Cornerstone No. 194, page 17
Summer in Zimbabwe
On the 6th July with my bags packed, door locked, prayers said, leaving the
cares and troubles of Switzerland behind me, I travelled to Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe for 6 weeks. Upon arrival into a very cold Bulawayo, I attended a
fund raising event in Hope Fountain to raise funds for the ATTIC camp. Good
food was eaten while dancing and singing warmed me both from the inside and
the outside. During the 6 weeks, I participated in and observed the work of
Sethule Orphans’ Trust, being privileged to attend the programmes in the
primary schools and joining in the meetings.
Programmes included Bereavement Counselling, REACT, Emotional Logic,
CLICK, given to children from 6-12 years old. Other programmes include Dare
to be Different, Positive Parenting, and the Sethule Queens meeting to knit or
sew school uniforms, while sharing their experiences and skills with the younger
mums. This is in addition to the Trusts’ pre-school programme for 3-5yrs old,
where younger children have fun, make friends and more importantly are fed.
My time was spent between Bulawayo and Matopo, the rural area where the
programmes and ATTIC take place, about an hour’s drive from the city. I also
went along to Tsholotsho, a good 3 hours’ drive, for the inauguration of their
Water Pump. This enables the village to grow their own crops and not walk half
a day to collect water. Much praising God, praying, thankfulness and singing
and dancing was had by so many people before we all shared lunch, then made
our way back to the city—feeling so humbled yet lifted. The Sethule garden in
Matopo is thriving despite being hit by a cyclone 18 months ago. Vegetables,
mostly chomolia, (kale/spinach-like) peas, corn, sweet potatoes help to feed the
foster families and supply ATTIC with enough for the 6-day camp. ATTIC took
place from 10th-15th August. With ‘Baleka’—runaway, flee (from satan)—as the
theme we got plenty of exercise for our minds as well as our bodies!—lots of
‘running away’ around the church while singing! Mrs Hatty Fryer—teacher from
LAS, Mrs Agnes Pyre—Emarika pre-school teacher, and myself were in charge
of the CLICK’s. We filled the 5-day camp with activities from an Afternoon Tea,
a play about St Martin, a poem on the Lord’s Supper, song presentation on the
Armour of God, bible study. All that while worshiping, dancing, joy, faith,
growth and happiness… A precious time of the camp was when I met and spent
time with the two children whom we sponsor.
There was also some time for play—we had 4 days in Hwange National Park,
checking in on the giraffes and elephants. Two wedding blessing parties—one
in Matopo, the other in Bulawayo. We were out and about quite a bit, despite
the political situation the atmosphere was light and happy. We visited the Art
Gallery and the Train Museum. The Museum proved very interesting with a
guided tour, giving information on the trains and an insight into a way of life