Hey all!

Well, finally settled in completely now, I can’t believe it’s been 3 weeks already. The first week went really slow, but the rest has flown past since.
I would just like to say thank you so much to all those who supported/ are supporting me, whether that’s financially or through prayer and encouragement. All much appreciated.
So, we arrived in Kenya on the 22nd September, where we had to wait 5 hours for our connection flight in a very desolate airport! Most found a comfy place on the floor and had a quick snooze. We arrived in Harare in Zimbabwe later on that day. We spent two nights in Harare with a host family, before being driven to our permanent hosts in Mutare (about 200 miles away). So the first week was spent getting settled in to our little annex thing next to our host family’s house. It’s basic but adequate, with 2 bedrooms, a toilet, shower and kitchen facilities. The host family are really nice (Gwynn and Phillip), a white couple who work at/lead the local Presbyterian church that we are based with. They have three kids called Bradley, Anthony and Natalie.
Our weekly programme is quite jam packed, we unfortunately had quite a slow start due to a mix up of communication between Oasis and a few of the projects, but all is worked out now. We are based at the local Presbyterian church, which is predominantly white.

On Mondays we visit and orphanage in a local town called Nyanga. This is a black orphanage for kids who have been abandoned. There are a few ‘houses’, which each have about 8 kids in of varying ages and needs. Each house has a ‘house Mother’ who lives there permanently. It’s a really good project as not only does it take in and look after these kids, but it teaches the importance of family life. We go and help out with washing and irnoning, and just spend time with the kids whenever we can. Its really challenging knowing that these kids have no real family life or contact at all, but its great to be able to influence them with Gods love by just showing them interest and giving them time. On Monday afternoons we go to a school in Sakubva for Mentally Challenged and disabled kids. We go and do a kids club with them, adapted to just loads of games and some simple teaching about Jesus and his love for them. You wonder how many of them really understand what is being said, but already we can see how much they appreciate some attention.

On Tuesdays we spend the morning with Scripture Union. This is run in very much the same way as in the U.K. The staff go into the surrounding rural schools and do lessons about God using S.U material. So we go out with them and run the mornings each Tuesday. In the afternoons we work with an organization called ‘Simukai’. This is a street kid project. They go on the streets at night and round up the homeless kids. They are then brought back to the center, and cleaned up and fed. The social welfare is informed and a file is opened for each kid. Unfortunately we are not allowed to go on the streets at night – four white girls walking around is asking for trouble! Just too dangerous. But we get to help in other areas of the project which is brilliant.

On Wednesdays we go into a local rural community called Sakubva. The people actually have a church building, which is unusual. The other local communities do not. Here we spend an hour or so with the adults, normally doing a bible study. We then have the younger kids for a couple of hours. We play loads of games and try to put a bit of a gospel message in there. Afterwards we have another couple of hours with the youth group. Again we do a Bible study and play some wide games. Its one of my favorite days – here the people are so needy. Its really draining as its such a long day and every scentence has to be translated into Shona, and the guy who does the translation (Elios) sometimes doesn’t know what were going on about! It’s a real challenge, but the kids absolutely love it.

On Thursdays we spend the day at a couple of white old peoples homes. This is good, but I find it especially difficult, because there’s such a black/white divide here which I really wasn’t expecting. The projects we do are either completely white or completely black. There’s very rarely a mixed group of people. I find it quite hard to get my head round, but when you look at the history of the country and its government, it kind of makes sense.

Fridays is taken up with a kids club we are running at the Presbyterian church. It’s called ‘Animal Kingdom’, and runs from 2pm – 4pm, for 5 – 9 year olds. I’m really enjoying this as it’s a field I’ve had little experience in. You really get stretched in all directions out here!

Saturdays is our day off, so normally we’re off on some venture with a church family. If not it’s a good opportunity to catch up on washing and all those vital things!

Sundays is filled up with church stuff, which is busy but quite relaxed. So that’s my week. Quite busy, but full of challenges and opportunities. I’ll be putting entries up on here more regularly from now on, so you wont have to read an epic every time!

Just a prayer pointer – Jenny, a girl in my team has got quite ill over the last few days and is a bit wiped out as a result. Please pray for a speedy recovery and good health for the rest of us.

Thanks guys, I’ll catch up again soon. Miss you all!
Rebecca x