Personal Journal from Volunteers in Mission Trip to Zimbabwe

June 23, 2000

Today was spent at the orphanage, playing with the children. We had breakfast at the cafeteria and there was BREAD! We put peanut butter on it to supplement our meal (porridge).

When we arrived today the children were still taking their baths. So they come out one by one but they started climbing on Jonathan right away. They were so tired in the morning so I mainly just sat and just held the ones that came to me. They learned Kisha's name quickly and began to call it out constantly. The head matron passed out the toys we brought. She had them sit on the ground lined up and then they sang Praise God, Alleluia (Praise God, Alleluia. Praise God Amen, Praise God Alleluia Praise God Amen. I love Jesus, You love Jesus, We love Jesus, Praise God Amen) Trust and Obey, and Hello Good Morning Friend. And then she handed out the toys.

The children loved playing with them by throwing them and I'm not sure they know what squirrels are (or Clifford the Big Red Dog). Kisha was talking to the head matron (who has 8 children and whose husband died -- actually was killed--during a political campaign when she was 5 months pregnant with her youngest son) and she told her that children stay at the orphanage until they are 6 or 7 then they try to track down the family of the children before they send them to another orphanage or the primary school. (This is because the mother is usually the one who dies and they try to find the father's family before they send the children on.) The matron said they get a new child every 2-3 months.

We had tea --which was really good around noon. It was made with boiled milk instead of water which made it very rich. We sat in one of the rooms and drank our tea. Then we played with the kids some more and went to lunch. (Yes, it was a lunch of sadsa, beans and greens) Then we went back to the orphanage to play some more.

Kisha, Janet, Kate and Lauren took a tour of the hospital from Dr. Manyaza and learned a lot more about the hospital and the people of Old Mutare Mission. One of the things they found out was that right now the biggest problem/sickness they are dealing with is upper respiratory infections and pneumonia because it is winter here--which is hard to believe because it is about the same temperature as early summer in New England.

We met Anita who will be a law student at the other AU (American University) in the fall. She is staying here for the next 6 weeks and will be helping at the orphanage and being a birthing coach for the women who deliver at the hospital.

The children love my glasses--in fact one of my little friends bit me today because I wouldn't let him have my glasses--left quite a bruise! We brought the beanie babies over today and the group that was here from Tennessee told us that the children shared their toys so well--there was not any fighting. We did not find this the case and had to break up many of the fights between the children over the toys. The children at the orphanage are so happy--with so little. It is so amazing and inspiring because it makes you realize how much you can live without. The older children help care for the younger children which is so endearing. They are so good--feeding them and holding them. Our new friend Moses helped teach us "Konta ra ra" and kept us very busy in the afternoon. He is six years old and quite the smart one. Blessing, a young baby girl and I became good friends too--she is adorable. The kids are tiring but rejuvenating at the same time.

There seems to have been progress at the library--the people there entered data while Joyce and Mrs. Green were at lunch and were very excited to show them. Mrs. Green also learned Shona--which I am going to have to learn from her sometime in the near future. The playground committee was able to talk with the doctor also and they have an appointment with the playground equipment people tomorrow and have an understanding that they will call the bulldozer people on Monday to tell them when they can bulldoze. Things are starting to look up!

We met tonight as a group which was long but then we talked (Kisha and I) to Janet for a while (after a close race to the Swish finish line but one in which we lost the good fight) and about being Christian and what our faith means to us, how to share our faith with others both here in Zimbabwe, at home, and with those on the trip. Bedtime was late night but well worth the conversation with Janet and Kisha.

SJW

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This text is taken from a personal journal of the recent trip to Zimbabwe. Statements made represent the opinions and thoughts of the individual volunteer and are not intended as official statements of the United Methodist Church or Epworth United Methodist Church. This web site is designed & maintained byEpworthSteeple Disciples

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Last modified November 4, 2000