This month, once again, is a hard one to put into words. (Are they ever easy?) The Fellowship was assigned to the beautiful town of Chinhoyi and later found out team Gener8 would be joining us. Not only was I excited to get to spend a whole month with one of my closest friends on the squad, Allison, but I also got to know other squad mates and grow deeper with them.
We arrived after a crazy (is this surprising anymore) van ride that should have been four hours but turned out to be twenty, with a driver that only slept fifteen minutes the whole time.
Our contacts graciously gave us the day to get settled and acclimated to the new surroundings. We all crashed hard for several hours.
We worked with a beautiful couple, Mark and Helen Begarly, in their church home and the Huntington RetreatCenter, which they helped found.
Our ministry was mainly painting the retreat center and then spending time with the youth on weekends.
So, what did a week in my life look like?
Monday afternoon thru Friday morning we slept out at the camp and painted every day, all day, told stories, shared lessons, laughed, and cooked over an open fire. Our ministry was not only the painting and repair work we did at Huntington, but also each other. It was a time to love and encourage each other. It was a time to listen for God’s voice and enjoy the serenity and beauty around us.
Friday evening we arrived back at the Begarly’s where most of us stayed for the weekend while a few went to Simba and Rumby’s house. Often Helen had something for me to bake for desert that night and others would help cook supper. It was a night just to relax and enjoy our hosts.
Saturday I usually did laundry for everyone. I really enjoyed it. Mark and Helen had a washer and dryer, and if I timed it just right (or God was helping), I could get three loads done before we lost water or electricity. In between loading, switching, and folding I often spent time with Helen or another teammate talking or watching a movie or playing games. Jesse and I watch Cinderella and another movie the first day. Another time Francis, Allison, Rachel, and I played Dutch Blitz and Rummy. It was a time to bond.
The youth group met in the afternoon from two to four. It was just like any other youth group. We met, played games, had a message, and broke up into small groups to discuss the message or plan a special for church the next day.
Sunday was actually a little different as church didn’t start until noon. This was because the other bigger churches would drowned them out. The women had a Bible study before church, and church usually lasted until about four. I loved it. The music was beautiful. The messages were on point. And it was all in English!
The rest of the evening was spent cooking, talking and playing Settlers of Catan.
There was a lot of downtime this month, but instead of being wearying it truly was restful and refreshing. God knew what most of us needed that last month in Africa. While I loved our ministries in Malawi and Zambia, it was wonderful to be with an American couple that loved us like their own and knew the things we needed as young missionaries. It was definitely one of the hardest goodbyes of the Race thus far.
I will always hold Zimbabwe and the people I met there- the Begarlys, Taka, Brian, Herman, Simba, Rumby, Catherine, and so many more- in my heart.
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Pray for Mark and Helen Begarly as they are in the US right now traveling, raising support, and updating current supporters.
Through Christ,
Brooke
Proverbs 31:12
