Untukmu Para Pengunjung

Three universities (Edinburgh, Massachussetts and Michigan State) are considering revoking their honourary doctorate of law degrees from President Mugabe. These degrees were conferred upon the president in 1984, 1986 and 1990, respectively, and in light of recent state repression and violence, torture of opposition members, etc. there are campaigns to revoke his degrees. But there is some controversy. Some feel that it’s an easy out – that our President was carrying out atrocities and state violence (i.e. against the Ndebele people; his own citizens) even in those years – and that he’s no different now than he was then.

It’s generally agreed on that he was viewed by the international community as a darling and a hero when he led the country to independence in 1980. So, when did he change? Or did he change? 27 years is a long time to be a country’s head of state... It seems that absolute power corrupts – I think that’s inevitable. But does power corrupt innocence and heroism, or does it just find the inherent evil or cruelty that is a possibility in each of us?

As a kid, I had a phase where I wanted to be the Prime Minister of Canada. I had visions of leading the country to a new heights with good, moral, ethical leadership. I don’t have that desire anymore. Power can be scary… I think it’s a real challenge for people in any leadership position to make sure that the power bestowed upon them is kept in check.

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of the day we arrived in Zimbabwe (and it's also my beautiful sister's birthday - Happy Birthday, Kirst - I love you! xo) In a lot of ways it feels like we've been here 10 years rather than 1. There are so many memories, but here are some highlights:

* Being called "mwanangu" (my child), and having a Zimbabwean family. We have met some amazing people here.

* The singing (I love being in the middle of Zimbabweans singing - it's either totally joyful with dancing or else has this lamenting/crying-out-to-God feel to it. It's incredible and full of passion!)

* Growing and becoming a deeper person.

* The laughing (I love when we're in the combi driving home, and we hear people talking and laughing and cracking jokes. It is great to see that persistent joy breaking through suffering, worry or pain. I also love "low fives" - people do them whenever they make a joke).

* Funerals (They have had a big impact on me - the way people share their presence and pain, and the way a whole body can weep....)

* Sharing food and conversation with people (either the Zimbabwean meal - sadza, green vegetables, tomato soup and fried chicken, or some of John's cooking. I am so thankful for those who have invited us into their homes for a meal - because I know the financial sacrifice that was made).

* Greeting and clapping all day, every day (I can't believe I used to say hello to people without clapping my hands, and doing a little curtsey/bend of the knee!)

* Volunteer work with Island (getting good training in bereavement, going out into the community, sharing people's pain).

* Starting the Zimbabwe School of Youth Leadership and seeing a dream become a reality.
* Special places (Nyanga, Victoria Falls, Kariba, Tshelanyemba, Chinhoyi... there are some beautiful places in Zimbabwe!)

* Sharing life with people (birthdays, new babies, weddings, farewells, the every day ups and downs of life...)

* New gratitude (for running water, hot water, electricity, food, safety, etc.)

* Running past giraffes in the morning (much nicer than running past tanks full of armed soldiers heading into the city!)

* Praying with people - in their huts, or under a tree, or in their homes, or in a hospital, or silently beside someone who is weeping or pouring out his heart.

* Being with John and seeing how much people love him here.

Things we've had to get used to:
* Inflation (the dramatic price increases all the time, fighting for bread, seeing how a blackmarket develops, carrying around stacks of money, becoming millionaires....)

* Political climate (the tension, the fear, the way people's eyes dart whenever they make mildly political comments, the headlines, the state media....)

* Salvation Army land (everyone knowing The Salvation Army is a church, the salutes and uniforms everywhere, timbrels, flags, marches of witness, 6 hour services, the countless offerings and gift-giving, the separation of officers and soldiers, the marching, the congresses - my grandparents would love it!)

* Being so noticeable, and always sticking out

I am so thankful for this past year. There have been ups and downs, joys and challenges, but God is good, and I am grateful.

We had some people over for dinner tonight. I love sharing meals with people in our home, because John's a good cook, and it's also just nice to get to know people. People always want to talk about how we're finding Zimbabwe, and how our culture in Canada is different from Zimbabwean culture. And people are always shocked that John didn't have to pay for me when we got married. Of course, a form of lobola or bride price is still quite common in many areas of the world - including Zimbabwe. We heard about a young Salvation Army officer last night who wants to marry a cadet when she gets commissioned. Her father is charging $5 million and 7 oxen. Thankfully he has a sister in the UK who can help with the funds.

Our friends last night were saying that the price of a bride goes up dramatically when she is educated. I have two university degrees, so that makes me very valuable, and thus our friends were even more shocked that John just "received me" for free. (Do you know how strange it is to think of yourself being sold and purchased?) This is the idea: my father paid to invest in my education with the hopes that I would always take care of my parents. If I get married, then all of a sudden it is my husband who is benefiting from me rather than my parents, so my husband should pay for me. It's an interesting logic (besides the whole I worked to put myself through university thing). And it did make me feel rather proud to know that at least I'd be expensive if someone was going to buy me!!!!

The man was saying that he decided he wanted to be a Salvation Army officer after he had already completed a diploma at college. And his father demanded the money back for his education because now it would be "wasted." This way of viewing kids as vessels for deposits and withdrawals is an interesting way to approach family life!

John and I went to a yoga class last night. I'd never tried it, and had a bad experience of pilates in university, so I was skeptical. But it was wonderful. The stretches were incredible, and it just made us feel so peaceful and relaxed. We loved it. I'm not so sure about the whole sun salute thing. Our instructor said that if you do 10 sun salutes a day, you don't have to do any other exercise. My ultramarathonner husband wasn't so sure about this theory! I always thank God for my mind and my emotions, but last night as I was moving my body, I felt so fluid and just kept thinking "God, You made me and we are part of each other." I hope that doesn't sound new age! I'm just thankful for a healthy body.

People say sort of random things to us on the street. Like "you're jogging!" when they see me jogging or "American dollars" when we're downtown (because they want us to change money - which we don't do - John always says "we're not Americans - we're Canadian!") The other day someone started winking at us and smiling. He was trying to sell a hose to siphon off fuel from cars. John and I looked at each other and just started laughing. It's not exactly the kind of purchase we're looking for. One of my favourites was the guy who tried to sell us a shoe. It was a nice one - and very clean - but what are you going to do with ONE shoe?

It seems that in every bad situation, there is an irresistible desire to know who is to blame. For example, Zimbabwe is going through some very challenging times right now. They are actually thinking of inventing a new name for our hyperinflation, and there have been many incidences of kidnappings, torture and even death of people seen as being anti-government. So, who is to blame? If you read the state media - it is the West - primarily Bush and Blair - who desire to keep Zimbabwe down because of a racist, colonialist agenda. They are funding members of the opposition, because they hate our president, and they want all land to be returned to white farmers. Others say that the government is to blame. The same government and president have been in power since independence in 1980. Government is making interesting choices, corruption is rife, and a handful of people seem to be able to tolerate seeing the vast majority of their population hungry or suffering. Some blame Mbeki for not stepping up as the powerful regional leader and president of South Africa. Others blame Zimbabweans themselves for not risking their health and their lives by standing up for themselves. So, who is to blame?

P.S. On a vastly different note, pictures of John's marathon in Cape Town are up in the photo gallery. Now he's training for his next race. He ran 65km yesterday. Some would call it insane, but he seems happy!

Happy birthday to my mom. She's my favourite mother of all time. Even more so than Mary, whose statue sits on the small table by my bed. The Mary statue was made in Rwanda, but my mom was made in Canada, where I, too, incidentally was made. I miss Canada, but I miss my mom more. She took very good care of me growing up, and always made sure that I had lots of nutritious food and Star Wars figures.

By John, who wishes his mom a wonderful birthday (well, as wonderful a birthday as she could have without me there to celebrate with her).