everyone is dancing and laughing, while they are praising the Lord. I am working on my dance moves, but am not so good! Jenn is the one who is really making progress when it comes to dancing.
Today, we left in the morning (7am), to head for southern Zimbabwe (Chiredzi). We made several stops along the way, but the scenery was amazing. The African country side filled all of us with awe. We stopped by Ephraim's elementary school and were able to provide them with school supplies and soccer balls. The highlight of the trip was visiting Ephraim's village. We were welcomed by the entire village of people dancing and singing and children chasing our truck. We could hardly get out of the truck because so many people wanted to greet us and shake our hands. They had waited for us the entire day, and had almost lost hope of our coming. They said when they saw us their hearts were renewed, and they were encouraged.
I believe we were the ones who were blessed most through the visit. It was a great experience! After the people greeted us, we were introduced and they introduced us to Ephraim's family. We were able to meet his mother, great aunt, uncle and many members of his extended family. Joel gave a great sermon to the people from Luke 15, calling them to be found in the love of their father in heaven. After the greetings and speaking, we shared tea, and gave them supplies we brought. The villagers loved the digital camera. I probably took a picture of each one of them at least 2 times. I would take the picture, then they would want to look at it. Every time they saw themselves in the picture, they would break into laughter.
The people were so filled with joy, even though they have nothing. The best trait of the Zimbabwean people is their smile. Even through the tough times, they are smiling! They never stop, and it was truly a blessing to me.
The night ended with us giving rides to Ephraim's family who had walked miles to see us. I rode in the back of the truck with Joel and Jenn while the sun was setting. It was a breathtaking view, that was un-capturable on the camera. All I could do was stare and dream. I now know why these people have so much joy.
It is currently 1am, and I need to get to bed. Tomorrow we are preaching at the local high schools and then we are helping in the baptisms of 70 students! Keep us in your prayers, and keep the people of Zimbabwe in your prayers.
Last night when I preached, I preached through a translator. Though most people in Zimbabwe speak English, it is hard for many to understand my American accent, and I have been told I speak too fast. A man named Timba translated for me. He is a great friend of Ephraim, and is a wonderful man. I enjoy the conversations we have had in the last few days, he lived in California for 2 years working for a CPA firm. He has been informing me of the severity of the economic situation here. He said there is a 12% employment rate in Zimbabwe (that means 88% are unemployed), I am unsure how people are surviving due to the fact that those employed make very low wages, and the cost of living is not much lower here than it is in America (at least from what I have seen the food costs are not much lower). I witnessed a group of people standing around the Bank downtown yesterday to withdraw money. Since they are using US Dollars, they often run out, meaning people no longer have access to their funds. This leads to long lines at the banks and a general distrust for the banking system (I was told that due to the instaility of the banking system many people are now keeping their money in their homes).
My sermon last night was on Isaiah 60:1-3, "Muka Upenye" (Arise and Shine) was the title. It was an amazing service; we danced, sang and praised the Lord (I enjoyed the drums, maracas, and African horn). It is such an encouraging experience to see the people of God worship our creator from the opposite side of the globle.
I had troubles with my memory card reader, so I don't have any photos for you today. I hope to update you with pictures another day soon. Thank you for your love and support. Please pray for Ephraim, he has a very sore throat, and is going to preach tomorrow.
Bri and I visited the Tshuma's (Ephraim's family) on friday for dinner. We worked on simple vocabury for the trip. The national language in Zimbabwe is Shona. I thought I would share what I'm learning with you.
Words in Shona:
(all "A" sounds are long, all I's sound like long e's)
How are you - mkdini (sounds like mockadini)
I'm fine how are you - tadipo mkdinio
We are fine - tinofara (singular, dinofara)
What is your name - Zita rako ndiyani (silent n)
Water - mvura (sounds like vura)
Good morning - mangwanani
Good afternoon - masikati (sounds like - mos e cot e)
Good evening - manheru (sounds like - mon hairoo)
I am full - ndaguta (n is sillent)
Thank you - datenda
Very much - zvikuru (sounds like shukuru)
Food - chikafu (sounds like cheek-a-foo)
You're welcome - zvakanaka (sounds like shakanaka)
Sit down - garapasi
Jesus is good - jesu wakanaka
Its good to be here - zvakanaka kuvapano
God is good - mwari wakanaka
Holy Spirit - mweya mutsvene (second word sounds like muchanae)
Come here - huya pano
You - iwe (sounds like - e way)
Bye - sarai zvakanaka
Travel well - famba zvakanaka
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