Monday Morning

Another quick update - I hope we aren't going on about this too much for you. We talked to the elders last night on the phone and they told us why our family 'the Kurevas' had to move. Their landlord told them the missionaries were not allowed to come and teach them at their home anymore so they moved and apparently the new landlord lives far away and so it won't be an issue. We haven't seen their new place yet - we will go with the Elders on Saturday.

Also, the son, Panashe's best friend, Brite, has been in on the discussions too and they gave him a Book of Mormon to take home for his parents and now his parents have an appointment with the missionaries on Thursday. AND.... some of the extended family are interested - Gift's brother and family and Zvikomborero's friend.

Just a note about their home and moving. Here people have little homes with 2 or 3 or 4 rooms - usually with separate entrances and then they will rent out a room or two. The Kureva family was renting one room (about 10' x 10') with 1 little window for $20/month. They have one double bed (wood frame and wood base - no mattress or pad) and the kids sleep on the cement floor with blankets that are stored under the bed. They have a little table by the window where they keep a little food and pot/pan and dishes and they have one or two small stools to sit on. In the other corner at the end of the bed they have their few clothes in a couple of boxes. When we taught them the discussion we crowded in - we and the elders sitting on the edge of the bed and the kids on the floor.

They do their cooking outdoors and spend the majority of their time out. No water (except what they haul from the well) and no electricity. It is as if they are camping ALL the time but that is how lots of people live here. They have to try and find wood or can buy it on the roadside from someone else who has managed to get it. You see people hauling wood on their heads and bikes all the time - trying to make a few dollars for themselves. They can cook with very little wood or sawdust or dry corncobs. (We waste so much and think nothing of it!!!!)

If they make $100/month here they are getting by. Except that they can't afford to pay their children's school fees or buy uniforms. There are people that make more and might rent 2 or 3 rooms for their family and there are some who actually have a house. They make more money. We pay our garden help here at the LDSC gardens $.85/hr for the head worker and $.75/hr. to his helper. That money comes out of the project initiative, but we worry what they will do if we do not keep the garden functioning, and we may not. We have been suggesting that they need to look for some other ways to make some money - besides we aren't paying enough for them to really function and we are not employers!!!! -- it is just short term labor when there is work. School teachers and police are getting paid $100/month right now and that is not enough. They survive because they have gardens. They just keep going to work hoping that things are going to change and get better soon. A bad paying job is better than no job at all.

There are some people here that seem to do fine and drive decent cars etc. The majority do not have vehicles though and they bum rides or take the transit or walk for miles. Gas just went up to $1.50/ltr. YIKES!!

Sorry to have rambled on. We do get accustomed to what we see here and as I have said before - they are happy for the most part because they know nothing different. They pray a lot and say that God will provide and will make things better.

Must run - time to head to the airport and Jo'burg (Johannesburg). Love you.