Greetings from Botswana - From Corn

This is from Cornelia who lives in Botswana. She was here with Reeve, CC, and Lolly for a month or so and we got to know her. She is organizing a day trip to Botswana for us when we go to Victoria Falls in April so that we can see some 'amazing' animals and sights. Thought these pictures were really good -- also there is a letter following her's from CC about what they are doing and the containers. Thought you might enjoy -- if not, sorry!!

Nancy/mom

Hi All

Just a quick email to show you a little of where I live and what I have been up to since the beginning of the year. I know I haven’t written to some of you in a very long time…my apologies, I hope to keep in touch. Work has been hard and I hope it is all in the name of progress. I am great though…still single…unfortunately – the years are flowing by quite quickly these days…its scary! But hope for the best and I am still smiling most of the time. I love my job, as you can see I live in an amazing place. It is high time some of you came for a visit…

These two hippos were fighting… it was amazing to watch.

We were completely surrounded by these…had to wait for them to finish their siesta before we could move.

This guy was right on the side of the road…not even bothered by us.

Blue Cheeked Bee-Eater

…have a great day.

Big Hugs to all

Me

Kind regards

Cornelia Rautenbach

Operations Manager

Chobezi Safaris

Greetings everyone!!!

I apologize for my absence however, I have had such struggle getting to my e-mail while in Zimbabwe.

I hope this e-mail finds you well and excited about 2010! IT is a magnificent year that will be filled with fun, laughter and memorable moments. Just don’t forget to record them and keep them. As you might see below, I got a camera for my birthday and are very excited to show you all how I spend my 2010!!

We are now on the road for a month, and the internet is again up and running! So are we!!! We have spent the past four days in South Africa spending time with a friend who is having some health issues, had a golf day with a sponsor and we are now in Christchurch, New Zealand for a week to play the ‘Pegasus New Zealand Women’s Open’ before heading for Australia for ‘The Australian Open’ and ‘The Australian Masters’. This early start of our golf season is ALWAYS a highlight for us as we really enjoy the sunshine, the beach and the ‘Aussie-atmosphere!’

It has been such a busy time since Christmas, however it has been filled with one highlight after the other.

First... My birthday!!! J

Had a fabulous time with MANY friends visiting for the day. We had an ‘afternoon’ party due to the amount of children that were attending and we had a ‘mexican theme’ with enchiladas, fajitas and all the trimmings. It was SO fun!!!

Left: Reeve, Lolly and I with the Missionary couples that are in Zimbabwe!

Right: The entire ‘crew’ that came to the party! It was SO fun!!

Then we were excited to hear that the three containers we had packed and shipped from America, had arrived. We had them off-loaded on the church grounds (for safety and for easy access) and then gathered the troops to help us get organized. We already had one container there, so we un-packed, organized and re-packed the four containers so it now looks like a shop. We can go in there, locate what we need and then give it out to the most needed people here in Zimbabwe. It was SO much work, however SO much fun with the willing souls showing up to help us. What a Blessing!

We spent three whole days, re-organizing and sorting the containers, however we are SO grateful for the help, the kindness and the willingness of the people there. We are SO grateful for the donations and for everyone making these miracles happen. It really is a miracle, as we know that people’s lives will now be changed AND saved by the items in these containers. THANK YOU to all of you who have assisted!

I am a happy camper these days, I am enjoying myself and I’m happy with who I am and where I am..... Are you?? If not.... change it! Life’s too short to mess about!

Lots of love to you all,

Hugs Cecilie

Our Containers!!!

Hi, Thought you might be interested in this email we got from Reeve, CC, and Lolly regarding the containers they received and we helped unpack last week. Some of their golf sponsors paid for the containers and the shipping and lots of donors, filled the containers. It was a great undertaking. There are a lot of medical supplies. I went with Reeve and we took a vehicle full of medical supplies to a local dr. who has helped us for free when we took a couple of different people there who had come to us for help. There are also a lot of clothes, books etc. in the containers - it will help a lot of people.

Sister Bullock

Greetings everyone!!! (This is CC)

Last week we un-packed, organized and re-packed our three containers that were shipped from Utah in December. Everything in the containers needed to be re-packed and re-organized so that the Doctors could have easy access in choosing their necessary medical supplies. We also needed to know exactly what we had and have easy access to it so that distribution could be made easier.

When we reflected on the amazing miracles, the helping hands, the kind hearts, the sweat and hard work from SO many people around the world, we have only two words to say – THANK YOU!!

The overwhelming feeling of excitement, joy and peace came over us as we realized how many people we could now assist and how many Prayers will be answered through your acts of kindness, giving great ‘hope’ to so many Zimbabweans! THANK YOU!

We have had SO many donors assisting this ‘project’ so names will not be mentioned, however know that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kind contribution, your help and your effort in making this happen. When the three containers were sent on ‘Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistic’s’ ship from Houston, we were overjoyed and SO very excited! They were on their way! Now we had to go to Zimbabwe to prepare for their arrival.

The rumour had already hit Zimbabwe and the response from everyone was SO fun to see & feel! Willing souls, members and non-members alike, offered to help, so when they finally arrived in Harare on February 12^th, we could barely wait to get started! Some land was cleared by our Church building, so we off loaded and lined up the containers so that we could have easy access!

The sun was shining…And so were we!!!

We already had one container lined up so we could organize and create a GREAT store room for all the donated items!

Volunteers came, old and young and as we provided food and drinks for everyone, they worked from morning to night to help us organize the much needed medical supplies, medicines, food, clothing, shoes, hygiene and new born kits, books, toys, school supplies, blankets and quilts! It was amazing to see how excited everyone was to help us!

As we were unpacking, Reg Nield (Reeve’s Dad) pointed us to a little Family that was temporarily staying close by, waiting to attend an ‘Eyes 4 Zimbabwe’ eye camp. The Father was completely blind (unfortunately he may not be assisted as he had measles when he was younger), the Mother was partially blind however this was rectified with surgery last week, and their little Son was bind in both eyes due to cataracts, he received his eye sight completely this last week after two 15minute operations! AMAZING!

We found food, clothing and nutritional supplements for them immediately…an awesome BLESSING to be able to assist them right away!

Each day we opened an un-packed new container and each day screams of joy and happiness came from everyone who was assisting us. The excitement of the

much needed supplies, food, clothing, books, school kits etc, we could hear out loud ! We were SO grateful for everyone’s participation and kind hearts!!!

We THANK each of you for your service, assistance, time, money and efforts that you put into this great project and for believing that it could happen as much as we did!

We pray that you will each understand the TERRIFIC impact that you have had on the Zimbabwean people! You have helped save lives, answer prayers and give joy and hope to thousands of people who currently are struggling to stay alive.

THANK YOU ALL!

May The Lord continue to Bless you and your family!

Kind regards,

Cecilie, Laurette and Reeve

Thursday, November 26, 2009

We are busy, busy, busy, but I guess that is good. I just wanted to tell you about a couple of things that make us smile (well actually frustrate us but better to laugh about it than cry or get mad!!)

We need ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Assoc) to run the power to the grinding mill building at the school. We took the ZESA employee out to the building so he could give us a list of items we need to buy. WE have managed to acquire all the items but that was a nightmare itself as we had to go to different shops in the busiest part of downtown and they all quote different prices (especially when they see a white face that might have money). One item was a 3 phase breaker box and one place wanted $120 and came down to $90 --- however, we got it somewhere else for $48. Anyway, we went to ZESA this morning as we need a quote in writing for the hook-up and we need to pay them ahead of time, of course. We have to go back on Monday, pick up the quote, take it 'downtown' and pay for it, and then take the receipt back to the ZESA building (in the other end of the city) to prove we have paid. Then... if we want the
work done anytime soon, we need to go pick up 3 ZESA employees and take them out to the job site and wait while they do the job. If we don't drive them out then we would wait indefinitely for them to go because they have no diesel for their own vehicles. We have to buy all the electrical supplies for the job and after the job is complete everything then belongs to ZESA. That will be the case with the transformers we are buying for the clinics too!! Crazy!!!

Traffic Jam.
The picture doesn't do this justice. It was absolutely crazy driving there today (downtown Harare). It is actually crazy all the time in this area but we had no choice today. We had to buy some electrical supplies for the grinding mill. One place tried to charge us $120 for one thing and we got it elsewhere for $48.

Panel Beaters means Vehicle Body Shop

Combies -- these guys hang out and yell and whistle to let people know where they are going.

OH YES! Some good news!! We just got an email that our 3 projects that went to the area presidency yesterday got approved. (2 clinic projects for transformers and to fix the boreholes, and the project to repair the 3 boreholes, and service 1 borehole near Chegutu). Hurray!!

The other thing I wanted to write about is a letter of request I got last week. These people live out in the rural area near our '4' borehole project. They live close to one of the boreholes and the husband is going to be trained to maintain the pump and will be on the water committee. That is how we met them. This is what is says: (exactly as written)

Dear Madam,
I wrote this letter to you. I face a problem on 3 August my young daughter burn someone's huts and a car so they ask me to pay their property, seven tones of maize and to repair their car and built their huts. I have managed to give him two tones of maize and five hens, four blankets, seven cups, 2 pots, 12 plant, one teapot and two buckets. As from now I still build their huts that's why you can see my house is not yet finished because the bricks and the grass which is suppose to build and thatch my house is going to build and to thatch their house. This is the problem I am facing so I don't have anything to do with this problem that's why I am asking for a help from you.

Yours faithfully, Mrs. Chimarizeni

I am not sure exactly what she wants from me but.... We get a LOT of letters of request but this one was kind of unique. There really isn't anything we can do to help her.

Another interesting couple of things that have appeared with the rainy season --- the termites come out of their holes and have wings. They are everywhere and they are gross (at least to me). When we went out into the rurals yesterday our windshield was plastered with them and we
washed it off before we returned home. (with some water and a broom we have in the truck). It made the window quite streaky. We tried to polish it up with some toilet paper we had and that helped a bit. I guess it really needed some soapy water and a rag which we will have to put in the truck for a month or two until they are gone. The other thing that comes with the rains are a LOT of black millipedes. They are big too - about 3 - 4 inches long and gross looking!! I wouldn't want to step on one and slip!!!

How do you like this road grater?

Gave this family suckers.
Stopped and ask directions as we were kind of lost trying to find a school out in the rural area. At least they knew where it was and helped us on our way.

We are headed to Mutare tomorrow morning to arrange for the motor for the grinding mill there. Saturday we will talk at the YSA conference on dating and marriage. We found some good information that E/S Taylor left in their files so that helped us a lot. Saturday morning
Elder Bullock (maybe me too) and Pres. Chadambuka have to do an audit at a branch there where there is a question about some possible missing money. We hope we can find it so that there won't need to be a disciplinary council.

We will attend meetings on Sunday and then head back to Harare. We have a busy December developing already. We were considering a trip to Zambia to look at a garden project there that we have received requests for but we have decided to wait as we cannot work the trip into our timetable right now without totally stressing ourselves out.

We received the following invitation today from Danangwe Primary School (where we are repairing borehole) near Chegutu:

Dear Elder and Sister Bullock
Danangwe Primary school will be having a prize giving day on Dec. 1st. We cordially invite you to this important day. Sister Bullock is being requested to be the guest of honor. I hope you will appreciate our invitation. (That means I have to speak for 10 minutes - Ugh!) I'm not sure why I am the guest of honor except that I did give them all those school kits.

The school head said that they ask the kids who they should invite and they all said, Elder Bullock, so he can teach us how to whistle. (He should be the guest of honor!!)

We are working on one and hopefully two more projects that we want to send in this next week (both to do with grinding mills).

Must run. Love to all, Elder and Sister Bullock

Mailing Information

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