Where to begin? This would be my first Bulawayo trip in years, and it was a real eye opener as we could see what living conditions for the people in Bulawayo was like. I would like to give a BIG thanks to all our supporters and donors for keeping us on the go and helping us to keep going even in these difficult times. So, let’s get this journey started.
Thursday 21 August 2025
We (Johan and I in the Bakkie) left Malelane around 08:15 following the truck (Neels and his daughter Megan) to Louis Trighardt where we would be spending the evening. The road was quiet, and it was smooth sailing all the way to Louis Trichardt. We stopped in Hazyview for a pie and something to drink and a comfort break, having a lady with us we could not pick a tree for the stops… so it was a little more civilized than what we usually do. Once we got to Louis Trighardt, we saw that we would not make Musina before dark, so we decided to stay at the Gateway Hotel. We had a great meal, some cold ones and headed to bed. We needed an early evening as we had to hit the border bright and early.
Friday 22 August 2025
We woke up at around 4:30 to leave for the border. Johan and I left before the truck to print some of the last-minute paperwork Linda sent on the way to the border. We had some challenges finding a printer but got it all sorted and caught up with the truck just before the border and changed crew for the crossing, Megan was with me on the bakkie and Johan and Neels on the truck. The border was very quiet, and we had no problems going through the border except for a small delay at 8AM when they had a shift change. We had a very good trip, despite the road condition and got to Bulawayo around 2PM.We went straight to the warehouse and left the bakkie for Johan and Neels so they could get to Caroline and Willem’s place where we would be spending the week. Caroline spoilt us with food and drink, and we had a chance to settle before the truck arrived. The truck had a good passing at the border despite being loaded. The paperwork was all in order and after an x-ray scanning as usual at the border they were on their way to Bullies by 12:00 and arrived just after 19:00. The truck has a stop at Patty Bristow’s who kindly donated 50 bags of oranges for distribution through-out Zimbabwe as we traveled. This little extra is always received with great pleasure and the oldies love it. Thank you for this donation, it is a true blessing. We had a busy afternoon with the family and chatted and laughed until it was time for bed. We had a good sleep and would be offloading the truck the next day and re-loading it for the trip to come.
Saturday 23 August 2025
We were up around 7AM to head to the warehouse where we unpacked the truck and repacked the truck, getting everything ready for the next day as the truck would be leaving for Gweru. The offloading was quick with the new truck as we had everting on palettes, with the tail lift, a good crew and a palette jack we had it all done in short order. The well-oiled squad in Bullies were ready to reload the truck, and we had it all done in no time. With all systems ready to go, Neels and Megan prepared their part of the truck and that freed the rest of the day to chill. We then went to Hillside Bowls Club where we played some bowls and had a good visit. After bowls we headed home where we had dinner and spent the night with the family, thanks to Willem and Caroline.
Sunday 24 August 2025
Johan dropped Neels and Megan to leave for Gweru and the beginning of their adventure. We had the rest of the day to prepare physically and mentally for the next day’s as the deliveries would start.
Monday 25 August 2025
We woke up bright and early to get to the warehouse so we could load the bakkie for the day’s drops. Our first stop would be at Railsteen, the Salvation Army Home, where we dropped the boxes for the kitchen and had a small chat with the kitchen staff and some of the residents.
Our next stop would be Queen Mary where we dropped off the boxes and went in to take a few pictures with the residents and spoke a little with them while they were having tea in the Dining hall. The next stop would be Edith Duly where we had a small chat with Uncle PJ Bakkes to see if he is still doing well. We then headed off to Masonic Lodge where we dropped off the boxes for the residents there. Once we were done, we started dropping boxes off at some of the outsider’s houses. We started off with Tuis Mynhardt and his wife’s box. Once we were done there, we headed to Qualisa where we had two boxes to drop off for Gill Mitchel and Meisie Paterson. Our next stop would be at Barbra Burrel to drop off the boxes for the kitchen and we had a chat with a few of the residents. We then ended the day off feeling blessed for touching some hearts and making a difference in a small way.
Tuesday 26 August 2025
We would be spending the day dropping the boxes off at Coronation Cottages. We went from cottage to cottage dropping boxes off and chatting with all the residents. It was so satisfying just seeing the smiles that we got once we showed them the boxes and helping them to unpack the food parcel was amazing. The whole day was filled with stories and just pure amazement from my side at how resilient these oldies are, still smiling and so very grateful for the little we manage to do for them. Once we were done, we headed to Garden Park for the drop-offs there. We then headed back to the warehouse to drop off all the empty boxes and loaded the bakkie for the next day’s early drop off in Esigodini.
Wednesday 27 August 2025
We were up early to leave for Esigodini to drop off the boxes. The road was very quiet all the way. Once we got to King Haven Moths, we then dropped off the boxes at Laraine King’s house and picked up the empty boxes from here she arranges the deliveries in the area. Back in Bulawayo we still had some more boxes to deliver. We stopped at the warehouse and loaded the last of our boxes and headed out for the rest of the deliveries. Delivering the parcels to single homes as we do touched me in a profound way, I was amazed at how these oldies live and get by without any income. It seems like a very primitive existence as there is no way of improving conditions, a day-to-day struggle. Once we were done with the last of our deliveries we headed back to the warehouse to drop off all the empty boxes for the team to repair and relabel for the next trip.
Thursday 28 August 2025
We were on the go early to wrap up the last deliveries and admin as the truck was due to arrive back from the round trip. Once the truck got back Johan left to Pick up Neels and Megan from the warehouse. Neels and Megan was utterly exhausted and one could see it was another taxing trip as they did the long journey and I know what they felt spending the last few days traveling. We had a relaxing evening and started planning the trip home. We decided to take a rest day before heading home on Saturday.
Saturday 30 August 2025
We woke up at 5 to leave at 6 so we could get to the border nice and early. The road was surprisingly quiet all the way to the border. Johan and I were on the bakkie and shot ahead at Gwanda for our last delivery at Makado Ranch. When we got to Paxi Watson’s, she was out, and we left her box waiting for her on her return. Once we were done there, we headed to the baobab garage where we waited for the truck to catch up so Johan could jump into the truck and Megan could go through the border with me. Once we were through the border we headed to Louis Trighardt where we would be spending the night. Once we got there, we had a nice rest, and we waited for the truck to arrive before we had dinner. The truck took a bit longer to clear the border and arrived at 16:30. We had an early dinner and headed to bed. Thank to Wendy and the staff at the Gateway Inn for the hospitality and warm welcome. It is always a pleasure spending the evenings here.
Sunday 31 August 2025
We woke up very early to hit the road to head back home. The road was very quiet and there were no complications. We got back safe in Malelane where we parked the truck and called it a great success.
Once again, a great thanks to all our supporters and donors for helping us to do what we do. Without your help we would not be able to work the magic that we do. It helps us so much and we are so grateful for all the support that we get.
A special thank to Neels and Megan for joining us on this crazy heart-warming trip. It is emotional and physically draining satisfaction one will only experience if you do what we do.
Thank you for assisting us in this venture. Whoever, wherever and whatever contribution you make, we are thankful for what you do.
Frans Schultz
Head office South Africa contact details:
Linda Schultz – linda@zpsf.co.za / zpsf@zpsf.onmicrosoft.com – (C) 079 6082676
Johan Schultz – johan@zpsf.co.za – (C) 082 4979328
Section 21 Co Reg. 2007/034036/08; NPO Number 096733; Section 18A PBO No 930031642
