My Two Interesting Housemates!

My experiences at Africa University have been somewhat different this year, due to the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.  For the 2013-14 school year I was living in a Flat at one end of the girls’ dormitory.  This put me in close proximity to students, and I was always aware of things going on around campus ~~ the time the buses left on Friday and Saturday night to take students in to town for parties, and the time they returned in the wee hours of the morning; the exuberance of the male students as they returned to their dorms after watching a rousing soccer match in the Student Union; and the voices of students leaving early in the morning for a field trip!!  I sometimes spent time after supper in the library, reading or working on my computer, and had some wonderful casual conversations with students as we walked back to the dorms together.  

The threat of Ebola anywhere on the African continent became cause for concern.  The Zimbabwe government put in place many restrictions to detect and prevent the spread of the virus.  Africa University has been identified as a real “hot spot,” since we have students, staff and Board members from all around Africa, including West Africa!

The Sister in charge of the Health Clinic received special training and instructions that were to be followed on campus.  One such requirement was to identify an “isolation area” for anyone suspected of having the deadly virus.  After looking at various possibilities on campus, they settled on the Flat where I stayed last school year.

My “new” housing this school year (2014-15) has been in the Guest House at the end of the cul-de-sac in Staff Housing, which is approximately 5-6 long city blocks away from campus.  The advantage of living in the Guest House has been the opportunity to make friends with others who stay at there ~~ a colorful and very interesting group of friends ~~ visiting lecturers, and often part-time lecturers who are only here for a few weekends during a semester.   Another advantage is being able to watch BBC or Al Jazarra news.  It is very interesting to hear especially U.S. news from a totally different perspective!

These are the two gentlemen who are currently my housemates.  Here we are enjoying a delicious trout meal at The Inn on the Vumba, a resort just on the edge of Mutare in the Vumba Mountains.

Dr. Ed Dodge, M.D., (left) is the son of Bishop Ralph Dodge and Eunice, who did most of their missionary service here in Africa ~~ Angola and Zimbabwe.  Bishop Dodge was the first white Bishop elected by the Africa Central Conference.  (See “The Revolutionary Bishop who saw God at work in Africa.”)  Dr. Ed Dodge lectures in the Faculty of Health Sciences during second semester, and promotes healthy lifestyle living.  His course is about the major non-communicable diseases that plague not just Africa but the world:  diabetes, high blood pressure, and stroke.  I have gained many insights about Africa from him and his growing-up years in Angola.  He has almost convinced me to become a vegetarian ~~ but not quite!  Every evening we enjoy quite a variety of veggies, along with various fixings of pasta and/or rice.

On the right is Richmond Williams, a GBGM lay missionary, who teaches “Leadership” in the Faculty of Theology.  Richmond also has a very interesting background ~~ his father is an Anglican priest, and he is a white Zimbabwean who has lived in Australia, Britain, and the U.S.  He is married to an American citizen who works in Harare for U.S. AID, and they will be moving back to the D.C. area when their daughter is out of school next month.  He will return to AU in August for first semester, but immigration restrictions and the policies of U.S. AID may force him to continue his work in the U.S.  Rich often brings me delicious whole wheat bread from a Food Lovers Market in Harare!!

What a blessing it has been to get to know all who have been at the Guest House and who have a real passion for Africa University and its mission!!!  They are all very special folks!!!