Hambakwe


Dancing at church
Singing at church


On Sunday the 14th, I woke up and learned that we are going out for church. Church of Christ is planting a new church and we got to be there for the first Sunday. The people from Hambakwe area have been asking Kathy and Major to start a church there. It was a VERY rocky road there. I wondered if the road was just a riverbed that is dry this time of year. Anyways, church was awesome when we got there. When we pulled up, everyone started singing and dancing. Kathy said that would have been normal when Bruce and Carolyn went to a new place. They were CRAZY excited to have a new church there.

Purity

There was a lot of singing, dancing, and fiery preaching. One little girl, Purity, smiled at us the whole time. I started making faces back and forth with her during the sermon and an older man saw me and thought it was funny. They fed us sadza and some fish that was staring at me for lunch. When no one was looking, I let Patience (Major's wife) eat my fish. It reminded me of Tod's goat brain story. We took a different way home that was less rocky, but seemed longer. We got to stop at Major's rural village. I am looking forward to when we spend a weekend there. When we finally got back, we realized that Kathy was locked out of her house. Our keys were in the house as well. Ah jeez. We all went down to the Mereki house and hung out with Carolyn (Major's daughter) until Major came with the keys.

After-church celebration and greeting

I have been journaling nearly every day we have been here thanks to my top shata, Patrick Garner, who gave me a journal right before we left. My blog posts are mostly pulled straight from it. At the end of each entry, I write a couple "Bullets" (maybe the Ammermans have rubbed off on me a little bit). These are just little tidbits from the day that I don't want to forget. Here are some of mine so far this summer:

  • Chidamoyo = Where the heart is satisfied
  • I am randomly craving Cocoa Wheats... so weird
  • Lily yelled "I LOVE AFRICA" on FaceTime yesterday and it was so awesome
  • I really want my Indiana tat
  • We were told there are crocs in the dam we went to, but we did not see one (yet?)
  • Me: Do the leaves change color here?    Student: Because of global warming
  • Have you farted today? (stories of white people trying to learn Shona)
  • Rileigh washed her hands with vinegar
  • Finished Tortilla Flat
  • Rileigh has read 3 books about Zimbabwe so far this summer
  • "America is good at fighting, that is why I like them" 
  • Major taught me how to dance
  • Steak and Sadza is the ish
  • Finally got some Shona greetings down
  • HUGE Praying mantis in Rileigh's hair
  • Loved being able to watch the NBA Finals
  • Forget's dad is Remember
  • Rileigh guessed there were 27 players on each team in football
  • Guy at school walked away with live chickens and walked back with dead ones
  • Why are we driving backwards?
  • Found sugar cane 



Meeting new friends

This week we are heading to Harare on Thursday. We need to renew our visas. On Sunday, we will fly from Harare to Victoria Falls. Rachel Nutt and a new visitor will be traveling with us. I am hoping to raft again, but Rileigh says "No way, I am not doing that again." We will stay in Vic Falls for two nights and then return to Chidamoyo. 

-J

Comments

  1. PamPJune 20, 2015 at 5:07 AM

    I am so enjoying this! Keep it up, you two. Love you to the moon and back <3

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I know a woman...

I know a woman who walks on tiptoes, and quietly chases adventure- along with me kindness and grace open to any idea or question willing to love, seek peace, work for justice. I know a woman who’s been by my side with each passing year- my defender, wild and free- talking so fast no one can quite keep up; with her interests so unique not one human could ever be- just like her. I know a woman who raised two bold and brave women; she is filled to the brim with grace and peace so much so that it easily overflows swirling and falling without question onto others. I know a woman full of sparkle and sass headband neatly placed stronger and much more gorgeous than she thinks she is heart open and searching for the greatest adventure. I know two women who remind me of one another; fearless mothers the ones I will call when it’s my turn, dark hair falling in waves past strong shoulders...
Read more

A Love Letter

Image
Here's to the men who aren't threatened by passion, power, and wisdom in women. Here's to the men who live life with humility. Here's to the men who stand up and say what they think is right, even when it might mean they lose a friend. And here's to the men who sometimes keep their opinions to themselves when they know the topic might not be important. Strong men are able to sit with the fact that others disagree with them. Here's to the men who follow their passions. Here's to the men who treat all women with love, respect, and dignity. Here's to the men who listen attentively. Here's to the men who love without stipulations. Here's to the men who are fair-minded. Here's to the men who can admit when they are wrong. Here's to the men who are advocates for women. Here's to the men who care about our world, our animals, our plants and trees. Here's to the men who fight for the underdog. Here's to the m...
Read more

Words Could Never Express..

Image
I have been trying to compose my thoughts on my Grandpa Rudy’s passing for days now. I literally took a day off to try to get my thoughts and words together, and all I could do was stare at the screen. When people hear of someone’s grandpa passing away, I am not so sure they understand the magnitude of this in my circumstance.  This man was involved in every aspect of my life. He taught me, he helped me grow. I would not know my multiplication facts today or how to drive a stick-shift if it were not for this man, among many other more important things. He supported and loved me through every decision I ever made and was there to witness every last thing.  Once, a friend told me that I was “the weirdest mix of independent feminist and 1950’s housewife” or something along those lines. I smiled and said, “that’s exactly what I was going for.” I bring up this memory because I believe I inherited this juxtaposition of strange, opposite traits from Rudy himself, not that...
Read more