Our 7 Days in Mushumbi Pools

I am sorry this post is so delayed!  We did not have internet for quite some time!  But here is an update on our time spent in Mushumbi Pools, Zimbabwe.

Day 1:
We went grocery shopping in Harare before we left to prepare for the long week ahead.  We set off on our way to Mushumbi Pools.  Along the way, Tom found a nice little picnic spot overlooking the mountains.  Tom and Lois mentioned buying Mu Zambias, which is a piece of cloth that the women either wear over their skirt or they lay it down to sit on.  When in Mushumbi Pools, do as the people of Mushumbi Pools do!  So, we too, bought a Mu Zambia.

Today was the day where we started building lifelong relationships.  Florence and Blessing were our translators for the week.  They were a a life saver for us as they helped us not only understand the language but the culture as well.  We also met Pastor David and his wife, Blessing as well as their two children (Anono and Tine).  It was finally time to check into our lodges and get a good night's rest for the following day.

Day 2:
Today were were able to meet the Headmaster of Mushumbi Pools Primary School and gave him the 27 basketballs in various sizes for the different age groups.  The look on his face and the reactions of other staff members was priceless.  This was just the beginning of a lasting partnership with the school.

We were also able to meet the ladies of the Ruwadzano District Ladies Retreat.  We introduced ourselves in Shona (the primary language of Mushumbi Pools), sang songs in Shona for the ladies, and had the opportunity to fellowship.

Day 3:
Tom left early this morning to begin the process of putting up the backboards for the basketball goals.

 As many of you know, Westover holds AWANA on Wednesday nights and has been wanting to take it international.  Mushumbi Pools started AWANA not too long ago and there are usually only approximately 60 kids show up for AWANA time but we had a whopping 216 kids participate!!!
During this time we:
-sang songs in Shona with the kids.  They were so engaged!
-game time (relay race).  We had to improvise with our use of materials which made this time even more beautiful and humbling.
-crafts (bracelets which included the meaning of each bead that they were able to take home)

Cyndi also led a Bible study for the Ruwadzano District Ladies Retreat.  She did an EXCELLENT job leading and gave some great insight on how to properly pull important points from a passage of scripture in order to truly understand what you read and study.

Day 4:
It was a Sunday morning in Mushumbi Pools and a very important day at that.  The Bishop and the Chairman of the Zimbabwe Evangelical Church were coming into town and the Ruwadzano District Ladies were so ecstatic to have them there!

 After church, we had a more relaxed day full of soccer games, walking to the market, buying soda to feel more at home, and ordering take-out (BIG portions of sadza and beef, $1 for each box so $9 total to feel everyone!)

Day 5:
We were able to visit homes in the villages today.  This was such a turning point in our time there because we got to know the people of Mushumbi Pools on a personal level and saw the struggle that they face every day.  However, they still have a beautiful faith in God that He has His hand over their situation.  Each of us were separated among homes, which also put each of us outside of our comfort zones.  It was awesome!  Below is everybody's experiences:
Brandi- Home visit with the pastor and his wife.  She was able to make sadza for the family, helped their son with his fractions homework, and caught a chicken and cooked it!
Cyndi- Family lived on a farm so she could automatically relate!  They relaxed, sat on a mat, and just talked.  The family showed her their cows and two dogs.  She was given a wine glass and was told "Drink and remember me."  She will always have a symbol of their appreciation for her visiting their home.
Shawnee- Shawnee visited the home of one of the teachers, Tutirari, whom we all got to know very well.  She was introduced to the whole neighborhood, shown their garden, went into the chicken coop, plucked and cooked the chicken, helped cook and cut the vegetables, and had a special bonding time with the children of the family while they drew and colored with the colored pencils and paper that she brought to the house.
Olivia- Olivia visited a family where the couple did not have a job yet they welcomed her with open arms and a nice meal of sadza and vegetables.  Meat is a delicacy in this area, especially for the ones who do not have an income.  They had no furniture, but the one chair that they did have, they allowed Olivia to sit in it as the guest of honor.  The family grows maize and beans in the fields but the fields were too far to walk to.
Lauren- Lauren visited Museka and her children.  The husband was not present because he worked long hours at the market.  One of the neighbors, who could speak very good English, walked up and decided that he wanted to give her a tour of the village!  They showed her the fields and introduced her to the surrounding homesteads.  She was asked to pray before dinner and they were so honored when she offered to help clean.  Then the night ended with a dance party with the kids of the surrounding homesteads.

Day 6 and 7:
The Educational Officer thankfully allowed us to observe in the classrooms and gave us the go ahead when we met with him yesterday.  We were able to observe today (day 6) and saw many similarities in the teaching techniques.  One thing that we noticed is valued in the culture is the great respect that the students have for their teachers.
We also held two days of basketball camp.  We practiced dribbling, passing, shooting, and defense.  We played against the teachers of the school and they beat us 2-0 the first day and 4-0 the second day.  Needless to say, they caught on to the game pretty quick!

Our last night spent in Mushumbi Pools was spent with Pastor David and his wife and children.  This last little bit of time spent with them was such a blessing in itself.  They are an amazing family and we are interested to see how this relationship continues to grow between Tom & Lois, Westover, and the Mushumbi Pools Evangelical Church.

Our first full day!!

We finally made it to Zimbabwe after approximately 30 hours of traveling!  Tom, Lois, and Donya were so very welcoming!! Yesterday, we were very tired so our night was mainly spent touring the guest house and getting ready for bed ;)

Today was our first full day in Harare, Zimbabwe. I want to start off with a Bible verse that will definitely help us understand and remain strong in our purpose for serving here.  Colossians 2:1-9 uses a comparison of roots and buildings to our relationship with God.  "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)  In the culture of Zimbabwe, the people accept Christ as a spirit, some faraway mystical creator who brings or withholds the rain.  They are typically more concerned about making God happy so that He can bring the rain.

Rafiki Girls Center: A registered independent Christian organization that seeks to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable girls with life skills for self-reliance.

This morning, we participated in TEAM orientation with Tom.  We focused on learning more about the Zimbabwe culture as well as how the schools are operated.  Afterwards, we took a tour of the guest house property seeing as it was actually light outside!  Foundations for Farming (click on the link to learn more) is held on the grounds of the TEAM guesthouse.  "Foundations for Farming is an initiative aimed at bringing transformation to individuals, communities and nations through faithful and productive use of land. God has revealed a very simple conservation farming method with an implementation management teaching, which when applied help people to apply the Gospel to their lives." Later, we visited Hands for Hope with Steve Love (a missionary supported by Westover).  Through Hands for Hope, men and women learn farming techniques, Aquaponics, assembling materials, renovation, and so much more.  On Mondays, Steve Love and his apprentices start the week off at the top of the hill (WHAT A HIKE!!) with a devotion and pray over the week to come.  At the end of the week, they meet at the bottom and give God all the glory for everything He has blessed them with that week.  The neat thing is, discussing and meditating over the gospel and working are not two separate entities.  "Gospel Talk" occurs at all hours of the day and is integrated into their work.  We ended the day off right with a Braai, or cookout, with the Loves and Jacksons.  We had such a feast and were able to try a new food as well, called Boerworst (a mix between beef and pork, otherwise known as Farmer's Sausage).

The team at Hands for Hope

A panoramic view of the Hands for Hope property

At the Braai with the missionaries and their families.

It is now bedtime for us and we will be headed out to Mushumbi Pools in the morning!  We will be in a very rural area and will be with limited to no access to internet.  We will definitely update you once we have access to internet again!  Until next time :)

Today's the Day!!!

We are so excited! Today is the day that we leave for Zimbabwe!  We would like to thank each and every one of our friends and family members that have prayed for us and supported us.  We would especially like to thank those of you who woke up bright and early to meet us at the airport to pray for and with us!  See you all again in fourteen days!!!

Getting ready to go through security!

Group picture with Poky and Gumby!!

We are so grateful for your prayers...

I have another prayer request from one of our team members, Olivia! 
Please pray:

- For health and safety before and during the trip for our team

-For my husband who will be single parenting while I am gone to our two children. Pray for endurance, rest, and patience. That God will move in his heart as he supports my faithfulness to go.

-For my children Paxson (5yrs) and Adeline (16months) that they will enjoy the extra special time with daddy and feel mommies presence in small ways. For VBS Paxson will be attending he will take in what God has for him. That they will continue to understand a global perspective at a young age. Also their flexibility as they will be with daddy and family friends for care.

-For continued unity of our team 

-That I will be open and flexible to be used however God sees fit. Pray for the specific moments and interactions that i may not be physically, emotional, or mentally prepared for but that I will rely on solely God to accomplish his mission.

-That God is working in the hearts of those we will encounter in travel, in country, and when we return. 

- That I can show Christ in all that I do in humility sharing HIS grace through my words and actions.

We cannot begin to express our gratitude for our prayer warriors out there.  We couldn't do it without you!

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He will hear us." 1 John 5:14

Prayers and PRAISE!!

        God has definitely answered some prayers this week!  It was requested that we bring basketballs over from America so that the students at Mushumbi Pools Primary School had a fun recreational activity in which to participate.  Since that request was made, everything has just started falling into place.  Tom emailed the team today with so much good news!  He knows a Zimbabwean couple who is able to make high quality and sturdy backboards and rims for us.  That is not all!  Tom met with the basketball coach at a nearby Christian high school and he has kindly offered to help in any way that he can, such as offering a demonstration game and do a bit of coaching with the school children.  This basketball coach happens to be the ex coach of the Zimbabwe National Basketball team by the way!
The coach mentioned various sizes of basketballs that we need that are not sold in Zimbabwe.  They would like 4 size 4, 6 size 5, 6 size 6, and possibly 2 size 7 basketballs.  These are all differentiated towards the age groups of children that will be using the basketballs.  It was mentioned in the email that very little children-up to grade 4-use size 4 balls, boys in grade 5 (and girls in grades 6 & 7) use size 5 balls, boys in grades 6 & 7 (and women) use size 6 balls, and men use size 7 balls.  With all of that being said, please pray about the logistics of getting the frames and the backboards to Mushumbi Pools as well as getting the concrete bases on which to bolt the frames in place.  

The distance from Harare (the capital) to Mushumbi Pools is 278 Km, 3 hours and 56 minutes driving time

     Also, each day leading up to the trip, we would like to share a prayer request from each team member.  Prayer is so vital and we couldn't do it without the help of our friends, family, church family, and other supporters!
Shawnee shared a prayer request.  Please pray for her as we prepare for our journey!
"A prayer request I have is simply for my family to be at peace with my absence.  I pray that my husband feels God holding him and guiding him through this entire journey.  I also pray that my girls feel protected, comforted and loved by their extended family members.  May my extended family members also have extra love, patience, and understanding when caring for my two girls, Addison (9) and Caitlin (7).  Praise to mom, dad, step-mom, brother, and sister-in-law, as well as my church family to care for my family while I am gone."

One bible verse to close out this blog post for the night!
"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.  Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically." Romans 12:10-11

It's the FINAL Countdown!

       It is officially the final countdown!  We have just 15 short days until our trip to Mushumbi Pools, Zimbabwe!  Our trip dates are June 20th-July 3rd and they are approaching quickly!
Our team of five women will be visiting with and assist teaching in the Mushumbi Pools Primary School; consulting with the teachers and headmaster on education specialties and conducting lessons in different teaching techniques and sporting activities.  While there, we will also have the opportunity to speak at Mushumbi Pools Evangelical Church and AWANA program.  However, our primary focus for traveling to Zimbabwe is to just be the hands and feet of the Lord and build relationships with the Mushumbi Pools population.

      As of right now, we have raised a total $6,305.  We are just a little over halfway there!  The headmaster requested that we provide basketballs and basketball pumps so that the students of Mushumbi Pools Primary School could learn one of America's most popular sports.  And guess what?! We received a generous donation of basketballs and basketball pumps!  Thank you to everyone who helped us in that area of need! Please continue to pray for us as we mentally, spiritually, and financially prepare for our trip.