Greetings from Zimbabwe,
One of the wind generators that were shipped on the last container is in place. Bryce with some helpers from HCOC made that a project one day last week. However, we have no funds to purchase batteries and a converter. This generator was erected at Albert’s house to power the internet service. It generates the same power that the solar panels generate on the Orphan Home recently built. ZESA (Zimbabwe Electric System Association) is not at all reliable. There has been power for as much as 36 consecutive hours and then nothing for several days. Once this is working we should have constant connection with HCOC by way of internet. What a step forward that would be.
The girl on the right is named Previous. We had an opportunity to visit her yesterday with Beauty. She has been very sick and Beauty felt she needed to check on her. We found her lying on the floor of the Rondavel, near the cooking fire. She was covered with a blanket. Previous was born with HIV and recently the medication she was on seems no longer to be effective. Beauty has taken her to the Hospital on several occasions. Previous is supposed to write her O-level exams this month but it is doubtful that she will be able to do that. This is a battle against HIV that Beauty may not win.
The object in the picture at the left with a green base is a solar light and the solar panel is bit to the right of the light. These were donated by a Rotary Club in Harare to all orphans who were preparing to write their O-level exams. Yesterday, we saw a number of these as we traveled around visiting orphans in their homes. Rotary has been very supportive of our work here in Zimbabwe.
Mrs. Masunda is the Head-Mistress at Inyagui School. She has been there for a number of years. When we visited recently she showed us the improvements that they have made to their school. One thing they did is to enlarge the window openings to provide more light and ventilation in all of the classrooms. She said she learned this from Ralph’s example when they rebuilt a classroom building in 2009. They have also painted the exterior of the buildings.
One of her concerns is the inadequate water supply. The well that was drilled in 2010 is gradually failing. Originally they were able to have all the water for teacher use plus irrigate a garden for the feeding program. Now they are very limited on what the teachers can use and they cannot do any irrigating in the garden. The hydrologist sited another spot for a well in 2011 but there has never been adequate funding for that project. If funding were available to drill another well, I would power it with solar power since they have no electricity. The water would have to be piped across the school grounds to the storage tank that was installed in 2010.
Kiowa Church, I believe your Vacation Bible School children raised funds for this play set for Zimbabwe. If this is the one, then it arrived a year ago on the ZMP shipment. It has now found a home at Inyagui Primary School. The preschoolers love it. I wish you could observe the happiness it has brought to these children. The teachers are vigilant about removing the swings and locking them up when not in use. The teachers are fearful that they will be stolen.
Recently Vickie and I made a visit to Guzha Primary School. We had the opportunity to visit a Second Grade Reading Class. The children read the lesson first in Shona and then in English. You will notice that Vickie is getting a lesson as well.
Note that the class is meeting under a tree. The children are sitting in the sand because there are not enough classrooms or furniture for the size of the school.
I have Bryce here one more week. I am hopeful that much will be accomplished. Please pray for us that God will guide us is all that we do.
Roberta