Project HOPE

Happy 2012!

2012-01-25T04:08:00.002-05:00

Tsvingwe Primary students receive flip-flops (patter patters!)

Bonnie passing out school supplies

New uniforms!

It has been a very successful start to 2012! Thirty new children have been added to the HOPE education program, giving us a total of 103 students. It is our goal to have 150 children in school by the end of the year. One major blessing was finding a sponsor for Samuel, our only HOPE student so far to attend university. Samuel is just beginning his 3^rd year in engineering and a sponsored has been secured to cover the remainder of his education! We are hopeful that more students will follow in his footsteps in obtaining a college degree.

Mitchel and Faith with new dresses

New uniforms were distributed at the beginning of the school term, along with books and all other school supplies. Thanks to Lerona United Methodist who mailed us enough flip flops to give out to all the HOPE children as well as the children at Fairfield. Also a special thanks to the women of St. Paul’s United Methodist who sent pillowcase dresses. All the little girls who received them were so excited to show off their brand new dresses!


Belinda receives a new dress!

It was great to have Dave and Bonnie Naas visiting Fairfield for most of January. They have been friends of Fairfield and HOPE for many years. “Uncle Dave” and “Aunt Bonnie” spent lots of time with Abigail and Grace. The girls are now up to the right weight for their age and are so happy. They can both stand holding onto the couch, so it won’t be long before mom will be busy chasing them as they run in opposite directions! They are officially my foster children now, and we will next work on getting their birth certificates so that the adoption process can begin.

Excited about their new matching dresses

We are still enjoying the rainy season, with everything growing green and beautiful. Thanks to all for your continued support and prayers as we begin the New Year.

Abby and Grace send a big hello to everyone!

Wenyu Munashe,

Janine

It's a girl...and a girl!

2011-11-10T02:47:00.007-05:00

Many of you might have heard already, but my family has now expanded! I applied to be a foster mother last March through Zimbabwe Social Welfare in hopes of eventually being able to adopt a little girl. This is a very difficult process for a foreigner, but is made easier since I have lived in Zimbabwe and plan on staying for as long as I am given a visa.

An officer came to do a home visit in May, but I never heard anything after that. A friend of mine from the United States is the administrator of an orphanage about 3 hours from Fairfield in a place called Mt. Selinda. One Saturday early in October, we went for a walk. She mentioned that they had twin one-year-old girls at her orphanage. My first thought was,
“I could never manage twins by myself!” Over the next few hours, however, I couldn’t stop thinking about them. We went to a program church that evening and through the songs and talks, I felt God saying, “You are right. You cannot do this alone. But you can do this with My help, and with the help of those I have placed around you.” My brain had automatically said no, but the Holy Spirit had whispered yes.

Four days later, I drove with Cecillia, our Acting Administrator, and a good friend, Julie, to visit Rumbidzai and Nomatter in Mt. Selinda. We instantly fell in love with our two little girls (now named Abigail and Grace). We were told by the Social Welfare officer that the mother had died giving birth to the girls. The father is still alive, but said he is too old to look after the girls. He brought them to Social Welfare offices when they were just five days old, when they were brought to the orphanage in Mt. Selinda.

I was told that it would be at least December or January before the paperwork was complete and they would be placed in my care. We went back the following Friday and located the father. He consented right away to give the girls to me, which made the process a lot easier. I didn’t realize until we were driving back to the office, however, just how much easier the first steps would be.

The officer asked if I was prepared to take the girls back to Fairfield right away. He did not like their situation at the orphanage because they were not receiving sufficient food and their development was behind. We all watched in amazement as he signed a half sheet of paper giving both girls to me under temporary place of safety. From there he will work on the foster care paperwork, and once they are under my care as a foster parent, he will immediately begin working on the adoption process. Within 2 weeks of initially hearing of the girls, they were making the 3 hour trip back to Fairfield with a very shocked mother!

Luckily, my friends here had thrown me a baby shower (although only expecting one girl!) back in June, so I did have the basics to start out with that first night. It has been one of the hardest but best weeks of my life as the girls get adjusted to their new home. They were far behind on their vaccinations, and this new mom learned that the first day in a new place and over 90 degree weather was not the best time to get them up-to-date!

But God blessed me with wonderful friends those first few days that provided meals when I was too tired to eat let alone cook, who offered encouragement and advice, played with the girls, found car seats and other necessities, and prayed with me. Grace and Abby are eating a lot, sleeping a lot, doing exercises to get them ready for standing and walking, and having a great time playing with all the Fairfield children. I can see improvement even in the short time they have been here.

I had already scheduled a flight home for Christmas for a few weeks and set up many speaking engagements thinking that I would not have a child before January. We could have left the girls at the orphanage until I returned, but decided that the quicker they could get the right foods and assistance the faster they would improve. They will stay in my house with their big sister Nyarai while I am away, with the help of all the wonderful mothers at Fairfield. Nyarai met her little sisters for the first time this past weekend and instantly fell in love. I look forward to the day the adoption process is complete (I am sure this will take a lot of patience and time!) and Grace and Abigail can come meet all of you at home. I am sure you will instantly fall in love with them as well.

I would appreciate your prayers as we begin this journey. I am already discovering motherhood can be overwhelming, especially with twins, but God’s grace is always sufficient for us. If any of you are going through a change or a difficult time, I pray you will also hear God whispering, “You can do this with My help and with the help of those I have placed around you.”

Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

2011-10-24T05:32:00.007-04:00

Many of the HOPE children have to walk long distances in order to get to school. I am often amazed at how many of them wake up before it is even light outside in order to walk over an hour just to receive a good education. We used to purchase new school shoes for each child once every two years. But when we went to visit the children in school, the HOPE staff often found that their shoes were threadbare after only one year of use.
For many of the children, the school shoes we give them are one of the only pairs of shoes they own. They also grow out of them very quickly until they reach their adult sizes. HOPE is now giving new black school shoes to each of the children once a year to ensure they have a safe and comfortable walk to school each day,no matter how far they have to go!
The school shoes were purchased last month and it has been a busy time driving to all the schools to make sure each child receives their new shoes. The children were so happy when they were able to try on sizes to see which fit best. Many were amazed at how much their feet had grown since their last pair!
Thank you to all the sponsors and other donors who make it possible for us to purchase everything the children need to succeed in their education. Please pray for the 7th graders and Form 4 children (11th grade) as they are taking their big year end exams over the next few weeks.

Also, a big thanks for those who donated toward mealie-meal at Fairfield Children’s Home last month. We received enough to last through at least next July! I really appreciate the support and the children thank you for their full stomachs:)
Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

From Whom All Blessings Flow

2011-09-13T04:58:00.010-04:00

Greetings from Zimbabwe! We have passed the winter season and now the trees are coming out in full bloom. Spring has arrived. It has been a very exciting time here at Fairfield. Our last team for the season was here from Missouri for the last 2 weeks of July. They each came with different skills that really blessed our homes as well as the children and staff.
We had a veterinarian who helped make sure our goats were healthy so they can produce milk for the children. Together the team painted our rusty old container so that it now has a beautiful sun and mountain scene. One of the team members replaced all our broken windows, while others helped him to replace broken handles, electrical sockets and irons.
The entire team spent time forming relationships with our children and helped to fill in pages for their lifebooks so they have a book of memories and pictures from their childhood. Thank you to all the team members for all your hard work and love.
I was fortunate to have some of my best friends visit at different times recently as well. We had such a great time together.
For Kate and Christine, it was their first trip to Zimbabwe. It was a huge blessing to have them meet all the wonderful people who make up my family here. Gogo (grandmother) Lynn came next. The children always are so happy to see one of their official Fairfield grandmothers coming to visit them! My friend Melissa returned for her third visit to Fairfield.
The staff and children were so excited to see her again-especially 2 of our young boys who took their first trip to the airport in Harare to greet her when she arrived.

The children are now all back to school for the last term of the school year. Once again, we were blessed with enough funding to pay for all the fees in full. Sometimes I look at the figures and am amazed that God provides so abundantly to keep over 150 children in school each term between the Fairfield and HOPE children.

We do have one area of urgent need for the children’s home. World Food Program has been providing mealie-meal, our staple food, for many orphanages over the past few years. They have recently stopped this service, which means we will have to source funds for 600kgs of mealie-meal every month to feed our 76 children. At the moment, 600kgs costs $240 which will be very difficult for us to find every month. If any individual or group is able to donate $240 to provide food for one month, we would be greatly appreciative.
Any donation that comes in a multiple of $24 (48, 72, 96…240 etc) will be used in full to purchase mealie-meal for the children at Fairfield. Once we have enough for one year supply, the funds will next be used to purchase cooking oil, sugar, salt, and soap that the children need monthly.
Thank you so much for considering this form of assistance!

Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

Coming Soon!

2011-07-13T06:03:00.005-04:00

Hello all, I am very excited about our next team who will be arriving on Sunday. They are coming from Missouri and bringing two of my best friends with them! We are hoping that they will not regret leaving the warm weather to visit us during our coldest month. Last week we received a cold front with frost killing our whole crop of tomatoes. The up side was that the children saw their first icicle hanging from one of our water hoses:)

I am hoping that some of the Missouri team will be able to help me with a very important task while they are here. It is time for our yearly sponsor letters to be written by each of the HOPE children and sent to their special sponsor along with an updated photo. If you are currently a sponsor, be looking for your letter to arrive sometime in August. Some of our HOPE children have moved far away, so if your letter arrives late it just means it took us a little more time make it to their home for a visit.
The Fairfield secretary, Linda, accompanied me to Vumbunu Primary School last week to start collecting some of the sponsor letters from our children. Vumbunu is located at the top of a mountain that can only be reached by a road filled with rocks and ditches. We had to do some careful maneuvering to arrive safely at the top! We were greeted by the new Headmaster (principal) and were asked to speak to one of the 7th grade classes while we waited for the HOPE children to be called from their classes to visit with us. The students wanted to learn all about America, asking questions like “what is our staple food?” and “what sports do we play?” My favorite question was from a boy who pointed to Linda and asked, “Is she your friend?” Linda is both my good friend and young sister here at Fairfield.
There have been a lot of road accidents in recent months here. Please pray for safe travels for the team as they start the long trip here, and for us to have safe travels as we begin the annual trek to each school and home of the HOPE children to get all the letters and photos. If you would consider sponsoring a HOPE child, we have many on our waiting list and would be happy to send you information about a child for you to pray for and support with their education.
Thank you as always for all your love and support-we are all doing well here…shivering at times, but healthy and happy due in no small part to you!
Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

Ooh and Ahh

2011-06-15T05:36:00.006-04:00

Our last month at Fairfield has been hectic, but we have emerged on the other side in much better shape than we started! A team of college students arrived in the middle of May ready to start digging. The team was led by my friend from seminary, Patrick Hutto. They dug up our old water pipes that were too thin to carry water to the four children’s homes at the end of the row, and replaced them with bigger ones. The children and mothers were dancing with happiness when everything was in place and the water flowed through all the way to the last house.

Just a few days later, we welcomed two teams from Indiana who had both raised funds to help with projects at Fairfield. One team was led by Dr. Mike Rynkiewich, my professor from Asbury, and his wife Teresa. The second team included Bob, Midge and Emily Greising who are members of the FOSA board that funds the orphanage. Both teams worked quickly and finished one project during their first few days. We needed a row of hedges along the road that will protect the houses from dust and also give privacy so people can’t see directly into the children’s bedroom windows.

The second project was to paint two of our children’s homes on the outside and one on the inside. They are now a nice bright blue and green. The teams had help from some Zimbabwean soldiers learning to become professional painters, which made the workload a lot lighter. This left time for the team to help with the children’s life books and sort our container so we know what clothes are available for the different age groups.
The children also really enjoyed popping corn kernels off the cobs with the visitors to get them ready to grind into their staple food, sadza.

We welcomed another baby boy to the nutrition program this month. His name is Ngoni and we would love your prayers for his health to improve. He has a loving mother who is doing everything she can to help him gain weight, so that is already a step in the right direction!

It has now turned cold here, especially up in our mountains. I can see my breath in the mornings and have put extra blankets on the bed.
I don’t handle the cold very well, so after a year of living within the Zimbabwean borders, I am heading for a week of sunshine on the beaches of Mozambique with friends. Someone was generous enough to donate their beach house to us for FREE…it is a tough life I live. If you start to get jealous though, remember it would take over $2,000 and 36 hours of travel time just to give my mom and dad a hug…so Mozambique will have to work as 2nd choice for my vacation destination:)

Wishing all of my American friends a very happy 4th of July in a few weeks! Say an extra loud “ooh” and “ahh” on my behalf when you watch the fireworks.

Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

May HOPE update

2011-05-16T07:21:00.009-04:00

Hope you are enjoying the spring weather (or fall if you are in my part of the world). The children have just finished their April holiday and are heading back to second term this week. During April, the Assistant Administrator and I traveled to do some home visits and stopped in some of the rural clinics along the way to tell them about what the HOPE program offers. We had just graduated quite a few children from the nutrition program, so there was room for new children.

Within a week, we had 5 new children referred to us. One, named Eunice, was very sick and had been admitted to the hospital. When we went to visit her, we were shocked by how thin she was, which made it difficult for her to keep warm. Eunice has now started some different medical treatments and joined the HOPE nutrition program. She was discharged from the hospital a few days later and came to visit us this Monday to collect her eggs, peanut butter and bananas. Although she is still very thin, we were surprised by how much stronger she seemed in the short time since we had last seen her. Please pray for her continued full recovery.

Two other children referred to us are girl twins. They are just over 1 year old and their mother was having trouble making sure both of them had enough to eat. The doctor said they were both very malnourished. The family lives very far away, outside of our usual boundaries for helping children, but we decided that the mother could travel to us once a month and collect food instead of once a week. We will do a home visit soon to see how the girls are doing. Although they were both tiny, their smiles were so cute and we are happy to have them as new members of the HOPE family.

The children at Fairfield were very excited this month when our favorite dog “Honey” gave birth to four puppies.
When the children were at the old orphanage, they used to be terrified of dogs and would throw stones at them. This in turn would scare the dogs and they would try to bite the children, perpetuating the cycle. Now that the staff at Fairfield has helped the children learn to be kind to Honey, they are really enjoying playing with her four new puppies!

We have had a lot of birthdays and weddings this month, which means a lot of parties! Some of the staff went to a wedding in the capital city of Harare and had a great time. Nyarai and our two youngest babies, Tadiwa and Tafadzwa, were able to go as well. Now it is time for the parties to end and everyone will be back to school and work.

We have our first team coming this week from Mississippi. Two more teams from Indiana will be joining us at the end of the month. All the staff and children are excited to meet these old and new friends soon. We are happy that they will be working on some very important projects to make the home a better place for the children to live.

Hope you all have a very happy May!
Janine

Fair Exchange

2011-03-30T04:26:00.007-04:00

Hello all! March has passed by too quickly… hard to believe it is already time to update the blog again! It has been a relatively quiet month here at Fairfield. We have settled into a good routine, just in time for it all to change again as the children end their first term next week and will have the month of April off from school.

The Fairfield staff has been able to make a good number of home visits this month to see different children in the HOPE program. Some were graduating from the program, so we would be visiting for the last time (officially:), while new children appeared to take their place. God has a good way of providing us with just the right number of children at all times!

Cecillia (assistant administrator) and I went to visit a little girl named Sekai (meaning “to laugh”) who had been on our nutrition program since she was a small baby. We found her healthy and happy, so she was now allowed to graduate from the program. During that same visit, however, we also stopped by to see Sekai’s 2 siblings at the primary school. The principal called in a little girl named Rosemary whose stomach bulged from malnutrition. So within a few minutes of graduating one, we were able to accept another. The doctor confirmed she needed additional nutrition, so one of her family members will be collecting her food each Monday.

A similar situation happened with our education program. We went to visit one of our “sons,” James, who had finished his high school education last year. Since he had been in poor health, we decided to go and see him at his rural home. We found James with his relatives. His health had greatly improved thanks to the right medications, and since we saw he was now in a good home situation, he was also officially graduated from the HOPE programs at the age of 18.

Just a few days later, we noticed a young boy coming to collect food for our new child Rosemary. When we asked him why he was not in school, he said he had passed his Grade 7 exams with very good results, but no one in his family had money to send him to secondary school. This often happens because secondary school is so much more expensive than primary. After a quick trip to the local school to secure him a place for next term, we dropped off our new “son” Wongai (meaning “to thank someone”) near his home. I watched him walk away through the rearview mirror of the car, so happy with himself for his good luck. God had placed him in the right place at the right time.

Unfortunately, I keep forgetting my camera lately (getting old!) so the pictures in no way correspond to the stories this month-they are just pictures of some seriously cute kids:)
I am looking forward to Nyarai’s return on Friday. She has been busy with all the work of her first semester at college, so I am sure she will be happy to come home and rest for a while.

Hope you all have had a good month as well!
Janine

Happily Ever After

2011-02-18T04:43:00.004-05:00

Most of you know that I have had a “daughter” living with me for the last year or so named Nyarai. I met Nyarai during my first trip to Zimbabwe in 1998 when she was 5 years old.
God has taught me so much throughout my relationship with Nyarai, so it is only fitting that as she begins college this week, I share the end of her story at Fairfield Children’s Home.
I am sure, however, that this is just the beginning of many other stories as she begins her life as an adult.
(I have been given permission from Nyarai to share this information with you)
Nyarai was brought to Fairfield when she was just a few months old by her great-grandmother. She had always been told that there were no other living relatives and that by now her great-grandmother would have passed away. We often told her that although she may not have blood relatives, she had so many people who loved her and accepted her as family.
She would never be left alone. But still, Nyarai said that before she left Fairfield, she wanted to see her home area for herself and know without doubt that there were no relatives left.
So two weeks ago, four of us set out to find Nyarai’s home area: Mr. Mufute (administrator), Mrs. Mabvumbe (assistant administrator), me and Nyarai. The only clue we had from her file was the name of a school near where the great-grandmother lived about 40 minutes away from Fairfield. We stopped at a house near the school and asked if anyone knew of a family from long ago with Nyarai’s last name. God was on our side, because the family knew exactly where we should go and even sent a girl with us to guide us. Five minutes later we were sitting in a kitchen hut greeting a woman with very kind eyes. She listened to our story and we asked if she had any information for us about the great-grandmother or her relatives. She smiled and said, “The woman you are speaking of passed away 10 years ago. I am married to her son. We knew of a baby girl named Manyara who came here with her mother before the mother passed away.”
Our administrator said to the woman, as others now began to enter the hut, “This is Manyara , your daughter. We have raised her and now we have brought her home.”
The women came over to where Nyarai (a nickname for Manyara) was sitting on the floor and hugged her and welcomed her into the family.
Then a little old man was called and stepped slowly into the hut using a cane. This was one of Nyarai’s great uncles. He also accepted her into the family and they all thanked Fairfield for raising her so well. When I went to snap a photo of Nyarai and her uncle, we noticed they had the exact same nose! She has 2 great uncles, a great aunt and many cousins. Before we left, Nyarai was given a chicken to take home as a welcome gift. She hopes to go back for a visit soon.
One week later, she received her high school exam results…she had passed 8 subjects! After 3 days of looking for the right place for her to continue studies, she finally decided on a Fashion Design course in town. She moved into the dorms there and has started classes, but is only a 15 minute drive away when we want to visit.
My house feels very empty and quiet these days. I remember walking her to preschool down the long dirt path. I remember showing her the swing set and new houses being built for Fairfield when she was 9 years old. I remember the day she blew out the candles on her 12th birthday cake and how she used to hum the tune to “Dawson’s Creek” that we watched so often together. I don’t suppose she remembers all those things, but hopefully on these first nights away from home, she will remember that she is well loved always.
Pictures from top: Nyarai trying on a pair of shoes at preschool in 1998, Nyarai on far left receiving her first Bible in 2002, me and Nyarai in 2005, Nyarai ready for high school 2007, meeting her family in January 2011 with Mr. Mufute, college dorm with Mrs. Mabvumbe in February 2011, My cousin Tiffany and me with Nyarai on my back in 1998

The Busiest (Best) Day of the Year

2011-01-18T04:03:00.005-05:00

My eyes pop open as soon as the sun begins to filter in at 5:15AM. I feel well-rested, considering my favorite bedtime is 9PM (no one makes fun of you in Zimbabwe for going to bed at 9PM-or even 8!). I hop out of bed and do a few stretches, enjoying the peaceful time before music starts blasting throughout the house (I live with an 18-year-old, so what else can I expect). I take a deep breath and open my bedroom door to the mayhem, as this morning, I have not one, but 3 teenagers moving up and down the hallway. Benji and Chipo arrived last night from their rural area to get ready to leave for boarding school today.
The electricity cuts, (surprise, surprise) so Nyarai heads out to cook chicken over the fire for Benji and Chipo’s lunch while they are traveling. I stay inside and start the rice on our small gas stove, and then boil water for baths, and more water for baths, and even more water for tea. By 7, I see Cecillia (our assistant administrator) walking past on her way to the office to start gathering the school supplies. By the time I arrive at 7:30, she and Peter (our administrator) are already in full swing. Papers and bags are flying around the office, as the Fairfield children line up (or form a mob, let’s be honest) to receive their school supplies and books before heading off to school.
Peter packs the combi bus full of boarders and their luggage and heads off on the 2 hour trip to Marange School, where some of our children attend. Cecillia heads off to Hartzell Primary and Secondary to pay fees for the Fairfield children. I use guilt and begging to convince Linda (our secretary) to come with me to all the other schools, even though she is on leave from work (she graciously accepted, thank you Linda). We pack Benji and 2 other students in the car and zip off toward St. Augustine’s (why can’t everyone go to the same school?!). It poured the rain last night, so we move slowly up the steep, muddy mountain (who builds their school on top of a mountain, and why?). We stand in a line to pay fees, we stand in a line to pay teacher incentives, we stand in a line to collect Benji’s mattress.
Now the car heads back down the mountain toward Tsvingwe Primary and Secondary Schools. At one point while concentrating on the deep, muddy rivets in the road, I look up to see that a bus has become stuck in the mud and abandoned in the middle of the road a few feet ahead. We’ll have to somehow turn around and go the long way around (this requires all my thinking skills, and I think my jaw is permanently clenched shut). We finally reach the primary school. Papers and bags fly again as all the HOPE children are given their supplies to start the year-same scene at the secondary school.
It is now late afternoon as we make our way back to Fairfield. Peter and Cecillia arrive back home just after us. We have forgotten to eat all day and suddenly realize we are very hungry-and tired. The first day of the school year each January is the busiest day of the year, but we will all sleep well tonight, knowing that all 74 of the Fairfield children and 100 HOPE children are happy, healthy, and exactly where they are supposed to be. Good night my friends…and thank you that at the end of every line, I had enough money to pay, and for every moment I almost felt overwhelmed, I knew that one of you out there had sent up a little prayer for us over here. What would we do without you?

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-08T08:15:00.007-05:00

Merry Christmas from Zimbabwe! Cleopatra has found the 2 additional sponsors needed to go to boarding! The 7th grade results came out on Friday (the exams which determine what junior high and high school a child will be able to attend based on their grades) and Cleopatra, as expected, received very high marks. She was immediately accepted to Hartzell Secondary School which offers an excellent academic program.

Cleo was so excited to learn she was going to boarding school, and we even visited her grandmother (actually her great-grandmother!) to deliver the good news. We will be purchasing all her items for boarding this month and she will begin in January. Please pray that she does well in school.

We were also blessed with a special donation that helped us to buy Christmas dinner for all the HOPE families!

Below is a special Christmas message from all your friends in Zimbabwe. If you need a game to occupy your time during the holidays, you can locate the page number each of the following people are mentioned in the book “Dare to Love Completely”:)

Merry Christmas!
Love, Janine

Nyarai (who lives with me at Fairfield), Peter Mufute (Fairfield Administrator), Jane and Larry Kies (Missionaries at Africa University), Juliet Chimuka (mother at Fairfield), Rutendo (child at Fairfield), Cecilia Thobani Mabvumbe (Assistant Administrator), Linda Manhiri Nyatwa (Fairfield Secretary), Angela Mari Jeni (mother at Fairfield), Jayne (child at Fairfield), Tendai Munashe (child at Fairfield), Benji Mariga (HOPE child), me, Sylvia (child at Fairfield)

Cleopatra's Dream

2010-11-10T04:20:00.004-05:00

Years ago, I was traveling to do home visits at Meikle’s Farm with a visitor from the states named Jim. We were visiting all the children on the HOPE nutrition and education programs in that area. One little girl named Cleopatra caught Jim’s attention. She was an orphan and lived with her sickly grandmother. Cleopatra attended Hartzell Primary School where she was always number 1 in her class. That was about all we knew about her because Cleopatra was not on our program. She was being taken care of by another program that paid for her school fees each term.
Throughout the years, Jim would consistently ask for updates about Cleopatra. How is she doing in school? How is she managing to take care of her grandmother on her own? Does she need anything? We would always do follow-ups with Cleopatra, and the answers were always the same. She is still top of her class, she is doing well living with her grandmother and since she is part of a different sponsorship program, we aren’t really able to help her with anything else at this point.
Last month, Jim’s persistence paid off. The principal from Hartzell was discussing how upset he was that one of the programs assisting with school fees was now ending. It would not be able to cover children moving on to junior high and high school. The principal was most concerned about one student in particular, who was top of her entire class. He knew she would do well on her 7th grade tests and be given a place at Hartzell Secondary. She excelled at science and math. The only problem was her grandmother had become very ill, and the little girl would not possibly be able to afford the high fees. Of course, I knew right away who he was referring to…our Cleopatra. Cleopatra, who we may have never known about if Jim had not taken an interest in her years before and persisted in having us follow up with her regularly.
So Jim’s email came again asking about Cleopatra. How is she doing in school? How is she managing to take care of her grandmother on her own? Does she need anything? She is still top of her class, her auntie has come to help care for the grandmother, but if we don’t find a way to help her, Cleopatra won’t be able to continue in school.
And so, after years of patient waiting on Jim’s part, he was able to make Cleopatra’s dream come true without so much as one day’s worry for her. He has agreed to pay for day school fees, and if we are able to find two more sponsors, we will transfer her to boarding school where she can have time to study at night and have extra help from her teachers. Hartzell is not far from her home, so she will be able to visit her granny often. If you would like to join Jim in sponsoring Cleopatra, please email hopeofzim@gmail.com.
If you would like to read a continuation of Cleopatra’s story, please see the blog entry below entitled “Cleopatra’s Purse.”
Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

Cleopatra's Purse

2010-11-10T04:08:00.003-05:00

Last week, I was sorting through my clothing and other items to see what I needed to give away. I came across an empty purse and smiled. This had been my favorite purse: the perfect size to hold everything I needed and a style and color that went with any outfit. Unfortunately, a few weeks before, I had emptied the purse for the last time. It had become torn on both ends and no longer looked nice for me to carry around. The outside was dirty from lots of use and I hadn’t bothered to clean it since I was not using it anymore.
I considered throwing the purse away, but it seems that in Zimbabwe, everything can be recycled into something useful. I asked Nyarai if she thought anyone would be able to use the purse, pointing out the rips and tears on the sides. Nyarai’s immediate response was, “Give it to Cleopatra.” I found the suggestion odd because Nyarai had met Cleopatra only a handful of times. But, as often happens, Nyarai seems to have an uncanny way of knowing exactly who might benefit from a particular item. I trusted her instincts and sent the purse to school with her to give to Cleopatra without giving it a second thought.
A few days later, Nyarai placed a piece of paper in my hand. It was folded many times and taped on all sides. After managing to unravel it into its full form, I found it was a letter from Cleopatra. The opening line was, “Dear Janine, I am very glad to write this letter thanking you about the bag you sent me.” At first I looked at the letter slightly confused. What bag was she talking about? I had forgotten all about it already.
As I read on, shame covered me. She wrote of my tattered, dirty purse, “it is the best present I have ever received. I love it very much. Even my grandmother will love it. I promise to take extra care of it. I am going to put my books and carry it to school always. I will try my best to keep it clean. May God bless you a million. Yours with gratitude, Cleopatra.” Tears flowed down my cheeks as I thanked God for this beautiful little girl who reminded me of something very precious.
At times in our life, we might also consider ourselves tattered and dirty as sinful human beings. Our shame covers us. But then God speaks over us, “You are the best present I have ever received. I love you very much. I will place others in your life who will also love you. I promise to take extra care of you. I will give you a special purpose always. I will keep you clean; you will be whiter than snow. I will bless you a million…”
May God bless you a million this week:)
Janine

Container Blessings

2010-10-18T05:53:00.012-04:00

Hello from Zimbabwe! We were excited this month to receive a container that was sent from South Carolina. Many of the boxes that came for HOPE were full of preschool supplies donated by my mom and her friends at First Presbyterian Preschool in West Virginia. All the supplies were divided up and are being distributed to 8 rural preschools in the area, as well as our preschool at Fairfield.
The children have been so happy to be able to play with the blocks, books, puzzles and other games that came especially for them. Also on the container were boxes of children’s clothing, mainly for the babies and younger children on the nutrition program. Every child received a bag of clothes and stuffed animal from their HOPE friends.

We have a new addition to the nutrition program this week. An aunt came with her small nephew, Tinashe in search of assistance. She received counseling on how to best care for the tiny baby, who is nearly 5 months old, but is the size of a newborn. Tinashe’s mother was not able to care for him or feed him, so the aunt had been feeding him only porridge since he was born (mixture of corn meal and water).
Thanks to donations that have been coming in, we added Tinashe and others in need to the nutrition program. He will be receiving milk every day, as well as peanut butter, eggs and bananas as he grows up.

The container carried a wheelchair that we gave to one of the children who has been on our program since she was still a baby. Chipo, who is now almost 6, has a disability and is unable to walk. Her grandmother works very hard to take care of her and provide for her. We are hoping that she will be able to find a place at a boarding school this coming January that can provide for her special needs.

It is an extremely hot October in Zimbabwe, but I have been enjoying the bright purple Jacaranda trees that have come out everywhere. I am looking forward to the rain that will hopefully be coming soon bringing even more flowers and flowering trees!
If you are in a place where the leaves are changing colors for fall, find a bright yellow one and enjoy it for me:)
Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

Are you the 1 or the 9?

2010-09-14T05:32:00.003-04:00

The last two weeks have been busy. The staff of Fairfield and HOPE has been buying supplies, delivering children to boarding school, and going to pay school fees for all the children who began school on September 7. I was happy to be able to visit all the schools where our HOPE children are attending and see most of them when we were paying the fees.

God worked another miracle this term. I was worried our money was not going to be enough to cover the fees and supplies because some of the rural schools had increased their prices. Each time I would think we were not going to have enough, we would find that a few of the children had transferred or been picked up by another program, so we did not owe for their fees. The last day, I ended up with exactly $120 left after paying out over $5,000 in expenses. We had three children left to pay for. For one we owed $80 and the other two were $20 each…exactly $120. God provided for us down to the exact dollar!

When the assistant administrator and I went to visit the children at Tsvingwe Primary, we called the whole group to the car to pass out supplies and some socks that had been donated. All the children were very polite and did the tradition clapping of hands and curtsey to say thank you before receiving their items.

A group of girls left together talking and laughing on their way back to the classrooms. As they were going, Belinda, one of our 7th graders, shouted back, “Sister Janine.” I looked up and saw that she had stopped halfway back to the school. “Thank you,” she said with a sincere smile, before turning back around and running to catch up with her friends. I was truly touched by this simple gesture of gratitude.

I am reminded of Luke 17:11-19 where ten men with leprosy ask Jesus to have pity on them. Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the priest, and as they are walking away, they are healed. Only one of the ten, a Samaritan, came back and gave praise to God. Jesus wanted to know, “Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Am I the 1 or the 9? God has provided in so many ways for each of us. Will I remember to stop, turn back and give praise for what God did? Maybe God is also touched by our simple gestures of gratitude for what He does for us. Today, I thank God for the sponsors who provided all the funding for this third term of school so that we did not have to turn anyone away…down to the very last dollar. I praise God for giving me, a foreigner, a home and a family in a far away land, and for taking care of my family and friends back home while I am away. Are you the 1 or the 9? No matter what your circumstance today, what can you return and give praise to God for in your life?

Now, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:19

Weddings vs. Funerals

2010-08-10T09:06:00.005-04:00

Growing up in West Virginia, I have seen some beautiful mountain views. But anyone who has been to Mutare, Zimbabwe will tell you that nothing can compare to the view as you pop up over the top of Christmas Pass Mountain and wind your way down into the city with thousands of homes dotting the valley far below. This view is second only to coming back over the Pass on the way home from town. Layers of mountaintops are spread out in light and dark purples as the sun sets behind them in brilliant oranges and pinks. I know when I see those mountains, I am almost home.
I arrived safely two weeks ago to this home among the mountains, with Francie, Casey and Aaron. They are here visiting the children’s homes until this coming Sunday. It has been great to have company in the house, and all three have brought their own special talents and skills. We also share the household chores, such as who will kill the giant spider in the closet (sorry to all my spider lovers who don’t approve:) and who will chase the neighbor’s barking dog away with a broom handle so the others can sneak out the door without being attacked (we are hoping his bark is worse than his bite).
Within the first week, we had attended both a wedding and a funeral. (this picture is of the some of the children at Fairfield who made up the mini-bridal party:)
Out of all my time in Zimbabwe, this was only my third wedding, while I have lost count of the funerals. But it appears that the atmosphere in Zimbabwe is changing for the better for many. There have been countless invitations to birthday, graduation and kitchen (bridal) parties in the last 2 weeks. In the years before, many people could not afford to have any special parties, and I am happy that they are able to now enjoy after so many years of true hardship and suffering. There seems to be a spirit of hope and joy in more lives, although many in the rural areas are still struggling to survive.
I was happy to find out when I arrived that my visa was extended until the end of October 2012! It is nice to know I will be settled in one place for some time and can begin to make a home. Nyarai will be moving back to House 11A with me soon, and Benji and Chipo will visit for a week at the end of the August holiday before going back to boarding school. The beginning of life in Zimbabwe is good and I appreciate all of your prayers and support for the children and staff of Fairfield and the HOPE programs!
Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

How Do You Kill a Spider?

2010-07-14T14:47:00.010-04:00

Two more weeks of electricity! I am still on schedule to leave on July 27th to head back to Zimbabwe.

Last week I attended the CornerStone Summit, which is held every 5 years in Kentucky. Missionaries from all over the world including Honduras, Ecuador, Myanmar, Costa Rica, Sudan, and Israel came together for fellowship and fun. It was great to hear how God has been at work in so many different parts of the world.

I next traveled to the FOSA (Fairfield Outreach and Sponsor Association) board meeting. Everyone on the current FOSA board has visited Fairfield Children’s Home before, so it was wonderful to remember funny stories about the children we all know and love.

A lot of our conversations in both groups revolved around favorite methods of killing giant spiders and who had gone the most consecutive days without electricity! (I personally find smacking spiders from afar with a long-handled broom most effective, and I am one of the finalists as far as the “no electricity” competition…I am expecting my certificate in the mail soon:)

I have had a great few months with family and friends, as well as being able to speak with many different churches and groups. Now it is time to delve back in to the lives of my children in Zimbabwe. With your continued support and prayers, as well as faithful love and care from those in Zimbabwe, the children’s lives are being forever changed. I can’t wait to find out what God has in store for them in the future!

Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

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Approved!

2010-05-03T16:13:00.006-04:00

Well, the title says it all...my work visa has been officially approved! Thanks to the efforts of Peter Mufute and the Fairfield staff, my visa was picked up at the immigration office today. Because I have two board meetings to attend in July, I will return to Zimbabwe on July 27th. I am excited that three friends from South Carolina will be flying to Zimbabwe at the same time and spending three weeks with the children. It will be nice to have someone to travel with this time!
The children all start back to school for the second term tomorrow. I am very grateful that we have 4 new sponsors to assist children with school fees and supplies each month! Thank you for your willingness to support your HOPE child.
I enjoyed meeting with Christ UMC in Wheeling and First UMC in Parkersburg this last month, as well as participating in the COME event to represent Volunteers in Mission. It continues to be a true blessing to be able to spend time with my family and friends.
Thank you for your prayers for the work visa to be accepted!
Hope you all enjoy the May weather-
Janine

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Spring has Arrived!

2010-04-01T18:03:00.011-04:00

Happy Easter! Hope you have been enjoying time with family and/or friends. I just returned from a trip to South Carolina and Texas last week. I first drove a minivan to SC filled with items for a container that will be shipped to Zimbabwe soon. (I seem to remember promising myself that I would never drive a minivan, but these were extreme circumstances:)
My friend Francie raises funds each year to send a container the size of a truck bed over to different organizations and schools in Zimbabwe. This time, I was able to take a large supply of preschool games, books, and puzzles from my mom's classroom now that she has retired from teaching. Many of the rural preschools and elementary schools have no supplies, so I am very excited for these items to be distributed. Francie also found two donated wheelchairs that will be delivered to our HOPE
children with disabilities. One boy is 8 and his mother has to carry him on her back everywhere they go, so I know this will really help their family. Knitters from my home church sent a large box of sweaters for the children as well.
I had the opportunity to speak to Francie's Sunday School class before flying down to Houston, Texas. There I was able to visit with my friend Melissa, who lived at Fairfield with me for two different summers, and speak with her Bible Study group.
The Fairfield and HOPE children have finished their first term of school and will be on holiday break for the month of April. Thank you to each of our education sponsors who are making it possible for their HOPE child to remain in school. We still have 26 children waiting for a sponsor of their own, and 2 in boarding school who need an additional sponsor. If you or a group are interested in becoming a sponsor, please email me.
Still no news on the visa, but hopefully I will hear something soon!
Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

No News is Good News?

2010-02-20T15:59:00.004-05:00

Hello all! It has been two months since I was asked to return to America to wait for my Zimbabwean work visa to be processed. Unfortunately, I have still not received any news on whether my work visa will be approved. I am happy that the bishop in Zimbabwe has given me a contact person to check on the progress of my paperwork. Please keep praying that the immigration officers will accept my application and I will be able to return to Zimbabwe soon.
It has been great to spend time with family here, but I am really starting to feel the absence of the children from Fairfield and the HOPE program. Their smiling faces give so much happiness to everyone around them. I thought I would post a few pictures taken by my friends when they visited us at Fairfield in November, so we can remember that some things are worth the wait...you can find a small slideshow on the right side of the page. Hope you enjoy!
Thanks to you all for your continued love, prayers and support.
Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

Land of the Free

2009-12-18T09:25:00.001-05:00

Long story short...I am now in America. The last few weeks have been crazy. I had prepared to go to South Africa to wait for my work visa to be ready. Just before leaving, many issues came up (crack in my car radiator only to find out the replacement I needed could not be located anywhere in Zimbabwe, etc). Friends helped me to quickly change gears and a few days later I was on my way to cross the border into Mozambique to spend some time with missionaries Rod and Ellie Hein instead.

Unfortunately, I was not permitted entrance into Mozambique. Since my last extension was expiring in a few days, I was asked to bring proof that I was leaving the country by that date and going back to my home country. So within 24 hours, I found myself in possession of a plane ticket back to America, and a group of very confused children continually wandering around on my veranda. The children from Fairfield kept knocking on my door while I (quickly) packed asking why I was going all the way back to America. Chenai kept saying, "Sister Janine, I thought we were going to spend Christmas together. Why don't you want to spend Christmas together?" Some grown up situations are difficult to explain, but I think I managed to get the point across.

I will have people checking at the immigration office in Harare to let me know as soon as the work visa is processed and then head back on yet another two-day flight. For the meantime, did you guys know it is only a few days until Christmas? It was hard for me to remember in all the summer heat of Zimbabwe, but as soon as I walked outside the airport in West Virginia, the frigid air helped jog my memory! Whatever the reasons or circumstances that led up to this point, I am very grateful to be suddenly tossed back to this side of the ocean if it means spending Christmas with my family and friends. We don't always know the reasons why life happens as it does, but we will keep on trusting that God does.

Hope you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I'll keep you posted. Until then, never cease to remember the children of Zimbabwe in your prayers...

Yellow Sunhats

2009-11-13T03:31:00.006-05:00

Good news! I am still in Zimbabwe for a few more weeks and we are all very happy. I was given an extension until the end of November, at which time, I will be driving (yes, driving for about 20 hours!) to Tugela Ferry in South Africa. I have a friend who works there and has recommended an orphanage where I will be volunteering until my visa is ready in Zimbabwe.
This past month, we have accepted a few more children into the nutrition program. We currently have 30 babies and children coming each Monday to collect eggs, peanut butter and bananas. Although we have had 9 children pass away who have been apart of the nutrition program, we have also graduated 58 from the program over the last two years because of improved health!
Many of our children remain permanently on the nutrition program because of long-term illnesses. One boy, named Tanaka, has been my good buddy for many years. He has just turned 10. When I arrived back in September, I found him wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled down very low to cover part of his face. When I lifted the hood to greet him, I found that both eyes were nearly sealed shut from infection.

Over the last two months, we have tried several different medicines along with pumping him full of Flintstone vitamins each morning as he stops by to collect his tablets. We also managed to replace the sweatshirt with a bright yellow sunhat so his eyes are still protected from the sun (a very HOT November sun!)
The condition never seemed to improve much until last week when we were able to take him to a special eye clinic in town. The nurse tested his eyesight and I was surprised to realize that he could not see the very top letter on the chart. When the nurse held up three fingers a few feet away and asked him to tell her how many were raised, Tanaka boldly replied, “one!” He was very proud of himself.
The last week has been a regiment of washing the eyes, apply ointments, and vain attempts to put in eye drops while Tanaka tried to escape. By Friday I didn’t see much improvement, but sent the medicine home to his grandmother anyway so she could continue for the weekend.
Monday morning, bright and early, Tanaka came with his sunhat still pulled far down to cover his eyes. When I lifted the hat to inspect the damage, I was amazed to see two eyes wide open and shining brightly back at me!
Tanaka drank his pills, chewed his Flintstone, and happily skipped out my door and down the dust road to school. I have never seen him skip before. It suits him…

Fasting

2009-10-13T03:05:00.004-04:00

Well, there have been some new developments over the last month. I went to immigration to turn in my papers for a work permit to stay in Zimbabwe. Last time, I was given permission to stay in the country while they processed the papers, but this time I am being asked to wait outside Zimbabwe after submitting the necessary papers to apply for a work permit. I am allowed to return once the permit is ready, which can take 6 weeks to 6 months.
A few friends in South Africa are trying to organize somewhere I can stay and volunteer working with orphans and vulnerable children while awaiting news about my permit in Zimbabwe. I will be in Zimbabwe until November 8, and will let you know when I find out where I will be while I wait.

We know that God's purposes are so much better than what we can imagine for ourselves. I am reminded of a very important lesson God taught me during the time I was back in the US. When we fast from food, each time we feel hunger pains, it acts as a reminder to turn our attention toward God. It brings us into a closer relationship with Him. When we break the fast and eat food again, we remember to be grateful for it. In the same way, being separated from friends or relatives (either through death or by distance) we are in a way fasting from those we love. When we feel grief pains or miss the person, that too can be a reminder to turn toward God. He will fill any hole that is present in our lives. When we are brought back together with those we love (on earth or in heaven) we will be all the more grateful to be with the person again after fasting from them. God will be with us while we wait.

Please pray that I would be able to fast from my children and friends in Zimbabwe with patience and grace until God chooses in His great wisdom and perfect timing to bring us back together. Pray that I would know the right place to go in the interim. Thank you!

Chicken Dinner

2009-09-08T15:50:00.002-04:00

Hello from Zimbabwe! I arrived safely on Thursday evening and
traveled to Fairfield Children’s Home on Friday afternoon. Saturday
we all attended a wedding for the one of the workers at Fairfield.
This was also the day that Nyarai moved in with me to House 11A.
Nyarai is the oldest child at the children’s homes and is preparing
for her high school exams in October, which will determine whether she
is able to go on to the final two years before college.

Having Nyarai in the house has made me realize it is time to grow up
and learn to cook:) When I was alone, I just ate whatever happened to
be in the cabinet. I remember when I was young, my mom would often
cook chicken for dinner. She always gave my brother and me the
biggest, nicest pieces and gave Dad the next biggest. She was left
with the smallest piece of chicken. I asked her once why she did that
and she said, “That’s what mom’s do.” I remember thinking that day
that I never wanted to be a mom if it meant I had to take the leftover
chicken! For some reason, that stuck with me.

On the day Nyarai moved in, she brought with her one laundry basket of
clothes, one box of school books, the stuffed frog I gave her a few
years back, and a plaque with a poem on it given to her by our
assistant administrator. She works hard at school, helps around the
house without me even asking, and stays up late into the night
studying for her exams. We went to town to buy groceries the other
day and among our purchases, we picked out a package of chicken. When
we cook it together, I can think of nothing that would make me happier
than to give Nyarai the biggest, nicest piece of chicken!

I Corinthians 13: 11 “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I
thought like a child, I reasoned like a child: but when I became I
man, I put childish ways behind me…”

I miss you all and hope you are doing well. Pray for us in Zimbabwe.
The HOPE program is continuing to assist children, but some are very
ill. Please pray for their health and for strength for the workers.
Thank you, as always, for your wonderful support!

Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

Dare to Love Completely!

2009-08-08T14:22:00.006-04:00

Good news...Dare to Love Completely: A Memoir from Zimbabwe is now available! You can click the link on the right hand side of the blog to order from Amazon at any time. It is also available on the Barnes & Noble website. You can go to any bookstore and place an order by giving them the title and author.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this book possible. I hope you will enjoy it and be blessed by it.
Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

One-Way Ticket

2009-07-20T13:54:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone! I was approved by the CornerStone board last week to return to Zimbabwe full time. I leave September 2, hopefully in time to see the HOPE children off to school for their third term.

Dare to Love Completely, A Memoir from Zimbabwe is currently "at press" and should be available by mid-August! This is the story of how God worked in the lives of the children and families in Zimbabwe during my first years there. I will send out a link to purchase directly from the publisher as soon as it is ready. You will also be able to order it from any bookstore and it should be on Amazon.com by September. Proceeds from the sale of the books will go to Project HOPE, so please spread the word to your family, friends and church community.

In the book, you will meet a little girl named Nyarai. I met Nyarai during my first trip in 1998 when she was just about to turn 6. She has been like a little sister to me ever since, and it is hard to believe she will be turning 17 this year. The administrator at Fairfield Children's Homes, where I will be living again, has given permission for Nyarai to come and stay with me once I move back. I am so excited that she will be a real part of my family now! She is still in high school and working very hard in hopes of becoming a nurse someday.

Until September, I will be visiting with family and friends and speaking at churches on the weekends. Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

Joy and Sorrow

2009-06-04T17:29:00.018-04:00

This month, congratulations and condolences are in order for the HOPE families. I was pleased to find out we have our first HOPE graduate! Samuel Dzahana passed Form 6 (12th grade) with all A’s and B’s. He is eligible to attend a university in Zimbabwe. We want to help our children advance as far as they are able to in school. If you or your church/group would be interested in assisting with Samuel’s fees for university, please contact me.

On a sad note, two of the children on our feeding program passed away this month, Tuweje and Christopher. Please be in prayer for both of their families.

The school children have all started back for second term. Although we had to reduce the number of children when fees were increased at the beginning of the year, we have been able to increase again to 66 children in our education program thanks to 17 new sponsors!

I am hoping to move back to Zimbabwe the first of September. This will depend on approval from the CornerStone board when they meet in July. I have also been working for the last two years on a book called Dare to Love Completely about my journey with the men, women, and children of Zimbabwe. It is currently being edited and should be available around September. I will let you know when I have more details! Hope everyone is having a wonderful month!

Home is Where They Love You

2009-04-13T18:00:00.004-04:00

Happy Easter everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend.
I felt very fortunate to be at home with my family, including two cute baby cousins to keep us all entertained. I never want to take family gatherings for granted, because each time there is a different group. Over the years we have had new people come, and others who can’t come anymore because they moved away, passed away or drifted away. Soon I will be the one who isn’t there for some of those gatherings as I prepare to move back to Zimbabwe. One thing never seems to change. Love and laugher are always present at our table. It is home to me.
I had the chance to travel to a few groups and churches throughout March and meet some wonderful people who have joined in supporting the HOPE project. At one stop, I was able to stay with a friend I hadn’t seen in a long time. As we were making fajitas in her kitchen, I noticed a sign above her stove that read, “Home is Where They Love You.”
It made me start thinking about where my real home is…certainly my family back in West Virginia loves me, so that must be my home. Then I remembered the faces of my children in Zimbabwe. Their love is so easily seen in the smiles and hugs and laughter. But, just like my family group is always changing and reshaping itself, my community in Zimbabwe changes too. New children come to the orphanage, some pass away, and others have to move away. Through these changes, it is still home to me because there is so much love present.
Home is not so much about bricks and mortar, but about the relationships we have. How can we feel safe in these relationships if they are always changing and reshaping? There is one place we can call home that is forever constant. God never changes. He was with us when no one had yet thought of us on earth, He is with us today and every day no matter what city, state, or continent we wake up in, and He is the one Who will walk with us from this life into the next. Some of you reading this may be very fortunate to have many places you could call home, many places where you are loved. There may be times for each of us when we don’t feel there is any place we can really go and feel at home. But we can be assured that God will always be our constant and consistent home. "Home is where they love you" (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and every morning we are willing to wake up and look to Him, there is a resounding "Welcome home!"

“Lord, You have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.” Psalm 90:1

Wanted: New Sponsors!

2009-03-07T13:53:00.005-05:00

Hey Everyone!
I have a list of over 400 great kids who are in need of a sponsor to help with their education. They have been identified by their local school teachers, pastors, and doctors in Zimbabwe as those most in need of assistance. Currently a little over 100 of these children are receiving scholarships from the HOPE fund, but I am hopeful that we will be able to place all of the children in school.
If you, a friend, your Sunday School, or other organization would be able to consistently provide $30 a month to sponsor 1 child (or more) please email me. You will be given the name and information about your child. A picture and yearly update letter from your child will follow as soon as I am back in Zimbabwe. Your monthly donation will provide school fees, 2 new uniforms a year, 1 pair of school shoes, and other supplies needed. If there are funds remaining for your child, we will provide a school sweater for the cold months (June and July), soap to wash their uniforms and other needs. I also promise to provide your child with a hug free of charge!
Below are just a few of the children in need of a sponsor...thanks and hope that you enjoy the Spring weather!

Where are They Now?

2009-02-06T10:21:00.015-05:00

Lynn and I arrived safely back in the United States yesterday after a wonderful month with our children and friends. For those of you who have followed Project HOPE from the beginning, I thought you might enjoy an update on a few specific children you may remember.

Back in 2004 eight sponsors were located to help place two young children in boarding school after the death of their father (see Benji and Chipo, 2004). It is hard to believe that Chipo will be turning 13 next month. She is in her final year of primary school and will take her exams at the end of the year to see if she qualifies to go on to secondary school (junior high). Chipo has many friends and her smile can light up a room. Benji turned 16 last October and is in his second year of secondary school. He has grown into a polite and hardworking young man that we can all be proud of. They are both very thankful for those who have prayed for them and contributed to their schooling.

In 2005 while visiting children in the villages, Mai Chimbo and I found a very malnourished little girl named Faith. She was so weak she had to be carried out to meet us. Some of you may remember the miracle of her recovery and how we found her only one week later running around and playing with her friends after she received some healthy food from the nutrition program. Faith came to visit this January with her brother and uncle who she now stays with. She is now part of the HOPE education program and collects school fees and supplies each term. Faith has grown into a healthy 12-year-old who likes helping to care for her twin cousins that live nearby.

In August of 2006, Baby Janine was born, the daughter of one of my friends here. I was the first one to visit her in the hospital and had the privilege of carrying her up the mountain to her rural home when she was ready to leave the hospital. We traveled back to see Baby Janine last week, although she is no longer a baby:) She loves dancing and singing and it was evident that she is well-liked from the many people shouting to her as we walked back to the main road at the end of the day. She will start preschool next year and I am amazed how quickly time passes.

Project HOPE continues to assist children with nutrition and educational needs. Each Monday morning, children who are malnourished or HIV positive gather to receive food and soap. Each term, more than 100 children come to the office to receive school fees. They are all working hard in school and are very grateful to be receiving an education-an opportunity that many children are not given in Zimbabwe.

All the children are growing up so quickly, and I truly miss not being able to see them every day. Although we had a great time visiting everyone, the trip also served to remind me of where I have been called to work and what I have been called to do. I love working with the children of Zimbabwe and hope that it will be possible to return on a more permanent basis sometime this year.

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this trip a success. Even with increased school fees this term, we had enough to keep all the children in school. Your continued prayers and support are greatly appreciated.

Waiting for the Rain

2009-01-15T03:31:00.001-05:00

Hello from beautiful Zimbabwe! Irikunaya...it is raining, storming in fact, and I love it. I have been waiting for the rain:) Lynn and I arrived safely in the capital city of Harare last Friday and began our journey to Fairfield Children's Homes the next morning. Everything is so green with beautiful flowering trees everywhere. The feel of the soft, warm breeze and the smell of rain in the air that I remember so well were a perfect way to begin our trip, but the best was yet to come.
As we turned onto the mission road, McDonald, one of the children from Fairfield was walking toward us on the dirt path. We stopped the car and as soon as he saw me he came running and jumped into my arms so forcefully I was literally knocked to the ground!
We continued on to the children's homes. Mai Mari Jeni was the first one to see us. She dropped her hoe into the garden and came running with arms open wide...followed by every mother and child at Fairfield...one after another after another. That must be what a welcome into heaven feels like...waves of love washing over you again and again and again. We sang and danced and I could see that all of our children here have grown big. Many of them are now young men and women and I am so proud of them.
We are managing this week with no electricity and no water in the homes. The children collect rain water in buckets for us each day when it rains. We are very fortunate that cholera has not arrived yet, but in other areas people are suffering.
The inflation finally hit an all time high of multiple billions to one US dollar last month, so everyone is using foreign currency now. People trying to get a ride to work or purchase food for their families have to use US money, but very few people have access to it, so they are forced to go without. How long can a country exist on someone else's money? Things here are extremely expensive now.
Please continue in prayer for Zimbabwe and the children. We are very happy here and God is continuing to bless each of us in the middle of the difficulties.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T08:15:00.000-05:00

Dear friends, Merry Christmas!

I hope you are all enjoying the holidays and will have time to spend with family and friends over the next few weeks.

I will be leaving for Zimbabwe in less than three weeks and am very excited to see the children. Many of you have expressed concerns about the current cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe. Although cholera is a very serious threat, the Children’s Homes where I will be staying have a safe water supply and we will be taking extra precautions to ensure a low risk of infection.

Below are a few words I received from the administrator of the HOPE programs. As you will see, even in the middle of the chaos in Zimbabwe, God is still very present. May these words remind you during this Christmas season that no matter what your situation, God is very present with you as well. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

Wenyu Munahse,
Janine

From the administrator of HOPE:

Thank you for your support that has so far enabled 80 vulnerable children and 280 HOPE Outreach program children as well. We only wish if you were around to see for yourself how happy and well fed and kept the children are. There only way to say thank you are the smiles on their faces, but behind those smiling little faces there are sad stories to tell of the pain they passed through before coming to Fairfield Children’s Home.

Only this morning two HOPE Outreach boys who had just finished sitting for their “O” and “A” levels exams, Shepherd and Samuel respectively, came to our offices to say thank you for the great assistance they received from our HOPE outreach program to enable them to go this far with their education. I only wished if sister Janine was around with us to see the happiness written all over the two boys’ faces. After Samuel had left my office I said to myself truly God is merciful. Why I said those words to myself I don’t know, but I shed some tears of gratitude to you people at both FOSA and GBGM. I was emotionally affected by Samuel’s gratitude.

2008-11-17T17:39:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

Plans are moving along for my trip to Zimbabwe in January. I will leave on the 8th and come back the first week of February. Please continue in prayer for the country. I have just received notice that the main hospital in Zimbabwe closed their doors and shut down because there are no medical supplies in the country and most doctors have left. The patients were all sent home. There has been a cholera outbreak in the capital city, Harare, because the drinking water is no longer safe. Many people have not had any water for over a week in their homes. Imagine not having water to drink, wash dishes, or flush the toilet for that long. This is all along with drought. The political sharing talks that were supposed to occur between the current president and the opposition leader have not worked so government is at a standstill.

Sounds hopeless, right? Good thing our God is big enough to overcome all of these tragic situations. Please pray that He will bring justice for His people in Zimbabwe. Remember God listens to the requests of His sons and daughters (that would be you:) If you ask Him for something He will be faithful to answer in His own timing (which is always best) and in His own way (which may be a solution we didn't think of). We can trust Him for an answer.

Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

2008-09-17T19:51:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends of Project HOPE!

It has been a great summer for me in Kentucky, but I have been missing my children in Zimbabwe for over a year now. Fortunately, I will be returning for a one-month stay in January 2009.

This trip has multiple purposes.
To see how much my children have grown! (and to make sure they are ok)
To check on Project HOPE and determine how we can best assist our friends living in extreme poverty.
To determine the political and economic climate, so I can make a decision about returning long-term in the future.

You may have noticed Zimbabwe in the news a lot this past year. Elections for the president in March caused much violence, and a final decision still has not been reached. Inflation has spiraled at such a rapid rate that the Zimbabwe dollar no longer has any value at all. The last rate I received was 100 trillion Zimbabwe dollars for every $1 US. Imagine pulling 50 trillion dollars out of your pocket just to buy a coke!

Please be in prayer for the children of Zimbabwe and for the talks between the government parties to end peacefully so there can soon be some positive change in the country.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers!

Love at First Sight

2006-08-27T07:53:00.000-04:00

She loved me from the very first moment, although I did nothing to deserve her love. I met my new little friend only a few weeks ago when she was being tested at the AIDS clinic with her mother. She was sitting outside on a wooden bench waiting for her results. As I came around the corner the eight-year-old girl lit up and immediately wanted to sit beside me. She wanted to go to my house, ride in my car, and even asked her mother if she could come and live with me. Her bright smile contrasted greatly with her tiny, frail body. Her mother had been walking a very long distance carrying her every morning to make sure she received her daily shots to fight the TB coursing through her body.

The results came back-both mother and child were positive. Melissa and I drove them quietly to the bus stop passing through our place first. My little friend had only one simple request while she was waiting for us to gather our things. "Ndinoda mvura" she said asking for cold water. I didn't see her for the next few days. My friend Melissa had to return to the US after a month-long stay in Zimbabwe. While I was returning from the airport, I received a call saying my little friend was in the hospital. As I entered the children's ward, she stood up on her bed spreading her arms wide in excitement. I hugged her gently only now realizing just how tiny she really was. The first time I had seen her, she was wearing sweat pants, but this time she wore a pale yellow dress, her skeleton-like frame exposed. I delicately lifted her onto my lap feeling as though she might break at any minute. She excitedly asked to call her dad. "I want to tell him to come see me. I want to tell him I am sick so he will come."

The next night she went with her mother to the house of the clinic coordinator, Mrs. Chimbwanda. My little friend asked again for cold water-very cold water from a refrigerator. Mrs. Chimbwanda went to the next-door-neighbor and returned with the water. As our little friend drank, Mrs. Chimbwanda talked to her.

After a while she asked, "Do you know who Jesus is."

"No," the little girl replied.

"Jesus loves children and He is always with them when they are sick. Jesus loves you," she told my little friend.

Just before she fell asleep, my little friend whispered back, "I love Jesus."

Two more days passed as we watched her physically deteriorate. She no longer stood and smiled when I came into the room. When her mom tried to sit her up to eat, her head would drop back and her body would slump back down. Finally she could not even respond to anyone. Her father came that night and slept on the floor next to her bed. Her mother curled up beside her and told us she fell into a deep sleep. When she woke, our little friend had passed away.

As we walked with the parents to get a ride back to their home, I remembered her asking for cold water. She always asked for cold water. When I told Melissa that our little friend had passed away, she also mentioned this and reminded me of the following verse:

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42 NIV

Sometimes our purpose in life is to give others the opportunity to choose to do God's work. My little friend fulfilled this purpose. She shined with Jesus' light through her immediate and unconditional love and acceptance of us. We did nothing to deserve it. Then before going home, she allowed us to follow through with Jesus' simple request. For you see, we would not have had the opportunity to give her cold water unless she had asked. For this I will be ever grateful for our brief meeting. For this, I will keep going.

Bubble Boys

2005-11-28T20:20:00.000-05:00

Well, it’s official. I have become an overprotective mother hen. Three of my favorite boys here are HIV positive, and I find myself following them around all the time saying things like, “It’s cold outside. Where are your patter-patters (flip-flops)? You need to be wearing a hat. Why are you coughing?”

I worry about them constantly, most recently evidenced by what I like to refer to as “the chicken pox incident”. All someone had to do was mention that a few of the children at school had chicken pox and the whole of Fairfield Children’s Homes was in a panic, convinced that the boys would catch it. With already-weakened immune systems, it is important that they stay clear of these kinds of outbreaks, so the staff decided to keep them home from school. Julia and I were happy to spend some quality time with the boys while the other children were at school. In fact, it was during this particular week that the miracle happened…

One of the boys had become very sick during the first part of November. I was very upset because it has been over two months since we began the process of starting him on ARV’s (AIDS medication) and the doctor in town still had not given us the pills. He was going downhill and hadn’t been able to go to school for about two weeks. Everyone was worried as we watched his body swell all over, his appetite disappear, and his cough increase. What worried me most was that my usually smiling, talkative little guy had decided to quit speaking completely. We couldn’t get him to say one word for over a week.

On Friday of that week, the staff gathered in his room to pray. He no longer wanted to get out of bed. That night I couldn’t sleep. I was so afraid that something would happen to him. Around three in the morning, I finally decided to call one of my friends, who fortunately challenged me to start reading 3-5 chapters of the Bible every day and see what God had to say about the whole matter. What I found when I blew off the dust from my book was this:

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid-John 14:27b.

I had been filled with those two things: worry and fear. Since it resonated so well, I decided to read on. In chapter 15, Jesus states that if we remain in him and his words, we can ask for whatever we wish and he will give it to us. I remember distinctly staring at the wall and saying in complete unbelief, “Fine then, heal this child.” I fell sound asleep for the first time in weeks, and woke an hour or so later to a knock at my door. Dragging myself out of bed, I opened the door to find my boy standing there. As I stared in disbelief, he gave me one of those smiles I know him best for, and stepped into my front room. “Can I have a drink? Will you cook me an egg? Can I have some peanut butter?” I had almost forgotten the sound of his voice. I ushered him inside, willing at that point to give him just about anything he asked for.

Over the next week, all of us at Fairfield watched amazed as he continued to improve until yesterday when his “mother” stood and said the words we had been waiting to hear. “Today I sent him to school.” God had heard us. God was faithful in answering us, and every day as our little boy shows up at my door, I am eternally grateful for the extra time God has given us to spend with him in good health.

This Thanksgiving, let this story be a reminder of God’s great love for His children. You are one of them, and the single most important command He gives us is to spread this love to others. John 14-15

Happy Thanksgiving! I am especially thankful to my friends and family members who are a constant reminder to me of God’s unfailing love.

Wenyu Munashe,
Janine

Psalm 23

2004-11-28T13:46:00.000-05:00

I woke last night around 2AM with a melody running through my head that I couldn't quite identify. It was one of the Shona hymns the mothers sing sometimes for morning devotions, but I only new the first line. After about half an hour, I gave up trying to fall back asleep, switched on my light, and began searching my hymnbook for the song. I finally found the one-"Jehova Mufudzi Wangu" from Psalm 23: "The Lord is My Shepherd." I began singing the song quietly, and after a while there seemed to be something driving me to continue in my feeble attempt to memorize the long lists of syllables I could barely understand. When I finally drug myself out of bed at 6AM I was exhausted, but the song was now mine.

I arrived to pick up Mai Chimbo and Mai Mashiri at 7AM sharp, and miraculously for African time, they were ready to go a mere 45 minutes later. These two women have worked tirelessly as volunteers to make sure our resources go to the most needy orphans and caregivers on the farms nearby. We had sorted some used clothing given to us by the children's home and were now ready to start our round of visitation with a large box of the clothing and blankets in tow. We first drove to check on a mother who is now bedridden to make sure her three young children were being well cared for by her relatives. We next visited Peplow Farm about 30 minutes away. Anesu needed checked in on to make sure he had been to the hospital. He is 5 and being taken care of by his adolescent sister. Then there was Veronica who is now over 2 years old but hasn't had the strength in her legs to walk yet due to malnutrition. She has been receiving some nutritious porridge over the last few months and looked a lot healthier.

On our way back up the road, we needed to stop in and pay our respects to the aunt who had been taking care of a 2-year-old orphaned boy named Tadiwanashe. Church members came last Thursday night to pray that the Lord would either take him or heal him because he was suffering so much. Their prayers were answered as just a few hours later he passed away peacefully in the arms of his aunt.

The aunt and uncle asked us if we wanted to see his grave and said they had buried him in the green "suit" we had given to him (a little pair of pajamas). While we were waiting for someone to take us, the aunt offered us some homemade bread baked on a fire outside. Just to provide a little comic relief to those of you who aren't me, I watched as she took the knife she had been using outside to cut up a CHICKEN, dipped it briefly in cold water and proceeded to cut my helping of the bread. I also discovered she had a pretty serious chest cold as she coughed loudly into her hand and then picked up the bread and offered it to me with a big smile. What could I do? I prayed quickly for a stomach of iron and took a big bite.

A few minutes later, five of us were walking silently to the place where Tadiwa was buried a few days earlier. We stood solemnly side-by-side and were asked to sprinkle a small amount of dirt at the head of the grave. I later was told this act is usually reserved for family members, but the uncle said we had helped to take care of Tadiwa. As he said it, I felt the heavy weight of responsibility for the young child-was there more we could have done? I soon realized that it was God who had control, and it was not about anything we did or did not do. Before we said a final prayer for Tadiwa, one of the women began singing in the most beautiful, almost haunting voice. Where had I heard it before? It suddenly hit me. I smiled to myself as I joined in the singing "Jehova Mufudzi Wangu." It was the song the Lord had woken me up that morning to memorize so I could mourn with the others.

The Lord is our shepherd and at that moment I knew we did not need to fear or doubt anything in this valley of physical death that was surrounding us.

Benji and Chipo

2004-10-24T19:30:00.001-04:00

Zvakaoma…life is hard.

This is an expression used often in Shona culture, usually meaning something similar to “give me a break.” But oftentimes the phrase is used literally as well. Today I understand a little more about the literal translation-life right now is hard in Zimbabwe.

We have been visiting two children that live right on the mission. Their mother passed away and their father, who used to work here, is now bedridden with AIDS. They all live in a small room that is filledwith the unpleasant small of sickness. I met Baba Benjamin (the father of Benjamin) for the first time last Thursday. He came shuffling out toward us with a glazed over look, swallowing hard and working to breath. I had no idea he was so sick, and suddenly realized that his two children, who are 11 and 8, have been the sole caregivers for their father. Many people have shunned him and are afraid to visit because of his disease. It sounds like harsh treatment, but when faced with it directly, your own mortality becomes very real. Even with the best education on how it can be transmitted, AIDS still causes great fear.

Baba’s situation has become worse and he was admitted into the hospital today. I decided that I should take a picture of the children with their father so they will be able to have a copy. Benjamin and Chipo came to my house about 5:30 just as it was beginning to get dark. Our electricity was out again so we trekked up the little hill toward the hospital as dusk surrounded us. As soon as we entered the main entrance, wailing and screaming filled our ears as a small, limp body was rushed past us and out the door. Benjamin and Chipo would have to wait outside while a mother mourned the loss of her baby son who had died just moments before.

We sat on the porch and watched as they carried the body up to the morgue. After awhile, the sounds from inside grew softer and we walked timidly back inside. In the growing darkness,we could barely make out Baba’s thin frame. He was attached to a drip and staring straight ahead. My friend Nyasha and I pushed the children forward and they greeted their father in Shona. Benji stood looking at his father and his voice cracked as he began to cry. Baba’s voice was barely audible as he answered back the greeting to his son. We took a picture of both the children with their father and asked him if there was anything special we could bring him tomorrow. He wants an apple and a fanta drink. Nyasha prayed for him and his mouthed breathed a silent “amen.”

As we walked back in what had become complete darkness, Nyasha could tell I was upset. She said tome, “Don’t worry. God has a purpose.” Tonight I cannot see the purpose. There are 1.8 million orphans already in Zimbabwe. There are about to be two more. Chipo and Benjamin are going home tonight to an empty house where there is hardly any food. Baba issuffering, and I feel helpless. Everything I can think to do seems trivial, like throwing a tiny pebble down a deep hole. But I can’t give up. I must continue to stare directly into the eyes of Jesus and keep moving forward…little by little each day…until someday He allows things to come into focus to see what He knew all along.

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully,even as I am fully known. And now these three remain; faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13: 12-13

God knows Baba fully, loves him fully, and is right beside him tonight. Please pray for an abundance of love to rise up and comfort the sick and dying here, as well as those who mourn for them. Pray for Baba Benjamin, his two children Benji and Chipo, and all the others like them tonight whose story will never be told…