Team Zimbabwe

Most of Team Zim has arrived back in Australia.  Scott & Emily went on to Kenya to visit the young man they have supported through Compassion, and leave today for Tanzania!  They will arrive tired but well travelled on Sunday God willing.

Thank you so much for the interest and support and faithful prayer coverage during our time in Zim.  Our time there was somewhat ’sanitized’ due to the circumstances and we got to see a lot less than we normally would have, but the threat of trouble during the election was very real.  As a result the team lay low out at Willow Park getting on with the building project and training the lads from Mowebeni.

Updating the website was a challenge given limited access to the Net, power cuts and using dial-up.  Hopefully there were enough updates to keep you informed and at times entertained!  Once the McLeod’s are back I will be conducting an feedback analysis with the team and with the Muller’s back in Bulawayo and looking ahead at the future.

In the meantime please continue to pray for this nation as their immediate future hangs in the balance, and negotiations behind the scenes continue.  The lives of millions of people can be affected negatively or positively through the outcome of these deliberations.

This is written from Changi Airport, Singapore where Team Zim are on their way home after a memorable 2 weeks in Zimbabwe.  More reports [that I didn't have time and web access to file] will be posted in the coming days as well as pictures galore.

Thanks so much for your interest, support and prayers through an uncertain time.  It must be said though that all times we were safe, and that the situation for the most part seems calm apart of course the people that are being targetted by political violence.

The people of Zimbabwe are a humble and gracious, and they left a deep impression on us.  We certainly noticed the difference even with only one day in South Africa!

More to come soon.

On the way back to Bulawayo today Team Zimbabwe ran into some typical African situations.  At about the halfway mark, 80km from each town [Gweru & Bulawayo], our bakkie[ute] broke down.

After inspecting the damage it was determined that there was no way the problem could be repaired on the road [siezed bearings in RH front wheel assembly], and a tow truck was organised from Bulawayo.  The Team disembarked and began the long wait for about 3 hours before a tow truck arrived.

This was by far the end of the story. Firstly the winch cable motor on the tow truck burned out as it was loading our vehicle.  We were able to drive it up despite the damage to the wheel assembly.  We all climbed aboard the bakkie and began out journey back to Bulawayo.  At about 40km out, we came across a police roadblock, who made us pull over and climb out as it is illegal to carry passengers in a vehicle on the back of a tow truck [we did provide much amusement for passing motorists!].

Somehow our tow truck driver talked his way out of the situation [I think money changed hands, but the police dodn't get any US dollars out of us, thanks to the protection of the driver].  After a while off the vehicle the command came to get back in and we set off for Bulawayo fearing the next police roadblock.  About 5km from home we hit another and were taken off the road once again.  This time the senior officer only wanted to do some public relations with us and tell us that “there is no violence or anything like that in Zimabwe, it is the media creating a false impression”.  None of us dared argue the point, and smiled like cheshire cats.  Eventually we gave him and his sidekick some Koala bears to take home and all was good.

The final few km’s home were uneventful and we were extremely happy to arrive home.  I spent the journey from the pick up point in the drivers seat of the bakkie on top of the tow truck, a truly surreal experience, escpecially as it was doing a maximum of 55km per hour, and an average of 40km per hour!  It was our most ‘African’ experience of the whole trip.

Police roadblocks are really just a means whereby poorly paid police get to extract bribes in the form of money or produce.  As such, we have passed through most without problems, thanks to Andrew’s charm.

Team Zim somehow managed to fit themselves, their luggage, spare fuel and a few crates into the back of a bakkie [ute] and drive the 160km to Gweru, and to Antelope Park for an overnight sstay and some wildlife encounters.

Once safely esconced in our all-in bungalow accommodation the team set about taking up the various wildife options available, including playing with lion cubs [big ones!], watching big lions get fed, playing withe elephants and various game viewing excurcsions.

The team greatly enjoyed the food available, which was the heartiest so far and also warm bedding, which has eluded us in the bitter cold. Antelope Park is situated just outside Gweru, the ‘heart of
Zimbabwe’.  Strangely enough, all the white women hear sound exactly like to two Gweru women we know in Brisbane, Sue and Jane!  We told them so as well, much to their befuddlement.

Our one and only chance to go to church was Sunday morning, at a New Frontiers church called River of Life.  We all climbed aboard the bakkie [ute] and much to the amazement of locals headed off down the road to church.  River of Life is a church plant that attracts a lot of university students.  There are a few pastors, including one full time pastor called Bonisi, otherwise known as ‘Bones’.  

It was a thoroughly enjoyable service, with joyous worship and a powerful sermon about forgiveness.  The service was only 2 days after Election Day, and many in the nation were not sure what was going to unfold over the weekend.

The congregation was very friendly and we chatted to a number of people after the service.  We noticed that most of the people walked to church!

 I’ve decided that I’ve more to learn from a church in Zimbabwe than going to an expensive church growth conference run by someone from the USA with a church of many thousands.  The grace, humility, faith, perseverance and focus of believers here is humbling to experience!

On Monday part of Team Zimbabwe stayed behind in Bulawayo and visited some more orphanages as well as returning to some so that Graeme could attempt to fix a washing machine [servicing 8 children!] and a hot water system.  During his time at Willow Park Graeme has worked wonders repairing what in other places would be museum pieces.  The most spectacular was the ancient element from the hot water geezer in the Willow Park Kitchen.  Now the staff there no longer have to heat up water on the stove or wash with cold water.

The team were also able to interact with the kids again and had lots of fun.  Click on the images to enlarge

Team Zimbabwe spent their last day at Willow Park finishing off some window plastering, cleaning out chicken coups, painting and making a volleyball court. The roof continued to be built at a speedy pace, as can be seen from the pics included [click to enlarge].  

Josh continued to train his band of young guys in how to drill holes and fit windows.  The boys from Mowebini [near Esigodini] were very keen to use any powertool whatsoever.  Andrew noticed when he picked some of them up that they would try to open the car door from the outside, and also were totally befuddled with the seatbelt and managed to tie themselves in knots.  This indicates that some of them have never travelled in the inside of a vehicle and therefore are not sure how to do things like open doors from the inside, etc.

Team Zimbabwe will be heading out of communication range for a day whilst we visit  Antelope Park.  On our return on Thursday we will try to see the Samkele Girls, who were moved into town during the election uncertainty.  When we do we will hand over the gift from Eatons Hill State School.

Keep the comments coming, and I will pass onto the team.  I can’t tell you how much flak I’m getting from the team for ‘fiddling with computers’ trying to keep all you updated!  The team takes pictures whenever they see me with an implement in my hand, just to record the moment.  Here’s one such precious moment: [click to enlarge]

Trying to find something you want in a supermarket is fun if you are a visitor but it must be frustrating if you are a local.  You need to do the rounds of at least 5 supermarkets if you want to find a range of groceries or other items.  Stan, Andrew & Emily wnet searching for some beverages late this afternoon starting at Ascot, then Hillside and then a range of other supermarkets.

Displayed are some pictures from the Spar Supermarket at Ascot, which is one of the better shopping centres.  You tend to rate supermarkets by how many or how few people hassle you to buy things, look after your car, or do some other kind of deal with you.

For the record we returned home empty handed!  Click on pics to enlarge.  One shows Emily with option paralysis.  She coudln’t decide between nothing and nothing, and the other shows Stan & Andrew in a hopeful but fruitless search.