Autumn has arrived and the umbrellas put away for another year. (It started to rain almost as soon as I wrote the above.)  Mild sunny days and cooler nights are the rule.  We have become accustomed to the fact that the profusion of flowers and color last the year around. The poinsettias blooming in their red and green glory are another signal of their approaching “winter.” Some bushes are so large they look like trees. 

Poinsettia "bush."

This all reminds us of last year and the fact that our second stay in Zimbabwe will soon be drawing to a close. Morris has only two more classes to teach before reading week and finals. His work in the Information Office has been rewarding as he attempted to help the VIM teams that will be coming to mesh their skills and interests with the needs at the university, school, hospital, and orphanage. It is truly gratifying to see how many people, from so many different states, want to spend their time and money to come so far to help. Unfortunately, we will be gone before most of them arrive and thus will miss the fun of personal contact.

While the steady barrage of news of unhappy events is wearing us down, the time here has had many positive and enjoyable aspects.  Some humorous ones too—lack of funds for tar to fill the season’s ubiquitous potholes produced a new answer: the holes have been filled with carefully fitted bricks. It seems odd to go to all that work, but labor and brick are both so plentiful as to be almost worthless, while asphalt requires foreign exchange.  The holes stay filled too.  We never thought that a day’s excitement might be in getting a full tank of gas, but there were times when that was the biggie in Ann’s diary. (That crisis appears to be pretty well over for now.)  

The monkeys have returned to Greenglade. Our balcony has been ringside as we watched them raid a small patch of corn being raised by Wilburt, the manager of our flats. We got lots of laughs at their antics and pictures as they sat on the fence shelling and eating the corn. 

On the other hand, the observance of Reading Week was again a great success at Hartzell; this time the pupils were enjoying choices from their own library.  It gives deep satisfaction to see such heavy usage in the library. Last year was basically preparation; this year it is in full swing.  Ann has commented on the long lists of names on the checkout cards for some of the favorites.  One such is a comic strip rendition of Bible stories. Ann helped judge a reading contest for Reading Week.  Each class chose their best reader and that person read a previously unseen passage for the assembled school.  It was difficult to judge because of the accents, but she came up with some winners who were presented with pens and pencils as their prizes.

The major accomplishment so far has been getting the new library building under way. Working on financing and then planning the April 3 groundbreaking ceremony took up much of February and March. Once the rains were over, things have moved rapidly. The ground was cleared, trenches dug, cement footings poured, and the brick foundation started within two weeks.

  
Groundbreaking ceremony (left), building the foundation (right).

 However, we have run into a shortage of good quality bricks with waiting lists of a month or more.  Mr. Maramba has combed the countryside to find bricks to maintain the momentum. At last report, a supply is now being “burned.”  We expect to have pictorial proof of the progress well before we leave.

The children at Hartzell School are on vacation for the month of April, so Ann, with a staff of four, is taking inventory in the library. They are trying to straighten out some of the mix-ups that are inevitable when two people with minimal library training process 8,000 books in a few months time.   We have hired a skilled and trained librarian, Letwina Munzara, who will be able to supervise the move into the new building, help with the selection of furniture and shelving, and catalog new books as they come in to fill the shelves.

With the easing of gasoline shortage we are again able to travel. We took a trip to the mountains of Nyanga over Easter weekend and enjoyed the beauty and serenity of the mountain scenery.  We saw 3 spectacular waterfalls, and two archaeological sites, as well as visiting several craft and stone sculpture centers.  

  
Nyangombe Falls (left), Mtarazi Falls and Ann (right).

The political situation is still unresolved and probably will remain so until the farm invasion problem is settled and the election is held.  The papers are saying it will be held in May, June, July, or August, but no definite time has yet been set.  We are feel that we about as safe in our daily routines and places of work as well as traveling during the day as we would be at home, but we cry for the people who have to endure all this.  We keep hoping that the government will step up to its responsibility (as we define governmental responsibility) and put an end to the violence it has created and sanctioned.  Instead it appears determined to hold power at all costs and is branding all opposition as treasonous.  Two decades of virtually unopposed power creates a feeling of ownership. The economic crises and the strong no vote on the proposed constitution have created panic.  People are speaking out however.  But will they find leaders with both enough bravery to come forward and the wisdom to lead a campaign—and also the country should they beat the odds and win?  Since they have not been allowed the freedom of ordinary opposition in the colonial era, nor in the two decades of rule by the Zanu PF, it is a serious question.  Fair campaigning and elections as we define them would probably result in a change of power.  That is why we will probably not see that.  As one history student commented, “African democracy is quite different from that of the west.  Africa has no tradition of giving up power.”  We listen, bleed a bit inside, encourage them to participate, and pray that it will work itself out peacefully.

Next month we will be tapping our/your money reserves pretty deeply as we pay tuition for two more terms at the high school for 5 day students and 1 boarding student, pay 125 elementary student tuition fees, and salaries for the new librarian and Danai Noisi, the library assistant.  We have also been asked by the headmaster and station pastor to secure support for another girl who starts high school in January, so we need to evaluate our funds to see if we have enough to take on another responsibility.

 Two weeks ago we went to visit a young woman named Ethel Mumera.  She is a graduate of Hartzell high school and is now looking for a job, although she would qualify for university if she could afford it.  She has cared for two younger brothers and one sister since their parents died two years ago.  She gets a monthly check of $100 ($2.65 US) from the government for the family. It does not go far as a loaf of bread costs $15Z. We took her some basic foods and brought her into town to buy shoes and clothing for the children. They live deep in the country in a small neat cement block house with two small bedrooms and a thatched cooking rondeval. She has planted a thriving garden. Today we received touching thank you notes from each member of the family. There are many families in similar or worse condition, which are struggling for food, clothing, and education.  Unfortunately, we can’t help them all. 

A couple of weeks ago we sent a large shipment of Zimbabwe crafts to Ann’s brother’s church in Wacousta (near Lansing, Michigan).  Their mission team will be selling them to help raise money for our projects here in Zimbabwe.  The purpose also was to give business to many destitute roadside artists who depend on the money from selling their crafts.  The cost of shipping and the crafts are donated, so all money spent to buy items goes to help the projects.  Those interested in finding out more about the sale and how they can see and buy the crafts can e-mail Bill or Cindy Gehman at weg626@aol.com or call them at 517-626-6716.

The Africa University choir will leave Monday on its tour in the U.S.  They will be at General Conference in Cleveland and then tour the Eastern, Midwestern, and Southern parts of the U.S.  Some of you will have a chance to hear them when they sing at the Detroit Annual Conference in May. We have been fortunate to hear them every Wednesday at AU chapel. The services there are still inspiring with a wide range of preaching and singing.  The week the university’s Board of Directors met here, the administrators and senior staff performed for us with the Vice Chancellor singing a solo verse he had composed many years earlier.

 We have enjoyed attending the English speaking service at the Inner City St. Peters United Methodist Church.  We have felt more a part of the church this year and have attended fellowship potlucks and gotten to know the people better.  Most of them come from other countries in Africa and attend these services because English is the common language for we who do not speak Shona.  It has been interesting to hear their stories. One high point came at a potluck when we sang several Christian songs, such as Amazing Grace, all in our own native languages.  The universality of God’s love and care for all was evident in the smiles on people’s faces as we each used our own language to express our faith and belief.

Easter at St. Peters.

We received sad news on Monday—a good friend, Paul Shutt, died of a heart attack, unexpectedly at age 57. We grieve with Irene and the children and wish we could be there to comfort them. It reminded us of our own mortality and how we must make the most of each day of life that God has given us. John Wesley’s advice for living still is relevant—do all the good you can for all the people you can in all the ways you can.

The multiplying of our own “loaves and fishes” (efforts) may not be quite so novel or dramatic this year, but the circle of support continues to expand and the impact is palpable.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support. You are making a huge difference in many, many lives.

Our love to all,
Morris & Ann