So this is just a boring update. Don't expect anything witty or insightful. I figured since most of my Canada peeps don't actually know what I'm up to in Zim, I should probably fill you all in. This way you all can know what the heck I'm talking about in the future (I have a tendency to talk about things as if they are common knowledge when they really aren't at all).
I arrived in Zimbabwe on Sunday, and spent my first night in the capital Harare, where I went to hear Nicky Gumbel speak. Kind of random, but his sermon really spoke into where my head has been at lately. That being evangelism and church unity. It was actually a brilliant message from Luke 5. I won't be able to do it justice in typing it here, but ask me about it on skype if you would like to hear about it. Particularly the part about the nets (our social constructions of the church) breaking to bring in the fish (new believers).
So now I'm in Mutare, staying with the Hundermarks, who are absolutely wonderful people. I work at Lighthouse Church from about 8-1ish every week day. Mostly doing office stuff and helping organize a Christmas party for Children of Hope, an organization that helps look after orphans. I haven't had much playing with kids yet, but I'm praying that God will see it fit to change that soon! My evenings are busy with a different activity each night, whether it be Bible study, small group, youth, Heart to Heart (gathering of the congregation to discuss what's going on in the Church and where it is headed) and, starting next week, young adults. There's also a soup kitchen sort of program once a week at the church, where the women help us out with yard work and such in exchange for meals. It's called TMJ (short for a Shona phrase that I don't remember how to spell). I spoke there last Thursday, so nerve wracking! There's one more ministry that I would like to try to get involved with, and that is working with deaf people. I figure I will wait until I'm a bit more settled here before trying to learn African sign language though.
Now for a brief lesson on what life in Zim is like. A few years ago Zimbabwe went through some crazy economic stuff, which lead to hyperinflation of their currency (they had to print a $100 trillion dollar bill). So now their currency doesn’t exist and it’s all US dollars. The economy is way better now, but it’s still recovering. There are frequent power cuts, in the area of Mutare I’m staying in it’s usually Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday without power. Driving laws are way more lax here, it’s only a ten dollar fine for driving without a licence! I haven’t had a run in with the law yet, but apparently bribes are widely accepted and looked for (not that I would ever partake in this obviously). There is also a definite class difference which is pretty hard to get used to.
I realize those mostly sounded negative, but I guess that’s just because those are situations that I am trying to learn how to live in. But I love it here so much, the people are amazing and friendly and so helpful! It is absolutely beautiful here, and I am in a wonderful church and I am just so excited to see how God will use my time in Mutare over the next several months!
