Greetings to all of you who might happen to visit my blog.

Wow!  Indeed, it has been a long time since I posted any news from ZIMBABWE.  Perhaps that is because it had been just about a year since I was last here. Nevertheless I have only been absent in body as I continue to teach on-line while I am back in Canada.

My connection between Canada and Zimbabwe continue to broaden as just before I left to return to Zimbabwe, our (PACC) fornmer Academic Dean and his family, relocated to Canada, to Chetwynd, B.C. where Pastor Tich has accepted a call to pastor the Pentecostal church there.  Glen and I, along with our District Supoerintendant and his wife were privileged to be present and participate in the installation service welcoming them to their new church family and their new home.  Pastor Tich and I worked closely together at PACC for the past 7-8 years.  We even co-authored a text book which was published in 2023.  Albeit they are a twewlve hour drive North of us, it is good to call them neighbors as well as good friends.

I returned to PACC  (Pan Afriaca Christian College), leaving Canada on February 27th, arriving in Zimbabwe on February 29th. 

About two weeks after I arrived, Ralph and Carrie Peters,the Senior's pastor from our church in Penticton and his wife, joined us here at PACC for a short term mission.  Ralph taught a block course while they were here and they fell in love with the place.  We managed to take a day trip to Imiri game park and a visit to the Balancing Rocks.  Carrie did some teaching at the Village of Hope, orphange and school and we joined on a feeding program which is operated out of the Village of Hope.  It was great to have them here.  

The first picture here is the balancing rocks, which are a famous feature here in Harare, located just s short drive from our college.  

Next we have here some of the animals we saw on our game drive.

The feeding program was a highlight for our guests and both pastor Ralph and Carrie enjoyed interacting with the children as they served them.

I enjoyed a 'tail-gate' luncheon party with my students during one of our weekend block courses.

 

When I first arrived, I spent some time re-aquainting myself with the area and the day after arrival, I went for a drive simply to get familiar with my truck, with driving on the 'wrong' side of the road and driving a standard.  It was a good feeling to have that independance and not totally relying on others.

Glen joined me here in Zimbabwe and spent a week here at PACC before continuing on to Bulawayo to spend time with friends there.  He will then come back to PACC just in time for graduation and we will then return to Canada together. 

Things are busy at our college as we have students on-site and those who continue to join us on-line.

The picture here above shows the remnants of the student hosted grad party with a few of the grads roating the lecturers and sharing some of their expereinces during their time at PACC.

Time has slipped by and here it is less than a month and I will be heading back to Canada.  The time has been filled with classes, both with PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) and AOG (Assemblies of God), topped off with meetings of various nature and now planning for our graduation.  The actual graduation will be on May 31st with a banquet and an alumni conference with the convocation ceremonies being on June 1st.  That will wrap up my time here for this stint and we will be flying back to Canada, leaving Zimbabwe on June 2nd.

Enough rambling for now. My next post will no doubt be an update from back in Canada.  

Blessings to all.

Marj  

 Greetings to all my family and friends in both Canada and the US and anywhere else people might be following my blog.

Indeed, it has been a long time since I have posted to my blog.  Well, after 8 months home in Canada, I am now back on the African continent.  I am currently in Nairobi, Kenya where I have attended an APTEA (Association for Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa)  Conference with educators from all over the continent in attendance.  It was a great time of sharing experiences and learning from one another in the process.

The Principal, the AQcademic Dean and the Dean of Students from our college, Paqn Africa Christian College in Harare, Zimbabwe were attendees of the conference as well.  Am attaching here a picture of the four of us.  And no, I am not taller than the rest of them.  Just for laughs, I stood up on a railing behind them.

I believe I shared previously that PACC Academic Dean and I had written a text book on Writing qnd Research.  The book was presented to each of the educators in attendance...about 250 persons.  Both of us also received Level Three Teacher Training Certification.  Below is a picture of the two of us.  Publishing our book was part of the process towards certification and although the process was long (three years from start to finish) it was very rewarding to have worked as a team on this project..    

I have been invited to attend a three day Gradute School Seminar following the APTEA Conference.  It is now, as I write, the second day of that seminar and always there is so much to learn as we share together.  There are representatives from 14 countries in attendance.

Timorrow I will be lesving Kenya and traveling on to Harare where I will spend the next month teaching intensive block course to students at our college there.  I will also then teach 'Teacher Training' to a group of leaders from the Assemblies of God.  Arrangements for this have been/ are being made through AoG missionaries from the US who live in Zimbabwe.  

Will post pictures with my next blog, but just wanted to send a brief up-date and share my excitement in being back on the African Continent.

I am excited to join, once again, with family (adopted) and friends and colleagues in Harare.

Will post this brief blog just now and hopefully be in touch again soon.

Love and blessings to all.

Marj

Maka

 Greetings my family and friends

Happy Easter to all.

Surprise.  I know it has not been long since I posted but just felt today as though I needed to share.  I walked out simply to go to my office and an eery silence struck me.  The college is earily silent.  Yesterday our grads had their end of term party.

The government has forced shutdown of all schools, colleges and other institutions.  And no, it is not due to Covid.  The government has called for a country wide sensus and all citizens are to go to their respective homes.  This means our college is litterally shut-down as all our boarders had to leave.   This was sudden and we had to change our schedules to accomodate the order.  As a result, our semester had to be shortened, classes crammed in and our exam dates moved up.  Wednesday was our last 'special chapel' with the entire on-site student body.  I was privieged to lead a communion service.  Pictured below is the on-site student body along with staff present for the sevice.

So, on-site classes are now finished and it is strangely quiet.

Good news...our young sponsor girl, who now is not so young as she is eighteen.  Time has indeed passed quickly.  Maka was in grae four, if memory serves me correctly and now she has just gotten confirmation that she has passed her 'O' level course...equivelant to our grade 12. We are so proud of her!  Maka, her mom Linda and her borther Panashe are coming to spend Monday with me and we will celebrate her accomplishment by going out for dinner to one of her favorite places.

Today is Good Friday and I chose not to go to the Easter Conference and instead spent the day marking exams from yesterday.  

I did attend the Easter conference on Saturday and Sunday.  The conference was certainly a time of renewal and celebration of all that Easter represents for us in the Christian Community.  But, alas, sadness struck and just as the conference ended a young 1-1/2 year old boy was run over in the parking lot and killed.  How sad for both families involved; and indeed for the entire PAOZ family.  I attended the burial.  It was a rainy day and it seemed as though God was weeping with us all.  I have been doing some grief counselling as the community struggles to deal with the tradegy.

May 6th, 2022.  Well, another couple of weeks have passed and perhaps I should finish this blog.  It has been a busy time with final exams and marking papers and the like.  I finished marking for the semester and then took a break and went to Bulawayo to spend a few days with our friends, the Mullers. It was a welome break.

Since I last wrote, Makanaka has been accepted into nurse-aid training with the Red Cross.  That will give her a taste of nursing and then it is her goal to enter registered nursing.  Indeed, we are so proud of her!.

Inserting here a picture of her when we first met her and a picture of the beautiful young lady she has grown to be.

    

We have two graduations upcoming.  Our PACC grad on-site will be on the 21st, and then we will travel to Kwekwe for our Distance Ed certificate graduation the following weekend.  Will try to blog following those events and post some pictures.

I'll sign off here.  Will be in touch before I return to Canada. Blessings to all who are following my blog.

Marj

 Greetings to all my family and friends back in Canada and the US.

Wow!  Already more than a week has past since I arrived here at PACC in Zimbabwe. 

I can hardly believe it has actually happened and that  amidst all the chaos in the world, I am nowhere on the other side of the world.  The trip was rather lengthy but I arrived here with no huge obstacles.  I left my Canadian home on March 27th to travel to nearby Kelown to accomodate the requirement of Covid-testing at a costly price tag of $350.00.  Ouch, that hurt, but you do what you have to do to accomplish the goal.  

Prior to leaving for Zimbabwe, we, Glen and I managed to join our dear friends, Bob and Bernice Kurtz for lunch and the opportunity to remenise our joint expereinces in Zimbwe. It is always such a joy to share our experiences with friends who have lso been there and done that. 

Glen and I then stayed overnight in Kelowna as my flight was 6:00 am on 28th and so allowing for the three hour post-flight requirement meant I had to be at the airport at 3 am.  Arrived at the airport only to discover that my Alaskan Air fight was cancelled.  Dilema...what to do??? I have a connecting flight out of Seattle and then another connection out of Doha.  It is now 3:30 am and I know my travel agent will not be available at this hour of the morning so I contact Alaskan Air direct.  they were very helpful and booked me on Air Canada; same time but with an exta leg including Vancouver.  With long layovers in both Seattle and Doha, I finally arrived at Robert |Mugabe Airport in Harare on March 30th at 12:00 noon.  All in all, other than the 3 day journey, there were no obstacles.  I thank God for computer and internet connections at the airports and on planes these days.  It certainly helps one to pass the waiting time.  

On arrival I was met by PACC principal Rev. Munaki and his wife Charity who have become good friends. It has been awesome to reconnect with the many friends we have made over the years and with  my colleagues here in Zimbabwe. 

One hour after my arrival I was already sitting in a BOA meeting amd then teaching an inperson class the very next morning.  No time for jet lag and I am grateful that I don't normlly suffer much from that aspect of travel.

The transition from on-line teaching to in-person is a rewarding experience.  Although on-line teaching has certainly provided an important alternative, especially during Covid-19 shut-downs and restrictions, I appreciate the face to face contacts with my students.

I am still living on campus but in a different place from before.  I am now in a little guest house and having a bit of reno work completed for comfort sake.  Simple things like having the shower fixed and a bit of clean-up and painting. 

Am attaching here a couple of pictures of the grounds here at our college.  The rains have cetainly made everything green and beautiful.  We will be having grad in May and once again it will be outdoors.  the grounds crew under the direction of my dear friend Nellice, are already beginning to prepare the grounds for that event.  The first picture below is of the creativity of Nellice and the second one is just the beauty of our surroundings.

All is well and I look forward to the rest of the journey ahead and the opportunities for further teaching and ministry.

I will try to send further updates by month's end.

Blessings to all.   

 Wow!! Indeed, it has been a while since my last blog.  Covid-19 has changed how we do things.  I have been home in Canada since June 2021 and now am looking forward to returning to Zimbabwe...God willing!

While home here in British Columbia, I have been busy teaching on-line.  Courses for the 2nd semester for 2021 have just wrapped up with PACC (Pan Africa Christian College) and all papers and exams marked.  On-line has been necessitated because of Covid for Africa just as it has been around the world.  This has been a learning curve for me, as I'm sure it has been for many.  It certainly has allowed our students to continue their studies, but in all honesty, I much prefer being on site, and interacting in person with my students.

2021 has been a challenging year for British Columbia.  Fires, floods, mud and rock slides have all been disastrous for many in our province and in many places around the world.  We, here in the South Okanagan have definitely been among the fortunate as other than roads all around us being closed, we have escaped all the disasters, including Covid-19.

Next week starts our new semester at PACC and I will be facilitating three courses.  I will begin those on-line and, hopefully, will switch to in-person when I arrive back in Zimbabwe.  My plan, God williong, is to leave Canada the end of March and be in Zimbabwe only for two months this time.  While I am there I will continue to completion the three courses started on-line in Canada, attend a graduation and offer two teacher training courses to teachers and potential teachers from both the AOG  (Assemblies of God) and the PAOZ (Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbawe).  That is the plan and we'll see how things unfold. 

I have kept fairly busy while home here in British Columbia.  I do some counselling in the capacity of 'District Approved Counsellor' and some guest preaching, in connection with a number of the churches in our district.  As well, I am involved with METP which is a ministry essentials training program offering training to people in remote areas who do not have the opportunity to attend theological colleges. My role is to review all course material with a view to constantly update and improve how we do things.  It is an exciting new challenge!  

Covid-19 has certqainly restricted what we do and how we do things.  It has been two years since we have seen our son and his family in Texas.  Glen and I have tickets booked to travel to spend a week with them beginning of February.  

I so appreciate the prayers and support of so many family and friends as I travel to the mission fields of Zimbabwe.  Indeed, that is my second home and I look forward to returning there.  Although I am in constant touch with colleagues and friends there, being physically on the ground is so much better.

Till the next time, and trusting that I still have some readers out there where-ever.

Blessings to all.

Marj

 

May 16th. 2021

Once again, greetings to my family and friends in Canada and the US.  This may be my final blog from this side of the world before I return to Canadian soil.. My return to Canada begins on June 7th.  I will then, unless things change rapidly, have to spend 3 days in quarantine in a govenment approved hotel in Toronto which is my first point of entry into Canada.  Sadly, the way things are at the moment I have to pay for the hotel, three meals a day (which I'm sure I won't eat...I never eat three meals a day, and certainly not from menues chosen by someone else).  However, I do need to come home so guess I'll have to abide by the rules.  Even if I don't agree with them.!!!!  I did enquire to see if it was possible to only pay for the hotel room but that is not allowed.  If I had my druthers, I would prefer just to fast for three days, or order room delivery from a local restaurant to be able to order what I would like. Not allowed.  I guess our Government wants our money.  But, enough complaining.  It will be good to get home, whatever it takes.  I am keeping informed on changes regarding Covid-19 restrictions and the like, both online, through my travel agent and of course my hubbie keeps me informed on a regular basis.

Time has passed very quickly and I have been busy teaching and marking papers.  Classes ended end of April and we celebrated graduation (the first in three years) which was an awesome event.  I'm inserting a couple of pictures here.  The first picture is of our grads just as they prepared for the grad exercises.

The next couple are of the grad ceremonies.  The entire graduation, including the exercises and the grad banquet, was held outside.    Each of our grads was presented with a study Bible, along with their certificate, as they begin their ministry in the various areas throughout the country.  

Here is a photo of yours truly with one of our grads and his pastor.

Amidst all the celebrating and enjoying such a fabulous week here at PACC, there are always the reminders of the situation on the ground here in the midst of poverty and the struggles of our people.  Yesterday as Rev. Munaki (our principal), his wife Charity and I were running errors around town we drove through Mbare, one of the high density areas of the city.  Although we are not supposed to, I took a few pictures so I could share with all of you the reality of life here in Harare for so many people.  Below is a picture of the street market and this gives you an idea of how many people try to eek out a living. These street markets, as they are called, line the streets in many areas.   

Indeed, each day is a combination of joy and sadness.  It grieves my heart to see the struggles of the general population here.  The sadness comes in knowing that it is all so unnecessary.  Zimbabwe has all the resources to enable it to be a prosperous country.  Sadly the corruption runs deep.  The few at the top enjoy the rewards earned on the backs of the struggling majority.  I met a young man at church today who had been severly beaten by his landlord because he could not pay his rent.  Reality can be tough.

My joy comes in watching the young men and women graduate and knowing that I have been privileged to play a small part in their lives as I have journeyed with them through their studies.  It comes in seeing people who hold onto faith, they hold onto their trust in God and a hope for the future.  They prayer for their country, for their leadership and for God to intervene on their behalf.

As I prepare to return to Canada, I know that a piece of my heart will remain here in Zimbabwe with the people I have come to love.  

On that note I will close this blog.  I hope you hear my heart and I solicite your prayers for all of my 'family' and friends here at PACC (Pan Africa Christian College) and throughout this beautiful country of Zimbabwe. 

Sending hugs to all.

Marj

 March 23rd, 2021.

Greetings all you beautiful people out there.  Have been meaning to wrote for some time but time seems to have slipped through my fingers.  I can hardly believe how long it has been since I last wrote. My time here in Zimbabwe is already half over and June 6th I will be leaving to return to Canada.  I'm praying and ask for your prayers that things have settled somewhat with Covid-19 and I won't encounter any problems returning that side.

Things have been crazy busy here at PACC.  I am teaching six online classes.  Two of my first year classes  have 70 people in them.  So the majority of my time is spent teaching and marking papers.  I calculated out that by the end of our semester I will have marked over 500 papers. 

The Principal, Academic Dean, Dean of Students and I journeyed to Kwekwe (about 3 1/2 to 4 hours drive, depending on the potholes and the like) for a weekend of inperson intensive training.  This particular group of students are first year students and are enrolled in five courses.  We taught segments of all five courses beginning Friday evening and then all day Saturday.  We were blessed to join them for a prayer rally Saturday night and then join their Sunday services before being hosted for lunch and then the drive back to Harare.  

It was great to meet so many of our students who, up to this point, had just been online.  The pictures below are just some of those who were still around as we were about to leave to return to Harare.

Pastor Tich, our Academic Dean (Center in the above picture with brown and white shirt on) and I have just completed writing a text book for writing and research  and our manuscript is now in the hands of a local printer who is doing the formatting and layout.  The next step is to send off to the publisher.  Yippee. It is done!!!!  We started work on this project just over a year ago.  We are currently teaching a writing and rsearch course and our text is the official text book.  Our students are invited to give us their feedback on the user friendly aspects of the text.  All of this is part of a process in which both Pastor Tich and I will be certified as level three (highest level) teaching supervisors with  the Association for Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa (APTEA).  I have been facilitating teacher training with this group for the past five years or so and so it feels good to now be certified at the highest level.

Schools resumed for most students this past week and we, Gken and I, were able to get our young Malanaka enrolled in a boarding school near where her family live.  It was an exciting time as she, like so many students had been out of school for most of the past year.  Studnts weat uniforms at most of the schools here.  When we first met Makanaka, she was in grade four and now she is in grade eleven or form four as it is called here.  

At our college we will be finishing the semester with on-line courses.  We are planning a graduation the beginning of May and praying that things remain open for us to be able to do that.

The economy in Zimbabwe continues to be a challenge for the majority of people in this country.  With the lockdowns due to Covid-19 the challenges have increased...and I realize that is the same for much of the world.  On the positive side, the rains have come this year, after three plus years of draught.  The grounds are beautifully green and the weather is great.  

Enough of my ramble for now.  Blessings to all.

Marj

  

 Greetings to all you beautiful people in Canada and the US.  

 Wow...lockdown in Zimbabwe!!!  Lockdown in the world!!!  Life has certainly changed over the past year.  The 2nd lockdown here in Zimbabwe came into effect while I was intransit on my way to Zimbabwe and against some advice to turn around in Toronto and return to British Columbia, I really felt to carry on.  So with a negative Covid-19 test in hand, I boarded Ethiopian air, had a brief stop in Addis, Ethiopia and then on to Harare.  Clearing customs at the airport was uneventful and then suddenly here I was, halfway across the world in Africa.  Weather is beautiful and warm.  Perfect for me.  I looove the heat!

I arrived on Wednesday and it is now Sunday morning...nearing noon here in Zimbabwe.  We have just finished our 'family worship service' which I hosted at my home.  Home services are allowed with your family unit. Rev. Munaki (principal of our college) lives just across the way from me on on campus, and has kindly invited me to be part of their family circle.  The circle includes Charity, Munaki's wife, his sister Tendai and her young daughter Hazel, and Munaki's two teenage boys.  We are studying through a serious on evangelism, what that means to each of us, and how we do evangelism.  In the midst of lockdown it is good to have others to get together with in prayer and discuss biblical concepts.  I am truly blessed.🙏🙏

Week two...Last week was a difficult week in some ways.  At that time I did not have transportation, as my truck was not on site, but was in Mutare, a neighboring city, undergoing repair.  Although there's really no place to go anyway.😢😢.  I woke up one morning to a feeling of being trapped.  We were on lockdown, I was without transportation and I was half a world away from the comfort of my home in Canada.  It was a strange feeling but one which I had to acknowledge and work through.  I did this by simply walking around the campus, spending time in the prsesence of God and giving thanks for the many blessings I enjoy...the most important at this point in time is that I am healthy.  I have travelled halfway around the world amidst lack of social distancing in airports and yet am protected.  I am so privileged to be able to call home through WhattsApp and as I do that, my feelings of loneliness disipate.  I am connected and all is good. 👌

Later.  I'm busy with class prep and just needing a break from educational things so thought I'd ramble a bit on my blog.  Thinking of all my family and friends back in Canada.  Even though we are doing our classes online, it has been a busy time.  I think, in many ways, it is more work teaching online than it is in the actual classroom.  There are numerous challenges, not only for our students, but also for us as lecturers.  It is truly a learning experience.  Hey, I guess that means one is never too old to learn.  😂😂😂 

We have had a lot of rain here lately.  A couple of storms have left us without power.  But on the positive side, we are not without power on a regular basis as in the past.  Also there are no fuel lineups and fuel is readily available.  The rain has left everything beautifully green.  Attaching here a couple of pictures showing firstly the beautiful night sky of the impending storm and then simply the beauty all around us here after the rains.

    

Both of those pictures are taken just outside my house.  

Well, break time is over.  Must get back to responding to my students.  Will finish this off later.  

Now is later.  It is now February 7th and I have now been in Zimbabwe for more than one month.  So, I thought I'd best add a few more lines and send this out so all of you know I am still alive and well.  Ignore what I said earlier about electricity not being as challenging as in the past.  It is now an ongoing challenge.  It almost seems to be off more than it is on.  Such is live and as my mother used to say "you just make do".  

We have just had 54 students added to our first year classes.  As a way of connecting on WhatsApp and getting to know my students remotely, I am having each one post a picture of themselves and a brief bio.   I now have six classes.  Two days a weeek I am teaching from 5:30 -7:30 in the morning and then 4 days a week from 9:00 to 11:00 but of course am available at other hours.  It certainly is a different way of teaching but we make the most of it to redeem the time.  (That's an expression borrowed from one of my bible college professors long back).

Big news.  I just went and got a hair cut today.  Chico, the barber who I went to in the past when I was here. is now doing home visits.  I was first introduced to him by my dear friend Nellice as that is who cuts her hair.  So he was going to her home to cut her hair and she phoned me to let me know.  Wow, that was a biggee!.  I'm sure some of you can relate in not being able to go to hair dressers and the like.  It sure felt good.  As I said, life has changed.  Things we have in the past, taken for granted have now become almost a gift.

Well, my rambling has come to an end.  I must prepare for tomorrows classes.  So, until next time, blessings to all.

Marj 

 Greetings to all my friends and family in Canada and the US.

Well, I am on the journey to return to my second home...in Harare, Zimbabwe.  Interesting trip.  I flew from Kelowna to Calgary with WestJet.  Stayed at Best Western Hotle overnight then boarded Air Canada and flew to Toronto.  Had to get a Covid-19 test in Toronto and have to provide that before boarding Ethiopiuan Air and then also have to provide it to customs at arrival in Harare.  The Covid-19 test result took two days.  I arrived in Toronto on the 2nd and it is now the 4th.  I leave tomorrow morning (January 5th and will fly with a brief stopover (2 hours) in Addis, Ethiopia, arriving in Harare, Zimbabwe on Wednesday, the 6th.  

The world has certainly changed in 2020 and along with that, rules and regulations change nearly every day.  Lockdowns and the like affect everyone world wide.  I have been considered an essential service in Harare and so that kindof clears the path for me to go.  I received a personal phone call from Zimbabwe's  Presiding Bishop today just to touch base with me and let me know the situation in Zimbabwe at this particular time.  I assured him that the situation is pretty similar here in Canada, and that I'm really going on faith as I believe God has called me to be there.  Our Principal will be picking me up at the airport.  I am so looking forward to the last leg of this long journey and to discover for myself how things are on the ground at my home there.

Will update more after I arrive.

Me Again.  (And I know some of this is repetitious...but excuse my reminicing.  Indeed it took six days to get here, but arrived safe and sound on Jan. 6th,  Wow, left my BC home on January 1st.  Glen drove me to Kelowna and I flew via Westjet to Calgary.  Spent one night in hotel there, then flew AirCanada to Toronto on Jan. 2nd.  Spent 3 nights in hotel there while awaiting Covid-19 test results. Toronto is/was on lockdown.  No room service or the like at hotel, but thanks to my good friends, Elizabeth and Gaye Norrie who delivered care package of food and snacks to the hotel, I certainly did not suffer. I Departed Toronto via Ethiopian Air, with negative test results in hand, on Jan. 5th, heading for Harare, Zimbabwe.  Brief stop in Addis, Ethiopia to change planes, then straight to Harare.  Arrived in Harare on Jan. 6th.  Paperwork to complete there and of course, temperature taken at every stop...otherwise uneventful.  Cleared Customs without a hitch.  

I think the term 'social distancing' means different things to different people.  WestJet plane had every seat full.  AirCanda had a few seats empty but we were told to keep social distancing.  Not sure how that is supposed to happen with someone seated right next to you.  Toronto airport also seems to talk the talk but doesn't seem to walk the walk. Ethiopian Air was jam packed from Toronto to Addis,  then a little bit of breathing space from Addis to Harare.  I continue to believe I am here by faith and I thank God for His protection.  I am well, and so appreciate the prayers of so many for my health and safety.  🙏 Thank-you.

Rev. Munaki (Principal) and Rev. Muzenda (Dean of Students) met me at the airport and it was so good to see them.  Mask wearing is the order of the day.  Also, as I was enroute Zimbabwe imposed a temporary lockdown...but I was already enroute.  Did not need to quarantine on arrival, but basically have done that and in that respect, things are not much different from being at home in British Columbia.  

Churches and other gatherings are closed, while grocery stores are open...subject to temperature checks upon entrance and mask wearing being essential.  Small family groups can meet and on Sunday I was part of the family of our principal as six of us met for bible study in lieu of regular church services.  Also, thank to YouTube I was able to 'attend' my home church service from Bethel Church in Penticton and  also able to access church services or messages from the Park Drive Church in Oliver and Elam Church in Keremeos, both of which I am connected with and whose congregations support my mission here in Zimbabwe in various ways.  

Have been busy just getting settled, sorting out some details such as internet, telephone, electricity, banking and the like.  I have the same living accomodations as I had the last time I was here, so am on campus and it is good.  

There have been many changes while I was home in Canada, including staff changes and of course changes due to Covid-19.  I am reminded that the only constant is change.  

It is really hard to believe that Glen and I celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversay in October, 2020.  Amidst Covid-19 we celebrated with just the two of us but enjoyed calls from family and friends.  Just thought I would share that small detail with all of you and include a selfy we took on that day.  We thank God for health.

Please know that I am safe and keeping well.  And I thank God for that.  My prayer for all of you is that you stay healthy and stay safe.  

Until next time...Sending much love and blessings to all.  God is good.

Marj

Greetings friends and family everywhere. 

I believe I started this blog in April, 2020, and never finished it so,  I will send on what I had written at that time and then resume with current updates.

Previously I wrote:
Wow!!! Live is certainly changing daily as we, all of us, face the pandemic that has presented itself. It is, indeed, a challenging time as people face loss of jobs and the reality of self-isolating.  We are called to stay home as much as possible.  As we face new realities and daily changes I just want to encourage all of us to reach out to others, to encourage each other and to realize that indeed we are all in this together.  We are not alone.
I continue to stay in touch with my friends and colleagues in Zimbabwe.  I have been home in Canada since mid December, 2019 and ask for all of you to join me as we pray, not only for our friends and family here in Canada and the US, but to also pray for people all over the world.  Let's count our blessings and look to the positives in our lives.
In my beloved country of Zimbabwe so many people live in what is called 'high density' suburbs or settlements.  What that means is that many people live in small crowded conditions where physical distancing is virtually impossible.  The country is in such chaos and economic dysaster that one prson was quoted as saying we choose food or we choose Covid - 19.  That reality is hard for us to grasp.  And, yes, I realize it is challenging times for all of us.

Now to move on.  It is now  October 31st and I just realized I never did complete the blog I began way back in April.  Actually, a dear friend and former colleague, mentor, supervisor and boss, just mentioned that she had not received a blog from me in a long time.  Thanks Margaret.😀😀😀  I think I needed that push.  And indeed it is past due time for me to invite all of you, once again, into my life and all that is happening.  2020 has certainly been a time of both challenge and reward, as it has been for so many. 

I was disappointed that I was not able to return to Zimbabwe in August for the start of a new semester.  However, as things unfolded, our college, like so many around the world, was on lock-down.  We, as faculty at PACC (Pan Africa Christian College) manage to have meetings and weekly get-togethers via WhatsApp.  So, we went to work to see how we could offer our classes online.  We do not currently have the capabilities in Zimbabwe to offer classes through the many classroom platforms springing up, but have managed to work through a telephone app called WhatsApp.  It is challenging, to say the least, but at least our students are able to continue their studies.  I am keeping connecting with students via WhatsApp, figuring out new ways to journey with our students as they prepare to take their place in ministry in various roles in their communities of faith.

I have booked my ticket and will be returning to Zimbabwe in January for the beginning of the next semester.  In 2021 we will have a graduation with around 70 students graduating from the various programs.

Here below, I am posting a few pictures to share a bit of who we are and what we do and invite you into my inner circle.

Our college street sign here above.

Our staff and students in picture above.

Our tea-time Gazebo!

The above picture and the one below showing our staff and students on clean-up the community day.

Our green house which helps to feed our students and provide some revenue.

Our library which was graciously enlarged with donations of over 2,500 books from both Canada Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada and the U.S. Assemblies of God. 

Just enough to perhaps keep you interested in my adventures.  Please pray for me that God will open doors as I return to the place I consider to be my second home, PACC (Pan Africa Christian College, in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Well, my friends, I certainly will try to get back to blogging at least once a month.  It seems I don't have a whole lot to blog when I'm at home here in Canada.  I'm so looking forward to returning to Zimbabwe as I truly believe that is where God has called me to be.  I do not believe the work he has called me to do there is finished and until such a time as I believe he has released me from that responsibility, I will go. 

Until next month, love and blessings to each and every one of you.

Marj

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Greetings from British Columbia Canada.  Thought it past due time for me to update evryone on what is haappening in my life.  It is indeed a stange feeling living in two vastly different countries.  Just to show the contrast I have a picture of the weather when I left Zimbabwe in December and then in Canada in January.  Howwever, the vast differences are not limited to the weather.  Canada is such a land of abundance while Zimbabwe is a land of great need.  The reality is that the eonomic situation in Zimbabwe is on a constant decline.

I am fortunate to be a Canadian citizen and it is humbling, indeed, to have opportunities to assist those less fortunate who struggle even to provide the necessities of live for their families. I am reminded that it is truly in giving that we receive.  It is good to be back on Canadian soil; but I do miss Africa and family (adopted) and friends there.

I was blessed beyond measure to have my sister Laurie join me at PACC for a month (November -December) and she certainly was a tremendous help to me with marking papers and whatever else I asked her to do.  It was great to just have her company, enjoy daily walks and introduce her to my way of life there and to have her meet my colleagues and friends.  Inserted below is a picture of the two of us with one of my classes.

In our economic struggles, we are often times without ZESA (which is the acronim for Electricity).  The locals say it stands for' Zimbabwe Electricity Seldom Available'). That is a reality as electricity is avilable for only a few hours at night. During the day when we have no electricity and no fuel to run a generator our college cook manages to make meals for our students by cooking outside. The picture below shows Puparai cooking the noon meal.

Since returning to Canada I have had opportunities to share stories from Zimbabwe with a couple of local churches here in British columbia who are supportive of our college.  I am thankful for all who support us in so many ways.  Thank you!

March 1st is missions day at our church and I will have a display set up and have opportunity to share with many of our congregation the work and the needs of my adopted country.

February 22nd I will leave for a brief trip to Kenya where I will be attending an APTEA (Association for Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa) conference. I have been privileged to facilitate teacher training with that orgnization over the past three years or so and am looking forward to the conference and the opportunity to meet with others throughout the African Continent who are doing the same thing.

Our college enrollment is increasing inspite of the difficult economic times. We have students from Mozambique and Namibia as well as from Zimbabwe. These students are hungry to learn more of the Word of God as they either enter into ministry for the first time or enrich the ministries they are already engaged in.  It is indeed a privilege to be able to journey with them as they prepare to face life with all its ups and downs.

I am busy packing and preparing for our conference in Kenya and will update again on my return at month's end. 

Thank you for all your prayers.  May you continue to be blessed.
Marj

Greetings to all my family and friends on the North American Continent.

My time here in Zimbabwe for this go-round is wrapping up.  Classes finished last week and now am busy doing an internal audit and some final reports before I fly home to Canada on Monday, December 16th.  I arrive in Canada on the 18th.  Just in time to get ready for Christmas, whatever that looks like this year. Glen has already put up the tree and sent me a photo of it.  Looks great and I'm now anxious to be home.
My sister, Laurie was here for one month with me.  It was great to have her here and she certainly was a big help with reviewing papers, completing some of my reports and just attending my classes and helping in so many ways.  We did manage to have some fun and do a few things besides work.  We went walking everyday and even got soaked in the rain one day.
We went to the Village of Hope Orphanage and school where we joined with the Canadian orgnization rep for ERDO (Emergency Relief and Development Oveseas) who organizes and runs a feeding program at a number of different locations.  The principal from our College joined Laurie and me and we ccompanied the ERDO rep journeying to an outlying school where we assisted with feeding nearly 500 children. It was a new and very reqarding experience for all three of us.
Am attaching a couple of pictures.

 A picture of the line oup of kids waiting to be fed.  These feeding programs (through Canada) are operated on a daily basis and for these children that will be their only meal of the day.  They bring their own dish-most times not acceptably clean by our standards, perhaps not even washed from the day before...but they are receiving something to nourish their bodies.  And we were blessed to be a part of it for one day. 

It was just awesome having some sister time together with Laurie here.  We do not live in the same province so have not spent that much time together forever.  It really was special to have her here with me journeying with me in my 'other' world, very different in so many ways from life in Canda and yet the same in many other ways. Thanks so much Laurie. 😘 You are not only my sister...you are my forever friend.

 

The last few days have been mixed with completing an internal audit, finalizing paper work, meetings and packing up my belongings.  I will not be living in the same house when I come back next time so my office is beginning to look like a storage bin.  

Tomorrow I will be taking my young Maka to make sure things are in order for her for the next school term.  And I am trying to make the rounds to spend time with friends and colleagues to say my goodbyes before catching the lane on Monday for my return terip to Canada.

I am so looking forward to connecting with many of you when I am back that side of the world.  Hoping to see many of you in person and connecting with others for long telephone conversations.

So for now, Musare Zvakanaka ( Farewell)

Towanonana - (See you another time)

Love and Blessings to you all.

Marj

Greetings once again to all my family and friends back in Canada and the US.  I do hope all of you enjoyed Thanksgiving and we do have much to be thankful for.  I did think of all of you and missed having a turkey dinner and time with family and friends on that side.

On a somber note, the economy here in Zimbabwe continues on a downward slide.  It is difficult to know how people manage when prices in the stores, and at the fuel pumps, rise almost daily.  The exchange rate today is twenty RTGS (local currency) to one US dollar.  When I came in 2013 the local currency and the US dollar where at par.  Things have changed considerably.  The hope that with the change in government leadership (the party didn't change, only the leadership) things would improve.  There was much hope; however that hope was short lived and things have gotten steadily worse over the past two years, rather than better.  Please pray for all Zimbabweans and for the country itself that somehow corruption will come to an end and Zimbabwean life will develop some kind of stability in which people don't have to worry about where their next meal is coming from. The fuel ques are long and it is noticeable that there are fewer cars on the road. Somtimes one can get to the front of the line only to be told there is no fuel. People can be in lineup waiting for days for fuel.

October is nearly over and then 2019 will be fast drawing to a close.  October has been an awesome time of ministry for us here at PACC.  Midterm exams have come and gone for the mostpart, although I still have one midterm for my students tomorrow.

We had three days of ACTEZ (Accreditation for Theological Education in Zimbabwe) meetings, combined with fun and games for our students as they participated with students from other theological colleges throughout Zimbabwe.  Competitions were held in preaching, debate and sports.  Our PACC students faired well with one of them winning the debate.  I'm including his picture here along with two of our other students who placed well in preaching competition and debate.  We, and especially, me, were very proud of all our participants.  I was in charge of preparing our debate students.  We are anticipating beginning an official debate club here at the college.  That is something I have had my students do in some of my classes where they pick the topic (relevent, of course, to their particualr class) and then invite our faculty to be the judges.  It is something that our students enjoy and offers something a little different to spice up the classes.

Then last weekend, we travelled to various districts for what we call PACC days.  This is an opportunity for our students, along with us as lecturers, to promote our college and participate in various ministry opportunities throughout the PAOZ districts.  I took six students and we went to KWEKWE which is about a four hour drive from here.  Other lecturers also took students to other areas.  We had opportunity to speak at many churches in the various regions.  I preached on Sunday at Bishop Mafurusa's church and presented a power point presentation on our college.  All in all it was a great learning experience for our students and opportunity for all of us to promote our college.
Attached here is a picture of our students writing their midterm exams.

Below are firstly a picture of ministry at KWEKWE and then secondly a picture of two of my former students who are both ministering in KWEKWE along with me.

I took a break during the week of block courses and flew to Bulawayo to spend a few days with our dear friends, Frik and Lizette Muller.  Lizette is the principal of a small school for underprivileged and challenged youngsters and so I spent some time at her school lending a hand.  It was just good to have a breakaway from the hectic pace at PACC and I came back feeling refreshed.

I'm not sure if I mentioned in a previous blog or not, but we at our college have been approached by the University of Zimbabwe to become affiliated with them and so have submitted the required documentation to move towards that possibility.  This past week, we hosted a team from the Univerity as they did an assessment of our facilities, our programs and the like.  Being affiliated with the University would allow us to once again offer a degree program.  In the past we did offer a degree through PAC U (Pan Africa Christian University in Kenya until 2013 when, due to government regulations, we were no longer allowed to offer a degree program from outside the country.
While that would certainly move us forward in one way, I do have a concern, that being part of the University would change who we are as a distinct Christian College.  I guess time will tell how that might unfold.

This past week we welcomed a new student from Mozambique, which is predominantly Portugese.  So now we are trying to make arrangements to have someone come to assist them with their English.

I'm getting lots of opportunities to hone my preaching skills.  Last week I preached in our special chapel; today I was guest preacher at our Dean of Students' Church.  Then next Sunday I will be preaching at our Academic Dean's Church...so am getting lots of requests to speak throughout the area.

Time is running short here in Zimbabwe.  My time here is more than half over and I am looking forward to being home for Christmas.  I missed the Thanksgiving turkey and family time.

Well, enough rambling for now.  I have papers to mark and preparation for tomorrows class awaiting my attention.  Will finish this off tomorrow, include a couple of pictures and try to send it off before the month ends.
Next Day!  Finished for now.
Love and blessings to all.

September 2nd, 2019
Greetings Family and Friends
Life has been full here in Zimbabwe.  I am crazy busy teaching five classes...so teaching Monday through Friday, non-stop.  I said, never again and Glen laughed at me and said "I've heard that story before".  However on the upside is that I am busy with not much time to be homesick for Canada, although I certainly miss everyone on that side.  I am fortunate to have Whattsapp as that has become my go-to way of connecting.  The phone lines seem to be intermittent and I have a hard time getting through.
We continue with the load shedding with power being available from 10:30 pm to 5:00 am, so everyone spends much time working through the night to take advantage of electricity when it is available.

On the upside our friends from Bulawayo, Frick and Lizette Muller came to Harare last week and came to my place for lunch.  We had a good visit and I plan to visit them in Bulawayo during our midterm break in mid-October.

This weekend, I hosted our two adopted young people while their mom was attending a funeral in Mutare.  Makanaka and Panache came and stayed overnight.  They both have August birthdays so we celebrated with cake and everything.

Inserting here a picture of the two of them taken at my house..

Makanaka is the young lady we are supporting with school fees and the likes.  Panache is her brother and he has just received a full scholarship to study architecture and design at the University of Algeria.  So now he is waiting for his passport and we are praying for that to come through quickly.  He first applied over a year ago.  Please join us in prayer for that to happen as passports are not a top priority for the government here.

 Imserted later when I resumed writing Sept. 29th.  Panache has been granted his passport so will be leaving for Algeria very soon...probably within the
WOW!!!! It is hard for me to believe I started this blog almost a month ago.  Tomorrow is the end of September already and I will try and send this off tomorrow.  So sorry for the long delay.  Things have been crazy busy here (if I said that before please excuse me but somedays I'm not sure if I'm coming or going).  Such is life for me here in Zimbabwe at PACC and often times in the morning, I have to check my schedule to see which course I am teaching at any particular time.  Perhaps it is just my age catching up with me but in reality I think it is just overload.  I am so looking forward to taking a break mid October while block courses are being offered. I have respectfully declined teaching any of those courses this time around as I felt I needed a break.  I am going to make a trip to Bulawayo to visit Frik and Lizette Muller.  Lizette is principal of a school for the underprivileged there in Bulawayo and she is off the same time, so will have a good visit.

There has been so much sadness in this country with many deaths of loved ones and much illness to add to the economic stresses. Medications are unavailable or out of reach pricewise.

The Jacaronda trees are just beginning to bloom and the purple flowers are so beautiful and add a bit of life to the otherwise dry surroundings.  There has been no rain so things are looking pretty dry.

The economy continues to worsen and prices go up every day. It is indeed a struggle for my friends and colleagues here. 

Enough for now.  Will finish off tomorrow and hopefully end on a positive note.  Goodnight for now.
Well, it is now October 1st, 2019 - long past time I should be sending this off.  So today I will do that without thinking of everything else I should be writing.

Yesterday the use of the US dollar was criminalized so not sure where things are heading.  Time alone will tell and we will trust in God to see us through.

Next week we are hosting a two day ACTEZ (Accreditation of Theological Education in Zimbabwe)  conference where our students, along with students from other theological colleges in Zimbabwe will compete in debate, preaching skills, sports and musical talents.  I am facilitating the debate portion and really looking forward to working with our students in that regard.  We have chosen ten students to participate and we will have a debate this Thursday.  From that debate our judges (made up of our faculty) will choose the top four debaters who will represnt our college at ACTEZ.  Our entire college is looking forward to a fun couple of days.  So all is not doom and gloom for us here.

These are just a few of my ramblings and the happenings here at PACC Harare in Zimbabwe.  Wnjoy the read.  Continue to pray for all of us here and the country that God will intervene and bring sbout a sense of stability and peace.

I wanted to send more pictures but having computer problems with downloading them from my phone so will, hopefully, send more next time around.

Love and blessings to all
Marj
 

August 16th, 2019

Greetings to all my family and friends in 'Blog' Country.

Where to begin?  I arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe on Wednesday, August 7th, having left Canada on August 5th.  I had a long layover in Dubai, which was very pleasant as Emerates Air supply a hotel room and meals on layover of more than 9 hours.  It certainly breaks up the long 'in-the-air' time and low and behold, I did not suffer from jetlag at all.  Indeed that was very fortunate as I arrived Wednesday evening and Thursday morning was off to Mutare to attend a three day PAOZ (Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe) National conference.  That was a four hour (more or less) drive but luckily I did not have to drive.  Conference was great!  One of my students hosted myself and the principal and his wife.  She and her husband were such gracious hosts and I enjoyed the oppiortunity to get to know them as ordinary people and not just as my student. Also learned a new recipe for sweet buns - easy to make - and cheap in these difficult economic times.

So, I have now been on the ground here in Zimbabwe for just over a week and am busy preparing for classes.  Our classes officially begin next week and I will be teaching five classes.  I teach Mondy through Thursday and then have Fridays off.  I will look forward to visiting with our friends in Bulawayo on one weekend and perhaps try to fit in a few other things just for a break from college.

The economy has certainly worsened since I was here last.  A while back the government banned all foreign currency and only the local currency is acceptable.  If US dollars are available, the banks will exchange for 7 to 10 times the amount.  But of course, the local people do not have access to US dollars and so only what is brought in benefits.  Most of the stores do not accept anything but local currency.  Prices have gone through the roof and a loaf of bread can cost anywhere from $7.00 to $10.00.  While prices have skyrocketed, salaries have remained the same and are paid in local currency. Eggs are sold individually at $.99 per egg.  Butter is $79.00 to $99.00.  Fuel is in short supply and people line up (Q-up) all day and perhaps even overnight.  Then it is possible when you get to the end of the line that perhaps there is no fuel left.  Electricity (Zesa - Zimbabwe Electrical Supply Association)  better known as Zimbabwe Electricity Weldom Available is living up to its name and for quite some time there has only been electricity for a few hours in the night mening people have to be up midnight and early morning to wash clothes, iron, etc., etc.,  Water is also a challenge as the water table is extremely low due to drought.  Kereba dam is nearly dry and said to be closing soon.  It is tough for Zimbabwains but they still manage to be joyful and celebrate life.
 
These are just a few of the many struggles my friends here in Zimbabwe have to deal with on a daily basis. I am so fortunate and truly blessed but therecomes for me with that, a feeling of guilt knowing I can still buy while my friends and colleagues cannot.  So, I simply do what I can to help and pray for God's guidance in how best to do that..

Not all is gloom and doom however, and our college is providing vegetables from our greenhouses to meet the needs of our staff and students, while hopefully, having some excess to be able to sell.  I toured the gardens and was quite impressed. We are growing cove, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, green pepper, cabbage, spring onions, spinach and cauliflower.  We also are raising chickens to provide much needed meat for the college and hopefully to sell as well.  The attitude at the college is indeed hopeful and we are trusting God for adequate provision.

I have my young adopted daughter, Makanaka, here with me for a few days before my classes start.  She is home from boarding school where she is doing very well.  It is good to spend some time with her.  Tomorrow, being Saturdqay, I will pick up her mom and brother and bring them to my place for lunch and then drive them all home. 

Rhonda and Larry Allen, missionary friends from the US are home in the US currently and returning to Zimbabwe mid-September.  I really look forward to welcoming them back.

I brought with me tooth brushes, toothpaste and other tooth care items, compliments of Summerland Dental and my sister Patra's dentist office in Calgary.  I went to the Village of Hope orphanage and school yesterday where I met with the mom's and children to present these items to them.  There was such excitement as these things are a rare commodity at this time in Zimbabwe.  I took some pictures of the kids waving their tooth brushes and tooth paste high above their heads and would so love to share those with all of you but that is not permitted.

This has been kindof a snapshot of my thoughts of things to share and so I apologize if it is a bit jumbled.  I have not downloaded any pictures as yet so will include some next blog. Closing with a request for all of youthat side to hold all of us this side in prayer.

Love and Blessings
Marj