Life in the 3rd World

Okay, this isn't Rebekah or Dion, but Susan, Bek's mum. She has asked me to post this as they still have no internet connection. The story so far is that there is no power, someone stole the oil out of the transformer and it ground to a hault. They are waiting for a new one, and living with generators for the moment, but they can't be run all the time. They have been waiting for some help to get their internet up and running, which I think they have done, but there is now no phone line in or out of Chivhu, so still no communications.We have spoken to them a couple of times via mobile phone and they seems to be doing okay. They haven't moved into their house yet because of the power problelm and the weather has turned very cold, colder than they expected.

I will leave it at that, I'm sure they will be posting all their news soon. Keep praying for them (only 11 months left!)

Susan

Today is the day.....

On this our last morning in Australia for a while i wanted say a huge thankyou to everyone who has been supporting us so far and who i know will be praying for us and supporting us as this journey gets going.

To all the people who are sponsoring us THANKYOU your contribution is so valued and appriciated.

I had more to say but guesse i dont have time now....................

The countdown clock says only 2 days till we leave so we thought it was time we packed our bags. Some of you know this has been a bit frustrating for us. Many people told us if we rang Qantas and told them what we were doing they would allow us extra baggage. Well....... no such luck and we can take only one bag each weighing 23kg each. No easy task when you are going for 12 months.

Dion trying to fit everything in.

How much did you say that bag weighed?

Take two........ we did not get it all in the first time.

The final weigh in 24.2 kg and 27.? Kg

how do two people self fund 12 months in africa?

With lots of prayer, lots of saving, some more prayer and saving and AWESOME friends. About a month ago now our friend Karyn took it upon her self to enter us into a competition on B105. The competition was to nominate a friend who you think deserves to win $1000 and of course Karyn thought we deserved to win $1000 so she nomiated us. Turns out we did deserve to win $1000 because we did.......yay yay yipee.

one mans junk is another mans treasure

Isn't is just so easy to collect junk, a little trinket here a spare computer monitor there, clothes you dont wear still hanging in the wardrobe, that thing you have been meaning to get rid of for 6 months now. yes well all know the sort of things im talking about.

We decided that they just could not sit around collecting dust any longer and they would NOT be put in storage. so we packed up our car full of our junk and headed out to my parents place to have a stall at the monthly markets down the road from their house.

Setting up our stall

Mum came and helped us out she even brought some of her own junk to sell

Bek trying to get some shade

The morning was a great success. Its amazing how much money you can make selling stuff for 50c and $1. We did sell a few things for more than that but most of it was under $2. We made $203 for our mornings effort in the sun. Take out the fee for the stall a few drinks and yummy jam from the stall next to ours and we were left with about $170.

Australia Day

Although this blog has been created for our time in Zimbabwe I am detouring a little to honour an AMAZING lady named Nadine.

Dion has worked with Nadine for over 12months now at NAYSS (Newly Arrived Youth Support Services). Dion and Nadine do an fantastic job working with the young people on the southside.

On Australia Day Nadine was given an 'Australia Day Community Services Award" for her work at NAYSS and also for what she contributes to her local community. Nadine really deserved this award she is just so amazing and does so much for others.

Naine Reciving her award.

A group photo of all those who recvied the 'Community Services Award'

Nadine and Dion & Nadine and her Family

Trivia Night

On Sat the 24th of Jan we had our trivia night our one big fundraiser before we head of to Zimbabwe. it was a successful night with 11 teams/84 people. thank you to all who came and supported us. we raised $1940. That will go a long way to cover our living costs in Zim.

Kayrn did a GREAT job of organizing well everything.

We Raised Over $700 from the silent auction. thanks to all to donated items.

A huge thanks to Donna and Eroll from Eye on Africa for their contibution

Stephanie had her first REAL coffee. well done.
Thanks steph for being my right hand lady and keeping me calm.

Renae, Jenny and Ashlyn looked after the coffe shop.

We Raised $300 i think it was all those yummy cakes Jenny made

This is as much of the room i could get in one photo the church overflows were full.