Sunday, August 30, 2009

It has been a busy 10 days or so since I last reported our happenings. I will start with this weekend and then go back.

We had Elder Holland here and it was a great experience for everyone. He arrived Friday. The area president, Elder Kolliker and his wife were also travelling with Elder Holland. They had a meeting with all the missionaries for about 45 minutes before the devotional started. Elder Bullock was there for that meeting and I wanted to be but I needed to also be with the choir as they were doing sound tests with the organ and choir to get ready. They did have to make some microphone changes etc. to make it all work. There were about 200 in the choir and they sounded great. I played the keyboard (organ) and I guess I did okay – not perfect but, okay. I did get several good comments afterwards. (I was all they had – no one here really plays). It was a good meeting and Elder Holland gave a good talk and an apostolic blessing on everyone in the congregation. Merci was there and loved the whole thing. Zvikomberero (our investigator from Epworth) was there too – also the X-boyfriend, Gift (but not together). They both loved it. Our x-pastor, Seka came to town for the meeting too. We were so glad that they were all there.

Seka told us that his wife’s parents are elders in the church that he just quit recently and they are not at all happy with his decision so consequently they have taken their daughter (his wife) back and left him with the two children until he comes to his senses. He feels really bad but he says he plans to ‘press on’. He still wants to move to Harare so he can get baptized and be close to our church. He is studying the material that we gave him. We are just waiting for someone to get back to town this week that may give him a job. He is a really good man.

Gift, the guy who beat Zvikomberero, asked to talk to us last week so we went to see him. He did admit to beating her but said, “I’ve only beat her three times since 2006”. YIKES – what an answer! Elder Bullock explained the church’s stand on such behaviour and told him it was unacceptable and that he has some repenting to do. He is still coming to church and wants to continue with the discussions. It will take some time before he could be baptized. Zvikomberero is doing okay. She is staying at her brother’s father’s place for now and looking for a way to make some money. She will likely do some type of street vending.

Back to Elder Holland - After the devotional we hurried over to the mission home where we had supper pretty much ready beforehand. We served a potato bar, garlic loaf, jello salad and apple crumble with ice cream. They really liked the meal and thanked us for making “American” food. It turned out well. After the meal I got a ‘big’ hug from Elder Holland and a thank you for what we are doing here! Nice! He was really tired so they took him to the hotel and we stayed and cleaned up and were all done by 8:00. We had to get up early Saturday to head down to Mutare. I rode with Elder and Sister Deppe and we left about 7:00 a.m. and took food down so that we could have a light lunch set up and ready for them at the church when they arrived. We served chicken salad, a bun, carrot sticks, tomato wedge and pumpkin pie for dessert. At the last minute they decided they needed a bag lunch to eat on their way back to Harare on Sunday after the district conference – so Sat. we got the stuff and we made tuna sandwiches on left over buns, cookies, apple and a drink for them. It worked out good. The conference in Mutare was really good. There was training and an adult meeting on Saturday afternoon and the district conference this morning (Sunday). Elder Holland seemed relaxed and gave an excellent talk and again gave a blessing to the congregation. He said it was if he was laying his hands on each person’s head and giving each a blessing. It was really special. The people here in Zimbabwe were so thrilled to have a visit by an apostle and went to a lot of effort to make everything ready for him. It was wonderful to be part of it and to spend 3 days close to him. Saturday evening we had supper in a private room at the hotel with the missionaries from Mutare, Pres. Chadembuka (district pres.) & his wife. It was nice. While we were waiting to go down to the supper, we were in the hallway and Elder Holland invited us to come into his room for a visit (Elder Bullock and myself, his security fellow, Clint, and Pres. Dube). We just visited for 10 minutes or so. He had been to Cameroon on this tour and said that they stood on a hill and dedicated it for missionary work as no one seemed to think that had ever been done before. I told him that my parents were the first missionaries sent into Cameroon back in 1991 to get things going there. He was interested in that. (Hint for mom: He might be phoning you! I gave him your number ;)).

Elder & Sister Kolliker and Elder Holland wtih Dube children

Elder Holland with President Chadembuka and President Dube

Mutare missionaries with Elder Holland

Some Mutare Elders (Elder Knudsen is Elaine Edmonds' nephew)

Elder Holland with Clint, his security man

Remember the fellow we found out at the Refugee Camp a few weeks ago? Well he was at the conference. Apparently he has been into Mutare 3 times since we found him – once to church, and then helped with the service project last weekend and then again this weekend. It was good to see him and he sure seems happy to be involved in church again. I think he just didn’t know where to find it before we met him and told him.

Last weekend we went to Bulawayo to help them with their service project at the two hospitals. They did a lot of work and really made a difference with their cleaning inside and also on the grounds outside. We gave out ‘new-born’ kits to the new mothers at both hospitals. (about 130 kits) There were a lot of premature babies and there were several sets of twins. The babies were so tiny but only 2 were in an incubator. One mother had lost her baby so I went back and gave her a hygiene kit. I felt so bad for her. There was another girl who was crying because her baby had just been born and it was premature and they weren’t sure if it was going to live. It seems weird that they would let us wander around among all this but they do. Quite a bit different than at home.

Monday we met the World Vision people in Bulawayo and they took us north on the Victoria Falls road about 80 km. and then about 45 km. on a dust road. We went to the home of the little 4 yr. old girl that my friend, Florence, sponsors through World Vision. They were expecting us and there was singing and dancing as we drove up. The little girl was shy and seemed to know she was the center of attention, but she seemed to relax and smile after a little while. Her mother, father, brother and grandmother were there along with a few other relatives. Other people showed up as well. We had some blankets, soap, a few hygiene kits and some toys and balls that we took with us. Luckily there was enough for everyone to get something and they were thrilled. We were there for an hour or so and someone had to translate as they didn’t speak much English. We enjoyed our visit and I took lots of pictures for Florence. There is no work for them out there and they mostly just work in their gardens/fields to grow enough food for themselves. There were boreholes along the way for their water. We saw no vehicles out there except for carts pulled by donkeys or cattle/oxen. It was dry and dusty. Their little homestead/yard area was clean and looked nice.

Road to village

Going to bore hole to fill water jugs

On our way to visit Florence's World Vision child, Sithatshisiwe

Welcoming us

Sithatshisiwe's home

Singing and dancing as we arrived

There she is!!!

Mom with Sithatshisiwe and her brother

With her mom, brother and grandmother

Me with the family in front of their hut

Their yard with kitchen (left) and grandmothers hut (right)

Child with quilt we gave her and her brother with a ball

Sithatshisiwe and family

Sithatshisiwe with doll

Grandmother in her hut -- showing me her supply of maize corn

Elder Bullock wtih Sithatshisiwe (holding a doll we gave her)

Waving Good-bye

Monday afternoon we went with Pres. Makasi (Bulawayo stake pres.) to a center for handicapped children of all ages. Children come there for the day to give parents a chance to go to work or have a break. A lot of the children have cerebral palsy. They had a lot of needs at the centre – soft foods, mattresses, toys, hygiene needs, etc. etc. We had a case of soap and case of school kits in the truck and we left that with them. We also had a couple of balls that we gave the kids and they were thrilled. They would like $200,000 so that they can build a new center on some land that the city donated to them – however, we can’t do that. The people running the place are doing a good work with what they have. There are a lot of good people in this country trying to help the less fortunate in whatever way they can but they rely almost completely on ‘well-wishers’ for donations.

We are back in Harare now and will get back into our regular routine. Our garden is now producing tomatoes, cabbages, spinach and onions. We sell 20 big bundles of spinach to a near-by restaurant (50 cents/bunch) every Tuesday. We will sell onions and cabbages to Bishop Spencer who owns a SPAR (grocery) store hopefully (he gets back this week from his U.S. vacation). The gardens look good. I will go take a picture to send you. Huseni takes care of the gardens and also several members and non-members have plots where they can grow produce for themselves for their family or to sell if they want. We will likely be turning the whole garden project over to the ward to be directed by the priesthood leaders once this crop is finished and before the maize is planted in a couple of months. Zvkomberero is working in the garden for a couple of days helping with the weeding so that she can earn a little money and hopefully it will help her start her vending business. She needs $30 to start. We pay about 75 cents an hour for garden work.

Must run. We are doing fine. I have had a cold but it is better now – other than a bit of sniffles.

Love you all. Sister Bullock

Sunday, August 30th

Hello family,

We have had a very eventful month. We finished teaching Masalina Mugadza the discussions, and held her baptism and confirmation. She is a lovely lady, and we have come to love her tremendously. They ask the new converts to share their testimonies follow baptism. She did a
wonderful job.

We continue to work on some clean water projects around Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. The municiple water is mostly shut off. The estimate that 50-60 percent of the water runs down the streets from broken water mains. That means there is not enough pressure to have the water reach the outlying areas. We have not had water for the most part of the last two months. We heat up borehole water on the stove, pour it into the bathroom sink, and clean up with a wash cloth.

Last week we had the opportunity to travel to Bulawayo for a service project. All of the Church units are asked to perform acts of service on the 22nd of August. This stake chose to work at two hospitals, cleaning the inside, and outside, of the buildings and grounds. We brought some new-born baby kits to give to all the new mothers in the maternity wards of the two hospitals. Unfortunately, one mother lost her child. We did not want her to feel left out, we we gave her a
hygiene kit. It did not ese the pain of losing her baby, but I think appreciated Sister Bullock's gesture.

One of our friends in Airdrie sponsors a child in a village about 80 kilometers North and 50 kilometers East of Bulawayo. We spent an extra day down there and drove out to her village. We took blankets, toys for the kids, hygiene kits, and quilts. We started out with the little girls family, and ended up with lots more. That's the way it is. When someone gets something, they all think they need it, too. Luckily we had enough for everyone to get something.

This weekend, we had Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, for the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in Harare. He conducted a special devotional Friday night in Harare. We had about 2,500 people at the devotional. Before that, he spoke to all the full-time missionaries for about an hour.
Following the devotional, the senior couples and been asked to prepare a meal for him, Elder Kollicker (Area President and his wife). We all got to sit down with him, and enjoy the evening. The next morning, we all drove to Mutare, for their district conference. We were there while they instructed the Priesthood, then the adults for two sessions Saturday. We all had dinner with them at the Holiday Inn. While we were waiting for dinner, Elder Holland invited Sister Bullock and I, and a couple of others to sit in his room and just chat. He is a very kind man.

Sunday morning, as we were eating breakfast, he came to our table and chatted for a minute. Following breakfast, we all drove to the chapel where the Sunday General Session was to be held. The building was full, the choir rivaled anything we had seen, and the messages were
wonderful. Elder Holland said that the scripture the first shall be last and the last shall be first had particular meaning for Africa, as they are some of the last to have the gospel preached to them, but they will be among the first in the munbr of baptisms that will be the result of the Gospel coming to them. They are a very receptive people, a god loving people. It is not every day you can sit with and eat eith an Apostle for three days.

We have driven many miles in the last few weeks, and we are happy to be able to be at home, if only for the week. We love the people of Africa! We encourage all who are at that point in their lives where they can go serve to go and do it!

Love to all.
Elder Bullock

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

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Logan’s birthday today! Happy Birthday.

First thing this morning a lady came in. She got pregnant and got HIV (the baby died) but she was shunned by her family and also the father of the baby. She was in tears and wanting some help. It is hard to know if their stories are for real sometimes but sometimes it is better to give them the benefit of the doubt. I gave her a few things and hope it will help her out.

Pastor Wonder came to see us first thing this morning too and wanted some things to take back to his people. We gave him a bundle of clothes, bag of shoes, blankets, soap, and a few hygiene kits. We trust that he will give them to those who need the help. Before he left another man, Pastor Zachariah, came asking for help for two families. He had a list of their ages and gender. He came with a wheel barrow to take it home in – he didn’t live too far away. Then a lady and her child came – asking for money (which we don’t give). We did however notice that her shoes were not very good so we offered her a pair of shoes and some sandals for the child. Gave her sandals, shorts and headband from container

Tabeth then came and was hoping we can help her with some items to assist some of the people that she tries to help. We will see what we can do. We had a couple more phone calls from others who want our help with items. By this time though we were feeling a little overwhelmed with it all. It is great to have the container here but I think our greatest challenge is ahead of us – trying to figure out where it should go and how!!

One lady, Lettie, who is requesting help for her orphanage wants to come in tomorrow. We are not going to give to her as we have found out that they were seen selling food that Rob Spencer gave to the orphanage. He has cut her off after giving a lot of food to her for over 4 years. We already told her that we know about that and are not giving to her either. We had a member of the branch presidency from Enterprise come in with a list of names that we had requested he get together for us. He had previously asked us about helping some orphans and widows who live in their area. We feel good about doing that and arranged to take some things out there next Monday for distribution. He will organize it at the church yard. There will be about 100, so we will see how that goes.

President Neild called and ask if we would drive out to Howard Hospital about 1 ¼ hours away in the rural area. We went there this afternoon and met with Dr. Thistle. He is from Toronto and has lived in Zimbabwe for 15 years doctoring at this hospital. He has some doctors come now and then from the U.S. and Canada and spend a few weeks helping out. There are 3 doctors at the hospital and I think he said 40 nurses. It was old and run down but functional. They can certainly use anything we can give – blankets, hygiene kits, newborn kits, soap, etc. You just can’t even imagine the crowded conditions and the line ups for help – he said the lines were short today! Dr. Thistle is taking next month off and will be visiting Canada. He will be in Calgary and mentioned that he will be visiting at Peter Lougheed Hospital. (small world sometimes)

We saw this on our drive to Howard hospital. 'Tis the season for burning grass - I don't understand why the fires don't get away on them.

Lots of orange groves on the way to Bendura

Yard of hospital - generator used a lot!

Waiting room at Howard Hospital (not a lot today!)

Dr. Thistle (from Toronto) in children's ward at Howard Hospital

Maternity ward - 2500 babies born here each year

Preemie at Howard Hospital

Operating room getting sterilized

Toilet at hospital. YIKES!!!

Men's bathroom at hospital

They need wheelchairs

On our way home from the hospital we came across a group of ladies and some children. They were selling their buckets of sweet potatoes on the side of the dusty road. I said, ‘let’s stop and give them each a hygiene kit’. So Jim stopped and backed up to where they were. We gave each of the 13 ladies a kit and they were so appreciative. That was really the highlight of our whole day!!

Gave ladies each a hygiene kit on side of road

Jim entertaining group - juggling

Love you, Sis. Bullock

Friday

Hi, It has been a good day. We went to UNICEF and talked to them. I hope it went well and they understand!! The church has sent them 5 containers of hygiene kits and in exchange we are suppose to get some things but.... He suggested we write up a request and did say we could get water tablets and soap. They don't want us duplicating where they give out -- but they do huge districts and we do smaller needs - like some of our wards/branches need water purification tablets or an orphanage. We will figure it out. I don't think it will be a problem getting a few things - we tried to make him understand that we weren't wanting a container's worth.

Then we went and picked up our 100 cabbages - actually from Honey Dew Farms - a farm and store just 2 blocks away from where we live. Tabeth had sent out some letters to places requesting donations and that is how she got the cabbage. They were nice cabbages. We took them to Epworth - area we have been visiting lately that is so needy. The people were waiting for us and thrilled to get their one cabbage each. We were late getting there because the cabbages were suppose to get delivered here but then we got a call asking if we could pick them us. People had been waiting for us for a couple of hours - they are so patient!

Picking up cabbages from Honey Dew Farm

People lined up to receive cabbage

He is happy to get the left over leaves

Our baby is still okay - I wish we could weigh him to see if he is gaining but..... I think he is only about 4 lbs or so (that is my guess) but he is eating and is sucking good so I think he will be alright.

Our Baby, Edson.

Our container hasn't arrived yet. Just to let you know what is coming on it, if you are wondering:
15 bales of ladies clothing
15 bales of men's clothing
15 bales of youth clothing
2 pallets mixed shoes
3 pallets hygiene kits
1 pallet newborn kits
3 pallets school kits
2 pallets orphanage modules
2 pallets quilts - double size
2 pallets quilts - single size
1 pallet toy module
2 pallets blankets (wool) 420 per pallet
You can imagine why we are so anxious to get this. There is a lot of stuff. We also have 540 blankets that are ready for delivery to us that were bought here in Harare and some soap. Winter is coming here and people are cold so that will be really good to have.

Elder and Sis. Taylor came by (their apt. door is right next to ours) and said they wanted to take us out for supper for my birthday and I could choose where we go. I chose chinese and it is really good and inexpensive.

We are going with Taylors tomorrow to Masvingo (spelling) where they have a branch (congregation) that they look after. They are having a service project at a hospital in the morning and we are taking some hygiene kits (about 40, I think). In the afternoon Elder Taylor has to do some training but Jim and I may go to a tourist site called "The Great Zimbabwe". Apparently it is a must to see. We will probably take pictures and tell all about it on Monday. We will stay
overnight and go to church on Sunday at the branch and then head home. It is a 3 hr. drive and apparently the roads leave a lot to be desired!

Sis. Taylor also made me a birthday cake and brought it to the mission office along with some ice cream. That was nice of her. She had up a Happy Birthday sign as well.

So - it has been a good day.

Avocados from our complex

Love, The Bullocks