October 5, 2011 Zimbabwe Students and God’s Blessings

Greetings from Zimbabwe,

Tomorrow Jeff and I need to go to Harare to take care of several bits of business. So I am going to put together a Journal to night. I am uncertain when we will be going back to town. However, some weeks the trips are rather frequent. So far we have driven 6,200 km since picking up the truck in SA. That gives an idea of the frequent trips to Harare.

Sunday, October 2, we traveled to Nyahuni Boarding School. Tracey and Pertronella, two orphans, are students
HCOC has been sponsoring there. Sunday was a gathering of friends and families for the end of the year awards
celebration. Tracy, the girl whose picture is on the left received three awards. She was the top student in her
grade in physical science, agriculture and commercial studies. We are so very proud of her.

Petronella, the girl in the picture on the right, was the top student in her grade level in Geography. It has been a struggle to find the money for school fees for these children but their achievements have been our reward. We are committed to providing for their schooling if at all possible.

We presently have three students attending Cheunje Boarding School. Those three students will be graduating at the end of this term. Due to the shortage of funds, there are no plans at this time to start any new students in Boarding School beginning the school year in January.

This has been a rainy week. It has begun to rain the last three evenings just after dark. This evening it is a gentle steady rain. Last night we had hard rain with wind and some hail. Normally this time of year we get scattered showers but not heavy rains. I guess the weather is changing the world over.

In spite of the rains the Well Drillers were able to do their work. The men and equipment arrived at HCOC about noon on Monday, October 3. They began drilling early afternoon and hit water at about 45 meters. The following day they continued drilling to 70 meters and continued to get some water. The final results are about 500 gallons an hour. It isn’t as good as we had hoped for but better than previous attempts. It certainly will provide for the crops that are soon to be planted.

Tuesday afternoon, the well drillers tore down their rig and Jeff led them to Guzha Primary School. We were not optimistic about the prospects of getting water. The hydrologist gave us only a 67 % chance of finding water. He thought the best we could hope for was enough water for a hand pump. Today, they continued to drill to 70 meters and continued to find more water.

The water was coming in so fast that the driller couldn’t blow out the borehole to install the casing. The casing that they were attempting to install kept breaking because the water and soil created too much pressure. It was necessary for them to call for a heavier casing. The final results were 2,000 gallons per hour. This is far beyond our wildest expectations. When we left the people were dancing and celebrating.

On Monday Trevor, the person that we will be buying the pumps from, will be coming out to HCOC. We had originally hoped to put in a solar pump at Guzha but he may advise otherwise. Guzha does not have electricity or any hopes of getting electricity in the near future. There are many decisions to be made and lots of work to be accomplished. Once we meet with Trevor, we will have a better idea of the time frame we are dealing with.

The picture on the right is the view outside our door this morning after the rain last night. The Jacaranda trees are in full bloom and the ground was covered in purple blossoms. I hated to see anyone walk on them but then
the goats were out and they love to eat the blossoms.

God has truly answered our prayers for good sources of water. Praise Him! We ask for your prayers as we make decisions next week. Our goal is to be God’s hands and feet in this place and to carry out His will.

In His Service,

Roberta

September 25, 2011 Some Cuts are needed Due to Low Revenue

Greetings from Zimbabwe,

Some projects here are moving forward and others are at a standstill. Thursday, a large truck load of sawdust was delivered for bedding in the chicken run. The sawdust is free, there is only a charge for the trucking. We are going to have to figure out a way to store such a quantity. We won’t need it all at one time but as the batches of chickens are moved all of the bedding must be replaced.

Friday, we brought home 700 day old chicks. Jeff worried all the way about losing them. He had waited in the heat for nearly an hour for an order of food for the chicks. However, all was well when we finally arrived. The following morning they were all still alive. Albert was very pleased. Losing a few in the beginning is normal. The other batch of chickens is now six weeks old. They will begin selling those later next week. In three weeks we plan to purchase another 700 chicks. The goal is to have three batches of chickens at different ages going all of the time.

We have to make some tough decisions. It is the part of the job that I don’t like. Our revenue sources are not generating enough income to keep the Mission operating. The number of orphans has not changed significantly. Costs of operation have increased. We need to make some significant cuts somewhere. The chicken project is at the point now that it generates enough income to sustain it and also to produce some profit. I estimate that they will realize about $600.00 plus every six to eight weeks. But that will not cover all the expenses in other areas.

Some cuts we are considering are: No longer providing uniforms for orphans. This should save about $6,000.00 each year. We need to ship the clothing that ZMP has gathered as soon as possible so that these children will have something to wear.

1. School fees are another big expenditure. We have only been paying a portion of the school fees for a couple of years. Now that is even difficult. Schools have been encouraged to develop income generation projects that will help pay school fees of orphans. But even that takes money they don’t have.

2. We have recommended that outstanding students no longer be sent to Boarding School. So in January, the beginning of the school year, no new students will be sent to Boarding School. Some small groups at Church have supported these student in the past but donations for those fees have been slow to come and sometimes not at all. We presently have five students attending Boarding School. Somehow we want to be able to let them finish their O-Levels, which is equal to a high school graduation. It costs $1,500.00 per term for the five students. There are three terms in the school year.

3. One of our big expenses is petrol for the vehicles. We are asking the staff, who uses the vehicles, to use public transport wherever possible. Instead of using petrol for the vehicles to ferry water to the chickens, garden etc. we are considering buying oxen and a water carts for such purposes. The oxen will cost about $800. Presently a hand dug well close to the chickens is being dug. We are encouraged by the flow of water. It should produce enough water for the chickens.

4. Since the Sewing Co-Op will no longer be making uniforms for HCOC, I have been working with them on a business plan, so they will be able to continue to have an income. Unfortunately, many people in the community cannot afford to pay for school uniforms. So I am encouraging them to buy fabric and make other types of clothing that they can try and sell in Murewa or even Harare. They had already begun to do a bit of this. Some people bring their own fabric and the women make whatever they request. That way they charge for their time and a bit for maintenance of machines.

Some things never change…..We thought we had a well driller hired. When we called the driller, after the hydrologist had cited for wells, and he was booked up for a month. That would be after we were scheduled to return to the U.S. We have a different well drilled booked for next Monday, Oct. 3. Pray for us that we are fortunate and find good sources of water. We can’t schedule the pump installer until we know what kind of water supply we find. This delay has set us behind schedule and we may have to reschedule our return. It won’t be the first time.

In closing I ask for your prayers for Jeff and me. We need strength and wisdom to do what needs to be done here. I also ask that you pray that God will provide good sources of water where we drill. Without a good source of water, future expansion at the site is out of the question.

In His Service,

Roberta

September 14, 2011 Zimbabwe Mission

Greetings from Zimbabwe,

Our gardener, Lovemore’s wife passed away a couple of days ago in Motoko. She had been in not good health for some time. More recently she had been in the hospital in Motoko. Yesterday, Mr. Bondeponde drove the big truck to go and pick up the body for burial at the family home. Mr. Bondeponde called at about 5:00 to say that the clutch had gone out on the truck about 10 km from the location they were to pick up the body. Jeff and Bryce had just come in from working all day. They were hot and tired and had not had dinner. So they drove with Albert to the township to see if they could hire a truck and driver to go and rescue the group and bring the body back. The rescue team left here about 7:00 and I understand that they got back here about 1:00 am. They towed the big truck back as well. So
it was not left on the side of the road to be vandalized. The funeral is today. Teachers have taken turns going to the home of the family. I put in a brief appearance because Jeff and Bryce were busy.

The guys have been busy working at the chicken run. The building was constructed earlier in the year. The openings were to be covered with chicken wire. However, the job was poorly done and it would not keep out varmints. We purchased a roll of new wire when we were in town earlier in the week. Jeff and Bryce have worked to get the job done correctly. They also purchased plastic canvass to cover the windows of the brooder building.

This group of chickens is doing very well and should be ready for market in less than two weeks. The brooder room is clean and ready for a new batch of day old chicks. Godfrey is ordering them today. Jeff and I hope to get them operating on a three week cycle of 700 chicks in each batch.

Yesterday afternoon a USAID truck arrived with a delivery of medicine for the HCOC (Heather Chimhoga Orphan Care) clinic. They are well supplied for several months. The only medicine that is not provided is medicine for ringworm and for Bilharzia. The medicine for Bilharzia is very expensive and works only if children are educated about staying out of polluted water. It is not easy to convince children to stay out of the water, especially when it is very hot.

Bryce left last Friday, September 16. It has left a void for me. I miss him terribly. He kept Jeff and I busy and on our toes. I had not realized how many traits that he has like Ralph. I only see him on brief visits in Houston and in Denver.

We have had a set-back. The well driller we used last year had told Jeff to give him three or four days’ notice and he would come and drill the wells. So when the hydrologist had completed his work and sent his report, Jeff notified the well driller that we were ready for him. Then we were told that he was booked for 30 days. So today we are in town to meet with another well driller. Hopefully he can get to us in a couple of weeks.

Jeff is also attending a Rotary meeting at lunch time. The club he is meeting with is the host club for this project. Perhaps they can help us get a reliable driller. In closing, I ask that you pray that we can find a well driller soon and that the drilling will be successful. Unfortunately, we are in an area where it is difficult to find water. We are going to be limited in our expansion if we cannot get adequate water.

In His Service,

Roberta

September 04, 2011 Zimbabwe Journal

Greetings from Zimbabwe,

Our need for an ambulance was reaffirmed this afternoon. Late in the afternoon, Jeff was summoned to take a woman to the hospital. Beauty the nurse felt that she was having a stroke. Albert went with Jeff to the hospital. The road from here to the tarmac is very rough and so it was a long trip. It was after dark before they returned. Jeff says the road is rougher after dark. The woman was admitted to the hospital.

Bryce arrived yesterday morning, Saturday September 3. It was good to have him here after a very long trip. Bryce had worked all day Thursday at his office and then left at 6:00 in the evening to begin the long trip here, 34 hours of travel. He seemed to not be too tired because he had been able to sleep some on the plane.

After some errands, we returned to the mission. We found that there was no power. We have had no power since a week ago today. Without power we have no water either. The tanks at our house still had a small amount of water in them. Jeff started a load of his laundry and Bryce rigged the generator up to operate the washing machine. It worked fine but then we ran out of water. Can’t do laundry without water!! This morning Bryce hooked up the generator to the pump in the well.

Water is pumping into the tanks as I type this. The teachers want to turn on the big tanks but Bryce locked them down until the generator can pump enough water to get ahead of the demand that there will be. Soooo, Bryce has really been put to work.

Our biggest challenge at the moment is water. The garden at the expansion site is minimal because the amount of water available is very limited. Water has to be hauled from Nyamashato to the chicken project. This takes the time of someone who can drive. Albert still doesn’t have anyone to take Mr. Scott’s place. As you may remember Mr. Scott passed away last year.

When we made a visit to Inyagui, we learned that they were unable to start the generator to pump water. Bryce and Jeff worked on it and determined that the air filter had not been cleaned. They finally were able to start it by jumping it with the truck battery. Enough water was pumped to last for a few days until a new battery could be found.

Today, September 8, I rode with Bryce and Jeff to Inyagui School. The gardener was busy expanding the garden. The Headmistress told us that he is a community volunteer. He had told her that he wanted to help the orphans. We hope this sets an example for others in the community.

I suggested that the staff at the school (Inyagui) dig a pit at the water tank to catch the run off when people come to collect water. I also suggested that water used to wash vegetables and to do dishes could also be dumped into the pit. I told them that they could dip buckets of water from the pit to use in watering the garden. When Jeff and Bryce returned from there the other day they were busy digging the pit. They will brick it and cement the inside to hold the water.

It is 4:00 in the afternoon and we have just received a phone call from Albert. He is stranded in Harare. He and Godfrey had gone to town today to pick up things necessary for the Memorial Service for tomorrow and food supplies for the Feeding Center. On their way out of town, they heard a noise and stopped to have a look, only to discover that one of the front wheels was about to come off the truck. Jeff and Bryce have just left to go pick them up and bring the supplies back that they have purchased.

Friday, September 9th the Memorial Service for Ralph was held. People were everywhere. It was estimated that there
were 1,500 people who attended excluding children. People attended from the district offices as well as the people locally. Some of our friends from Harare also attended. Many spoke of the things that had been accomplished over the 15 years we had been coming to Zimbabwe.

Today, September 13, we are in Harare to purchase materials so that Bryce can construct some coverings for the windows needed for the chicken brooder. At present they are using plastic that flaps in the breeze and is pretty well torn up. I think they have to replace it every time they buy a new batch of chicks. This seems to be wasted money.

I hope to have an opportunity to send this before we leave Harare. I don’t always have a chance to
email when we are in town.

In His Service,

Roberta

September 2, 2011 Arrive in Harare

Greetings,

Jeff and I arrived safely in Harare about 6:30 last night, Friday.  We stayed at the B & B that Ralph and I often stayed at.  The drive was long and tiring but had no truck problems.  Crossing the border went off in a fairly timely fashion.  However, there was one glitch that was overcome by my age. Ha! Ha!  Customs discovered that I only had four or five pages left in my passport and refused to give me a visa.  He insisted that I go to a US Embassy and get additional pages.  It was very obvious that most of the pages were filled with Zimbabwe Visas from past years.  SA had not found it a problem when we landed at Jo’bug.  After much talking and his scrutinizing my passport, he realized my age and finally gave me the visa.  He said I was older than his great granny.  In this culture age is respected.  Sooo old age does have its perks.

In a few minutes we will leave to visit Derek Forbes and drop off things we brought for people here in Zimbabwe.  Then Jeff and I will pick up some supplies and head out to school.  Getting the house opened is always a long stressful day.  I am glad that we both had a good rest last night.  Jeff was really tired after the long day yesterday.  The roads in Zimbabwe have not improved any.

Albert called yesterday.  Everyone at HCOC is anxiously awaiting our arrival.  I am afraid that is going to be a difficult reunion for me.

More later.

In His Service,

Roberta

October 21, 2010 Children of Zimbabwe

Greetings from Colorado,

I apologize for not sending a final journal from Zimbabwe indicating that we would be returning to Colorado. On Oct. first, we had a window in our truck smashed in Harare and our computer was taken. We were in a grocery store parking lot that is fenced and is guarded. It was our last trip to Harare before we left to come home. I felt like one of my arms had been cut off. All my pictures, journals, spreadsheets, emails, etc. were on that computer.

Jeff, Ralph and I arrived in Denver on October 12 after a very long but uneventful flight. It was good to be home but we always return with a hole in our hearts because of all the work that still needed to be completed.

September 24 was a day of many emotions.

Mr. Scott’s funeral was on that day. Community members from all around gathered at the family homestead. It was such a sad day. We had the opportunity to meet Mr. Scott’s son who was the apple of his father’s eye. He is at the University studying accounting. He is a fine young man and the type of person that Zimbabwe needs.
Albert, our manager, had an opportunity to address all who had gathered. Mr. Scott had become Albert’s extra hand and will be terribly missed. The children will miss him as well. Mr. Scott always had the time to talk with the children. Frequently the children would run to greet him when they saw the truck coming, because he would stop and give them a ride.

At 1:00 the MP (Member of Parliament) for our area had invited a large group for lunch. It included the HCOC staff, Headmen in Ward 1, Executive Committee Members etc. It was an informal gathering providing an opportunity for everyone to gather and review the accomplishments over the years. The lunch was provided by the MP. It was also an opportunity for the community leaders to express their appreciation for all the work accomplished over the years. The climax was the goat presented to us by the MP. In the Shona culture, it is a custom to give a goat to someone that you wish to thank. The MP had mentioned doing so for several years but nothing was ever done. This came as a total surprise. Unfortunately I do not have a picture since my computer was stolen. The Ram is a handsome animal and is happily staying at one of the teacher’s homestead that has a herd of female goats.

Water is essential for life.  Without water all living things will die.  Even the cattle know that.  Here you see some cattle that have come to investigate what the men are doing at the well.  Ralph and Jeff put in some long days the last week trying to repair as many wells as possible.  Sometimes it was dark when they returned for supper.  On some days they were able to repair three wells in one day.  All total, 15 wells were repaired in the community.  This was made possible when the supplier of the repair parts learned what Ralph and Jeff were doing.  He gave them a huge reduction in price on the parts they needed.  This allowed them to repair more wells than anticipated

Most of us in this country take water for granted. All we have to do is turn on a tap. That is not true for a large number of people in this world. In one instance, Ralph and Jeff repaired a well that had not operated since 2002.

The community that used the well that was broken dug a hole in the ground under some bushes in order to have water.  Imagine having to do this in order to have any water.  Can you imagine using such water for drinking, bathing, cooking etc?  I don’t know if those who used this water source boiled their water.  My best guess is that they did not.  No wonder that during the rainy season there is an outbreak of cholera, malaria, dysentery etc.

On June 6 Jeff, Ralph and I attended an awards ceremony at Nyahuni Boarding School.

Two orphans from HCOC are attending Secondary School there.  Tracey and Petronella were outstanding students in grade seven and are continuing to shine at Nyahuni.  Both girls received awards for outstanding work.  Tracey received a first place for her work in Agriculture and Petronella received first place for her work in Shona.  It costs about $325.00 per term for each child to attend this school.

Finally we have power at the new HCOC site.  ZESA, the power company in Zimbabwe, finally came through and completed the job of getting power to the new well at the site.  It was only accomplished through a lot persistence and aggravation.  There was also additional expense involved that we had not planned for.  We have experienced this before but there seems to be no end to the tricks they pull.  They know they have you over a barrel.  Keeping this in mind, I need to add that we only had power at night.  Usually the power would come on about 10:00 at night and would go off at about 5:00 a.m.  It isn’t the best situation but it does allow the pumps in the well to operate and at least pump enough water to get through the day.

The stand for the water storage tanks at HCOC is complete and the tanks are in place.  The electricity has been connected to the

pump in the well and water is being pumped into the tanks.  The trenches have been dug for the water lines to the manager’s house and for the garden land in the background.  Trenches have also been dug for the water lines to run to the Moringa plot.  We are waiting to hear that all is in working order.

A lot was accomplished this trip.  As always not everything was complete when it was time to leave.

In closing I would ask you to pray for the children being cared for at HCOC.  It is through your help that these children are smiling.  It has not always been so.

No children with HIV have died in over a year.  This is due largely to the improved health care being provided and the improved diet the children receive at the feeding centers.

In His Service,
Ralph and Roberta

September 17, 2010 Water at Last

Greetings from Zimbabwe,

Ralph and I stayed overnight in town after putting Todd on the plane for his flight home.  The following day we drove up to Howard Hospital with Priscilla and Claudio Penny.  We had wanted to see Paul Thistle that has been the Dr. at that hospital for 15 years.  It had been a number of years since we had visited with him.  This hospital serves an area of about 250,000 people.  There were people everywhere waiting to see Dr. Thistle.  Paul operates the hospital with only three student Drs. who come for two or three year missions.  One of the student Drs.  was leaving the next day to go to a Mission Hospital near Mashvingo for a two year stay.  This was going to leave Paul very short handed.  Paul says a normal day usually ends at about 7:00 pm. unless an emergency comes in.  It is a seven day a week job.  Burn out must be a problem.  He is looking forward to a sabbatical.

On our tour of the hospital we saw a set of twins that had just been born.  The picture that has stuck in my mind is of this child with its legs in traction.  I don’t know what had happened.   We also saw a baby that had fallen butt first into a bucket of boiling water.   The burn on the buttocks was third degree.  The baby whimpered non-stop.  My heart aches for all of the little ones who were suffering.   A lasting impression is the masses of people waiting to be seen by Dr. Thistle.

Last Saturday, September 11, there was a surprise Birthday Party for Ralph’s 81st Birthday.  It was attended by teachers, HCOC Executive Committee members, HCOC staff and some community members.  What Fun!  Ralph was so surprised that he was speechless.  They went all out with a meal, birthday cake complete with candles, pop corn and even a gift.  They gave Ralph a new suitcase.  They are afraid that his suitcase is worn out and that he might not come back.  There was singing and Shona dancing.  Even the children got involved.  I would love to send pictures but all I had with me was my video camera and I didn’t think to take snaps.

Jeff arrived Wednesday at about noon.  He was fine but tired after an extremely long trip.  After lunch we picked up groceries and headed back to school.  Jeff was definitely ready for a good night’s rest.  The next day he was immersed into many activities including the celebration at Inyagui.

Inyagui had planned a celebration to show off the improvements that had taken place at their school in recent years.  Parents, teachers, the Member of Parliament and dignitaries from the Department of Education were in attendance as well as district officials.  They showcased the kitchen where food is prepared for the orphans, the administration building as well as the recently completed new two-classroom building.  The highlight was the new well that was recently completed.  I can’t begin to tell you how happy they are.  Their smiles say it all.

Ralph and I are truly blessed to have many supportive friends.  We have been enabled to pay school fees for several bright and deserving students attending Boarding Schools.  Funds have been provided for irrigation at   the new Moringa plot.  The same donor has sent money so that Albert may begin a small poultry project to generate income for HCOC.  And now we have been blessed with a sizeable donation from another donor that will allow Ralph to repair numerous wells in the community.  Community wells are really not our responsibility and yet they are essential for the health of the community.  Our orphans live in the community and have to use the wells as their source of water.  We are working hard to get families in the community to contribute to the repair of the wells.  It is not an easy concept for them to accept when they are so accustomed to having donor involvement.   The Councilor for Ward 1 is holding a meeting with Village Headman on Monday.  Hopefully something positive will come from that meeting.

Last section finally in place

Today, we are in Harare picking up a large order of repair parts for the wells.  The money sent to us has made it possible for Ralph to make these purchases.  Mr. Bondeponde followed us in town with the ton and a half truck.  The truck was full when Ralph completed the purchases.   Work will begin tomorrow.  Ralph will be supervising a group of villagers and showing them how to repair their wells.

Job complete, water at last

Our time is coming to a close and as always there is still much to be completed.  Three major wells have been repaired.  Today, Ralph and Jeff and their crew are attempting to retrieve objects that dropped into a well sometime ago.  I hope they are successful.  They have a couple of young men who are willing to work and listen to instructions.  Ralph has been impressed with them.  He is hopeful that they can maintain the wells after we leave.

Mr. Scott has been diagnosed with cancer.  The Dr. at Parirenyatwa Hospital is booked up with surgeries until September 29.  The family took Mr. Scott to Karanda Hospital, a mission hospital, in the North Eastern part of Zimbabwe.  The family was sent back to Harare to get a hemoglobin test done before they would schedule surgery. He has now been admitted to Karanda Hospital and we are told that he is failing.  He is terribly missed here by everyone, including the children.  Please pray for a successful surgery and healing.  Also please pray for his family at this critical time.  Our Lord is a powerful God.  He can do anything if it is His Will.

In His Service,  Ralph and Roberta

Arrival in Zimbabwe

Greetings from Zimbabwe,
I just realized that the first journal I wrote when we arrived in Zimbabwe did not send. I
apologize for keeping you wondering if we arrived safely. All is well here. We arrived at the
mission on Saturday, August 27th. A group of local people had assembled awaiting our arrival.
They came to express their condolences and to welcome us back.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that there was electricity. At least we didn’t have to blow
up the air mattresses with lung power. However, our good fortune was not to last. We have
been without power since early Sunday morning. This is Thurs. and still no power. I had
gambled and purchased meat and other perishables hoping we would have power. I purchased
two bags of ice for the ice chest when we went to Harare on Tuesday. I was unable to find
block ice which lasts much longer than ice cubes. I had to pay $8.00 for two bags of cubes. I
hope that the electricity comes on soon, I don’t want to have to buy ice all of the time.
The children are still on term break. School will resume on Tuesday, September 6. Things will
become lively then. The community leaders are meeting as I type this letter. They are making
final preparations for the memorial service planned for Friday, September 9. Everyone is
referring to Ralph as their Father.
There was little we could do here without power and so on Tuesday, Jeff and I went to Harare
to see if we could get things rolling for the work that needs to get done. Making phone calls
had not been successful because of such poor reception out here. We returned back to the
school feeling the trip had been a complete success. Jeff had an opportunity to meet Trevor,
one of the contractors Ralph always dealt with. The huge miracle was that I was able to direct
Jeff to his place of business with no problem. We also met with DJ, who is the contact person
for the host Rotary Club here in Zimbabwe. We had a good meeting with him. He plans to
attend the memorial service on the 9th and to bring other Rotary Members that knew Ralph.
In addition we also met with a hydrologist that Ralph had used in the past for siting wells. After
a bit of driving around we finally located the office. They had a quote ready for us before we
left Harare and will be able to begin their work early next week. That was a big relief for Jeff;
he was really getting concerned that nothing was getting started.
Jeff really got immersed in driving in Harare. The traffic is worse than anytime I can remember.
Some people are able to buy big new cars while the vast majority can barely find enough to eat.
There are no markings for traffic lanes. It is really a free for all. When the traffic lights are not
working, it is a dare devil game to get through the intersections. We were unfortunate enough
to arrive in Harare about 5:00 on Friday afternoon. I think we were more than an hour and a
half getting through the city and to the Bed and Breakfast that we were booked at. The traffic
was bumper to bumper. There is nothing like getting caught in the middle of the intersection
when the light changes and no-where to go.
Wednesday, Jeff and I along with Albert spent a lot of time at the poultry site discussing future
expansion. We also visited a poultry project here in the local community that is already in
operation. Presently they have about 7,000 chickens.
Albert is planning to visit a large hatchery in Harare exploring the possibility of doing contract
poultry production. If he can get a contract, then we will be putting up a large building to
house 10,000 chicks at one time.
Friday, September 02, 2011
Jeff and I came to Harare early this morning. We are finding it necessary to make a lot of tough
decisions. In spite of that we feel we accomplished a great deal. We drove to the Industrial
Area to investigate about a Sadza Cooker. Going electric as Ralph had planned doesn’t seem
advisable because of the amount of time we are without power. Other options are bottle gas
which is very expensive and coal or wood for fuel for heat. We will be going over the options
with Albert and the staff before making a final decision.
We met with the hydrologist who sited wells for us ten years ago. He is prepared to come to
Nyamashato next Wednesday and begin work on siting two more wells. So things are beginning
to move along.
Jeff and I are staying in Harare tonight at the Bed and Breakfast that Ralph and I frequently
stayed at. Tomorrow Bryce will arrive at about 10:00 in the morning. He is anxious to go to the
school and get an idea of what we have been doing all of these years. So after picking him up at
the airport, we will head back to school.
In His Service,
Roberta

September 2, 2010 Water & Medical in Zimbabwe

Greetings from Zimbabwe,

The past week has been packed full.  Deanna, Carol and Todd arrived late August 23.  We had made arrangements in advance to stay in town overnight. The next morning a meeting was scheduled with some of the representatives of the Zimbabwe Presbytery.

Later, we had some computer work to accomplish only to discover the servers were on and off.  There have been a lot of power cuts lately as well.  We wasted a lot of time in an effort to send emails and finally gave up.  By the time we

bought groceries, it was getting late and we needed to head out of town.  As it turned out it was dark before we arrived at the mission.  There was no electricity but with our gas lights we were able to get everyone settled in.  All were suffering from lack of enough sleep.  A quick supper and all were ready for a night of rest.

For the visitors the week included seeing the site of the new expansion where trenches are being dug for water lines, future buildings are being sited and staked, a tank stand is being built for the water storage tanks and also a tour of the Mangers new house.  Deanna and Carol visited the Murewa Hospital when some orphans were taken for check-ups.  That proved to be a real eye-opener.  Our visitors spent most of one day visiting the homes of sick orphans and also orphans who live alone with no adult supervision.  Not only did they witness how rural people live but were able to see the children in their homes.  This trip took them over some rough terrain and they got to see a lot of the area.  All had an opportunity to visit the local Government Clinic.  When they arrived a man had been brought in who had been gored by a bull.  The nurses stitched up the wound and he hobbled out to the waiting ox cart to be taken home.

Wednesday evening, Ralph was notified that two wells were down and people had no water.  So Thurs. morning he headed off to see what would be needed.  One of wells he repaired with spare parts that were stored here at HCOC.  The second well they pulled apart on Thurs afternoon.  Ralph discovered that the pipe was buried in a lot of mud.  The well needs to be blown out.  It was dark when he returned for supper.  Early Friday morning he headed back to finish the job.  The crew that gathered removed a section or two of pipe and reassembled the pump.  The well is back in operation and a large number of people are very happy.

Yesterday, Friday the 3rd, Todd rode to Murewa when Albert took Mr. Scott our driver in to see the Dr.  Mr. Scott has been sick for over two weeks and has made numerous trips to the hospital.  He has been given different prescriptions but is not getting better.  The Dr. said that he needed an ultra-sound because the X-rays showed something but they needed further information.  Albert drove him more than 50 km to Musami Hospital for the scan.  They have the machine but their operator had quite.  So Mr. Scott was taken back to the hospital and plans were made to take Mr. Scott to Marondera to the Provincial Hospital on Monday the 6th.

While Todd was looking around the hospital and waiting on Albert he witnessed a woman being wheeled out of the hospital in a wheel chair and was carefully placed in an ox cart for what would have to have been a very rough ride home.  Count your Blessings, you can only imagine how others have to live.

On Monday when Albert arrived at the Provincial Hospital, he received the same information that he had received from Musami Hospital.  They have an ultra-sound but no operator.  So Albert decided on his own to go to Harare and he got the ulta-sound done at an emergency center.  Then he transported Mr. Scott back to Murewa Hospital.  The Dr. called Tuesday to say that the tests had shown a growth in his abdomen near the spleen that is 14 cm in diameter.  Albert is conferring with the Dr. today.  I am certain that surgery will be necessary.  Whether they will do it in Murewa or send him to Harare depends on what the Dr. advises.

Everyone is very concerned for Mr. Scott.  For more than one year he has volunteered his time at HCOC as a driver.  He is here early each day.  Mr. Scott is the one who hauled river sand for cement from the river or took food supplies to the other feeding centers.  It is Mr. Scott who hauled the water for mixing cement or hauled supplies from Harare. He even drove children to the hospital for check-ups.  There has been an increased load on Albert for the past three weeks without him.

We ask that you pray for a successful surgery for Mr. Scott and a quick recovery.  He is terribly missed here at HCOC by all the employees and even the children.

On Monday, September 6, we took several of the Boarding School students to their schools on our way to Harare.  Our truck was really loaded down with all of their things.  Petronella is the little girl on the left.  She is so tiny but very bright.  Tracey is the girl on the right.  Both girls are very bright and are doing well at school.  Tracey asked Ralph and I to come to the school on October 3.  That is awards day and she is sure she will be getting an award.  The Vice Principal also said he was certain that she would be getting an award.  Last year when we were here Tracey wanted to become a doctor.  This year she says she wants to be a pilot.  It is fun to listen to the dreams of these kids in spite of their circumstances.

Students returned to classes here yesterday, the beginning of term 3.  Tomorrow we go back to Harare to take Todd to the airport.  The children here are really going to miss Todd.  He has really bonded with the kids and has spent lots of time talking to them.  Yesterday, he had a special time with some students at the Secondary School.  They opened up to him and asked questions that I am sure they haven’t asked their parents.

Ralph and I will be staying in town overnight.  We are planning on driving up to Howard Hospital on Friday, September 10.  We have not seen Paul Thistle and his family in several years.  Paul is a Canadian Doctor stationed at Howard Hospital, a Salvation Army Hospital.  Many times he has been the only Dr. at the hospital that serves a catchment area of more than 250,000 people.  During the Cholera outbreak, he said they had people bedded on floors and in the wards three times their capacity and people were in the halls as well.

Ralph is gone this morning.  Someone came to him about a broken well.  So he and a couple of men loaded up some salvaged pump parts stored here at HCOC and headed off in the truck.  I have no idea when he will return.

In His Service, Ralph and Roberta

August 19, 2010 New Bike for Rosemary

Greetings from Zimbabwe

Recently I wrote about our gardener having to walk such a long way to come to work.  She told me that she left home at 5:30 a.m. in order to arrive at work by 7:00.  One of our readers sent a donation that enabled us to purchase a bike for Rosemary.   Today, Sunday, we took the bike to her house.  Such a surprise and such excitement!  Rosemary was singing and dancing all around.  I have never seen such a big smile on anyone’s face before.   She ran to call her husband and then ran back to the bike and got on to take a ride.  When we left, she said that she would be at work at 6:00 tomorrow.  If she comes that early, we might just be getting up.  This is the fun part of what we do.  Other things we do are not so much fun.

Stencile is a little girl that is ill with AIDS.  Both parents have passed away and she lives with an older sister.  Stencile is a very sick little girl.  She was recently put on medication to help her body fight the illness.  Her body is reacting to the medicine.  When I saw her on Thursday, she was broken out with a rash all over her body.  From past experiences, I suspect that she was broken out internally as well.  We feel so sorry for her because she had nothing to do with contracting this horrible disease.
Ralph ended up taking Stencile to the hospital in Murewa over these incredibly rough roads.  He had just returned from another hospital run with two sick children early in the morning.  While he was preparing to take the little girl, the driver for HCOC came to the clinic complaining of severe pain.  As long as Ralph was going to the hospital, he took the driver as well.  Two trips over these roads is too much to ask of anyone; but, we do what has to be done.  The last time the roads here saw a road grader was in 2001.

Ralph made the hospital runs because Albert had gone to Bindura to talk to ZESA about getting the power connected at the new site.  We are ready to install the pump in the well and need the power to operate the pump.  Things moved so slowly in Bindura that Albert had to stay overnight.  He was determined to get them moving on the power.

Wednesday evening, Ralph was notified that two wells were down and people had no water.  So Thurs. morning he headed off to see what would be needed.  One of wells he repaired with spare parts that were stored here at HCOC.  The second well they pulled apart on Thurs afternoon.  Ralph discovered that the pipe was buried in a lot of mud.  The well needs to be blown out.  It was dark when he returned for supper.  Early Friday morning he headed back to finish the job.  The crew that gathered removed a section or two of pipe and reassembled the pump.  The well is back in operation and a large number of people are very happy.

Yesterday, Friday the 3rd, Todd rode to Murewa when Albert took Mr. Scott our driver in to see the Dr.  Mr. Scott has been sick for over two weeks and has made numerous trips to the hospital.  He has been given different prescriptions but is not getting better.  The Dr. said that he needed an ultra-sound because the X-rays showed something but they needed further information.  Albert drove him more than 50 km to Musami Hospital for the scan.  They have the machine but their operator had quite.  So Mr. Scott was taken back to the hospital and plans were made to take Mr. Scott to Marondera to the Provincial Hospital on Monday the 6th.

The weather has warmed and the days are pleasant.  It is still getting a bit cool at night.  The established Moringa trees are beginning to put on new growth.  Our gardener has been busy cutting the trees back to within 12 to 18 inches above the ground.  He is making cuttings from the parts of the trees that are cut down and planting those.  The picture below shows some of the cuttings that have been planted.   You can see one of the cuttings has put on some new growth and is doing well.  It was the first cutting we made just as an experiment.  I noticed just this week that some of the cuttings that were planted recently are beginning to sprout.

We are going to have a sizeable Moringa plantation here at the school.  What it produces will be used in the feeding program. Moringa is very nutritious and when dried the nutrition is concentrated.  It is sought after by people whose immune system has been jeopardized.

At the new site, the ground has been plowed for the new garden.  The produce from this garden will be used to sell in town for income generation.  Some restaurants have already been contacted about buying the produce.  The new garden covers about one acre of land.  Produce from the garden here at the school will continue to supply vegetables for the feeding program just as it has been doing.

Ralph discovered that the springs on the front of our old truck were in bad shape when the driver reported one leaf broken when he returned from Harare with a load of cement and a 10,000 lt. water storage tank.  Upon inspection, Ralph discovered that he had been very lucky that he had not had a very serious accident.  With the help of two men they got the truck jacked up and the axle supported by two big logs.  Yes, you have already guessed, Ralph was on his back under the truck supervising the removal of the old springs.  Ralph said that it was a Gerry-rigged repair.  He found a company in Harare that made the correct springs for the truck in a matter of about three days.  All is back together and the truck didn’t fall on anyone.

Visitors arrive from the U.S. this evening on the late flight.  The next week and a half will be very busy.

Please pray for all the sick children that we are dealing with.  My heart aches for their pain.

In His Service,
Ralph and Roberta

In His Service, Ralph and Roberta