Helensvale Rurals

Starting this last September Avondale received a new territory out in the country that needs help with the harvesting of men. Its roughly a 45 minute drive, and includes most farms and little villages where there are still chiefs that have the main say. The language here is dominantly Shona, very little English. I am putting the new MP3’s to good use almost every night so I can catch the way the words are said so that I can be clearly understood. I guess we’re not allowed to take photos, but I only learned that after I snuck a few.. so shhh. J  The chief doesn’t want them used unless he gets paid for them.

The children in this area don’t see white people very often so when they do there is a lot of laughing, yelling and poking. They love to hold your hand, just to see if it’s the same as their or their parents. I will have to have a scrapbook of just the little faces I see here, which are almost smiling. We did a 9 ½ hour day yesterday in the extreme heat, eish it took everything out of us but towards the end of the day it rained a bit so it cooled it down. All of Africa is going through a drought and has been hotter than normal.   We still had a great group our normal which is about 6 plus two Canadian brothers who have been here a month and sister visiting her boyfriend from California.

 One older women we showed the, “why study the bible” video wanted us to show her where it tells us in the bible that the wicked one rules the world, after we read 1 john 5:19  she asked where the kingdom hall was because she wants to start going. She told the brother, “You don’t come enough

during the week, so we need to go there to get the deeper things of God.” And that was after just one scripture and short presentation!

Over the weekend we had our assembly here where we welcomed 8 new ones to our ever growing family! They also spoke about how there is a need for preachers in the whole of Zimbabwe, in English, shona, Ndebele and Chinese especially. The English circuit is growing so fast that they are making a new one this year, some shifting will be done a few taken out of each one to make up the new one about 6 new congregations will be in it, sad to say goodbye to friends I know but nice to widen out and see more people.

Photos:I was able to go out with both the youngest ones in our congregation and one of the oldest on the same day.  Bunny Miles is 83 and goes out faithful every Friday with us. She still drives and walks with us in the house to house work. One day I hope I have time to tell her life story, she has been so active in Jehovah’s service it’s so encouraging all the things she and he husband went through during the hard times here in Zimbabwe dealing with the truth. 

I was able to get another 30 days!! So stay turned for more stories. :) 

Week of Walking

Start the week four! I already have to go get an extension of my visa, I can’t believe its moving so fast, I not enjoying that aspect.. it needs to slow down a bit.

This past week I have figured out I’m good with walking towards my destination, it’s the all the way home that is getting old. I am averaging about 50 miles (80 kilometers) each week which when you split it up within the 7 days that’s considered a bit low.  There is something to be said about waking around the town with your favorite music in your ears. When its not blistering hot its quite nice. I did happened to over walk the other day when heading to a friends house for lunch, but now I know where everything is.. lol oops. For the most part I only walk the main roads so that people can see me and no one gets any ideas.

 A couple invited myself and other single sister for lunch, they are very sweet, they are still studying and are in their late 60’s. If you had heard them at the meetings and in the field service you’d think they were already baptized! Zimbabweans are so hospitable they loving having guests over for tea, lunch or dinners. If you ever get over here word to the wise if they serve you be ready to EAT! They don’t believe in 2^nd rounds or left overs.. haha I am not going hungry here. It always delicious as well lots of curry and spicy food (father you would be in your element here and I may be bringing you some very hot pickled mango chutney).

This last Saturday I was able to help with the Metro cart witnessing. It was the early shift but so worth it. From 6 to 10 in the down town area. The sister and I walked for 2 hours with the cart and then sat at the table for the last two. Over all we placed 29 magazines and 9 books and were able to show how the Bible Teach book is used in a bible study setting to a few couples. I was able to show the videos a few times, mostly to the kids who were begging for change but still they enjoyed it even if it wasn’t what they wanted..

After service there was a group of us who went on hike with some brothers who are here helping with the dining room at Bethel, Michael and Thomas from Belgium. They leave soon so we wanted to get together and funny enough a lot of

locals have not been this national park called Dumbo…I’ve been there but most of our congregation hasn’t.. We didn’t really plan very much just some chips and drinks and yet it was a great time. It’s a great picnic spot and had we thought it though we could have done that.. it was cloudy so we didn’t get to see the sun actually set but it was still a great view in the end.  If you have good eyes you can see a kingdom hall on the other side of the mound…or mountain.   With the blue JW.org sign on the building it makes it easier to find.

So its been busy here I can hardly keep up. This weekend we have our circuit assembly & assembly hall cleaning which is always fun no matter where I am doing it. Update  on the bite, all is well the bruising is almost gone, it is less of a conversation starter now.. haha And I am browning up nicely at this rate you won’t recognize me when I get back.

Also news they had a new MS announced the other night, they are up to 12 elders, 5 m servants and 112 publishers here! 

Blessing & I

 

Couldn't fit everyone but most of Avondale

Co's Visit

I am well into my 2^nd week here in Zim already..wow how time flies when you’re having fun in the sun. Avondale has grown while I have been away, as we expect in these times we can see the growth in leaps and bounds.  They have 13 regular pioneers & 18 auxiliary for this month alone. There is such a zealous spirit here, there almost always someone going out in the ministry, which is super encouraging for me being companion-less. J  The average is about 13 hours a month for the congregation as a whole.  There are also two international construction servants from Belgium visiting for two months working on the dining room at the Bethel home as well.

The couple we have is Ernest and Lois Makowa, they liked to be called Uncle Ernest and Auntie Lois (its an African thing to call those older then you Unk & Auntie). They have been in the circuit work from 2009, before that spent one year or more in the special pioneering work and Bethel life before that. I should warn you ones in my home area they are trying to steal me away for a longer time then I have allotted….

We have had wonderful support for service while the co is here, during the week always over 20 and for the Saturday group we had over 60 and they were ready to try their hand at business territory. Funny enough it is at the Avondale flea market which is where most of our old studies are and where I aim to start back up this next week. They have been waiting for us to come back.

On a serious note I should inform you, I have had a …… moment of idiocy. You’ve all seen Tina, well we have become great friends, I share my PB&Js with her as we tan in the sun and she sleeps at my door at night. Well I was walking the owner’s son out of the cottage and her brother Bully got ahold of me for a quick moment. It’s not bad, well not as bad as it could have been that’s for sure. Just some bruises and a few punctures in my left leg.  No stitches needed and everyone has had their shots so it’s just fine. Tina didn’t stand for the biting of her friend and that started a dog fight which made it so I could get back in the house. Anyways lesson learned all is well. Its healing well and soon you’ll never be able to tell. If any animal in Africa is going to attack it most likely gonna be a dog. I’m watching it putting oil, healing creams and have a doctor on standby in case something is needed. Friends it’s all covered but I thought you should know all the same.

On a whole not much report just loads of service. I went on evening witnessing in the city center last week. You go in a group from 6 to 8 and stand or sit in the park holding the publications, so many witnesses where there, it was hard to find ones not already in the truth.. ha  I have a list of return visits that I will wander around the city trying to find this next week. The magazines on Honesty & Attitude place themselves here, times are hard but the people keep pressing on with smiles on their faces. This week the goal is using the videos, especially for the back on it dealing with death of loved one, such a powerful one to show. Rural service is set for Monday 8:30 to 6 pm.. This is a new area that we have been assigned I can’t wait! My Shona is sorely lacking I have two days to shape it up… maybe I can absorb it while I sleep…here’s to hoping.

Alright sorry its so long, if I do this a week at a time it may be a bit long at times.

Ta

Katie