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...

Yellow Sunhats

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…