Startling Update

In case you are not apprised of the political and economic environment in Zimabwe, I will tell you just a bit of what is going on. In 2000, President Robert Mugabe lead a rebel war against the white colonists here in Zim. There has been a long history of racism and struggle between the black natives and the white colonists. Zimbabwe abounds with fertile lands rich in minerals, and capable of producing plenty. However, the focus of Mugabe's war was to take away land from white farmers, which often times meant by force and many people were killed. Since that time, thousands of Zimabawean's have left the country, the farms were given to Mugabe's war veterans who did not have the education to farm, and the country is experiencing world record inflation. The cash that is used in the millions  (for example, my latte might cost 300,000,000 Zim dollars) and 700 mill is one US dollar (it was 300 mill when I got here, the rates are increasing daily- it is horrible). The government is being very badly handled and 50% of a persons wages are taken out from the government for taxes, but the government is providing little to nothing for its people. Corruption is the name of the game here. 

However, presidential elections were held in March and everyone held their breath for change. Mugabe's soldiers have been causing chaos in rural areas and forcibly obtaining votes for Zanu PF (Mugabe's party) and vote rigging is also understood. Even so, the people's party won the election, but Mugabe will not leave office. A runoff election is now set for later this month. 

So, with that said, here is the update. Matt Mbanga, the guy I am working with daily, is the son of the owners of The Zimbabwean newspaper. It is the voice of the people and the voice of who will hopefully become Zimbabwe's next president. It was run out of Zim for years, but Matt's parents were exiled for their outspokenness and will be arrested if they enter the country. They now operate the paper out of England. Zanu PF officials have been asking at the South African border about the newspaper truck, and last week The Zimbabwean's truck, carrying 60,000 copies of the paper was stopped on its way in from South Africa. 8 guys with AK 47s pulled the driver and passenger out and beat them. Both men survived. One was South African and returned to SA and the other was from Zim and they torched his passport. He is now in the hospital here in Harare. They shot up the truck and set it on fire. It is clear that these horrible people will stop at nothing. Please pray for the operation of the paper, for change in Zimbabwe, and for Matt's safety (his last name could make him a bit of a target).

It is crazy that life is carrying on as usual here in the city and we see no danger or strange occurrences, yet, in the rural areas, the government continues to abuse their power. (if you want a better understanding of the war Mugabe is responsible for, watch the movie The Interpeter, it is loosley based on the situation in Zim)

So much to learn

(5/21/08)

My orientation to this land was quite nice. I see that there is very little I can do for the precious children that I will be spending my days with, and my heart is really all I have to give. I am excited to give it though, and I am excited to see how my life will intertwine with the Lord's precious orphans. It is just so clear that He loves them dearly that it is quite a privilege to get to love them as well. 

In orientation we went through some parallels from the book of Ruth. Ruth being a girl who chose to follow Naomi to an unfamiliar land. Ruth being an outsider and Naomi being an insider. Matt believes that one of the most important tools in doing ministry is communication and the most destructive force in ministry can be communication as well. Just as Ruth followed Naomi and listened to her advice in the new land, I will need to follow the advice of the insiders as well. Matt mentioned some of the local efforts to minister to the orphaned children. They took some of the orphan boys (who are all black) on buses to a revival that was held in a wealthier area. The idea was that the boys would be blessed by the music and the glitzy performance and feel some of the privilege of their white counterparts, but later the boys told Matt, "We NEVER want to do that again. We were just the orphan boys in the corner, and we'll never fit in with the rich white kids." Matt later even found out that one of the wealthy boys turned to one of the younger orphans at some point and said, "hey, I donated those shoes!" An effort to make them feel loved really just made them feel lousy and isolated- major miscommunication and assessment of needs.

Ken, a doctor here in Zim told me a story about these missionaries he knew that went out to a bushmen tribe and tried to educate them on safe sex to lessen the spread of HIV. So they went in and got all the people together and gave out tons of condoms. They told the people the condoms would stop the disease from spreading and used a stick to demonstrate how to put one on. They left and heard some time later that nothing good had come out of their training. So, they went back to the village to talk to the people and the men said, "we are doing what you told us. Every time we lay with our wives, we take out our stick and put a condom on it."- miscommunication. So, the missionaries gave a proper demonstration and got rid of the stick. Now the bushmen knew the correct place for a condom, but some time later the missionaries again heard that it was not working as effectively as hoped. So they went back and as they drove down the path, all the men came running to meet them. And as they got closer, the missionaries saw that the usually stark naked bushmen were this time all wearing a condom!-miscommunication. 

It is very easy to miscommunicate when you are an outsider, or to properly assess the needs of the people you are trying to serve. And studies show that to really become an insider takes about 2 years! To become an insider you must fully understand and embrace the culture, just as Ruth told Naomi "your people will be my people and your God will be my God." It is sometimes hard to seperate culture from spiritual beliefs because they both combine to make up a persons perspective and behavior, but it is crucial to do so. For me, there is no need to teach these young children about Western culture, but the utmost need for them to know that the God who created them loves them dearly. 

So, that was the bulk of my orientation and it was so nice to hear! The heartbeat of the people I am working with greatly reflects my heart for ministry and I am really looking forward to learning and serving with them. I think it is a great reminder no matter where you are called to make sure you are communicating the heart of the message. Make sure you are respecting the culture and the nature of the people you are trying to love. And try to express the essence of your heart and feelings rather than the parts of your life that just may not be relevant to them. For instance, my testimony and in many ways, my easy life, may not be relevant to the orphans here, but the God that I know and love sure is! 

I pray that we are all given wisdom and an open heart as we love and serve God this summer!

 

Elephant Encounter and Lion Track

This morning on our walk we came upon an elephant. We eased our way closer on the rugged terrain that separated us until we were about 50 yards away (incredible!), but she didn't like that so much  and began to walk towards us (no good!). We eased our way back, still facing her, and a few of us stood behind a large tree. When she got to about 15 yards from away and started to mock charge a few times, Doug started to wave his arms around and try to convince the giant to go on its way. The elephant agreed and meandered off. The whole thing was a bit scary, but so magnificent. On our way into the park yesterday, a guard was cleaning some tusks, and when we asked what happened he said, "oh, it was an unfortunate thing. The elly charged a guard and he was forced to shoot it." I suppose that knowledge made our experience a bit scarier (especially having no means of protection ourselves). Doug, who is quite the outdoors man and visits Mana several times a year, seemed comfortable though, so I knew we'd be fine. Since that experience we have had more, even closer encounters with the elephants here, but they have all been while we were in a vehicle, and let me tell you, being within the protective walls of a truck makes a world of difference!

Our last day at Mana we had not yet seen any lions. However some of the them have been traquilized and equipped with tracking collars. So, we decided to do a lion track. It was quite exciting, and again, terrifying. Nothing like the zoo-like atmosphere I experienced at Antelope Park last year. These lions are not cubs, and they are in NO way tamed. So we were along in a truck with a few guards who held an antenna device that they used to track the beasts. The one we were looking for was a female lion who was either pregnant or had new cubs. After finding the signal, they parked the truck and we got out to walk. We were warned that if we were to see her, we were NOT to run. We must stand our ground and even if she mock charged us to within a few feet, we were not to move. AHHHH!!!! I wanted to flee, haha, but that wasn't really an option.  So after walking for about an hour, we still had not located her and were told beforehand that the majority of the time, you follow the signal to the lion, but never actually see the (because they see you way before and stay very hidden). Finally though, the signal lead across the field from where we had come. So we passed by this thicket of brush that was out in the open and went into the foliage. However, the signal started to beep that she was behind us. So again, we passed right next the the circle of bushes on the other side. Then, after having made a full circle around it, a look of understanding donned on all our faces as we stared at the thicket we had been circling within a few feet of. Then the guard pointed to the bush and whispered, "she's in there." A few people in the group (guys of course) asked the guard to go shake the bush, which of course was a horrible idea. The lioness was either extremely pregnant and in pain or a new mamma ready to protect her babies- either way, she would have been ferocious. We never saw her, but it was quite a feeling to be so close and to know she was there! Maybe next time :) 

Rugged Africa

I am here recalling our adventures thus far as I sit on the Zambezi River on a fold out chair under a great umbrella of shade created by a monkey filled tree. In my line of sight at the moment I can see and hear 5 hippos and last night a mamma and baby meandered out of the river and up the bank no more than 15 yards from our campsite while we sat and ate dinner. I was utterly terrified. I am the only volunteer here, so the rest of the group are native to Zimbabwean and seasoned in all things Africa. I would have liked to enjoy the majesty of the scene a bit more but the fear that gripped me was unshakeable. I prayed long and hard last night that no beasts would attack our tent while we slept and now that that prayer has been answered I feel a little more at peace with the situation. It is quite an honor to be here, and especially on my second day in Zimbabwe!

My home across the ocean

(5/17/08) I arrived in Zim yesterday, and wow, how amazingly blessed I feel! My friend Tino, who is Zimbabwean but whom I worked with last summer in Malawi, picked me up from the airport and it was so nice to immediately see a friendly face! My only piece of luggage that made it was the one filled with soccer balls, but it felt so good to be done with all the travel that it didn't matter a bit. The trip went quite smoothly and the Lord granted me traveling mercies as I maneuvered through airports. 

The house I am staying in is quite majestic. It is a large 2 story manor run by Rene and her precious 3 year old daughter Michaela and is absolutely charming. My bedroom is upstairs with windows that open to let in natural light and a wonderfully refreshing breeze. The help at the manor makes all my meals, does my laundry, and makes my bed. It's not what I expected and I feel utterly spoiled! Very different than the tents in the bush last summer. 

Matt, who works for African Encounter and whom I will be working with for my 3 months here, picked me up soon after I had settled in at the house, and told me we would be going to Mana the very next morning. It is a park on the great Zmabezi River where people can camp and have a true bush experience. It is one of the few places in Africa, well in the world I suppose, that people come in contact with all the beasts of the earth with absolutely no interference. All is wild. The animals are not fed by humans as in a zoo, and there are no walls to keep them away or guns for protection. Quite exciting! 

The Journey Begins

Hi Beloved Family!

I hope you all find this blog easily, and I am able to keep you updated! I will be leaving to Zimbabwe in 9 days, and I am utterly ecstatic!!!!!! I do still have 4 finals left, but my mind continually wonders back to the adventure soon to come! The Lord graciously provided all of the funds I will be needing (using the hands of many of you!), and now all that is left to do is pack!

Thank you so much for participating in this journey. I only pray that the Lord will be willing to use me for His Kingdom in the time given me there! I will try to place prayer requests, stories, and updates on the Lord's work on this blog whenever I can!

WHOOO HOOO!!! I'm so excited! Thank you for helping me grow closer to our Lord through your loving friendship!

Blessings,
Katie