2009 Approved Budget - Zimbabwe

This is an email Mom & Dad received from one of the Brethren in South Africa. They thought you might find this interesting.

Love, Kim

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As we begin to approach mid-year, we take the opportunity to remind you of your approved budget for 2009 as follows:

• Clean Water - 2 projects, Zimbabwe; 2 projects, Zambia; 1 project, Malawi
• Wheelchairs – 500, Zimbabwe; 250, Zambia; 250, Malawi
• NeoNatal Resuscitation – None
• Vision - None
• Emergency Response - As needed and approved on an individual basis
• Area Initiative budget - US$100,000 (total for all assigned countries)
• Country Directors budget – US$18,700

In addition to the above, a Family Food Production project is being suggested for Zimbabwe. This will be a pilot project, if it is approved later in the year. We now know that NO additional projects will be approved unless other areas do not use all their allocated resources. Unfortunately, we will not know this until much later in the year. Given the adverse economic climate throughout the world, we encourage you to be careful in your use of the resources provided, particularly your country directors budget.

With thanks for all you do.

Hi, We are at the mission home checking emails. We have had a busy day that started with a meeting with the area authority from South Africa and all the stake and district presidents, mission president and welfare humanitarian couples (that is us). It was very positive and we were so impressed with those men and what they are trying to do.

This afternoon we met with the Turners for a few hours and are trying to learn some of what we need to learn.

Things are actually getting better here for the people. There is food back on the shelves at the stores if they can afford to buy it. The unemployment rate is 95% so they are trying to do whatever they can to exist and make a few dollars. There is hope that things are starting to improve. The U.S. dollar is being used now and the Zim dollar will no longer be accepted after June. It seems that will help a lot as one zillion Zim dollars equals less than a U.S. dollar. Maybe I can get some zillion dollar bills to bring home.

Tomorrow we are going to a branch about 1 1/2 hr. away. On Thursday we are going to another town to deliver some blankets and soap to a couple of orphanages and a senior's home. We will stay overnight as we have 4 appointments and we cannot drive home after dark. It is suppose to be a beautiful place. We will be with the Turners. They leave on March 16th so we are trying to get a grasp on how to do some of these things before they leave us. We are rather overwelmed but it will come.

Dad is talking to Kim and Brianne on skype so I better go get in on it. We will have to figue out a regular time to skype so family can plan to be online.

Love to all, Mom/Nancy/Sis. Bullock

(P.S. The time-stamp is MST - they are 9 hours ahead. Kim)

Hi to our family,
 
Not a lot happening here - just trying to keep busy.  Yesterday we went to the temple and then met our Inkom, ID friends for lunch in SLC.   After that we went to the Missionary Dept.  to ask how long it would take to book our flights once they got the go-ahead from the doctor.   We met with a nice guy who seemed happy to meet us since he said they had talked about us a lot.  He invited us to his office and he talked a lot about Zimbabwe - good stuff.   He's anxious to get us on our way.  We told him that Jim was feeling really good but that we couldn't get back to see the Dr. until Thurs. the 5th because Dr. Doty only sees patients in his office on Thursdays.   He said, "well lets see what we can do about that".  He got hold of Dr. Doty and told him that they wanted to get us away as soon as possible and wondered if he could expedite things for us.  Dr. Doty agreed to see us on Monday between surgeries.   Those brethern can certainly pull strings.  It's great!!!    
 
Apparently as soon as they get the ok they will start working on our flight plans and it could happen quite quickly. 
 
Our friends the Bennetts, from Airdrie, emailed that their daughter just had some surgery at that same hospital where we will be on Monday so we will get together with them for a little while.  That will be nice to see them.
 
Tonight we are going to a ward party with mom.  Tomorrow we are going out later in the day with Wade and Kim and possibly Diane for supper.  Sunday we are invited to dinner at Glen's, (dad's brother) -- grandma Bullock will be there too.  They live in Pleasant Grove (not far from here).  After that we will go to Diane's place for sugar-free dessert that is really yummy.
 
The weather has been rather nice - sorry to make you feel bad - I know it has been cold up there again.   It is a little cooler today but is suppose to warm up to 59degrees on Tues.  NICE!!   
 
We will start going through our things and packing for Zimbabwe.  We have accumulated a few things over the past month.  (paperwork, etc. from the MTC).  We will decide what we really need to take.  They gave us each a water bottle that filters out 99.99% of bad stuff.  They are suppose to be really good.  We are each allowed 2 - 50# checked bags and 1 - 40# carry on plus a purse or computer. That isn't too bad really.  We will have to pack heavier stuff in our small carry-ons along with a change of clothes in case luggage gets lost.  
 
Hope you are all doing ok.  Keep in touch and let us know.
 
Love, mom/dad,   Jim/nancy