Are you the 1 or the 9?

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

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?

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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Thank you for all you are doing!

Approved!

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!

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?

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

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...