Conditions are terrible and getting worse–the food distributing NGOs have been told to stop–but appear to be going ahead anyway.

In our case, we have been releasing money to N— and retired Headmaster, M—, as they work through ecumenical church people to purchase food and supplies for displaced [those who were burned out and chased off Meikles Farm near Old Mutare] . They have used $1,300 for kapenta, cooking oil, blankets, etc. It is not easy, because helping these people is seen as a political action against the government. We are very grateful to those of you who provided some of that money.

Six of our high school scholars were from among the displaced families. As a result, we had to make emergency arrangements for them to board at Hartzell High School so that they could continue in school. Unfortunately, that meant buying a lot of equipment–trunk, blankets, Sunday clothes, etc–all expensive and difficult to obtain. I turned over $1,200 to C— for that purpose. I will deal with their fees, when that bill comes.

The Primary School continues to operate, and the usual 400 are having their fees paid [the rate is now 2 billion each!] and Shadreck is keeping the feeding going though it is not easy–a loaf of bread was selling for 1.2 billion dollars on Friday. Prices are increasing on the average of 10-15% each day. Though not easy, i am getting money to him for both the fees and the feeding.

Money has also been sent to the Bookshop to pay for needed texts and supplies for both Clare Hartzell Primary Schools. Over 250 uniforms are being made for the two schools by a local company, as well.

The need continues for emergency help. We are confident that people of good will are working to provide that help if we can provide the funds. in addition to the contacts that N— and his Conference Projects office has with the Ecumenical efforts in Mutare, S—, and others are organizing a more long term effort for help and relocation.

If you would like to help in these efforts, you are welcome to do so. Make out the checks to Ypsilanti First UMC or simply FUMC and send them to us 2856 Renfrew, Ann Arbor, Mi 48105.

There are many calls upon all of us for help in so many areas. Please don’t feel pressured in this case. We are fully able to continue. However, we did feel that we should report, especially to those who sent money without being asked, as to what we are doing.

S—’s court date for allegedly undercounting 10 votes for Mugabe in the March 29 election is now set for this Friday, June 20. We paid for his bail and lawyers’ fees for the first time.

May peace and justice prevail!

Zimbabwe Cuts Access to Aid - NYTimes.com

“Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Zimbabweans — orphans and old people, the sick and the down and out — have lost access to food and other basic humanitarian assistance as their government has clamped down on international aid groups it says are backing the political opposition, relief agencies say….

“On Friday and Monday, representatives of aid groups were summoned by administrators in four districts and instructed to cease all work in the field until a bitterly contested presidential runoff was held on June 27 between Mr. Mugabe, in power for 28 years, and the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai…

“the police and the army warned the groups not to say anything publicly about their withdrawal and not to conduct any operations at night.

“Aid workers and human rights groups say the restrictions are meant to prevent them from witnessing attacks on opposition supporters, often in nighttime raids, amid the government’s increasingly violent and deadly crackdown on those it sees as a threat to its hold on power…

“Zimbabwean political analysts and civic leaders say that Mr. Mugabe and ZANU-PF, his governing party, are themselves seeking to use food as a political weapon in a country, once the region’s bread basket, where hunger now afflicts millions. The government recently bought 600,000 tons of corn. By barring NGOs from giving out food in some areas, the governing party controls food distribution and can use it to reward supporters and punish opponents.”

Full article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/04/world/africa/04zimbabwe.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp

Violence in Zimbabwe Disrupts Schools and Aid - New York Times

…Teachers, who served as nonpartisan supervisors at polling stations, have been systematically singled out, with 496 questioned by the police, 133 assaulted by thugs and 123 charged with election fraud, according to the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe. Teachers who worked for the opposition also said they had been attacked.

An unsigned editorial in Saturday’s issue of The Herald singled out teachers as part of an elaborate British- and American-financed plot to rig the election and get rid of Mr. Mugabe.

The editorial described the teachers as having been trained in South Africa and by the National Democratic Institute, a nonprofit group based in Washington whose chairman is Madeleine K. Albright, the former American secretary of state. It said the teachers were fleeing “to avoid the long arm of the law.”

Zimbabwe Opposition Rejects Runoff - New York Times

“…The state’s move against the election officials was severe. The Herald reported, for example, that the police arrested a primary-school headmaster, Shadreck Mufute, 47, ‘on allegations of depriving President Mugabe of 10 votes which he allegedly gave to Morgan Tsvangirai in the presidential race.’

The state opposed giving Mr. Mufute bail. The magistrate granted him bail of $600 million in Zimbabwean currency — only about 14 United Stated dollars on the black market — but required that he report to a police base every Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Herald reported that Mr. Mufute’s lawyers denied the authenticity of the document used as the basis of the charge against him and said he had neither prepared it nor signed it.”

“…Shadreck Mufute (47) who is the Hartzell Central Primary School headmaster appeared in a Mutare court […]

Mufute was arrested this week on allegations of depriving President Mugabe of 10 votes, which he allegedly gave to Morgan Tsvangirai in the presidential race.

When he first appeared in court on Tuesday, Mufute had applied for refusal of remand but Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Livingstone Zimuto Chipadza, dismissed the application.

The provincial magistrate however, granted Mufute $600 million bail and ordered him to continue residing at Hartzell Primary School until the matter was finalised.

Mr Chipadza also ordered Mufute who will appear in court on April 23 to report at Old Mutare Police Base every Friday between 6am and 6pm.”

On an as yet unconfirmed date one Shadreck Mufute, a ZEC elections officer who was stationed at Ward 25 in Mutasa South was arrested in Mutare and charged with fraud under section 136(a) of the Criminal Code, alternatively contravening section 87 of the Electoral Act, as amended in that he allegedly willfully failed to perform his public duty. His warned and cautioned statement was recorded on 7 April 2008 but had not been finalized due to lack of power (ZESA) at the police station. He appeared in the Mutare Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 8 April 2008 where he was represented by a ZLHR lawyer. The lawyer and the prosecutor initially agreed on bail, but in court the prosecutor opposed bail, advising the ZLHR lawyer that he had instructions to vehemently oppose bail due to the political sensitivity of the matter. Mufute was remanded in custody pending the handing down of the magistrates’ ruling today.

=

“…A presidential election is scheduled here for March 29, and [mother of three] Gladys Sithole said she hoped this time Mr. Mugabe would finally lose. Now 84, he is a former guerrilla fighter who has led the nation since independence in 1980. ‘Mugabe was a hero of the liberation struggle, sure,’ she said. ‘But now there is an even bigger struggle, the struggle to survive, and he is killing us.’

“She may conceivably get her wish. Mr. Mugabe is burdened not only by Zimbabwe’s persevering misery, but also by two formidable rivals. One is Morgan Tsvangirai, a well-known opponent with trade union support; he won 42 percent of the official vote in 2002, when inflation was a mere 139 percent. The other is Simba Makoni, a onetime cabinet member backed by influential figures in the governing party itself; these dissidents are no longer willing to wait for Mr. Mugabe’s death to initiate the succession.

“Could this actually be the end for one of the world’s most enduring and complicated political figures, by most accounts a ruthless, vengeful man, revered and reviled, who has presided over one of Africa’s most epic economic debacles? If Mr. Mugabe did somehow lose, would he withdraw quietly? Would disputed elections propel Zimbabwe, like Kenya, into chaos and killing?…”

Full article on the New York Times site here.

VIM to Zim Team ‘06 Reunion Updates
December 9, 2007

Devotions were Matthew 25: 34-40 as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message. And then we sang, “Bind Us Together”.
Present:
1. Shirley Andrews—had Morris and Ann come to her church to make a presentation (thanks Shirley for being scribe for our sharing time! Any errors in reporting is due to the editorial additions—Margie)
2. Brenda Matson—has made a UMW presentation which was well received as well as another informal presentation. She has received letters from the librarians at Hartzell
3. Judy Ogden—made albums and shown to lots of people on mission committee at church
4. Barbara Brooks—shared the story in Columbia and is now in Ann Arbor living with Judy and chairs church mission team!
5. Fran Mohnke—made presentation @ UMW and at Margie’s retirement party. Has received promise from local Michigan author of children’s books, many books that could be given as gifts to children that he had written…she just needs to know when a container or someone traveling there might have space for them. (as of Thursday, Dec. 13th her husband Eric is getting intensive care at Lansing Sparrow Hosp with IV antibiotics and steroids for swollen throat and lymph nodes…with diabetes and leukemia being complicating factors. Your prayers will be appreciated)
6. Karen McDonald—did a Zimbabwe service at her home church which was very positively received despite it being a ½ hour longer! She sponsors an orphan from her 3rd grade class and a daughter of a teacher at Africa University. She carries a DVD of her Zim experience in her purse and offers to any to view it who might be interested.
7. Jane Ellen Johnson—moved to Lansing area January 2007. She made presentation at her former church. Experience has made extreme impact on her personal outlook. Trying to focus her new church on Zimbabwe (often inserted in sermons!)
8. Susan Henthorn—Has given PowerPoint presentations to couple of groups. Has received sports equipment for Zimbabwe (to go on the next container that anyone might be sending). Her church and others raised funds for air fair for 2 Zim students to come to Berea College when inflation priced them out of their ability to raise the funds for their flights.
9. Dorothy and Dave Mercer—Dorothy had pictures of wedding of the gown she helped make while team there. And Dresses girls have made with the sewing machine and fabrics that were taken to Zim. Dave worked out problems with electrical connections on sewing machines so could use with their current source if electricity is on. He’s also been in contact with Headmaster Shadrack at Hartzell regarding industrial arts classes.
10. Megan McClure—did presentations at high school which generated a lot of interest. Has e-mail contact with Hartzell students. Megan hopes to return to Zim someday in the medical/public health area. She’s now a student at Michigan State University.
11. Ken and Nancy Ham (team members who weren’t able to go with us due to health issues)—were in Zim in 2000 and continue to receive e-mails and support people met then
12. Morris and Ann Taber—several presentation various locations—they presented to team a DVD of the Good and Bad News of their recent trip to Zimbabwe…showing us updates on some of the students and teachers various team members are assisting as well as the libraries at Clare and Nyakasapa and the new roof for the unfinished classrooms at Clare. For details see their posted Zim update on the website: www.annmorristaber.net They will be posting some new pictures on their website after Christmas activities are completed. If you or others are interested in the memory DVD with each of our team members in Zimbabwe they showed and their newest one, “Good News…Bad News” share with us contact Ann at ann@taber.net
13. Gordon and Margie Schleicher—Gordon took 144 dictionaries when we went in 2006 were given to 5th graders and sent another 144 with Morris and Ann and Francie’s container and plans to continue sending them every year if means are available. Margie requested some of her retirement mission gifts go to Clare School in Zimbabwe. She is also providing school tuition for 9 children of rural Zimbabwe pastors.
Updates from those not present:
1. Mark and Christopher Taber—Christopher has shown pictures and talked to his social studies classes as well as to his confirmation class and wants to go back sometime. Mark continues to maintain website for VIM to Zim
2. Anna Wood—E-mail message, October 27, 2007:
I’m so sorry that I won’t be able to attend the gathering at your home with Ann and Morris on December 9th. If the date wasn’t squished between separate trips to Ohio for Thanksgiving and Seattle for Christmas, I might have been able to make it. Since our trip last year, my church, Good Samaritan UMC of Edina, MN, has given $700 from its mission’s budget for Zimbabwe–$200 to Hartzell Secondary for scholarships, and $500 to Clare School for assistance there. It will be a part of the new orphan trust that Lloyd Nyarota is setting up. I also sent $500 personally, which Morris and Ann are kind enough to deliver. $50 will go to a youth who is doing record-keeping on donations to the students at Clare–developing a profile of each of the students and what s/he has received in gifts. The remaining $450 will go towards helping the students amongst the 50 orphans who will be attending Clare Secondary School next year. They will need new uniforms, exercise books, and textbooks for that.

Thank you for all you and Gordon are doing to help continue this work!
Shalom, Anna
3.Marsha Dorgan—E-mail message, October 26, 2007:
Margie and Gordon…I am sorry that I cannot make it. I will be in Las Vegas with my daughter at the time. I had a wonderful trip to Zimbabwe for two weeks in August -Sept 2007 and worked on the Dream Farm arrangements and visited friends and churches. I gave money to start construction of Streamview United Methodist Church in Mutare. It was at a 5 and a half hour service that day. I will never complain again about an hour long service. I had a wonderful time but was very tired. I went to Zimbabwe this time in a wheelchair. That way I got it over there free and it was given to a friend from many years ago who was a former student at AU. His name is Leonard and he is a paraplegic since he was 9 years old. I also took another cane and gave to a 83 year old man who was crippled. So much was going on in Zimbabwe while I was there. I stayed in a University house on campus…3 bedrooms 2 baths all by myself and had my usual driver Elsen the whole time I was there. There was no electricity except for 8 hours while I was there. It came and went a lot…I did have a hot bath most days but the grocery stores were empty of all items and the only place to buy was on the black market. The exchange rate while I was there was $300.000.00-1. Now it is one million to one. There are so many needs there I cannot even explain. It is a wonderful place with wonderful people but the days are full of searching for a meal. Hunger is rampant…those that eat are getting only one meal a day. Eighty five percent of the people are unemployed and the inflation rate is out of the roof…over 10,000 percent now this year. I am taking a group over there next year with Lloyd Rollins who is an employee of Africa University in the Development Office here in Nashville. It will be a building and construction group to do work on the new Dream Farm. If anyone wants to go there will be many more things to do besides just construction. We are also having a new library at the Dream Farm with Agriculture, Science, Biology, and such books. If anyone will help me collect them please let me know. I will be sending a container next year of stuff. Have a great time together and know how much I enjoyed getting to know everyone last year on our journey together. Marsha Dorgan (Will try to attach pictures that Marsha, also include, Margie)
Additional e-mail, November 26, 2007
Since I will not be able to attend I will tell you I was there in August-Sept. 2007 for 2 weeks where I worked on the plans for the new Dream Farm Project and paid for a new foundation to be put down on a new United Methodist Church in Mutare. I am paying for 10 families children’s school fees and bought food and clothing for about 7 families while I was there. I will be returning in the fall of 2008 and taking a group of people that want to work construction on the new project. I will also be taking a man who will be putting in a well close to Old Mutare area. My work will continue for as long as I am able to make it over there. I found out many years ago that I am Zimbabwean in my Heart and want to continue to make a difference even if it is only to a few families at a time. The new Dream Farm Project will affect over 2 million people in Zimbabwe. The proposal is out now and funds are being raised. I raised over $20,000.00 for it last year and will hopefully raise at least that much this year. The rest of the money needed will come from grants and gifts from corporations. I wish each and every one of you a Happy Holiday this year and hope you too will continue to do for Zimbabwe. The needs are many and the money is small. They need our prayers daily. Best wishes for each and every one of you and I hope you have a wonderful time at the reunion. Please continue to keep in touch…we learn from everyone we come in contact with. Marsha Dorgan

4. Suzie Neff—E-mail message, October 30, 2007

What a wonderful idea. I’d love to attend, but I’m sorry to send my regrets. Our Christmas Program at church is that evening. I’ll be anxious to hear how everyone is doing. (And WHAT everyone has done.) Just prior to receiving your message I’d been asked by a friend to do a “program” at Potterville UMC in the afternoon on Dec. 10th!
Thank you for planning this gathering. I’ll stay in touch. Shalom, Susie

5. Norma Taber—E-mail, October 29, 2007
Quite right, that weekend already has three other commitments,
though if I’d known a couple months ago, I would have kept it open…
(Family stuff)

Update for the team: well, only what they’ve already heard from me already - presenting my talk, putting up the photo essays on my website, and posting articles on the Zim VIM blog. Also, met with Lynn Norman before and after her trip to Fairfield Children’s Home in June.

6. Francie Markham—E-mail message, November 27, 2007

I’m so sorry that I do not live nearer, as I would love to hear the updates. The container that we organized here left on Nov. 17 to go to Charleston. It is at sea now. I am so happy. It was about 30,000 pounds of goods, books, school furniture, supplies, food, hospital beds and mattresses, an ultrasound machine, etc. It will go to Hartzell High School, the crèche and school of Hartzell Central Primary, to Inhes Church, to Old Mutare Hospital, to Fairfield, to Nyakasapa High, to Clare High, to Clare Primary, and to the Mutasa Nyanga District of the Zimbabwe Methodist Church. We were able to fit 96% of the goods collected on board. Please get someone to send some notes from the meeting to those of us who cannot attend. Please tell everyone hello. Grace and peace, Francie

7. Alicia Willis—E-mail, December 4, 2007

Margie, we are doing well, thanks for the concern … Unfortunately, I have Church obligations at 6:00 Sunday night. That would mean I would have to drive 2 hours, stay 1 hour, and drive 2 hours back. With the cost of gas and all, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline the invitation. I really hate to miss it too.
The trip made a big difference in my life, but not a lot else to report. I talk to anyone who will listen. Had a couple formal speaking engagements, but, unfortunately, no financial benefits from them for Zimbabwe. I keep in touch with 3 of the teachers, and still hope to go back again some day. I continue to pray for each of the students in the first grade class I was assigned to.
Please give everyone my love and convey my regrets for missing this opportunity to fellowship with them again.
In His Love,

8. Pete Harris—E-mail message, December 4, 2007:

Sorry for not responding earlier. I would love to be there but one of the youth in our congregation is dancing in a performance of Nutcracker and we are committed to attend. Please send my greetings to everyone. I am still considering a trip in 09 back to Zimbabwe…but right now the demands of the parish seem more pressing and a bit, overwhelming at times.
May God’s peace and the love of Jesus Christ be with each of you!
Pete
Follow up comments when asked about sharing information about the possibility of leading a team in 2009:
Thanks for asking… The congregation here is in the midst of a new building project and next year will be the construction phase…lots of preparation time this advent in many different directions… You might let people know I am “very tentatively” interested in going back to Zimbabwe…and if any others have any interest, they could email me.
Ok…there, another step. If I keep taking these kinds of steps…I’ll find myself there!
Blessings in this Advent/Christmas season.
Pete

9. BertaMae Ives—E-mail messages, November 30, 2007:

So sorry I won’t be able to come. Please record or send me a copy of Zim update. 
I would be quite willing to pay for this. 
Bertamae 
PS. 
Four recent talks on Africa. one to youth group in August 
One recently to a elderly UMW. I thought I had failed, but they later decided, to send money from University UM Ch. Minnesota Ave. Buffalo, NY. 
One scheduled next February in Kenmore NY and a former church Wayland New York in fall . 
Please send by love and Christmas Greeting to all my new friends who are earnest in serving others by helping in Africa. 
Bertamae.
another Post Scrip from Bertamae 
Any one interested in my Christmas Book Ring In the Holidays! 
Call me or 716 836-8511 or from Web site Bertamae Ives.com 
May the Best of everything come to you and yours this Christmas! 
Bertamae

10. Marie and Katie Heys—E-mail message, December 11, 2007

Thank you for the e-mail. Exactly right, my family was not worried about us getting there as much as getting back, and that kept us home Sunday. Wow, that was a good turnout for such an icy day. Please send details.
Katie and I are in a church that has just built a school in Ghana, and now are fundraising for the well they need. Therefore, I do not do fundraising with that group, in the interest of avoiding stepping on anyone’s toes. But, I did present the photos of our trip with narrative at the adult Sunday school a year ago, shortly after we came back, and people were interested.
Any news of Grace? the little girl with AIDS from the school. Best, Marie.
(Responded—that Morris and Ann had a picture that showed Grace looking healthier and happier! Margie)
Notes of meeting taken by Shirley Andrews, written by Margie Schleicher

Clare School [in an very poor area about 25 miles north of Old Mutare] has become an important new area of activity as the result of its visit by the November ‘06 VIM team. The friendliness and determination in the face of such obvious need captured the team’s hearts. Resulting gifts and the instruction to “use it where you think best” created a new set of tasks for us to perform. When we visited them, the teachers proudly conducted us around, displaying the accomplishments empowered by these contributions. They spoke of their ongoing plans to improve what had been a rudimentary farm school for 200 children, but which is now serving 628, in addition to new preschool and high school programs. Thus we were shown their tiny library, made possible by 200 boxes of books in the 2006 container, the repaired and now operative pump providing pure water for the children and even irrigating a nearby plot whose crops will help support the school. We saw that over half of the children now have uniforms instead of rags to wear and many have shoes, as well. The textbooks are much appreciated, and a new grant will enable the purchase of more. Other programs are providing support for orphans and food for the kids. In all cases, more help is still needed badly, though the progress made since we visited in November ‘06 is obvious.

The teachers, staff, and community are putting a lot of their own energy and resources into stretching our support. While supervised by professionals, much of the labor is being provided by the community itself. We toured their new classroom block. Last year they had put up the brick walls themselves. Two major donations enabled the roof, windows, and doors, with funding made available for them to pour the floors and plaster the walls once the necessary bags of cement can be obtained. Meanwhile, the children will be under cover when the rains come.

The need for more classroom furniture—especially desks–is obvious and the staff has located metal frames-from broken desks, that they are purchasing with their own funds. A collection we delivered from the Sunday School children at Clare UMC, Clare, MI will purchase the wood needed, and locals will then build about 30 three-child desks. This is addition to 20 purchased with VIM funding last year.

Activity at Hartzell Primary School was very satisfying in that all the projects seem to be going well—except for the computer lab and sewing classes—with the electricity on during only one school day in the three weeks we were there. [“Power-shedding” has become routine because the government cannot buy enough electricity for the country.] A woodworking program is on hold because the teacher identified for it decided to emigrate.

About 500 show up for porridge at 6 am, while the mahewu fortified drink serves nearer 800 at the 10 am break. We have asked for some form of a feeding program be during the month long Christmas break, to ensure that the neediest survive to start the new year. Almost all were in crisp uniforms and relatively few bare feet were visible. The students continue to perform very well on the 7th grade national exams, with the pass rate exceeding 95% every year in the tests that will determine their eligibility for high school. We like to think that the library and computers have helped. Obviously, the teachers are doing a very good job, despite their wages having fallen so far behind inflation that a month’s pay is now worth less than US $12, while prices are as high as ours. Everybody’s focus is on finding enough food for simple survival and on finding the funds to keep their children in school.

The library continues to be a beehive of activity, proving its value in so many ways. Ann’s “baby” is proving its worth. In our visits to two of the four primary schools that received enough books to start a library from the September 2006 container, it was noted by teachers that their year-end tests already showed significant improvement in reading comprehension. Imagine the difference the continuing and cumulative impact will make over the next few years! Imagine what a large-scale program of collecting books in the US to start primary libraries across the country could accomplish! We are looking for a someone or a group who is willing to accept this challenge.

We met the ten 7th grade candidates for high school scholarship places. The assumption was that at least four boys and four girls would score high enough on their exams to earn places at the high school. With results expected in early December, we will then pair the winners with their sponsors. Meanwhile, the results for the seven high school students who took their O Level exams will come much later and they won’t know whether they can continue on to A Levels [pre-university] until February or maybe even March.

The high school scholarship students gathered, as usual, for picture taking, receiving and sending sponsors’ letters, and the distribution of small presents and a very welcome gift of money to each one. For the first time, there were no complaints about clothes or supplies. The exchange rate this year is allowing us to make their clothing allowance a bit more generous beyond the absolute minimum. We are so grateful for efforts of retired Hartzell Primary School Headmaster, Naboth Maramba, in seeing that they have what they need in a timely manner. We also finally persuaded the High School Head to allow our day students to have food with the boarders during the two mid-day breaks. This was a part of a major discussion with the Head and High School Scholarship Committee about how we could help more needy children there.

As usual, we had filled our suitcases with analgesics, vitamins, and some supplies for Old Mutare Hospital. As usual, they were nearly out. Depositing 880 million Zim dollars with a medical supply house, has allowed the hospital’s Matron and Doctor to obtain some of the more urgent items on their want list. This method has potential for increasing help in this critical area.

The breakdown of the car we had borrowed from Tawana and November Mtshiya in Harare caused us much stress, expense, and time as we frantically tried to get the car repaired before we had to go back to Harare to get our flight back to the US. The difficulty came in finding the parts for the repairs and, after several leads which turned into wrong parts, false leads, etc. we ended up having to leave the car in Mutare still waiting for repairs. We dreaded telling our friends the news, but there was nothing else we could do. We still haven’t heard that it has been fixed.

Another stress and “downer” was a new rule for shipping our crafts to the US. Morris had to fill out a form giving detailed information about what we were sending and why, how we got the money to buy the crafts in the first place, and how and when the profits would come back to Zimbabwe. The request had to go through our bank in Zimbabwe. When we left, the permission still had not come and we did not know if it ever would come, so the crafts were sitting in the shipping warehouse waiting for the papers to move through the bureaucracy.

It was a jolt to come back from a country whose stores were almost empty, whose people couldn’t afford the cost of a can of baked beans, let alone any luxuries, and whose money was virtually valueless, to our usual Christmas buying frenzy here in the US. We had a huge stack of Christmas catalogs and store ads waiting in the mail for us and all the newspapers and magazines. are urging us to buy, buy, buy.

As our Christmas season moves into high gear here in the US, we need to continue to remember the people of Zimbabwe as they face a Christmas of desperation, hunger, and extreme poverty.

To see a video of the “Good News - Bad News” taking place in Zimbabwe click here.

I am writing this note to ask humbly for your monetary assistance in helping me to get a truck container to Zimbabwe. Its destination is Hartzell High School, a very worthy and wonderful Methodist school there. On board will be 5 new sewing machines, a 30 CPU computer lab ready to go, textbooks, school supplies, uniforms, fabric, sports equipment, school furniture including chairs and desks, file cabinets, blackboards and chalk, handmade/washable sanitary pads, tools, toys, encyclopedias, Bibles, seeds, safety equipment, medicine, music, movies, library books including the Harry Potter series, dictionaries, and more. All of these items have been donated and are in a warehouse in Horrell Hill, SC.

The shipment cost is $10,000 and I have raised $6,500 so far. This cost includes leaving the container at the school in Old Mutare. Any amount that you can give will be helpful and is so needed. As you know, Zimbabwe, at the present, has 7,000 % inflation and goods are not even on the shelves. This makes containers like this one even more vital.

Checks are tax deductible and can be written to Trenholm Road UMC - Attention : Steve Barden. Please put “Hartzell High Fund” in the “For” blank. That address is TRUMC / 3401 Trenholm Rd. / Columbia, SC 29204. Your assistance will help to make the dream a reality.

Thanks for reading this plea. I am grateful for your prayers and gifts. May God bless you and keep you.

Grace and peace to you and yours,
Francie Markham
britlit@sc.rr.com

• “Delegation delivers life-saving nets”
• “Local church leaders inspired by ‘Nets’ campaign”
• “Pastors’ school builds on Zimbabwe partnership”
• “Gospel brings hope to AIDS-ravished community”
• “Faith builds new church in Zimbabwe”

Norma

According to my church’s conference member, reporting back from Annual Conference, the Zim women are already figuring out that the more kids they can squeeze under each net, the more impact each net will have. She said that the United Methodist Church was selected to help with distribution because the folks organizing the campaign found that in Africa, “everywhere we go, there’s a United Methodist Church!” So stay alert - your conference will probably be asked to get involved too.

Another article, following the first distribution of nets:
“Delegation delivers life-saving nets”
The print version had some delightful pictures of children I recognized from Fairfield Children’s Home, and some I think at Clare!

Dear Morris

It was a delight to see our pupils dressed in new uniforms.
Parents were very excited and they ululated thanking for
what you have done.The shoes have been delayed because we
didn’t get the right sizes.

The borehole is now functioning properly and we hope to start
a garden project. We have imbarked on roofing a classroom
block since we have five classes doing their lessons
outside.

This needs 200 asbestos sheets and timber.We are also
working on purchasing 30 by 3 seater desks to ease the
congestion in seating arrangements.

We shall keep in touch with you and inform of all the
developments at Clare Primary School.I hope Lloyd has
already sent you some pictures of pupils in uniforms.

thank you,God bless you

Misheck

To see pictures of the children and library at Clare click here.

Drew Harvey from Pittsburgh recently returned from a trip to Zimbabwe, where he attended the retirement ceremony for the headmaster at Clare School and took a couple photos of the library there.

The books came from our VIM team visit in November and from the container. Funds from the VIM team are also furnishing school uniforms and helping repair the school’s bore hole so the kids and teachers can have clean water.

More details are available in the call to action:
http://www.bwcumc.org/news_detail.asp?PKValue=2497

Please join your hearts with mine in praying for Zimbabwe.

Peace,
Norma

I am working to raise money to send a container to Hartzell High in early summer. I have been given 5 new sewing machines, many computers, school supplies, agriculture tools, books, and many other items to go on board so far. Marsha is working to get a generator sent on this shipment for the Dream Farm. I have a local storage area here, which has been donated, to collect these items. Many UMC circles are anxious to help with this project. Attached is the list of items needed for the shipment; I distribute this when I speak. If anyone is speaking and would get an offering for this shipment or donations for this shipment, I would be so grateful. Also please send me any ideas that you have about the shipment. “The beat goes on.”

One celebration is that two groups have chosen to sponsor a child each at Fairfield after they heard about Nyarai, the child that my family sponsors. I was able to spend time with Nyarai in November for the first time. What a precious memory from the trip !!

Last week I spoke to ten groups about this project. I have made a Power Point of the November Zimbabwe mission work with a focus on Hartzell High and use it when I speak. This week I have the opportunity to speak to 150 senior citizens at our Shepherd’s Center on Wednesday. Also I have found pen pals for 110 secondary students in Old Mutare and now I have 50 more US high school students who want pen pals. Next week there is a meeting to discuss a local high school getting on board with the shipment donations and perhaps becoming a sister school to Hartzell High. This work continues to excite me. I really appreciate that I was there with the Michigan team in November.

South Carolina continues to work hard to raise $250,000 for the water project in Old Mutare. Last June a SC team even discovered pollution in several water sources. We are now selling Zimbabwe mission calendars for $12. I would love to send some to you if you are interested or could sell some. They are beautiful. 100% of the profit goes to Old Mutare and the water project. Right now I am looking at three, smiling Hartzell Primary students giving “thumbs up” on the February page of the calendar. E-mail me if you are interested at britlit@sc.rr.com.

I hope everyone is doing well and is keeping warm. Today it feels like summer here in South Carolina. Best wishes to everyone.
Grace and peace,
Francie

Thank you Marsha for all the good work you’re doing to help the farm at Africa University! We’re proud of you! Ann

When our VIM to Zim visited Clare in November, we were heart-struck by what we saw. Ragged, yet energetic and friendly children were in barren classrooms made of converted stables and barns, Devoted and warm-hearted teachers were struggling with few resources to provide them an education. Shortages in rooms, texts, supplies, clothes and food—but not of love or faith.

While the gift of one team member provided for the texts, it started a chain reaction. More help is coming as soon as the school’s leaders work out priorities and cost details. Other generous donations will add to the impact.

Along a parallel line, they have set aside a room for a primary library and hired a woman to prepare recently arrived 165 boxes of books for use. These books were a part of the 600+ boxes we sent in the September/December container to start libraries in four rural primary schools in the area. The children will have books to read. The mastery of English—the nation’s official language and that of instruction in the schools—is their only hope in escaping illiterate poverty.

The generosity of many of God’s people is changing the lives of hundreds of children in that poor rural area!

Many of you have traced our year on either “www.annmorristaber.net” or “www.vimtozim.org” These two web sites were essential for the two projects which nearly overwhelmed us. We spent three weeks in Zimbabwe in January so Ann could discover precisely what help teachers at Hartzell Primary wanted and to plan the November team trip. We were astounded to have more applicants for VIMtoZIM than we could take and 27 finally made the trip. Our son, Mark, grandson, Christopher, and niece, Norma, joined us, as well as Morris’ sister, Margery and husband, Gordon, who were co-leaders. It turned out to involve far, far more planning and coordinating than we had thought—especially since we were new to this. Experienced leaders told us later, that our group was nearly twice too large. However, it went well—the talent and enthusiasm were impressive, as were the accomplishments and experiences. . The diversity of talents wouldn’t have been possible in a smaller group and we would have hated to leave any of them behind. Our size had one major advantage, in that we filled a small hotel near the Old Mutare Mission, and we were wonderfully cared for while we worked there and at Africa University. Visit www.vimtozim.org for a sense of that excitement, pictures, and details.

During our January trip, we visited two nearby rural primary schools for the first time—and saw children sitting in room with no books “learning how to behave in a library.” It so grabbed us emotionally that we were forced to renege on a 2004 vow to never again go through the pressure and agony of sending a container, with all the stress it entailed. We promised that we would do our best to get them a core of 2,000 books for their “library”. We spent most of the rest of our year up to its loading date doing just that. At one point we wondered if enough books and supplies would come in to fill the 20-foot container we hoped to send. In the end, we had to turn away some offerings, as a 40-footer was full! Books and supplies came from 21 states, with much of this the result of email letters we sent to the two coordinators for United Methodist Volunteers in Mission for the North Central and North East part of the US. Two letters! We never knew what might arrive—30 boxes from the Dakotas or two truckloads from an Ohio teacher and high school student! This outpouring will undergird FOUR new primary libraries in a country where the children must learn English to succeed in school. 680 boxes of books were the core, but nearly 200 boxes each of school supplies and hospital and health items, plus 100 more of clothes filled our church basement prior to loading the container on September 9. [It finally reached Old Mutare on December 1.] Be careful what you dream or wish for—children and books tend to inspire people to be generous with money, donations and help, while the two of us sorted, boxed, organized, labeled, and kept the count on things going to seven schools, two hospitals, an orphanage, Africa University, etc.!!

Morris and Ann



Great publicity for the project, Marsha!

Calvary and Advent greetings from Mutasa Nyanga district of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. On behalf of the district, I would like to express our delight for sharing your valuable time with us during your visits in Zimbabwe and particulary to my district and school(Hartzell) Indeed your presence lifted our spirits and encouraged us to reach beyond our grasp. You radiated love and energy to my people. It is evidenced by the renewed excitement I am seeing and feeling in my people, both the clergy and the lay since your visit. Furthermore thank you for the financial spiritual and material support.

May God bless you and your families.

Although your stay was so brief, your presence lingers in our hearts and spirit. Really it was particlary my district. Your visit, the pastors workshop,donation and work infused us wil a renewed purpose and commitment. May the love of the Lord continue to inspire you and to bless those whom you touch in discile making and strengthening.

Yours in Christ

Rev. Givemore Chimbwanda
District Superintendent

When we began thinking about what each brought to the team, we quickly reached the obvious conclusion–cutting the group to a “manageable” number, would have left out far too many obvious graces and gifts. Too many diverse accomplishments/events would have been lost. Too many new relationships among the team and with Zimbabweans would have been missed. Maybe it would have been easier, but it would not have been better

Who could we have left out? – Alicia, with her sunny smile, acting as a magnet for all the children? Marie, with her frank and gentle discussions of AIDS prevention in a country so torn by this terrible disease? Francie and her great passion for helping the children at Hartzell High School (including toilet seats in the girls restrooms)? Shirley, with her patience for detailed library work, entering accession numbers to get high school books into use and culling others to send to Clare? Jane Ellen, who kept things lively (do you remember the Superman grace?) and was willing to take on any task (or more kids in the craft room) as an act of Christian love? Brenda, organizing the books in the workroom of the primary library, and helping with games, always willing to lend a hand and a smile with whatever was needed? Fran, with her organized planning of Bible School (some of which fell by the wayside because of so many children wanting to be included), and her commitment and reliability? Megan, and her interest in mission and helping others, charming all those around her, especially her 3 “mothers”, the students at the High School (and one young man at the wild life park)? Marsha, from whom we learned a lot about farming, dairies, and piggeries and who did a tremendous amount in the short two weeks to improve the important area of knowledge of agriculture at AU and Old Mutare?

Or could we have eliminated Dave, our competent and flexible fix-it man, who was fascinated by the children and teachers’ responses to the installation of very common (we thought) pencil sharpeners in the classrooms? Dorothy, who brought a sewing machine with her and taught children and teachers how to use it as well as altering a wedding dress for Josephine, whose wedding in December will be enhanced by the dress and veil which she couldn’t have afforded otherwise? Norma, who brought a suitcase of materials and many months of careful planning for teaching children how to crochet, and ended up teaching the home economics teacher as well? Karen, with her upbeat disposition, loving everything and everybody? Barb, with her ready laugh, constant good nature, and her “we can do it” attitude, even when it came to organizing games for 500 children? Judy, and her calm approach to crises and willingness to help and facilitate in any way possible?

Or could we have done without Mark, who set up our blog site and kept it up-to-date, facilitating our connection with folks at home, and, in addition, communicated his deep interest in history and politics by asking insightful questions of our guests and leading discussions with his Intensive English students? Chris, who brought an adolescent’s viewpoint, enthusiasms and sometime irreverence to the group, with his main interest being computers, teaching children and teachers (the “hardest thing I have ever done”) in the computer labs? Bertamae, always in the midst of children, reading stories, singing songs and happily skipping around with them in a circle game? Pete, enthusiastic, loving, and gregarious? Susie, with her constant smiles, bursting into song on appropriate occasions? Susan and her deep love of the Zimbabwean people, sharing her knowledge and insights with us (and also her cell phone), and working with the tech people at the library at AU? Anna, nurturing and positive, helping in the library at the high school, and being supportive and loving to the Hartzell High School daughter of a Zimbabwean friend who is studying in Minnesota? Katie, dependable and faithful, accompanying and supporting her mother, helping with games, and teaching math in a 6th grade classroom?

And so we thank God for every member of this team, what they had to offer, and their willingness to give up school, work, home, and loved ones to spend 2 weeks using their many and varied talents and gifts to further the education of students at Old Mutare and Africa University. We feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to co-lead this very special group and we thank you all for your dedication to bringing God’s love and hope to the people of Zimbabwe.

Unfortunately, we will be unable to attend the team reunion on December 16 as we have made a previous commitment to take a trip to Central America with some friends, leaving on December 10. But we will be thinking of you all and hoping you have a wonderful reunion.

Let’s keep the team spirit going! Please feel free to express any comments, experiences, reactions, on this website and please add your pictures to the picture gallery, as we all want to see them. Write Mark at : mark@taber.net if you have problems with posting or uploading pictures.

Our love and a thankful and blessed Thanksgiving to all, Ann and Morris

It is my hope and prayer that our VIM to Zim was a spiritually nourishing experience for all of you. In addition to the sharing with the beautiful Zimbabwean people and the blessing of yourself shared with them, that this trip will be remembered as one where you received new insights about what it means to give and receive the Gospel. I know the images of the children at Hartzell schools and the students and AU will remain with me a long time.

Gordon and I are looking forward to hosting and seeing you at our team reunion on Saturday, December 16th 2:30 p.m-4:30 p.m. at First UMC, 200 East State St. (M-21), St. Johns. The easiest way to get there is to take the M-21 exit off US 127 and go west into St. Johns, through the traffic light at Old 27 to the church. We are the one on the east side of the courthouse. Church phone # is 989-224-6859. Refreshments with Zim coffee will be served.

Please let know if you are planning to attend.

Grace and Peace!
Margie

Good to know that you had a safe journey back home. The team visit was such a blessing to all here. You gave us more zeal to forge ahead especially with the gifts the team gave us but most of all it was the interaction that blessed us most.

More time

Shadreck

Yesterday we had a good (long) flight from Harare to London. For the most part the weather was clear all the way, giving us spectacular views of the Congo rainforest, the endless sands of the Sahara, clusters of villages and cities along the southern Mediterranean in Tunisia, the French Alps, sunset over Paris, and then the bright lights of London as we circled Heathrow waiting to land. Those who had window seats took some great photos of the trip. See you later today!

They’re at:
http://vimtozim.org/photos/album/vimers-at-work/

One unexpected change in the schedule that happened just yesterday is that we got to talk with Africa University’s vice chancellor, Rukudzo Joseph Murapa, in a short informal meeting at our hotel last night. He told an inspiring story about how he was born and grew up in this very area of Zimbabwe, went to study and work in the US for several years (for such politicians as Hubert Humphrey and Everett Dirkson and then for organizations like the World Bank), and then eventually came back to Zimbabwe and Africa University (AU).

Mr. Murapa said that although he’s officially charged with implementing the AU master plan (which calls for adding two additional “faculties” — schools — before 2008) his own personal passion is the establishment of an Institute of Peace, Leadership and Governance at AU. His dream is to create a permanent program to will train Africa’s future and current leaders and help them bring lasting prosperity to their countries through peace and through transparent, people-oriented government — a goal and a point of view that’s quite certainly shared universally by the AU students (and hopefully future leaders) from the DRC (Congo), Mozambique, Angola, and Burundi that I’ve been helping the past few days in English.

For the afternoon, the two VIM teams gathered at the home of Africa University’s Information Office head. She hosted us for a lavish feast, called a “braai” (pronounced to rhyme with “cry”), which is the Southern African version of a cookout. The menu included grilled pork ribs, beef sausage, and chicken; rice with vegetables; potato salad and a variety of green tossed salads; fried flat bread; ending with a delicious banana cake and ice cream. Some of us took the opportunity before the meal to enjoy the cold and sunny pool, surrounded by flowers of many kinds, as the tantalizing aroma from the grill wafted through the air.

Looking back over the week just ended, the successes of our Tennessee agriculturalist stand out in my memory. She discussed three projects with the Africa University Agriculture school (known as the “Faculty of Agriculture”), which were immediately endorsed as carrying out their own dreams for expanding their outreach. The first is to start a piggery at Hartzell Primary School with two young pigs donated from those at the Africa University farm. Her long wait in line ended in successfully acquiring the cement needed to pour the floor of the new piggery this week. If the weather cooperates, the donated pigs will move to their new home at Hartzell Primary this coming week.

The second project will found a Dream Farm, demonstrating the synergies among diverse components such as honeybees, crops, animals, and fish ponds. The acreage for the Dream Farm has already been identified and the saplings for the living fence around the Dream Farm are ready for planting, having been started while it was still only a dream. The Dream Farm is expected to become self-supporting quickly, raising enough to feed those running it, with extra to sell or barter for items they don’t produce themselves. The Dream Farm will also offer one-day intensive courses to farm workers covering specialized topics, such as growing mushrooms and raising rabbits. Those attending each one-day course will receive a midday meal and a certificate of completion for that day’s topic.

The third agriculture project will offer a three to five day workshop to community animal healthcare workers. They will learn basic health care such as how to give injections, dehorn cattle, and take care of hooves. The first workshop will be offered in November 2008, taught by a veterinarian and our agriculturalist.

While we are not able to stay connected 24/7 on the Internet, a few personal cellphones are working and some of us have left messages on various answering machines!

This past weekend was so packed with activities that I didn’t have time to come into AU to connect to the Internet and upload and download messages. But I’ve downloaded all the comments and will show/read them to everyone tonight at dinner.

Also, immediately after this post I’ll upload a guest posting by my cousin Norma where she describes a small part of our activities yesterday.

And then tomorrow I hope to be able to post a few select photos of your favorite VIMers in action. This morning I went around to all our stations and took a few photos of each team member. I just need to reduce the file sizes of the images before I can try to upload them.

That’s all for now! -Mark

-Marsha Dorgan is having great — and surprisingly speedy — success in her efforts to plan for expanding AU’s “Dream Dairy” into a full working farm, and to begin to build a piggery at the Hartzell center.

-Marie and Katie Heyes again helped out at the Old Mutare Hospital. Marie led some AIDS awareness classes, and she described a session she had with high school girls who talked about incidents they knew of where fathers or uncles of the girls had beaten or raped them and that it was still difficult to get authorities to take such reports seriously.

-Several people — Jane Ellen Johnson, Norma Taber, Alicia Willis, Dorothy Mercer, Fran Mohnke, Sue Neff, Karen McDonald, Barbara Brooks, Megan McClure, Brenda Matson, Berta Mae Ives, and Chris Taber — again helped out classroom teachers or in the library at the Primary School in the morning. And then in the afternoon organized and led a wildly over-subscribed Bible School program for kids who stayed after school.

-Anna Wood, Shirley Andrews, and Francie Markham helped out at Hartzell High School.

-Susan Henthorn and Margie Schleicher again helped out at the Africa University library

-And Gordon Schleicher, Pete Harris, and I again helped out with the intensive English classes at AU for students from DRC (Congo), Angola, Mozambique and Burundi. Gordon and Pete talked with a group of theology students, and were inspired by the stories of how some of the students came to decide to enter the ministry.

Yesterday evening we also had a short but very interesting presentation from the headmaster of Hartzell Primary School, Shadreck Mufute. He said he thought the biggest need the school had was for better accommodations for the teachers. Their salary is fixed by the government, but the school would be better able to attract and retain good teachers, he said, if they were able to provide better living quarters for them.

…more to come

Today began with an energetic Chapel service at Africa University, complete with several US Methodist bishops in attendance, and then we all split up again to go our separate ways.

I spent the morning with a discussion group composed of some students in AU’s intensive English program. These are students from neighboring countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Burundi who need to improve their English some before studying at AU. So we spent the morning practicing their English by talking about topics like war and peace, economic development, political corruption and elections — all issues of the day both for their countries and for mine.

So I’ll do my best here to provide short summaries of what’s going on, but photos and more in-depth discussions will probably have to wait until we’ve returned.
Yesterday the entire group went on a tour first of Africa University (AU), and then of the various facilities at the Hartzell Mission — a primary school, high school, orphanage, and clinic — across the way from AU.

We were all impressed with AU’s beautiful campus and buildings (many of them made
possible by donations from Methodist groups around the world), as well as by the enthusiasm and dedication of the various staff members we met and talked with in the administration office, the library, the health sciences school (”faculty”), and the agriculture school.

At Hartzell we visited the clinic and left for them the various medicines several team members had brought. And then we walked by the (newly built) cottages of the orphanage, stopping to talk with all the friendly and curious kids, and their house mothers, who came out to greet us.

Later we were taken on a quick tour of the Hartzell Primary School, where we were treated to a dance performed by some students and to a couple songs by the choir. We also had a wonderful and lively tea with the school’s headmaster and his teaching staff — probably the highlight of the day for many of us.
Today everyone split up to go to their individual assignments, either working at Africa University in some way or at Hartzell Primary. I’m sure we’ll hear all about these experiences later this evening.
As I said, this is just a very short, quick posting of the latest news. All of us are having experiences that I know we’ll want to share with our friends, family, and others much more in-depth than is possible right now in this medium. -Mark

Right now we’re at the hotel in Mutare, where we just finished a very nice dinner. The hotel has only one dial-up connection, so I’m writing for everyone.

Tomorrow we’ll tour Africa University, so I expect others will be able to write something too at that time.

United Methodist Bishops Gather in Mozambique for First Meeting Outside U.S.

Individually and in groups, United Methodist bishops from around the world arrived over the past few days for the first full Council of Bishops’ meeting to be held outside United States’ territory. The meeting begins today.

With a delegation of 170, including bishops, general secretaries, spouses, and staff, the Council has filled the Hotel Avenida in downtown Maputo. Bishops and spouses exchanged warm greetings and hugs throughout the luncheon and dinner hours Tuesday as they filled the dining room. Some bishops received a special greeting as they arrived at Maputo’s international airport on the outskirts of the city. Local United Methodists surrounded them with song after they were processed by Mozambique customs officials.

Tuesday, Oct. 31 was a warm and humid day with the temperature above the 90 degree Fahrenheit mark. More of the same is expected for the rest of the week, local forecasters said. Maputo is located on the Indian Ocean on Africa’s east coast.

Bishops Meet with President of Mozambique;
Share Focus on Eliminating Poverty in African Nation
United Methodist bishops from around the globe met with Mozambique president Armando Emilio Guebuza in his office on Tuesday, Oct. 31. The 11-member delegation spent more than a half-hour with the president in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, the day before their semiannual meeting is due to begin.

Bishop Janice Riggle Huie of Houston, president of the Council, told the Mozambique leader the church has a deep commitment to his country and to Africa. She introduced each of the bishops to Guebuza. Most of the bishops’ conferences have a direct ministry connection with Mozambique.

Host Bishop Joao Somane Machado, who has had a long, cordial relationship with the president, said the visit is significant in Mozambique. “The president was happy to know the United Methodist Church is linking with United Methodists here, and we are linked to the broader church,” Machado said. “We bring strength to Mozambique. The bishops’ coming here sends a strong message.” Machado said the president told the group his government’s priorities fit with the church’s priorities. “The government works closely, in partnership with churches to tackle poverty,” Machado said. The Presbyterian president was elected in a peaceful election two years ago, Machado said. “We changed governments and not a shot was fired. It is something to be truly proud of.”

The meeting took place in the president’s reception room, a bright, airy space inside the presidential compound in downtown Maputo. Dressed in a bright blue suit with red tie, and wearing his trademark red AIDS pin, Guebuza warmly greeted each of the bishop, gripping some of the bishops’ hand with both of his.

The bishops’ visit came on a significant day for Mozambique. Later Tuesday, the president was to preside over a ceremony finalizing the transfer of the huge Cahora Bassa hydroelectric dam on the Zambezi River from Portugal to the Mozambique government. The dam produces electricity for Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. After 470 years of colonial Portuguese rule, Mozambique gained its independence in 1975.

In addition to Huie and Machado, other bishops in the delegation included: Gregory Vaughn Palmer of Des Moines, Iowa; Peter D. Weaver, or Boston; John G. Innis of Liberia, Jose Quipungo of Angola; Roy I. Sano of Washington, D.C.; Solito Toquero of the Philippines; Ann B. Sherer of Columbia, Mo.; Violet Fisher of Syracuse, N.Y., and A. Fritz Mutti of Kansas City, Mo.

Mozambique President to Open Bishops’ Meeting in Maputo

Today’s opening worship will have a definite presidential flavor to it as Mozambique President Armando Emilio Guebuza is expected to attend and offer greetings to nearly 80 bishops from around the globe. The worship service will be held at a civic center in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital.