Mawabeni Graduation

21 11 2008

Last week we were finally able to have the graduation service for the young men from Mawabeni who we trained in various aspects of building.  The service was held at Willow Park in the new (and nearly completed) dining hall. 

 

The young men could invite 2 people each to the ceremony so they could show off what they had done in the last 5 months. This meant that I needed to try to find transport for 30 people to get from Mawabeni to Willow Park (about 20klm).  Being true Zim style a majority of my transport plans did fall through at the very last moment … but we did manage to get everyone there after calling on some favours… if there was just one extra person we wouldn’t have had enough transport.

 

We had en excellent time with the young men and their families, they enjoyed showing off their work and their families were so proud of their accomplishment.  One mother, when we handed out the certificate to her son got up and did a HUGE dance and African song/chant … she was as proud as punch.

 

Unfortunately, the hall isn’t quite complete yet.  The paint that was stolen from our house was the paint we purchased for the hall, so we need to go across the border to buys some more.  We also need to make some changes to the roof structure, as the company who constructed the roof didn’t make the cross beams strong enough and they are pushing against the walls making them crack under the pressure.

 

 

 

 

 





Baboon Frenzy

11 11 2008

Last year we were really lucky and had absolutely no baboon stealing any of our crops.  This year however they have come in nice and early and have began to plunder; not only have they plundered some of our crops but they also attacked Willow Park’s dog.  Tiger (the dog) took it upon himself to try and sort out the baboon, but unfortunately they ganged up on him and gave him a massive hiding.  The girls from Samkele heard his yelping and came running and they scared off the baboon by throwing rocks.  Poor Tiger … he is getting better now though.

tiger-after-baboon-attack





1st Birthday Party

10 11 2008

On Monday, Alice, one of the babies from the Sandra Jones home celebrated her first birthday with all the other kiddies from the home at the Hillside Dams.  It was a great afternoon with party hats, snacks and even a birthday cake.





Another good night

6 11 2008

Last night I was welcomed back to Falcon College (one of the only larny (posh) boarding schools in Zimbabwe) to worship and speak at the mid week service.  This is my forth time out there and it gets better each time I go out.  One thing that amazes me the most is how polite all the young men are; as we drive to the chapel the boys will stop on the side of the road and give a single wave and say hello; then after the service, a majority of the boys will come up and shake your hand and thank you for coming out.  You never get this type of politeness is OZ (not on a large scale anyway).  ROCK ON!!!