Meetings, meetings, meetings - Tuesday 19 July

The Eucharist today was at 06.30 so that we would be ready in time for the Secondary School Assembly at 07.30.  Paul took his guitar down to the school and played a song for them and such was their delight that the noise seemed as if it might lift the roof when Paul started to play!

Bishop Christopher spoke movingly to them about the hopes and opportunities open to them as they prepared for their part in Zimbabwean life. He noted that, unlike the Bible reading that we had heard in our service, the people of Zimbabwe did not grumble as the Israelites did but rather looked for the positive in life with strong hope and faith.  He told the story of a young man whom his twin brother had introduced to him.  The young man was disabled and could not walk yet, Bishop Christopher said, when he asked him what he was looking forward to he said seeing the Olympics next year so that although he could not run or jump he could revel in watching those who could and excelled at it.  Bishop Christopher said that it was important to be like that young man and to find the things that engendered hope in our lives and he know that the people of Zimbabwe had a strong faith that would enable them to do this and help Zimbabwe to flourish.

When we returned to the Diocesan centre we had breakfast and following that the group members all did different things.   Those on the Croydon Link Committee, chaired by Hilary Brand, met with those on the Link Committee from the Diocese of Central Zimbabwe, chaired by Dean Auston July.  Sarah and Paul joined the group for the beginning of their meeting in order to share with the combined Link Committee their impressions of and thoughts about the Clinic and the future development of the hospital.   Both have experience of working in hospitals and were able to share their professional expertise with the Committee.  After their input they went off to visit the Clinic again and spend some time talking with the nurse in charge. 

Will and David and Bishop Christopher went off with Paul, one of  the priests at St Patrick’s, for a walk around the area and saw some traditional homes and was able to speak with some of those who live near St Patrick’s.  Ann Wright went off to see the Mothers’ Union offices and to meet with some of the MU members.

Save for popping in to take a couple of photographs I really don’t know what was discussed at the Link Committee Meeting but when the combined Committee met with the two Bishops in the afternoon they reported that it had been a very good meeting and that the members found themselves to be more than ever in accord with each other and agreeing on plans and the way ahead.

Whilst the Link Committees met with the Bishops, Will and Paul went to spend some time with the boys at the High School. Paul played an energetic game of football, though he was much slower than the boys and was ultimately on the team which lost 1-0.   Sadly he took a football in the face which didn’t help his nose - which is apparently prone to breaking - at all!  Whilst Paul was running around on the football pitch Will played a game of duck, duck, goose with a group of boys and was to be seen running around the circle of laughing boys on a number of occasions.

Fortunately the High School playing grounds are near to the Convent Branch House of the Sisters of the Community of the Gifts of the Holy Fire and so, although they were rather late and hot and sticky, they didn’t miss out on the wonderful food prepared for us by the sisters.

Food is something of a theme on our visit for everywhere we go we are offered food and drink.  The tradition of the bowl of water being offered to a guest to enable them to wash their hands before eating and drinking is a warm and welcoming one which is extended to us wherever we go.   That and the copious amounts of food and drink which we have been given will ensure that we go home (well, I will at least) completely full and probably weighing more than I did when I arrived!

The nuns house is beautifully kept and welcoming and their rondava, newly built and used, with its place for a fire in the middle and ledge to sit on around the side is a peaceful haven in which to sit and think and talk and be.  It was really special to see where the sisters who had been looking after us so well during our stay at St Patrick’s lived and to share ore of their hospitality at their home. 

Following tea Bishop Ishmael presided at our final Eucharist at St Patrick’s to which many of the St Patrick’s community, including the sisters came.  Paul’s guitar was in evidence again and we sang worship songs and hymns with gusto and the youngest from the High School would have been ecstatic to see Paul in action again.

After dinner we sat around the fire and considered our stay at St Patrick’s and all that we had learned and enjoyed.  It had been a full and enjoyable time and  we had seen much remarkable work from a group of dedicated and committed people whose work for and trust in God was obvious for anyone to see. 

We were not late to bed because we had heard at the Eucharist that Wednesday morning's service which would normally have taken place in the church on the site was to be held at the Diocesan Centre’s chapel as Bishop Christopher was to preside.   It was to be at 6am.   We were all remarkably pleased, in view of this,  to be leaving the next day as we worked out that Thursday’s morning service would have been at 05.30 and so on through the days until we hadn’t been to bed at all.