Meeting My Sister in Africa

I grew up as an only child. I never had any of the blessings or burdens, the benefits or difficulties of having a brother or sister. I never dreamed that someone in Africa--of all places--would greet me as my sister!

She came through the greeting line after Sunday worship on August 2 at St. Peter's United Methodist Church in Mutare, Zimbabwe. As she extended her hand to greet me, she said unexpectedly, "You are my brother." By that time of my trip, I wasn't surprised by much of anything but this was definitely new information!

I had been blessed by the generosity of my hosts, the Kennedy Masunda family, who had welcomed me into their home and treated me like family. But this woman was not part of their family.

I had been blessed by a growing acquaintance with the people of the Streamview United Methodist Church, having worshiped with them the previous Sunday and having been greeted by several of them at different times in the past week. But this woman was not part of the Streamview congregation.

I had been blessed by a growing acquaitance and friendship with pastors and leaders of the Mutare District, but this woman was not a pastor. To the best of my knowledge, I had never seen her before in my life.

I must have looked at least a little quizzical, because she looked up, pointed, and said, "Same God." Then she looked at me again and repeated her affirmation, "You are my brother."

And of course, she was right. She is my sister. I am her brother. We are all part of the same family, since we all belong to Christ. As it says in Galatians 3:28, "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."

Thanks be to God for family that we meet in the most unexpected places and the most unexpected times!

Celebrating Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday

During my Volunteers in Mission trip to Zimbabwe, I participated twice in Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday--July 26 with the people of Streamview United Methodist Church and August 2 with the people of St. Peters United Methodist Church, both of them in Mutare. Each was a joyous celebration, filled with powerful singing, drumming, and dancing.

The practice of Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday, as I have learned since my return, dates back to as early as 1910. This is what is reported in Bishop Eben Nhiwatiwa in his book, Humble Beginnings: A Brief History of the United Methodist Church [in the] Zimbabwe Area.

The contemporary celebration of Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday, however, is due in many ways to the work of Chuck Miller, a missionary from Texas who translated Shona/ Zimbabwean concepts and words into powerful religious concepts. He developed the concept of "harvest thanksgiving" from the Shona concept of "Bupuro," which means "harvest." As director of stewardship, he introduced the use of motivating language for the churches. No one wanted to be part of a "Garaipasi Church," which is a "do nothing church." It is better to be part of a "Simukayi" congregation, which is a "stand-up for the challenge" church. The best is to be a "Fambayi" church, which means a church that is "on the move." Both Streamview and St. Peters certainly appeared to me to be "Fambayi" congregations!

The presentation of "Harvest Thanksgiving" gifts is done by sections. A section is comprised of up to ten households in a geographic area. The sections meet together once a week for prayer and other purposes. The Streamview church had 22 sections, and the St. Peters church had 14 sections. In addition, gifts are brought forward by "junior church" (Sunday School), the United Methodist Women (RRW), the United Methodist Men, the United Methodist Youth, and--at St. Peters church--the choir. Finally, there was the recognition of visitors at each congregation, with the "Visitors Section" at St. Peters invited to come and make their special donation for the day.

In past years, people brought actual produce from their harvest, and some still do so. At Streamview, bags of cement were among the items that were contributed by many of the sections. I had seen them being unloaded at the Streamview church site on Saturday, and many of the sections reported with pride on the number of bags that they had contributed.

As it happened, the area where the bags of cement were stored was in the same building as the men's and women's bathrooms. One of the section leaders reported with bursting pride that, "If you want to see what we've done, you need to go to the bathroom!" There was an immediate outburst of good natured laughter as well as a look of horror on her face when she realized what she had said!

As each section was announced, a sound of singing would begin toward the back of the worship area. Eventually the members of that section would make their way forward, singing all the while. A spokesperson for the section would boast in a good natured way of all the blessings God had given them, and then he or she would announce what had been brought by that section. A running total was kept of all the financial contributions so that a total could be announced at the end of the service.

One of the touching moments at the Streamview celebration of "Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday" was when one woman, who was herself a widow, said that there were no widows and no orphans in that section. This was because "Jesus is our husband, and Jesus is our father."

At St. Peters church, one of the older women in the congregation--dressed in her United Methodist Women's uniform--had a special presentation to make to Ed Dodge and Peggy Miller. They are two of the children of the late Bishop Ralph Dodge, who was so important to the life of the church in Zimbabwe. , two of the children of Bishop Ralph Dodge who had been so important to the life of the church in Zimbabwe.

A portion of Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday service at St. Peters, in fact, was given over to a brief celebration of the life of Bishop Dodge. The choir director, Patrick Matsikenyiri, had prepared a version of "Celebrate" that honored Bishop Dodge's ministry. A fuller celebration of Bishop Dodge's life will take place when the Ralph E. Dodge Library and Convention Center at Zimunya is completed.

During one of these services, another person on the platform leaned over and asked if we had anything like Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday in the states. I could only shake my head "no," but not without regret.

All of us, no matter where we live, need to experience the joy and power, community and commitment, blessing and good will of Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday. None of us should ever settle for being part of a "Garaipasi (do nothing) Church." We need to be--or become--a "Simukayi Church," standing up to the many challenges facing us. Even better will be when we become a "Fambayi Church," which is "on the move" to make a difference in the world by the power of Christ!

Taking the Music Back

Another privilege during my Volunteers in Mission trip to Zimbabwe was to take back the music of the Ambassadors Quartet that had so touched my life fifty years ago. In fact, it has been exactly that long since four young men from what was then Southern Rhodesia made their tour of the United States of America on behalf of the Methodist Church.

Their tour took them to 29 states and the District of Columbia. It included, perhaps amazingly, the Methodist Church in Arlington, Kansas, where my father was pastor at the time. Their singing made a powerful impact on me, and it helped create my interest in going to Zimbabwe for the first time in January 2007 with the General Commission on Communications.

Upon my return from this trip, I looked among our record albums where I was convinced that a copy of this album could be found. I have no idea what happened to it, but I could not locate it. Nevertheless, there is always e-Bay! I managed eventually to purchase several copies, always looking for a better version of the record and the album cover.

The four young men in the quartet, as I learned, were Dennison Nyamarowa from Zimunya, Josiah Njagu from Mtoko, Daniel Kasimbira from Umtali (now Mutare), and Ben Jambga from Nyadiri. One was a social worker, two were teachers, and one was a ministerial student. None of them is any longer alive. It has been my privilege, however, to be in contact one way or another with the families of three of the four quartet members and let them know what a difference their father made in my life. Perhaps someday God will bring me the the opportunity to be in contact with someone from the family of the fourth member of the quartet.

The album was entitled "From Darkness to Light." The music is divided between traditional songs and Christian songs. Side One includes a War Song, a Work Song, Four Drum Solos, a Lullabye, a Herd Boy Song, a Food Song, a Mourning Song, an adapted War Song, and "God Bless Africa." Side Two includes the quartet's introductory song, several Christian hymns in English and Shona, the Fisherman's Club Song, "Only the Best," and "Plea for Africa." The chorus of the last song is: "Tell the love of Jesus, by her hills and waters. God bless Africa and her sons and daughters."

As I accumulated copies of the "Ambassadors Quartet" album, I eventually discovered that one of the church members where I serve had the equipment and the knowledge to convert the music from a long playing record album to a Compact Disc! He did so graciously, so now I had a "master copy" of the music. Another church member had the ability and willingness to adapt the artwork from album size to CD size! So now, I had the music, the artwork, and the story of the "Ambassadors Quartet" in CD format.

I took with me to Zimbabwe four CD copies of this record. I also took an actual "Ambassadors Quartet" record with me for the Zimbabwe United Methodist archives at Africa University.
I presented CD copies to Bishop Schol and Bishop Nhiwatiwa during my report to the Zimbabwe International United Methodist Partners Summit. I gave a copy of the CD to my hosts, Kennedy and Anna Maria Masunda.

I contributed my last copy of the "Ambassadors Quartet" CD to the "Harvest Thanksgiving" offering at St. Peters United Methodist Church in Mutare on August 2. Such an offering is traditionally a "second mile" gift that reflects your gratitude for what God has done in your life, and this CD seemed an appropriate thing to give.

Of course, I really didn't take the music back--only the recording made half a century ago by the Ambassadors Quartet. The music that really makes a difference resonates in the lives of the people of The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe.

Fifty years later, the music of this people of faith continues to "Tell the love of Jesus, by her hills and waters. God bless Africa and her sons and daughters."

Another Unexpected Blessing

One of the collateral goals in my Volunteers in Mission trip to Zimbabwe was to further the relationship between the pastors, people, and congregations of the Hutchinson District of the Kansas West Conference and the pastors, people, and congregations of the Mutare District of the Zimbabwe East Conference. That happened in both expected and unexpected ways--all of them blessings.

I had taken with me the "Harvest Thanksgiving" offering and signed "Future with Hope" card from the people of First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson for presentation to the people of the Streamview United Methodist Church. I took items from the Stafford and Alden United Methodist congregations for their partner congregations--the Zimunya North Circuit and Muradzikwa respectively. I carried with me a suitcase filled with "prayer bears" from the people of the Hillsboro United Methodist Church for the children of the Fern Valley United Methodist Church. I brought a copy of the 2008 Book of Discipline and the 2008 Book of Resolutions for the Mutare District Office.

In addition, I took with me a set of envelopes for the pastors, retirees, clergy widows, and conference appointees of the Mutare District. Each envelope contained a $20.00 bill, a $10.00 bill, and a "Three Simple Rules" bookmark.

The financial gift was in keeping with a goal that we have set for ourselves as pastors in the Hutchinson District to send a "love offering" four times a year of at least $20.00 for each of our counterparts. We had done so twice already, and I carried the third such gift with me.

The "Three Simple Rules" bookmarks just seemed like a good idea. They are a modern adaptation of John Wesley's admonitions to "Do No Harm. Do Good. Stay in Love with God." It seemed like the kind of admonition that the clergy in our two districts always need to keep in mind.

Earlier in the week, I had given the envelopes with the money (and bookmarks) to the Rev. Tazvi Nyarota, the superintendent of the Mutare District. She said that she wanted me to present these envelopes to the pastors in person. As the week unfolded, nothing ever worked out, and I assumed that other arrangements had been made. As it turned out, there was another unexpected blessing in store for me.

This blessing came on Friday afternoon, July 31. That morning, our Volunteers in Mission team finished work at the Zimunya Skills Training Centre. We had then shared another excellent noon meal at St. Peters United Methodist Church. The next thing on my schedule was attendance at the Zimbabwe International United Methodist Summit, scheduled to begin on the campus of Africa University at 2:00 pm.

I knew that I was going to be late for the start of the meeting, so I was hurrying across the Africa University campus toward the chapel. To my surprise, Tazvi Nyarota stepped out from among a group of pastors and spoke to to me. "The people who have been waiting for you are here," she said. At first, I thought she meant the people at the summit where I was headed. But she meant the pastors from the Mutare District who had been waiting for my arrival.

They had been at Africa University that week for Pastors School. Unlike the Kansas Area Seminar on Professional Ministry, this week-long event is well attended! Pastors School itself had ended on Friday at noon--or perhaps with the noonday meal. In any case, the District Superintendent had kept her pastors waiting for me to get there. She knew my schedule, and she wanted me to present the envelopes myself.

And so there came another unexpected blessing. Rev. Nyarota had me call the name of each pastor aloud and then present them with the envelope containing the money and the "Three Simple Rules" bookmark. After the presentation was completed, one of the pastors spoke words of appreciation on behalf of his colleagues for me to share with the pastors in the Hutchinson District. And then, of course, we took a picture!

Like so many other experiences on this trip, this unexpected blessing was simultaneously uplifting and humbling. The pastors of the Mutare District graced me with their patience in waiting for me to show up that afternoon. They blessed me with good humor as I mispronounced their names in sometimes spectacular ways. They blessed me with their good will as they expressed their appreciation for what was a modest gift by American standards by a significant one by Zimbabwean standards. They blessed me with the depth and breadth of their faith that sustains them in remarkably difficult circumstances. They blessed me with the joy that shows through in so many ways.

It was another of the many blessing--expected and unexpected--that I encountered during my trip.

Bread at Zimunya

Our Volunteers in Mission project at the Zimunya Skills Training Centre came to an end on Friday morning, July 31. By then, we had settled into a rhythm of work (and rest!). One of our faithful local volunteers--Mrs. Ressie Nemaramba--was not at the work site that morning when we arrived. I didn't really pay attention to her absence, perhaps assuming that she had other obligations, responsibilities, or commitments.

Midway through the morning, however, the reason for her absence became apparent. Mrs. Nemaramba came walking up the path, carrying a gift of fresh, warm bread for us to share. She had brought it with her, wrapped in a towel to keep it warm.

Mrs. Nemaramba had raised the wheat. She had harvested the wheat. She had processed the wheat into flour. She had baked the flour into bread, and now she had brought the bread for us to share. It was her gift to us for having shared in work that week at the Zimunya Skills Training Centre.

It was a sacramental moment. The Israelites in the wilderness (Exodus 16) were blessed with bread that came to them unexpectedly. We were only in Zimunya, but we were equally blessed with bread that came to us unexpectedly. As one of our team members received the bread, we gathered around--VIMers, brick layers, local volunteers, and the caretaker's children.

There was a word of blessing, and then the bread was broken and shared. It was round, warm, fresh, and delicious. And there was more than enough for everyone to have some. It was the best possible way to end our week of work at the Zimunya Skills Training Centre!

A Worldwide Work Crew

One of the issues debated at the 2008 General Conference of The United Methodist Church concerned constitutional amendments intended to help us move into becoming more of a worldwide church rather than a U.S. church with foreign outposts. These amendments--23 of them altogether-- have been sent for consideration to the Annual Conferences around the world. I was a strong supporter of these amendments, but I will not be surprised if the amendments do not receive the needed 2/3 majority.

In the meantime, the worldwide church is a reality, or at least it was for our work crew at the Zimunya Skills Training Centre the week of July 27 to 31.

Some of us flew thousands of miles to be there for a few days of work. Others of us walked several kilometers to get there each day. Some of us rode in a private omnibus to arrive at the site. Others of us rode in the back of a pick up truck to get there.

We were American, and we were African. We were skilled, and we were unskilled. We were male, and we were female. We were young, and we were--not so young! We were tall, and we were--not so tall.

Some of us knew exactly what needed to be done at the building site, and others of us didn't have a clue. Some of us spoke English more fluently than Shona fluently, while others of us spoke Shona more fluently than English. Some of us were familiar with hard work, while others of us discovered surprising aches and pains after just a few hours of moving bricks. And yet we were a crew--a team.

We moved bricks together, making neat stacks where they were needed. We shared work gloves with one another. We took "breathing breaks" together. We shared "beverage breaks" together. We took a "sugar cane break" together. We talked together. We laughed together. We looked to the future together. We became friends together.

The worldwide church? It was there at the Zimunya Skills Training Centre the last week in July with a worldwide work crew. And the rest of the church just needs to catch up.

At the Midpoint . . .

Wednesday, July 29, was the midpoint of our Volunteers in Mission trip to Zimbabwe. We were at Africa University in the morning and at Fairfield Children's Home in the afternoon.

As we exited the Africa University campus, we stopped to take a team picture at the stone entry way. Across the road was a different kind of stone--carvings and sculptures by a young man who had his wares on display.

I had wondered when I would have the opportunity to look at some stone carvings or sculptures. I had become thoroughly intrigued with this art form during my trip to Zimbabwe in January 2007. I had brought back several items from that visit, including a nativity set and a "Cross and Flame" sculpture. And now here was a stone carver, waiting--so it seemed--just for me!

His items were reasonably priced, at least in my judgment. Among other things, he had a nativity set for sale and several "Good Shepherd" sculptures of different stone. I eventually chose to buy one of polished brown stone. On the bottom of the sculpture was not only the sculptor's name but his e-mail address!

And the sculptor's name? It was Christopher, which means "Christ-bearer," and it was from him that I was blessed with "Good Shepherd." It seemed like a good sign at the midpoint of my trip.

It was a trip that had begun with meeting grace, and now it was blessed by the presence of Christ in an unexpected encounter at the entrance to Africa University.

Meeting NoMatter

One of the highlights of my Volunteers in Mission Trip to Zimbabwe was the opportunity to visit the Fairfield Children's Home located at Old Mutare Mission and to meet NoMatter, a girl whom my wife and I have sponsored for the past two years. It took place during our VIM team's visit on Wednesday afternoon, July 29.

I had first visited Fairfield Children's Home in January 2007 on my visit to Zimbabwe with the General Commission on Communications. The facility was originally established as an orphanage, but its focus has changed to that of a children's home which seeks "provide orphaned children with a family setting that maximizes their potential for optimal growth and development."

Two years ago, I was sufficiently impressed with what was being done there that I wanted to be part of this effort. After returning home, I checked out the web site for what is now called the Fairfield Outreach and Sponsorship Association.

In doing so, I found a list of children--identified only by their first names--who were being cared for at the Fairfield Children's Home. One was a girl named "NoMatter," who had been at the facility for three years at that time. She was listed as having a younger sister, Jane, and a younger brother, Nation. At the time, NoMatter was not listed as having a sponsor. It seemed like a good thing to provide that kind of support, and we have done so the last two years.

Early on, I wondered about the possible significance of her name. It seemed like it could be interpreted in such a way as to indicate that her mother or father might not have cared much about her. That was a completely wrong interpretation. My friend, Kennedy Mukwindidza, helped me understand that NoMatter's name really indicates courage, determination, hope, and perseverance. She will make her way through life, "no matter what!"

We arrived at Fairfield Children's Home on Wednesday afternoon, July 29. We paid a visit to the Craft Shop, which had a variety of consignment items for sale. We were then invited to "have a sit" in one of the duplexes for a time. [The expression simply means to come in, sit down, and visit.] After that, we had a chance to hear from the administrators of the facility about the work there.

I had corresponded with them before my trip about the possibility of meeting NoMatter. At first, I wasn't sure if this would be possible, since I was told that she was still in school at that time of the day. I didn't let the matter drop, however, and eventually someone was sent to get her out of school early for this occasion.

Our team was outside the administrator's office, having finished our conversation there, when NoMatter came walking down the road. I thought that it was her, but I wasn't completely sure. In a letter that we had received just a few weeks earlier, she described herself as "short and stout." She might be short, at least by American standards, but she is scarcely stout!

The two of us were introduced, and she took me to visit the duplex that is her home. She lives there with eight or nine other children. Her "blood sister" and "blood brother" are also part of the this family grouping. Her bed is in a room with three other girls. Her bed was neatly made, and she seemed proud to show me around.

We didn't have as much time as I might have liked, but it was probably about right under the circumstances. I wasn't sure of the protocol for such things, but I presented her with the small gifts I had brought for her--a new pair of flip flops, a necklace, and some head bands--all in a "Gloria Vanderbilt" bag of all things. She seemed genuinely overwhelmed, but I think that she was pleased.

I hope and pray that she will find her way in life, "no matter what!" It is good to remember that her name itself can help provide the courage, strength, and perseverance that she will need.

One of the Best Things We've Ever Done

Our Volunteers in Mission Team had an opportunity on Wednesday morning, July 29, to visit one of the best things we've ever done as United Methodists--Africa University, located just a few kilometers from Mutare.

By this time, our team had been unofficially expanded by another person. Victor Masunda, who was our driver during the week, had become much more than that. He had become an active participant in our work, and we were pleased to include him in our activities--including our visit to Africa University.

Africa University was officially opened in 1992. However, it is understood to be an expression of a dream first given expression nearly a century earlier. In 1898, Bishop Joseph Crane Hartzell, after a time of prayer on Mt. Chiremba, envisioned hundreds of African young people running, with books in hand, into the valley where Africa University is now located. This mountain stands just beyond Old Mutare Mission, and it is readily visible from Africa University.

The center piece of the Africa University campus is the chapel, which was built in 1996 and funded by the Kwang Lim Methodist Church of Seoul, Korea. This is where worship was held on Wednesday morning. One of the blessings of the service was an energetic, faith-filled song by a group of pastors, singing in Shona. The preacher of the morning was the Rev. Robert Slade of the Baltimore-Washington Conference who spoke on the theme of "Press on." Our Volunteers in Mission team was introduced as part of the morning's devotions.

After worship, we were given a tour of the campus. As part of the tour, we learned about some of the challenges experienced there in 2008. Africa University managed to stay open and functional under the most dire circumstances. This was at a time when virtually every other institution of higher education in the country shut down.

One of the things that I particularly appreciated seeing on the tour was the recently completed Alfred L. Norris Health Centre. It was made possible through the generosity of the North Texas Conference. I was also glad that we could see the agricultural portion of the Africa University campus--at least from a distance.

We made our way back to the main portion of the campus, had our noon meal in the AU dining hall, and prepared for our afternoon at Old Mutare Mission. As we left the Africa University campus, it was good to know that we had at least had the chance to visit "one of the best things we've ever done!"

Zimunya at last!

On Tuesday, July 28, we finally made it to the Zimunya Skills Training Centre to do some work. We had gone there Monday afternoon, after a marvelous lunch at St. Peters United Methodist Church in Mutare. We had met the builder and contractor and reviewed the situation before heading back to Mutare.

On Tuesday morning, we arrived ready to work. Work was primarily the relocation of bricks. The skilled labor was being done by those hired for the purpose. The five of us were there to provide unskilled support, supplemented by enthusiasm and good intentions. We were joined by several local residents who turned up to help. Amazingly enough, we had just enough work gloves for each of us to have at least one--and for most of us to have two!

There is a paved road almost all the way to the Skills Training Centre site. It is situated on sixty hectares (about 150 acres) of land donated for development and use by the Mutare District of The United Methodist Church. The Skills Training Centre is just the first step in a long range process. It has been under construction since the year 2000. Steady progress had been made year by year until 2008. There was some concern that the project had stalled, perhaps permanently, but there turned out to be renewed enthusiasm for moving forward.

One of the things that impressed me immediately was the size of the structure. It is much larger than I had imagined. I was pleased to see that work was being completed on the two gables. This was needed before the roof could be put in place. So too was the addition of some rows of brick on the two side walls.

Our principal task at the Skills Training Centre was the moving of bricks. Each of the bricks had been made by hand--three at a time. There was a pile of them at one end of the building that needed to be a variety of other places--some of them inside and others outside the building. Skilled workers were laying the bricks in place. We provided the unskilled labor needed to move the bricks where they were needed.

We tried several different ways of moving the bricks before settling on a solution. We started out--perhaps in a typical American fashion--by carrying the bricks ourselves. I could carry four or five bricks stacked up in one hand and one or two in the other hand. Others used the wheelbarrow that was available. Both of these approaches proved to be rapidly tiring Another segment of our work team tried brick tossing, but that didn't seem like a long-term, viable solution either!

The idea that finally took hold was to work together, and so we did. It was hand-to-hand and brick-by-brick. It wasn't complicated, but it worked. We tried singing, but nobody came up with anything that seemed suitable. "I've been workin' on the railroad" was the closest, but it didn't gain much of a following.

Instead we visited--some in English and others in Shona--and enjoyed one another's company. It didn't matter that we didn't always understand the language others spoke. It didn't matter where we came from or where we were going. What mattered was that we found a way to work together, making the work lighter by sharing it with others.

It was good to be in Zimunya at last!

A Sewing Club and a Construction Crew

After visiting the Chitakatira Primary School on Monday morning, July 27, our VIM Team headed next door to the Chitikatira United Methodist Church for a calmer, but no less powerful experience. Inside the building was gathered the Women's Sewing Club.

As we entered the building, the women of the Sewing Club began to sing. It was simply one word, sung over and over. "Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!" The women's voices blended together richly, and we were humbled by their greeting.

The Sewing Club makes uniforms that can be purchased by parents at the Chitikatira Primary School. Uniforms are requirement for both boys and girls, so there is a continuing need. The women also make other items for sale, including place mats, dresses, and hats.

After various presentations had been made, it was time for the women to show what they had made. These items were placed along the chancel for our review--and, as it turns out, our possible purchase.

I bought a dress to take home to my grand- daughter and placed an order for a set of place mats. Other members of the VIM Team made similar purchases.

After the closing prayer, the women sang us out of the building with the same tune but different words, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

From Chitikatira, which would readily be considered rural in Kansas, we headed for a location that would have to be deemed"really rural!" We also made the transition from a sewing club to a construction crew!

The location was a place called Chishakwe, which is another church on the Chitikatira circuit. As we arrived, a group of women began walking toward us, singing a welcome song. Behind them was a partially finished church structure.

It turns out that this effort to build a new church building was at a critical point. The women who comprised the construction crew had run out of resources. There were eight or ten of them, all of them widows. They had done the hard work of carrying river rock, transporting water, and making bricks for the church building.

But they needed cement in order to continue the project, and the women literally had no money. They were at a point where, without some sort of assistance, the work would have to stop. The women had fasted and prayed, asking God's guidance and direction. And now we had arrived.

The pastor (a remarkable young woman named Lizzy Chigizura) had the VIM Team come and join the women in the open space of the partially completed church building. The building is up to "window level," with frames set for the windows--or at least window openings. There were some hired workers doing the actual brick laying, but otherwise the women had literally done everything.

The pastor invited one woman to "speak what was on her heart" for the group. She outlined in a straightforward manner the plight of the group. They literally had nothing with which to buy additional resources, primarily bags of cement needed to complete construction of the walls and supplies to install an eventual roof.

When she finished, the VIM Team was initially at a loss as to what to do. It was apparent that we were being asked for help, but we had no frame of reference for how to respond.

Finally, one of us asked the cost of a bag of cement. The eventual answer was that it was $10.00 a bag. With that, one of our team members announced that he would buy ten bags of cement. That resulted in a spontaneous outburst of joy and thanksgiving from the gathered women.

Eventually our team pledged or gave money for 31 bags of cement. That seemed like it would be enough--at least for the time being. I hadn't yet made a pledge or a contribution yet, so I asked if I could give $100 toward the eventual installation of a roof. That gift was met with another round of praise and exultation.

A Sewing Club and a Construction Crew. The women of Chitikatira and Chishawkwe. A commitment to do whatever needed to be done to support the work of the church and to make possible a church building for the community.

Someday, I want to visit each of these places again--to see the further progress of the Sewing Club at Chitikatira and to worship with the remarkable women at Chishakwe who comprise the Construction Crew there!

Children, Children Everywhere

Monday, July 27, was the time for us to visit Chitikatira, which is Kennedy Mukwindidza's home church and community. The other members of the team had worshiped at the Chitikatira United Methodist Church on Sunday, and now it was time for all of us to visit the school.

Chitikatira Primary School is adjacent to the Chitikatira United Methodist Church. We had brought a variety of gifts to present to the school, including soccer balls, candy, pencils, and other school supplies.

We pulled in around 9:00 am, and we made our way to the Headmaster's office. Her name was Mrs. Madzima, and I was glad to be there as a guest and not for any disciplinary purposes! She looked like the kind of school administrator who would not put up with nonsense of any kind!

Before too long, the time came for the children to be called together. With the
rapid rhythm of a beating drum, children began to emerge from their classroom buildings. They came in an orderly yet excited manner. This was clearly going to be a special morning.

There were dozens of them. There were hundreds of them. In fact, there were more than 1,200 of them!

They gathered on the assembly ground in front of a concrete platform where the teachers, staff, and other guests--including our VIM Team--were seated. There was a speech by the Headmaster and then a traditional dance done by several of the children. It was energetic, vigorous, and athletic. Each member of the VIM Team was invited to speak, beginning with Kennedy Mukwindidza.

After the speeches came presentation of the gifts and school supplies. They were displayed for all to see, and pictures were taken. Then, all the items were returned to the Headmaster's office for distribution later.

The excitment continued at a high level, with the singing of songs. Then Don Corwin, one of our team members, plunged into the crowd and began to greet children. There was a surge toward him, and I decided to provide some relief by going into the crowd myself.

Children surged toward me, reaching out their hands, greeting me, waving at me, giving me "high fives." There were easily dozens, although I'm not sure about hundreds!

Eventually I looked up to see Don Corwin waving good-bye to the children. Then the surge toward me increased. I thought for a while that I could continue greeting children while making my way through the crowd. However, the surge continued, and I eventually lost my balance and down I went!

I managed to avoid falling on any of the children. About then, a teacher came to my rescue. "You can't greet all of them," she said, as she escorted me through the remaining children.

It was a remarkable way to begin the week--with children, children seemingly everywhere!

The Report of Section 23

"Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday" is a special day throughout the United Methodist congregations in Zimbabwe. It is held the fourth (or perhaps last) Sunday in July.

Most congregations celebrate that Sunday. There are some who celebrate the occasion the first Sunday in August. It is a time for celebrating God's goodness and bringing "special offerings" of one kind or another.

One of the dynamics is that the report for "Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday" is done by sections. A section is a group of up to ten households that is part of the congregation. Each section routinely gathers weekly for a prayer meeting. Most of these meetings are on Wednesday, but a few are on Sunday.

Sections do not appear to be an optional choice. It is simply part of the way that you live out your life as a United Methodist believer in Zimbabwe.

After the conclusion of the regular service on July 26, it was time for the "Harvest Thanksgiving Service." Sections were called up one at a time. Typically, their report began with singing from the back of the church building, and the section members came forward. The entire service was emceed by a remarkably energetic young woman, who kept things going if they are seemed to lag.

There are currently twenty two sections in the Streamview congregation. They reported their accomplishments and their gifts one by one. There was also a section report from the United Methodist Women, the United Methodist Men, the United Methodist Youth, the Junior Church (Sunday School), and the Choir. Sometimes there is a "Visitor's Section" that is called on to report.

I decided to claim Section 23, by which I meant my own congregation in Hutchinson. When the time came for my report, there were those among the congregation who spontaneously arose and sang. That was a blessing, since it kept me from having to try to sing!

I was able to present a variety of gifts on behalf of Section 23, the U.S. section. They included:

• An offering of $1,031 that I had brought with me in person,


• A special additional offering of $500 that I had been given to bring with me,


• A wooden "cross and flame" emblem for use on the church's altar table,


• A clergy shirt and stole for Rev. Murauro,


• A purse and necklace for Unity Murauro, the pastor's wife,


• Special gifts for the lay leaders of the congregation,


• 144 gift bags for the children of the congregation, and


• A "Future with Hope" card signed by the members and friends of First United Methodist Church.

I am not sure when I will be able to report again in person on behalf of Section 23. But it was a joy and a privilege to be able to do so this year.

Preaching at Streamview

One of the privileges that I experienced during my Volunteers in Mission Trip to Zimbabwe was the opportunity to preach at the Streamview United Methodist Church, which is located in a "high density suburb" of Mutare.

It is officially known as the Chikanga East Circuit. The name of Streamview comes from the fact that the church is within sight of a nearby stream that flows during the rainy season.

The church was founded within the last five years. It is a "new church start" from an established congregation--the St. John United Methodist Church, which is located in the same township. The current pastor at Streamview is the Rev. T B Murauro, who is in the second year of his appointment there. He completed work at Africa University in 2007.

At the present time, the congregation is worshipping in what can best be described as a shed, with a galvanized tin roof. It is, as the congregants joke, a "well ventilated" church building, which has any number of gaps and openings through which the wind can blow. It does have electricity, thus providing modest lighting and affording the use of a sound system.

The congregation sits on backless benches rather than pews. Many of the benches were contributed by one or another of the sections into which the congregation is divided.

There is no nursery for infants or young children. The children are situated off to one side, with supervision provided for them. There were at least 150 of them. The youth and adults are seated in the congregation.

On the Sunday I was there, the singing was led by men of the congregation. It was energetic, lively, and powerful. The only accompaniment was a drum and shakers.

It was "Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday," which is a special time for all the United Methodist congregations throughout Zimbabwe. It is a time to celebrate the goodness of God and to make a "special offering" of one sort or another. At Streamview, these special gifts included several bags of cement that will be needed in the continued construction of the church building.

The "Harvest Thanksgiving" service follows the regular service, and it involves a reporting--by sections--of what is being brought. This includes singing, good-natured boasting, and a presentation of a combined gift by the section.

The worship service is ordinarily scheduled to begin at 10:30 am each Sunday. For "Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday," the schedule was adjusted to begin at 9:00 am. That did not prove to be exactly when we started, although there many parishioners present by that time.

The beginning of the service was more or less at 9:45 am. We eventually concluded a little after 2:00 pm.

There is no bulletin distributed to the worshipers. They use the same order of service week after week. It is based on what is found in the United Methodist hymnal--not the 1984 hymnal but the 1964 hymnal. That is available in Shona, and that is what is used.

Hymnals are not provided by the church. Individuals or families bring one to use if they have them. There doesn't seem to be a great need for hymnals, since the songs are all familiar and the service essentially the same from week to week.

Virtually all of the service was in Shona, except for my sermon. I had asked about the possible need for translation, but the pastor assured me that his congregation understood English. In fact, most people in this part of Zimbabwe are functional in several languages--including Shona, English, Manica, and Portuguese.

My sermon that Sunday was based on Exodus 3:1-12, It was perhaps an unexpected choice for such an occasion, but it seemed fitting. Like Moses, all of us experience ourselves "beyond the wilderness." Things seem beyond our capacity to cope, and we find ourselves relying more fully than ever before on God.

For people in Zimbabwe, 2008 was life "beyond the wilderness." It was the worst that anyone could remember. It was worse--at least in some ways--than the years of tension and conflict that led eventually to independence in 1980. The best thing about this year's Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday was that the year was 2009 rather than 2008.

When we find ourselves "beyond the wilderness," we are more ready to notice what God is doing. For Moses, it was a bush that burned but was not consumed.

For me, a bush that burns but is not consumed is the church in Zimbabwe. The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe has been on fire for God since the preaching of the first sermon in Mutare in 1897, and yet the church is not destroyed.

People can see--and hear--the work of God through the church in Zimbabwe, and it can speak to them in ways that invite them to become part of that work.

Finally, God called Moses to "set my people free" so that they can "come and worship me." A worshiping congregation is thus the fulfillment of what God intends for us as his people. The worshiping community at Streamview--as well as at First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, KS--is thus a sign of God's intended purpose.

I am not sure how well the sermon connected with the congregation, but I do know that I was blessed by the experience. It was not necessarily "beyond the wilderness," but it was a place where the call and claim of God was powerfully present. It was a place where people respond energetically and enthusiastically to the call of God in their lives. It was a place of blessing and hope and possibility.

My hope and prayer is that every place of worship might be such a place--whether in Zimbabwe, the United States, or wherever. May they be places that are on fire but are not consumed!

Meeting Grace

My trip to Zimbabwe for a Volunteers in Mission trip began, ended, and was characterized throughout by grace. And it was not just an experience of God's grace but an actual experience of meeting Grace--on the flight from Johannesburg to Harare.

My flight to Zimbabwe went about as well as possible. It began with out of Mid-Continent Airport north of Kansas City, MO, on Wednesday, July 22 on United Airlines. I was thoroughly packed--and repacked.

In my checked luggage, I was taking a number of items for distribution in Zimbabwe--many of them contributed by members and friends of First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, KS. One was a container of wrapped bars of soap for delivery to the Fairfield Children's Home.

Another container had over the counter medications to be delivered to the Old Mutare Mission Hospital. I had four partially deflated soccer balls (and two air pumps) for the children at the Primary School in Chitikatira. I also had a dozen or so pairs of work gloves, all of which found use at the mission work site in Zimbabwe.

I had gifts for the children at the Streamview United Methodist Church where I would share in worship on Sunday, July 26. (There were 144 gift bags, but that turned out not to be enough!) I also had things to give to my friends and family in Africa, including the host family whom I hadn't yet met. I also had three purses to give away, a "Cross and Flame" emblem for the Streamview church, and a variety of jewelry to be distributed sometime during my visit.

I also had a suitcase filled with "prayer bears" from the Hillsboro United Methodist Church to be given--somehow, sometime, and somewhere--to the pastor of the Fern Valley United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. I had no specific plans to visit there, and no arrangements had been made in particular for me to meet the pastor.

As I began the journey, it turned out that one of my luggage items was overweight. I was already committed to taking all that I had, so I paid the fee of $200.00. The third checked bag generated another fee of $200.00, so those were perhaps the most expense "prayer bears" that the Hillsboro congregation ever distributed!

The flights all went well. The sequence was Mid Continent Airport in Kansas City, MO, to Dulles International Airport in Washington, DC. There, I changed to South African Airways, first for the flight to Johannesburg (via Dakar, Senegal). Each leg of that flight was eight hours in length, with about an hour and a half on the ground in Dakar. After arrival in Johannesburg, the last flight was from Johannesburg to Harare, again on South African Airways.

On the flight to Harare, I was in the window seat, while another member of our team was on the aisle seat. There was between us a woman flying back to Harare after a trip to the U.S. to see family. A conversation ensued, and it turned out that she and her husband operated an orphanage on the outskirts of Harare for orphaned and abandoned children. It is called the "Newstart Childrens Home."

Unknown to her, I was carrying a gift of $100 in cash that I had been sent prior to my departure. It was from a faithful United Methodist from Grenola, KS, who knew of the overall situation in Zimbabwe and had sent me this money " to use wherever [I] see the need."

The need--and opportunity--was right next to me on the flight to Harare. As we were on our descent to Harare, I gave my seatmate five $20.00 bills to help with the costs at her facility. I told her it was a gift from someone in Kansas who just wanted to help.

It was a completely unexpected gift to her--much like God's grace is for us. As we landed in Harare, she thanks me graciously for this gift and asked me to extend her appreciation to the person who had made it possible.

Oh, my seat mate's name? It was Grace. More specifically, it was Mrs. Grace Farang, who is committed to "the big task of caring for unwanted and orphaned children."

My visit to Zimbabwe truly began with Grace, and it was blessed by God's grace the entire time!

Off the Grid

One of the decisions that I made about my Volunteers in Mission trip to Zimbabwe was to go "off the grid" for the journey. I did not take a laptop computer with me, nor did I take my cell phone.
I had anticipated being able to blog while in Zimbawbe, but I actually did so only once. There are some issues about internet access there that are different than what I experience in the states.

For one thing, "dial-up" is the ordinary and routine way of connecting to the internet. It had been quite a while since I had experienced the waiting required of "dial up" access, so that was a re-learning experience. Even the "internet cafe" that I used one day was "dial up." It was priced at $1.00 for twenty minutes, but it took about ten minutes just to get to my Google home page and to begin to check e-mail messages.

Along with "dial-up," there is sometimes simply a "failure to connect" issue. There is no particular explanation or reason. You are just not able to connect to the internet at that particular time. There was no use fretting or fussing. You just waited and tried again later--sometimes the next day or the day after that.

In addition, there are random power outages that affect part or all of the city. There did not
seem to be any rhyme or reason to their occurrence. These outages were not related to storms or to anything in particular. They just happen, and you adjust to a new reality. There were at least three or four power outages, as I recall, during my time in Zimbabwe.

The ultimate reason for going "off the grid" was because I stayed with a host family rather than in a hotel. When I visited Zimbabwe in January 2007, we stayed at the Mutare Holiday Inn. That was convenient, and it offered time for taking notes. Living with a host family, however, was a much more valuable and vital experience, even though it reduced the time for any note taking or writing.

I was hosted by the Kennedy Masunda family. They live in the Fairbridge Park area of Mutare. Mr. Masunda is a local businessman, with two stores in Mutare and one under construction in Rusape. Mrs. Masunda is an active lay person (and also a Local Preacher). They have a daughter off at college in South Africa. They have two sons at home. They also have a full-time maid and a gardener. The Masunda family is active in the Streamview United Methodist Chuch, which is the partner congregation for my congregation, First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson. By Zimbabwean standards, the Masundas are relatively well off. I found them to be gracious, hospitable, understanding, and helpful.

The pattern of staying with a host family is one of the critical aspects of the Volunteers in Mission trip sponsored by CCIP-Zimbabwe and led by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy Mukwindidza. I originally had some reservations about this arrangement, but I have come to be a strong proponent.

My experience in Zimbabwe was much richer and fuller than it had been two years ago. Part of it was the opportunity to spend more time there. The other part was the opportunity to stay with a host family.

So, I was not able to blog as I had anticipated while in Zimbabwe. But I gained something far better--a friendship that blossomed and grew while I was there and one that continues to bless me now that I have returned home.

And a great deal of it had to do with going "off the grid."

Getting Here Safely

One of the challenges of this trip is now accomplished--arriving safely! The airline flights were uneventful, other than some rough air while coming into Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C.

Each flight departed--and subsequently arrived--more or less on time. The flight from Kansas City International (or Kansas City Inconvenient, for those who lived in Kansas City in the 1970s) to Dulles International took about three hours. The flight from there to Johannesburg, South Africa took about sixteen hours, divided into two eight hour segments with an hour and a half on the ground in Dakar, Senegal.

Along with the time of the flight, we moved ahead seven time zones! The last flight from Johannesburg to Harare was about an hour and forty minutes.

Our luggage all arrived on the same plane with us in Harare, which was a blessing. We made our way through the entry process without incident, and there was a welcoming committee from Mutare on hand to greet us--and provide transportation to our hotel in downtown Harare.

We stayed at the Jameson Hotel, and got situated about midnight. It was up for breakfast at 7:30 am.

After a typical English breakfast, we walked to the headquarters of the church in Harare. It was a busy, active, noisy journey. No one that we hoped to see was available. We left what messages were possible and then visited a craft shop operated by (or at least on behalf) of The United Methodist Women in Zimbabwe and the printing press that is still used there.

The next leg of the journey was by van. There were five of us on the VIM Team, the driver, and his wife. There were several police or Army checkpoints along the way, but that is fairly standard these days. The trip from Harare to Mutare took about three and a half hours. We stopped for the noon meal at "Half Way House," logically located half way between Harare and Mutare.

We arrived in Mutare about 3:15 pm, had a brief orientation meeting, and then departed to be with our host families. I am staying with the Masunda family.

Now to get some rest and ready for the real reason for the trip!

Goals for the Trip

"What do you hope to accomplish or experience on this trip?" was the question that I heard over the phone on my way to the airport Wednesday morning. It was a fair question, and it is probably one that I should have answered for myself--and others--before now!

After getting my luggage (and myself) checked in, I gave that some thought while waiting in the airport in Kansas City. Here is the list:

• I want to be a blessing to others in ways that make a real difference.
• I want to experience what God has in mind for me in Zimbabwe.
• I want to learn more about the life and work of the church in Zimbabwe.
• I expect to be challenged and humbled--perhaps simultaneously.
• I plan to eat whatever is set in front of me.
• I hope to be genuinely open to people, places, and possibilities.
• I want a deeper experience with God.

Doing My Possible

Today (Wednesday, July 22) is when I begin my Volunteers in Mission trip to Zimbabwe. Everything is packed that can be packed. Everything is done that can be done. Some things--actually, many things--had to be left behind or remain undone.

I always begin new ventures with a grandiose vision in my mind of what can or should be accomplished. Such visions are typically far grander--or least more complicated--than can ever be implemented. This trip is no exception.

Along my journey, I have learned to remind myself of a phrase I learned in a conversation with a missionary to Korea. All that is required is that we "do our possible," and I believe that I have done so in my preparations for this trip.

I am taking a variety of gifts for people there, but I cannot take something for everyone I meet. I am taking money for different purposes, but I cannot possibly carry enough to make an enduring difference. I am taking the greetings of my congregation, but I cannot convey adequately their good wishes, prayers, and hopes.

And yet I don't have to take everything or do everything or be everything. All that I have to do is "my possible," and--by God's grace--that will be more than sufficient. Thanks be to God!

Learning about "Chabadza"

"Chabadza" is a Shona word that means, at least according to one interpretation, "working together." It is "a clarion call used by families working in the fields when they need help. Chabadza can also be initiated by people who are willing to offer help to a family engaged in any other agricultural work."

I first encountered the reality of "Chadabadza" quite unexpectedly when helping to unload sacks of meal at Mutsago in eastern Zimbabwe in January 2007. This was part of a Volunteer in Mission experience with ZOE Ministry, undertaken while the General Commission on Communications was meeting--and working--in Zimbabwe.

As we arrived at Mutsago, children began flocking to where the truck carrying the sacks of meal stopped. As the adult volunteers began to carry in the sacks of meal, we almost had to compete with the children who were eagerly helping to carry the sacks of meal--usually one sack per child.

The protocol seemed to be for the boys to carry a sack of meal on their shoulders, while the girls would carry it on their heads. They helped as long as there was need of their assistance. They probably unloaded as many sacks by themselves as we did.

I was not surprised by their eagerness to come and see what was going on. The area around Mutsago offered a great deal of scenery but apparently little to do. I could remember the complaints that I uttered in childhood that "There's nothing to do," and I suspected that there was a Shona equivalent for such sentiment.

But the children were not coming to get a look at these peculiar strangers from a far distant land. Instead, they were there to help--without being asked or directed to do so. It was unlike anything that I could imagine back home in the United States.

I shared this experience with someone with more experience in Zimbabwe. He introduced me to the concept of "Chabadza," saying that it simply means that everybody helps until the work is done. Another interpretation is that "Chabadza" means that we are "obligated to help," if only for a short time. My own variation is that "Chabadza" means that we "can't not help!" Perhaps the best biblical example is the story of the Good Samaritan in the New Testament, who stopped to lend the help that he could.

As I anticipate my Volunteers in Mission trip to Zimbabwe, I trust that it will be an experience of "Chabadza," with the opportunity to worship with the people of the Streamview United Methodist Church, to work at the Zimunya Skills Training Centre, to visit children at the Fairfield Children's Home, and to talk, pray, and plan with others interested in and committed to work in Zimbabwe.

I cannot stay and work until all the problems or difficulties are solved, but I can do what I can at least for a little while. And the journey will continue, with a new blessing of friendship, partnership, and help--with "Chabadza."

A Prayer for Zimbabwe

A year ago, I took the opportunity to find--or write--a prayer specifically for Zimbabwe. In looking through The United Methodist Book of Worship, I came across one of the prayers "For Those Who Suffer." As I pondered its words, I decided to tailor it for the situation in Zimbabwe.

What was particularly striking in the prayer--at least for me--was the reference to the "rock of God's faithfulness." The name Zimbabwe itself means "house of stone," and rock formations characterize this remarkable country.

The Rev. Tazvionepi Nyarota, District Superintendent of the Mutare District, is translating this prayer into Shona to share with the pastors and people of her district.

Feel free to use this prayer in whatever ways seem good to you.

A Prayer for Zimbabwe*

O Healer of Galilee, you are afflicted in the sufferings of your people and are full of compassion and tender mercy.

Hear us as we pray for those who suffer, especially our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe.

Give them the peace and power that flow from you.

Set free the souls of your servants from all restlessness and anxiety.

Keep them in all perplexities and distresses, in all griefs and grievances, from any fear or faithlessness; that, being upheld by your strength and stayed on the rock of your faithfulness, through storm and stress they may abide in you. Amen.

*Adapted by Mark Conard from the Prayer “For Those Who Suffer," in The United Methodist Book of Worship # 546