I am not sure where I left off with this blog and so much has happened I doubt I can resurrect the whole story accurately anyway. We have been without WIFI for several days now. In part because on Thursday and Friday we made a road trip. We made the three hour trip (sounds like some island show and a boat, but that is a different story) to the Dine mission. This was our second trip last week, the first without a guide. Our purpose was to prepare the mission guest house for guests, and paint the inside of a second little house for the male guests coming in April.
On our first trip (on Monday) we scrapped and knocked mud wasp nests off the walls. The second trip we hired a couple of young men to give us a hand. They had never painted before and spoke very little English. We speak even less Shona so it made for an interesting painting tutorial. They didn’t do a bad job but not the greatest either. The paint was not as thick as my wife gets in the US. Thus, there are some spots on the floor, but all in all things came out well. We didn’t finish, in part because of the late start from Chiredzi, more on that below.
We came home and after some communications home used up our internet, and ran out of electricity. We went to buy more, but the network at the stores was down, so we had no electricity until after church today, and still no WIFI. (This is hopefully going out over my Zim phone data, or you aren’t reading it until Tuesday when we get back).
Most have head by now, but on Wednesday late we learned that my brother passed away. It was late here and we were not having lots of luck trying to work out details. We were to go to Dine early, but there was not internet in our town until late morning and so began a saga of hit or miss communications. Thanks to everyone who has shared their condolences with members of our family. They are greatly appreciated. We are staying here for now and when we got home and the road to Hurricane Ridge is passable (and it may be now for all I know) family will gather and spread his ashes. It has not been the easiest grief journey to say the least.
We got home just before sunset on Friday, which is a must here. Sherry was asked to speak at an all night youth prayer gathering that night. As usual, she did a great job and we got home at 11:00 PM. Saturday here in Chiredzi is usually special, and this one was no different. We went to church at 9:00 AM for a prayer time and then invited the pastor and his family over for lunch. They don’t make a lot of money and eating Chicken-Inn fried chicken (think KFC) and Pizza-Inn pizza is not part of their regular faire. So Sherry and I treated the pastor and his family (that is feels funny to say as I used to be the pastor who was invited) to something special. Their daughters, ages 3 and 6, were in heaven. After lunch we got in the pool and they splashed around for a while. A special day to be sure.
Now it is Sunday afternoon. I was the preacher this morning at Chiredzi Christian Church, speaking on Jesus’s word from the cross, “Father, forgive them.” It was well received and I loved preaching it. This afternoon I took my Buffalo bike for a ride and jumped in the pool for a moment. My wife said I stunk! It is only 92 degrees. Tomorrow (or Monday if this doesn’t post on Sunday) we are going with friends to the game park and glamping. It will be fun for sure.
Life is good. And an advertisement, we are still raising money for our Kenya trip in July. If you can help us out, we would really appreciate it. Thanks.