Still struggling with the blog....



Mary Beth met Christian Zigbou will visiting campus in 2011

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.

 

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!