Wednesday, February 22, 2012
A time of contrast, Johannesburg, SA
I am back!
I just looked at my blog, and realised I had promised to write from Johannesburg. Well I failed! Internet is more allusive in South Africa than Zimbabwe, well I am blaming that at least. I have had a wonderful few weeks, and will share with you some of the highlights.
Firstly, saying goodbye to many friends at Harare airport was hard. It was hard to say farewell after a month of living, breathing, eating, sleeping, preaching, praying, talking, loving and living together. The Aussie team left Antony and Tawanda behind at Harare airport as we flew to Johannesburg. I then left the remainder of the team in Joburg, as they flew to Singapore. I have to admit it was a little surreal to be checking through customs and immigration by myself as I entered South Africa.
I stayed with an old church friend from London, Mike Crestanello, who is currently working in Johannesburg. Mike had sent me directions to catch the train from the airport to Rosebank Station, with a then 15 minute walk to his home. I was feeling brave, as Joburg has a reputation, and I am sure I looked like a prime target with my huge backpack. I reached Mike's place without incident, and was let in by his landlady as he was at work.
I spent the weekend with Mike in Joburg and had a wonderful time meeting his work friends, visiting a Lion Park (and patting a baby lion) and going to church. Mike returned to work, and I got very brave and hired a car for the day to get to the Apartheid Museum and the Constitution Hill. I was also able to catch up with another old friend (and OT) Daphne, who had just moved back to Joburg after living in London for the past 8 years.
I found Joburg such a contrast to my time in Zimbabwe. I reveled in a hot shower, and did feel quite spoilt when Mike's maid did my laundry for me. I went to more of a European style church in Joburg, and missed what we had affectionately dubbed Gospel Aerobics in Zimbabwe.
Mike and I went to church twice on the Sunday...he was a very patient host! We went to a local meeting in the morning, and were disappointed when the preacher appeared via a pre-recorded DVD. It challenged us both to consider the implications of such a medium on the sense of community on a Sunday church gathering. This church was a plant, therefore they would pre-record the sermon on a Thursday to play on a Sunday every week. There were about 30 people in the church aged between 25 to 65, and it saddened me to think that none of them were either equipped or willing to preach the Good News. In Mike's words the woman preaching was very 'fluffy' and we left disappointed.
But God had great plans for our evening service. We attended Mike's regular church, Bryanstown Bible Church (http://www.bbc.org.za/) on Sunday night. The pastor, Ross Lester was a vibrant and faithful teacher. He spoke on the book of Acts, and had me on my knees as well as in fits of laughter. We were then privileged to witness 6 people being baptised at the end of the service. What an amazing encouragement and opportunity. This church is actively involved in its community by engaging in feeding programs and spiritual discipleship. What a beautiful example of being the hands, heart and feet to a desperate world!
I left Johannesburg to hop on a Baz Bus and travel down the coast of South Africa to Cape Town. I was now a real backpacker, not knowing where I would sleep or who I would meet....but knowing who walked with me.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Dinner in Harare at the Rapsons
Hi all,
I have arrived back in Harare after an amazing few weeks traveling around Zimbabwe. The team are enjoying a wonderful evening with Bobby and Harvey Rapson tonight. Their son Trevor is a friend of mine, as he did MTS at The University of Queensland at the same time as I was doing MTS at the Unviersity of Canberra.
We have a few more days in Zimbabwe before flying to Johannesburg on Friday.
I will send an update from Johannesburg, if not before.
Ngaira xx
I have arrived back in Harare after an amazing few weeks traveling around Zimbabwe. The team are enjoying a wonderful evening with Bobby and Harvey Rapson tonight. Their son Trevor is a friend of mine, as he did MTS at The University of Queensland at the same time as I was doing MTS at the Unviersity of Canberra.
We have a few more days in Zimbabwe before flying to Johannesburg on Friday.
I will send an update from Johannesburg, if not before.
Ngaira xx
Saturday, February 04, 2012
We have made some new friends....
Saturday 4th February
Most exciting part of the journey so far...We met some friends in Mutare a few days ago, they wanted to know our itinerary, so that we could be safe during our stay. They were very inquisitive, and friends of uncle Bob. They showed us their ID, which stated they were ZANU PF staff.... It took the boys about an hour of negotiations, before they would let us depart. They were a little concerned that we were visiting universities, but seemed less concerned, when we informed them we were only attending Christian groups, to encourage people in their faith.
Today we drove from Masvingo to Bulawayo and were stopped along the drive multiple times at road blocks. At one of them we were fined $15 for carrying passengers and bags in our van. Apparently, we should have a trailer for our bags. A little later on we were pulled over again and this time we discovered that our right brake light was not working, when we were fined $20 for that offense. We passed other road blocks with no incident (bags and broken tail light still) before we were pulled over for speeding. Bob was driving 75km in a 60km zone, and once again we were fined, this time $10!
So we have had an eventful day! We have arrived in Bulawayo, to a lovely guest house, an evening of rest, and only church on the schedule for tomorrow. It will be nice to get some down time.
We have spent thus afternoon at a lovely resort, sitting around using their Internet for free!!! The rooms here are lovely and only $100/night.
Most exciting part of the journey so far...We met some friends in Mutare a few days ago, they wanted to know our itinerary, so that we could be safe during our stay. They were very inquisitive, and friends of uncle Bob. They showed us their ID, which stated they were ZANU PF staff.... It took the boys about an hour of negotiations, before they would let us depart. They were a little concerned that we were visiting universities, but seemed less concerned, when we informed them we were only attending Christian groups, to encourage people in their faith.
Today we drove from Masvingo to Bulawayo and were stopped along the drive multiple times at road blocks. At one of them we were fined $15 for carrying passengers and bags in our van. Apparently, we should have a trailer for our bags. A little later on we were pulled over again and this time we discovered that our right brake light was not working, when we were fined $20 for that offense. We passed other road blocks with no incident (bags and broken tail light still) before we were pulled over for speeding. Bob was driving 75km in a 60km zone, and once again we were fined, this time $10!
So we have had an eventful day! We have arrived in Bulawayo, to a lovely guest house, an evening of rest, and only church on the schedule for tomorrow. It will be nice to get some down time.
We have spent thus afternoon at a lovely resort, sitting around using their Internet for free!!! The rooms here are lovely and only $100/night.
Friday, February 03, 2012
Great Zimbabwe
Thursday 2nd February
The first activity for our day was to visit the Great Zimbabwe, which is about 20 mins drive from Masvingo. Great Zimbabwe was a town of imposing stone buildings. In its time, it was the arrest settlement in Southern Africa. The site is a National Monument and World Heritage Site. The word Zimbabwe consists of two key root words, -mba- which means house; and -bwe- which means stone. The word therefore means house of stone.
Great Zimbabwe was built and occupied between the 12th and 15th centuries. The town's landscape was dominated by imposing dry stonewalls forming enclosures and in certain areas terraces and platforms. In some cases, the stone walls filled up gaps between boulders to form semi-natural enclosures. The entrances were normally lintel led with either stone or wooden crossbeams. Within the enclosures, earthen houses were built.
No one can account for the fall of Great Zimbabwe, but by 1552 the Portuguese noted it was abandoned and in ruins. And that is the state with which we found it. The earthen houses were no longer, however the great walls were still standing magnificently high. We had a tour guide, Bertha, who walked us around the compound for 3 hours. The stone walls had no mortar, and were built using granite blocks. The builders discovered that if you heat up granite, then cool quickly, it cracks along straight lines easily forming blocks for building.
We had lunch in town, at the Hidden Garden. I had sudza and brim....it was delicious. Howard and I then popped around to the shops and bought some chicken for dinner. We met up again with the rest of the group, and drove back the Guest House. We cut up potatoes and cabbage and tomatoes and put the chicken in the oven. We had time for a little rest for 30 mins, before we once again piled into the car to head to Masvingo Polytechnic.
We arrived at the college at around 5pm. We spent the next 2 hours talking to students before the meeting started. The meeting was loud, the music loud, the dancing intense and the singing....well it puts Australians to shame! From a guess there were 100 students there.
I was lucky enough to speak with some fellas about some issues of Christian living. Zimbabwean culture is accepting of polygamy, so we discussed the reasons why this was not OK as a Christian. Another guy wanted some clarification about the resurrection. I discovered that the Zimbabweans have a deep desire to know God, but have had little or poor teaching. This country is so open to the gospel, it puts Australia to shame. I didn't want to leave...I would be happy staying here forever, just teaching the bible.... But a theological education is vital...so I need to hold onto this passion... And maybe then return :-)
We arrived home around 10pm, and then ate dinner and went to bed. Another wonderful day spent in service of our Lord in Zimababwe.
The first activity for our day was to visit the Great Zimbabwe, which is about 20 mins drive from Masvingo. Great Zimbabwe was a town of imposing stone buildings. In its time, it was the arrest settlement in Southern Africa. The site is a National Monument and World Heritage Site. The word Zimbabwe consists of two key root words, -mba- which means house; and -bwe- which means stone. The word therefore means house of stone.
Great Zimbabwe was built and occupied between the 12th and 15th centuries. The town's landscape was dominated by imposing dry stonewalls forming enclosures and in certain areas terraces and platforms. In some cases, the stone walls filled up gaps between boulders to form semi-natural enclosures. The entrances were normally lintel led with either stone or wooden crossbeams. Within the enclosures, earthen houses were built.
No one can account for the fall of Great Zimbabwe, but by 1552 the Portuguese noted it was abandoned and in ruins. And that is the state with which we found it. The earthen houses were no longer, however the great walls were still standing magnificently high. We had a tour guide, Bertha, who walked us around the compound for 3 hours. The stone walls had no mortar, and were built using granite blocks. The builders discovered that if you heat up granite, then cool quickly, it cracks along straight lines easily forming blocks for building.
We had lunch in town, at the Hidden Garden. I had sudza and brim....it was delicious. Howard and I then popped around to the shops and bought some chicken for dinner. We met up again with the rest of the group, and drove back the Guest House. We cut up potatoes and cabbage and tomatoes and put the chicken in the oven. We had time for a little rest for 30 mins, before we once again piled into the car to head to Masvingo Polytechnic.
We arrived at the college at around 5pm. We spent the next 2 hours talking to students before the meeting started. The meeting was loud, the music loud, the dancing intense and the singing....well it puts Australians to shame! From a guess there were 100 students there.
I was lucky enough to speak with some fellas about some issues of Christian living. Zimbabwean culture is accepting of polygamy, so we discussed the reasons why this was not OK as a Christian. Another guy wanted some clarification about the resurrection. I discovered that the Zimbabweans have a deep desire to know God, but have had little or poor teaching. This country is so open to the gospel, it puts Australia to shame. I didn't want to leave...I would be happy staying here forever, just teaching the bible.... But a theological education is vital...so I need to hold onto this passion... And maybe then return :-)
We arrived home around 10pm, and then ate dinner and went to bed. Another wonderful day spent in service of our Lord in Zimababwe.
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