Back in Zimbabwe

It’s been an amazingly wonderful, busy whirlwind since leaving for Zimbabwe just under five weeks ago. We’re so happy to be back here, and being with our family over Christmas was perfect.

There have been a few things that we wanted to blog about, and just didn’t have time (not to mention we ran out of our internet data long before we were supposed to) so instead of doing a blog post for each one, this post will briefly update about everything… and then (now that our internet access is back) we’ll do our best to stick to our New Year resolution of regularly blogging! :)

Megan and I arrived in Zimbabwe on the evening of the 13^th (after 2 ½ long days of travelling), and the EXV crew arrived only an hour after we did (despite leaving two days before us!). The very next morning, we all packed up the vehicles, and headed out to Musana, where we hosted the third annual Let’s Give Them Hope Christmas party. Megan and I had never been to one of them, and it was amazing to see hundreds of people from the community turn up: apparently they wait all year for the party, and immediately ask to have another one once it's over!

There was singing, dancing (EXV performs amazingly, even when majorly jetlagged!), and school prizes- which turned out to be a community favourite. The guardians/family’s of the winning children were even more excited than the kids!

After the party, the EXV guys headed home, for their three-week Christmas break, and two days later we all went back to Musana for the last day of program. It was such a cool day, as we were so blessed to be able to give a Christmas gift hamper and a live chicken to every single family in our program! It was very exciting for all the kids, and everyone left happy.

Our own family Christmas was one of the best we’ve had in years. We haven’t all been together as a family for Christmas since 2010, and the two Christmases in 2009 & 2010 weren’t the best either, as we were still adjusting to life in Africa, and weren’t living in the best situations. So this year simply being in a place we all feel at home in, and being together, made it wonderful.

We attended our church’s Christmas Eve service, where Ayana, Moses, Megan, and Joshua all had a part in the production (Ayana and Moses danced as an angel and a shepherd, and Megan and Joshua sang at the end), and it was a beautiful night.

On New Year’s we were back in Musana, where there was another community event, with movies on the projector screen, fireworks and, of course- because this is Africa- lots and lots of dancing! Our family left around 2am, but the party itself didn’t wrap up until long after we had left. (Our camera's flash wasn't working properly that night, so we unfortunately didn't get many good pictures)

The program started up again on the 6^th, and Treasure arrived back at our place the next day. The rest of the EXV guys will all be back to live/work here tomorrow on the 13^th, and then all of LGTH will be officially back up and running for 2014.

So, the month that we’ve been back in Zimbabwe has been busy, and amazing, and we’ve loved it all! There are huge plans in store for 2014, and we can’t wait to share them with everyone as they begin to come into play. I’m so excited for how God is working in Let’s Give Them Hope, and I can’t wait to see everything we’ll be able to accomplish in the coming year!!

Happy (belated) New Year! Welcome 2014 :)