About

United Methodist Volunteer in Mission Trip to Old Mutare, Zimbabwe
November 3-20, 2006

The objective of this mission trip is the teaching of children and teachers at the primary, high school and college (Africa University) level. This Volunteer in Mission (VIM) is approved by both the Detroit and West Michigan Conferences of the United Methodist Church and at the Jurisdictional level as a “TeachUM” project.

The 18-day length of the trip is meant to maximize the time spent in mission work with children. The team seeks Christians who have a passion for teaching children and young people. We seek skills in teaching, library work, story telling, phonics, computers, physical education, singing, homemaking, health (including HIV-AIDS), English as a second language, and Christian faith and witness. The team will be limited to 30 persons.

Team Leaders
The team leader is Rev. Dr. Gordon Schleicher, an experienced educator and pastor. Rev. Margery Schleicher will be our Spiritual Guide and Counselor, she also has degrees and experience in education and pastoral ministry.

Morris Taber, who will coordinate in-country travel and side trips, is a retired college educator with the last ten years spent in part time voluntary mission experience in Zimbabwe including teaching at Africa University. Ann Taber, a retired librarian, established a library at the local school and has made nine trips to Zimbabwe. She will coordinate our Zimbabwe mission work.

Travel & Training
The airline travel will be on British Airways and were made through Educational Opportunities Tours as travel agent. Our low airfare is possible only if everyone meets at and leaves from Detroit Metro Airport together on the 6:25 p.m. flight on November 3 and returns to Detroit 4:35 p.m. on November 20. The cost for the trip includes flights Detroit to Zimbabwe and return, meals (except for the free time in London), in country team travel, insurance, and simple yet comfortable accommodations at LaRochelle, a hotel near the mission.

While in Zimbabwe all team members will travel as a group according to prearrangements. Choice and time of day trips to church mission sites and to an animal reserve are at the discretion of the leadership team. For safety reasons no individual side trips are permitted.

Two training sessions will be held in Michigan, one from 2:30 - 4:30 April 22 at Williamston UMC and one in July. These sessions will cover orientation to the country of Zimbabwe (including among other things its people, politics, and weather) description of the individual mission projects and assignment of team members to each, and in-country safety/health/hygiene. A few team members may come from other states and therefore are not able to be present for the face to face training sessions. For them material will be made available by means of the website, mail, and internet to help them prepare.

A meeting on the day of departure may be planned near Detroit Metro Airport, and additional group time in London is also planned prior to our arrival in Zimbabwe. Check the website www.annmorristaber.net every week or two for updated information. For those who missed the February 19 info meeting, Ann Taber has added a link to the DVD and to the slides which she showed at the meeting.

VIM trips are for the purpose of mission work. This is not a vacation trip, conditions such as weather and local travel can be harsh and choice of food limited. Team members agree to work as a team and follow the directions of the team leadership. Cultural sensitivity and remaining flexible is important.

For a packet containing an application and other information, e-mail to: PastorGordon@charter.net

Helping at Hartzell Primary School
Some areas that Primary School teachers would like help with include:

  • Remediation
  • Art
  • English comprehension
  • Children with Learning disabilities
  • Reading
  • Home economics — Sewing, cooking, crocheting
  • Painting
  • Singing
  • Maths — addition and subtraction
  • Child protection education
  • Phonics
  • Teaching children about AIDS
  • Classroom display
  • Phonics (would like tape recorder)
  • Religious and Moral education
  • Story telling
  • Computer education
  • Discipline
  • Physical education: Basketball, Football, Handball, Lawn and Table Tennis, Volleyball, Netball

Pastors
The District Superintendent in Mutare, Rev. Givemore Chingwanda, has asked if there would be pastors who come with our team who would be willing to present a one-day workshop for local Mutare pastors on “pastoral leadership”

Other Places You Can Help

  • Primary School library
  • Primary School computer lab
  • Hartzell High School library
  • Africa University library
  • Africa University English as a Second Language class.

If you decide to do something that requires materials or equipment, you would need to bring them with you.

Places We’re Hoping to Visit

  • Two poor rural primary schools
  • Nyanga, a remote, mountainous park with a waterfall and craft center
  • A nearby game park
  • Lunch at White Horse Inn in the Vumba Mountains
  • One day in London enroute

Accommodations
We will be staying at La Rochelle, a former estate owned by the Courtauld family. Our package includes breakfast and dinner at La Rochelle and use of their lounge area, swimming pool, and gardens.