The Other Half

Over the past 3 months, I, Dontie, have been trying to find my place in this ministry here at Karanda.  Don’t get me wrong, there are a multitude of opportunities! But with two small boys and a house to run, food to cook, and finding time for my own spiritual walk, time in a day gets quickly swallowed up.  I am also one who doesn’t just jump in.  I want to find something I can really commit to and still have boundaries.  It seems that everyone on this campus either works at the hospital or teaches in some capacity or another.  Forming friendships has to be on the “off” hours and that runs into meal time and bedtime.  This is a very relationship oriented culture, but it takes rubbing shoulders to be able to form those relationships.  There are several casual friendships that I have formed with ladies who sell vegetables or who help around the guesthouse, but nothing yet that could be deep or influential.    

However, tonight, I was priveleged to join a group of women who began the Beth Moore study on the book of James.  I have been looking forward to this night for a couple weeks now, and I was thrilled to see how large of a group was involved.  We had missionary ladies (both single and married), nurses, the pastor's wife, nursing school teachers, among others.  To my pleasant surprise, the majority of the group was Shona ladies!  It was a blessing to begin a journey together knowing that we start on a common plane each with areas of struggle and desires to grow closer to God.  This wa a first for real fellowship (apart from the other missionaries) and heart rejoiced.

Someone's ministry (in the U.S.) provided the workbooks and the DVD study for us - a study halfway around the world that will impact lives just like the ones sitting in the chairs in the audience on the DVD.  Thank you for this gift (whoever you are)!  Thank you for the opportunity to form relationships at a deeper level than daily greetings and superficial small talk.  I am excited to see what ways God will open for me to minister, not just as a mother and wife of a doctor, but as a woman whom God has gifted and has called as well!

 

Zimbabwe is...

…“A cattle country so drive with caution!”  This was a phrase we became familiar with as we drove to and from Harare this past weekend.  It is common in Africa to have extra passengers whenever making a trip.  When news gets around that someone with a car is going into town, the car can fill up pretty quickly.  This time, we enjoyed the company of one of the nursing school instructors on both trips, and he explained many things as we drove along. 

 There are herds of cattle along many of the roads, dirt and paved, in Zimbabwe.  He told us that when taking the driving test here, it is asked, “What is Zimbabwe?”  The correct response is, “A cattle country, so drive with caution.”  There are so many things to watch for as we drive, not just cattle or other drivers.  There are many people who walk along the road or sell vegetables and other goods to travelers.  A driver’s eyes have to always be on the lookout for anyone or anything that could dart out in front of the car.  On the dirt road leading to the hospital, we have chickens and cows, goats and guinea fowl to contend with.  It all makes for an adventurous drive.  This is Africa!

Our river in front of the hospital.  It is usually not low enough to cross this time of year.

We love seeing the change in scenery as we drive up in elevation from Karanda to Harare.  The climb is about 2,000 feet.  We go from rural land with thorn bushes and elephant grass, to rich farmland.  As we get closer to Harare we begin to see orchards that line the road and huge farms.  One thing we love about Zimbabwe is the rugged mountains and stone outcroppings as far as the eye can see.  As the rains have come to most of Zimbabwe, things have turned so green and the land is just beautiful.  We hope we can experience more of Zimbabwe’s beauty and what she has to offer.  We love Africa!   

A gorgeous rainbow blessed us here at Karanda!

A Dishpan of Water

In light of our frequent water cut-offs we wanted to see what creative ideas you have as readers.  How many ways (using the same water) can you think of to use one dishpan of water?  Get those creative juices running!

We are in the midst of our rainy season with very little rain.  Here at Karanda, they have a season of intense rains from mid-October through about March.  Then there is no rain until the following October.  So it is vital that we get these good rains during this season, because they sustain us through the rest of the year.  We have had maybe 6 strong rains this season and though it is nice and green, the farmers are very concerned.  Also because of the lack of rain, we have had abnormally hot weather.  It has been in the triple digits on and off for the last several weeks.  As you consider how far one dishpan of water can stretch, please pray that God would send us this rain we so desperately need.  Then we will wait in expectation as we are instructed in Psalm 5:3, “In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

Did God call Me? (Thoughts from a new MK)

Mommy and Daddy talk about being “called” to go to Africa.  But I am wondering God, did you call me?  I was sad when we had to pack the big yellow truck full of all our things and say goodbye to my neighbor friends.  The plane rides were exciting.  I loved seeing lions just sitting outside our car at the Lion and Cheetah Park.  The car ride through bush and over bumpy dirt roads, slowing for chickens, cows and goats was a thrill.  But now I keep wondering, “when are we going back to home where my toys and my friends are?” 

Mommy talks with me about Abraham and how he went where God “called” him even when he didn’t know where he was going.  We talk about Jonah and when he didn’t obey God “calling” him.  I don’t see any whales around here!  

It’s very hot even at night and we have to sleep under mosquito nets or we’ll get lots of bites.  There are a lot of neat bugs I’ve never seen before, lizards with blue heads and yellow throats, and some really big spiders.  I do like wearing only underwear all day and shorts when I go outside.  I love climbing the “tickle tree” and playing games with Uncle Jon and the staff kids on Fridays.  But sometimes I feel sad because I can only talk to my grandparents on the phone and see pictures of their homes and the fun things I got to do with them.  I miss them and I tell mommy many times that I’m ready to go back home.  I don’t know how long 2 years is.  Did God “call” me to Africa too?

There are many sick kids in the hospital where daddy works.  We are going to sing for them on Christmas Day.  Every time I go outside to play, kids come around and want to play with me and talk to me but I can’t understand what they say.  Maybe God wants me to be a good friend and tell them about Jesus.  So maybe God called me too, because He loves me, He wants me to have many adventures, and learn more about Him.  I want to obey, but it may take a little while for this to feel like home.  Daddy says we are in this together as a family and I know that is true, so yes, I guess God did call me to Africa too, because He called our whole family.

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”  ~Joshua 24:15b

*Uncle Jon is a fellow missionary here.  The kids call all the fellow staff aunt and uncle, because we are a family here, in a unique sort of way!
*The tickle tree is a beautiful short tree with sweet smelling flowers.  That is just our nickname for it.

 Beating the heat in our makeshift pools!



Our Christmas branch!

The boys in the "tickle tree".

Karanda Pictures

We'd like to share some pictures of Karanda: our home and the hospital.

The Guesthouse (our temporary home)

The front view of the guesthouse with a flamoyant tree in the foreground and a nice little gazebo, to escape from the sun, in the back. 

This is the guesthouse livingroom. You can see the deep freeze in the back where we store a lot of our groceries each month. It also is very helpful with power outages so food doesn't go bad.

 

The kitchen with both an electric and gas stove (once again for power outages) and even a microwave!  The silver container by the fridge is our water filter.  The structure on the wall (over the sink) is the water heater for nice piping hot water!

The boys' bedroom with mosquito nets as malaria is a common problem out here at Karanda.  We have enjoyed living in the guesthouse but do look forward to settling into our own home and getting competely unpacked.

Church

Sunday morning church in the chapel on the hospital compound.  We all enjoy the lively singing and clapping.  The entire service is in Shona.

The Hospital

The center courtyard. The Female Ward is on the left, the Pediatric Ward is directly in front and the Outpatient Clinic is on the right. The Male Ward is below the Peds Ward.

The side courtyard with the Maternity Ward on the left and the other side of the Female Ward on the right.

The Female Ward. The hospital's "ICU" consists of the first four beds on the right side.

The main operating room. It is one of three at the hospital. The lights and most of the equipment are relatively modern.

Happy Thanksgiving

We have been in Zimbabwe 2 weeks today.  On Sunday, Nov. 20, we came out to Karanda after having completed a grocery shopping trip to last a month.  Dontie was exhausted after going to a dairy shop (called the Cheeseman), butcher, fruit and veggie mart, and finally a grocery store.  The car was filled to the brim and Dontie hoped she had not underestimated the family needs on her list. 

 Karanda Mission Hospital is 2 ½ hours or 3 ½ hours (depending on rains) out of Harare.  A fellow missionary drove us down a main road, turned off onto a smaller road, then turned again onto a very bumpy road.  Finally we turned once more onto a dirt road that led to a very wide riverbed.  The boys were fascinated with the passage over going through water and up the other side of the riverbed.  In the rains, we have to go an alternate route as the river completely fills and is impassible; thus the extra hour to the journey.  At the top of a small hill sits Karanda Hospital.  Among a vast landscape of thorny bushes and dirt, sits a little semi-green area with brightly colored flamboyant and jacaranda trees.  Welcome to our new home! 

A little gazebo and flamboyant tree outside the guesthouse.

It is really hot here.  Thankfully, the electricity has been more consistent out here, and we have been able to sit in front of fans to find some relief.  Cold showers feel good too!  We’ve had a couple of days of short soft rains and we are praying along with the surrounding villagers for more drenching rains.

Christopher is learning the ins and outs of the hospital as well as trying to learn names of the staff.  There is a lot to do and people come all the way from Harare to be treated at Karanda because of its care.  Dontie and the boys have been discovering all kinds of interesting creatures that live in and around the guesthouse (where we are staying until our house is ready).  These include various large spiders, gekos, blueheaded lizards, storks (in a tree right outside our door), guinea fowl, and goats.

The boys outside in Harare with their new sunhats!

Our presence is certainly known by all.  We pray that it is a presence that brings glory to God.  Please continue to pray for our nesting and adjusting.  We are thankful for all of you who make it possible to do what we are doing!  Happy Thanksgiving!

We are in Zimbobswe!

After 47 hours of weary travel, we arrived in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. Thank you for your many prayers.  Our trip was fortunately, uneventful and ALL 13 bags arrived unscathed!  It took about half an hour to get our VISAs and collect our luggage. We were then escorted right through customs without even being checked (that’s amazing). The boys were exhausted (as were we) and had reached the ends of their ropes by the time we arrived.  But in the van heading to the guest house in Harare, they seemed to perk back up as they took in all the scenes around them: people carrying things on their heads, animals and trash by the road, different trees with beautiful flowers on them, and yes, they even had diggers and dump trucks working on the sides of the road here too!  As we arrived at the gate to the TEAM compound, where we will be temporarily staying for orientation, little Christopher leaned out the window yelling to some Africans, “Hello everyone, my name is Christopher!” Whatever our weary minds were thinking, this little burst of excitement put our minds back in the right place. 

We were greeted by no electricity, and have had it on only at nights (after we are in bed) and then it goes off again when we wake up.  Welcome to Africa!  It is VERY hot here, even at night. The heat is the biggest adjustment we are currently trying to cope with.  We are meeting with different people each day to learn things about the Shona culture and language.  Please continue to pray for our adjustment and health, especially as we head out to Karanda at the beginning of next week.  They say it is even hotter there!  This Friday we will get to be a part of the Operation Christmas Child shoebox distribution to street kids here in Harare.  We are thrilled to get to experience this!  We are so grateful for the kind hostess we have here, Sue Rousseau, from TEAM (the organization Karanda Hospital is under).  She has been an enormous blessing to us in these jet-lagged days.  We pray our hearts will join little Christopher’s words as we face each new challenge, “Hello everyone, we are the Kidwells!”

Our tired, tired little boy just couldn't make it a minute longer waiting to board our final flight from Johannesburg to Harare!