Journal 1
March 22, 2017
Greetings from Zimbabwe,
The trip over went without issues. I had a lovely young man to escort me around Dubai airport. Without him I think I might be permanently lost in the Dubai airport. It is the largest airport I have ever been in and I have been in many over the years. From Seattle to Dubai I was able to sleep although not terribly comfortably.
Susan and I overnighted in Dubai. It would have been perfect if we could have both slept the entire night. Unfortunately we wakened in the early morning and could not get back to sleep.
We arrived in Harare on time, in fact a bit ahead of schedule. Sailed through customs in record time; Albert was surprised to see us so soon. Elizabeth was ready for us and after a light supper we were off to bed.
Wednesday was a day spent debriefing with Albert. We had a lot of catching-up to do. We discussed issues that the organization is facing. Most of our time was focused on the clinic plans for new construction.
Thursday we drove northwest of Harare about three hours to a small village named Doma. Out of Doma about 12 km is an orphan center on about 140 hectares. It is an amazing project and we were all very impressed. Their mission is much larger than ours but the founders Kevin Fry and his wife Susan live full time here. Their son and family live here as well. They employ about 150 full time employees. Many more part time workers are used. A very large part of this rural area benefit from their organization. There is too much to tell in this journal but you will continue to hear me talk about it at home.
Their clinic is a U-shaped structure made out of shipping containers. It forms an open court yard in the middle which serves as a reception and registration area. They serve about 8,000 patients a year. The bulk of their medicines are herbal medication and they treat these people for about $1.00 per person per year. They have a local woman on staff who is an herbalist. Beauty would like to go and take classes.
Many of their patients come from the surrounding community. It develops good will among the community at large. The jobs they provide gives jobs to many families that would otherwise be unemployed.
After shopping, we arrived at HCOC about 1:30 and 2:00. No time to relax. A meeting was about to begin regarding the Moringa Project. We moved our suitcases into our rooms and took our seats for the meeting. Introductions were made and I must admit I was not prepared to sit in a lengthy meeting.
Dr. Chris Gadzirayi is professor of Science Education at Bindura University was present with three of his students. They were here because they want to get involved with our Moringa Project. Prof. Gadzirayi said that our plot of Moringa is the largest in Zimbabwe. He also was so surprised to see the condition of our Moringa. He said it was the best that he had seen.
The students harvested some leaves for experiments but we received word this morning that they were not useable. I was certain this would happen. I even suggested that they would need refrigeration in order to transport it successfully. Now they know!
Professor Ngoni Cherinda is employed by Harare Institute of Technology. He was here with three of his students. One of the things they were interested in is the drying of Moringa. They have been building dryers for the fruit and vegetable industry for a number of years. They are interested in building dryers for Moringa. I am hoping to make a visit to their workshop to see what they are doing and how it might work for Moringa.
Today, Susan and I rode with Beauty as she drove to visit some of the orphans. This is a picture of Albert the orphan that we helped in 2015 when Pastor Erik visited. If you remember, Erik helped when the work began on Albert’s rondavel. Albert did not want to return to school and so he has been employed here at HCOC in the poultry project. He is like a new person. He has saved his money and has just finished a two room house. The woman next to him is his young wife. There was a large garden of maize and squash growing near his rondavel. He is so happy.
Susan and I are doing well. Once we arrived, we are constantly busy. In a way that is good. Tomorrow, I will go to Harare. I will go to Elizabeth’s to send emails. There is no service here at HCOC. I will shop for groceries and other items that are needed.
We desperately need a new and larger clinic on HCOC site. Please pray with us that money will be donated to help us reach our goal of $40,000.00 that we estimate it will cost. Albert already feels that Rotary will provide the funds for the equipment and furnishings that will be needed.
In His Service,
Roberta