Thanksgiving

Since Ben's last post, the guys have finished the screens for the whole guesthouse.  It has been so nice to have the windows open at night.  They finished just in time to celebrate our Thanksgiving in Zimbabwe.  While they finished, Lisa and I made a feast.  We made turkey, ham with glaze, green beans, corn casserole, cornbread, stuffing, mased potatoes, pumpkin dessert, and apple crisp.  It was great to have some Zimbabwean couples over to celebrate with us.  John was able to explain the purpose of Thanksgiving in America and we went around the table sharing just a few reasons we were thankful to God.  The Zimbabwean children  played with the light up spintops that Chance brought over and they were captivated!

I took pictures but I haven't had the chance yet to put them onto the computer to upload.  Below are pictures of Karanda's "downtown" area.  If you notice in the first picture the advertisement on the storefront.  This advertisement was on almost all the buildings.  AIDS is taboo here and isn't even mentioned as such in the hospital and surrounding areas.  It is better known as "ISD."  Although Karanda is blessed to have Anti-viral medications, however, the natives here explained to us that the use of these drugs has made people feel as if they were cured, thus not stopping sexual promiscuity even with the knowledge that they have AIDS.  In fact, they figure, why not! 

The second picture is just of the guys walking in "the shops."  We were headed to eat at Dakawni's, which Ben and Chance both mentioned in their blogs.  We had goat, sudza, and relish.  Pretty good! 

Ben is with Patrick, the hospital administrator at Karanda, this morning.  Lisa and I will be eating lunch with the ladies for more sudza.  Chance and the boys will get leftovers from our meal. 

We have been totally blessed by this trip.  It has been an awakening to see the culturea and the issues pressing against the oppressed here.  Yet, at the same time, the amazing friendliness and hope that the Shona people have. 

We leave for Harare in the early morning and starting our decent back to Kansas Friday. 

Kaila