Saturday in Makumbi

Saturday at Makumbi.   A quieter day at the mission.  Thomas a young man from Germany is also staying at Makumbi.  This is his second trip to Zimbabwe.  He just completed his student teaching in Germany and hopes to stay for at least one year if not forever.  He volunteered to accompany me on a walk out to one of the villages outside the mission.
We had no real plan we just went in a direction.  As it was we arrived at the Makumbi Hospital.  We were not allowed to tour because the Matron (head nurse) was not there.  But we had a nice visit with the two sisters (nurses).  Interestingly one of the sisters wanted to come to rich America.  This she imagined would allow her to have a house a car an education for her children.  She was surprised to hear that many people in USA with lots of stuff are not happy.  She works full time and makes $150 a month.  The cost of goods in Zimbabwe is not much different than in the states.  This gives a new definition to working poor.  Physicians make a similar salary, only they have more opportunity to work multiple jobs to support their families.  They pay back their educational costs through service at government hospitals like Harare Central.
We continued on down to the main road for a bit then took a right on a path heading to the mountain.  There had been a recent fire so the scramble up the granite rock was blackened.  Thomas and I looked like coal miners!  But the vista was worth the charcoal experience.  We watched a family of baboons scamper across the field we had just transversed.  We had an aerial view of the straw roofed shacks in the village.
We found a less steep decent, since we scramble up on all fours.  As we reached the base of the rock we passed two dwellings, we decided to inquire about the best path to the mission.  The three kids and 4 dogs greeted us warmly.  I noticed the name  carved into the door.  Thomas then realized this was the home of a man who works at the mission, whom he had visited earlier.  On the way up the mountain Thomas had told me the story of a man and his family.
The man's sister’s husband had died of HIV.  She and her children were desperate to survive.  She turned to prostitution and alcohol.  Still life was difficult financially.  He built a second house next to his and moved his sister to Makumba village.  She had contracted HIV either from her husband or in a life of prostitution.  She unfortunately continued this life style, frequently bringing a man home in front of the kids.  She also was prone to beating the children.  One day after witnessing this he beat her.  She reported him and he got in trouble with the law.  Luckily there were people able to stand up for him.  The chance that these children will become prematurely sexually active, drink and turn to violence and perpetuate this destructive circle is very high.  Yet these same children showed compassion and concern as we took the wrong path from their house.  They ran after us and led us to the road.  Life in rural Zimbabwe mostly leads to a dead end…..but the human spirit is a powerful thing maybe these kind kids will get a break..Let’s hope