Zimbabwe has been our home for the past 10 years. It’s a beautiful country in the southern part of the continent.

Part of the challenge as missionaries is to learn about and adapt to the culture we find ourselves in. ‘Walking in Africa’s footsteps’ has taken us on a fascinating journey.

Family

Our children were all born and have grown up in Southern Africa. They speak the local language, Shona, fairly fluently and have seen and experienced much of Africa’s challenges and wonders.

Ben, our eldest, attends a local community high school. He plays on the basketball team, And participates in track and field.

Pule, our 14-year old, is also good at basketball, and dominoes!

Carly, our daughter, is creative, has many friends and has an active life.

Our youngest, Michael, will go into kindergarten in January where his teacher will have quite a handful.

Mission

The United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe was established over 100 years ago. At that time a visionary bishop, by the name of Joseph Hartzell, climbed this mountain, which now overlooks one of the university farm hayfields, and as he stood there in prayer, he envisioned African children walking to school at the base.

He secured the land for the church, and the U.M. church has flourished ever since.

Missions were built in other parts of the country. We spent 7 years at Nyadire Mission.  Missions provided and continue to provide for the educational needs of the rural areas. And built hospitals and supplied doctors – often missionary doctors from the U.S.

Africa University continues in this tradition. The university is a U. M. related institution, and was the result of a plea from African bishops for a U.M. degree granting institution to serve the whole of the continent. Today Africa University draws students and staff members from 20 different countries in Africa It creates a unique and exciting environment where students from diverse cultures and speaking a variety of languages can learn to live together, thus breaking down prejudices and barriers. The U.M. church in the U.S. remains committed to supporting this vision of investing in Africa’s future.

Most of the 1,200 students live on campus in residence halls, And study together in the 5 established colleges or faculties of Agriculture, Humanities, Business, Theology and Education. The newest Faculty of Health Sciences is due to open later this year.

At the centre of campus life is a spacious chapel where we as staff and students gather for worship regularly.

The Africa University choir is a vibrant, living testimony to God’s goodness and greatness.

Graduation Day is a festive occasion..

Most students are first-generation college graduates, and as such are a source of pride and joy to their families

My job is that of technical advisor of the farm. The University farm is an income-generating project and provides a teaching environment for agricultural students. The most important crop grown is maize (corn), which we harvest by hand.

And store in 110 lb. bags (yes, that’s what she’s got on her head!) If you ever come to Zimbabwe on a VIM or work team, and help us at the farm, I promise you………….I won’t require you to carry 110 pounds of corn on your head!

In the winter we irrigate wheat, shown here with tools donated by the New Holland, PA UMC.

We try to create in the classroom an environment where students can share freely their struggles and experiences, and often we pray together for any in need of help. By the end of a year, we have all gotten to know each other quite well.

I enjoy the lively debates we can have once they are proficient enough in English to express their opinions and beliefs. Some of their favorite topics include AIDS, globalization, and polygamy in the church.

Above all, I appreciate and am challenged by their commitment and their desire to go back and build up their churches and communities with what they have gained by studying at Africa University.

So, as missionaries, we know we are called not just to teach, or work as an agriculturalist, but to be part of the body of Christ, being Jesus’ hands and feet among His people on your behalf.