Chengeta

This weekend we went to Chengeta, a safari lodge. We went canoeing on the Seruwi River and went on a guided game drive. The river we canoed on has crocodiles! I canoed in Africa with crocodiles! It was so peaceful and beautiful! The water was so clear and the trees surrounding the river were so colorful. The game drive was a great experience. We saw wildebeest, implala, warthog, and giraffe. Chengeta has lions at the lodge but not on the safari, they are in cages. Before we started the safari we were allowed to take pictures with them. When I took my picture, the male lion cam running towards the fence and roared at me! I wasn’t really scared because it happened so fast, but everyone else was freaking out because they saw the lion do it. Don’t worry, I was completely safe! The lions are in a cage, behind an electric fence. Emily managed to get a hilarious picture of the lion running towards me.  

 

How Great Is Our God

This week we have been more active in creating a schedule so we can go to Danai and Father’s House daily. On Tuesday we went to Father’s house for the afternoon. We played bingo, read books, colored pictures, and played other games. The past few times we have visited Father’s House, a little boy, Takunda, has been playing with me. He loves for me to listen to him read and color next to him. All the children and volunteers were coloring in a circle, when Takunda began to singing. He sang African worship songs, Father Abraham, other songs he learned at Sunday school, and How Great Is Our God. It was so precious watching him sing. He had the sweetest voice. It was so great watching a little eight year old boy singing and coloring with such joy and compassion. 

We still haven’t taken pictures with the children at the homes. We are having such a great time building relationships and playing with the kids that we don’t want the cameras to be a distraction.  I took pictures of pictures of the children from a folder we have of both orphanages. So far, each week we have spent two days at Father’s House and two days at Danai. On Fridays we go to St. Catharine’s (the school for children with disabilities) to help with their assembly. For this weekend we are planning a Father’s House Weekend Bash. We want to have the children and Mary from Father’s House spend the weekend at our house. We are planning on reading stories, playing games outside, having a movie night, celebrating Mary, having a braai (bar-b-q), and making smores.

Jesus Is Not An American

This past week this statement has been stuck in my head. Jesus is not an American, He lives everywhere.  Saturday evening we went to Domboshava. Domboshava is a huge rock that you can hike. We started hiking around 3 and stayed until the sunset. It was an amazing view! It was so relaxing and peaceful.  When I was watching the sunset, I noticed the natural beauty of Zimbabwe. When we were walking down Domboshava,we met a man and woman that want us to come and visit their school. It’s amazing to me how genuinely sweet people, especially Zimbabweans.  Right when we met them, they had huge similes on their faces and the most welcoming personalities.  Yesterday morning we went to church at a place called River of Life. The people were so welcoming and happy we were there. After church, Emma (our new guide) invited us to her house until we went to evening church at Greystone Park. We had so much fun hanging out with her and her housemates, who are also ACTS guides. I had a unique experience while there. One guy, Dax, had a guitar. The whole time we were making dinner, we were also singing worship songs. They taught us some African worship songs too. It was a wonderful experience! About ten, twenty something year olds singing to God, while making Sheppard’s pie. 

                                          One night we had a traditional Zimbabwean meal. This is tomato gravy.

                                          Sudsa and sausage (I can't remember the African name)

                                         Resthaven (A potential place ACTS might get involved with)

                                                   Caitlin made us a braai (bar-b-q)

                                         Domboshava

                                          Downtown Harare

                                          Usually what we see on the side of the road

                                          Caroline and Emily

                                          Tara and I

                                      A restaurant called Apple Gees. I wonder if its like Applebee's?

                                          Our front yard

                                          These flowers are everywhere! So pretty!

                                          Our house

Zim

{St. Cathrine's and Father's House}
On Friday we went to St. Cathrine's and Father's House. St. Cathrine's is a school for children with special needs. We were guests at their Friday assembly. At first we sang a few church songs that had clapping and movements. It was so fun to watch the children sing and dance. They were so joyful and excited. Then they asked us to reenact The Unfaithful Servant; I was the narrator. We only stayed for about an hour, but I had already fell in love with the children I had meet. In particular, I met one little boy who loved giving high fives. He had the sweetest, most joyful smile.

Friday afternoon we went to Father's House, one of the orphanages we are working with. Father's House has eleven boys and girls ranging from the ages six to sixteen. The mother that takes care of the children is Mary. As soon as I meet Mary, I noticed her sweet spirit and servant heart. Mary is the only caregiver for Father's House. Father's House is not a government funded orphanage, so Mary has to pay rent and pay for the children's schooling. Despite all of this, she is so happy and has a passion for the eleven children living at Father's House. During our first visit we read books, colored, and played outside with the children. I mostly spent my time with a little boy named, Takunda. He is eight years old and loves to read and draw. I noticed he read very fluently and comprehended what he read. Takunda also loves to play soccer and volleyball. Sometimes he didn't know what I was saying and I didn't know what he was saying, but he always had a kind smile on his face.

{Weekend}
Friday night Catlin (our guide), Emily, Caroline, Tara, and I went to a women's Bible study at a coffee shop called, Freshly Grounded. The coffee shop makes Nutella hot chocolate! Abby, you would love it! Over the weekend we went to a few markets. At one market there were a few monkeys walking around. Sunday for lunch we went to a South African restaurant called, Nando's. It's famous for their grilled chicken. Sunday night we went to a church called, Greystone Park Church. The worship and service was very similar to my home churches in San Antonio and Abilene. 

Everything is wonderful so far! I'm loving Harare! Please keep praying for our trip and the children we will meet. We are not allowed to take pictures of the children for the first two weeks, because they want us to focus on building relationships. I will post pictures asap! As a Zimbabwean would say, "Cheers!" 

We Made It!

We are finally in Harare, Zimbabwe! We got here yesterday mid afternoon. We had orientation today. We learned about the three orphanages we will be working with; Father's House, St. Joseph's, and Danai.  Tomorrow we are visiting another orphanage called St. Cathrine's. This is a school for children with disabilities. The pictures below are from our adventures at the airport. We went on the metro to go to downtown Frankfurt. We also found the Frankfurt Zoo, which we loved! Today we went on a walk to the store, had lunch, and then went to the ACTS office for orientation.

Adventures So Far

                                         Emily and Caroline waiting for the metro

                                         Buildings in Frankfurt

                                                   A church in Frankfurt

                                         A hippo at the zoo we found in Frankfurt

                                         We decided to have dinner with the monkeys at the zoo.

                                         My bed

                                         We went on a walk this morning

                                         The trees are beautiful!

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is finally the big day, I'll be leaving for Zimbabwe! I'm flying to Dallas, from there we will fly to Frankfurt, then to Johannesburg, and then to Harare.  It will take about two days to actually get to Zimbabwe. Please pray for safe travels!