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