Hi again to all our family and friends back in Canada and the US.

Well, were to begin is the question?  Firstly, let me once again thank all of you for your support in whatever form that takes.  We so appreciate your prayers and ask that you continue to pray for us as we serve here in this country in which the economy continues to weaken.  Just today, I heard that businesses are now beginning to refuse to take cash payments and accepting only 'swipe'.  Not sure how that will unfold, and whether that only relates to the Zimbabwe currency what with the introduction of the Zimbabwe Bond Notes.  I do know, however, that the banks virtually have no money.  So, we continue to pray for our adopted country and thank you for your prayers for the people here in Zimbabwe and for the country.

So much has happened since my last blog, and we are now in the process of submitting an application for renewal of our temporary work permits.  As I believe I have said before, it is our intention to be here full time until December, 2017.  Then, God willing, I will return at least once a year, probably for a three month stint, until we (PACC) complete our accreditation process.  As I head up that committee, I believe it would be prudent to see it through to completion.  I will continue to work with the team through Skype, and email, etc.,  Technology does allow us to do things that a few years ago were impossible and I thank God for that.

Glen and I have just returned from a week in Kenya where we were privileged to attend a PAOC missionary all Africa retreat.  We were at a place called Turtle Bay which is on the Indian Ocean.  The pictures I have inserted here was one I took of the sunrise as I walked along the beach early morning.  It was awesome to meet with missionaries, about 100 in total, from many countries throughout Africa and to compare our experiences, both the blessings and the challenges.

It was a time of reconnecting with friends and meeting new friends.  It felt good to realize that we were not alone...even though we are the only ones in Zimbabwe.  It was truly a time to recharge and then return to our respective African homes ready to face new challenges.  One of those challenges is getting work permits.  We have learned, through the sharing of our stories and exsperiences, that it is becoming more and more difficult in many countries on the African Continent to get work permits.  Please pray for us that we don't encounter difficulties in that area.

Yesterday we had a time of fellowship and shared a meal with missionaries/workers from the US.  One couple, Jim and Becky Petersen are here in Zimbabwe on a stopover waiting to get clearance to go into Namibia.  They are lifelong missionaries who have served on the African continent, in many different countries for over fifty years.  Their work permits have just been denied so they are going into Namibia on visitor's permits and trusting God will open the doors for where He wants them to be.
We have gotten together with them a couple of times.  This is a picture of Glen and I with the Petersens.  As you can see we still get to go out to local restaurants.  That always presents some conflicting emotions for me as I realize we are privileged in the midst of the poverty of so many who struggle even to buy a loaf of bread.  But we still do treat ourselves to such times.

The other couple Jeff and Rebecca Smith, not in the picture, are working at our college doing renovations. They will be returning to the US the beginning of June and are hoping then to come back to Zimbabwe in November.

The Norries and the Allens, friends I have spoken of often in previous blogs, will all be returning to Zimbabwe in May.  The Norries for a month and the Allens are hoping (and praying) for work permits.

Our niece, Michelle and her husband Rob, are arriving next week and we are so looking forward to their visit and the opportunity to share our life here in Zimbabwe with them.  Glen has planned out an agenda and he has become quite a good guide.

Classes have ended until beginning of May and I will be taking a break while Rob and Michelle are here, so currently trying to get ahead of the game and prepare for my next classes.

I will be joining my CASC (Canadian Association for Spiritual Care) colleagues from across Canada in a fun run/walk on April 28th.  That is an annualfund raising  event that takes place at our CASC Conference this year being held in Saskatoon and I have tried to participateeach year even though I am in Zimbabwe.  

It is always good to touch base with so many of you and Skype makes that relatively easy.  So to those of you on Skype who would like to talk with us/me, send me your Skype address and I will watch for you on line. Those conversations/visits are treasured moments for me.

 This picture shows some of the beauty of this country which demonstrates the conflict.  In many ways the country is in ruins, certainly economically, and it seems appropriate to say there is such beauty among the ashes or ruins.

I pray that God will restore Zimbabwe.

Enough said for this time so until next month.
Love and Blessings to you all.
Marj

Greetings to all you beautiful people out there!!  (Whereever 'there' is).

And humblest apologies.  It has been way too long since I wrote.
It is rainy season here in Zimbabwe and the rains don't seem to stop.  Even the local people are ready for the rain to stop.  A number of areas in the country are flooding and bridges being washed out. We, here, however, although there has been more than ample rain, have not been subject to flooding.  I am more than ready for a steady dose of sunshine.

It is Sunday afternoon...and Glen and I have just returned from a long walk.  We have not been able to do that in quite a while because of the rains.  However, today is a beautiful sunny day with the temperature at about 26 c.

Time has flown by since I last wrote.  In February, I was privileged, along with our principal, Rev. Tawanda Munaki and our Academic Dean, Pastor Tichaona Chiwashira, to attend an APTEA (Association of Pentecostal Theological Education in Africa) conference in Jo'Berg, South Africa.  It was an awesome, albeit busy, time of reconnecting with people I had met at the last conference in 2014 and meeting many new people.  Our college has now received endorsement within that association.  What a huge step for us.  That gives us more credibility throughout the continent and already we are anticipating having students in August from a couple of other African countries.

I am inserting a picture of the three of us enjoying a McDonald's break, if you can imagine.  We don't have McDonald's in Zimbabwe and neither of the guys had ever been to a McDonald's so we just had to go.  Not fancy but a new experience for them and a little taste of home for me.  We had finished lunch and  here we are all enjoying an apple pie.  Made me think of our grandkids and greats as at home we would sometimes take them to McDonald's.  This time I took the big 'kids'.

The conference was attended by about 180 teachers and others associated with our theological institutes throughout Africa.  Fifty three (53) African countires were represented and it was great to be encouraged and encourage others in what we are doing.

Then, also in February we celebrated Linda's birthday.  Linda is our young lady Maka's mom.  Again we went to a place that reminds us of Canada and gives them a chance to experience something very different than the norm in their lives.  So we went to Kentucky Fried Chicken. We took the birthday cake along with us and the staff at KFC were very gracious and even allowed us to light the candles and sing Happy Birthday.  It was fun to see the excitment of our friends.  Linda had never had a birthday cake before.  Picture inserted here of the frivolity.

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It may sound as though all we do is go to fast food places, but that's not really how it is.  Mostly we eat at home and cook for ourselves.  Although when we have missionary friends here or family, etc. we do enjoy some of the fabulous restaurants in this country.  Remember, Zimbabwe used to be a wealthy country and so there are still many upscale restaurants around.  At times we wonder how they stay in business but we appreciate the fact that they do.

Our next adventure will be a trip to Kenya as both Glen and I will be attending a PAOC all Africa retreat the end of this month.  It will be so good to connect with other Canadian Missionaries working in Africa.  Will tell you all about that next blog.

Our niece, Michelle and her husband Rob, are arriving in April to spend a couple of weeks with us. Glen has already booked photo Safaris for us and we are so anticipating the fun we will have together. It is, indeed, such a blessing to us when we have family or friends visiting us from back in Canada.  So the invitation is there...anyone wanting to come????

I was honored to be invited to be guest speaker at an investiture for 30 young prefects at the Cornelius Academy Primary School out at the Village of Hope.  I was asked to speak to them on Leadership.  The service was held in the chapel and it was full to capacity.  I was then presented with a beautiful basket of fruit by two of the young ladies being installed as Prefects.  I am moved by the generosity knowing that this is a great sacrifice for them.

Our college has special chapel services every Friday, following classes, and special guest speakers are invited. Our Dean of Students is trying to make sure all of us have some input into the spiritual lives of our students and so last Friday was my turn to be guest preacher.  I do consider it a privilege to be asked to preach and I do have those opportunities quite frequently at some of the local churches in addition to at our chapel services.

We enjoy opportunities to host our friends at our cottage and Friday evening we had one of my former colleagues and his wife join us for the evening meal and a time of fellowship.  They had a new addition to their family while we were back in Canada and so here is a picture of  little Emanuel with his mom.

We see our young sponsor lady and her mom on the average of about once a week.  Last weekend she appeared on the local television in her role as Queen Holiday.  The year will be busy for her as she fulfills that role.  Already she has taken part in collecting clothing and the like and distributing them to the less fortunate (which includes almost everyone in this country).  That is one of the responsibilities she, Maka, will undertake along with the organization Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, who were the sponsors of the competition through which Maka was crowned queen.

Work continues at Pan Africa Christian College and Glen is so great at doing renovations and fixing things.  I so appreciate him being my support in so many ways.  And to all of you, words are simply not adequate to express how much we appreciate the support we receive, in so many ways, from all of you.  Your prayers are felt all the way across the miles.  Your phone calls, your emails and your support of our college in various ways all mean so much.  You know who you are.  Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!  We are blessed beyond measure.

And on that note, I will sign off for now.  Sending much love and many blessings to all.

Marj

Notes for my next blog!!

My blog this time is a reflection of my heart and with that you might note a heaviness that I am feeling.  I write this not to discourage anyone but simply to express the reality of my experiences.   I know we are here in Zimbabwe because God called us to be here.  Perhaps He called us to be here so that we/I might come to more fully understand that the entire world does not live the way we, on the North American continent live.  Perhaps there is more I need to be doing to do my part in helping those less fortunate.

As we celebrate Christmas and the joy that brings, we are so aware that many here in this country, while we can all rejoice as we remember that Christ came as Saviour, many struggle to feed their families and send their kids to school, and there is no money for that and certainly not for any special celebrations during the holidays.

The bond notes are now in the marketplace.  The banks are limiting the amount of money one can withdraw per day.  And you have to stand in line for hours to even get to the bank.  Cash machines are not working.  There simply is no cash and people express concern that the situation might be the beginning of a repeat of what happened in 2008-09 when inflation was crazy rampant.  At the moment the stores still have food and other consumables on the shelves and indeed in the supermarkets, such as OK Mart, it is looking very much like Christmas.  The reality is Christmas will be much simpler for most people.

The other day, as I was on my way home from college, I saw a young woman and two small children going through the garbage bins...presumably looking for something to eat.

There are long lineups at the banks, as people cue up to get a small amount of cash.  And then to be told when they finally get to the front of the line.  Sorry, there is no cash.  I'm told that the banks limit the number of people to 40 per day who can enter the bank and that doesn't guarantee you'll get money.
I've inserted here a picture taken Friday of the lineups.  People begin to line up the night before to make sure they can get into the bank.
And then there are those people who rely on cash...the people who are street vendors, selling their meger vegetables, or the stone carvers, and the list goes on and on.  And there is no cash.

Maka and Linda come to our house about once a week or so and often times when they come for supper they have not eaten at all that day.  We send home any leftovers with them; so that at least tomorrow they will have something to eat.
It is a humbling experience to say the least.  We are so fortunate and yet we also realize that we cannot help everyone.  At times, I ask God what I'm supposed to be doing in this country.  And I feel so inadequate.
Maka and Linda were here last night.  Maka has to go to school tomorrow to get her marks and then travel by bus to KweKwe to get registration forms to complete for her boarding school next year. One of the things we can do in this country is to help one young lady (Maka) get an education and improve her chances of doing well.  Even, as we spoke to her she was trying to put on a brave face for her mom, but expressed to me her fears of traveling alone to a strange city (she is just thirteen) by bus.  So, we pray for her safety as she travels and leave her in God's hands.
I also feel that inadequacy as I realize the sacrifices many of my students and my colleagues face just simply because they live in this country amidst the corruption and resulting economic difficulties.  My very dear friend, Nellice, has not been paid from her regular job for about six months.  When asked why she stays, the answer is simply, where would I go?  There are no jobs.  My friend tries to make ends meet by catering and decorating some events when possible.  I humbly acknowledge that we simply have no idea (even though we live in this country) of what it is like for the majority of people.  And yet, they put on their happy, smiling faces and life goes on.  My heart breaks for the country and her people!!

Enough of my heart heaviness for now.

It is rainy season here and this year the rains have come!  Maise is beginning to pop up everywhere.  It is planted on every bit of land available, much of it along the roadsides, as can be seen in this picture...anywhere people can simply claim a bit of land.

Even though classes are out for the month of December, there is much work going on as we plan for the 2017 year.

January 12th, 2017.
Christmas and New Year's have come and gone and we are now well into the New Year.  I realize that there has been a lapse of time between when I started this blog and nowalmost halfway through the first month of the new year.  Indeed December was a very busy month.  Much work was going on at our college and the majority of our 2,500 books are now on the shelves in the library and renovations have kept both Glen and I busy.  I am so grateful for the help of Rebecca Smith in cataloguing and shelving books.

Christmas day was different in many ways but was great; starting out with celebrating Christmas with our church family here and then hosting workers on the property and their families along with Linda, Maka and Panashe as well as King, who used to work on the property.  The workers on the property actually work for Bishop who lives in the Big house on the same property where our cottage is located.  The property is owned by PAOC, Canada.  We don't have workers as we do our own thing.

We actually managed to get a turkey for Christmas from a local super store.  It was imported and cost us nearly an arm and a leg, (they really wanted our first born) but it was so good and worth every penny. I guess when I think of it the cost was much less than returning to Canada for Christmas.

We had the same Christmas tree as last year, a gift from Maka, Linda and Panashe.  We added some light to it this year.  the other picture is of some of our guests after dinner.  The dinner just kind of went on and on as we served first at 2:00 when most of our guests arrived.  Then Linda, Maka and Panashe got caught in a flood an hour or so from here and so they came later in the day and we served again.  It was such fun and I realize how much I love to host people.
Here then is a picture of Linda, Maka and Panashe opening gifts.  We put together a basket of food stuffs and other essentials which they aren't always able to get.  They were quite excited and we joined with them in that excitement.  It feels so good to be able to add to the joy of others not only at Christmas time but throughout the year.  We are so blessed to be able to do so.

As I reread the first half of this blog, I realize there were moments of discouragement, but there are more times of  anticipation of the good things to come in 2017.  So, this half of my blog will take on a more positive note.  We are now definitely moving to a semester system, which will begin in August.  Our new college leadership team is in place and I have been given the new title of Director of Quality Assurance as part of my portfolio.  I guess, the reality is, I have been acting in that role for some time and so the powers that be decided to make it an official role.  I will, of course, continue as professor and Chair of our Accreditation team.

Our students for the first two terms will be those students who are looking to complete their programs before semesterization.  Graduation for those students will be in November and then come August we will bgin with an entirely new students.

Classes officially started this week.  Monday was registration, Tuesday orientation and then Wednesday first day of class.  I am teaching both the Old Testament Survey and The New Testament Survey and looking forward to journeying with my students as they explore the entire Bible.

It was a struggle getting a school for our young lady, Maka, to begin her Level I studies but she is now in school, albeit a day school and not boarding as we had initially hoped.  However, as it turns out, the school she is at is a girl's school within walking distance from where they are living.  It will work out well as she is able to be at home with her mom still.  Am inserting a picture of her in her new school uniform.

Sunday, January 1st, 2017 started out for us with a walk to the Base Church for their service, a golf game at Chapman's course in the afternoon and then a stop at Kentucky Fried Chicken just to make us feel connected to home.  A great start to the New Year, spiritually, physically and mentally.  The spiritual and the physical obvious and the mental with simply being out in the great outdoors and enjoying God's creation all around us.
It was great fun just to be out on the golf course and have the course almost to ourselves.  That was the first time golfing since coming back to Zimbabwe.  Golfing cost us all of $5.00 per person so we thought that was quite affordable.  (Joking, of dourse, it was actually very cheap...might even do it again.)

Glen has been busy removing, or arranging to have removed, four palm trees on the property that have been undermining the foundation of the big house on the property.  I'm inserting a video of the process. Hope it comes through.  It was quite interesting to watch.  Glen was in front with the truck, that would be to the right of the picture, and pulling as the guys chopped the tree.

Glen has been keeping track of the amount of rainfall and reports we have had 18.9 inches since he arrive in November.  That is certainly good for the country as it has been very dry the last couple of years and the water table is so low.  Everything looks lush and green; so we praise God for the abundance.

That's all folks!  Till next time.
Love and blessings to all
Marj







 

Greetings from the beautiful country of Zimbabwe to all our family and friends.
The rains havew finally arrived.  Although much more is needed, the grass has turned green seemingly ovwernight.  A variety of trees bloom in every season here and here is a sample of what we are seeing right now.

Wow!  November has come and gone.  Glen is here in Zimbabwe with me now, having arrived November 7th.  It is good to be back together.

November has been a very busy month with final exams; and then along with that of course, comes the necessity to mark them and the accompanying papers.  Graduation was Friday and Saturday, November 25th and 26th.  Friday was our grad banquet and Saturday the graduation exercises.  It was a privelege for me to bring the charge to the grads and have opportunity to challenge them as they go out into ministry.

Our college is in transition (I think I said that before) but it is actually now taking place.  Our principal, our academic dean and our dean of students are all transitioning out and for the upcoming year we will have acting principal, academic dean and dean of students. This change has been talked about for the past few years, in fact talks were happening towards that end when I first arrived here in 2013.  But now it is actually coming to fruition.  Our college actually closes on December 2nd for the December break and as it closes the changes officially take place.  I will still be a member of the BOA and head up the Acreditation team.  Besides that I am now going to serve on the Academic committee.  That committee will work closely with the acting Academic Dean to establish the programs, courses and the like.  Promises to be a busy year and we are looking forward to some positive outcomes.

Monday, November 28th, Glen and I hosted an appreciation luncheon and fellowship time at our college for the outgoing faculty.  It was a fun time as we combined a roast type afternoon with all staff being invited to share a funny experience or a special memory of time with the three outgoing staff members and/ or their wives.  Laughter was abundant and it was good to celebrate together, even though Glen and I didn't understand much of what was shared as it was in Shona.  However, we got caught up in the mood of the sharing and could not help but laugh along, the mood was contagious.   Here is a picture of me and my colleagues who are now moving on.  As you can see the picture was tken at our graduation.  I will miss all three of the guys as we worked together for the past three yers.  Having said that I do look forward to what the future holds for our college.

Meetings are being held this Thursday at our cottage with the new team taking the reigns.

Things are still moving forward with our library as we continue the task of cataloguing and shelving the over 2,500 books we have received via donations.  It is a huge task and my unrealistic expectations had hoped to have them all shelved before the end of this term.  So, we'll just keep plugging along and they will get done.  Tomorrow, I'm becoming a student along with  Rebecca (worker at our college from the US) as our librarian is going to teach us the library computer program so that we can continue to catalogue and shelve books while the college is closed for December break.  Praying and trusting that perhaps my old brain can still learn some new things!  We'll see how that goes.

The Sunday before Glen came to Zimbabwe I had the opportunity to speak to a couple of special people from our home church in Penticton.  Don and Joy, it was such a pleasure to speak to both of you for even a few minutes.  We are also able to connect via Skype with those of you who utilize that method of communicating.  If you do and would like to connect with us via Skype let me know and we can arrange to do that periodically.

The rainy season is here and finally we have been getting some much needed rain over the last couple of days, although it is sunny right now.

Please continue to pray for the country of  Zimbabwe and the people.  The challenges are great and the latest is the fear throughout the country as the Bond Currency/Bond Notes are being reintroduced.  The local people remember well the financial disaster of 2008-2009 and the fear is that the country is headed, once again, in that direction with hyperinflation.

On a very positive note, we trust that God is in charge.

We actually found a place that has a 'turkey project' and we have ordered a turkey for Christmas.  Missionary friends, Larry and Rhonda Allen, from the Assemblies of God in the US are arriving next week and so we will have an early Christmas celebration with them.  Rhonda is bringing the cranberries.  We are excited to have them come back to Zimbabwe.  They will only be here for a short time but it will be good.

We are also anticipating having some of our family visit us in the coming year.  It is such a joy to have visitors, family and friends, come to visit us and see what we do and how we live here in this country.
Signing off now realizing that it is now, as I'm finishing this, December.  Will try to write again before Christmas.   Oh, talking of Christmas, one of the grounds people at the college has promised to get me a Christmas tree.  I'll look forward to that as well...it might very well be a Charlie Brown Christmas tree and I'm not sure where I'll get decorations.  Might have to make a few...or perhaps Makanaka will make me some.

So, farewell for now dearly beloved.

Marj (and Glen)

Greetings friends and family
Well, for only the second time since I've returned to Zimbabwe, the Zesa went off...but only for less than an hour so that's pretty good considering that when we left Zim to return to Canada last December, the Zesa was off  nearly 75% of the time.

It has been a very busy week.  Mid-term exams have been written and marked.  Friday we had a PACC Caring for Our community Day which involved all students and staff going out to the nearby shops and doing a cleanup.  We swept the parking lot, raked the surrounding area, picked up the garbage and handed out flyers promoting our college.  So, the day was two-fold.  It was to show the community we care and to make people aware of our college and who we are.  It was a very successful day.  I am inserting a couple of pictures so you can see us in action.  Following the cleanup we all returned to the college and shared a meal at the college dining room.  I was able to hire a young lady who has just been to catering school and she prepared a great meal for us.

Then on the Saturday, October 22nd, I celebrated my birthday by joining the Breast Cancer Awareness walk hosted by the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe.  The young girl we sponsor, Makanaka, joined me for the walk and then spent the day with me.  The walk was complete with a police escort.
In the afternoon, we picked up Maka's mom, Linda, and we all shared a meal together.  Linda had to work earlier in the day and so could not go with us on the walk.  I am also including a couple of pictures of the cancer walk.  It felt good to be involved in the community in this way.

Sunday I walked to the Base Church, which is about 2.5-3 kms.  The church there is a combination of Black and White Zimbabweans and feels so good to see the integration which is not always present.

Then later on Sunday, Glen phoned me from our church in Penticton and I got to speak to a couple of friends there. It was a very pleasant surprise.  Don and Joy, it was so good to hear your voices and speak even for just a couple of minutes.

I always enjoy the opportunity to speak, either by phone or on Skype, to so many family and friends.fairly regularly. The distance doesn't seem so great somehow and I am truly blessed. It quite amazes me how things have changed in the years since I went to Cameroon and did not have the luxury of regular cell phone service or internet service. This experience is much different and holds its own blessings and its own challenges.

Glen will arrive in less than two weeks and I am certainly looking forward to having him join me here.

Just went for supper with friends from the US who are working at our college.  Had a great time of fellowship and sharing the challenges we encounter.

Enough chatter for this time so will sign off.  You are all much in my thoughts and prayers and I send love and blessings to all.

Marj

September 26, 2016

Greetings again all you wonderful people out there.

Nearly two months since I returned to Harare, Zimbabwe.  Still busy working in the library, trying to get books on the shelves so our students can make use of the valuable resources we have been given.

I'm teaching basic accounting and Major Prophets this term, and although I have taught both of them before, it still seems to take me lots of time for preparation.  Never gets boring that way!!

Our good friends, the Norries, from Elora, Ontario arrived back in Harare on Wednesday.  They are hosting a team who arrived yesterday to work at the Village of Hope.  It is good to have the Norries here.  They are here for about a month!  I will just get used to having them around and they will be gone.

Transitions regarding staffing (I think I mentioned those in my last blog) will officially happen at the end of the term, being end of November, following graduation.  In light of that, other changes are happening slowly, much to my chagrine.  Those of you who know me well, know patience is not one of my better virtues.  I like things to happen, like yesterday.  Oh, well, God is still working on that in my life...although at times, it seems as though I'm a slow learner.  I'm glad God doesn't give up on us. His patience is rather awesome and for that I am grateful beyond words.

Tomorrow is meeting day and we have both an APTEA meeting and a BOA meeting.  Makes for a long day as meetings always follow classes.

As well, tomorrow I will have Tawanda take me into town to pay my bills.  I just don't drive in the inner city by myself at this point in time.  When demonstrations take place that's usually where they happen but locals seem to know ahead of time when they are about to take place, so being informed and avoiding those times and places adds an element of security.

(Continuation)  - Now October 1, 2016 - 1:45 pm.

I'm really enjoying my classes.  I am teaching basic accounting and Major Prophets with 14 students in each of those.

Just came in from picking mulberries and will make a mulberry crisp to host a desert after church tomorrow for the missionary team (10) and the Norries who are hosting them.  The team is comprised of people from a church in Ontario and they have come for two weeks to work at the Village of hope.
Also baked a couple of banana breads and made some of my mom's icebox cookies this morning, which are now safely stored in the freezer for quick retreaval when I need them.

My garden consists of four rows of radishes, which are hard to find in most of the grocery stores here. so, I decided to grow my own.  I picked a few this morning and will add them to my salad for supper tonight.

I'm kindof housebound today as the Isuzu truckhas been
n giving me some trouble.  I called in our mechanic who came and indicated the clutch is going so he will be coming by tomorrow after church to pick up my truck and make the necessary repairs. I am thankful that Glen left me all the information as to who to call for any repairs, servicing and the like.

It is a beautiful 32 degrees Celcius today and so  I will go for my usual walk.  It is summer time here now and the trees are in full bloom.  Inserting a couple of pictures just to break the monotony.  The third picture is of the mulberry trees growing on our property.  Wish you were all here and i could share my mulberry crisp with you.

 sure how long I'll be without my truck so may need to make some alternative arrangements to get to class for a couple of days. Hopefully I'll be able to get my friend Nellice to come and pick me up.

We continue to do renovations on the library. It will be a longterm goal as the work gets done as the cash becomes available.  Hopefully, the majority of it will be completed in the next few months.

We are also still in the process of realizing just what the transitions and changes are going to look like at the college.  We are looking ahead at various ways we can promote the college and our IT is setting up a webpage for us.

Well, I think I've rambled enough for this time.
Love and Blessings to all.
Marj

Greetings friends and family!!

Well, August has slipped by.  It is supposed to be summer here…but according to the local people, it is unseasonably cold (chilly really).  The temperature at night is still down to about 10 degrees and that is more typical of winter.  It does however, get quite warm, in the high twenties or even low thirties in the day time.  I love it!!!  The mulberries are just beginning so soon I’ll be able to pick and enjoy!  Today I planted some radishes but don't have much garden space so will settle for having those to add to my salads.

I talk to Glen every couple of days and am looking ahead to when he will be joining me here in Harare.  I'm expecting that will be late October or early November.  

I have been kept busy since my arrival here in Harare.  I am working with the librarian, trying to get some 2000 books catalogued and on the shelves before classes begin.  I don’t think that is going to happen but at least we will have made a dent. This picture is just a sampling of our books with Tapfuma (librarian) and I as we bagan the work of unpacking.  We still have many boxes to go.  It is lots of work but exciting.  I could just sit in the library and read.  There are so many intgeresting books.

Currently we have carpenters making some new shelving for us so we will have space to put all the new books.  So, I have taken on the role of organizer, getting the library cleaned up, hauling out old computer parts and other junk that has somehow found its way into ‘storage’ in the library back rooms. Our IT guy, Tawanda, is fabulous and not only helps me with all my computer challenges but accompanies me if I am going anywhere I’m not sure of.  So together we have been hauling garbage out to the dump and if I have to go into town I do not go alone.  He even came by one evening, with his wife and children, to look at my internet at the cottage. This picture is of his wife and their new baby boy.  They now have three boys.

There are many staff changes taking place here at PACC and so I’m not sure yet of what college opening will look like.  Academic Dean leaves tonight to work on his doctoral studies. So, the keys to the office we have shared for the last few years have just been handed over to me. 

I tried to use my debit card at ATMs the other day to discover for myself, that it is true what they say, and that indeed there is a shortage of cash in this country.  Reports are that there is very little cash money in the country and so Zimbabwe is becoming a cashless society.  The positive side of this, for me, is that most places are beginning to accept international visas or other credit cards, for paying bills, buying groceries, fuel, etc., so that is a good thing.  Of course for the local people that doesn’t really matter as they simply don’t have the money, be it cash or plastic.  It is a strange feeling, knowing that I am privileged while living in a country that struggles so much…and knowing that I can’t help everyone.  But I can make a difference to some and for that I give thanks to God.

I have been visiting a number of different churches within our denomination.  Services are mostly in Shona and so I am trying to arrange with a young lady to teach me some Shona.  I figure after all this time and I haven’t really picked up any of it (my old brain you know) that perhaps I should be more intentional about it.  We’ll see how that goes.  My efforts at learning to speak French over the years has not been anything to write home about; but maybe if I am surrounded with Shona it could have a different outcome.  Although English is the official language and what is taught in the schools, I think learning Shona is a way of integrating more with the culture in this area of Zimbabwe.

Sunday, August 28^th, 2016, I went to the Oasis Church which is where my sponsor child, Maka, and her mom regularly attend.  Was invited by the pastor to speak to the church with words of encouragement.  That was a real privilege (even though it was spur of the moment and something I had not prepared for).  Maka turns 13 on Wednesday.  Her brother Panashi turned 17 earlier in the month.  Birthdays are celebrated in church and so I took a birthday cake for each of them and the entire church congregation celebrated with them.  Afterwards I brought the family to the cottage and we had a birthday party, complete with a meal and a few rounds of Mexican- Train after wards.  Grace and King, (Bishop’s help) joined us as well.  They attend the same church as Linda and Maka and live on the same property as I do.  It was a fun time.  Whenever I make a meal for Linda and Maka I always cook extra and send the leftovers home with them.  In that way I know they are eating another good meal.
Here is a picture of Maka and Panashe and their birthday cakes at Oasis church. In the background is pastor Moses.

Yesterday we had a bit of a celebration at the college as a sendoff for our academic dean, Joseph Mufema.  As staff, we gathered together in a time of prayer and then enjoyed banana bread and coke (which I supplied). It felt good to facilitate that in the midst of all the challenges in this country.

Today, Wednesday, August 31, 2016, has been declared a work stoppage day.  No one is supposed to be working…shops are to be closed and the like.  I guess it’s like a country wide strike so I am at home at the cottage. Tomorrow I will be back at the college again…doing some clean up.  Our shelves are supposed to arrive sometime tomorrow.  

Classes start on Monday, September 5^th, with block courses.  My classes don’t actually start until the 12^th but I’m anxious to get going.

I will be meeting with Rev. Munaki on either Tuesday or Wednesday this coming week to talk about all the changes at the college. I do know that I will be teaching O.T. Major Prophets and Accounting.  Have taught both of those before so am at least semi-prepared.  Looking forward to hearing more details about the changes.  

Enough rambling for this time.  

With love and blessings to all.

Marj