All that we had seen in the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe so far had been about the churches and the work that they were doing in the area to help to transform people’s lives. This is incredibly important but it is also good to see some of the countryside and recognise the natural beauty of all there is. Our visit to the Antelope Park just outside Gweru was a complete change to everything else we had seen. For one thing this was a place which catered for tourists. There was a shop of souvenirs (ask Bishop Christopher and I about our hats!) and places for people to camp and to stay, a lake for boating (where we saw elephants) and places to sit in the quiet. It was beautiful.
After an enjoyable lunch we were taken in a truck on a safari through the park looking for antelopes, wildebeest and giraffes. We were told that the safari would take between an hour and an hour and a half depending upon what we saw and when. It quickly became clear that it would be an hour and a half - as we didn’t seem to be finding a great many animals to watch. But, eventually, we did see antelopes, zebras and wildebeest, but not the long promised and anticipated giraffes.
Finally we did see one and, having seen one, ended up seeing quite a few more. We were all terribly excited about this and Hilary said during the farewell meal that one of the abiding memories of the trip for her would be Bishop Christopher’s excitement as we spotted the giraffes. We were thrilled to get very close to the giraffes which are extraordinary, graceful beasts who stood calmly in front of us eating away at the top of the trees. It was a wonderful end to our trip and helped us all to see the possibilities for Zimbabwe and the basis for hope for the future.
But we had not quite finished seeing all that we had come to see and went off to T.S. Timbers to see the building trusses that have been purchased for the roof of the hospital at St Patrick’s. Sadly we were too late and the builders’ yard was closed, so we went off to Harben Park Plots to visit the horticultural project which it is hoped will provide employment and income in the near future but to be able to do this it will be necessary for there to be more water, and a bore hole will need to be established.
The Group returned for the last time to St Cuthbert’s Cathedral for a final meal. All of those who had been involved in the visit were present. The hosts, the department heads from St Patrick’s Clinic and Schools and the Sisters of the Holy Fire were all there to wish us well. It was Andy’s birthday and a huge birthday cake had been baked for him complete with candles and balloons. Having eaten, we sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him and he blew out his candles. Bishop Ishmael then thanked the team for coming and spoke of the importance of visits to increase the effectiveness of the link because building relationships is always the best. He then presented Bishop Christopher with a card and present to mark the occasion of his Enthronement as the Bishop of Southwark. The gift, a beautiful bronze carving of the Last Supper, was from Bishop Ishmael and the clergy of the Diocese with their prayers for his ministry as Diocesan Bishop.
In thanking Bishop Ishmael for the gift he also spoke about the value of the visit and of the Link and of his hope that as Diocesan Bishop he would be able to strengthen the Link that Southwark has with four of Zimbabwe’s Dioceses right across the Diocese.
Bishop Christopher asked Hilary to speak about the Link and the visit. She recalled her visits to Zimbabwe before and how she had seen the changes in the Area and the progress which was being made. Then each of us were asked to speak of the moment that we would most remember of the visit. Each person spoke movingly of what they would take home with them from their trip to the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe, sharing impressions, stories and learnings.
Then group was sent off with prayer to their final nights with their hosts after a memorable and enjoyable visit full of fun, learning and fellowship which cannot but have helped to strengthen the link between the Croydon Episcopal Area and the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe. For such links are grow because of the friendships made between individuals who can then share their enthusiasms with others.
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