We're In!

Hi Everyone, I hope this post finds you well. I'm sorry that I said this update would be coming out "several days" after the most recent Humans of Matebeleland post. I'm not sure if 30 days counts as several or not...

Other than the apologies for the delay in updates, I definitely want the first thing on this post to be a huge thank you to friends and family who showered us with love and sent in donations over Christmas and the New Year- we are so humbled and blessed by all of you, and we praise God for your support. Thank you!

These donations are timely, since … drumroll … We have moved in to our new staff house at Ebenezer!!! Yippee! It's a great feeling to finally be in our own space, and to have the creative flexibility to make it our own. We are so thankful.

Kitchen cupboards being installed a few days before moving in.

As some of you know, I got to draw in the floor plans within the perimeter we were given, and to slowly see the house come up from the ground has been a longer process than we thought. Original timelines had pegged us moving in during August 2020, then November, then by Christmas, and what do you know, we moved in the DAY BEFORE some family came to visit from Michigan (Which is another update to come!!). Honestly, isn't there enough chaos in life without pushing construction up until the last minute!? Thankfully our family was very flexible and laid back with the unorganized piles of boxes and dishes all over and not finding proper sheets for a mattress until their second night here. Here's to easy-going guests!

Charlie breaking in the mattress before Gogo and Khulu arrive!

But before I get ahead of myself, let me take you back to our moving in process. The caravan consisted of two pickup's and a donkey cart! Yes, some of our furniture was moved by 4 beasts in an open air scotch cart. And I have to admit, I was quite entertained by it, so I took a picture to share with you all.

Siba packs the donkey cart with our furniture.

So we had NaPrayer (who helps clean and do laundry) packing things up at the Volunteer House which was our temporary house for the past 19 months, and Brierly and myself driving the pick ups (and a dairy worker driving the donkey cart), and then all of us unloading at the new spot. It was quite a team effort. We made it happen under the sunlight of a single day.

Moving out! This one room was our whole house, plus the kitchen in the next room over.

Messy madness as we unpack.

By the time we were done and certain we had moved everything, which indeed means you're sleeping in your new house that night so you better find your pillows, I made a quick and greasy supper- homemade fries and bacon! The dining table was too full of boxes so we just pulled three chairs together and enjoyed eating our first meal in the new home. Our lunch meal, just for you folks that have helped us move around in MI and NE before where we just buy some local pizzas to fuel the packing, was 1 can of chickpeas and 1 can of peach slices, shared 3 ways. When there's no microwave and your gas stove has already moved, you find what's available! So we welcomed our big plates of fries and bacon by nighttime.

That first night was Friday, February 19. Then five days after we moved in, we took my family to Bulawayo, then on to Hwange and Vic Falls, so we were gone for 6 nights. So when we got back from that outing, there was still a lot of work to do (and frankly there still is today!) But overall, we are slowly making it our home. The major things that have yet to be done are the wardrobe for the main bedroom (built in closets aren't really a thing here) and the shelves in the kitchen. Once those are in, the storage and organization will be in much better condition. We are also still searching for a couch- the selection in Zimbabwe is super slim, and to buy a sofa online from South Africa is a bit daunting- how do you know if it's comfortable if you can't try it out and websites here don't give customer feedback ratings?

But like I said, bit by bit it's being beautified, organized, and gently broken in. It's becoming a place to rest after long days of work, to host and build friendships, and to serve apprentices and staff from. We are thankful for the space, and we are thankful for those of you helping us make it a home.

Please pray it comes together quickly and swiftly. That the carpenter making the kitchen shelves has electricity at his workshop. That I can learn to let go of little errors in the house that I struggle to forgive the builders for. That we can move our trees and plants from the volunteer house and we can finally put them INTO the soil. (I've had some trees in sacks for over 2 years now because of moves and not being able to settle. I can't wait to see them take root and thrive!)

Folks, I know an update was long overdue. I apologize. The business of trying to finish the house has made me drop more balls than I'd like to admit- in several areas of life even. So thank you for your grace and for the messages I receive from some of you- I cherish the connections made over your updates and prayer requests as well.

It takes courage to move, and to build a house, no matter where you are in the world. And in Zimbabwe, the dynamics make it more interesting to accomplish than I'd like. Yet here we are, on the other side of the task. Praise be to God! To anyone who has undergone moves or remodels recently, know you are also courageous for having completed the job! Well done! Friends, I hope to send more pictures of my family's visit and of further decorating developments soon.

In the mean time, keep growing in courage! Mackenzie