Zimbabwe, Fifth Entries

Fifth Entries: 5-22-10

We’re back at base camp for a night. Prayer and fasting at Antelope Park was awesome. It was so cool to see how God is working, or “on the move” in Africa, as they say here.

So, Ginger and I moved rooms last night-I went to our room to take a rest before the evening activities; then at 10 til, Sue knocked on my door and I bounded up to open it, but couldn’t! It was jammed. I had Sue and our housekeeper, Goga, push against the door while I pulled, but still nothing. Sue sent for the maintenance man, Samo, who started from the outside, taking the doorknob off, but still couldn’t get it open. So, he came to my window and had me unscrew and lift out the grate that covered my window so he could climb in. (This made quite a mess of our room.) Then, he got the other part of the doorknob plate off and got out the jammed lock, and I was set free. A bit like being in prison, haha...

So, prayer and fasting-AWESOME. Luckily, I wasn’t too late because they pushed the start time to 6 pm. We sand songs a cappella-in Shona, Ndebele and English.

And now, a brief intermission for some Zimbabwean background: There are two groups of native people in Zimbabwe, the Shona and the Ndebele. Ndebele are typically located in the Southwest of the country, and are smaller in size and power than the Shona. Shona is the more dominant group, located everywhere else in Zimbabwe. The current president, Robert Mugabe, is Shona in ethnicity, and orchestrated a genocide of Ndebele early in his rule, which he now will not apologize for, but merely terms a “moment of madness.” Nevertheless, there is some latent tension between the two groups, although God is directing some wonderful acts of reconciliation. Now, imagine the lights in the theater flashing to signal that it’s time to return to your seats for the rest of the show.

The singing was king of like a Ladysmith Black Mombazo concert- the voices were so beautiful, harmonies naturally emerged. All this interspersed with prayers asking God to speak. Scott Marques shared about enjoying our time together, but trusting one another enough to go, similar to Fenway’s “gather to scatter” theme. We also talked and prayed on receiving God’s grace anew. It was a beautiful time.

Then, Ginger and I hung out with Sue, Shelton and Carola and got to hear about how God is working in Shelton’s life; he’s figuring out why God is opening so many doors. Afterward, Ginger and I had a great talk about mission and where God wants us.

So far this trip has shown me that I love Africa, but I also have a heart for the American church and Boston. I’ve realized too that it’s hard for me to be here because it is not my home, not where I live. Boston is really my city these days-I love it there and seeing change there is really what I desire. Maybe something that connects me to the nations is in store...maybe this trip will bury seeds in my heart that will come to fruition later in my life. I realized today my joy and contentment in serving college women. I really love building strong, loving relationships with them and investing in their lives. I want to be the woman in the church that a young woman needs, to confide in, or ask the hard questions. This is certainly an interesting thought to have here in Africa. More than ever, the idea of a bakery with good friends sounds great. I’d be ready to plant myself somewhere, or to bring a NewFrontiers church to California. All of these options that once felt like being “trapped in the states” now sound appealing. Am I clinging to home/fearful of mission? or is God revealing new attitudes in and to me?

This morning, prayer and fasting continued. We heard from all the different churches and areas NewFrontiers is working in in Zim and South Africa. It was great-to hear how reliance on God can change a nation, how people are trusting God despite failed crops, to hear prayers for real faith-that believes that a “kingdom on earth as it is in heaven” is possible and, more than that, is definitely coming. There were many prophetic words-I even got one about the 4 leaders in Harare, weird. That’s the second one I’ve got since being here. I wonder what God is stirring in me.

All ended well, and we are a delicious, celebratory lunch and then hung out with Tash and Molly. Oh, and I got to know Taps and his wife, Flora, and their daughter, better over lunch-they are wonderful people. Then we departed and arrived home. A little down time now and ostrich burgers for dinner.

Off for a stay in Kezi with Molly and Stephen tomorrow!