Estere

Estere (the mom of the boy with cancer in his eyes) came in this morning to see us. As I told you he passed away before we could get him to see the surgeon. She told us that when she got to her
mother's, where he was, that he hadn't been eating and that he was bleeding from his nose and mouth and was in a lot of pain. He told her he was dying and had to leave her. We hugged and cried together and then talked about the plan of salvation and how he is just a 6 yr. old child and is back with Heavenly Father with a perfect body and no more pain. She previously lost her husband in a car accident and is left with 4 other children. They are presently with her mother while Estere tries to find work. The two younger ones are in primary school but she doesn't have money for the school fees for the older two. School fees are such a hardship for the people here - but they know how important education is for them.

Lots to do today - our monthly financial report has to be done up and sent to South Africa and we have a few things to do to get ready to go to Masvingo to the hospital tomorrow. Elizabeth, a member from the Masvingo branch, will meet us and go to the hospital with us. She is the public affairs person for the district. We also want her to go with us because she speaks Shona and can understand what the people are saying (when they don't speak English to us). We want to
hopefully find out that what we have already taken down has gone to the patients and not taken home by the staff for personal/family use. If it has then there isn't much point in us to continue giving to them - it is an unfortunate thing that happens too much here.

Love you, Nancy/mom

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Yesterday we were up early and at 6:30 we headed over to the container to load up some clothes, hygiene kits, and soap to take to Masvingo, to the Ngomahuru Mental Health Hospital. We sent the blankets with Danny a couple of days before and he left them at the church for us. The Taylors went with us because this is their week to go down to that Branch. We met the Branch president of the Masvingo Branch, President Dube, and he rode to the hospital with us, too. We arranged to meet the people from Zimbabwe National Association for Mental Health (from Harare) in Masvingo. They followed us to the church where we loaded the blankets into their vehicle and followed them to the hospital, which was about 40 km. out of town, then 10 km on a dust road in the middle of nowhere. The hospital was originally a leprosy hospital, then a TB hospital and now a mental health hospital. The buildings were built in the early 1920’s.

I don’t think they were expecting us. The Harare people were supposed to have set it all up, but since the phone doesn’t work, at the hospital, I don’t think they got the message through, and they don’t have a computer. We were given a tour of one section while they gathered the administrator, and his assistant. We then were taken to the board room where we talked for a little while. We explained who we were; they talked about their needs, and expressed gratitude for what we were doing for them.

16 year old boy was dumped off at mental hospital a month ago - he is hoping they will come back for him soon

They are in dire need of help. They haven’t had electricity since the first of May. Consequently, their water pump cannot work. It is suppose to bring water from the river, which is about 3 km away. They take the patients to the river, which is crocodile infested, to bathe. They must haul their water from a borehole 2.5 km to use for cooking/drinking/cleaning, etc. They have two boreholes on the property, but one is capped off, and the other is dry. Due to lack of water their garden is not getting waterd, so they are not able to grow much. They get some food donations, from ‘well-wishers’, but there is not enough. They are feeding the patients sadza and beans, with only a few vegetables, for every meal.

Nice kitchen but no electricity for 2 months and appliances need repair

Cooking sadza (corn maize) over fire - feeds 40 people (not enough)

kitchen for 76+ patients

Their appliances are old, and they need repair. They must be sent to Bulawayo for repair. They don’t have money to do that. There is no electricity, so they must cook the food outside on a fire. They were cooking a pot of sadza when we were there and it had to feed 40 people. The cook said that they just give them a little because that is all they have.

There were several patients lying in the dust, sleeping. We were told that it is too cold at night; they don’t have proper blankets and mattresses, so it is hard to sleep. They sleep out under the sun during the day, where it is warm. We did take them 80 good blankets so hopefully that will help. Because they have no water, the sinks, and toilets, do not work. They have a generator, but they need a new battery, and gas, to run it. The place is in a sad state of affairs. In each hygiene kit there are 4 tooth brushes; the director said this would be the 1^st time in 2 years they would be able to do oral care. We want to see what we can do to help them.

It's too cold to sleep at night so they lay in the sun and sleep in the day

Laying in sun trying to get warm

Patients @ Ngomahuru Mental Rehab Hospital

So sad

They need food and clothes

Needy patients

giving Nhomahuru Hospital some blankets, clothes, hygiene kits and blue bar soap

Patients at Nhomahuru Hospital (ZIMNAMH)

Tendai Mayuni saying a sincere thank you to Elder Bullock

We were told the by the people from Harare that they brought out a psychiatrist in May; it is the first time a doctor has been there for 5 years. The patients have pretty much been taking the same medication for 5 years. They are supposed to be re-assessed every month. They have no doctors at the hospital, only nurses.

We are considering asking for some vegetable donations from the “Honey Dew” market near us. They grow produce and did donate 100 cabbages to some people before. Perhaps Rob Spencer will donate something as well (He is a member with a grocery store). Taylors want to prepay a wholesale store in Masvingo so that we can pick up some corn maize, oil, and sugar down there to take out to the hospital. If this all comes together, we will go back down on Wednesday and take what we can to them. When we go to Johannesburg next week, for our humanitarian couples training, we will talk to them and see what we can possibly do to help. It is really almost an emergency situation.

The people from Harare were asking if we could also help another facility they have near Mutare where there are 29 patients with the same needs. If we are allowed to do an initiative for these people we will try and do both locations. We are planning to go to Mutare later in July to take some clothes to an orphanage and can check out the mental health place while we are there. President Bester also wants us to check out a refugee camp that is about 200 km from Mutare; supposedly, we have some members there. In August we plan to go to Bulawayo and take some newborn kits to a maternity hospital and present them after the branch there does a service project. August 22^nd all the church wards, and branches, in the country are doing service projects in their areas.

Now for some nicer pictures for you to look at.

Strange cactus

Tree entangled with vines

Sunrise at The Inn on the Great Zimbabwe

Love, Elder & Sister Bullock

P.S. Pres. Bester says to go ahead and get our food donations and take them down to the hospital so we will work on that today and likely go down on Wednesday, stay over night and come back on Thursday.

Friday

We don't have our bakkie back yet - they did decide it was only a fan belt but it is taking them a long time to get it done!!! Hopefully this morning. We need it to drive to Masvingo tomorrow morning. Yesterday afternoon we went with the elders to show them where our friends in Epworth live. They had an appointment to teach them after they were in attendance at the meeting there last Sunday. (Gift & Zvikomborero Kureva). They have 3 children - 11 yrs. - Panashe, 9 yr. old - Poshia, & 3 yr. old - Rumbidzai. We really like these people - the husband is kind of quiet but the wife is full of personality. Panashe is great.

I need to go out and sort through some clothing so we can give some to a lady who is coming back this afternoon. I'm not sure how I feel about giving to her but..... I guess we will err on the side of
generosity. It is so hard to know if they are being honest or making up a story. I just want to pick out a few things ahead of time so that she doesn't see all that we have. She said she has 7 children
and when I ask for the ages and sex of them there were 9. ??? When I questioned her she said that the 12 yr. olds are triplets. Who knows!!!! The lady is crippled and uses a arm crutch - her leg was
injured ((burned, I think). They use that to their advantage too. Am I getting hard and calloused????

WOW!! Elder Taylor just brought us in our mail --- A PACKAGE!! from my friend Ruth!! Thanks Ruth - it finally came!! It was mailed April 2nd. Can't wait to make a salad and have some decent ranch dressing on it (from the dry mix packages) & also some "Extra" brand gum for a treat once in a while (Jim's favorite) - they don't have sugar-free gum here. She also sent some "sweet" corn seeds which we can plant in the spring (autumn to you).

I must get busy and go sort some clothes. :)
Love, Nancy

P.S. The boy with cancer in his eye - I finally got a hold of someone who informed me that the boy passed away -- he must not have been very good and that is why the mother never returned with him. The mother is to be back in a week or so and will contact us. I think the boy must have been in a lot of pain and is in a much better place now. The surgery obviously wouldn't have helped him at this point. I called the doctor and let him know.
Nancy/mom

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Good morning, We are at the office earlier than usual this a.m. because Jim had to take the bakkie (truck) in to get the clutch checked. They want us to make sure all is well as it is going to get sold shortly and Wellington, the public affairs fellow, wants to buy it. Our new vehicle should be cleared in a few days. Elder Taylor saw it yesterday and they still need to put the topper on it. It is an Isuzu, double cab, diesel white truck - pretty much the same as what we have - except the new one is diesel. Diesel fuel here is considerably cheaper. Fuel has gone up in price recently - diesel is $.95/ltr. and regular gas is $1.30/ltr.

Yesterday we went out with Bishop Foriji and he showed us the ward gardens. They are lucky enough to have them near a water supply. There is a creek running by and they use it to fill an old swimming pool and also have some pipe carrying the water from one water hole to the next so they can get the water to different parts of the gardens. They then dip in their watering cans/buckets and hand water the crops. They do need fertilizers and pesticides to make a more productive garden.

Bishop Foriji and Elder Bullock

This bishop has a hard ward. He gives food assistance to several families that live in Caladonia Farm - where they have been relocated in tent houses when their houses were destroyed/bulldozed.

Tent houses provided by UNICEF for people whose homes were destroyed

A great looking ward garden project

A water hole for watering gardens - water drains in and out

Another water collection hole

Couple of little kids by gardens

He then took us to his place to show us his hand-dug well that is in his front yard. There is a lack of water in the area and he has offered people the use of his well (at no cost, of course) so consequently there is a line-up of women every morning wanting to fill their jugs. He says that his well never goes dry and the water looks nice and clear (still needs to be treated or boiled though). He would like to get some bricks and cement to build up walls on the inside of the well and also to put a cover on the top to make it safer - he says that would cost about $150 U.S. He is hoping that perhaps LDSC can help. Perhaps if we get a water project approved we can include that on it - but I'm not sure.

Bishop Foriji's well in yard that he shares and it never goes dry

He wants to line this well with brick and put a cement top around with a lid - cost $150 USD

They raise a few chickens for meat and also eggs. He had a hen sitting on eggs. It all helps them be self-sufficient.

Their ward is planning a trip to the Johannesburg temple at the end of July. I guess several are preparing to go for the first time - they will take a bus. The church has a fund to help first time attendees with the trip and accomodations. The bishop and his family have been before so must pay their own way (about $500). His wife said she is selling their TV ($100) so they can go. Good people!!

Used to be beautiful farmed land

Garbage dump along street

A graveyard we drove by

Gum Tree

No wonder people don't have electricity!

a graveyard we drove by

This is the adult graveyard and there was one behind for children.People have just started this burial ground in a field as it is too costly ($100) to use an official one. The dates on the graves were

very recent.

On our way home last evening we stopped to visit Mercy, the girl that runs a restuarant/gift shop. We met her last week and gave her a 'plan of salvation' pamphlet. She was excited to see us and went to get her pamphlet. She had filled every open space with notes. It was great. She loved it and believes it all. She shared her feelings with us and has a pretty good understanding. She loved the idea that there were different kingdoms in heaven. She said she layed in bed the night before and wished that she had "the book" so she could read it. We gave her a 'Book of Mormon' and she was excited and said she loves to read and she would devour it!! She is such a great lady - would be a great leader. We set up with her to come to the mission office on Monday morning and we will teach her. It really wouldn't surprise me if she has read the whole book by then.

Moses just offered to vacum our office - so I let him! We usually do our own. He's getting ready for our visitors - the Health minister and a couple of other officials. We, along with others are giving them a presentation and telling what we do here. I need to go set up a display of our hygiene, newborn, and school kits along with a couple of quilts. We have a short DVD clip to show and will also take them on a tour of our gardens here. It will all take about an hour and then we are having lunch with them here in the boardroom.

I better go get busy I guess.

Love to all, Elder & Sister Bullock

Sunday, June, 21, 2009

I attached my letter that I wrote yesterday on word document.

We have a fellow that we have seen a lot when walking in the mornings and Jim gave him a Book of Mormon and introduced him to the missionaries. The elders met with him yesterday and he had his wife there and also his brother and his wife. They taught them and have another appointment next week as well. :) We are excited about that!

Sunday, June-21-09
Today we went to the first church meeting held in Epworth. It wasn’t the beginning of a branch, like I first thought it was going to be, but there will be Sunday meetings held there and when there are sufficient priesthood holders to form a branch then that will happen. The missionaries had passed out flyers and some pamphlets the past couple of weeks and we had about 44 people there. We were excited that our new friends from Epworth came and she brought her husband as well. His name is Gift and her name is Eveleen. Their son, Panache, the 11 yr. Old that we gave shoes to recently was there also. Panache also brought along his best friend, Brite, and Brite’s two sisters, Michelle and Olivia. Eveleen’s good friend, Beatrice, also came. They came late and missed sacrament meeting but were there for the Sunday School lesson that the elders taught about the Plan of Salvation. It was a really good lesson. Afterwards our friends made an appointment with the elders to come and teach them on Thursday. The elders were making several other appointments as well so all in all I would say that things went rather well.

I took the piano keyboard with me (with batteries, due to no power) and played the music. They ask Jim to lead and he did a fine job of it. The stake president and a counsellor in the stake presidency spoke in Sacrament meeting about the history and restoration of the church, also a ward missionary from the Queensdale ward (that ward will be in charge of these meetings).

The meeting was held at a school in one of the classrooms. Each classroom is it’s own building with dust pathways around them. They will request a different one for the future though – one on a corner. We were kind of in the middle of things today and it seems that several different churches rent classrooms there. Consequently we had quite a bit of competition as far as noise went. There was singing and drums etc. going on all around and it was hard to hear. From where I was sitting I could see the building right next to us and they were hauling in “American” style drums and sound system. I was really praying that we would get finished our sacrament meeting before they started up – and we did. We shut the windows during Sunday School and that helped some. It was definitely interesting. We were glad to have been there.

There is another lady from Epworth that keeps showing up (mind you – we did give her a flyer about the meeting today). We met her at the Highlands ward a couple of weeks ago and we did go out to her place after she ask for some help. She is not a member but knew to come to the church to ask for assistance. We did give her some blankets, soap etc. then but she wasn’t really happy because we didn’t take food too. (we don’t have food to give) Today she approached me and said that I had promised to bring her something and I told her ‘no, I hadn’t promised any such thing’. She wants food, money, or whatever. She had approached Jim before me and given him a sad story. We purposely had nothing with us. We don’t want people coming to church just because they think that they will be able to get stuff from us. In reality, the members do not receive from LDSC (humanitarian) but they would receive through the bishop (fast offerings) if the bishop feels they are in need. This lady does appear to be needy but it is hard because she will drive us crazy and we could never give her enough. I think she is a grandmother taking care of a couple of orphan grandchildren. We did give blankets so that they won’t be cold at night. We do not give money. By the way, the lady Paulene, in Epworth, that I gave $10 so she could start her banana business just spent the money. We also found out that she is living in a polygamy situation so the elders cannot teach her. There is a lot of that here.

Anyway that is our Sunday. We will have Taylors over for supper later – a combined effort. We will have some pot roast with potatoes and carrots and cabbage salad (coleslaw). We eat a lot of coleslaw here as cabbage is plentiful and cheap. There is lettuce but it isn’t all that great and it goes bad quickly – And the salad dressing here leaves something to be desired!! Cabbage and broccoli are in season now and there have been some nice looking heads.

One more thing – I want to copy a text message we received a couple of days ago from a Pastor. We are a little disgusted with his greediness. This is what he sent. “Elder, how are you this morning. Am going back to Muzarabani today so see you on Monday for our 836 orphans, 52 volunteers, and 300 guardians. Am requesting the following: 2 boxes of toys, 6 bales clothes for children, 2 bales for women guardians and volunteers, 2 for men. Then 15 boxes of school kits and 20 boxes of hygiene kits, wheelchairs and a borehole. I will talk to you on Monday. Pastor Mike.” That is quite the request. I guess our meeting Monday will be interesting. Maybe we will want to just run and hide when he comes!! We only have 4 bales of children’s clothes left – we had 15 bales. We want to try and take some to an orphanage in Mutare that we visited when we first arrived here. It was run by some nuns and they really did need help – I think they had 29 children living there. It was up in the hills away from Mutare. (We are meeting with the Mutare District President tomorrow about possibly doing something there). He may want to have the youth do a service project again at the same time. There is also a school for the handicapped in Mutare that we could perhaps give some school kits to (the kids live at the school). There aren’t a huge number of them.

We are thinking that we will write up an initiative right away for purchasing some exercise books for schools. There is such a huge need for them and that is something that we can buy here – rather than have the shipping costs. If the initiative is approved we would have the money available to order the books as we need them. They also really need chalk and pens/pencils. Schools have ask us for exercise books even just for the teachers so that they can have something to use for their planning (scheming, as they say). I hope I am not repeating myself as I ramble – if I have said this before, sorry for repeating it. I will end this for now.

Much love to our family and friends. The Bullocks

The past couple of days

Hi, It is Saturday and we just came from an open house for Pres. and Sister Bester, as they are getting ready to head home at the end of the month, to South Africa. It was a lovely pool-side lunch on this mid winter day!! There were about 50 people there.

Thursday Olivia came here to go with us to Guruve (suppose to be 120 km. but turned out to be more like 200 km) to take some clothes, blankets, soap etc. to some orphans there. We had suggested that it wasn't a good idea to do it at the school with other children around - but they didn't listen to us. Anyway - there were suppose to be about 100 kids but of course, there were more like 250 plus some mothers and babies. We cut the soap into thirds so more could get something.

Kids waiting for the distribution

more people waiting

and more still

Olivia and _____ and Maddy

They told us the children were younger ones so we took Youth bales of clothes so there were a lot of young teenage ones who we had nothing for at all. I felt bad because there were kids that really could have used something but.....

Mothers with babies came in at the end because we did have a fair bit of baby clothing -- it did get a little out of hand for a bit as they all kind of crowded in on us and there was some grabbing going on.

There wasn't much left at that point anyway so it didn't last long. We just didn't have enough for the amount that were there and they were needy. They were happy for what they did get but it is hard to see those children's hopeful faces that never got anything. (We did take a truckful.)

We dropped Maddy and Olivia off at their house and they gave us a bag of sugar beans to take home. (sugar beans are just dry beans that they grow here). I'm not sure we will use them but we can always give them to someone here who will be glad to have them. We arrived home at about dusk.

Must be moving day
We saw this on our way back from Guruve. There was a man in front leading the cattle with a rope tied to the harness.

Yesterday, Friday, we loaded up again and went with Bishop Chris (Born Again Christian, I think) to his area. It went fairly well other than we had to get after Bishop Chris and his family because they were helping us sort clothes and wanted more than their share. Armfuls were going into his house. (Imagine if we had just given the stuff to him to take home - we wonder how much would have actually gone to the needy people and not just to his family). We told him they could each have 2 things and that they needed to bring things back and that no one was to be taking things away - we can't watch that and be distributing at the same time. Frustrating!!

Getting ready at Bishop Chris'

people starting to come

Distribution at Bishop Chris'

At Bishop Chris'

The people were fairly orderly although some started coming back for a second time. I only recognized this because of some distinctive clothes that they were wearing. I told Bishop Chris and he did yell at some people and told them to leave. We felt bad because we opened the one Youth clothing bale and it was all denim pants and shorts - no shirts. Usually they are mixed. That created a bit of a problem so we pulled smaller shirts out of the adult bales and used those as best
we could.

We took this picture to show a dr. to see if they can help this woman

We learned a couple of things yesterday though. Some people will not wear red - not sure why. One theory is that it is the ZANU PH party color and the other theory is that they believe that red will attract lightening. The other thing we learned is that women and girls in the rural areas WILL NOT wear pants, only dresses or skirts. We had only a very few of those so most women only got a couple of shirts. The real young female children will wear pants which is good as that is all we had for them. In the city here we see women in pants (some looking quite stylish) but mostly they all wear skirts. I suppose if I were to make a suggestion to SLC - it would be to have people sew some wrap-around, one size fits all skirts to put into their Africa clothing bales.

On the way out with Bishop Chris we did have a really good gospel discussion and I think we gave him a few things to think about and gave him some pamphlets and a book of mormon to read.

After we got back yesterday we stopped at a 'restaurant/art gallery' to check it out so we could decide if we might want to go there sometime. We met Mercy, who is black and from Australia. She was a really nice lady with two young children. Her menu was small but looked good and the prices were good, however, she is presently just serving cakes and coffee because her chef went 'home' to somewhere and hadn't come back. He was due back last Tuesday and she said he usually
has some story that he is late due to rain etc. but she says it hasn't been raining... so.... Anyway, we ended up having a good talk with her and giving her a pamplet which she was eager to 'devour', as she put it. She was an impressive girl. She will call us when her chef gets back and we will keep in touch with her. We really like her and felt good about our visit. We had seen the place a few weeks ago and Jim felt like he wanted to go and check it out!!

Our power came back on last evening so we watched a video with the Taylors (Pride and Prejudice). Then we lost power again early this a.m. The power has been off at the mission offices for 3 days but they just turn on the generator. :)

Yesterday a white lady, named Pam, came to see us. A member of the Highlands ward and his family live at her house (probably in a back building on the property). They are black. She used to employ him and then her brother did for a while to help them out. Then she took them back in when they had no place to go. At some point - through this member asking, she got a wheelchair from LDSC for herself. She no longer needs it but her elderly mother is using it. She has been
asking this fellow to please move out of her place (they have 4 children and are expecting another any day). He is not working for her but does have a job. He pays her no rent. He won't leave.
Anyway - he has told her to give him the wheelchair (that he says is his) and then he will leave - she wondered if she needed to give it to him. We told her No, that it is not his and that if her mother is using it she can keep it as long as she needs to. We talked to his bishop this morning about the situation and he will talk to the fellow. Hopefully he can get him to move and leave this
poor woman alone. It is really quite incredible.

Love you all and love to get your emails!!! Elder and Sister Bullock

Electric (ZESA) Bill

We received a bill for our electricity for our flat. Everyone (couples) have thought that it was paid with the condo fees but we found out it isn't. Apparently the billing is in such a mess that no one has been receiving them and they just go down and pay $20 or each month. Taylors have been here for almost 18 months and never paid anything.

Our bill was for $78 - we paid $60. Apparently if people don't pay by the end of June they will cut off our power. Not like we don't get regular power cuts anyway!!!!! :) Who knows when it was ever paid before so I guess $78 is pretty good.

This country is in such a mess!! It truly is amazing. We have to just laugh about it or we'd want to cry for these people. It goes to show what happens when a country just stops giving services and
keeping up the infrastructure.

Wednesday

Hi,

Some feelings I want to share first -- On Sunday at the stake conference they sang "Come Follow Me" 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th verses. It was the last of the 5th verse (especially the last line that touched
me and made me get all teary).

We must the onward path pursue
As wider fields expand to view
And follow him unceasingly,
Whate'er our lot or sphere may be. (what a sad lot and sphere they received here!)

And then the song goes on:

For thrones, dominions, kingdoms, pow'rs
And glory great and bliss are ours,
If we, throughout eternity,
Obey his words, "Come, follow me."

Wow! These words took on a new meaning for me.

Yesterday we went with Pastor Wonder and delivered a wheelchair to a lady. It will help her to get around better - even though someone has to push her as she is partially paralyzed. She can't talk but did manage a bit of a smile. Her mother, who takes care of her, was really happy.

Wheelchair recipient - can't use her right side

Showing us how she grind maize

Kitchen & Cooking area

Lunch was ready

Today we gave some blankets, soap and hygiene kits out to a farm where they rehabilitate mentally challenged people. We originally visited there last week. Just as a bit of information you might find interesting -- the Canadian Mental Health Assoc. donated the land for this farm. Horray for Canada!! We were impressed with what they are doing there - gardening, cows, rabbits, and chickens. Having the animals helps them to have manure/compost for their garden. It was the healthiest one we have seen - nice big vegetables.

Distributing blankets, soap and hygiene kits at Zimbabwe National Mental Health Centre in Ruwa

We often see this type of wheelchair - plastic lawn chair bolted to the frame

Cattle pen

Cattle

Speaking of composting - Pastor Wonder was asking us for fertilizer when we first went to his place. He thanked us yesterday for suggesting that he should try composting for his garden. (they don't generally do that here). He started doing it and said he had enough extra to donate some vegetables (rape - green leafy one) to the hospital. I'm glad it worked!!! They use a lot of that vegetable here -- they don't need seeds to grow it. They break off a piece and just stick it into the ground and it grows.

Keeper of the rabbits

Cook house (left), rabbit and chicken buildings (behind)

Tomorrow we are driving 120 km. to an orphanage in Guruve to take some blankets, etc. Olivia, one of the ladies there, is coming here at 9:00 a.m. to meet us and will ride back with us and show us the way there. She says it will take a couple of hours to get there as some of the roads are not so good. It will be an all-day trip but should be interesting.

Love to all, Nancy