together we stand: September 2012

Well I just returned from my second trip to Zimbabwe with a short visit to Mozambique. I can say that Zimbabwe and Mozambique have challenged me deeper than I think I’ve ever been challenged. I saw things that deeply touched me, but at the same time encouraged me to a new level.

Those that are caring for people in Zimbabwe are amazing. To see the depth of their understanding and their willingness to learn has blown me away and re-opened my eyes. Not to mention the love and dedication that they do their work with. I was so encouraged by what I saw and what I heard that I feel renewed with hope. Not because I lost hope, but at times we all need reminders and to be encouraged.

On the Friday (my birthday) I went to Mozambique for the first time. The very first thing we did once we reached our destination was to drop off our bags and head straight out to the community we were visiting, called Macadera. We were the first visitors to come to Macadera since the project began there. As we pulled up the Care Workers were outside of the church singing and dancing, it was really beautiful. We had some time with the Care Workers just encouraging them and hearing from them what they have been doing. After that they took us on home visits. The first house we went to was the toughest home visit I have ever been to. So, we started off from the church and at a certain point we stopped and the Care Workers. They were telling us about a story of 14 kids that had lost their parents and were now living with one Granny. They told us that one family of 8 children (that made up part of the 14) had just lost their mother 2 weeks ago and they pointed to their house.

I saw this structure but figured they must have been pointing to the house behind this. I was wrong, it was this one in the picture above. They said the lady had been living there with her 8 children, and then she got sick, and died in their home. You can see there are no walls, I couldn't believe it. They said she had died and was left there for days, as the ants came and started to eat her. All I could think about was her children who had to witness that. What does that do emotionally and phsycologically to a child? The children moved across the road with their Granny, without having a home. The eldest boy started to build a house and when we came it looked like this.

Here is most of the family. Their Granny in the red and white striped shirt looks after them, but she has no food to give them. The kids had collected wild root which they showed us, but the Granny said it was poisonous and they could not eat it. They had no food, not blankets, no possesions except the clothes on their backs. None of the kids are in school. They live on a major highway, which means a lot of trucks go by and the risk for child prostitution is huge.

You can see the two structures they are building, one in each picture. The one structure has half a roof covered loosely with palm leaves and the second structure has no roof. The community is so dry there isn't even grass to make thatching for the roofs. They are completely exposed and when the rains came last week the Gogo and a few of the kids stayed in the half covered structure, while the rest of the kids went to stay at a neighbour's house. Absolutely devastating. It was hard to imagine any of these kids surviving unless something was done.

We were able to make a plan with the Care Workers to get the kids some thatching for their roof and to get them some help for finishing it. Also we made a plan to get them some food so that they have something to eat. The situation seems hopeless, but in the midst of it all there are people who are giving everything they have to help people in these situations. I find it hard to comprehend that this could be going on anywhere in the world and people are able to detach themselves from what they hear. How can we go on as if we had never heard about this family. Seeing what we see or reading about a family like this, makes us responsible. I wish I could take everyone to this house and show them what its like to stand there with this family. To look in their eyes and be at a total loss for words. After we prayed for them, we all just stood there for 2 or 3 minutes that felt like an hour. No one knew what to say. I think it was a bit like coming upon a car crash, you are in shock. Look at their faces, not one smile and why would there be? I feel sick to my stomach still when I look at their picture. I left that day and went home to a shower and a hot meal, while they fell asleep in the dirt, praying that the rains wouldn't come and for something to eat....

I finished the day by celebrating my birthday with friends, but the family was never far from my mind. It was a very special birthday even though it was a rollercoaster. Somehow my friends found a cake in Chimoio, Mozambique, my birthday was very special.

Farai, Nede and Dara

We went back to Zimbabwe the next day and finished up our time with our new family there. It was really an amazing time that I will never forget. Here is a pic of the crew, minus Farai who is taking the picture. Farai's family opened up their home to us and treated us as one of the family, it was very touching. Miss them already.