The Children!

Well, the whole reason we are here is for the children. And Oh, so many smiling faces here! Monday to Wednesday, we planned 3 half days of Vacation Bible School for the Children that live at Domboshava as well as those at Runyararo Childrens Home in Harare, which was also started by Pastor Peter and his wife, Tsi Tsi. The week’s activities were also opened up to the local community as part of Peter’s outreach initiatives.

We started the day at the hardware store, not knowing what we would be able to find for the next few days’ projects. Countertops, jig saw, door handles and door mechanics, light switches, and something we could use as a basketball hoop… can anyone say laundry basket? They cut the countertops to size and cut the bottom of the laundry basket off so we could use it as a hoop! Quite ingenious Jen!

Once materials were loaded up, we were on the way to the Home, we bumped and jostled along the roads once again to Domboshava.

Kevin and Kim brought some balls (deflated during travel) and a ball pump. When the balls came out, you would have thought it was Christmas! So. Much. Fun. Amazing to watch the kids smile, laugh and run around with the new balls.

We started VBS with a story about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Kim did a great job with telling the story with books she brought from home. We handed out materials for all to make a paper mache well with sticks from our yard and recycled coffee filters. Since we were only expecting 20-25 kids, and 50-60 showed up, the projects were done in groups of 2-3 kids. They had a blast! We sang some songs with hand motions and then handed out coloring pages… WOW, who would have thought coloring would be such a hit!

Tuesday, we did the story of Jesus bearing his cross. The kids made bead bracelets (which were supposed to have crosses on them but we didn’t bring 60 crosses). Songs followed by more coloring, a favorite activity.

At the end of the day, once back at our BnB, our pastor aranged for Henry to join us and let us know of his work with orphanages in the country. Henry uses a model that teaches the children to take responsibilities and learn how to be a family. The head of the household goes out to work to show the children what it could be like to hold a job, be a family man and care for others. Just the tip of the iceberg but encouraging to see how many people are caring for the children.

The third VBS day was about Jesus’ walking on water and the craft was a picture of a wave which they covered with shades of blue tissue paper… songs and more coloring!

While we were busy with VBS, Paul and Kevin were coordinating projects and removing the existing countertops and measuring the sink hole in the new countertop in the first home. They enlisted some very willing Zimbabwean help, teaching them how to use the jigsaw while Marybeth and I taught Farai and others how to install the new door handle assembly and toilet seats.

It has been an amazing couple of days. After VBS and finished countertops, door handles and toilet repairs, we were off to Domboshava Rocks with some of the kids and staff. It was a nice hike to the top so we could see all of the surrounding area and stayed up top for another amazing African sunset!

This evening, our pastor arranged for Regina to come with her husband. They work with kids who have been in traumatic situations, many of them in orphanages. She told us that there are over 2 million orphaned children in Zimbabwe, and only 3000 spaces in orphanages in Zim. A sobering statistic!

What a magnificent 3 days… we are tired! And Blessed!