Second Round

Well its that time again, time to fly south.

We all have fears and one common fear is leaving this earth without leaving a dent in it, being  forgotten.  I'm making sure I leave a few dents all over this planet, they may not remember my name but they will remember the love & laughter I leave in my wake.
I have my ticket for Zimbabwe, sharing more of my time with the lovely people again, rather they asked for it or not.. :) I take off for the second round on January 21st, 2016 and have planned to stay until May 23rd, 2016! 

I have found a  room to rent from a brothers family that attended the kingdom Hall I walk to, its conveniently located between the hall and a grocery store, has a gate and guard dog named Tina.. You're welcome mother. 💖🐕
I'm still looking for items to take as donations is you have any extras or unwanted items let me know, I can arrange to pick it up.  Here is a small list: earrings, twinkle lights, nail polish, kid toys (light weight), cooking utensils, post it notes (I know odd) , any office supplies, and soft shelled lunch boxes.

I'm super excited to add another chapter in this adventure book I call life. Granted it won't be the same as the exciting life in the little blue house with GMama, but close I'm sure.
The count down begins and we have 88 days until lift off. This trip will include many new trips and encounters, my security blanket {the missionary couple } will not be there & no travel companion makes for a more intense and fly by the seat of your pants trip. I have recently obtained a international drivers license 🚕 and am working on my three month visa pass, I will have to leave the country for a few days then ask...maybe beg to be let in for that last month.

I will keep you updated on events to pass.

Your ever wandering gypsy,
Katie

Updates

Hello friends! 

It's been several weeks since we left Zimbabwe and I thought I would update you on how some of my studies are doing. I keep in contact with them all via an application called Whatsapp. The time difference makes it a wee bit harder but not impossible for a small chat on what they are going over this week and if they feel it makes since. They also rat on the poor sisters if for some reason they miss a study... 😁

Victoria, who we kind of stole from another sister who moved out of the territory, has sadly relocated to South Africa for the time being for work. She was able to come to a meeting with us and I think made it to memorial with the original sister who studied with her. She is hoping to be able to move back to Zim about the time I'll be flying back in. Victoria, who's birth name is Forget, is very good at contacting me when she has a question about something she needs to make a descion on, we then go over scriptures that will help her make the best choice. The last one was on bride prices and marriage, if she can get a stable job I foresee her hitting the truth full force. 

Trish. This is the young girl I started a study with at the market. We text almost every week, normally her asking when I am coming back.. We were in the Goodnews brochure but I had a sister start the Bible Teach book with her just as I left. As a parting gift I gave her the new world translation bible and we go back and forth over scriptures that she and I find encouraging or interesting. It's still amazes me how much the people over there just eat up the bible, they would love to just do bible reading with us if we asked them. We truly take for granted the written word and how assessable it is. Many still do not have their own copy in the language of their choice. 

Mercy. Another women who we technically stole from another sister...sort of... The sister moved and never set up someone to continue it. After the third time Mercy asked for us to find the sister assigned to her we just told her we would do it. She attends meetings when she can near her home with her three children. The market place is quite a distance from her home, and they work early morning to late evenings making meeting attendance sporadic at best. They are progressing in the Bible Teach book nicely. She told me she hopes to make at least two of the days for the convention coming up in August. 😆

Some of my return visits I made I also check up on, Olivia (my bakery rv) wants very badly to try out the convention this year. I cheated and spilled some beans to her about what some of the talks are and the releases so as to wet her appetite, now she's asking for me to make sure she gets the information so she can get the day off of work. I have a friend stopping by to invite her and start a short study over her lunch break or Sunday's. I really hope the fire stays burning until I can return early next year. 

Another trip is planned and tickets on hold for January 2016 staying a total of five months. I am again taking things to donate so if you have my personal information and you are cleaning house of useful things please let me know, you'd be surprised at what I am taking.. 

If you have any suggestions or questions for my next trip feel free to let know, if anything earth shattering happens I will write it. I will continue to use this as my means of communication and hopefully my home will have wifi so they can be more frequent. You're welcome mother. 😉

Oh and the missionaries are still stateside but this next month are headed back over, the brother is gaining strength and has a few things under his belt for recovery. Please keep them in your prayers, they wish to stay in their assignment many more years. 

Much sisterly love, thanks for listening. 

Katie 

{photos are in order of story} 😉

Home Bound

Hi everyone, we are home bound these two days..sadly. But we have had such a wonderful time there...I would suggest to everyone that would like to expanded their life and goals to try out Zimbabwe or Zambia. You will not leave with an empty heart... Actually your heart will grow, as will your hair, in the strong African sun and culture.
We ended up having five bible studies each...putting in over 510 hours in the ministry.... Placing over 350 magazines... 13 books...340 tracts and brochures.! It was a progressive three months even one of the studies came to a Friday night meeting.. It was such a privilege to meet and teach these ones even if it was for a short time. We have been keeping in touch so as to keep the fire burning and hopefully when I return next February we can start back up.
I can not express all the mixed emotions I have about leaving, but if things can work out again its not a goodbye but a see ya later.
Thank you for joining me in my travel's, I hope they encouraged you in something even if its just expanding your ministry closer to home. Give something to Jehovah he can bless because as it tells us in Jeremiah that he's searching to give us according to our ways..
Until more happy service stories.. I'm signing out.. I'll keep you updated on any travel plans to come.

Nyanga

This weekend we took a sudden trip with two families up to Nyanga national park, its north east about three hours from the capital.
The family we attached ourselves to is Kawenda's they own a house\lodge up there. We highly recommend visiting here when or if you travel here.. Amazing hiking and sights to be had. We only spent two days but I can tell ya, it feels like five.. With all the hiking over mountains we did.
We headed out early Sunday morning, 1st to visit the Damafalls congregation which has 47 publishers and 19 pioneers!!! When we work in the rural area its their territory we go to, about 45 minutes out of town, a town called Gardener. Wonderful little congregation. The Kawenda's moved there to help where there was a need of publishers, they are a family of four. They have a very interesting story of endurance.
The father Felix and wife Primrose got the truth in 2004, were baptized in 2006 and are now regular pioneers. They have three children one son age 17 Karuza and two daughters one would be 15 and the Khule (said like Coolie) is 12.  Sadly when the middle daughter was 12 almost 13 she came down with a liver disease and passed away quickly. There was much persecution  which only brought more stress and depression to the whole family from the worldy family. They have lots of cultural ruituals in the Shona  culture which they left behind.
Today the parents both commute to bethel at least one day a week, Karuza is a regular pioneer and Khule is a regular auxiliary pioneer. When I asked for their story I had no idea that their spiritual heritage was so new..you'd never know it when you're in service with them.
It shows us that no matter what curve ball Satan throws if we push on towards the truth we can conquer any obstacle.
They send their Christian love to all and hope they get to meet some of you.
Nyanga is amazing! It reminds me of Ecuador a lot, we went for a morning hours ride where our guide took us to a high mountain so we could see miles around us.. Sha.. I can never get tried of the view here..

A bit late

Sorry this is a bit late I've been a bit distracted from emails of late.
We are approaching the last month of our stay here, which brings a huge pain to my ever growing heart. While we have been her the Avondale congregation and friends from many others have made us feel at home, so much so that its like we are leaving our home congregations all over again.
We have been able to start many bible studies conveniently at the actual flea market...hee hee I will be sad to say goodbye to Mercy who is in The God's Love book and attending meetings. The international servants started most of the interest there and as we walk through all the booths they greets and ask how our preaching has been that week. The photo of me isn't my best but its me helping her through a point so decided to let you all see it.. Lol
I will be happy to come home see all of you for a little while then start back saving so I can come right back..

I've lost my heart in Africa.

Lion Walk

This was amazing. If you ever have the chance to do it you can not pass on it! The place we went to is a conservation place for the lions born in captivity. They take the cubs and try to get them back into the wild, they don't live in cages or in a fenced in area. We were not allowed to touch their faces (even though I don't think the lions would be opposed themselves) and we had to only approach from the back. The two siblings we got to almost cuddle with are 10 months old and in two years they will be released. Then the last photo is one a bit older about 14 months..by the time they go back into the national park they will be three times the size they are now.
There are only around 80,000 left in Africa and that's down 80% from 20 years ago. So the meat is donated and the money spent to do this is used to help keep them coming in and raising them.
It felt like what it may be like in the new world, walking down a path with your pet lion..stopping every ten feet so they can nap (they really are quite lazy little guys..haha) I'm beyond happy we chose that to do this time around.. We passed on riding the elephants this time..money wise we wanted to keep it down.

Botswana

Today we headed over the border to Botswana to check out the national park called Chobe. It borders Namibia so when we were in the river (not swimming, boat cruise) we more or less skipped into another country. They are fighting for an island in the middle of the river at the moment. Each day a group of army guys from either side put their countries flag up in replacement of the other..today it was Botswana's. There isn't any actual fighting involved just in the court system one wants to use it for tourism and the other for farming.
On the river part we saw hippo, crocodiles, elephants, and buffalos they all come down to the river in the morning to drink. In the afternoon we took a 4 X 4 out to the land and saw them all over again just in massive herds. We also were the only ones to see the lions before they ducked into a group of bushes.

There are over 60,000 elephants on this piece of land alone..and I'm pretty sure not only did we see them but smell them. A few were at the river getting a bath and cooling off. There was a baby born just 9 days ago so he's still a bit scared of the Jeeps..poor thing. Also a baby hippo was born and he was sunning himself by the herd.. Too cute. They have cur down on the poaching in this area, normally men are looking for rhino horn which goes for over $200,000 and the ivory..the new rules are that the army guys shoot to kill not just arrest so to discourage any more animal killing. 

We had lunch at a hotel on the river before our game drive and by 4:30 we headed back to the border to head home. Long day but wonderful and a once an a life time event, on this side of things.  Now we eat our African meal of fast food.. Chicken inn..surprisingly delicious.. Night all I hope these emails are still worth reading and encourahing. 

Holiday week

This week we've taken off so as to see the sights in Victoria Falls we took the bus, pathfinder it was 15 hours of easy traveling. The first leg was on a new double decker with leather seats and AC..which is super hard to come by here in Zim. Only $35..what a bargain.
We met up with a brother here who is a travel agent, he had a few hotels we could pick from..we didn't brother with viewing them we told him to take us to the one he'd stay at... Livingston Lodge.  We get breakfast and soda for free...and the interwebs..yay!!!
Today we went to the falls for a better part of the day. Wow.. I knew it was amazingly large but because of all the rain you always are getting wet. Of course there was a thunder storm as well.. We were soaked completely. At one point all we saw was mist no falls... We figure that if we are in a rain forest it might as well be raining too, it just fit. After we went as far as we could and headed back to the gift shop to drip off.. Then the sun came out...so we ran back to the spot were you could sit on rocks and get some beautiful photos.
Jah did a great job creating this place..breath taking. The animals roam freely (this whole area is a national park) so at night once its dark we have to be in. There no crime jut lions and elephants they are everywhere.
Tomorrow we go over to Botswanan for the game drive in Chobe national park. They take you down the river early in the morning so you can see all the hundred of animals getting a drink. Then Wednesday we are walking with the lions..so I'll post as each event takes place.
We would love to come again with a large group its amazing...I can't say that enough.

Rurals

Every Monday our congregation travels more then 45 minutes outside the city of Harare to preach where it is seldom worked. The areas are high density and very poor, but white for the truth.
This is were our Shona really comes in handy.   I went with Primrose, she had three studies I'm both English & Shona. It been wonderful to learn so many different ways to conduct a study while I've been here.
There was a group of kids walking by so I grabbed the tablet and turned the Becoming Jehovah's  friend app on...they became glued. We also got the Bible lessons out and I'd ask.."chii eee chii.." Which means..what is it? They then would respond in Shona, they knew no English. They had been playing with rusty pipes so once I discarded those, we got to work.
We start studies in the Listen to God and Good news from God brochure its the easiest thing. I love it..
Lunch was under a huge tree with our group of 20 next to the tobacco field. Its so wired that in the shade its at least 15 degrees lower then in the hot winter sun. The rains are gone just a dry heat now. The last few days we've been hitting service hard, walking over 10 miles a day and handing invites and mags out like candy.. Actually our hall has run put of them... So we are now looking at old ones.
Alright I feel that's all I've got to say this week. Mainly our lives are service so there are only some many stories that comes from that...
This week on the service meeting we did get to do the demo, we are having many doorstep studies hopefully we can get a few to the hall soonish. We will keep you updated.

Odds & Ends

Holiday over its now time to really get to work here. We have the goal set for 100 hours... Plus we have Vic falls still to do at the end of the month..so these next few weeks we will be out and about preaching our little hearts out. Tony and Tracy left for the US today (Saturday) so we need to step up our walking and study game. We will miss them greatly but know that its a necessary trip so we sent our love with them with the hopes that everything is cared for in a timely manner so we can meet again before we both head home.
In our congregation we have 24 regular pioneers and last night we had another 6 or 7 announced for the auxiliary pioneer hours so we should have plenty of support this next month. We have a rep for preaching already which makes walking down the streets way easier, less people asking for money cause they know we will just hand them the newest mags.

We don't have a washer or dryer..besides our hands, at our place. Any giving day you walk into our bathroom and its full of women's clothing drying.. Ha. We don't take them outside because of the Bot flies. They lay eggs on wet clothing that hatch when warm skin rubs on them. They then burrow into the skin and sooner or later re-hatch out of your skin.. You then give birth to flies.. Of course there is no real issues after..it's just gross.. Everyone irons their clothes here but if you were to ask why they couldn't give you an answer. Its just what has been done the last 100 years. No worries we take care so as not to have that happen..so far.  Its good for us to have these little things to worry about it helps us appreciate the things in the states later.  Same goes for the water we boil everything before we eat or drink..minus soda. :)
Last note. Today I finally started a bible study. Its on our route for the cafe and Friday afternoons I will have a real student that we can grab for meetings. I'm super geeked to see how she grows. She's in her last year of school here so chances are good that for a while she may come with us. Pray it goes well!!! ;) alright we re off to do a few more homes and street calls... Loving you all!

BTW..did I mention last email we helped take lit to a rural kingdom hall? Included the wine for the memorial.  It was amazing to be a part of that.

Lakr Karbia

This is the 3rd largest man-made reservoir in the world. It was created when the Zambezi river was dammed for the purpose of generating hydroelectric power. Some teak trees still stand even after 50 some years under water. Its swarming with crocodiles and hippopotami and on a good day you will be able to watch elephants cooling them selves off in the mud bed. Watching the world from here makes it hard to believe you're still in Africa.
Our group is 21 people, half from the states and the other are locals. We rented condos from a place call Caribbean Bay we have three, its in a beautiful place...right on the corner of a little land that jets out a bit into the lake and two personal pools. We may or may not have a pack of baboons running around our cabins too...fighting little dudes.
Part of the lake is in Zambia so we snuck a short swim so we could say we've been there. The only way to come to this place is with a boat.. Staying on land just wouldn't cut it. The three families we came with have boats so we spilt into groups of 7 and each day we take off into the rising sun, coming home only when the sun was setting. We have been be to see crocodiles...hippos..elephants..and zebras all from our boats, comfortably as we sip our cokes or gin and tonics.
One our new friends, Sport {real name is William} is our personal crocodile Dundee...I swear he's done everything up here in the bush. He worked here for a little while on the boats finishing for capenta fish which only work at night. He did a five day hike here when he was young and he said he's picked a few spots for the future new world he's gonna build on. Ha All the islands here were the high hills, one is called Rhino Island where a black rhino was stranded and they had to put into place operation Noah's ark to save him.

We've had a great time up her for the last four days. I will be happy to get back to service & walking routine. I will be coming home with nice color. :)

Game park

Today we went to a game park which to us we thought chucky e' cheese..and were not excited..but then we got a translated in there and they explained it was a WILD ANIMAL game park..we hopped on that real quick.  A large group from Massachusetts came in to visit Jon & Cindi, about ten of them. So we've hitched a few tourist rides with them. 
The place we went is about 20 miles out of Harare, owned by a private guy. This was one of the parks they took all the delegates for the convention. It was awesomely perfect weather as well. The first thing we went and saw was cave painting from forever ago.. He said 17,000 to 20,000 which as we know.....not so much but either way they have stood the test of time. Actually it isn't paint but stain made of wee wee pee. ;) before he headed back to the Jeeps a few of us took a bit of a detour and climbed onto a huge rock mass, it gave us an amazing view for miles around.
It was only our group of 20 there today so it was really peaceful. All the animals were out and about. Towards the end we pulled over got out our snacks and fed both ourselves and the rhinos! The guide wanted us to see the new baby born back in January.. She's adorable! As we waited the other ones came right up to our Jeep so we could pet them, they especially like behind their ears rubbed.. It was a great day.
At the end of the day the group of friends asked us if we want to go on a week trip with them starting tomorrow! Up to Lake Kariba!! Its a fresh water lake..but we can't swim in it because of the hippos and crocodiles. We ran inside took 15 minutes packed our bathing costumes and now we are packing a ski boat, we leave early tomorrow.
I'm not 100% sure if we'll have net up there.. So if not you'll hear from us when we get back like next Saturday or so.