Hi to all you beautiful people out there in canada and the US.

September 30th, 2018

Although I won't be sending this out for  a while, the next leg of my journey is underway.  I flew out of Kelowna on September 28th, taking the long way around to Zimbabwe as I chose to visit my son and his family in Houston before flying on to Zimbabwe.

My final days in Canada (for now) included a quick trip to Red Deer, where I was honoured by CASC Alberta with a Lifetime Achievement Award.  A humbling experience for sure to be recognized in such a way.  It was certainly good to see so many of my former colleagues and to meet the new faces on the block. Both Doctor Margaret Clark - supervisor, colleague and friend and Pastor Anne Zimmerman - former colleague and lifetime friend travelled specifically for the occasion.  Thankyou both; and thankyou to all those involved.  Indeed it was a great 'homecoming' to be back in Alberta reconnecting.  Thank you to all in the Alberta Association for making this a special occasion.

Spending some quality family time, having Geoffrey (my son) assist me with some technological challenges.  My granddaughter Aspen is in her highschool band and we attended the Texas High School Band competitions yesterday.  It was great to attend one of her functions and see her perform.

Weather permitting I will take advantage of Geoffrey's time off work to grab a game of golf with him before I head off to Africa.  (The weather did not permit)

October 12th, 2018
Wow!!! As usual the time has literally flown by and here it is nearly two weeks since I left Canada.  After some quality family time in Houston with our son and his family, I flew off to Harare, Zimbabwe on October 2nd.  I flew via Dubai and had a 13 hour layover there.  Flying with Emerities Air is actually, in my never to be humble experience, the best option.  If your forced layover in Dubai is more than 9 hours, the airline supplies accommodations and meals, all as part of your travel package.  It does help to break up the flying time and gives an opportunity for a good night's sleep.

I arrived in Harare on thursday evening and started classes on the following Monday.  So as I write this I am overseeing my exam for Old Testament Survey.  Next week I will be teaching on the Pentateuch and then facilitating a teacher training course in November.  Between times I will be visiting some of the local churches and perhaps having some preaching opportunities.  My major role continues to be heading up our accreditation team and we have a meeting schedueled for next Tuesday.

I am now residing right on campus in a half duplex.  Am getting some renos done to the place to make it a little more user friendly.  Just had the bathroom tiled the other day.

Things are not good here in my adopted country and it is so sad.  There were high hopes that with the change in government would come some positive changes for the people of this beautiful country.  But, alas, such was not to be and things have progressively gotten worse.  The money situation is terrible; supplies are in short supply and prices have gone through the roof.  A pound of butter was $18.00 the other day.  And, no, I did not buy it!!!  Many of the stores have closed.  Those that have stock are limiting what one can buy.  There is nearly no fuel...the line ups at the few stations with fuel are blocks long and people park in line overnight.  I am truly glad I am living on campus.  I wanted to have a glass top replaced on a table but could not get an extimate on what it would cost me as the price tomorrow will not be the same as the price today. The line ups at the banks have disappeared because there is simply no money.

Picture inserted here is of the fuel line ups (blocks long...the gas station is about a block further up the street and the line-ups seem to have no end) with the beautiful jacarand trees in the background.  Indeed this is a beautiful country and facing such trying times. 

In the midst of the doom and gloom that abounds, I am blessed to be here and doing whatever I can to be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters here.

As Director of Quality Assurance it did my heart good, as I toured around our college, to see that many positive things are happening here on the ground at our college.  Our new dean of students is working extremely hard to get donations of food and other supplies to make our students lives pleasant.  She has orchastrated many improvements in our dorms, with recovering matresses, painting and tiling.  The dorms, indeed, look 110% better.  Our students are envolved in sports programs as well as being attached to local churches with whom they work on weekends.  I am reminded of an old saying I learned from my mom.  In the hard times "we just make do".  That is so true of the spirit and the reality of the people here.

However, God is good and we trust He will bring Zimbabwe through this time of crises.

Until next time, Love and blessings to all

Marj

Updates from Doc Marj and Zimbabwe

Greetings to all my family and friends

This blog will be short as it is probably past due time for an update on what is happening in my world.  In response to many of your questions, Yes, indeed, I am returning to Zimbabwe.  Albeit things have changed in how that unfolds.

Much of the work I am doing with our college in Zimbabwe can now be done via internet and other multimedia communication systems.  So for the next few years I will be working with PACC from Canada and going to Zimbabwe twice a year for two month stints.  I will spend four months each year on the ground in Zimbabwe.

After Glen and I returned to Canada in December, 2017, I returned to Zimbabwe in March/April of 2018.  I will be leaving Canada September 28th and returning to Canada December 4th, 2018.  As I will be going without Glen, my accommodations in Harare have changed and I will actually be staying right on campus.  (Glen has certainly done more than his share as he has simply gone along with my call to serve in Zimbabwe for nearly five years and I so appreciate his willingness to go with me, but now it is time for him to be home in Canada, and I am fine with that.)  Being on campus will be a good things as it means I can work late in my office and not have the concerns of driving home after dark.  (That is not considered to be safe, especially for a white woman alone.)  Do not be alarmed as I say that for I am perfectly safe on campus and surrounded with loving-caring people.  And I heed the advise that I not be out alone after dark.

Time here at home in Canada has been busy and great.  Time with family, connecting with many of our friends, being involved in ministry opportunities and the like has made the time go way too quickly.

Currently I am packing and preparing for the return to Zimbabwe.  I will be teaching block courses (intensive one week courses) during my time in Zimbabwe, along with facilitating teacher training and advancing our accreditation process.

The next blog will be an update once I am on the ground in Zimbabwe, so probably early October.

Love and blessings to all

Marj

Greetings to all my family and friends back in Canada and the US.
My last blog was just after arriving in Zim and now here it is time to leave to return to Canada.  So this will be short (and sweet).  Much has happened in the month I have been here and indeed I have been blessed beyond measure.
The month has passed way too quickly as it seems there is much left to do.  It was great to have a visiting pastor from Keremeos, BC (good friend of Glen's and mine) come to Zimbabwe and spend time at our college and the surrounding area. He preached at a number of local churches including one in the rural area.  Thanks Jason!!  It meant a lot to our students, staff and their families,and of course to me.
But it was not all work.  On Saturday, our friends the Allen's took us on a day trip to Imiri Wild Life Park where we had an awesome time of fellowship along with seeing many of the wildlife in that area, including giraffe, elephant, zebra, warthog, gamesbuck, wildebeast elan, (I'm sure I've missed some,but we saw a lot).  For Jason, it was his first trip outside of Canada and I think he fell in love with Zimbabwe and her people.
Will blog at greater length once I am back on Canadian soil.   But right now I have to sign off as the Allens are coming to pick me up and I'm off to the airport.
Love and blessings to all of you.
Marj

Greetings Family and Friends

Well, I thought I would send out a blog to all of you to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  I trust the true meaning of Christmas will be part of your celebrations as once again we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

We are home in British Columbia now and already I am making preparations to return to Zimbabwe in March.  But...time now to enjoy our canadian home and catch up with some much needed family and friend time.  We have just returned from a whirlwind trip to Alberta...seeing our children, grandchildren, greatgranchildren and as many friends as we could possibly fit into a few days.  Now back home in time to prepare for Christmas.  We will get together with Bette and Brian (sister and brother-in-law).  As well my brother Dick and our son Sternie have plans to join us.  Looking so forward to having a real Canadian Turkey Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

As most of you are aware, Zimbabwe was going through significant change in the couple of weeks just before we left to return to Canada.  Many of you sent emails to us expressing your concern for our safety.  We appreciate all of you so much.  We actually feel the prayers sent our way.  The transition of government was very peaceful without a shot being fired and no violence whatsoever.  The military took control and the atmosphere in the contry changed.  When we arrived in Zimbabwe nearly four and one half years ago, there was a palitable feeling of  hopelessness throughout the entire country.  With the transition came a total change and hope was in the air.  There were great celebrations in the streets and everywhere people were dancing, waving flags and cheering.  what an awesome time to be in Zimbabwe...to witness history making right befoe our eyes. 

Note!!  Just realized I had started to blog after I returned to Canada and this was still sitting in my 'draft' so sending it off just as it is.  It, of course, goes before the one I just sent.

Will try to update more completely and send more pictures next time around.
Blessings
marj

March 29th, 2018
A great big hello and my wish for a Blessed Easter Season to all of you.

We have moved from 2017 to 2018 since I last sent out a blog.  That was back in November, 2017  and now already it is March, 2018.  Enroute to Harare, Zimbabwe, I spent some delightful time with my niece, Tamara, in Toronto.  So enjoyed my time with her and it gave me a break in flight time.  Now, I am back in Zimbabwe, without Glen this time. Our good friends, Larry and Rhonda, from AOG, picked me up at the airport and we are managing to get together periodically to catchup.  Finally, they got their TEP (Temporary Work Permit) so now know they can be here for at least the next year.  It has been a real struggle but so happly for them that finally it has happened.

Life here is hectic and I am finding myself almost overwhelmingly busy.  I am only here for one month and already it is back in the swing of things with getting caught up, involved in various meetings, etc., working towards accreditation and preparing to teach.  I will be teaching two block courses and facilitating a Teacher Training Course.  The block courses run Monday to Friday for one week each during which time students will cover an entire semester course.  I sent out pre-course assignments and if completed that will ease the heaviness of the courses for my students.

The Teacher Training Course is offered to teachers from both PACC (our college) and AOG (Assemblies of God) college.  We have done this twice previously and it is a great opportunity to meet and work with our friends from AOG.  APTEA (Association for Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa) which is the organization we are working towards being granted accreditation with, requires all teachers to be certified through their teacher training course.  We are working towards that end.  I completed the course first time around and so now facilitate it for others.

It is the Easter season and Rev. Zowa from the Village of Hope, where the jewellry that many of you have purchased has come from, was our guest preacher at our Special Chapel which happens every Wednesday.  He is a powerful preacher and had an awesome message on the power of the Cross.

It is good to be back at this home where it is such a contrast from our home in British Columbia where at times I find myself wondering what I might fill the days with, to here wondering if I will ever complete the tasks before me.   A good friend of mine, Stan Spence, who passed away little more than a year ago, once told me I needed to find a balance in my life.  He even gave me a sticker for my filing cabinet that said "Bookkeepers are balanced".  At that stage of my life I worked in accounting.  Anyway, thanks Stan, I still think of you whenever my life seems to get out of balance and I need that reminder.

The time home in Canada was filled with family time and visits to family and friends.  We have had an unusual amount of snow in our area of Canada this winter.  I'm inserting a picture here to show you how Glen and I 'endured' the snow.  Although eventurally, I'm sure Glen got sick of plowing ans shoveling everyday.

This guy took up residence in our back year.  He's left now just like Frosty, but perhaps he'll come back again next year.

Indeed, there was not time to see everyone I would have wished to see, but phone calls added to the opportunities to connect.  When I'm in Canada I miss all our 'family' in Zimbabwe and when I'm in Zimbabwe I miss all of you. 

In Canada I have been appointed as Co-ordinator for BC-Yukon District Pastoral Counsellors and look forward to finding out what all that entails.  I will be attending our CASC conference in Deerhurst, Ontario upon my return to Canada.  Life is full of excitement and chanllenges and I look so forward to what God has in store for me at the next turn.

On Friday April 6th, Pastor Jason Wiebe from Elim Church in Keremeos is coming to visit our college.  His church, although very small, have been very supportive of our college and last year provided scholarships for a number of our students.  The board from that church decided their pastor needed to see firsthand, life at our college and in Zimbabwe so they are sending him.  I am excited to have him here for a couple of weeks and would love to have a mission team from our home church at Bethel in Penticton come to assist with some renovations or the like.  That's for down the road and the conversation is already happening.  That's a first step (after prayer, of course).

The weather here has been very rainy and it's not supposed to be rainy season.  I guess just like in Canada, the weather is unpredicable and when we think we have it all figured out, the weather patterns change.

There is probably so much more I could share but I would like to send this out as it has been so long between blogs.  Trust my ramblings give you some idea of my life here in beautiful Zimbabwe.

Sending lots of love to all.

Marj

Greetings to all our loved ones whereever you are in the world.

Time is passing quickly and in less than two months we will be heading home to Canada.  The closer it gets to the time we are heading home, the more it seems there is so much yet to do before we leave.  And there are so many of our Zimbabwain friends we will want to spend some time with before we say goodbye to them.  Although I will be coming back, I am certainly aware that in the short terms when I am back in this country, it will be impossible to reconnect with many of them.  I am also very aware that the only constant (besides God) is change and things constantly change.  Elections are being held in this country next year and that will change things I'm sure.  One of the questions in my mind is how do elections really work in a dictatorship????  I'm not sure what things will be like when I do return.  The future awaits!

I was invited to speak at a Nasarene Church in Chitenguiza on Sunday September 3rd.  I taught the all church Sunday School and then preached, and then both Glen and I assisted with counting votes at their AGM, then we joined the congregation for lunch.  It was an all day affair and we were truly blessed to be part of it all.  This is just one of the tremendous opportunities afforded to me during our time here in Zimbabwe.

A few weeks ago, a number of the faculty here at PACC, participated in a Teacher Training Course (picture inserted below) and now we are looking to offer it to our adjunct faculty and faculty from the AOG (Assemblies of God) college.  That, if it happens, will be the first week of November.  I have been asked to facilitate that. One more thing to do before I leave.

At our college, this semester, I am teaching Old Testament Survey and enjoying every minute of it.  In addition to that I am supervising a student who is working through a self-directed counselling course.  Here below is a picture of some of my students.  I'm sure I learn more than my students do.  And it is such fun.

Good things are happening at our college in the midst of extreme economic challenges.  Many of  these things are thanks to the support received from family and friends in Canada.  We are in process of upgrading our classrooms and installing overhead projectors. Our offices have also taken on a new look with new paint and floor tiles.  Our ultimate goal is that PACC would become  'THE' theological institute on the African continent and have students coming from all over, not only Africa, but the entire world.  We are dreaming big and believing for great things knowing that we serve a mightly God.

And as we prepare for graduation happeing in November, I am so proud of our staff, principal, dean of students, administrator and registrar, all of whom have just graduated with EDBL (which is a Diploma in Business leadership) which will certainly be a huge benefit to our college.  I am inserting a picture here.  Not sure why I am in the picture, other than the fact that I support them in many ways and was privileged to be a guest at their graduation.

Our friends, the Allans are back from the US.  Still waiting on their TEPs.  It always proves to be a hassle for those of us from the Western World.  We get together quite often and are now looking ahead to when the Norries (missionary friends from Ontario) and the six of us getting together.  when we were back in Canada last year, the Allens and the Norries, along with the Wilsons (other missionary friends from Ontario) all got together for a reunion and had a blast.  So now we look forward to the three families getting together again.  It gives us all the opportunity to talk about the many challenges we face with other missionary couples struggling with the same things whilst remiaing positive with the people here who face much deeper challenges than we do.  Although we do need a forum to share, we also realize how truly blessed we are.  We just celebrated Thanksgiving and indeed that is a reminder of God's blessings in our lives.

We had a delicious supper, time of fellowship and a few rounds of Mexican Train with the Allens a week or so ago.  Glen was the big winner.  such fun!

It has been busy at college.  We are working hard at our work towards accreditation.  The struggles continue and our students from Namibia are facing challenges with getting study permits.  Immigration seems to always present challenges whether it is to get work permits as missionaries, or students coming in to get an education.  So, we cointinue to pray in all circumstances and refuse to be 'under' the circumstances.
Having said that, our friends the Allans have not yet received their work permits and so are here on visitor's visas.  they have a lawyer assisting them along with the National Church of AOG.

Out for a walk this morning.  Took some pictures of the beautiful Jacaronda trees which are in full bloom at this time of the year.  I am inserting a picture taken on that walk.  Enjoy!  I will miss so much of this country...but realize that I will also enjoy the beauty of Canada when I arrive home.  Every country (or at least everyone I have been privileged to see) has its own beauty.  I'm not sure if this picture is mine or Glen's but you get the picture of the beauty of the Jacarondas.

Part of the busyness as we prepare to leave is simply trying to wrapup four and one half years of life here.  It is quite amazing how even when one is trying to live simply, how much stuff one can accumulate.  However, there is no problem finding someone who can use what we choose not to bring home to Canada.

It never ceases to be a humbling experience as we realize how truly blessed we are and at the same time how extravegant I am.  And here I speak only for myself but perhaps I will become more of a minimalist when I return to canada...having learned that I can indeed live more simply.  No promises though, as I know myself and it seems, I live according to my means but I will intentionally try harder to share what I have with those who do not have. I have learned a lot about myself while living in this struggling economy.  It probably will take me some time (perhaps the rest of my life) to sort out exactly what I have learned about myself but then isn't learning a never-ending thing.  AND the learning continues.

It is so good to connect with so many of you via Skype.  It minimizes the distance and reminds me that the world is not so large afterall. 

Perhaps this will be the last blog I send from Zimbabwe for now, but I will try to keep in touch even from Canada so that all of you can continue to follow the adventures.  I am already looking forward to mid-March when I will return again to Zimbabwe.  I'm looking at returning twice a year, March-April and Sept.-Oct. for the next three years.

Trusting this blog is not too confusing as I simply jotted down ideas as they came to mind.  God Bless you all.

Sent with much love
Marj

Wow  - Here it is September 5th and I realize it has been a very long time since I blogged.  And no I have not dropped off the face of the earth.  We are, indeed, still in Zimbabwe and in just three short months, as of tomorrow, we will be heading home to Canada.

It is truly with mixed emotions that we get ready to leave this country that has become our home away from home.  We are missing family and friends and looking forward to being back in Canada...AND   We will miss the friends and colleagues here in this country, who have been such a part of our lives for the past four plus years.  As we leave here, I am very aware that the work here is not finished.  I will be returning to Zimbabwe for shorter periods of time...probably for one months stints twice a year until the job of leading our college to attaining accreditation status.  The details of what that will look like are in process of being worked out. Having said that I realize that coming for short periods of time will be very different from actually living here and working with my colleagues on a daily basis but God willing, that will be rewarding for both the Zimbabwains and me. I am not sure whether or not the cottage in which we have lived will still be available.  However, I do have alternate plans if it is not.  I am just trusting that God, who called us here in the first place,  will work out the details and so I will leave that to Him.

The trees here are beginning to blossom and soon our street will be purple with the Jacaronda's in full bloom.  It's supposed to be summer but I'm still finding it old in early morning and evenings.  Our lass rooms are cold and I can hardly wait for the 'hot' weather to arrive.

We have been taking advantage of some of the social activities lately recognizing that our time here is quickly drawing to a close.  Some of those social events included:  1) A live theatre production of 'Sister Act'to which we took our sponsor child, Makanaka and her brother Panashe. The production was fabulous and just watching Maka and Panashe and their reaction was awesome. They had never been to anything like this and we so enjoyed being able to treat them in this way.  Panashe, who is eighteen, said it was an experience he will never forget.  2) We have been out on the golf course a couple of times in the past month.  In the four years plus that we have been here, we have probably been golfing a total of four times prior to this.  It costs us all of $5.00 per person for nine holes.  We just have not seemed to fit the time in to go more often.  Such a shame!  Scores were not anything to write home about but it felt so good just to be out. 3)We also went to a concert put on by the runner-up of 'The Voice - South Africa".  Another enjoyable evening.  4) Also went to a polo-cross game.  Polo-cross is quite popular here and Glen actually went two days in a row.  It was the International Junior Championships.  But, one day was enough for me.

 Doesn't sound much like ministry, does it.  However, things have been very busy at our college and we are in the midst of our first semester, having just changed our systems.  Just prior to the beginning of our August semester, I facilitated and also participated in a Teacher Training Course through APTEA (Association of Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa) which is the association through which we are seeking accreditation.
(Including a picture here of those of us taking the course)

This semester we have students from Namibia and supposedly have some coming from Malawi. They have encountered some difficulties with their passports and have been delayed.  Hopefully they will arrive before it is too late for them to join the current classes.  It will mean they have to work hard to catch up.  We are praying that things work out for them.  
Am inserting a picture of our students and staff on orientation day.  The picture was taken in our chapel.

We are working towards reinstating our Degree program which was discontinued in 2008, and, of course, we are still working towards our accreditation.  Renovations to our facilities are underway in a number of areas.  Being the Director of Quality Assurance has me running in many directions trying to see what all can be done while we are still on site.  Glen is still doing numerous repair and maintenance jobs and I know the workers will really miss having him around when he is gone.

Will try and be more diligent in keeping all of you up to date on what's happening this side of the world.

Love and blessings to you all.

Marj