Vernacular

A day in my life... using as much common vernacular from here that's unfamiliar to home as I can:

Typically in the morning I'll get up, bath, plat my hair (being thankful I no longer have fringe) and grab a quick bowel of muesli for breakfast. If it's nice and I'm feeling ambitious I'll throw on my trainers and go for a jog. Then when it's time for work I put on my slippers, put my trousers over my pants, grab a jersey if it's cold, and head out the door.

Taking Kombi's isn't really my ideal transport situation, so I'm totally chuffed that I found a car that is my own. On my way to work I throw my pack in the boot and drive to the gate. The gardener or amai Vally will typically open it for me, and I'm on my way! I pass a few robots on my way to work and always get frustrated when they turn amber. Wouldn't want to be late. My tyres need to be replaced so I put my PHD skills to use and take it slow. Also don't want to drive straight and look drunk.

At work I get out my laptop and get busy. Sometimes the zesa goes out, which is pretty frustrating especially when my laptop's almost flat... even more frustrating when network's down, too. But zesa isn't down often and when it is you know it will always come back just now. Some days I forget my power cord and have to ask a friend to borrow me theirs. Once a month I'll get my GWUG after they take out zimra. I'm seriously so thankful for those of you who support me and make getting my GWUG possible.

A few days a week we get take aways for lunch. We go to Food World, grab a trolley, and fill it with meals of sadza and veg, rice and stew, or a thousand other options. We may buy some plastics for a few bond coins and push the trolley to my boot. We typically don't have any drink for lunch, preferring to just drink water, tea, or coffee instead. However, occasionally someone will ask for a small pulpy. Sometimes we'll have fresh chips with tomato sauce or get some crisps to snack on... and some days I'm keen for some biltong, but it's expensive. We eat outside in the garden for fellowship. (We have an avocado tree and a swimming pool. Our garden is awesome.) Eventually someone's gotta say, handei, and we get back to work. We bin our serviettes (napkins are for babies) and throw our take aways in the rubbish bin, too.

We're responsible for hoovering our own office and keeping bathrooms clean. If we actually have Jik, Andy's, and mop cloths lying around this is a lot easier.

On my way home I may hoot for a dollar airtime so I can buy my bundles. Bundles of Joy are my favorite kind of bundles. I'll get a few of those every week. If I'm out of petrol I'll stop at a Zuva station and sometimes they'll ask if I can pop my bonnet so they can check my oil.

I have dinner with my family here and then get ready for bed. For dinner I often do get drink of some kind... Blackberry Mazoe is my favorite, otherwise I go for Fanta. After putting Colgate on my toothbrush (though mine is Crest...) I brush my teeth. I go to bed and whatsapp friends from here and home as I fall asleep. Network is terrible in my room so I'm grateful for TelOne.

Handiti? Zvakanaka. There's the story of my typical life... from A to Zed. Iribo.

Now read it again with an African-British accent.

Sentiments

A team from the OM Ship the Logos Hope is here in Zimbabwe for a few weeks. As a result, I've finally had the opportunity to break out of the office a do some hands on ministry.

The Ship Team is made up of five people, all from different nations (Russia, Japan, Netherlands, South Korea, USA). It's been really cool to see such a diverse group of people working together for a common goal. I was able to photograph one of their outreaches last week and see some places near Harare that I hadn't yet had the opportunity to see.

We visited a squatter camp out on the edge of town and I was able to photograph the activities that the Ship Team had for the kids. It's so weird to be on the opposite side of things when there's a short term team around. I really enjoy getting to show them around a bit and have knowledge about this unfamiliar culture that I can share with them. Harare feels like home. It's a weird concept for me to fully wrap my head around.

Like I live here. This team comes, they visit these places once, and then they go. But when they go I am still here. And I have a car. And I can choose to get in that car and go back. I love this. Like I literally love it. I was born to explore and go to places I don't know. I always have a tendency to fall in love with people with a different language and culture than me. This year is changing me and changing my heart in so many ways. God has been preparing me for this life since I was a little kid and it just feels so right to be living it now! Thank you everyone so much for all your prayers and support. I can't believe I'm already a third of the way through this year. It's flying by way too fast.

I guess that's all the sentimental thoughts I have for today. I'll just leave you here with this adorable photo of what kids do when you use your hands to tell them to smile for a picture.

Refresh

This week I went to Zambia. My passport will soon be out of pages. This is kind of an awesome problem to have. It’s always been a dream to have a passport completely full of memories. I just feel real blessed to have the opportunity to travel and be a part of God’s plan to reach the nations. Just this week I interacted with people from at least ten different nations. My culture-loving heart is very full.

So let me tell you about my adventure to Zambia. First off, I was kinda terrified. Apparently in my mind somehow spending two days in a plane to travel halfway across the world by myself, not knowing what’s on the other side, is less terrifying than taking taxis by myself in Africa. Turns out neither is really that frightening. I was able to meet up with an SBU Intercultural Studies team (Kailyn and Jamee if you know them).

Zambezi River

Ever since I saw Niagara Falls and heard there was something bigger I’ve always wanted to see Victoria Falls. Yes, I just flew to Victoria Falls and spent 6 days in Zambia… but no I still have not really seen the falls haha. Didn’t really have time to go visit the official parks since I spent my time at New Day Orphanage with Kailyn and Jamee. I had my first walk-across-the-border experience – and it was a pretty beautiful experience. The bridge over the Zambezi river is full of mist from the falls and has incredible views in all directions. The reflections from all the water create a beautiful double rainbow over the rushing river.

The Falls in the distance

I traded a hair tie, an apple, and some spare change for a wooden carved hippo at the border. That’s a pretty funny story involving a nice old man who kept me from being bothered by other salespeople and walked with me all the way to immigration. But in efforts of keeping this short you’ll have to ask me about all these stories another time. After arriving in Zambia I went to the grocery store with the New Day Orphanage staff and there were literally tears in my eyes. Not sure if I was just overwhelmed with the variety of stuff, just so happy to see canned food and a variety of snacks… or even just still overwhelmed with the realization that these were really the first Americans I’ve seen since January 10th.

Reading in the library

At New Day I am so grateful to have had just a small taste of American culture. I was able to speak using cultural references no one gets in Harare, I ate Mexican food, and I quoted my way through the Princess Bride while watching it with staff. I didn’t realize how badly my soul needed a refresh of familiarity until it happened. It also was wonderful to have a bunch of little kids to play with. This really could not have happened at a better time. I’m pretty sure I would have passed my breaking point just in simple cultural stresses if I hadn’t had a chance to see another American. Now I am refreshed and recharged and so excited to be back in Zimbabwe. I have just moved into my new home and gotten my car all sorted out so that I am “now free to move about the country” as that one airline says.

Happy birthday to you!

Learning points:

• I had a pretty big breakthrough in confidence this week. I did enough walking around and across borders by myself and rode enough taxis alone to get over any fear and uneasiness I had about that.
• God is always there. Looking back, I can see how he placed so many total strangers in my life to make this trip flow smoothly and make me feel safe. From the old man at the border to meeting someone who knows my uncle to the kind man at a convenience store that fed me and let me hide from annoying guys asking for money while I waited for a bus… God’s hand was in all of this even when I forgot to ask for it.