On this trip I was very privileged to have the love of my life, the well known “Miss World 1970”, my dear wife Liz accompany me on the epic journey to be His Hand extended to the many, many needy oldies in Zimbabwe. On this trip we also carried a Christmas Gift for every person on our lists. This was achieved with the help of many “Lady Helpers” who volunteered their time to pack and sort all the gifts and to those who also generously gave financially for this cause, “THANK YOU” all you wonderful STARS. Our God’s richest blessings are wishes for you and your families. Liz rode the UD90 with me and we had a wonderful trip. We left for the border on 30th November to sort out final paperwork and sleep over with our kind friends Henry and Elizabeth Cameron in Musina.
Tuesday 1st December. We spent the most part of the day at the border waiting for documents, some legal and some fictitiously concocted by the runner on the Zimbabwe side. It is amazing how the goal posts are subject to change when we are in his company. It is also a pity that one individual can so effectively harm the relationship with the clearing agent which has been built up over many years. We finally left the border around 8pm and headed off to Masvingo keeping our hosts up until almost midnight. Gerhard and Trudi Burger would not allow us to retire without having a warm dinner & coffee. We have been blessed with wonderful hosts throughout the country as you well know by now.
Wednesday 2nd December. On arrival we were told that Denise Hine had passed away since our last visit. We offloaded at the various homes having an early start, dropped medication for some folk, picked up as many empty boxes as we could and headed for Chivhu where we were met by Albert and Lennie Kirstein who are in charge of distribution in that little town. Here we were informed that Mr Fanie Erasmus had passed away.
After some enquiries we found that they were unfortunately becoming the “orphans” of the fund. This was not intentional but rather due to circumstances, some avoidable and some not. We are however looking at improving their lot as far as our effort is concerned and already we have people in Zimbabwe offering their help. As many of their boxes were destroyed by rain we left taking a shortcut to Mutare where we arrived at 6.30pm to spend the next few nights with hosts Des and Sally Becker and Sharon and Chris Maas.
Thursday 3rd December. We awoke to deluges of rain that continued until after lunch. As welcome as it was to the locals and the surrounding flora, it was a proverbial spoke in our wheels. Des and his super team of helpers came to our rescue using his pickup truck and trailer to move the hampers. Then uncle “Murphy” stepped up to the plate!!! The drawbar of the trailer broke off and we spent the rest of the afternoon ferrying hampers around with the Land Cruiser. Not once did I detect any sign of dismay or dejection from anyone considering we finished late that afternoon. What a great bunch to be involved with. It was also noteworthy to see that the reviving businesses and shops were getting involved in the pensioners lot and whilst there in Mutare, Spar Supermarket was giving them a Christmas luncheon and we were invited, but alas, the rain delay played a role that prevented our indulgence. We were told that Mr and Mrs Margeson were taking advantage of the British repatriation scheme and leaving at the end of December. In the “B” scheme, the frail care section, we also had four people who had passed away. They are Mr Norman Fubbs, Mr Sonny Harris, Mrs Bess Hill and Mrs Barbara Robinson.
Here I also want to mention that Lavina Quinn and friends from Johannesburg donated enough Christmas decorations so that each home that has a lounge and dining room could put them up. This was greeted with a BIG WOW! as most couldn’t remember when last they saw some. Thank you for your great initiative
Friday 4th December. More rain greeted us this morning so we waited into the afternoon to collect the empties. During the collecting of the boxes we were inundated with thanks for the food hampers and the unexpected Christmas gifts. Many tearfully handed over cards and thankyou letters; some not having had a gift of any sort in years. Thanks again ladies
We repacked the truck separating the empties from the still to be delivered, handed some gifts to the helpers and retired to the home of Chris and Sharon Maas to spend the night. We got to know them better and thank the Lord for such selfless people.
Saturday 5th December. Up early to a real “Rhodesian farm style breakfast”, loaded the last few boxes said our goodbyes and headed to Rusape for our next delivery. Thanks to Des’s advance warning system we were greeted by a welcoming crowd and the distribution went fast and effective. Mr Mc Envoy had taken advantage of the repatriation scheme and left to greener pastures as well. Mr George Rodgel will be leaving at the end of December for the UK too. Empties were collected and we were soon en route to Harare where we were to do the Waterfalls Trust for the first time arriving around afternoon teatime. You, our supporters and sponsors and friends have no idea of how it races one’s heart when you experience the unbounded joy that emanates from these broken folk when they see us. Their joy is truly “ Joy unspeakable and FULL of glory. No matter how difficult and stressful the journey, their countenance of gratitude and appreciation reduces me to tears every time and reminds me about the purpose of our operation. Here we had a welcome and refreshing cuppa tea to indicate to us that our race against time was over for the time being. It was also while travelling to Harare that a large stone was thrown up by a passing truck and our windscreen got quite a bad chip mark on it. Thank the Lord it was right on the edge. While in Harare, we stayed with our special friends, Philip & Claire Gilbert Green again, who go out of their way to see that we are cared for, bless you guys, we appreciate it all.
Sunday 6th December. We were up early and off to Bindura to see our friends at Mazoe Valley Trust and spent some time encouraging some of the folk there. Roy and Bev Bishop had left for the UK and Eileen Crowe was departing for the UK end of the month. Things are not conducive to a “Merry Christmas” in that area as for the first time we encountered depressed folk. Liz was an absolute asset here as she dished out “TLC” in good doses. We then left for Malvern Trust in Mvurwi where we not only dropped the customary goods for the Kitchen but were also able to leave every person with a Christmas gift. At this point I cannot help to stress once again our gratitude to our donors of Xmas gift packets, thankyou, thankyou and again, thankyou. We then headed back to Harare to rest a little. Much appreciation and thanks again to Hugh Chisnall of the Masonic Lodge in Harare, allowing our trucks to stay overnight whilst we are in Harare
Monday 7th December. We set off to Excel in Harare to see and meet with Jim Forrester who is our new co ordinator there. Thanks to Turville Kille for all the assistance we got while he was there and to Jim, I trust we will have an equally good relationship. From there we dropped the Harare and SOAP goods off at Mike and Marion Futter’s home. We finally managed to leave at 12.30pm from there and thankfully it did not rain that morning. We had wet weather almost non-stop up to that point. We set off for Sunningdale Trust in Chinhoyi and as we arrived the heavens opened up again. We managed to get the hampers under some shelter and waited out the storm before continuing the drop. The change in the countryside from the previous trip was great. Where 80% of our journey was black scorched land, this time due to the rains received the landscapes were lush and green. That night we slept over with a long lost Cousin of mine, Marie and Jan van Aswegan. We spent hours catching up and re – branching the family tree as best we could. They too are in the home in spite of having been affluent tobacco farmers in the area until kicked off. We eventually bedded down very late that evening.
Tuesday 8th December. We were served a good breakfast after which the empty boxes were loaded and we set off for Westview home in Kadoma. Here a lovely reception committee and the efficient pairing of Estelle and Elsie who make boxes disappear as they leave the truck awaited us.
Here we were greeted with the sad news that Mrs Pam Allen had also passed away after a very trying sick bed.
We also managed to drop off much needed adult nappies that were given by Des from Mutare. Nappies are in huge demand and were fortunate to get some surplus from Des. Please contact us if you could supply and donate these adult nappies, it will be so appreciated. We then left to do Lynbrook in Kwekwe where we dropped the hampers and spent the night with Ken and Beda Connolly, thank you so much.. The Christmas gifts of these 2 homes were left with Ken as he and his team had arranged a Christmas party for the 2 homes combined, and the gifts will be given out there. Ken and others in different towns make sure these special folk are cared for, THANK YOU
Wednesday 9th December. Once again we set off on the road to Redcliff where we did the drop,
encouraged the folk and headed towards Bulawayo.
I made contact with the people at “Shamrock Transport” saw Mike Mc Elroy and made arrangements for our trucks to be tended for, to as and when needed. Thank you Peter Buckle and team, God bless you all. Met with some more folk who are sympathetic to the cause. Spent the night at the Southern Comfort Lodge compliments of the owners, Les and Craig Hunt. Many thanks once again to these folk.
Thursday 10th December. Took Liz “SHOPPING” in our old stomping grounds and spent the rest of the day chilling and preparing for the trip home early the next morning. We had a good trip all said and done but, yes, I am glad the year is over and a period of rest, much needed rest will be taken as we need to be rested in order to focus, plan and strategise for 2010. We aim to do better and can only do that with your help. To all who have helped in any way whatever, please accept our heartfelt thanks and our gratitude for what you have done to improve the lot of the Zimbabwe Pensioners. We cannot over stress the fact that you are the backbone of this ministry / operation and we cannot do it without you. We understand that the economy is going through a tough rough patch but we urge you to continue as best you can.
A big Thank you is also extended to the Lions Club of Tzaneen for their donation of Christmas cakes. We could give each Home Christmas cake towards their Christmas lunch or dinner and the appreciation and gratitude cannot be expressed in words. To all of those who donated towards the Christmas gifts in whatever way it may be, THANK YOU and again THANK YOU, you’re not only STARS but also GALAXIES!!
At this point I want to quote.
Philippians.4: 8 and 9. “Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9. The things which you learned and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace be with you.”
When we got back to our home in Duiwelskloof, South Africa we were a spent force having covered well over 3000 kms visiting, 12 towns or cities incorporating 14 homes and some frail care institutions involving many hundreds of people and many outsiders waiting for a place in home. When one arrives home you are mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally drained and we take time-out to recover before the next trip. No complaining, just facts and God does continually sustain us.
We, that is Hannes, the drivers, co-ordinators, management, and all involved with getting the goods to the needy Zimbabwe Pensioners trust you had a wonderful and Joyous Christmas and wish you all a Happy, Blessed and Prosperous 2010. Keep up the good work.
Blessings,
Pastor Attie Botha
Cell: +27 82 901 2291. Tel / Fax: +27 15 3098594. email: thebothas2@telkomsa.net
