Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Stephanie: On Wednesday, we arrived in Harare before noon. We did not realize that we would need to go through customs to declare all the gifts we were bringing from our partner churches in the USA. We had to collect all of our luggage, then wait in a long line after filling out paperwork, declaring what we were bringing to leave in Zimbabwe.
The line at the customs area to declare of gifts.
📸 S. Westergren
We were greeted at the airport by UCCZ President Reverend Matiza, Rev. Sara Marean, Ukama Treasurer, Music Director and Deacon Lorane Gopoza, and Silence (our driver).
We made it!
📸 unknown
After departing the airport, we headed to Jekesa Pfungwa in Harare, where the owner, Bertha, warmly welcomed us with tea and snacks.
Pictured below are various images from Jekesa Pfungwa:
The bedroom room that Mandy, Sarah, Lorane, and Stephanie stayed in (left) and the courtyard (right).
📸 S. Westergren
Wren blowing bubbles with a child; front view of Jekesa Pfungwa; courtyard view inside; the garden; another courtyard view; the function room.
📸 Rev. Sara Marean
After resting and getting settled, we needed to prepare for a dinner reception with many heads of the UCCZ. We also met Will, an intern with Global Ministries who has been in Zimbabwe since February. He will be finishing his internship at the end of July and then will head home to begin at Kent State University in Ohio.
Rev. Mandy Lape-Freeburg gave the blessing
📸 S. Westergren
(Left to right) Rev. Sara, Wren, Lorane, Shaun, and Will
President of UCCZ, Rev. John Matiza, addressing the group
Lindy Keller, enjoying Rev. Matiza’s words of welcome.
Lindy and Stephanie both shared that Harare's electricity situation is quite unreliable; we didn't have power until a generator was turned on just before dinner. The main power finally came on around 9:00 PM, right as we were getting ready for bed. Due to the ongoing drought, we had to fetch water from a bin outside the bathroom to flush the toilet. Interestingly, not every toilet had a seat, which added a humorous challenge and definitely worked our quad muscles!
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