Customs Around Marriage in the Shona Culture

It has been so interesting to learn about the numerous differences between what I know from "The West" and the Shona culture.  These differences are so important for me to take into consideration when counseling with students.

It is customary for young ladies to be married by the time they are 25, and marriage is almost a requirement in this culture.  From the time girls are very young they are taught and groomed to know everything about keeping up a home, taking care of children, and keeping their husband happy, as well as tending a large garden and often walking many miles to sell excess produce in the market!  I really admire these women ~~ they are such hard workers.

I know you have seen pictures of these women with heavy loads on their head ~~ sometimes many kgs of potatoes or wood for cooking.  In addition to what's on their head, they may also be carrying a small child on their back, and have parcels in each hand!!  Just try carrying even something light on your head and see how you manage; or tie a small child or baby on your back and spend the day cleaning the house!!!

It is the custom in many African countries for parents to arrange partners for their children, though this is changing as young people want to make their own choice!  Even in Christian families, a labola is paid by the future husband to the future bride's family ~~ this is usually negotiated between the families and can be anything from cash to goats to a herd of cows!

When a young man and young lady know that they want to spend the rest of their lives together, the girl will go to one of her mother's sisters (an aunt) and share the news.  The sister in turn shares the information with the girl's mother and family.  Then the boy goes to one of his uncles.  The negotiating for the labola is done at a gathering of the whole extended family, usually between the uncles on each side.

Once the labola is paid the couple are free to live together, sometimes in the home of the boy's parents, depending on the circumstances.

Step two would be going to the Court House and having the relationship legalized in the courts.

And finally, sometimes years and several children later (!), there will be a very large church wedding!!  The entire community is invited, so families have to save for a long time to provide the necessary food for such an occasion.

 I'm told that often the attendants at the wedding will be chosen mostly for how well they can dance, as opposed to how close they might be to the bride or groom!!  This wedding I attended last year was very large (the daughter of an AU grad who is a pastor).  Most weddings begin at 9:00 am and the ceremony itself can be quite long.  Then everyone moves to a "fellowship hall" or a nearby school auditorium for the rest of the day ~~ for the eats and the dancing!!  These young people were very skilled, and it was clear that they had practiced the routines many times!!  The bride and groom joined them on this very hot day!!

      The bride and groom are seated on the stage after some dancing, awaiting the cutting of the cake.  Then those remaining were invited to get up and dance, too.  Not very different from our wedding receptions.
     A bit later a group of young people appeared just below the stage dressed in rags with goofy hats, torn jeans, patched shirts, etc.  It took me a while to realize that these were the same dancers I had seen before in their wedding attire!!  And they were still extremely good!!!

Recently I attended a portion of the wedding of a nephew of one of our staff.  The ceremony was actually a part of the Sunday morning worship!  It began at 9:00 am; I arrived about 10:30, in time to recognize the Scripture reading, and sermon (all in Shona) and the offering.  Then the wedding ceremony continued with the pledges by each family, the lighting of candles (similar to our unity candle), and much cheering and shouting!  Since I didn't understand it all, I don't know exactly what was going on.

A big feast was then enjoyed by all in the church social hall, accompanied by dancing, dancing, and more dancing!!

May they live happily ever after!!!

A Red Letter Day!!!!

October 15, 2014

This was indeed a RED LETTER DAY!!!  Even though I don't have a picture of it, our office was graced with a new hp computer.  Two students serving as interns brought it ~~ all new ~~ keyboard, monitor, and mouse!!!!  They set it all up, transferred our files from the non-working one, and got us back in business.  We are so grateful, since we had been without a working desktop computer since last May!  (I know that Hewlett Packard is one of the companies being boycotted for their role in the Occupation of Palestine, so I am distressed that so many of the computers sold in Mutare are hp.)
 
This was also the day that we welcomed Amy and Wayne Van Devender and Shelly Strickland from the U.S.  What a pleasure to have Wayne and Amy with us for a week!  I learned so much from them, as well as from Dr. Ab Abercrombe and Dr. Chris Hope, two of my housemates at the Guest House at AU.

Dr. Wayne is a herpetologist ~~ with many photo credits for his work with such things as frogs, salamanders, spiders,  etc., etc.  Dr. Wayne and his wife, Amy, would go out every evening, along with Dr. Ab and Dr. Chris, with their headlamps, cameras, and equipment, and would always bring back fascinating creatures of God's creation that I had usually never heard of!!  These two gentlemen worked together to publish a book about the geology and animals on AU's campus.  (AU also has people on its property mining for gold in a serious way!)

And then are Dr. Ab and Dr. Chris ~~ they are always called upon to catch snakes when they are found on campus, frequently near the chicken houses!!

Say "hi!" to a newborn Bush Baby!!!  So tiny, but with all the features ~~ eyes, ears, nose, mouth, little hands and feet with nails, etc.!!!  Ab and Chris found him on one of their nightly walks around campus.  Since bush babies usually ride on the back of their mother, they thought it was likely that it had fallen off into the grass.  So, it became a housemate overnight!!

Dr. Ab was afraid it might not survive the night, so he tried to feed the little baby some powdered milk.  He drank it from a little syringe, and slept the night through.  Next morning they took him back and placed him where they found him.  And by that same evening it appeared that his mother had found and reclaimed him!

This is only one of numerous snakes that have shared our Guest House for 1-3 nights!!  Of course, they remained in the long, breathable bag they are placed in when caught ~~ usually pythons and cobras!!  Some have spit at us, while others, like this one, were very mild mannered and he gave us a chance to see his full length on our living room floor!

I hope you can make this out ~~ Dr. Ab is inserting a "tracker" down the throat of this snake with a pair of forceps. The plan was for his students to try and locate it a few days later.  Unfortunately, the snake regurgitated it sometime after they released it.  Sometimes Dr. Ab with surgically implant a "tracker" and have students use their GPS to locate it later.





I don't have pictures, but Amy's passion was finding numerous kinds of snails.  The only ones I'm familiar with are the ones who tend to eat some of my flowers in the summer!  They brought back many from their evening treks ~~ most barely the size of a pin head!  WOW!  I never would have guessed that someone would spend their whole working life looking for, studying and photographing these amazing creatures who share our planet.  I've realized how much I have yet to learn!!

Meet Shelly Strickland, from SC, a recent Wofford College grad., who came for a month to help the Intensive English students practice their pronunciation!  What a delightful person!!  This is the guinea fowl banner we gave her the night before she flew home.

Shelly stayed at another Guest House on campus where Albert and Lucienne were her hosts.  The encyclopedia in front of Albert was used to look up information about mermaids.  Lucienne still believes that they really exist!!!  They are from D.R.C. ~~ Albert is doing an MA in the Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance, and Lucienne is getting an MA in Pastoral Counseling.  They have five children, the youngest of which is 16 and staying with grandparents, and one grandchild.  A delightful clergy couple who will truly make a difference when they return to D.R.C.

This is much longer than I had planned, but I hope you enjoyed these happenings at AU through my eyes.

Be blessed and grace-filled!!

Lesson to Self ~~ In Africa, Never Leave Home Without . . .

Sept. 27, 2014

It was a beautiful Saturday when I set out to go to town, walking the 6-7 blocks to the parking lot to take the 9:00 am bus.  By the time it left campus it was fully loaded with staff and students eager to spend some time shopping or just looking around town!

I decided that before I got groceries I would walk to several stores to get quotes on a new computer.  Last semester I had been taken to three different ones to get quotes on a printer for our office.  So I was going strictly on my recollection of streets, surroundings, etc.  I walked down the hill from the main street through Mutare and turned left thinking this would take me to the e-technology store.  I must have walked about 6 long blocks before I came to a residential area and concluded that I had turned the wrong way ~~ so I reversed my direction and walked the other way, asking along the way for directions. 

One person told me to go to the end of that block and turn right and it would be right there!  Not!!!  After asking several other persons I DID finally find it!!  The salesman was very kind in saying that they didn't have what I was looking for, but he gave me a quote for one he could order!

I proceeded back up to the main street where I knew (or thought I knew) I would find the Xerox  store.  Once again I walked up and down on both sides of the street without success, only to learn that the entrance is OFF of the main street just a bit!  When I finally managed to find it, there were lots and lots of people waiting to be helped with copies of documents.  I asked for a quote for a computer and was told that they no longer are stocking them ~~ only large printers!!!  In fact, he said AU had recently purchased a new, large printer!! 

Never did find the third store, even armed with directions from a student ~~ "Mutare Computers."  It is quite a ways off the beaten path, so, recognizing how directionally challenged I am, I gave up on that idea!

I picked up cereal and a few other items at one grocery with really good prices, and decided to stop for lunch on my way to the next grocery store. 

A familiar lunch stop is this Burger Bar ~~ no McDonalds, Culver's, Wendy's, Hardy's, or Big Boy ~~ where I got a hamburger with tomato, lettuce and ketchup, an order of fries, and a Ginger beer (soft drink) for $3.00!!!! 


The AU bus usually picks up at its regular stop about 1:00 - 1:30, so I allowed myself an hour to grocery shop and get to the corner.  My list of items included several weighty things since I knew I could not go to town for the next few Saturdays because of the Symposium and Mental Health First Aid Training we were doing.  Of course, my bag was much too heavy to carry very far.

The Greek Orthodox Church and School are my landmarks for locating the proper corner to catch the bus!!  So I walked the two blocks and arrived in plenty of time.  As the day had worn on it had gotten increasingly hotter, and of course, by now was very hot and sunny!  Before long a couple of students arrived and we all walked a short distance to stand in the shade of a small tree.  As we chatted several staff members joined us.  I began to feel really hot, and I think at one point I kind of blacked out and found myself on the curb, where I stayed for a bit to rest and regain my composure.

The AU group continued to expand as time kept moving on and we lamented about how late the bus was.  Finally, at a little after 2:30, we saw it coming down the street, and we all flocked to get on.  It felt really good to just sit down, even though the breeze through the window was very hot and dry.  Fortunately, the driver was kind enough to let some of us out at the entrance to staff housing, and one of the students offered to help carry my bag of groceries for a part of the way to the Guest House.  I arrived "home" at about 3:15, very hot and tired.

Lesson to self ~~ in Africa, NEVER leave home without a bottle of water AND an umbrella to use for shade!!!  A lesson learned the hard way!!

And yet, even this morning I had to retrace my steps about a block because I had left my bottle of water with ice sitting on the kitchen table!!  When will I ever learn??!!!

Hope you are continuing to receive and offer God's grace to those around you.

Zimbabwe's Version of a County Fair!

Sept. 26, 2014

The Manicaland Agricultural Show is a BIG event every late September, and it reminds me of our county fairs at home ~~ exhibits of what would be 4-H projects, art projects from elementary schools, all kinds of vendors and food, and performances in front of the grandstand!!

Our missionary, Larry Kies, has major responsibility for setting up a fairly large area to promote Africa University.  Most of the Faculties send a representative or two to share about their programs with those who come.  The Health Sciences faculty is always present to do blood  pressures, blood sugar, and malaria checks.  They bring a white lady manikin whose body parts come off!!  Children are really fascinated by that and sometimes hang around for a while!!

 Here is a banner welcoming folks into the building where Africa University has many displays!! I did not see any showing of animals, such as cows, pigs, rabbits, etc., but lots of booths advertising their wares, just like at home!

I usually go around and visit companies that have a stand and talk with them about possibilities for internships for our students.  Most of them are very appreciative of the info about AU, but most don't have any options for students to get experience.

Prizes are given for the best presentations, set up, etc.  Here is our agricultural horticulturalist who received the first prize award for the best live decoration!!  His son is always happy to get in the picture, too!!

This year I took time to watch what was happening in front of the grandstand!  Many different school groups come in fancy uniforms and perform as drill teams, etc. ~~ very colorful and a big hit with the crowd!

This year was a little different and not at all what I expected!  When we arrived at the show grounds we noticed quite a number of soldiers with police dogs walking around the perimeter.  Later they demonstrated how these dogs are trained to sniff out drugs, or take down an intruder, etc. 

 Then all of a sudden this brigade of soldiers came on to the field with their guns and took up their position against the "terrorists" across the field.

 Here they are advancing on the "terrorists" and apparently have killed many of them.

And then they set off tear gas to create a smoke screen between themselves and the "terrorists" (or enemy).  I'm quite convinced that there is a strong military presence, not only around Pres. Mugabe, but throughout the country.  They are not visible on the streets of Mutare or surrounding area however, but maybe need an opportunity now and then to flex their muscles and show their stuff!

Never fear ~~ Zimbabwe is a peaceful nation, so there isn't any reason to worry about my safety.

These are a few of our children from the AU farm enjoying their lunch and all the activities!!  Face painting seemed to be an extremely popular activity among all the children!!

I did not see any fun things for the children last year at the Ag Show, but this year there were lots and lots of inflated jump houses, a very tall inflated slide, and this opportunity to ride in an inflated boat or climb around on the inside of one of these huge balls.  Often 5-6 children would be inside and could make it roll over and over, getting in the way of the boats!!  A great time was had by all!!  And on a hot and dusty day it was especially fun!!

What fun have YOU had today??

May God's grace surround you with love and peace as you receive it and generously give it away!!

Worshiping and Singing Praises to God!

Sept. 20, 2014

In my visits to various churches here in Zimbabwe, I am overwhelmed by the number of men in the congregations.  In some churches the men sit on one side and the women on another!  Several churches I visited were built in the shape of a cross, and the two sides of the crossbar were men on one side and women on the other.   Hilltop UMC (below) the largest UMC church in the Mutare area has about 2,000 members. 

During the serving of communion there were often people four rows deep on their knees waiting to be served.  As folks left, others would move up to receive the elements.  It was hard on my old knees, but I made it back to my seat!

This is one of the side entrances ~~ note the women in blue dresses with red trim and white hats ~~ they are members of United Methodist Women and wear their uniforms proudly!!  Gentlemen who were in the choir or serving as ushers all wore blue banners with the UMC symbol on them across their chest.

Some years back an addition was built on the back of the church as you can see in this picture, and still,  there is not enough space for everyone to sit down. My camera is not good enough for a picture that would show the filled sanctuary!!

When I inquired about why they didn't schedule multiple services, they said the congregation wouldn't stand for it!  They love the feeling of community, and the opportunity to visit with everyone!!

 Most churches have both a Men's and Women's Choir, and each year they compete with choirs across several Districts.  When I was here in 2011 we heard one of the Women's Choirs which had won top honors in a recent competition!

The Men's Choir competition was held this year at the church on the Old Mutare Mission on Sept. 20.. There were 39 choirs ranging in size from 12 to 35 members.  Each choir sang two anthems ~~ one that they selected, and one that every choir sang.  Awards were presented after all had performed!!  The program began around 8:30 am and finished at about 4:30 pm, and the sanctuary remained full during the entire day!!  I hope the above video is available for you to hear.  At the end of the afternoon I felt like I almost knew the anthem that every choir sang!!!  What a wonderful way to praise God with beautiful voices!!  Just wonder what a difference it would make if our churches had good Men's Choirs??????

Through their music they certainly provide many blessings!!!





 

A Real Moral Dilemma . . .

Sept. 10, 2014

Last Mon. afternoon I had the privilege of visiting The Berry Farm, just down the road from AU.  It is one of the few large, white-owned farms in this area that hasn't been taken over by war veterans as part of Mugabe's land allocation program.  All too often these folks just move right on to the property, claim any equipment, etc. that is there, and literally force the owners off their land.

The Berry Farm (L'Amour) is operated by two brothers, Garath and Robert ~~ one oversees the dairy, and the other the crops of maize, wheat, silage, etc.  By Zimbabwe standards it is huge, milking over 300 cows around the clock.  This is all accomplished very scientifically, with special measured grains, etc.

These two young calves have been taken from their mother and will be held in separate pens such as these for about 90 days, always having their height, weight, etc. monitored.  As they reach a certain growth level they are then moved to a larger area of the farm.  They keep extremely detailed records of their birth and growth information, as they mature and begin to produce milk.  There is one bull, but mostly they use artificial insemination.

 Second stage of growth!

 Almost ready to go to the milking barn!!  Females are specially selected for bearing offspring, and are also kept on their own part of the farm.  Much of the grain that is raised is baled and used for feed, along with added nutrients which are NOT GMO!!
    

These two brothers have already lost a portion of their farm.  Robert is known to be an excellent mechanic, and I understand that the government brings most of their vehicles to him because he is so good!  This keeps the brothers and their farm in "good graces" with the government officials!  This repair service is free but is well worth whatever it costs.  All the livestock seemed to be very well taken care of and treated like special commodities.

The milking barn was immaculate!  Garath employs about 127 Zimbabwean workers, some of whom are highly trained to do what they do in keeping track of the amount of milk each cow produces, etc.  He pays them a bonus at the end of each month if they have had perfect attendance.  Since this is a 24-hour operation, he needs workers he can rely on to keep everything working smoothly.  The milk is piped into cooling tanks, and then loaded on to milk trucks for the Dairybord Company, which produces butter, yogurt, and many other products.

 This dial is Garath's way of keeping track of each cow from birth to death,  their growth, milk production, etc., etc.  You can see that it is very detailed and complex, but at a glance he can see the entire history of any particular cow.  All the details really boggled my mind, but he has everything costed out and knows exactly the amount of fat and nutrient content each one produces.  He has brought in specialists to help him improve the way everything operates. . . like his own "continuing education!"  And he continues to make modifications and improvements.
     The Health Dept. makes regular visits to be sure it is "up to snuff."  Because it is one of the biggest dairies in the country, they have been pretty much left alone by the government.

The dairy itself doesn't make much money because the government doesn't pay much for the milk, and keeps a tight control over the pricing ~~ I believe he said he only makes a few cents per litre from Dairybord for raw milk!  Always the entrepreneur, he turned his workshop into his own business!  He went to South Africa and purchased this packaging machine which loads a specified amount of milk (lacto) into each package and seals it.  Then they are put in crates and stored in two huge coolers.  He actually makes more on this process than on the raw milk he sells!  These small packages are sold/used in schools, by small vending companies, etc.  It is very good, too!!

So, here is the morale dilemma ~~ Is it better to allow this large farm to continue to employ black Zimbabweans or to force these brothers to give up their farmland to war vets who feel they are entitled to it??  It's so sad to see so much land not being productive because those who received small parcels do not have resources, know-how, or experience to make it produce even enough to feed a family.  What is "justice" in this situation?

Fall Colors During Vumba "Spring!"

I love this time of year at home when the leaves on the trees turn such beautiful shades of yellow, red, and orange!!  And even though Wisconsin usually has a beautiful fall, many go East to see the colors in New England!  While still others travel TO Wisconsin!!

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to go with our GBGM missionaries, Larry and Jane Kies, for a visit to the Vumba near Mutare.  This is a mountainous area with a variety of vegetation, many hairpin curves, off-road trails for exploring, and gift and coffee shops tucked within the curves of the hills!

Just as we talk about the "peak" of color during this time of year at home, folks here talk about the "peak" of color on the musasa trees, which actually have their red leaves during the Zimbabwe spring!! 

The explanation escapes me, but it has to do with the conservation of water during this dry season, so the chlorophyll process begins later in the spring near the beginning of the rainy season.  The hills and valleys are covered with this beautiful color, just like the beautiful pictures you see from WI and VT/NH!  Unfortunately, my little point and shoot camera doesn't do very well with distance scenic shots, so just enjoy these close-ups!!

 Perhaps in this picture you can see the truck on the left ~~ clearly need a four-wheel drive to traverse the gulleys and rocks.  From our vantage point we could see many of the layers of  "mountains" all around us, some with small farms, a few cattle, and lots of rough terrain if you were hiking!  Unfortunately, I had worn sandals to church, and did not bring sturdier shoes for the trekking!

 This is just another example of God's handiwork and genius in gifting us with so many varieties of vegetation, trees, animals, insects, birds, etc.!!!  Thanking God for such beauty!!

Later we had lunch at Leopard Rock, a golfing resort/hotel from the British era.  On its grounds is a wild animal park!!  The caretaker invited us in to walk among the zebras, ostrichs, gazelles, etc.  This ostrich came after us a couple of times, but was chased away with a stick!  They can be very mean!!  What a shame it is that so many interesting creatures are now extinct ~~ usually due to man's lack of respect and conservation of them and their habitats.

I had hoped I could copy a photo that Larry Kies took of me with the zebras, but I can't seem to get it from FB to this blog!  Only one of my many deficiencies when it comes to technology!!

Be blessed, and relish the giving and receiving of Grace!

Mary Beth 

First Annual AU Career Expo 2014

Career Expo 2014!!!

This is a one-page supplement featuring Africa University and the Career Expo which ran in the Manica Post on Aug. 29, ahead of the Sept. 4 event!  Several businesses and other universities bought ads at the bottom of the page congratulating AU on holding their First Career Expo!  And another local university even sent one of their staff members with a clipboard to take notes on how and what we did!!!
     The Coordinators in each Faculty who work with students on their internship placements had worked with us since last Oct., providing us with lists of businesses, email addresses and phone numbers.  Over 50 companies in Mutare and Harare received email invitations to send representatives to this Career Expo.  Very few responded at all, so we spent much time trying to contact them by phone!
     In the end, 11 of 16 companies/organizations that had committed to attend actually showed up!!!  It was a good start; we got good feedback on ways to improve; and now at least we know the process of putting an event like this together!!

     We opted to spend some of our budget dollars on a couple of large signs and large posters rather than rent a tent!  The morning dawned cloudy and cold, and by 10 am it was raining~~not hard, but raining!  Thank goodness it didn't last long, and we had the shelter of some thick trees along the walkway near the dining hall!!  This weather was VERY unusual for this time of year, but we lived through it, and by 3:00 pm when we finished the sun was shining!!
     Approximately 300 students took advantage of the opportunity to talk with these employers, and some actually shared their resumes in hopes of connecting for an internship in Jan., 2015. 

     Two companies sent reps from Harare, both of whom said they welcomed a chance to talk with students and get out of the office!  Of the 11, 4 were banks!!  We also had a Chartered Accountants Group, an Environmental Management Assoc. that uses throw-away materials (i.e. aluminum, etc.) to make new and decorative items!  And a funeral home, and bed company!  We did not have representation from companies related to all of our Faculties, so we need to think of ways to attract folks in agri-business, sociology & psychology, health sciences, etc.
    

 We found a many-page directory online listing the numerous NGOs that operate in Zimbabwe.  Fortunately, students can access the directory on line so we don't have to print it all out!!
     The feedback from reps and students was good and helpful!  Several student comments included:  "Now I know why I have to study harder!"  And "I learned what it takes to succeed in my chosen career area!"

 Since this was a first experience, we know that there are other things we can do on campus to prepare students to make the most of an opportunity like this.  It has now prompted many students to come and ask for a seminar on how to write a CV (curriculum vitae or resume).  We will be holding several in the various Faculty areas within the next few weeks, as these students are already beginning to feel anxious about finding an internship opportunity for next Jan.

Dr. Machinga and I dream of the day when there will be a separate building for Counseling and Career Services, where we will have room to hold seminars, workshops, etc. and display information of interest to students!  We have only just touched the surface of ways that we can enhance student experiences and information relative to careers.
     The economy in Zimbabwe seems even worse than when I arrived last year, with 80-85% unemployment.  We encourage entrepreneurship and seeking employment outside the country.  There has already been a tremendous amount of "brain drain," and it will continue until the economy improves.
    

 During the day we were highly entertained by this marimba band and dancers who came from a primary school in Sakubva, the absolute poorest part of Mutare.  Their music was very pleasant, and they called attention to the activities that were happening between the dining hall and the chapel.
     When I can get away from the office I have been attending lectures about Zimbabwean  history.  Time and time again leaders and groups (Portuguese, South Africans, British) have moved into what is now Zimbabwe, have built up centers of commerce, trade routes, etc., only to be run off or killed off, by the indigenous people.  And now Pres. Mugabe has run out all the multinationals and others who could help build up the economy.

      Last week one of the headlines read that Mugabe had made a deal with the Pres. of China for millions of dollars worth of help in about 9 different areas to build up the infrastructure, but I doubt that very much of it will actually ever make it to the local level.  These millions are in exchange for many of the mineral resources here in Zimbabwe, so none of the local people are getting any benefit from their own resources.  Colonialism has not been good for any of these countries, but many of those who have gained their independence have also not been able to do a satisfactory job of leading and building up their own economy.  What are the answers???  Yet, people find ways to survive, even on the meager amounts they can get from selling some commodity, goods, or service.

     Please offer prayers for the following:
1)   Those who suffer from the Ebola Virus and their families.  And for all the health care workers trying to contain the spread of the virus.
2)   For More Blessings, who is 40, pregnant, and worried about having another child at her age.
3)   For Theo who continues to seek God's help in getting into a Master's level program in horticulture in the U.S.
4)   For students at AU who are still seeking scholarship assistance for tuition and fees.
5)   For the 9 students from Rwanda and Burundi who have come from a refugee camp north of Harare, seeking a good education.

Remember ~~  Grace is freely given and freely received.

Much love and joy,
Mary Beth

Year Two Begins at Africa University! 2014-15

Greetings once again from Africa University near Mutare, Zimbabwe!  Some of you know that last year I was waiting for the approval of my Temporary Employment Permit (TEP), which this year was applied for in April, 2014, and was approved on July 10, 2014.  I learned of the approval the first week in Aug., and was not able to get a plane reservation until Aug. 18, when I left Milwaukee for Harare, Zimbabwe!  Thanks, Mary Lou, for trekking me to Milw. with my THREE HEAVY suitcases.  We checked everything but the carry-on through to Harare with the luggage handler allowing me to be somewhat overweight!  I DID have to pay extra for the 3rd suitcase, which I brought for a DRC student whose soft-sided luggage had been torn on her trip to AU.  (Of course, that meant I had room for the many other items I had been requested to bring!)

Fortunately, the flight to Atlanta, through Amsterdam to Harare, was uneventful and I was able to sleep some, arriving about 9:30 pm in Harare on Aug. 19.  I'm so grateful that an AU driver with truck was waiting for me!  After a night's rest at the Holiday Inn we were off to Mutare, arriving on campus about 3:00 pm.

Since Wed. is one of Dr. Machinga's two work days (she's part-time), I came right to the office and got lots of assignments to be accomplished Thurs. and Fri.!!  It is really good to be back on the campus, to see so many familiar faces, and to receive such warm greetings!

The entire African continent is being affected by the outbreak of the Ebola Virus, and Zimbabwe, like other areas that receive international students, has had to be very vigilant, especially with students arriving from West Africa and Nigeria.  The Flat I lived in last year has been identified as a possible "Isolation Unit," and so I'm currently residing at the Guest House in the staff housing area of the campus.  It is several blocks walk from there to campus, which is always refreshing in the morning and evening!  The perks of living in the Guest House include hot water for a morning bath, and "housemates" with whom to share some meals and the goings on of each day.  We have also shared in the cost of having TV, so we're at least able to watch BBC in the evening!  I am in one of four bedrooms, and we share a kitchen and living/dining area.

 Dr. Ab and Dr. Chris Abercrombe both teach in the Faculty of Ag, and have many stories to share of their work in Vietnam, Brazil, AZ, and SC.  Wonderful assets to AU!!  (They are our resident snake catchers!!  pythons and spitting cobras!!)  A new-to-AU GBGM missionary is Richmond Williams who lectures in Theology & works with the International Peace, Leadership, and Governance (IPLG) program with leadership.  He is Zimbabwean, married to an American who works in Harare with USAID.  Then there are a number of other part-time lecturers who come for a few days at a     time to lecture in the Faculty of Health Sciences!

     The major downside to living at the Guest House is that it almost never has internet access ~~ thus the lateness of my adding to this blog!  I must either stay at the office after hours to read email or go to the library, and then walk back to the House in the dark!
     AU is still receiving new students and the last day to register is Sept. 12, I think.  The incubation period for Ebola is 21 days, so all the new students must report to the Clinic every day for at least 21 days!  This means that I will not be able to move back to my Flat until probably mid-Oct.!

      All of our time and energy since my arrival was devoted to getting all the details approved and worked out for the Career Expo that was held on campus on Sept. 4 of last week!  See next blog for other details on this.
     Once again I was able to participate in the two-day training event held at a Mutare Hotel for the new Student Council officers. Of the 7 on the Executive Committee, four are young ladies!  We are proud of this because our office worked with about 12 young lady leaders last April to ensure that their gender would be represented on this year's Council!  There are a few other young ladies who were also elected to represent their own communities (Angolan, Congolese, West/East Africa, etc.)  So, the mix is much healthier this year.    

     The training consists of discussion about values, leadership qualities, negotiating skills, stress & time management, recordkeeping, performance evaluation, etc.  All the various areas on campus also share ways in which the Council will relate to them, i.e. Food Service, Bursar's Office, etc., etc.  In a week or two they will be inducted into their offices during one of the Wed. morning chapel services.  All indications are that wiser decisions will be made with this year's set of officers!!

      Climate Changes are certainly very noticeable here!  By this time in Sept. it has usually turned quite warm, but this year it has been quite consistently cold ~~ in the low to mid-40's at night, and upper 60's to 70 during the day. . . and this is without any indoor heat!!  Many of the students who come from countries closer to the equator have been freezing!!  Fortunately, I was able to secure some extra blankets for several students from Nigeria where it is NEVER this cold!!  And the wind has also been much stronger than usual. 

     My first couple of nights here I thought I would be fine with two heavy, thick blankets over me, only to wake up shivering in the middle of the night!  You see the extra third blanket at the foot of my bed.  This trip I also brought a hot water bottle, which has been my constant bed companion and warms my feet!  I DO prefer my little dog, Bubba, though, to a hot water bottle!!
     The days are lengthening, and it is nearly 6:00 pm and now getting dark.  I'll go for a bite to eat, and then add a bit more when I go to the library.
My mantra this year is  "Grace ~~freely given and freely received!"  Most mornings when I wake up a special hymn is running through my mind.  Your prayers, familiar hymns, emails, and student smiles always lift my day.  Thank you for your part in sustaining my ministry of presence and support.
With love,
Mary Beth

Testimonies and Spirit-filled Music!

Sun., Feb. 23, 2014

Soon after I returned to AU in Jan. I was aware that some of the students who work with the Chaplain on a variety of activities went on a retreat off campus.  There has been a growing concern that fewer and fewer students attend the Wed. morning and Sun. morning chapel services, and much conversation has taken place around this issue.  (Those of you in the local church, does this sound familiar??!)

Some excellent ideas were shared and discussed at the retreat, and gradually some of them are being implemented!  And so, on this particular Sunday, the message was given by numerous individuals excited and willing to share their testimonies of how God has been at work in their lives!!  One of the staff members shared that years ago she suffered from two miscarriages, but then was very blessed to have two girls and two boys, all of whom now have their professional degrees and are working productively in their various fields!  She concluded her remarks by inviting all of us to stand and sing with her "How Great Thou Art!"

A young student from Liberia testified to God's loving care and protection of him, having been raised by his grandmother when both of his parents were killed during the war there.  He said that he had known nothing but war from the time he was six until about 16.  Several times he escaped from becoming a child soldier.  Many times he had to run for his life, and most times he didn't really know where he was running to.  On several different occasions he ended up in a refugee camp in Ivory Coast ~~ where Operation Classroom (Indiana Annual Conference) had established a school for the Liberian students until it was safe for them to return to their country.  He continually said, "And by the Grace of God I . . . . ."  And so it is indeed "by the Grace of God" that he is studying here at Africa University!  We trust that God will lead him back to Liberia to provide some much needed leadership in that now peaceful nation.

A number of other students shared that while growing up they were afflicted with various diseases or ailments.  The doctors had difficulty diagnosing some of them, and once again, it is "by the Grace of God" that they are now healthy and happy to be studying at AU!!

Several students took the microphone and sang solos, praising God for God's wonderful goodness toward them.  The service lasted about an hour and a half, but no one was looking at their watch or indicating that they were eager to leave!!  Wonderful participation from everyone in the congregation, as we were invited to stand and sing and sway to the music!!


Sun., March 2, 2014   Spirit-filled Music!!

Students have been asking for a more lively worship service ~~ one that is more like an "African" worship service!!!

And so, last Sunday about 6-7 individuals were invited forward to sing the verses of "Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior" in their mother language while we all joined in on the chorus in English!!  As we continued to sing and sway others from the congregation came to sing a verse in their own language!!  I hope you have had an opportunity to participate in worship where praises and hallelujahs were being lifted to God in different languages!!!  These experiences have really broadened my world view, and I've been so blessed to feel the Spirit moving in our midst!  What a rich and inspiring worship we had as other groups of singers came forward and either sang or led us in singing!!  Truly an "African worship service!"

The Africa University Choir, which will be coming to the U.S. this coming June to participate in Annual Conferences in Baltimore-Washington and Florida, sings in more than 20 languages ~~ English, French, Portuguese and Shona, plus so many dialects and tribal or regional languages ~~ that it boggles the mind!!

Upon his retirement from AU, Professor Patrick M., the first director of the AU Choir, was charged with writing down and setting to music many of the hymns and choruses from these various dialects and countries!!  Most of these had to be recorded, and then he would write the music and the words, since they were part of the oral history and music of a particular area but had never been put on paper!!  Some of these will likely be included in the next "Global Praise" songbook!!!

Be blessed by all the music around you, and seek to share it with others,
Mary Beth







 

Gospel Night!!

I did not realize that it had been a full month since I last posted to the blog ~~ my apologies.  Much to catch you up on!!

Sat., Feb. 22, 2014 ~~

Several students made it a point to personally invite me to the Gospel Night program held in the chapel.  I thought they explained that it would be quite a number of groups coming to the campus to perform gospel music ~~  how wrong I was!! 

The Mistress of Ceremonies was a tall, beautiful, well-spoken young lady who had just recently returned to campus from the competition for Miss World, having represented the whole of Zimbabwe!! Our students do us proud in the wider world!!

The evening was filled with all kinds of music, performed by various groups from right here on campus!!  What talent they have been blessed with!!!!  There were several groups of varying sizes from different country communities (Congolese, Angolan, West Africa, etc.) singing gospel and church hymns in their mother tongue or tribal language as well as in English.  Most of them were dressed alike (shirts, blouses, etc.), and it was apparent that much planning had gone in to getting ready for this special evening!

There were solos by individuals; trios; quartets; a drum solo; and even offerings  by several staff members.  Of particular interest to me were seven young women from Angola who performed a beautiful and very spiritual liturgical dance.  They were all dressed in white, gauze-like attire, and just seemed to float through the air as they symbolized the wind of the Holy Spirit blowing around and through us all.

After about 1 1/2 hrs. an AU alum from Harare was introduced.  He had been in the Faculty of Management and Administration, and then returned to get his MBA!!  But his heart and soul were in his music!!  He is now following his passion and God's calling to share the Gospel in song, through preaching, and in the rap music which he writes and sings.  What a witness he was to the young students here, as he gave them encouragement, support, and inspiration to do well and make the most of their lives as outstanding leaders in their own nations.

I came back to my flat about 11:00 pm, but was told that the music continued on until nearly 1:00 AM!!  I could hear the pounding rhythm of the bass as I fell asleep, filled with a singing heart and inspired by the many gifts these students share so freely!!

So blessed to be a part of their experiences. . . .

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted . . . . Matt. 5:4

Last week I shared about the death of one of our second-year students who died when a bus swerved off the highway and tipped over.  He was sitting next to the window were the bus landed on its side.  Another student was sitting next to him, and suffered some cuts and bruises.

The following day we held a very short service of celebration in the AU chapel with large numbers of students coming to show their respects to him and his family, and all filing past the open coffin to say their goodbyes.  There is great respect here for the loss of a life, regardless of the age.

There are often conversations about things like this being the work of the devil, or spells cast by witches who "manifest" dire circumstances on someone.  There is also a very strong belief in the spirits of family members who have passed and who may be displeased with your behavior.  Their anger may cause bad things to happen to you. 

How important it is to share God's Love, and to teach about God's grace, acceptance, and forgiveness.  But long-held beliefs about "the spirit world" run deep, even for those who profess a Christian faith.  An African writer has recently said that this belief in the spirit world is one of the major reasons why Africa as a continent has not developed ~~ because the people are always trying to please/satisfy the spirit world, which keeps them always looking to the past.  And so it becomes a cycle which prevents people from celebrating life and freedom through the forgiveness and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This is why the Rev. Dr. Katsondo feels it is so important for the people of all African nations to know and embrace the power of the stories and life of Jesus ~~ so they can look to heaven and rejoice!

This past Thurs. as I was preparing to sit down to write this blog I received an urgent summons to come to the common room upstairs to provide support and sympathy for a final year student who had just learned of the passing of her mother in DR Congo.  This death was unexpected, which makes the grief even deeper.  She left the following morning for her home and to bury her mother.  Many in the female dorms and males from DRC came to offer their condolences to her.  Several led in singing and others (theology students) prayed for her in French.

About 15 minutes after I returned to my flat there came another knock on my door.  Five Congolese young men came to ask for my help ~~ because the brother of a first-year student had been killed in an accident on his way home from school, also in DRC.  The funeral and burial had already taken place, but her parents had requested that their daughter not be told until "later."  It is the custom for family members to return to their home village to pay respect to the family and to be present at the burial.  But this young lady will now have no real way to say goodbye to her brother.  And it will take her longer to process this information than if she had been allowed to go home to be comforted by and be with her family.

It is so humbling to be a part of these very delicate and tragic experiences in our students' lives.  They face challenges that college students in many other circumstances don't have to deal with.  And for me, not being able to communicate with them in their first language makes me feel very inadequate.   Fortunately, another young student stepped up and translated what I was saying.

Please offer prayers of sympathy for those who have recently lost loved ones.  And pray for good health and safety for everyone on this campus.

Go live in the peace of God, my friends,
Live deep in the peace of God . . . .

Mary Beth

Life is So Fragile . . .

The post that Bonnie added included some of the details about the loss of one of our young students in a bus accident on Monday when he was returning to school.  So tragic.  A busload of students and staff, including some AU choir members, went to Harare today to participate in his funeral.  This has given students reason to pause and pay a bit more attention to the many blessings that are theirs.
Indeed, life is so fragile.  Let us live each moment to the fullest.

                                                                * * * * * * * * * * * *
                                                                 * * * * * * * * * * *

Recently I've been working with a few of our students who struggle every day ~~ they come from a U.N. refugee camp about four hours from here.  Though their stories are different, they carry the same heartache and pain, for they have left behind their country, their family members, and all they knew before war disrupted their lives.  From a very young age they experienced and carry the memories and scars of the horrible things human beings can do to each other.  All of them suffer from some form of PTSD, feel very lonely and fearful, and carry a heavy weight inside. They are reluctant to share because being tagged "a refugee" carries very bad connotations in people's minds.

These students DO have scholarships and meal cards, but no provisions have been made for them to have any spending money for personal care items, notebooks, pens, etc.  Our office is trying to work out a system for them to be identified and then given more compassion, attention, and caring.  They have organized themselves into a small group or "family," and give each other encouragement to achieve their very best.  These are very intelligent young adults who have some huge obstacles to overcome.  Please pray especially for them as they try to reconstruct their lives.

It's heartbreaking to hear them say, "It's just me ~~ that's all I've got.  No one else is around to care for me or show me the way.  Life was very dark before we got to AU campus, but gradually we are able to see the light."  More than one of them arrived here with only the clothes they were wearing, but were afraid to say anything to anyone for fear of being criticized and looked down upon. Fortunately, other students became aware of their plight and offered a clean t-shirt, a pair of pants, etc.  I cannot even fathom them risking their lives, running away from all that was familiar, trying to live off the land, and not knowing anyone whom they could trust.  And yet still having this thirst for education and a better life for themselves.

All of these students are so grateful for Facebook.  They make numerous attempts to find parents, siblings, and other friends from their former lives, but rarely have any success.  I just want to adopt them as my sons and daughters so they can once again feel a sense of family and security, love and caring. 

Thanks for your prayers for them, and for us as we try to establish a safety net for them.

Gratefully,
Mary Beth

This and That! (cont.)

3)    The dining hall seems quite empty at times, even with most all of the students back on campus.  It is the practice of some students to bring a plastic container with them to the dining hall, and then take their food back to their dorm room.  It seems that more and more of them are doing that this semester!  The problem is that what they don't eat they dump in the garbage (without a lid!), and it is an open invitation to the many feral cats to come and dine.  At one point last semester I looked out my door and saw about 18 cats on the ground, on my porch, and in the nearby tree!!  Most recently I've seen many little grey and black kittens, so the population is growing.

4)     Fortunately, students now seem more settled, and there is much less chasing around among the boys and girls, who first semester were squealing and shouting,  and getting to know each other!!  Some have now paired up, and others are still "exploring," but in a more disciplined way!!!  They all enjoy "happy hour," from 5:30 - 10:00 pm, when they can be in each other's dorms and rooms.  But like everything else, this tends to get abused!! 

5)     I've greeted and made peace with the numerous huge spiders that inhabit my walls and ceilings!  I was told early on that none of them bite, so I just let them enjoy their quiet life from their perch on my yellow walls!!  Just a part of the intriguing environment here!!  Fortunately, I haven't seen any pythons or cobras, but they DO hang out near the chicken houses on the farm!!

6)     Dr. Machinga and I spent most of last week meeting with students in all the dorms, and presenting power point information on alcoholism and drugs, and interpersonal communication.  During the Christmas break when mostly only the international students were on campus, apparently there was much discussion and name calling among the groups from different parts of the continent.  In addition, because of those students who left and those returning, they experienced "fruit basket upset," so that almost everyone got at least one new roommate.  Remember that most of the dorm rooms now house three students, not just two!!

7)     There are also new faces among the faculty:  Dr. Ed Dodge, son of the late Bishop Dodge, comes each second semester from TX.  He is teaching two classes on ways to control non-communicable diseases ~~ often a difficult feat in this part of the world.  He is very gentle and soft spoken, and his presence is very much appreciated.
        Dr. Marion and Robert Bell have come from Las Vegas.  She is teaching in the Faculty of Education; and he is working hard to get some things fixed and working at the Guest House.  Dr. Marion also has had experience as a public school administrator and counselor, so will  be helping us some in the area of career planning, resume writing, interview skills, etc.
       Dr. Mike Reed from the Uni. of KY is here for six weeks  on a Fulbright Scholarship, consulting with the Faculty of Ag. and helping to evaluate curriculum.  It is so good to get acquainted with such wonderful folks who value highly keeping the dream of Africa University students alive!!

8)     Some of the students who did not do well academically first semester are now coming for more help with study skills, time management, etc.  It's hard for some of them to learn the disciple of studying, and to make it a priority!

9)     I sympathize with all of you who continue to experience the snow and extremely cold weather that Mother Nature has brought you recently.  It is the rainy season here, so temps range from the mid-80's to the mid-60's at night, with a shower or thunderstorm almost every afternoon.  Humidity is always very high, so it is hard to get clothes to dry, even with the sun shining!  The frogs are plentiful, and I noticed just today a wasps' nest on the ceiling outside the door of my flat!!  Have not seen any wasp spray in the stores, so may just try to knock it down with a broom tonight.  They DO sting!

Enough details for now!  Thanks for checking in!!

This and That!

Greetings once again from Africa University!!  I have been on campus almost two weeks, and have been super busy with students.  I think I must SAVE after each paragraph so as not to lose everything.  Wrote two blogs last night, but I think the system was too slow to save them long enough to Publish!

1)     The sights, sounds, and rhythm of AU has changed since first semester.  Many of the faces and friends I made have left the campus to spend this year (Jan. - Dec.) on their internship assignments.  There are still a few who haven't found anything in their field, so please pray that they will be successful.

2)     The exciting thing is that there are about 200 NEW faces on campus ~~ those final year students who have returned for their final semester, having completed their internships in Dec.  So, I never know who I might meet over the lunch or dinner table!!!  Having met many of them during our visits last week to all of the dorms, it is clear that they are now more settled and serious about doing everything possible so they can graduate this June.  Since many of them are the first in their family to receive a college education, many family members will come for this great celebration!!

Trying to get her back to the blog-again

Once again, Mary Beth is in Zimbabwe and on the campus of Africa University.   And once again she and "blogger" are having difficulties.   These two just don't get along.   

 

I'll share a few things from recent emails from her. 

 

Since her arrival around the 17th of January, she has been nice and warm while most of her readers in the US would be "FREEZING".   She has accomplished one of the tasks which was to connect with 5 students and deliver notes.  First mission accomplished. 

 

 

From a recent note:

 

Panashe Gondo died in a bus accident on his way back to school from Harare.  The bus he was riding in careened off the highway and then tipped over.  He suffered severe head injuries, which made it hard for the mortuary to prepare his body quickly for a short service here on campus yesterday afternoon.  Very sad!  Only 20, and in his 2nd yr. in Humanities.  His parents said this was the first time they did not bring him back to school, and now this happened.  Heartbreaking for everyone.  Very somber tone on campus.  A busload of students and staff will leave this morning for his regular funeral service in Harare this afternoon.

 

From an earlier note:

I've met and seen all the students you sent notes for, except for Yahuda Fallani.  If you have an email address for him, I will get this to her.  All the others were most grateful, so hope they said thank you!  The rest of the money I may use for soap, lotion, washing soap, etc. for the students who are refugees.  There are about 8 of them ~~ 6 boys and 2 girls ~~ all on scholarship but with nothing extra for personal care items, etc.  I'm trying to work on a way to identify these students and see how we can fix this hole in the safety net for them.  A touring group of 32 from So. Carolina was here last weekend, and left some toiletry items plus some cash for meals, etc., so hope it goes a long way. 

 

Finding ways to assist the Scholarship students living on campus is a challenge.   Many students are at the University on full scholarship but have not one dime to purchase personal items.   There is a fund that helps for every student that gets support another 10 need funds but there is nothing left.   Mary Beth is trying to address the needs.  

 

Now I will see if she and I can't find a way to get "Blogger" to work with her a little so she can make her own posts.