We recently spent two months in Zimbabwe and there was not a day when were we were not amazed and blessed by the people of this wonderful country. From going shopping down Chinhoyi Street to taking your life into your hands as you negotiate the traffic down Mbuya Nehanda - the sights, the sounds, the vibrancy of life is exhilarating.In July we attended the Joyce Meyer Ministries (JMM) Festival of Life. It was awesome a crowd of 210 000 people all singing and praying to God for Him to do a mighty work in the land. We visited Chikirubi Prison Farm along with part of the JMM Team and handed out hygiene gift packs and books to the inmates on behalf of her Hand of Hope ministry.
We also visited several other farm prisons to minister with people from the Foundations for Farming (formerly Farming Gods Way) project, Alpha Zimbabwe and The Michael Project which operates out of Greystone Park Fellowship, as well as a youth centre for those who are orphaned, abandoned, unwanted and/or vulnerable. The youth were hungry for companionship and a hug.
We visited numerous childrens homes many of them battling a serious lack of even the most basic resources. It is very sad indeed to look into the eyes of a child, whether the very young or those at the end of their high school career, and see the hopelessness that comes from lack of choice! Speaking to the children and youth they each have a dream. We listened to the dreams of those wishing to become pilots, doctors, lawyers, accountantsif only.
We went along with a lady to visit patients at Parirenyatwa Hospital. She was distributing knitted goods, made by the ladies in her community womens group. There are no words to describe the connection one human being makes with another in those circumstances. A child with a neuroblastoma, awaiting surgery where her eyeball was to be removed, holding out her little hands to receive a knitted teddy bear and then hugging it close for comfort. A man with most of his face burned away by fire eagerly thanked us for handing over a knitted beanie which would help keep his head warm during the cold winter nights. Many people happy for just a smile and the comfort of a hand placed on theirs.
There were very sad times, a young father dying of HIV/Aids, his relatives taking away all his worldly possessions as soon as news of his death was made known and leaving his wife and children with little if anything. News that maternal mortality is the highest in the world and that more than a third of all children suffer from chronic under-nutrition. We heard tell of high rates of prostitution in the schools – sugar-daddies seducing young girls and they giving away their innocence for a few dollars.
Heartbreaking stories like that of a stillborn baby whose mother had undiagnosed pre-eclampsia – undiagnosed because of a lack of equipment such as blood pressure cuffs and urine testing kits. Or the story of a baby born in a distant rural location whose mother had no one except the traditional birth attendant to help her and the baby not breathing at birth and being left for dead. We will never know if perhaps all that the baby required was some simple resuscitation. Her mother has subsequently died of HIV/Aids and has left behind another daughter.
Statistics that now say the average life expectancy of adults in Zimbabwe has fallen below 35 years of age! We heard a doctor pronounce that for men it is 34 and for women 32 the lowest in the world.
However, for every sad story one heard more stories of hope, of miracles, of strength and fortitude in the face of mountainous challenges, of communities working together and taking care of each other. Of humanity doing what it is supposed to do loving one another.
We felt overwhelmed by the confidence that the people of Zimbabwe are a mighty people, a victorious people, a people belonging to God. They have discovered what is important, they have found that they can have all material goods stripped away and still smile, still laugh, still sing and dance and be full of joy. They have discovered the truth of the scripture in Nehemiah 8:10b: Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
They survive, they are joyful, they are resilient, they are focussed and determined. They have learned to forgive and they have learned to extend grace. They are committed to their God and their nation and they are making a difference.
Make a difference
For one child or young person in Zimbabwe it may take just one other person in the world to say I will!, I will sponsor someones education! In some cases this may cost a mere 5/US$8 per month less than the price of a movie ticket! If you would just go a step further you could ensure that child could even buy a school uniform and be able to see a doctor when necessary.
It really doesn’t take much from those of us living in the developed world – but to the child in Lupane it means the world. Benefitting from all that the first world has to offer, you may decide that you would like to fund a community library in a rural village to help the rural school children. If you would like to help please contact: ColinandLauraShreenan@yahoo.co.uk
Post published in: Opinions