All Decked Out in Full Uniform

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

Following a three day Sunday School Conference with 700 children the women’s conference with 700 women was the next weekend. You can see me all decked out in full uniform, including the duke (head cover). Everyone wears black skirt, white blouse and white duke. I have wonderful videos of the singing and dancing, even me. Then on the following Tues we drove 8 hours to Harare for a minister’s and wives retreat. Thank goodness for the Global Ministries car provided for our use in ministry. Bob Chitumbo drove us to the secluded Forest Glen retreat grounds. It was lovely. You can see me with a minister’s baby named Gracious. They have such beautiful names. Her father’s name is Gift. It was a good conference and mostly in English. The East side speaks Shona, the West Ndebele; most understand English which is the official language. There were lectures on preaching, church administration, etc. by Professors and very sound. This was three nights on a hard bed. When we were given an extra blanket it was toasty. Then Fri our driver was not with us as he had to go to Mutare, 4 hours away. So Jack drove out of the forest and into downtown Harare. Both were a challenge. Then on to the Synod meeting at a Harare teacher’s college. At 3:00 p.m. we had a good meal of the usual Sadza and beef. The meeting began at 4:30 p.m. There were 16 ballots to cast following some interesting reports. At 2:00 a.m. we were wiped out but the meeting was going strong. Bless our pastor’s heart; he took us to a room he had rented for himself and wife in a dormitory. We got to bed by 3:00 a.m. At 5:30 there was a knock at the door that we must come and eat. So before 6:00 a.m. we were eating cold rice and beef. The meeting was over at 5:00 a.m. This seemed to be fine. Then since Bob, our driver was in Mutare, Jack drove to Mutare. There we visited with Rev. Mugidaya’s relatives who had kept the children. They use every inch of their land to grow food, including coffee. They gave us hot tea which tasted so good, then boiled sweet potatoes which were very tasty. We could not reach Bob so we started for Chipinge. As we traveled Bob called. He had finished his test and wanted us to wait at the toll gate. We enjoyed some soda. The children had Sadza. Bob drove the rest of the way. We arrived in Mt. Selinda just at dark.

After all those meetings we needed a break. This is our first time off for a tourist park. Bob and Olinda Chitumo took us to Kyle Park. We enjoyed at nice lunch at Hippo Creek Lodge (photo). We stayed in a park lodge overnight. The next morning we saw wild game. Then on to the Great Zimbabwe. This is ancient ruins build in 1400 with handmade bricks and no mortar. The circular fort and a conical cone are still standing. Amazing.

We are now home for a while. There are problems with the hospital being able to pay the electric bill. We have no power some days to conserve.

The children from Daisy Dube sang at church and were wonderful.

With a prayer…

Midge and Jack

Jack and Midge Barnes are serving as Short-term Volunteers with the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe.