VIM to ZIM

For more pictures of the reunion and photos of Marsha’s trip back to Zim in September see “Recent Photos” on the right.

VIM to Zim Team ‘06 Reunion Updates
December 9, 2007

Devotions were Matthew 25: 34-40 as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message. And then we sang, “Bind Us Together”.
Present:
1. Shirley Andrews—had Morris and Ann come to her church to make a presentation (thanks Shirley for being scribe for our sharing time! Any errors in reporting is due to the editorial additions—Margie)
2. Brenda Matson—has made a UMW presentation which was well received as well as another informal presentation. She has received letters from the librarians at Hartzell
3. Judy Ogden—made albums and shown to lots of people on mission committee at church
4. Barbara Brooks—shared the story in Columbia and is now in Ann Arbor living with Judy and chairs church mission team!
5. Fran Mohnke—made presentation @ UMW and at Margie’s retirement party. Has received promise from local Michigan author of children’s books, many books that could be given as gifts to children that he had written…she just needs to know when a container or someone traveling there might have space for them. (as of Thursday, Dec. 13th her husband Eric is getting intensive care at Lansing Sparrow Hosp with IV antibiotics and steroids for swollen throat and lymph nodes…with diabetes and leukemia being complicating factors. Your prayers will be appreciated)
6. Karen McDonald—did a Zimbabwe service at her home church which was very positively received despite it being a ½ hour longer! She sponsors an orphan from her 3rd grade class and a daughter of a teacher at Africa University. She carries a DVD of her Zim experience in her purse and offers to any to view it who might be interested.
7. Jane Ellen Johnson—moved to Lansing area January 2007. She made presentation at her former church. Experience has made extreme impact on her personal outlook. Trying to focus her new church on Zimbabwe (often inserted in sermons!)
8. Susan Henthorn—Has given PowerPoint presentations to couple of groups. Has received sports equipment for Zimbabwe (to go on the next container that anyone might be sending). Her church and others raised funds for air fair for 2 Zim students to come to Berea College when inflation priced them out of their ability to raise the funds for their flights.
9. Dorothy and Dave Mercer—Dorothy had pictures of wedding of the gown she helped make while team there. And Dresses girls have made with the sewing machine and fabrics that were taken to Zim. Dave worked out problems with electrical connections on sewing machines so could use with their current source if electricity is on. He’s also been in contact with Headmaster Shadrack at Hartzell regarding industrial arts classes.
10. Megan McClure—did presentations at high school which generated a lot of interest. Has e-mail contact with Hartzell students. Megan hopes to return to Zim someday in the medical/public health area. She’s now a student at Michigan State University.
11. Ken and Nancy Ham (team members who weren’t able to go with us due to health issues)—were in Zim in 2000 and continue to receive e-mails and support people met then
12. Morris and Ann Taber—several presentation various locations—they presented to team a DVD of the Good and Bad News of their recent trip to Zimbabwe…showing us updates on some of the students and teachers various team members are assisting as well as the libraries at Clare and Nyakasapa and the new roof for the unfinished classrooms at Clare. For details see their posted Zim update on the website: www.annmorristaber.net They will be posting some new pictures on their website after Christmas activities are completed. If you or others are interested in the memory DVD with each of our team members in Zimbabwe they showed and their newest one, “Good News…Bad News” share with us contact Ann at ann@taber.net
13. Gordon and Margie Schleicher—Gordon took 144 dictionaries when we went in 2006 were given to 5th graders and sent another 144 with Morris and Ann and Francie’s container and plans to continue sending them every year if means are available. Margie requested some of her retirement mission gifts go to Clare School in Zimbabwe. She is also providing school tuition for 9 children of rural Zimbabwe pastors.
Updates from those not present:
1. Mark and Christopher Taber—Christopher has shown pictures and talked to his social studies classes as well as to his confirmation class and wants to go back sometime. Mark continues to maintain website for VIM to Zim
2. Anna Wood—E-mail message, October 27, 2007:
I’m so sorry that I won’t be able to attend the gathering at your home with Ann and Morris on December 9th. If the date wasn’t squished between separate trips to Ohio for Thanksgiving and Seattle for Christmas, I might have been able to make it. Since our trip last year, my church, Good Samaritan UMC of Edina, MN, has given $700 from its mission’s budget for Zimbabwe–$200 to Hartzell Secondary for scholarships, and $500 to Clare School for assistance there. It will be a part of the new orphan trust that Lloyd Nyarota is setting up. I also sent $500 personally, which Morris and Ann are kind enough to deliver. $50 will go to a youth who is doing record-keeping on donations to the students at Clare–developing a profile of each of the students and what s/he has received in gifts. The remaining $450 will go towards helping the students amongst the 50 orphans who will be attending Clare Secondary School next year. They will need new uniforms, exercise books, and textbooks for that.

Thank you for all you and Gordon are doing to help continue this work!
Shalom, Anna
3.Marsha Dorgan—E-mail message, October 26, 2007:
Margie and Gordon…I am sorry that I cannot make it. I will be in Las Vegas with my daughter at the time. I had a wonderful trip to Zimbabwe for two weeks in August -Sept 2007 and worked on the Dream Farm arrangements and visited friends and churches. I gave money to start construction of Streamview United Methodist Church in Mutare. It was at a 5 and a half hour service that day. I will never complain again about an hour long service. I had a wonderful time but was very tired. I went to Zimbabwe this time in a wheelchair. That way I got it over there free and it was given to a friend from many years ago who was a former student at AU. His name is Leonard and he is a paraplegic since he was 9 years old. I also took another cane and gave to a 83 year old man who was crippled. So much was going on in Zimbabwe while I was there. I stayed in a University house on campus…3 bedrooms 2 baths all by myself and had my usual driver Elsen the whole time I was there. There was no electricity except for 8 hours while I was there. It came and went a lot…I did have a hot bath most days but the grocery stores were empty of all items and the only place to buy was on the black market. The exchange rate while I was there was $300.000.00-1. Now it is one million to one. There are so many needs there I cannot even explain. It is a wonderful place with wonderful people but the days are full of searching for a meal. Hunger is rampant…those that eat are getting only one meal a day. Eighty five percent of the people are unemployed and the inflation rate is out of the roof…over 10,000 percent now this year. I am taking a group over there next year with Lloyd Rollins who is an employee of Africa University in the Development Office here in Nashville. It will be a building and construction group to do work on the new Dream Farm. If anyone wants to go there will be many more things to do besides just construction. We are also having a new library at the Dream Farm with Agriculture, Science, Biology, and such books. If anyone will help me collect them please let me know. I will be sending a container next year of stuff. Have a great time together and know how much I enjoyed getting to know everyone last year on our journey together. Marsha Dorgan (Will try to attach pictures that Marsha, also include, Margie)
Additional e-mail, November 26, 2007
Since I will not be able to attend I will tell you I was there in August-Sept. 2007 for 2 weeks where I worked on the plans for the new Dream Farm Project and paid for a new foundation to be put down on a new United Methodist Church in Mutare. I am paying for 10 families children’s school fees and bought food and clothing for about 7 families while I was there. I will be returning in the fall of 2008 and taking a group of people that want to work construction on the new project. I will also be taking a man who will be putting in a well close to Old Mutare area. My work will continue for as long as I am able to make it over there. I found out many years ago that I am Zimbabwean in my Heart and want to continue to make a difference even if it is only to a few families at a time. The new Dream Farm Project will affect over 2 million people in Zimbabwe. The proposal is out now and funds are being raised. I raised over $20,000.00 for it last year and will hopefully raise at least that much this year. The rest of the money needed will come from grants and gifts from corporations. I wish each and every one of you a Happy Holiday this year and hope you too will continue to do for Zimbabwe. The needs are many and the money is small. They need our prayers daily. Best wishes for each and every one of you and I hope you have a wonderful time at the reunion. Please continue to keep in touch…we learn from everyone we come in contact with. Marsha Dorgan

4. Suzie Neff—E-mail message, October 30, 2007

What a wonderful idea. I’d love to attend, but I’m sorry to send my regrets. Our Christmas Program at church is that evening. I’ll be anxious to hear how everyone is doing. (And WHAT everyone has done.) Just prior to receiving your message I’d been asked by a friend to do a “program” at Potterville UMC in the afternoon on Dec. 10th!
Thank you for planning this gathering. I’ll stay in touch. Shalom, Susie

5. Norma Taber—E-mail, October 29, 2007
Quite right, that weekend already has three other commitments,
though if I’d known a couple months ago, I would have kept it open…
(Family stuff)

Update for the team: well, only what they’ve already heard from me already - presenting my talk, putting up the photo essays on my website, and posting articles on the Zim VIM blog. Also, met with Lynn Norman before and after her trip to Fairfield Children’s Home in June.

6. Francie Markham—E-mail message, November 27, 2007

I’m so sorry that I do not live nearer, as I would love to hear the updates. The container that we organized here left on Nov. 17 to go to Charleston. It is at sea now. I am so happy. It was about 30,000 pounds of goods, books, school furniture, supplies, food, hospital beds and mattresses, an ultrasound machine, etc. It will go to Hartzell High School, the crèche and school of Hartzell Central Primary, to Inhes Church, to Old Mutare Hospital, to Fairfield, to Nyakasapa High, to Clare High, to Clare Primary, and to the Mutasa Nyanga District of the Zimbabwe Methodist Church. We were able to fit 96% of the goods collected on board. Please get someone to send some notes from the meeting to those of us who cannot attend. Please tell everyone hello. Grace and peace, Francie

7. Alicia Willis—E-mail, December 4, 2007

Margie, we are doing well, thanks for the concern … Unfortunately, I have Church obligations at 6:00 Sunday night. That would mean I would have to drive 2 hours, stay 1 hour, and drive 2 hours back. With the cost of gas and all, I’m afraid I’ll have to decline the invitation. I really hate to miss it too.
The trip made a big difference in my life, but not a lot else to report. I talk to anyone who will listen. Had a couple formal speaking engagements, but, unfortunately, no financial benefits from them for Zimbabwe. I keep in touch with 3 of the teachers, and still hope to go back again some day. I continue to pray for each of the students in the first grade class I was assigned to.
Please give everyone my love and convey my regrets for missing this opportunity to fellowship with them again.
In His Love,

8. Pete Harris—E-mail message, December 4, 2007:

Sorry for not responding earlier. I would love to be there but one of the youth in our congregation is dancing in a performance of Nutcracker and we are committed to attend. Please send my greetings to everyone. I am still considering a trip in 09 back to Zimbabwe…but right now the demands of the parish seem more pressing and a bit, overwhelming at times.
May God’s peace and the love of Jesus Christ be with each of you!
Pete
Follow up comments when asked about sharing information about the possibility of leading a team in 2009:
Thanks for asking… The congregation here is in the midst of a new building project and next year will be the construction phase…lots of preparation time this advent in many different directions… You might let people know I am “very tentatively” interested in going back to Zimbabwe…and if any others have any interest, they could email me.
Ok…there, another step. If I keep taking these kinds of steps…I’ll find myself there!
Blessings in this Advent/Christmas season.
Pete

9. BertaMae Ives—E-mail messages, November 30, 2007:

So sorry I won’t be able to come. Please record or send me a copy of Zim update. 
I would be quite willing to pay for this. 
Bertamae 
PS. 
Four recent talks on Africa. one to youth group in August 
One recently to a elderly UMW. I thought I had failed, but they later decided, to send money from University UM Ch. Minnesota Ave. Buffalo, NY. 
One scheduled next February in Kenmore NY and a former church Wayland New York in fall . 
Please send by love and Christmas Greeting to all my new friends who are earnest in serving others by helping in Africa. 
Bertamae.
another Post Scrip from Bertamae 
Any one interested in my Christmas Book Ring In the Holidays! 
Call me or 716 836-8511 or from Web site Bertamae Ives.com 
May the Best of everything come to you and yours this Christmas! 
Bertamae

10. Marie and Katie Heys—E-mail message, December 11, 2007

Thank you for the e-mail. Exactly right, my family was not worried about us getting there as much as getting back, and that kept us home Sunday. Wow, that was a good turnout for such an icy day. Please send details.
Katie and I are in a church that has just built a school in Ghana, and now are fundraising for the well they need. Therefore, I do not do fundraising with that group, in the interest of avoiding stepping on anyone’s toes. But, I did present the photos of our trip with narrative at the adult Sunday school a year ago, shortly after we came back, and people were interested.
Any news of Grace? the little girl with AIDS from the school. Best, Marie.
(Responded—that Morris and Ann had a picture that showed Grace looking healthier and happier! Margie)
Notes of meeting taken by Shirley Andrews, written by Margie Schleicher