Arrived at Tatenda and Lucia Gungewo's home in Harare. Amazing couple that is touching the nation of Zimbabwe by the grace of God.
Zimbabwean flag
One of the partners of Voice of Hope
We went straight to an orphanage near Mt. Darwin, where we spend the night before visiting a wedding. Had great times with the people, singing songs and playing games around the fire, under thousands of bright stars.
Good morning!
Kitchen
Bathroom
Garden with fence to protect it against animals
Pump that works when there is electricity
Tatenda and one of his favorite snacks, fried mouse, to be eating as a whole.
On our way to the wedding
Through the river
Preparations
And that turned out to be for us, the foreign guests. Later I was thankful, when the sun got hot.
Freshly picked cotton. Small harvest this year due to little rain. This needs to provide for the whole village for a whole year.
Selling one kg for 50 dollar cent.
Baobab tree!
Practicing the song
Love these names made from two combined words: givemore, lovemore, etc.
The wedding party, dancing their way to their seats. Lots of dancing throughout the whole wedding!
Almost there!
The cool sound guys
The photo/videographer. Occasionally he would tell the couple to re-enact certain parts of the wedding, e.g.: do the rings again, do the kiss again... It's hard to take pictures and film at the same time!
Bridegroom and best men (left to right)
There she comes!
so guys, it's ok to paint our finger nails.
Amen! Hallelujah!
Pastor bounces as he preaches. Amen!
Father of the Bride
Special song
In line for congratulations
That's me there
Cutting the cake, with the pastor giving directions, since you don't often get to cut a cake here in your whole life.
And there's the smile. She was so nervous that we wondered for a minute if they do arranged marriages in Zimbabwe. All was well, we decided after a few hours.
Love African skies!
More dancing
On our way to the river for pictures
Lovely
Funny that being foreign is always special
Look at that!
Fearfully and wonderfully made. And not even close to how I will look a few decades from now! Praise the Lamb!
Cute girl that was watching me do funny things to take pictures
Non stop singing in the van. We foreigners ran out of energy, while they had to dance and do stuff for a few more hours.
The wedding party is ready to move
Tradition: the girls wear the guys' jackets, because it looks cool.
Met this family on my way to the bathroom
And again a dance back to the seats.
Pastor Tatenda presenting the first gift. People from the church and family blessed this poor half-orphaned couple with so many things!
A bed, for example. Really nice when just married
There it is, in all it's glory. We blessed it.
Two scribes to write down all that was given.
Several goats
Every gift was lifted up to show it to everyone. Meeeh
We're still there
Wow
Sugar cane!
Lots of juicy, sticky fun on our way back to Harare. We're not that professional yet.
Making bricks from clay
House with a fire inside.
Sunday morning church in Epworth, one of the poorest areas of Zimbabwe, where many women in prostitution have gotten saved through the love of these people.
The church.
Preaching on our future glory, future trouble and how to be prepared.
'Men'
Faithful, loving brothers and sisters, transforming a community with Jesus' love.
Simple. These people used to live in the city, but Mugabe moved them all to Epworth in 'operation clean-up', to 'cleanse' Harare of poor people. They couldn't take anything.
Soccer.
More Church of Zion
The famous balancing rocks of Epworth. Some were really amazing.
Harare
Creative architecture
National stadium
Crusade in another township. That week many got saved and that morning they had their first church meeting of the newly planted church, with 64 people showing up.
No lack of speakers
Lucia preaching. 12 people got saved.
The 'beer hole' - bar - next doors. Lots of prostitution happens in and around those places as well, since girls that are desperate for food will sell themselves here.
And of course, dancing is part of it all.
All of us had to dance. Peter went first
Blaire
JJ, folowed by Justin and me, after a path opened up in the crowd and everyone stared at me until I jumped in... :)
Tatenda and the paparazzi, documenting the consumption of yet another yummy mouse.
Our turn.
There we go. Butt first. Wasn't that bad. The head was a little extra crunchy though, and later I found one of it's front teeth stuck in between my teeth.
Interviewing Lucia about how the Lord led her to start the work among prostituted women. In a short time they are already reaching 400 women. The numbers are staggering.
Girls that attended a workshop that day. They are amazing! We had so much fun.
Each one introduced themselves and often followed it with a song or dance.
songs and games outside
Limbo dancing!
Why not play with your child on your back?! Until it got too rough.
Interviewing some of these amazing, beautiful women.
We all cried when we heard her story. This day was her first time that she came and she told it as she was still in the midst of her situation.
Sowing project
Carpentry project
Pre school
Eating nice warm salty crunchy worms. I actually really liked them.
This school was started just four months ago and had already 500 children attending.
Daniel Academy!
For a second the blond hair disappeared, as all wanted to see the picture
Back home
Amazing Zimbabwean art.
All metal
The big five
Amos, me, Peter
evening prayers with the orphans
Ad hoc exhortation on love
Tatenda, me, Lucia. God bless you!
We got Peter hooked on the book that shaped our team
Harare int'l airport
Justin, Blaire
Don't leave!
My flight to Joburg.
