This is how they do things in Zimbabwe . . .

I often have days where I have to pinch myself, -- that we're actually in Africa, in Zimbabwe, living and serving a mission!  I don't think this would have ever crossed my mind as a possibility.  And then there are days that we really know we are in Zimbabwe.  There are some things that are very challenging.  There are some things that are very different, many of them in funny, interesting, and/or positive ways.  
For example:

December ended with the last of the Primary Sacrament Meeting programs, which, in Zimbabwe are a really big deal!!!  (And apparently this is true for Africa in general, according to one of our Kenyan elders, Elder Kiptoo) This was the program for our little branch in Kadoma.

All of the boys had ties made in red, yellow, or blue (the Primary colors) -- and the bishopric also had their matching ties.  The teachers and the girls had special dresses made, also in the primary colors.  We speculate that this must have somehow come out of the branch budget, because a seamstress in Kadoma made everything.  Labor is definitely cheaper here, but somehow they afforded it.

A closer view:

More impressive than their outfits, was the program itself.  Every child spoke, and even the youngest children had their parts memorized.  Many of the older children recited perfectly memorized scriptures.  

Several weeks earlier, we saw the Primary Program when we went to Masvingo.  In fact we traveled 4+ hours to go there to speak, only to find out that it was the Primary Program.  It was a delight however to watch the program!  The Primary chorister was a 9 year old girl!  On this particular day, she also let the music for Sacrament Meeting.  In Africa, because they rarely have a pianist, the chorister sings the first line of the song and the congregation then starts on the pitch that was set.  She had to poise to do that, and then she led a perfect 2/2 time for whatever they sang.  

 The chorister!

The roads here are a challenge.  There are a few good ones, but most have lots of large potholes.  We thought it was fun to see how they fix them.  This is step one -- the street sweepers.

 After they clean it, there is a road base put down and then they actually do have a big roller.

 Then, this is how they oil the road.  

You may have read about all of the corruption under Mugabe's administration.  One of our friends noticed this sign and took a picture.  Elder Selcho said he recently read an article online reporting that they had found corruption in the "Report Corruption" department.

Buses have been known to break down here.  On our drive home from church today, we passed three that were broken down.  Elder Carrell, one of our senior missionaries, caught this picture.  I wonder how many miles they will have to push?

 Washing in the river.

Going back into the Bush with a load.

A VERY  common sight -- carrying a hoe.  Every available empty spot of ground is being cultivated here, mostly with corn.  Many of the families cultivate and grow their own gardens-- kovo (a green used as a relish with sadza) and tomatoes are the most predominant, besides corn.

Just like we said, every available spot.  Even the spots that are off limits.  Sadly, right now, the corn is drying out.  The people work so hard every day on their little gardens, but right now there is a serious drought.

President Madamombe, a member of the stake presidency in our Marimba Stake, told us that when he was married, the customary wedding gift for a couple was to give each other a hoe.  That was all they got -- all that was really needed.

President Madamombe

Another common sight is children, mostly boys, playing soccer.   I don't know if you can see this soccer ball, but it is homemade.  Most of the children can't afford a real ball so they make one out of plastic bread bags.  They stuff rags or paper inside of an empty bread bag and get it very round, and then they continue to cover that with more bags.  They get very good at forming and stretching it into a perfect round ball.  They play with bare feet.  These boys were playing in one of the church parking lots.

For all of the people without electricity and water (the majority!), every day there is an urgent need to get water and wood.  Wood for cooking, and sometimes for heat, is mainly the job of the men.  Water is mainly the job for the women.   

Some of the loads are very large, and they might end up walking part of the way.

Think about carrying approximately 42 lbs. on your head every single day, sometimes more than once.

Meet Margaret Ignacious, my "twin".  If you share the same birthday, then that person thereafter is your twin.  Margaret runs the Church Distribution Center, also located in the mission office.  We are standing in our office, in front of the "teacher board".  Our numbers have grown.  In the two stakes that we work with, we have approximately 75 seminary and institute teachers.  And they are wonderful!




 I want to tell you about this family.  The Makondora family.  Their story is similar to many of the humble families that we have the opportunity to meet.

Mid-January is the time for school to start again, and that also means the start of the seminary and institute programs.  Sister Makondora is one of our new early morning teachers.  At our first Saturday S&I teacher inservice meeting, she left her "purse" ( a small black pouch with two broken zippers and a few dollars stuffed inside).  A dollar is money that she would have needed for transport and she lives about 45+ minutes (driving distance) away.  Fortunately she found a friend who could give her enough to get home.   


With some difficulty, we were able to contact her and arrange a time and a place in Harare to deliver the purse.  We got to the spot and waited, not realizing that she and her husband had to walk a very long distance to meet us.  Her husband is the bishop of one of our wards here -- Kuwadzana 2nd.  We offered to drive them home.


They live in what is called a "high density" area -- lots of people, in many small homes, packed close together.  As we were driving the many twists and turns to their home, they happily pointed out their "business": a ramshackle, weathered wooden stand, about 5 feet wide and 6 feet tall, where they sold vegetables.  It was the only empty stand that we could see.  It was Sunday, and while everyone else was doing business in the busy marketplace, they spent the day at church meetings and with family.  


We arrived at their home and they excitedly invited us in.  Sister Makondora had been telling us about her daughter who was one of the best in the stake doctrinal mastery (formerly called scripture mastery) competition.  Their home was so humble.  They live in 2 (or 3 -- it was hard to tell) rooms of an unfinished brick house, a tiny kitchen and 1 or 2  small bedrooms. The room across from the kitchen is for the chickens.  Only part of the house has a roof.  They offered to give us dinner for bringing them home, but we had been gone for about 10 hours by then so we politely declined.  We promised to visit Sister Makondora's early morning seminary class.  And then she told us what time it started -- 4:30 AM.  Yikes!  That will be an early morning for us.  Can you see how faithful and dedicated the students are, that they are willing to get up for a class before school -- anytime between 4:30 to 6:00 AM.  Every weekday morning!   And they are hungry to learn!

 

 I love this picture!  This is Elder Byrom, from England.  This picture captures the essence of the rural living, as well as the love that is exchanged here.  The missionaries love the people and the people really love the missionaries.  

 

 We went with the missionaries to visit this family that was investigating the Church.  They wanted to visit with some missionaries that were "older".  It was such a sweet experience.
He is a researcher and she is a nurse.  Only one of the children in this picture is theirs.  I can't remember which one, but another Zimbabwe distinction is that everyone likes to have their picture taken.  

We really LOVE our mission!  Even though some days are hard, the joy that comes from sharing the gospel, and working with these amazing people, is almost overwhelming.  It feels like my soul has been fed and nourished in ways that I could never have imagined.  And I hope we are helping other people to feel that same way.

And now the GEMS that we have collected over the last few weeks:

In light of President Monson's passing, we picked a few of our favorite President Monson quotes.  If you have a quote that you like, maybe you could post it in the comments.
(There are so many!  How can we pick!)

"We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness -- be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers.  We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children.  He is dependent upon each of us."

"Never let a problem to be solved be more important than a person to be loved."

"Never fail to follow a prompting!" 

"Remember that when you help another up a mountain, you are a little closer to the top yourself."

"How would you like to paint a bright spot on your soul today?!"  (Referring to service)

"Your Heavenly Father loves you.  That never changes.  It is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love.  It is always there."

"God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon.  He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth.  He left the rivers unbridged and the cities unbuilt.  God gives us the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things.  He leaves the pictures unpainted and the songs unsung and the problems unsolved, that we might know the glories and joys of creation."

"Do not pray for tasks equal to your abilities, but abilities equal to your tasks." 

“He who created us and who loves us perfectly knows just how we need to live our lives in order to obtain the greatest happiness possible.”

"Let us examine our lives and determine to follow the Savior’s example by being kind, loving, and charitable. And as we do so, we will be in a better position to call down the powers of heaven for ourselves, for our families, and for our fellow travelers in this sometimes difficult journey back to our heavenly home."

"It is in the doing -- not just the dreaming --, that lives are blessed, others are guided, and souls are saved." 

We send our love to you!
Elder and Sister Theurer