My apologies for not getting back to this blog much sooner! I've been reminded of the many field trips that would be planned for classes near the end of the school year at Clay High School ~~ it seems like that is what is happening here at AU!!! A trip last Fri. and another on Sat., and now another trip is planned for tomorrow!! Exams begin on Nov. 11, so they are designed to give students a break before the grueling two weeks of writing their exams.
Last Sat. I was able to join a group of students as we visited The Great Zimbabwe. This is a very historic site, and though I had hoped to visit it, I wasn't sure there would be an opportunity. It is located 4.5 hrs. south of Mutare, and is a National Park. This community goes back to the 1100's when approximately 25,000 people inhabited this area. They were highly skilled, as their structures still stand today!! It is an area with lots of granite, which they chiseled into brick-size shape to build their huts and fortify their community ~~ all without mortar!!!
With help from three younger gentlemen, I was able to climb to the top of The Hill where the King resided! There were many loose rocks along the way, and some very narrow passageways, but we made it!! From there we could see the partial ruins of the area where many of the King's wives lived, surrounded by a high granite wall. In the other direction were some small huts depicting a typical village of that day, complete with cattle grazing nearby and walking right through "the neighborhood!" A monkey played along a fence, curious about all these foreigners!!!! Several of the area residents donned hats and hides before showing us some dances to the beat of African drums!!! I was reminded of my experience attending a Cherokee celebration gathering when one of my former students was the first woman elected as Chief of the Cherokee Nation east of the Mississippi! Lots of similarities!!!
After easing our way down and having some cooling refreshments, we hiked on to The Enclosure ~~ again a very high wall built with granite and no mortar! There are actually two walls, one inside the other for great fortification. This community lasted until the 1500's, when they began moving further north to escape intruders from the south, establishing smaller "Zimbabwes" as they moved. Cecil Rhodes explored north from South Africa, thus the former name "Rhodesia." Southern Rhodesia is the current Zimbabwe, and Northern Rhodesia is currently Zambia.
Every effort was made by Cecil Rhodes and the British to totally wipe out the indigenous people because they were thought to be savages. Much research has shown that it was indeed the indigenous people who had built The Great Zimbabwe ~~ over a 300-400 year time span!! They were hunters and gatherers who survived off the land. I can better understand the Zimbabwean people wanting to reclaim the original name of their country when they won their independence from Britain in 1980.
Last Friday I accompanied some students from the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources on a trip to Nyanga ~~ about 1.5 hrs. from AU and higher in the mountains. Two of our students had worked in the National Park there as interns this past summer, so they guided us first to see the area where trout are artificially bred and raised for fisherman to catch in the surrounding lakes. Once again, the British tried to make the area into a semblance of Scotland!! The Cecil Rhodes Hotel/Museum and the Troutbeck Hotel are very British in structure and cater to the wealthy who can afford this lifestyle, enjoying golfing, fishing, horseback riding, canoeing, and hiking! The surrounding area is beautiful, with lush forests of various kinds of pine and indigenous trees, waterfalls, and hiking trails.
Interesting to me that "downtown" Nyanga reminded me of downtown Plains, GA, where Jimmy Carter grew up!! Mostly one-story buildings, a number of "general stores" with a little of almost everything, including some groceries, but no small shops with souvenirs as you might expect in a "resort" area!! No British influence there! Mostly just poor people trying to eek out a living by selling whatever goods they have or can get to sell for $1.00 or a little more. Our lunch of sadza, chicken and veggies was cooked by three women over an open fire "out back!" It seems to me that we have not learned from history to value indigenous people, their way of life and their environment. Most people and nations have been too interested in conquering and taking for themselves.
Tomorrow I will go on an overnight bus trip to another National Park about 5 hrs. southeast of AU! The Gonarezhou National Park borders Mozambique and South Africa and is the first tri-country Transfrontier Park with much unspoiled wilderness. It is recently being developed for safaris, etc., and features Africa's BIG FIVE ~~ lions, elephants, rhinoceros, leopards, and Cape buffalo! Hopefully we will arrive early enough (leaving campus at 4:00 AM!) to see some of these before it gets too hot and they hide in the bush!
What an amazing world of birds, animals, and people God has given us to enjoy! I pray we don't contribute to the extinction of any. Thank you, God, for the amazing diversity we experience in all of Your creation!
Friday, November 1, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Highlight of Last Week!!
What a wonderful celebration of excellence for students at Hillcrest College last Thurs. evening, where Carly and Michael Kies attend school! They are definitely in the minority, along with a few other white students, but are very well accepted and an integral part of the school fabric and leadership. Hillcrest has recently received some very high honors for their strong academic and sports program. It is also a boarding school, so some students come from too far away to go home each evening. (FYI ~~ No education in Zim. is free. Even to attend government-operated schools, fees must be paid. And of course, fees are much higher if students attend a private school!)
Let me explain that the term "college" is used here to indicate education from 7th grade through (high school) graduation. Thus, the importance of saying that you attend "university" once you have finished your "college!" The educational system here follows the British format, so students attend a primary school from first through sixth grade (U.S.) Then they do Forms 1-6, followed by "O" levels and "A" levels (Honors and top Honors, I think!) The end-of-year exams are from Cambridge in the U.K., usually ALL essay questions. Once exams are over they are sent back to Cambridge for scoring/grading! So, Carly, as a senior, is finished with all of her classes, will write her exams between now and the end of Nov., but won't hear the results for another two months!
All the students were dressed in their classy-looking uniforms of navy blazers and pants or skirts, and white shirts/blouses with a necktie. Upper level seniors all wore a beige/grey blazer. For participation in clubs, various sports, and other leadership roles, they receive a small "patch" with the name of the sport or club, etc. These are sown on the blazer in the same manner as athletic "letters," music "symbols," etc. are in the States. And they all have billed hats with "H C" embroidered on them.
We arrived at the school just before dusk. The outdoor setting was the same hillside where I had watched Michael and others in their paintball competition a few weeks ago. But now chairs were set up on various levels leading down to the platform stage with risers for the choir, chairs for faculty, honors seniors, a piano, and room on one side for their junior band! As the evening wore on a nearly full moon rose in the East, and a cool breeze brought a chill by the end of the program.
This particular event is called "Speech Night," and would be comparable to what we did at Clay High School with our Awards Night, though ours included only Seniors. Students in all levels and subject areas were recognized for excellence ~~ some received "book awards," often a dictionary; and others received various sizes of trophies, usually silver. One student in each Form received "Honors Awards."
Other awards were given for character, leadership and service ~~ all VERY IMPRESSIVE. One young lady won lots of accolades for her accomplishments in track, and even represented all of Zimbabwe in Nigeria and later in Europe in international competitions!!! Character, leadership and service qualities are highly stressed in education here, so it isn't just the student with the highest grades or SAT scores that gets the most recognition!!
This event is called "Speech Night," though, because it is the time when the female and male valedictorians give their speeches! Carly's was excellent and delivered with great confidence and humor! She took the letters of "Hillcrest," and named the various qualities she had learned during her years there. As Head Girl Prefect/Valedictorian, she also received a huge (but very light) gold trophy, which is the highest honor given there!! We were all so proud of her for all her accomplishments!! This trophy is not given every year, so you know she was at the very top of her class in EVERY respect!!
Various musical groups performed during the program, and the Manicaland Provincial Minister of Education gave an excellent speech of thanks and encouragement for all their achievements. Tea and light refreshments were served by the parents at the end of the program. It was so uplifting to be able to share this evening with the Kies' family and friends!!
This event totally overshadowed the fact that for 2-3 days earlier in the week we had no or very slow computer connection! The lack of adequate infrastructure throughout this country is keeping it from developing at a pace that will lift it out of the poverty that the majority of folks live with day in and day out.
On Monday, Dr. Machinga and I will be hosting an Open House in a large tent outside the Health Center where our office is located. It is to help all the staff (300-400) learn about the many counseling and career services we offer. We have also invited some outside vendors to come and provide information about healthy lifestyles, the need for exercise, stress reduction, an improved self image, etc., etc. We're praying that it will be received well, and that staff, as well as students, will be able to live happier, more productive lives! There is very little knowledge or emphasis on good mental health here, so we hope this will provide new opportunities for folks to receive help. Please pray that it will be so!
Until next time ~~ God is Good, All the Time, and All the Time, God is Good!!!
Let me explain that the term "college" is used here to indicate education from 7th grade through (high school) graduation. Thus, the importance of saying that you attend "university" once you have finished your "college!" The educational system here follows the British format, so students attend a primary school from first through sixth grade (U.S.) Then they do Forms 1-6, followed by "O" levels and "A" levels (Honors and top Honors, I think!) The end-of-year exams are from Cambridge in the U.K., usually ALL essay questions. Once exams are over they are sent back to Cambridge for scoring/grading! So, Carly, as a senior, is finished with all of her classes, will write her exams between now and the end of Nov., but won't hear the results for another two months!
All the students were dressed in their classy-looking uniforms of navy blazers and pants or skirts, and white shirts/blouses with a necktie. Upper level seniors all wore a beige/grey blazer. For participation in clubs, various sports, and other leadership roles, they receive a small "patch" with the name of the sport or club, etc. These are sown on the blazer in the same manner as athletic "letters," music "symbols," etc. are in the States. And they all have billed hats with "H C" embroidered on them.
We arrived at the school just before dusk. The outdoor setting was the same hillside where I had watched Michael and others in their paintball competition a few weeks ago. But now chairs were set up on various levels leading down to the platform stage with risers for the choir, chairs for faculty, honors seniors, a piano, and room on one side for their junior band! As the evening wore on a nearly full moon rose in the East, and a cool breeze brought a chill by the end of the program.
This particular event is called "Speech Night," and would be comparable to what we did at Clay High School with our Awards Night, though ours included only Seniors. Students in all levels and subject areas were recognized for excellence ~~ some received "book awards," often a dictionary; and others received various sizes of trophies, usually silver. One student in each Form received "Honors Awards."
Other awards were given for character, leadership and service ~~ all VERY IMPRESSIVE. One young lady won lots of accolades for her accomplishments in track, and even represented all of Zimbabwe in Nigeria and later in Europe in international competitions!!! Character, leadership and service qualities are highly stressed in education here, so it isn't just the student with the highest grades or SAT scores that gets the most recognition!!
This event is called "Speech Night," though, because it is the time when the female and male valedictorians give their speeches! Carly's was excellent and delivered with great confidence and humor! She took the letters of "Hillcrest," and named the various qualities she had learned during her years there. As Head Girl Prefect/Valedictorian, she also received a huge (but very light) gold trophy, which is the highest honor given there!! We were all so proud of her for all her accomplishments!! This trophy is not given every year, so you know she was at the very top of her class in EVERY respect!!
Various musical groups performed during the program, and the Manicaland Provincial Minister of Education gave an excellent speech of thanks and encouragement for all their achievements. Tea and light refreshments were served by the parents at the end of the program. It was so uplifting to be able to share this evening with the Kies' family and friends!!
This event totally overshadowed the fact that for 2-3 days earlier in the week we had no or very slow computer connection! The lack of adequate infrastructure throughout this country is keeping it from developing at a pace that will lift it out of the poverty that the majority of folks live with day in and day out.
On Monday, Dr. Machinga and I will be hosting an Open House in a large tent outside the Health Center where our office is located. It is to help all the staff (300-400) learn about the many counseling and career services we offer. We have also invited some outside vendors to come and provide information about healthy lifestyles, the need for exercise, stress reduction, an improved self image, etc., etc. We're praying that it will be received well, and that staff, as well as students, will be able to live happier, more productive lives! There is very little knowledge or emphasis on good mental health here, so we hope this will provide new opportunities for folks to receive help. Please pray that it will be so!
Until next time ~~ God is Good, All the Time, and All the Time, God is Good!!!
Friday, October 11, 2013
A Saturday Trip to Mutare (Part 2!)
The grocery section of mfs carries mostly cereals, baking items like flour and sugar, (no cake or cookie mixes!) a few pots and pans, dishes (but no "sets" of dishes), bowls, loose silverware, biscuits (cookies), and cold drink mixes. I was encouraged to select the corn flakes produced in Zimbabwe, rather than the one from South Africa!
Another part of this "department store" was across the street, and carried some large and small appliances, a few linens, some office supplies, and children's toys ~~ a few board games, puzzles, and toys for small children.
Just around the corner from mfs was the Mutare Mart, but it was closed on Sat. and Sun. So we proceeded up the street to each of the three main grocery stores. Most carry similar items, even including some familiar labels such as Lays potato chips and Oreo cookies!! OK and TM are some larger than SPAR, and OK seems to have the best meat. Since I'm not doing much cooking for myself, I didn't make a lot of purchases, but I was looking for pickle relish to put in some tuna salad. I found sliced pickles, and the price told me that it is considered a luxury item here! Also found some hot chocolate mix which is quite tasty!! Everything, including food, carries a 15% sales tax, and if you haven't brought your own bags to carry items home, you will pay $.10 for each one you purchase! No grocery baggers, either, so must remember to put the heaviest items on the bottom!!
Just across the street from SPAR is only one of several outdoor markets where lots of fresh fruits and vegetables are sold ~~ apples (4 for $1.00), oranges, mangoes, huge bags of potatoes, tomatoes (lots for $1.00), carrots, onions, lettuce, bananas (5 for $1.00), and very large heads of cabbage, etc. Along many of the streets individuals either sit or lie down on the concrete as they wait for customers to purchase their items, whether food or trinkets, or copies of the government-run newspapers. Still other street vendors are hawking belts, sunglasses, pirated DVDs, jewelry, baskets, etc., etc. I'm aware of the amount of litter on the streets and sidewalks, and blowing in the alleyways. City services are at a minimum, it seems.
Dr. Ab and Dr. Chris Abercrombe from South Carolina have also been shopping and showing me around, so we join them at the Burger Bar for hamburgers and ginger beer to celebrate Chris' birthday! The bun was huge and very fresh, the burger almost cooked to my satisfaction, with tomato, lettuce and onion. I also had some chips (fries), which I haven't had since leaving home! Not bad for $1.50!!
We decide not to wait 45 minutes for the AU bus, and climb into a "combie" for the trip back to campus. Combies are 15-passenger vans which usually carry upwards of 26 folks each trip, for $2.00 each! We wait on several corners for others who want to come toward AU, as people are packed into the seats ~~ flesh upon flesh!! There were five of us in one set of seats, which were meant for three! A young girl sat on my left next to her mother, who was nursing a young baby as we rode along!!
A teenager was the last passenger on, and he actually stood right by the door for the entire trip. As we approached the line of cars again waiting for a green light to travel over the Pass, our combie was motioned to the side of the road by the Police. . . likely because of the young man standing! The driver pulled over, but then took off again, lickety split, turning left off the main road to get away from the Police. We made several more turns on very rutted, dusty roads before arriving back at the juncture of the road over the Pass! The kind of trip every American should experience at least once in their lifetime!!!
As we proceeded toward AU it began to sprinkle, and rain came in large drops! It was still raining when we reached our exit point on the main road (not at the AU gate!). Fortunately, I had taken an umbrella, but it's a small one for only one person! So, we trekked down the well-worn path made by many coming to this campus, until we reached the concrete brick residence of Ab and Chris. By this time our shoes were caked with red mud, and we were quite wet. Ab invited us in for some tea and biscuits to warm up a bit and dry off! We sang Happy Birthday to Chris before heading on back to the main part of campus! A very memorable Sat. shopping trip, to say the least!
Random Thoughts . . .
Another part of this "department store" was across the street, and carried some large and small appliances, a few linens, some office supplies, and children's toys ~~ a few board games, puzzles, and toys for small children.
Just around the corner from mfs was the Mutare Mart, but it was closed on Sat. and Sun. So we proceeded up the street to each of the three main grocery stores. Most carry similar items, even including some familiar labels such as Lays potato chips and Oreo cookies!! OK and TM are some larger than SPAR, and OK seems to have the best meat. Since I'm not doing much cooking for myself, I didn't make a lot of purchases, but I was looking for pickle relish to put in some tuna salad. I found sliced pickles, and the price told me that it is considered a luxury item here! Also found some hot chocolate mix which is quite tasty!! Everything, including food, carries a 15% sales tax, and if you haven't brought your own bags to carry items home, you will pay $.10 for each one you purchase! No grocery baggers, either, so must remember to put the heaviest items on the bottom!!
Just across the street from SPAR is only one of several outdoor markets where lots of fresh fruits and vegetables are sold ~~ apples (4 for $1.00), oranges, mangoes, huge bags of potatoes, tomatoes (lots for $1.00), carrots, onions, lettuce, bananas (5 for $1.00), and very large heads of cabbage, etc. Along many of the streets individuals either sit or lie down on the concrete as they wait for customers to purchase their items, whether food or trinkets, or copies of the government-run newspapers. Still other street vendors are hawking belts, sunglasses, pirated DVDs, jewelry, baskets, etc., etc. I'm aware of the amount of litter on the streets and sidewalks, and blowing in the alleyways. City services are at a minimum, it seems.
Dr. Ab and Dr. Chris Abercrombe from South Carolina have also been shopping and showing me around, so we join them at the Burger Bar for hamburgers and ginger beer to celebrate Chris' birthday! The bun was huge and very fresh, the burger almost cooked to my satisfaction, with tomato, lettuce and onion. I also had some chips (fries), which I haven't had since leaving home! Not bad for $1.50!!
We decide not to wait 45 minutes for the AU bus, and climb into a "combie" for the trip back to campus. Combies are 15-passenger vans which usually carry upwards of 26 folks each trip, for $2.00 each! We wait on several corners for others who want to come toward AU, as people are packed into the seats ~~ flesh upon flesh!! There were five of us in one set of seats, which were meant for three! A young girl sat on my left next to her mother, who was nursing a young baby as we rode along!!
A teenager was the last passenger on, and he actually stood right by the door for the entire trip. As we approached the line of cars again waiting for a green light to travel over the Pass, our combie was motioned to the side of the road by the Police. . . likely because of the young man standing! The driver pulled over, but then took off again, lickety split, turning left off the main road to get away from the Police. We made several more turns on very rutted, dusty roads before arriving back at the juncture of the road over the Pass! The kind of trip every American should experience at least once in their lifetime!!!
As we proceeded toward AU it began to sprinkle, and rain came in large drops! It was still raining when we reached our exit point on the main road (not at the AU gate!). Fortunately, I had taken an umbrella, but it's a small one for only one person! So, we trekked down the well-worn path made by many coming to this campus, until we reached the concrete brick residence of Ab and Chris. By this time our shoes were caked with red mud, and we were quite wet. Ab invited us in for some tea and biscuits to warm up a bit and dry off! We sang Happy Birthday to Chris before heading on back to the main part of campus! A very memorable Sat. shopping trip, to say the least!
Random Thoughts . . .
- I'm getting really tired of the clothes I brought, and have put together about as many combinations as is possible, even with jewelry, scarves, etc.!
- I've put on a few pounds, despite all my walking around campus. Clothes still fit, but a bit more snuggly!!
- Still haven't mastered the necessary wrist action for flushing the toilet and not having it run continually after that!!
- My hair is longer than it's been in a very long time, and much lighter brown/bleached!
- There's no reason to be obsessed with the weather because most days are usually sunny and warm ~~ some are windier than others, but usually very pleasant.
- With no TV or radio, I try to read some CNN news very early in the morning to stay abreast of world/U.S. events.
- Still having some issues with my iPad, but have figured out how to send photos. Perhaps having a modem right in my Flat this weekend will make it a little easier!!
- My days are always twice blessed when there is hot water for a bath, and I don't have to take time heating water on the stove!!
A Saturday Trip to Mutare!
I've been here at AU about six weeks and last Sat. was my first opportunity to make a trip in to Mutare on a Sat. to look around and do some shopping! (I have been in Mutare on some Sundays, but all of the stores except groceries are closed.) Many of us boarded the 9:00 a.m. AU bus in to town, and it was a bumpy ride, indeed, due to road construction and much needed road construction!
Africa University is situated in the Eastern Highlands, which means that the campus is surrounded by "mountains," mostly the size of those in Appalachia. They are very rocky, but mostly covered with tropical trees and scrub bushes. Just as around Whitewater Lake in the spring, there are various shades of green as the acacia and other trees are leafing out. The musasa trees, however, have red leaves (like our Fall) ~~ due to the combination of drought and chlorophyll process. Mixed in among these are the beautiful jacaranda trees with their trumpet-shaped purple blooms. They stand out much like dogwood stand out in the woods in our spring. Filling in the gaps are various kinds of grasses.
Along the roadside are orange, pink, purple, and fuchsia bougainvillea, sometimes trimmed as a hedge, but usually just draping over a fence or other shrubs and growing wild! What beauty God has given us to enjoy if we take the time to really drink it in! Some of the mountains near campus are blackened, having burned due to the drought. There are no fire hydrants or fire departments to come and put out these fires, so they just burn, sometimes whipped by the wind, until they burn themselves out. Many trees which have been burned never recover; and those who live in the bush cut them down to use for firewood/charcoal.
As we approached the road construction on Christmas Pass, we saw a very large, white tent standing in a camping area just off the road. While we waited for traffic to come from the other way, we saw many cars with green and yellow ribbons and balloons turning in front of our bus to go into the campsite. One of the cars carried the bride and groom to their wedding reception!! Other friends were arriving in the back of pick-up trucks, which then turned around to go back to Mutare for more well wishers!!
Finally we were given the green light to move ahead. A short stretch of the road waiting to be re-surfaced has huge potholes that are difficult to avoid. Off to the right is the City of Mutare, in the valley, below Christmas Pass. Mutare has a population of about 150,000, and people speak of living in the low, medium, or very high density areas. The very high density area suburbs are families living in abject poverty with many, many needs. Those with money live in the low density area, most with high concrete fences and padlocked gates around their spacious property. It is difficult to see their homes, but some have swimming pools and large yards.
Some folks got off just as we entered Mutare, while others of us rode on in and got off closer to the center of town. Relatively speaking, for a "city" (third largest in Zimbabwe) this size, there aren't that many cars ~~ just too expensive, with fuel sometimes reaching over $7.00/1.5 gal. Most streets in this area are four lane, two each way, but do not have any painted markings. And most street lights don't work. So, you take your life in your hands getting across the street. And I always have to remember to look right before stepping off the curb, since traffic moves in opposite lanes from the U.S.!
I walked several blocks with three others to a "department" store called "mfs." The family is Christian and has made the "f" into a cross. Scripture passages are painted all around the walls, and their service is great! We first went into a separate storefront that contained mostly hardware items, lighting and plumbing parts, etc., etc. It's amazing what small things can bring me joy!! I found a spring-loaded toilet paper holder for $1.00!!! A wonderful find, first off!! They also carry some grocery items, much cheaper than in any of the other regular grocery stores.
Africa University is situated in the Eastern Highlands, which means that the campus is surrounded by "mountains," mostly the size of those in Appalachia. They are very rocky, but mostly covered with tropical trees and scrub bushes. Just as around Whitewater Lake in the spring, there are various shades of green as the acacia and other trees are leafing out. The musasa trees, however, have red leaves (like our Fall) ~~ due to the combination of drought and chlorophyll process. Mixed in among these are the beautiful jacaranda trees with their trumpet-shaped purple blooms. They stand out much like dogwood stand out in the woods in our spring. Filling in the gaps are various kinds of grasses.
Along the roadside are orange, pink, purple, and fuchsia bougainvillea, sometimes trimmed as a hedge, but usually just draping over a fence or other shrubs and growing wild! What beauty God has given us to enjoy if we take the time to really drink it in! Some of the mountains near campus are blackened, having burned due to the drought. There are no fire hydrants or fire departments to come and put out these fires, so they just burn, sometimes whipped by the wind, until they burn themselves out. Many trees which have been burned never recover; and those who live in the bush cut them down to use for firewood/charcoal.
As we approached the road construction on Christmas Pass, we saw a very large, white tent standing in a camping area just off the road. While we waited for traffic to come from the other way, we saw many cars with green and yellow ribbons and balloons turning in front of our bus to go into the campsite. One of the cars carried the bride and groom to their wedding reception!! Other friends were arriving in the back of pick-up trucks, which then turned around to go back to Mutare for more well wishers!!
Finally we were given the green light to move ahead. A short stretch of the road waiting to be re-surfaced has huge potholes that are difficult to avoid. Off to the right is the City of Mutare, in the valley, below Christmas Pass. Mutare has a population of about 150,000, and people speak of living in the low, medium, or very high density areas. The very high density area suburbs are families living in abject poverty with many, many needs. Those with money live in the low density area, most with high concrete fences and padlocked gates around their spacious property. It is difficult to see their homes, but some have swimming pools and large yards.
Some folks got off just as we entered Mutare, while others of us rode on in and got off closer to the center of town. Relatively speaking, for a "city" (third largest in Zimbabwe) this size, there aren't that many cars ~~ just too expensive, with fuel sometimes reaching over $7.00/1.5 gal. Most streets in this area are four lane, two each way, but do not have any painted markings. And most street lights don't work. So, you take your life in your hands getting across the street. And I always have to remember to look right before stepping off the curb, since traffic moves in opposite lanes from the U.S.!
I walked several blocks with three others to a "department" store called "mfs." The family is Christian and has made the "f" into a cross. Scripture passages are painted all around the walls, and their service is great! We first went into a separate storefront that contained mostly hardware items, lighting and plumbing parts, etc., etc. It's amazing what small things can bring me joy!! I found a spring-loaded toilet paper holder for $1.00!!! A wonderful find, first off!! They also carry some grocery items, much cheaper than in any of the other regular grocery stores.
Friday, October 4, 2013
Children, Children Everywhere!
Children from about 3 - 16 continued to file into the rows of seats provided for them during our chapel worship service this morning ~~ about 80 strong!! Most wore little red robes with white stoles bearing the UMC cross and flame. They had come from the Fairfield Orphanage on the 100+ year-old-mission station at Old Mutare, just a short distance down the road from Africa University. UMW members will know this project as the "Baby Fold," which they have supported for many years. Some of these children are HIV positive, and probably lost both parents to the AIDS virus early in the child's young life. Since the early 2000s, ten children each have lived in small cottages with a housemother and other "siblings" of varying ages. They receive much better care in this family setting than they did in the old orphanage. Several two and three-year-olds wandered about during the service, just looking for a warm lap to occupy!! A weeks-old baby cried, and was cared for by one of the "mothers." The baby had been brought to the orphanage when she was only two DAYS old.
Our hearts were filled with many blessings as these children sang praises to God! And I'm sure there are two budding choir directors in their midst, getting a very early start to their careers!! I was reminded of the Scripture passage, "Train up a child in the ways of the Lord, and s/he will not stray from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
The morning "preacher" was a 15-year-old whose name is "Gifted," and who, I'm told, has been preaching since the age of 10!! He took the microphone and came right down in front with no notes or outline, and preached for at least 30 minutes! His Scripture passage was Matt. 24:23, and he spoke with great authority about the many illnesses we suffer from ~~ lying, not paying school fees, asthma, high blood pressure, and lack of faith in Jesus Christ. There were numerous references to Satan and the work of the Devil. At one point he asked all those who were suffering from such illnesses to come forward ~~ the whole chancel area was full! Then the Praise The Lord choir sang as we all prayed for them and for ourselves in our own languages! A very moving experience!
Following worship the children and their housemothers were given baloney sandwiches and tea, and then taken on a tour of the campus. It wasn't yet time for lunch, so they entertained themselves by rolling in the grass, running at top speed up and down the hills, and generally being kids having a grand time!!!
The "Fairfield Buddies" group on campus (think Big Brothers, Big Sisters) helped entertain them after lunch until it was time to go to the soccer field, where they participated in a competition with members of several soccer teams on campus!!! I know these children will all sleep well tonight!!!
Thank you God for children, who trust that you will take care of them. And thank you for their "mothers" who help them understand their role in the "family," and who let them know they are loved. Perhaps there is a future president among them!!!
I am hoping to post a short video with this so you can experience for yourselves these delightful children!! They bring us so much joy, and remind us that we are ALL children of God!!
"Dare to Love Completely" is a wonderful book by Janine Roberts, about her own journey and experiences with the children at the orphanage and their caregivers. It is available on amazon.com, or from CornerStone International, PO Box 192, Wilmore, KY 40390. If you want to know what it was like in the early 2000s when AIDS was still so rampant here, this is a must read ~~ you will laugh, you will cry, and you may even ask, "where is God in the midst of all this?"
Janine tells of weekly visits to the huts of dear friends on the farms situated near the Old Mutare Mission ...at that time these large farms were operated by white Zimbabwean farmers, who provided land for their workers. These visits were to offer prayer and friendship, and also a connection to health care as needed, and sometimes food and clothing. Most of these farms have since been taken over by the government, who chased the white "colonial" farmers away, divided up the land into about 6 acre plots and gave it to the black Zimbabweans. Unfortunately, most of these "farmers" have no means of "farming" even a small plot of land to support their families. Janine and other health care workers are no longer welcome, so there is no way to gage what is happening with malaria or HIV/AIDS.You might also like to explore www.hopeofzim.blogspot.com.
The Director of the Health Clinic here at AU says that a lot of education has taken place around HIV and AIDS, so the incidents have dropped considerably. AND, anti-viral drugs are now available to those who are infected ~~ FREE.
Jesus said, "Let the little children come unto me. . . ." Fairfield Orphanage has been saying that throughout its history, as it continues to be a strong Christian witness here in Manicaland.
Our hearts were filled with many blessings as these children sang praises to God! And I'm sure there are two budding choir directors in their midst, getting a very early start to their careers!! I was reminded of the Scripture passage, "Train up a child in the ways of the Lord, and s/he will not stray from it." (Proverbs 22:6)
The morning "preacher" was a 15-year-old whose name is "Gifted," and who, I'm told, has been preaching since the age of 10!! He took the microphone and came right down in front with no notes or outline, and preached for at least 30 minutes! His Scripture passage was Matt. 24:23, and he spoke with great authority about the many illnesses we suffer from ~~ lying, not paying school fees, asthma, high blood pressure, and lack of faith in Jesus Christ. There were numerous references to Satan and the work of the Devil. At one point he asked all those who were suffering from such illnesses to come forward ~~ the whole chancel area was full! Then the Praise The Lord choir sang as we all prayed for them and for ourselves in our own languages! A very moving experience!
Following worship the children and their housemothers were given baloney sandwiches and tea, and then taken on a tour of the campus. It wasn't yet time for lunch, so they entertained themselves by rolling in the grass, running at top speed up and down the hills, and generally being kids having a grand time!!!
The "Fairfield Buddies" group on campus (think Big Brothers, Big Sisters) helped entertain them after lunch until it was time to go to the soccer field, where they participated in a competition with members of several soccer teams on campus!!! I know these children will all sleep well tonight!!!
Thank you God for children, who trust that you will take care of them. And thank you for their "mothers" who help them understand their role in the "family," and who let them know they are loved. Perhaps there is a future president among them!!!
I am hoping to post a short video with this so you can experience for yourselves these delightful children!! They bring us so much joy, and remind us that we are ALL children of God!!
"Dare to Love Completely" is a wonderful book by Janine Roberts, about her own journey and experiences with the children at the orphanage and their caregivers. It is available on amazon.com, or from CornerStone International, PO Box 192, Wilmore, KY 40390. If you want to know what it was like in the early 2000s when AIDS was still so rampant here, this is a must read ~~ you will laugh, you will cry, and you may even ask, "where is God in the midst of all this?"
Janine tells of weekly visits to the huts of dear friends on the farms situated near the Old Mutare Mission ...at that time these large farms were operated by white Zimbabwean farmers, who provided land for their workers. These visits were to offer prayer and friendship, and also a connection to health care as needed, and sometimes food and clothing. Most of these farms have since been taken over by the government, who chased the white "colonial" farmers away, divided up the land into about 6 acre plots and gave it to the black Zimbabweans. Unfortunately, most of these "farmers" have no means of "farming" even a small plot of land to support their families. Janine and other health care workers are no longer welcome, so there is no way to gage what is happening with malaria or HIV/AIDS.You might also like to explore www.hopeofzim.blogspot.com.
The Director of the Health Clinic here at AU says that a lot of education has taken place around HIV and AIDS, so the incidents have dropped considerably. AND, anti-viral drugs are now available to those who are infected ~~ FREE.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Serendipity!!!
Last Saturday began sunny, windy and hot! I rode with our missionary, Larry Kies, to visit the Agricultural Show in Mutare. If you think "our county fairs," you will have some idea of my experience, though it wasn't nearly as large as the Walworth County Fair! All rutted, dusty dirt roads wound through and around the grounds, with a large grandstand where many folks tried to find shade from the heat and sun. The green grass on the field in front was a stark contrast with the bright red and gold, and blue and white uniforms worn by cadres of children performing various routines, some with batons made from broom handles.
Africa University had beautiful displays of all of their areas of instruction, with folks from Health Sciences taking blood pressures, checking for blood sugar and malaria, and others from the Farm selling fresh yogurt!! All reports show that HIV/AIDS is no longer boomeranging out of control, and that those who have tested positive are able to receive the necessary retro-viral drugs needed to help them combat its effects. The increasing killers here are high blood pressure related to stress levels, and diabetes. (Coca Cola has the franchise throughout the country, and too many people are getting too much sugar from the soft drinks and from the increasing "take away," or fast food booths.) Both faculty and students answered many questions about the University ~~ a great PR event over four days.
Many vendors lined the roads, selling everything from trinkets (I'm sure from China!) to popcorn, oranges, bananas, meat pies, and cold drinks. And very loud music engulfed it all! One building had interesting art work done by elementary school children, plus a wide variety of sewing projects, which reminded me of 4-H projects. Numerous blue ribbons had been awarded for these projects, as well as for some food items.
Various of the Provincial Ministries had displays and brochures, and plenty of people to share what a wonderful job they are doing! One of my tasks was to visit with numerous businesses who had displays, to search out possible internship possibilities for our students. Had some very interesting conversations! They have what would be comparable to our county job center, and various programs offering six specific apprenticeship programs, tied to specific industries with decreasing subsidies for each year of training ~~ in plumbing, carpentry, electrician, hospitality & tourism, etc.
By the time we left about two and a half hours later, extremely long lines had formed at the entrance, with children running off steam, women standing with umbrellas to protect them from the sun, and men getting impatient about the long wait. It seems that those at the entrance were not very well organized!!
Our next stop was at Hill Crest where the Kies children, Carley and Michael, attend school. It is comprised of one-story buildings with several athletic fields for different sports. They were holding a huge fundraiser for the 11-year-old son of one of the teachers who has been diagnosed with cancer. I watched in amazement as two teams, with special attire and helmets, participated in a paintball competition!! Michael had great fun doing this, but sustained a nasty looking bruise on his arm from being hit. Not a sport for the weak!!
Then it was back to campus to change into clothing more suited for a wedding reception! The daughter of Godfrey, an AU graduate and pastor, was being married, and so Larry, Jane and I drove about two and a half hours to their community, arriving about 3:00 pm. In Zimbabwe, the tradition is to have the actual wedding in the morning (this one was at 9:00 am!) and then to celebrate the rest of the day with food and dancing. Often the entire community is invited, and sometimes even friends of friends of friends!!! As many looked on, the wedding party in their beautiful blue and silver attire, danced in front of the stage. A short time later, the music began again (with a DJ), and what appeared to me to be a different group of dancers, dressed in unmatched, torn and shabby clothing, began to dance! These dancers were the same members of the wedding party, who had changed their clothes!!! Frequently, members of the wedding party are chosen, not because of a close friendship, but for how well they can dance!!!!
Godfrey is good friends with Bill and Dona Lou Imler of Indiana, and I was privileged to meet him two years ago when Dona Lou and I rode to the UMC Mission Station at Murewa to visit and spend the night with Lovemore and Julie and their family. Godfrey shared with us that his experiences at AU had really opened his eyes to the need for the church to work to improve not just the church, but the community as well. It had made a huge difference in the way he did ministry, even in the tiny village where he was first appointed. It was wonderful to see him again, and to meet his lovely wife, daughter and new son-in-law. He was recently moved to a much larger church, which seems to be thriving under his leadership!
Another serendipity was to see Lovemore and Julie again!! I had not expected to see them, and so to be with them and with Godfrey and his family brought very special blessings! Lovemore teaches business subjects at Murewa, and thanks to one of our Whitewater church members, I was able to secure and send to him an advanced accounting book so he could work on his M.A. His son is now using that same book in his university program!!
As we traveled home, we watched the sun set behind some of the rocky mountains that comprise the terrain here in the Eastern Highlands. What a serendipity day it had been!!!
On quite a different note, this Sat. Dr. Machinga and I will be doing Mental Health First Aid Training with about 25 student leaders who serve as Resident Assistants in the dorms or in student government. Hopefully it will be valuable for them as they work with all the students in such tight living quarters. Did I mention that most dorm rooms house three, and sometimes even four, students?? The University enrollment has grown by leaps and bounds, and now there is great need for additional dormitory space. In the meantime, about 300 students are living in apartments in town, and must commute back and forth each day. So, if you know of someone interested in investing in the lives of young people eager to learn, please send them our way!!!
Until next time ~~ God is good all the time, and All the time, God is Good!
Africa University had beautiful displays of all of their areas of instruction, with folks from Health Sciences taking blood pressures, checking for blood sugar and malaria, and others from the Farm selling fresh yogurt!! All reports show that HIV/AIDS is no longer boomeranging out of control, and that those who have tested positive are able to receive the necessary retro-viral drugs needed to help them combat its effects. The increasing killers here are high blood pressure related to stress levels, and diabetes. (Coca Cola has the franchise throughout the country, and too many people are getting too much sugar from the soft drinks and from the increasing "take away," or fast food booths.) Both faculty and students answered many questions about the University ~~ a great PR event over four days.
Many vendors lined the roads, selling everything from trinkets (I'm sure from China!) to popcorn, oranges, bananas, meat pies, and cold drinks. And very loud music engulfed it all! One building had interesting art work done by elementary school children, plus a wide variety of sewing projects, which reminded me of 4-H projects. Numerous blue ribbons had been awarded for these projects, as well as for some food items.
Various of the Provincial Ministries had displays and brochures, and plenty of people to share what a wonderful job they are doing! One of my tasks was to visit with numerous businesses who had displays, to search out possible internship possibilities for our students. Had some very interesting conversations! They have what would be comparable to our county job center, and various programs offering six specific apprenticeship programs, tied to specific industries with decreasing subsidies for each year of training ~~ in plumbing, carpentry, electrician, hospitality & tourism, etc.
By the time we left about two and a half hours later, extremely long lines had formed at the entrance, with children running off steam, women standing with umbrellas to protect them from the sun, and men getting impatient about the long wait. It seems that those at the entrance were not very well organized!!
Our next stop was at Hill Crest where the Kies children, Carley and Michael, attend school. It is comprised of one-story buildings with several athletic fields for different sports. They were holding a huge fundraiser for the 11-year-old son of one of the teachers who has been diagnosed with cancer. I watched in amazement as two teams, with special attire and helmets, participated in a paintball competition!! Michael had great fun doing this, but sustained a nasty looking bruise on his arm from being hit. Not a sport for the weak!!
Then it was back to campus to change into clothing more suited for a wedding reception! The daughter of Godfrey, an AU graduate and pastor, was being married, and so Larry, Jane and I drove about two and a half hours to their community, arriving about 3:00 pm. In Zimbabwe, the tradition is to have the actual wedding in the morning (this one was at 9:00 am!) and then to celebrate the rest of the day with food and dancing. Often the entire community is invited, and sometimes even friends of friends of friends!!! As many looked on, the wedding party in their beautiful blue and silver attire, danced in front of the stage. A short time later, the music began again (with a DJ), and what appeared to me to be a different group of dancers, dressed in unmatched, torn and shabby clothing, began to dance! These dancers were the same members of the wedding party, who had changed their clothes!!! Frequently, members of the wedding party are chosen, not because of a close friendship, but for how well they can dance!!!!
Godfrey is good friends with Bill and Dona Lou Imler of Indiana, and I was privileged to meet him two years ago when Dona Lou and I rode to the UMC Mission Station at Murewa to visit and spend the night with Lovemore and Julie and their family. Godfrey shared with us that his experiences at AU had really opened his eyes to the need for the church to work to improve not just the church, but the community as well. It had made a huge difference in the way he did ministry, even in the tiny village where he was first appointed. It was wonderful to see him again, and to meet his lovely wife, daughter and new son-in-law. He was recently moved to a much larger church, which seems to be thriving under his leadership!
Another serendipity was to see Lovemore and Julie again!! I had not expected to see them, and so to be with them and with Godfrey and his family brought very special blessings! Lovemore teaches business subjects at Murewa, and thanks to one of our Whitewater church members, I was able to secure and send to him an advanced accounting book so he could work on his M.A. His son is now using that same book in his university program!!
As we traveled home, we watched the sun set behind some of the rocky mountains that comprise the terrain here in the Eastern Highlands. What a serendipity day it had been!!!
On quite a different note, this Sat. Dr. Machinga and I will be doing Mental Health First Aid Training with about 25 student leaders who serve as Resident Assistants in the dorms or in student government. Hopefully it will be valuable for them as they work with all the students in such tight living quarters. Did I mention that most dorm rooms house three, and sometimes even four, students?? The University enrollment has grown by leaps and bounds, and now there is great need for additional dormitory space. In the meantime, about 300 students are living in apartments in town, and must commute back and forth each day. So, if you know of someone interested in investing in the lives of young people eager to learn, please send them our way!!!
Until next time ~~ God is good all the time, and All the time, God is Good!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
All Dressed Up!
Young men all dressed up in suits and ties, and young women wearing 4-in heels in a wide variety of colors and shapes to match their lovely dresses ~~ the occasion was Matriculation Day here at AU! Only a few American colleges and universities conduct such celebrations, so if you didn't experience this when you first entered college, it is the official "graduation" from high school into college or university! The chapel was festooned with flowers, and all the first-year students were seated, wearing black robes, according to their area of study (their faculty).
Prior to the beginning of this very important celebration, faculty and staff gathered outside the chapel, all wearing their own cap, gown, and hood of their highest degree. What a colorful procession as they all processed into the chapel and took their places of distinction in the front! Following introductions of administrators and staff, each Faculty Dean introduced the lecturers in their Faculty, and then led the students in their pledge and commitment to this university. The now famous Africa University Choir sang the glories of God, concluding with "The Dream Is Alive," the song composed and written by Patrick M., the first music/choir director here at AU.
"The Dream Is Alive" refers to the dream of Bishop Hartzell, the local Chief of Manicaland (this province), Bishop Kulah, and Bishop de Cavalho. It is truly the work of God that this University has now become a reality and just celebrated its 20th anniversary!!
The Vice Chancellor gave a very warm welcome to these first-year students, and encouraged them to make the most of their time here, as they learn creative ways to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others in their own countries. Right now 26 African nations are represented among the student body!! And the AU Choir sings in 30-some different languages, many of them the tribal languages of particular countries!!
Matriculation Day is somewhat similar to a graduation ceremony at the end of a college education, except that these students are just beginning their journey to that end. Nation flags fly on the many flagpoles just outside the library, and it is a joyous occasion for students to gather in clusters under their own flag for pictures and greetings from Faculty! For many, they are the first in their family to attain university admission, so it is, indeed, a huge celebration for them to be embarking on this unfamiliar journey of learning.
No lectures were conducted on Matriculation Day, and it concluded with a big party given in honor of these first-year students!! From all reports, a good time was had by all who attended at the Golden Peacock Villa Motel on the edge of Mutare ~~ a large motel complex built by the Chinese, but now operated by Zimbabweans!
So many students told me that they can hardly believe they are here, and believe that only God has made this experience possible for them. They demonstrate strong faith, and hope in the future, as they attend their lectures and participate in practicums and internships. They know that the only way to change things for themselves and those in their country is to receive a highly-prized education.
God is good, all the time, and All the time, God is good.
Prior to the beginning of this very important celebration, faculty and staff gathered outside the chapel, all wearing their own cap, gown, and hood of their highest degree. What a colorful procession as they all processed into the chapel and took their places of distinction in the front! Following introductions of administrators and staff, each Faculty Dean introduced the lecturers in their Faculty, and then led the students in their pledge and commitment to this university. The now famous Africa University Choir sang the glories of God, concluding with "The Dream Is Alive," the song composed and written by Patrick M., the first music/choir director here at AU.
"The Dream Is Alive" refers to the dream of Bishop Hartzell, the local Chief of Manicaland (this province), Bishop Kulah, and Bishop de Cavalho. It is truly the work of God that this University has now become a reality and just celebrated its 20th anniversary!!
The Vice Chancellor gave a very warm welcome to these first-year students, and encouraged them to make the most of their time here, as they learn creative ways to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others in their own countries. Right now 26 African nations are represented among the student body!! And the AU Choir sings in 30-some different languages, many of them the tribal languages of particular countries!!
Matriculation Day is somewhat similar to a graduation ceremony at the end of a college education, except that these students are just beginning their journey to that end. Nation flags fly on the many flagpoles just outside the library, and it is a joyous occasion for students to gather in clusters under their own flag for pictures and greetings from Faculty! For many, they are the first in their family to attain university admission, so it is, indeed, a huge celebration for them to be embarking on this unfamiliar journey of learning.
No lectures were conducted on Matriculation Day, and it concluded with a big party given in honor of these first-year students!! From all reports, a good time was had by all who attended at the Golden Peacock Villa Motel on the edge of Mutare ~~ a large motel complex built by the Chinese, but now operated by Zimbabweans!
So many students told me that they can hardly believe they are here, and believe that only God has made this experience possible for them. They demonstrate strong faith, and hope in the future, as they attend their lectures and participate in practicums and internships. They know that the only way to change things for themselves and those in their country is to receive a highly-prized education.
God is good, all the time, and All the time, God is good.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Making Connections!
Cecilia shared the use of her spoon with me at breakfast this morning ~~ I had gone with the idea of just getting a couple of hard boiled eggs and bringing them back to my flat, but ended up having a full breakfast there, and had not taken any of my utensils!! Cecilia is the mother of 4 boys (think Byrne boys!), the eldest of which is 21; is a 2nd yr. theology student; her husband is a D.S. in Mosambique. She spoke of the difficulty of learning English her first year here. But her English now is quite good! Think of all she has sacrificed to come here for an education!!
Erica sat down near Cecilia and me as we were finishing breakfast ~~ she was in IN, OK, and NC in June with the AU Choir! She said her adjustment here was minimal because her parents attended here and she was familiar with the campus. I have actually met several whose parents are graduates of AU!! Their Alumni Association has grown to over 4,000 graduates now!!
Mary Yelle stopped me as I was returning from breakfast. She was all dressed up and going into Mutare for the day! Mary is in the AU Choir, and met Bonnie and Gene Albert while the choir was touring Indiana in June!! She is the 6th of 9 children, and only the second to go on to university. Her older brother is now a medical doctor, and arranged for her to be on scholarship this year. She is from Nigeria and is a 3rd yr. majoring in Bus. Admin./Mgmt. All of the AU Choir will be going to Harare early in the morning to sing in several churches to promote "Africa University Sunday!" What a lovely young lady, and I am so happy to make connections with her!!
A bit further along the drive I was stopped by Kenneth, a FB friend of Bonnie Albert's from our VIM Team visit here two years ago!! Thanks, Bonnie, for encouraging him to make connections with me!
"Hi, I'm one of the sub-wardens," said Kenneth, as he approached me when I returned from a brief visit with the Kies. We had met with most of the sub-wardens (Resident Assistants) on Thurs.
to share with them all the services being provided through the Counseling Services Unit. Another delightful young man!!
They are a ll God's children, and they are all beautiful!! My "family" is growing by leaps and bounds each day!! Thank you, Jesus, Amen!!
Til the next time ~~~
Erica sat down near Cecilia and me as we were finishing breakfast ~~ she was in IN, OK, and NC in June with the AU Choir! She said her adjustment here was minimal because her parents attended here and she was familiar with the campus. I have actually met several whose parents are graduates of AU!! Their Alumni Association has grown to over 4,000 graduates now!!
Mary Yelle stopped me as I was returning from breakfast. She was all dressed up and going into Mutare for the day! Mary is in the AU Choir, and met Bonnie and Gene Albert while the choir was touring Indiana in June!! She is the 6th of 9 children, and only the second to go on to university. Her older brother is now a medical doctor, and arranged for her to be on scholarship this year. She is from Nigeria and is a 3rd yr. majoring in Bus. Admin./Mgmt. All of the AU Choir will be going to Harare early in the morning to sing in several churches to promote "Africa University Sunday!" What a lovely young lady, and I am so happy to make connections with her!!
A bit further along the drive I was stopped by Kenneth, a FB friend of Bonnie Albert's from our VIM Team visit here two years ago!! Thanks, Bonnie, for encouraging him to make connections with me!
"Hi, I'm one of the sub-wardens," said Kenneth, as he approached me when I returned from a brief visit with the Kies. We had met with most of the sub-wardens (Resident Assistants) on Thurs.
to share with them all the services being provided through the Counseling Services Unit. Another delightful young man!!
They are a ll God's children, and they are all beautiful!! My "family" is growing by leaps and bounds each day!! Thank you, Jesus, Amen!!
Til the next time ~~~
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Cultural Adjustments
I have just finished reading Sarah Lanier's book, "Foreign to Familiar: A Guide to Understanding Hot- and Cold-Climate Cultures." \it has given me greater insight into the many adjustments I'm aware of making since coming to Africa University! And, actually, the many international students who are here have and are also going through these cultural adjustments!
Sarah has lived in many places in the world, and now lecturers about how culture impacts our lives. She says that the Latin cultures are "hot," since relationship is the basis for everything, including in the work setting. Northern hemisphere folk are considered "col," since efficiency is their ruling value. Think carefully about the ramifications of these differences!! It means relationships vs a task orientation, direct vs indirect communication, individualism vs group identity, inclusion vs privacy, and different concepts of hospitality, time and planning. Whew! That's a lot to take in all at once!
She talks about culture "shock" as well as culture "stress" ~~ that is the need to adjust your familiar routines of life, make new decisions every day based on your new circumstances, learning to shop differently, different expectations of you, your motives, communication, behavior. Dealing daily with the unfamiliar can take a lot of energy and a constant awareness of those differences.
Here are just a few of these cultural stressors for me:
Time: no one seems to be in a hurry to honor a deadline, be somewhere on time, get things done in an efficient manner. Our Counseling Services Unit has been waiting for nearly a month for a mouse in order to use the computer that was installed a few days before I arrived!!
Walking and Stairs: In Zim. folks drive on the left side of the road, and so when I walk from the campus to the gate, I always have to think about which side of the road I'm walking on because it is the opposite of what I do at home! The same is true going up and down stairs, especially to and from the dining hall ~~ I must remember to go UP on the left side, and DOWN on the other side!!
Having no wheels: It is possible for me to take one of the buses into town for shopping, but only on the weekend, since there is usually a long que waiting for the one-way section over Christmas Pass, and it now takes twice as long as normal. I was offered the use of a car, but I wouldn't trust myself to stay in the right lane, or make the turns on the proper side of the road!
Telephones: Cell phones here are very cheap, and almost anywhere you can buy $1, $5, or $10 cards to add time on your phone. TeleCom reps even come to the window of your car while you're waiting in traffic! Most phone calls we make from the office are internal to the campus; but if we do need to call out, it always goes through a switchboard. (Oh, yes, we do have a phone, but it's not connected anywhere yet!)
Laundry: I was not prepared to do ALL of my laundry by hand, including sheets and towels!! It dries very quickly here, though, but then must all be ironed, including underwear ~~ that is because if it was hung outdoors, it might have the larvae of the putzi fly, which, when it comes into contact with human skin, can cause quite severe lesions. Yikes! Can you imagine UW-W with no washers and dryers!!!
Music: "The Sounds of Silence" came rippling through the laundry room yesterday as I was ironing, sung by a lovely young lady with a beautiful voice ~~ but in Portuguese!! Last night as I walked to my Flat from the library, one of the many religious groups on campus was singing in their own tongue, "Amazing Grace!" And the choir this morning in chapel sang in honor of "the Girl Child," an emphasis on raising funds for scholarships for young women. In so many cultures in Africa especially, little value is placed on giving girls an education. But one of the recipients of scholarship funds was wearing a t-shirt that read: "Educate a Woman, Change a Nation." Similar to the phrase Hillary Clinton coined ~~ that it takes a village to raise a child! Now think about what Sarah Lanier has said ~~ in these cultures everyone belongs and is cared for by "the community!"
Time now to leave the ICT Center, so I'll try to return with a few more thoughts on this another day! Please lift in prayers all students here who have tremendous stress over finances, fees, meals, etc.
Till next time ~~~
Sarah has lived in many places in the world, and now lecturers about how culture impacts our lives. She says that the Latin cultures are "hot," since relationship is the basis for everything, including in the work setting. Northern hemisphere folk are considered "col," since efficiency is their ruling value. Think carefully about the ramifications of these differences!! It means relationships vs a task orientation, direct vs indirect communication, individualism vs group identity, inclusion vs privacy, and different concepts of hospitality, time and planning. Whew! That's a lot to take in all at once!
She talks about culture "shock" as well as culture "stress" ~~ that is the need to adjust your familiar routines of life, make new decisions every day based on your new circumstances, learning to shop differently, different expectations of you, your motives, communication, behavior. Dealing daily with the unfamiliar can take a lot of energy and a constant awareness of those differences.
Here are just a few of these cultural stressors for me:
Time: no one seems to be in a hurry to honor a deadline, be somewhere on time, get things done in an efficient manner. Our Counseling Services Unit has been waiting for nearly a month for a mouse in order to use the computer that was installed a few days before I arrived!!
Walking and Stairs: In Zim. folks drive on the left side of the road, and so when I walk from the campus to the gate, I always have to think about which side of the road I'm walking on because it is the opposite of what I do at home! The same is true going up and down stairs, especially to and from the dining hall ~~ I must remember to go UP on the left side, and DOWN on the other side!!
Having no wheels: It is possible for me to take one of the buses into town for shopping, but only on the weekend, since there is usually a long que waiting for the one-way section over Christmas Pass, and it now takes twice as long as normal. I was offered the use of a car, but I wouldn't trust myself to stay in the right lane, or make the turns on the proper side of the road!
Telephones: Cell phones here are very cheap, and almost anywhere you can buy $1, $5, or $10 cards to add time on your phone. TeleCom reps even come to the window of your car while you're waiting in traffic! Most phone calls we make from the office are internal to the campus; but if we do need to call out, it always goes through a switchboard. (Oh, yes, we do have a phone, but it's not connected anywhere yet!)
Laundry: I was not prepared to do ALL of my laundry by hand, including sheets and towels!! It dries very quickly here, though, but then must all be ironed, including underwear ~~ that is because if it was hung outdoors, it might have the larvae of the putzi fly, which, when it comes into contact with human skin, can cause quite severe lesions. Yikes! Can you imagine UW-W with no washers and dryers!!!
Music: "The Sounds of Silence" came rippling through the laundry room yesterday as I was ironing, sung by a lovely young lady with a beautiful voice ~~ but in Portuguese!! Last night as I walked to my Flat from the library, one of the many religious groups on campus was singing in their own tongue, "Amazing Grace!" And the choir this morning in chapel sang in honor of "the Girl Child," an emphasis on raising funds for scholarships for young women. In so many cultures in Africa especially, little value is placed on giving girls an education. But one of the recipients of scholarship funds was wearing a t-shirt that read: "Educate a Woman, Change a Nation." Similar to the phrase Hillary Clinton coined ~~ that it takes a village to raise a child! Now think about what Sarah Lanier has said ~~ in these cultures everyone belongs and is cared for by "the community!"
Time now to leave the ICT Center, so I'll try to return with a few more thoughts on this another day! Please lift in prayers all students here who have tremendous stress over finances, fees, meals, etc.
Till next time ~~~
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
First Cooking Attempt!
What an adventure this is!! My small Flat has a small living room, with a galley kitchen~~sink, small cupboard, one small counter space, and stove. Here there are "on" and "off" switches on all the outlets. When I turned on the switch for the stove, all the burners heated up without actually being turned on!! What a dilemma! Hopefully an electrician can check it out soon.
Thanks to Margaret Tagwira, the Vice Chancellor's wife, I had some delicious, specially-grown mushrooms, some carrots and onions from the Kies' garden, and some tomatoes from the market ~~ so after boiling the mushrooms for an hour, I put them all in the skillet and fixed them as a stir-fry!! Quite delicious, actually!! And nutritious! I used only a little olive oil, as most everything here is cooked in oil, and my stomach has been complaining a bit!
Trying to stay on the healthy side, though, I am logging between 10,000 and 12,000 steps/day around the campus. If I'm short on steps, I take the relatively short hike down to the AU Gate and back again! On the way there is a soccer field, and next weekend there will be many soccer players on campus for a competition among surrounding countries! Everyone seems to be working hard in various ways to promote AU.
Next Wed. the campus will host a conference on World Tourism Day Commemorations, with representation from around Africa, as well as the world. This is in connection with several United Nations organizations working together to promote tourism. So, we're on the map!!
This Fri. and Sat. I will be attending the orientation and induction of all the members of the Student Representative Council (SRC). This will be held at a hotel in Mutare, with presentations being made throughout each day that will be helpful to those serving in this capacity. The SRC consists of representation from all 29 countries that are represented in the student body, and they are charged with huge responsibilities in keeping the lines of communication open with faculty, staff, and administration. Dr. Machinga, with whom I work, will be doing a 30-min. presentation on "Negotiations."
The AU Choir sang at Wed. morning chapel ~~ I plan to video them on Sun. when they will sing again. The Chaplain's message was "Celebrating Successes!" He encouraged students to be the best they can be, with new ideas, creativity, and excellent character. Dr. Chifaku has been here for 14 yrs. as Chaplain. Even with his many responsibilities of overseeing all the spiritual activities on campus, he also teaches two classes in Old Testament.
Today is dawning bright and sunny. Til next time ~~
Thanks to Margaret Tagwira, the Vice Chancellor's wife, I had some delicious, specially-grown mushrooms, some carrots and onions from the Kies' garden, and some tomatoes from the market ~~ so after boiling the mushrooms for an hour, I put them all in the skillet and fixed them as a stir-fry!! Quite delicious, actually!! And nutritious! I used only a little olive oil, as most everything here is cooked in oil, and my stomach has been complaining a bit!
Trying to stay on the healthy side, though, I am logging between 10,000 and 12,000 steps/day around the campus. If I'm short on steps, I take the relatively short hike down to the AU Gate and back again! On the way there is a soccer field, and next weekend there will be many soccer players on campus for a competition among surrounding countries! Everyone seems to be working hard in various ways to promote AU.
Next Wed. the campus will host a conference on World Tourism Day Commemorations, with representation from around Africa, as well as the world. This is in connection with several United Nations organizations working together to promote tourism. So, we're on the map!!
This Fri. and Sat. I will be attending the orientation and induction of all the members of the Student Representative Council (SRC). This will be held at a hotel in Mutare, with presentations being made throughout each day that will be helpful to those serving in this capacity. The SRC consists of representation from all 29 countries that are represented in the student body, and they are charged with huge responsibilities in keeping the lines of communication open with faculty, staff, and administration. Dr. Machinga, with whom I work, will be doing a 30-min. presentation on "Negotiations."
The AU Choir sang at Wed. morning chapel ~~ I plan to video them on Sun. when they will sing again. The Chaplain's message was "Celebrating Successes!" He encouraged students to be the best they can be, with new ideas, creativity, and excellent character. Dr. Chifaku has been here for 14 yrs. as Chaplain. Even with his many responsibilities of overseeing all the spiritual activities on campus, he also teaches two classes in Old Testament.
Today is dawning bright and sunny. Til next time ~~
Friday, August 30, 2013
Meeting Other Faculty
What a privilege it has been to meet and get to know two other couples on staff here ~~ Dr. John and Gaynor Crow. They are British, but worked at AU for 10 yrs. some time back; then were in Independent Schools in China and ?, before returning here recently. Dr. John is Chair of Intensive English, and Gaynor is working with Jane Kies. They typically have about 90 Intensive English students, and are wanting to have much smaller class sizes for better progress by the students. They have a home in Harare, but are living in Mutare now.
Ab and Chris Abercrombe are from South Carolina, and teaching in the Faculty of Agriculture. Last week Ab set up some cameras on the edge of campus to catch photos of wildlife there for his Natural Resources class. He reported that a very large lizard had bent the camera to point toward the sky, so it didn't capture how large this animal actually was. I've learned that there are cobra, python, and many poisonous green snakes in these parts!! Yikes! They also have many stories to tell of dealings with Immigration!!
Though it is dry here, many of the trees are beginning to leaf out, and boganvillia (?) is in bloom everywhere. Poinsettia plants are like trees here, and have beautiful red curly petals on their blooms! There is also a tree with gorgeous yellow clusters of flowers, and I was told that it would grow in the U.S.!
Our meeting with student leadership and Resident Assistants yesterday gave us a lot of first-hand information about the needs of students, and ways we can help them adjust to being here. This afternoon I will meet with the Intensive English students to share slowly and simply some study skills. They are just getting oriented to the campus, and had a tour of the Library yesterday. Do you remember those days of finding your way around a new college campus??
The Volunteer in Mission student group is very active here on campus, and I will meet with them tomorrow afternoon. Having been inspired by volunteers who have come to the campus for various reasons, they plan a couple of trips a year to Rusape to volunteer at a senior residence. Students who like kids can also join the Fairfield Buddies group ~~ like Big Brothers Big Sisters ~~ they go to the orphanage at Old Mutare Mission to play with the children there.
Please lift up in prayer:
~~ All first-year students who are trying to adjust to college life, lots of homework, learning to budget their own time, etc. Very similar to college students at UW-Whitewater!!!
~~ All students who are still working out their housing arrangements ~~ AU is in desperate need of more dormitory space. There are approximately 100 students living off campus in Mutare, who must ride a bus to and from the campus every day. We are challenged to help meet their needs, too.
~~ My own struggles to understand languages and accents! And to learn the proper procedures and protocols for getting things accomplished.
Til next time ~~~~
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Still struggling with the blog....
Mary Beth is getting her feet wet so Bonnie is back with sharing more of her words via internet. Tuesday (8/27) she left early in the morning to travel back to Harare to work on the visa. So I share a note she sent to a few folks which gives details to those first days. Enjoy her first days of being at AU.
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| Mary Beth met Christian Zigbou will visiting campus in 2011 |
I went with Kies (a missionary couple who are teaching at Africa University) to a huge UMC Campground Meeting near Mutambara, our mission station about an hour and a half southeast of here. They estimated there were about 3,000 people ~~ men, women, and children, who had been camping out in small igloo-like tents since Wed.!!! Yesterday afternoon was a huge gathering on the hillside ~~ similar to Jesus feeding the 5,000 ~~ with an excellent message from 1 John, lots of singing, and then serving communion to EVERYONE. Amazing!!! Because Christmas Pass between here and Mutare is being worked on and has only one-lane traffic, we didn't get back here until nearly 7:30pm. I had a bite to eat with them and Janine Roberts, the missionary at Fairfield Orphange, before coming on home.
Kies attend a Presby. Church in Mutare because they have an English service ~~ very mixed congregation, lots of ex-pats, wonderfully friendly and welcoming, and a great praise band! Their guest preacher this morning was from Denver, CO!! Had tea in the courtyard after service, and then did some grocery shopping. Didn't get everything I would like to have for the apt., but enough that I can eat breakfasts here from now on, and enjoy some snacks. Jane loaned me a plate, silverware, skillet, paring knife, so those all help the cause.
While eating supper tonight in the cafeteria I had a nice conversation with Florence, who invited me to attend their UM Student Movement meeting tomorrow night, 6:30 - 8:00, in the chapel. So, another "in" with students. Also met Lacey, the student from Martin College in TN, where Laura Kirkpatrick McMasters is Chaplain. She has quite a story herself, and will be speaking at a conference in South Africa in Oct. related to Students Staying Sober. She says there is a lot of drinking, especially off campus, and at a very large party center in Mutare.
Will meet tomorrow with the Coordinator. of International Students, and try to meet with the woman who heads up the housing. They are very short of accommodation space, and can only suggest that any more students find a place in town, and then ride the AU bus back and forth. Two girls even came around to my Flat yesterday morning, saying they were unhappy with their lack of accommodations and wanting to speak with "The Warden." I hope she has had a good weekend, as she is the one who came to our office in the Health Center Fri. afternoon to vent and deal with her frustration with discourteous students hounding her to find a place for them on campus.
Tues. I'll go to Harare to get my visa, leaving here at 6:00 AM!!!! Oh, my! Has been quite chilly the last couple of nights, but warming up nicely during the daytime. Jane has invited me to her Intensive English class the end of this week to share a little about culture, study skills, time management, etc. So, I've been working on a list of suggestions in very simple English. We'll also be setting up several grief support groups to help students and staff process the losses in their lives. Lots to be done here in terms of improving mental health!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The first 5 days have been full...and exciting
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| Bonnie, Mary and Gene |
During this time of adjustment, Mary Beth will appreciate all your prayers not only for her but for all the students at AU especially those who are on campus for the first time. What an exciting place to be.
In June Bonnie and Gene Albert met Mary Yello, an AU student in the Choir after one of their performances. It is my prayer that Mary and Mary Beth will meet soon. Hugs to you Mary's.
Having some problems getting the blog working...
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| A photo shared by AU graduate Eric Mulanda- the famous road to AU |
Mary Beth has now trusted me to get the blog "fixed". So that you can read her words today... here's what she sent to me this afternoon. She wrote:
So good to hear from you! My first 5 days here have been full of awesome conversations and experiences, but when I go to my blog, it says it has been removed. As directed, I went to the Blog Dashboard to try to find it, without success. It says there are "no posts." Frustrating, because I spent several hours last night working on it, only to have it apparently disappear. Can you be of any help? A student who rode with us yesterday said he had read my first entry and was looking forward to continuing to read my blog and it seems to be gone.
So we are trying to get things back to where she can work on it from her IPad at Africa University. Pray for a miracle.
Friday, August 16, 2013
100 Days at Africa University
Welcome to my blog! I'm glad you are joining me on this wonderful journey to Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe. After my visit two years ago, I felt God calling me back to provide some counseling assistance to students. Many of you know that the wait for approval of my temporary employment permit has been long and very frustrating, BUT that is all behind me now. I will be leaving on Mon., August 19 to fly from Chicago O'Hare via Dulles and Johanasburg to Harare, where I will spend the night. A driver from AU will pick me up on Wed. morning for the 3-4 hour ride to Africa University.
Above is the billboard that greeted us as we approached the entrance to the campus. A new billboard now proclaims the 20-year anniversary!! It is, indeed, an institution where lives are being changed so students can return to their own countries and be change agents!
I welcome your prayers as you go with me in my heart. Plans are for me to return home on Nov. 27.
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