I'm in Johannesburg, South Africa. This is where I first arrived in Africa back in 1998. It's good to be back, and to catch up with some old friends. I've been reflecting on how much my life has changed since I was last here (in 2000). It seems hard to believe that that much time has passed. I feel like I was just here, and yet so much has happened to me and deepened me since then - including my whole marriage! By the way - we celebrated 4 years of incredible marriage last Thursday - I'm so in love with John! Being married to someone you're crazy about is a beautiful thing.
I've spent an amazing weekend with my friends Stacey & Buhle, and their 3 kids - Trinity (their adorable 6 month old - I think we've actually had some meaningful conversations in baby talk!), Bijou (their 17 year old foster daughter) and Nhlanhla (who is nine, and actually Buhle's brother, but they're trying to adopt him since their mother has passed away). Adoption is generally frowned upon in Zim, but seems much more accepted here. Fostering/adopting is a lifelong commitment, but man, it seems to make sense in terms of what really makes a difference. I admire Stacey & Buhle so much. I can't believe we're the same age and they have 3 kids (including a teenager!) Stacey & Buhle have really spoiled me since being here. We've had oreos and hot chocolate, and also went to McDonalds yesterday. I put all reservations about large multinational corporations aside and totally enjoyed my McNuggets. I also felt totally overwhelmed in the grocery store. There is just so much food and so much variety here - it seems hard to believe it's a neighbouring country to Zim. I almost fainted in the chocolate aisle. I also caught myself worrying that we were driving for too long, and that we were going to run out of petrol and be stuck. I realized, however, that no, in this country (like in most countries!) you can be fairly sure that if you go to a petrol station, they'll actually have petrol!
This morning we went to South Rand Community Church. I was so blessed. I love God, and worshipping Him is when I feel most "at home." I think worshipping God and loving people are the reasons I was put on this earth. South Rand reminded me a lot of our home church in Regent Park (614) - in its multiculturalism and worship and mix of people. I love our corps in Harare, but I must admit that it was nice to sing and hear a sermon in English. I got introduced as being from Zimbabwe, and after service a whole group of Zimbabweans came over and said how nice it was to see someone from home. That felt cool. I still can't really believe I'm here. God is good. Unfortunately, John didn't come to South Africa - he's back in Zim at the national music school.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Trip to Zambia
We had an awesome time in Zambia. It was so, so good to spend time with Bram & Anita. They refreshed our spirits and it gave us so much joy to have a piece of home come to us (so anyone else that wants to come visit....) Having good friends to share life's journey with is just such a wonderful gift. We also got to eat "Canadian" food for a few days. John has a new addiction to nutella, and we also enjoyed delicassies such as Cheerios, coke, chocolate chip cookies and spaghetti (notice we're eating a well balanced diet!)
We drove to Zambia with our friend Paul and his dad. Friday we took a bus to Chinhoyi and then waited by the side of the road for a couple of hours while trying to hitch a ride to Karoi. There were tonnes of people waiting with us. Everytime someone would drive by as a single driver and not pick anyone up, I thought, "how selfish!" (and yet how many millions of times did I see this back home and think it was "normal"?) We finally did get a ride and squished in the back seat of a little car with another man. The car needed a good push every once and a while, and the driver drank beer as he drove, but I guess beggars can't be choosers. We arrived in Karoi safe and sound and stayed the night at Paul's dad's place. His dad is a DC, and what a beautiful, gracious man. I was totally blessed by him. Saturday we drove to Kariba (it's got a beautiful lake) and then across the border to Chikankata (which is about 2 hours outside of Lusaka).
Our first day at Chikankata we went to church, and then got a tour of the impressive compound. There's a hospital, a high school, and a whole host of community-based projects. We met Richard and Heidie, and that was neat, as we had only ever connected via blogworld (see "blog reads" at right). Richard gave us a tour of the hospital. It was cool to see the maternity ward because our friend Denise was born there. It was sad to visit the children's ward. I cannot comprehend how babies and children can be malnourished in this world of ours. It is so completely unjust. It was also a little eerie when one mother kept asking if I would take her daughter. "She's very nice. Don't you think she's cute?"
Actually, one guy that we met at Chikankata was there for a visit from the UK. He was born at Chikankata, and then adopted by his British parents who consequently moved back to the UK, and this was his first time back. He said it was quite surreal to be there. "I just kind of wonder, 'what if?' you know? If I hadn't been adopted, I guess I would be one of these guys on the street begging for food and work, rather than one of the ones they're begging from."
Our friends are in Zambia with the ZIM team, which is a group primarily comprised of Canadians who come to Zambia or Zimbabwe every year for 3 weeks to do construction and other activities. Tonnes of local workers are also hired. On the second day we joined them in their work. Anita and I were on a demolition team. We spent the day knocking down walls and moving cement pieces. It's not every day you get to demolish a building. And it's not every day that you have dirt and dust coming out of your nose for the next 24 hours. Yum! We were working on renovations for the nurses' quarters. A bunch of kids set up camp outside of our site, and watched us as if we were a TV programme. A couple of them even made makeshift face masks to imitate us (as we were trying to limit the amount of dust intake). It was very cute! Anita got some photos, so I'll try to post some in the future.
Yesterday we took a bus back home to Harare. It was a long journey, but an interesting one. Our bus almost hit some elephants who were crossing the road, and we saw lots of monkeys and baboons. We actually walked across the border from Zambia to Zimbabwe, and that was cool. Not so cool was getting some money seized from us at the border. And then getting stopped every couple of hours so everyone could get out of the bus and have our bags searched for money. We also came home to news that there have been economic reforms, and 3 zeros have been knocked off all of the prices. So, our days as millionaires are over. Oh well... :)
We drove to Zambia with our friend Paul and his dad. Friday we took a bus to Chinhoyi and then waited by the side of the road for a couple of hours while trying to hitch a ride to Karoi. There were tonnes of people waiting with us. Everytime someone would drive by as a single driver and not pick anyone up, I thought, "how selfish!" (and yet how many millions of times did I see this back home and think it was "normal"?) We finally did get a ride and squished in the back seat of a little car with another man. The car needed a good push every once and a while, and the driver drank beer as he drove, but I guess beggars can't be choosers. We arrived in Karoi safe and sound and stayed the night at Paul's dad's place. His dad is a DC, and what a beautiful, gracious man. I was totally blessed by him. Saturday we drove to Kariba (it's got a beautiful lake) and then across the border to Chikankata (which is about 2 hours outside of Lusaka).
Our first day at Chikankata we went to church, and then got a tour of the impressive compound. There's a hospital, a high school, and a whole host of community-based projects. We met Richard and Heidie, and that was neat, as we had only ever connected via blogworld (see "blog reads" at right). Richard gave us a tour of the hospital. It was cool to see the maternity ward because our friend Denise was born there. It was sad to visit the children's ward. I cannot comprehend how babies and children can be malnourished in this world of ours. It is so completely unjust. It was also a little eerie when one mother kept asking if I would take her daughter. "She's very nice. Don't you think she's cute?"
Actually, one guy that we met at Chikankata was there for a visit from the UK. He was born at Chikankata, and then adopted by his British parents who consequently moved back to the UK, and this was his first time back. He said it was quite surreal to be there. "I just kind of wonder, 'what if?' you know? If I hadn't been adopted, I guess I would be one of these guys on the street begging for food and work, rather than one of the ones they're begging from."
Our friends are in Zambia with the ZIM team, which is a group primarily comprised of Canadians who come to Zambia or Zimbabwe every year for 3 weeks to do construction and other activities. Tonnes of local workers are also hired. On the second day we joined them in their work. Anita and I were on a demolition team. We spent the day knocking down walls and moving cement pieces. It's not every day you get to demolish a building. And it's not every day that you have dirt and dust coming out of your nose for the next 24 hours. Yum! We were working on renovations for the nurses' quarters. A bunch of kids set up camp outside of our site, and watched us as if we were a TV programme. A couple of them even made makeshift face masks to imitate us (as we were trying to limit the amount of dust intake). It was very cute! Anita got some photos, so I'll try to post some in the future.
Yesterday we took a bus back home to Harare. It was a long journey, but an interesting one. Our bus almost hit some elephants who were crossing the road, and we saw lots of monkeys and baboons. We actually walked across the border from Zambia to Zimbabwe, and that was cool. Not so cool was getting some money seized from us at the border. And then getting stopped every couple of hours so everyone could get out of the bus and have our bags searched for money. We also came home to news that there have been economic reforms, and 3 zeros have been knocked off all of the prices. So, our days as millionaires are over. Oh well... :)
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Isn't it Ironic?
Today we drove past the Ministry of Construction building. Someone was explaining to us that they've been working on the building for 7 years now, and they've estimated that it will be another 5 years before the building is completed.
Part of my job is administering financial aptitude tests for people who are interested in taking finance courses. The tests are kept in a binder labelled (by my predecessor) "Uptitude Tests."
And yesterday I saw a guy wearing a T-shirt saying "Will Shag for Food." I'm sure it's somewhat funny in the UK, but once it gets sent to Zimbabwe as a hand-me-down, it seems more eerie. In this country some women do have sex, just to provide food for their children. And some men rape women as they are stealing their food.
Isn't it ironic? (I feel an Alanis Morrissette song coming on...)
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