Zimbabwe Pensioners Support Fund

Trip Report for March 2008

Praise God for another trip to Zimbabwe before the elections. The plan was to be in and out of Zimbabwe before the elections. We saw voting stations around the country for the up coming election on 29 March 2008. May the Truth alone set people free and heal the country!

Our trip was delayed due to the following:

• Crack on the trailer drawbar had to be welded.
• One of the wheels on trailer came off and the bearings damaged. Had to find a new axle for trailer. (Black people stopped us along the road, to tell us about the wheel AND …… this is only GOD’s work………….. they gave us the wheel back! Hannes was so glad, he gave them money)
• Valve on the one wheel on truck was damage. (Had to change wheels)
• 10km before Messina – had a blowout on the wheel that we changed. Marius from Super Quick in Messina came to our assistance on the Sunday!!
• On the return trip, traveling from Bulawayo to the border, 50km from Beit Bridge, we had an ‘engine mounting failure’. We had to travel slowly onwards to Duiwelskloof. A rescue job was done by Hannes and Attie to enable us to go on to Malelane where the repairs could be done and new mountings fitted. We slept over and left at 5am the next day. The truck is really getting tired now, it has done over 300,000Kms and failures are occurring more and more often on the trips.  We are really praying for a bigger and newer truck for the ongoing work.

16 March 2008

At last we made it to the border after all these troubles. The border at Beit Bridge was very quiet. Maybe due to the election that is coming up. I believed that God prepared the way for us – it took us 2 ½ hours to cross the border. AWESOME…..!! After 2 days and 3 nights of waiting God really blessed us with 2 ½ hours at border!  Usually it is 5 hours + at the border.

We traveled on the Beit Bridge-Masvingo road (288km) to Masvingo. Some repairs had been done to the road since the last trip, “Pot holes”. (Especially after all the rain they had) We arrived at night in Masvingo. Ann gave us accommodation for the night. There was no ZESA (Zimbabwe Electrical Society Authority – like ESKOM in SA) or water available. Nor did they have FOOD to eat that night!!! Or any toilet paper!!!

 Yes my dear friends……… that’s how things are in Zimbabwe. We’re sitting here in our comfort zones with food to eat and are still complaining when things are not the way we want it. We are taking a simple thing like toilet paper for granted. So next time you use toilet paper, think about the people in Zimbabwe.

In Messina we bought some food before crossing the border. That night we had rolls with cold meat and tomatoes (Hannes bought the tomatoes for Z$ 25 000 000 along the road in Zimbabwe). Have you ever seen a person enjoying a roll with cold meat and tomato? We did…….. and it broke my heart to think we can go to any supermarket any day to buy rolls and cold meat to eat. And sometime we waste it. Mmmmmmm…………… it makes you think about many things.

17 March 2008

On these Zim trips, you really appreciate a bed, hot bath and a plate of food. You learn to appreciate the little things in life. Like this morning we had the hot water for a bath.

We dropped off food at Pioneer Trust. It is always so nice to see the old folks again. I don’t know how, but people know when the green and white truck with food is coming. As we arrived at Pioneer Trust, they were already waiting for us. Every one (most of them) came and looked as the food are being off loaded. They are all looking for the boxes with their name on. That name on the box is very important to them.

One of the ladies there blessed us with home made muffins!!!! WOW…. that is special!!! She offered up her baking ingredients to bake muffins for us!! That my friends, say’s a lot. A true sacrifice indeed. Remember, they don’t have food.

We met up with Lulu, who is in her eighties and working full day at Masvingo Chicks. She helps us a lot with the Masvingo area. She is always so friendly and helpful. She even offered us some tea and biscuits that she baked!

Our next stop was at Chivhu and Harare. In Chivhu we only dropped off boxes – did not see the folks there. We arrived at Harare at night after traveling 292km. Ann and Claire opened their home to accommodate us. God really blessed us again!! We had ZESA, water, a bed and a plate of food!!!!

Friends………. you really appreciate the small things again. If you would like to witness the AWESOMENESS of GOD, come and join us on one of these Zimbabwe trips!! Believe me, you won’t be the same again; you will look at things a lot differently. You will appreciate the little things in life.

18 March 2008

We went to the Bezer home (orphanage) in Harare to drop off more boxes. There they offered us breakfast. Thank you Lord for supplying again! GOD is just so AMAZING!!!!!!

We were once again on our way to Gweru (275km form Harare). We stopped over at Kadoma (Westview Trust) and Kwe-Kwe (Lyn Brook Home) to deliver meds and a parcel.

The folks at Lyn Brook told us that they had not had ZESA (power) for 42hr a few days ago.  Here in SA we are complaining if we don’t have power for 2-7 hrs! Mmmmm…………………………..

We arrived at Huis Vergesig in Gweru and arrange for accommodation. Once again we were blessed with a bed, plate of food and hot water for a nice shower!!!!!

You think you go to Zimbabwe to bless the people, but they are actually blessing you!!! With the little they have, they will share it with you. It brings tears of thankfulness thinking about it.  

We did some more deliveries at Muus Lodge in Selukwe and Boggies Trust in Gweru. The gate at Boggies was already locked – it was late at night – so we left the parcels at Huis Vergesig making arrangements for someone from there to collect the next day.

19 March

We left early for Bulawayo (164km from Gweru). We first had to drop of boxes at Zvishavane for Mimosa Cottages. We also met with Lynne who is the contact person there. Lynne told us that she gave a 76yr old man a Christmas parcel and in it was a torch with extra batteries. That old guy was running around like a little boy with that torch!!! So excited was he about the torch and the extra batteries. The other lady was so happy about the 4 toilet rolls in the parcel. Little things count much more than the big things.

The ZIMRA stopped us along the road to check that all the papers were in order. Usually there are a lot of police road patrols on the roads, but this time there were hardly any.

Our next stop was at Kinghaven Moth Cottages in Esigodini. The people become like family to you, especially seeing them on every trip.

 Gaye and Denis from Kinghaven wrote the following card:

To everyone who sent us our Christmas parcels. There was so much in each box and we had so much enjoyment from them. Thank you for all the hard work you put in to help us here in Zimbabwe. Thank you and love from Denis and Gaye Oschger

In Bulawayo we delivered parcels to Jacaranda House, Queen Mary, Edith Duly Nursing Home and with Louise at S.O.A.P  and at Tannie Koekie. Dear Tannie Koekie opened her house for us again. She made us a nice plate of food and even dessert!!!! She is a real special lady.

20 March

We left early to cross the border back to SA. Took us 1 ½ hrs to cross the border.

During the trip we saw cattle along the road. They were fat and in good condition, because of all the rain they had, the grass is standing high and the fields are green. It reminds me of Pharaoh’s dream about the cows. (Seven bad years and seven good years) I believe in my heart the seven good years are waiting for Zimbabwe. It is coming soon. Only GOD can bring a change into Zimbabwe. 

I’m close off with the following:

The Lord bless you, (Zimbabwe), and keep you, The Lord make His face shine upon you (Zimbabwe), and be gracious to you. The Lord bless you (Zimbabwe) with His favour and give you peace.

May God make your way prosperous and give you good success as you meditate on His Word and do His will. Be strong and of good courage for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

God Bless beloved brothers and sisters!

Marina van den Heever

Richards Bay