Making Up for Lost Time

Well, I last posted on this blog in October. And now it’s January! Maybe you were probably wondering if we fell over the edge of the earth (it is flat, isn’t it?). Or perhaps we were eaten by a lion? Or more probable – internet access has been extremely limited lately (wow, now that’s a boring explanation!). But enough is enough… it’s time to post a thing or two.

First, some highlights…

November began with Arja and I heading off for two weeks to work on a couple video projects. One week was spent in Johannesburg, South Africa, collecting footage about several peace and reconciliation projects that MCC has been involved in. One of the most fascinating pieces of the story involves a man named Modiegi, a black South African, who was part of the armed struggle during the years of Apartheid. Due to a pilot program offered by one of MCC’s partners, he is now employed as a community facilitator in the areas of skills training, trauma counselling and peace building. A lot of his work is with fellow ex-combatants as he tries to help them successfully integrate into the current South Africa. His story is amazing… from freedom fighter to peace builder! (More on his story and more peace builders in a video to come!)

Following our week in Johannesburg, we travelled to Zimbabwe, to shoot video for an update on several MCC partners who have benefitted specifically from funds donated by The Meeting House. Mtshabezi Mission Hospital and Thembilihle House were two of the places that immediately captured our hearts during our first visit to Africa in 2007. It was good to be back and to see their increased capacity to care for the sick and vulnerable in their respective communities. We were also privileged to visit an home for abandoned babies (Arja wanted to stay!) and a parent-initiated and run program for severely handicapped children in Bulawayo. Both of these organizations are doing incredible work with extremely limited resources. It is our hope to be able to return to Bulawayo one day and capture their stories on video, too!

Zimbabwe has certainly had its share of bad press over the past couple of years. Among other tragedies, its collapsed economy threw the country into a tailspin. Slowly, however, this is changing. In the past year, the hyper-inflated Zimbabwean dollar has been taken out of circulation and replaced with the US Dollar and South African Rand. This introduction of “hard currency” has introduced some stability into an otherwise destroyed economy. Supplies are once again available in the stores and, very slowly, life is starting to return to this once prosperous country.

December was a time for strengthening ties with our family and our MCC colleagues. We had a great time celebrating Kanah’s 8th birthday (more to come in a a separate post)! A week following, the MCC Zambia team gathered for our annual retreat on the beautiful shores of Zambia’s Lake Kariba. Shortly after that, we enjoyed a very HOT, low key and quiet Christmas Day in Macha. The following day, we drove 11 hours north to spend a few days visiting our friends, Peter and Cheryl Smith and their 2 sons, Brendan and Jason, who work with MCC in Kitwe, Zambia.

And now, it’s 2010! In 20 days, we will celebrate Arja’s birthday and 1 year of living in Zambia! Right now, we’re busy finalizing details for the learning tour we will be hosting from The Meeting House in early February. We’re looking forward to introducing these team members to MCC and its partners in Zambia!

We hope that you enjoyed special times with family and friends as you celebrated the birth of our Saviour! May you experience His presence throughout 2010!