OUR VISIT TO THE ORPHANAGE "LIGHT OF HOPE ORPHANAGE"

ORPHANAGE

Just thought you might enjoy one of our trips with some good friends from the LDS CHARITIES group here in Zimbabwe.  Elder and Sister Bean from the Seattle area invited us one Saturday to go with them to an Orphanage that was south of Harare.  I know from the pictures, that you can kind of tell what is going on there, but let me take a minute and tell you what we say.

This orphanage is stricktley volunteer, and there is no such thing as government help.  So there are no set aside funds for this facility, or for that matter, any other facility in Zimbabwe.  So it is stricktly supported by anyone who wants to help.  Most of these children are true orphans in every sense of the word, however there are a great many of them here because their parents have aids, or are alcohalic, or in prison or simply cannot afford to raise them.

As you can see from this picture, quilts are something that they have never seen before and are a very luxury item in this part of the world.  It is unseasonably cold to these people right now, so blankets and warm clothing is in high demand.  I often wondered whe so many quilts were being made by the Relief Society when I was at home, and now I can see why.  They are certainly welcomed here and I know they are very much appreciated.  Keep Quilting Sisters!!!!

Stocking hats are also a luxury item here, and I know many of the sisters at home have knitted many a stocking hat.  They wear them both night and day.

These two little guys were so hungry and tired, but after we started playing games with them they started to smile and everything was o.k. with them.

They all wanted to get their pictures taken so they could see what they looked like in a picture.  I'm sure there were many of them who had never had their picture taken before.



This was their sole source for water, what they call a bore hole.  All they do is throw the container down the hole and then pull it up full of water.  They are lucky to have a bore hole right there in their area, because many of the women have to walk for miles with a 5 gallon container on their head to get water.  This gal is one of the volunteers at the orphanage.  Wonderful gal.

They have what they refer to as a cook shack and it is a thatched roof hut that they build a fire right in the center of it and cook everything they make, right there on the floor.  The floor is dirt, but like cement, because they keep it so clean.  It is very bright.  Very smokey though.

These old gals, and not the white ones, walk to the orphanage every day to see if they can help.  They were a joy to be around, and were tickled to death to see us.  This is the way they dress every day.  Note the women in the green does not wear shoes, because they are to uncomfortable for her to wear.  The gal in the middle is 89 years old, and her skin was so soft and very few wrinkles in her face.  She could not speak any english at all, but did tell someone there that she was so happy to see us and THANK YOU!!!

SISTER HECK WANTS TO GIVE THEM THE FARM.

We are going to take a load of firewood to them, because they purchased a load from someone and they did not deliver it, just took the money and ran. 

4th of July Safari to Imire

 It's been a while since we have updated this blog so we want to bring you up to date as far as what is going on in Zimbabwe.  We have been here just about 1 1/2 months now and I can say that we are pretty well settled down and understand what we are doing.  It has been a long process, but a good one.  We really haven't done much traveling at all, but as you can see by the pictures we have gone on a wonderful overnight safari to a place call Imire.  Jean really wanted to do something for the 4th of July, so we got our heads together and talked to Pres. Dube about taking the 4th off and he went for it, so we talked to all the other couple missionaries and found out where we could go and started planning.  This place was unbelievable and it was only an hour and a half from where we live.  We got a winter rate deal for all the couples and it only cost $180 per couple which is a real deal.  It included lodging for 1 night, lunch, dinner and breakfast, and snacks.  The food was the best, especially eating lunch with the RHINOS.  The cabins were fabulous with thatched roofs and all the amenities.  They load us up on a wagon and had a tractor pull us all over the place.  It was so hugh, we didn't think we were going to make it back to the ranch.

 

 What was so amazing was the rhinos and how close we were able to get to them, they are so majestic.  When we got to the place where we were going to eat lunch, there was a couple of rhinos right by this picturesque lake.  It was fantastic.  Both of us kept saying to one another we can't believe we were in AFRICA!  The guide that we were with said that poachers had killed 2 rhinos last year, so now they have armed guards with them 24/7.  He also said one horn would bring as much as $60,000.00. 





They had both the black and white rhinos on this ranch which is very unusual.  This elephant to the right is 40 years old and is the father to one of the baby elephant.  We actually went on an elephant ride on this big boy as you can see by the other pics.

WHITE RHINOS

One of the greatest events that we had here was the opportunity to ride the elephants.  It was so unbelievable to be able to climb on the back of one of these majestic animals and look down at the ground and pray that you don't fall off.  I'm thinking we were at least 15 feet off the ground and when he first started out in was so smooth and effortless.  He just kind of lumbered along.  Jean held on for dear life.  When we were finished Jean wanted to give the guide a tip, so she asked how do I get the money to you because we were already on the ground, and he said just put it on the ground.  So she did and the elephant didn't see her do it, but he found the money and picked it up with his trunk and handed it back to the guide.  It was amazing to just watch what they could do.

We saw so many different animals and they were all so beautiful.  We especially liked the Sable, Elephants, and especially the Giraffes.  They were so majestic standing in the trees and eating.  There was a very large male that came up to our wagon and you could see all the distinct markings and coloring. 

 We can't express how much we enjoyed getting away from the office and visiting with the other couples.  We were able to be with the Jefferies for the first time and it was good to be with them.  Sister Jefferies sang some very patriotic songs that made us all home sick for America, but it was good to get together and share some stories.  The Bowen's are getting ready to head for the barn the first of September, and they are busy trying to get the family history program started in the various stakes around here.

When we got back from our trip, Pres. Dube had an interview with us and told us that we were being assigned to a new Branch that is on the way to where we went on this Safari.  It is a Sunday assignment, and it takes about an hour and a half to get there.  There are no Missionaries there right now, but he wants to put two sets there as they are getting ready to open a new chapel there in the next few weeks.  We talked to some of the other Senior Couples here and told them of our assignment and they all said that it was the best assignment in the entire mission, so we are so jacked about it.  Last Sunday we had the opportunity to take a young family to church with us in Epworth.  It was so humble to be there, and the Missionaries had about 20 investigators there.  

OUR FIRST SAFARI

It has been awhile since we have posted anything new on our Blog so we thought we would take the time today and do so. As you can tell from this first picture we actually went on our first safari, and it was great. Not to far from Harare is a wild animal park that you can drive through. The Bowen's took us and they had been before, so they knew where to go. When we go to the destination there was a little smoke coming from one of the huts where some people lived, and in nothing flat the thing was burned to the ground, so that was exciting

for us to see, and not so much for the people whose home burned down.

We drove down the road just a little ways, and there was this hugh lion just setting alongside the road and he was eating on a cow that they had just killed. Then a few yards further down the road was a bunch of lionesses lying in the grass.  They were watching the male lion eating and you could tell that they were not very happy.   The weather was great, and we saw all kinds of animal, even a male and female jaguar.  We saw ellans, ostrich, baboons, lots of monkeys, wart hog, and lots more animals that I can't remember their names. All in all, it was a fantastic trip and we really do appreciate the Bowen's taking us there.  Things here in Zimbabwe are good, and we are becoming a lot more familiar with what is going on around us, mainly the jobs that we have been given to do here in Harare.  Jean is the Mission Secretary, and pretty much runs the show in the from office.  She is very busy every minute of the day, doing Missionary stuff for the President.  The two Assistants to the President are also in the office and they are so good to work with (Elder Clark and Elder Crossley) I have a separate office and my position is that of Financial Secretary.  In Other words, I do anything that involves money.  Also in charge of the vehicle fleet, so it is very gruelling.  Everything here is pretty well done with cash, so I have a string of people all day long waiting to get paid.  We have a great apartment, and it is in a very secure area with a guard at the gate.  A wonderful back yard that is full of tropical plants and an avacodo tree that is full of avacado's. 

We are enjoying the services of a maid once a week that cleans our apt. and does everything we ask her to do including the laundry. Her name is Beauty. She irons everything, and I do mean everything.  Just let you imagination go wild.  We also have a gardner that comes every other week and takes care of our back yard for us.  Don't get me wrong here, the expense is very nominal, and the people really can use the money.  Our gardner is called "the professor" and he does the work barefooted.  He is a member of the church and is taking his family to the temple in Johanasburg this week.  They are really good people.

Notice the ear missing, while we were there a baboon got on her back and chewed her ear off.  We hope everyone is fine and we are going to update this more often, so be watching for our next update.  We love and miss everyone, and are right in the middle of the work.  The people here are great and we really love going to church and singing with them.

SETTLING IN

We have been in Zimbabwe for over a week now, and we feel like we need a few more weeks before we  will be comfortable with our jobs.  It is an eye opener to come to a 3rd World Country, and to see how things are done here is incredible.  Can you invision Mexico about 30 years ago, that is the way it is here today.  Everyone will get to you tomorrow, and guess what, tomorrow never comes. 

It is so beautiful here though, everyone is complaining about how cold it is, and to us it is very comfortable.  The mornings are sometimes brisk, but by 9 or 10 o'clock it is 70 degrees outside, and the temp. does not vary that much.  We have a great big Toyota Corolla, but the stering wheel is on the wrong side of the car, and everyone drives on the wrong side of the street, but we are getting used to it.  We have moved into our new home, and it is very nice and comfortable.  We just have to deal with all the little problems that go along with the area, mainly power outages and no water.

Last week we went to Church way out in the country, and it was fantastic, as you can see by the picture of Jean and 3 of her friends.  Church was great, and the singing was fantastic.  There are no piano's, or organs for the members, but the singing is great.  It was fast and testimony meeting, and they were so humble and greatful for what they had.  Very strong testimonies.



The bulding that they have to meet in is quite nice, and while we were there they divided the two branches that they have a made a third.  The people have to walk so far to church, that they rented another building closer to the new branch that was formed.

       On our way home we took the long way home and went out in the country.  And it looks just like the pictures in the magazines and on TV.  Very remote, and primative.  People are washing their cloths in the river, and driving the cattle with big long sticks.  When you stop to give the kids some candy, they are very leary of you, and cautious when approaching the vehicle.

The country side if beautiful, and very senic.  You drive for a few kilometers, and the scenery changes very rapidly.  Every so often there will be big outcroppings of big rocks, and you drive a little bit further and there is a small village with little round huts.

The work here is going very fast, and the missionaries are doing a great job.  We keep asking the missionaries how they are doing, and they always say they have 5 or 6 people lined up to be baptized.  They are baptizing so many people here it is unbelievable.  We really don't know what we are doing as far as learning our jobs, but we are hoping that we will catch on real quick.  The Bowen's have been great to us, and we appreciate all they have done.  Also, we have spoken to the Jefferies by phone, and their area is doing fantastic.  Probably because of all their hard work.

Last night we were getting ready to lock up for the weekend and Camille and the kids rang us up on SKYPE.  It was so good to talk to them and to see them on the computer.  Reception was great, but we were cut off by a power outage.  Love the work, and thinking of all of you.

We finally made it to Zimbabwe!  What a long trip, but we survived.  When we were getting our luggage down in the plane at Johannesburg a man came up to me and said Sister can I help you with your luggage.  I turned around and there was a man about 50 with a young boy about 12  and I said sure.  So he wheeled my luggage up to where we need to check in for Harare.  He was a member of the church from Arizona and he and his son saw us at the London airport with our name tags on.  He did not know we were on the same plane to Africa, until we were ready to depart.  They were there for 3 weeks to go on a safari and this was their 3rd year back.  He was a great help because my luggage was heavy and we had a long, long walk.  I talked to several people while we were traveling and they asked what we were going to do in Zimbabwe and we told them a mission for the church.  When they found out we were going to be gone for 18 months they were really surprised.

  We have been here for 3 days and we are still trying to remember how to get to the mission office since most roads don't have signs, so you look for landmarks or other signs. Today, we have a car so we are on our own. It should be interesting!  Hope we can find our way back home.  I sure don't want to drive around here.  They are crazy drivers!

 We are staying in a hotel since our apartment isn't ready.  We should be able to move this coming Wed. and that will be nice since we have been living out of a suitcase and can't find anything.  We have breakfast everyday at the hotel and it is good and usually eat lunch out with the other missionaries and don't eat dinner.  When we get our own apartment we will bring our lunch since eating out gets old.  So far we haven't had to worry about the food.  It has been good. 

There is lots to do at the office and there are 2 assistants to the president and another young man from the church that comes in and helps.  I am slowly learning what to do.  Our office is right next to the church and the grounds are beautiful.  Our office is nice and big and there are other senior couples who also have offices here.  President Dube has been gone since Thursday so we haven't seen much of him since he is traveling a lot since the mission has been split and it will take effect July 1 so everyone is busy with that project.  We have a guard station at the front gate 24 hours.

The weather here is wonderful.  May, June, July is their winter months and it is really great weather here for winter.  Don't have to wear a coat and it is about 75 so we can handle that.  There are beautiful trees and flowers here. The poinsettias are as big as trees and they are beautiful. The people here are wonderful. It is hard to understand them so we really have to listen to what they are saying.

Yesterday we went to look at an apartment for us or Bowen's and it was quite a ways out so we got to see a little more of Harare.  Elder Bowen showed us the oldest chapel in Harare and it was so well kept.  The members here love their little chapel and keep the ground so nice.  They are very poor and some go to church barefooted.  We will be going to church tomorrow so it will be interesting.   Church is 3 hours away!  So don't complain when you go to church.  We should be assigned at branch to be over in the next week or so.,

This morning we went with another senior couple, Elder and Sister Bean from Washington state.  They took us to some little shops and they had some really neat things there.  I found some things I would be interested in buying but decided to look around, I just got here! I did buy 1 necklace made in Ghuna. It is made with very old beads.  It is It was very clean area and the last Saturday of the month that have lots of vendors that sale their stuff there, so we will go back the end of the month.

Hope all us well with everyone and we are think of you.

JEAN LOVES THE TULIPS AT THE MTC

Why am I so brown, and Jean is the one who is always in the sun.  This morning we went to the temple, because we are all done with our classes.  The walk is all uphill, and by the time we got to the Temple we were pretty well warmed up. Today is just a get ready day.  We now know that our kids are coming down to see us off.  Hope they drive safe.  Most of the Missionaries from our group have left, and the dorm is pretty empty.  We did laundry last night, and got all the shirts ironed today.  We are going to try to buy one more suitcase for none essentials (you know, like peanut butter, and mayonnaise) that's an inside joke.  Connie sent us an e-mail about a missionary from Texas and a quarter overpayment on the bus, it was great.  Today is just like all the rest, overcast, but no rain yet.  Met an Elder Nick Hansen that served in Zim, and he filled us in at lunch, lots of good info.  He was a sharp guy.  He has already been back, he loved it there.

One more day of class and we are done.  Mixed emotions about that statement because we have made so many friends here at the MTC.  Elder and Sister Gunderson have been super to us, and Sister Welsh is one of the neatest people around.  Tonight at the dinner table we were talking about trying to get everyone together in 2 years and have everyone talk about their experience.  That would be neat.  We have received e-mails from the Mason's (Chili) and the Wright's (Malaysia) who are already in field. 

Jean and I went for a walk tonight around the temple, and we were stopped 3 different times by mutual kids who were on scavenger hunts, they had to take a picture and report on where we were going and when they heard Zimbabwe they all gasped and couldn't believe Zimbabwe.  Good times