Danangwe mill/dehuller

This project has taken longer than we had planned. Firstly, because we had to upgrade the transformer so that it would be big enough to run the mill. We had to apply for extra funds for the project, which was no problem. They like the project in South Africa. The community contributed and built a building for the mill and it has been ready for a few weeks.

ZESA said all along that they had a transformer for us but as soon as we transferred the money then they told us there wasn't one in stock. It took some persistence but they finally found us one and managed to get the other things they needed to install it and while we were in Zambia last week it was installed. Hurray!! We were so glad to hear that when we got back.

Monday Precision Grinders were going to take the mill/dehuller out and install them but something wasn't ready so it was postponed to yesterday morning. We were told to be there by 10 and they would be ready to go (We had to take them out as it is in the middle of nowhere). We were there before 10 and signed the paperwork and then we waited for 2 1/4 hours before they were loaded and ready to go. Sigh!!!!

When we arrived at Danangwe people cheered. They were really excited to see the mill finally arrive.

27 July 2010 - The maize mill and dehuller for Danangwe School and Quinton our sales rep at Precision Grinders

There was lots of manpower to help unload it into the building.

Unloading the dehuller -- they are heavy

The guys from Precision Grinders started to hook things up and we realized WE hadn't bought some cables etc. that we were to supply. We drove back into Chegutu with Bro. Murenje and ran around to 3 different little electrical shops and were REALLY lucky to find everything we needed. We rushed back to the mill and they got it all hooked up BUT the electricity went off about 10 minutes before they were done so we couldn't test the equipment. :(

Bro. Murenje and Elder Bullock

Elder Bullock at Danangwe School standing in the one and only spot where they can get cell phone network

The handover ceremony is scheduled at the school for this next Wednesday and Quinton, from Precision will go with us and he can check it out then. Elder and Sister Bean will be here on Monday so they can also go the the ceremony with us.

We had a busy day today talking to a borehole drilling company. They were quite helpful and we learned a lot. We will likely use them up in Lower Muzarabani (at least Beans will if they like them). We also had several other people come in today as well so we were busy.

We have been advised by our people in South Africa that we should wait for Beans to start writing up the water projects and that has taken a lot of stress off our shoulders. When they arrive we will review everything with them and go from there.

We have packed a couple of suitcases. We will move out of our flat on Friday and will stay at Bro. & Sis. Sharp's home until we leave so that Beans can move into the flat as soon as they arrive. We are going to Masvingo on Saturday and return Sunday - our last Sunday to
be at that branch. :( Lots of goodbyes coming up soon!! :(:(

Love, Elder & Sister Bullock

Pictures

21 July 2010 - Out for supper with President Dube and some of the missionaries

We went to 9 clinics today to check on things. Most of them are close to the target number of children that they were hoping to do. They need to vaccinate 1.7 million kids to make it a successful campaign and make a difference to measles in the country. It is looking like it will be successful!! Glad we could help out with our little efforts. The 'helping hands' volunteers have done a great job and have really been appreciated. Tomorrow we head back to Harare.

23 July 2010 - They just had their shots - can you tell?

School kids waiting in line

Look at his face

Still big crowds waiting at the clinics for their shots

A funny picture - at least I thought it was! :)

This was being put up outside one of the clinics today.
Actually this procedure is being recommended as they say it helps to not pass AIDS -- not quite sure why though. There are billboards promoting it recently though.

Some of our 'helping hands' volunteers

Cute little patient

Kids playing&working in their yard

The moms and girls getting water at the community tap

Wanna go to a movie?

Selling charcoal on side of street

Zambia

We have spent the week in Zambia. I don't know how much help we have been but we did try to a bit. They had volunteers all arranged for the clinics each day and as we have checked they have always been there and the clinics seem to be happy to have the help. The children from ages 6 months to 5 years are getting the measles shot, polio, vitamin A and a deworming pill. There are so many people lined up with their kids. It is really great to see.

The only problem that we have heard about with the volunteers is that one young man was charging people to let them go to the front of the line and then later in the day is was reported to be very drunk!! YIKES!! That isn't very good publicity for the church. I'm sure he will be having an interview very soon with the District President.

The church does struggle somewhat here in Zambia as leaders of other churches have told people that we are Satanists. We hope that by doing all this volunteering and being visible at the clinics it will help people realize that we are Christians and trying to be good people.

Zambia is really dusty these days - dry season and a bit windy. A lot of the kids look so dirty because of the dust -- well and because they are. When there isn't water readily available and you have to haul it quite a distance then......

We went with the district Pres. yesterday to look at an area that needs water. We will pass on what we saw to the Beans and they can hopefully do something here, perhaps on next year's water budget, as the projects we have started will pretty much use up the $300,000 allotted for 2010. It sounds like they will get even more next year.

It is now Friday morning and we are heading out to see if we can get some numbers from the clinics of how many have been immunized so far.

We will head back to Zimbabwe tomorrow morning. It has been nice to be here with the Esplins (they got back on Wed.). They are easy people to be around and we enjoy them.

Much love, The Bullocks

Pictures

7 July 2010 - The Bullocks with Mike & Kathy Johnson, our water specialists

Witching or Divining a well - I could do it when holding his hand and the stick

Elder Bullock can do it!

Locardia trying it - she had to hold his hand to be able to do it

Measuring how deep the water is underground

8 July 2010 - 044 Cute kids

9 July 2010 - Handover ceremony at Henry John Reimer Clinic (aka Chifumbi Clinic)

Two MP's - he just received the hat as a gift.

Receiving our gifts

Locardia Murenza, Bullocks & Sis. Johnson

Bullocks with Sister Munyati, head nurse at Henry John Reimer Clinic

10 July 2010 - The Murenji family's baptism

Sunrise on a cool morning at antelope park

Sunrise reflected on water at Antelope Park

12 July 2010 - Our water project 'team'. We spent a lot of time working on our water projects with Johnsons, the water specialists. This is us and Johnsons and Locardia (hygiene supervisor), Bro. Seka and Mhike (borehole site monitors).

12 July 2010 - Seka isn't comfortable being hugged so.... o well!! I had to tease Seka a little!!

Having lunch on top of the mountain before going down to Lower Muzarabani

15 July 2010 - We gave him the "Gap" hat that Pam sent over with Bronte. He was so cute and had such a great smile. He loved it!!

17 July 2010 - How do you like the scaffolding on this building -- made out of poles and seems rather unsafe. This is in Lusaka, Zambia.

More of the scaffolding YIKES!

19 July 2010 - Measles campaign in Lusaka, Zambia. So many people came to the clinics on the first day. Members waiting for their volunteer assignments.

Mothers waiting with babies and small children (0 - 5 years)

Elder Bullock in his Helping Hands shirt

Our guide, Bro. Chansa, Bro. Chichinga and Elder Bullock discussing plan

People lined up for Measles shots, deworming pill and vitamin A

Sunday morning

We spent yesterday going around with a couple of people dropping of 'helping hands' T-shirts to the branches. We would have been totally lost without them to direct us. The measles campaign starts on Monday and we have extra shirts in our truck that we will deliver to them if they need more.

A missionary serving here had a problem yesterday so we spent some time talking with him and arranged for him to talk to the mission dr. last night. Hopefully he will be okay. He and his companion spent the night here, just in case, but he was fine. They are off to their area this morning.

Late in the afternoon yesterday we went to find a squash court that is nearby. Ishmael had told us about it. We found it and ended up visiting with half dozen squash players that were sitting around drinking their beer. They bought us mineral water. We gave out some article of faith cards and one fellow was interested in discussing them. That squash court doesn't open until 8:00 a.m. and we need to go earlier than that so one fellow gave us directions to another court not far away. He said to give his name and we could get in for free and just pay the court fee of $2.00/hr. That was nice of him - we will give it a try in the morning. The guys were all very friendly and think we should come back and live in Zambia.

Zambia is not a lot different than Zimbabwe, from what we can see so far. We think some roads are better and they do have a nice shopping mall close by with a "subway" restaurant. We bought chicken and chips/fries for lunch and then bought a few groceries.

I need to download some pictures off my camera and send a few for the blog. I will do that later today. It is nice to have internet here at this house so we can do those things in the evenings. We should move to Zambia - this house is VERY nice!

We are heading off to church and it sounds like there are meetings afterwards to make sure that the branches are all organized with their volunteers for the week. Each branch is helping out at 2 or 3 clinics each.

Love, Sister Bullock