mgpcpastor's blog

Whaddayaknow, there’s more Internet access at the end of a fifty kilometer dirt road 500 kilometers from Harare than there is in Kongorong…
Here’s part one of our overnight trip.

So…
A funny thing happened on the way to Siakobvo.
After waiting until last night to find out our travel arrangements for the trip, this morning Mr Gokwe arrived with his car, and with Isaac’s vehicle also loaded, we set out for a long, but pleasant morning drive, expecting to arrive at our destination in the early afternoon.
As we travelled along, our driver noted the sections of road where fire had recently swept trough, observing that the fire also destroyed fences, allowing livestock to get on the road. This subject happened to have particular relevance, because we were then advised that this vehicle had recently been involved in an accident with a bull, colliding with it at night as it wandered onto the road.
Sadly, the bull did not survive, but the front end of Mr Gokwe’s car had sustained a fair deal of damage, the windshield only being replaced yesterday.
Maybe you can see where this is going, I’m a little bit slow on all things mechanical.
At our first stop after 150kms or so, Mr Gokwe emerged from under the car’s hood holding one of the cooling fans, minus a blade. Engine coolant was added. Further down the highway another stop indicates that more coolant is needed and the other fan, though still installed, is not working.
A detour is in order. This requires some backtracking. At 80kms an hour. To the town of KweKwe.
Two and a half hours later we have a somewhat, though not completely, vehicle returned to us and we are on our way.
There was also a very tasty lunch of Nando’s Chicken. Ralios says that Nandos is better here than in Australia because the chicken here is Zimbabwean. You can taste the difference.
Anyway, it’s been eight hours since we left home and we’ve travelled 200kms.
We’ve got to get moving. (At no more than 100kms an hour.)
As it turns out, the 100kms an hour thing was tested and we’ve be going faster.
The next major town shares the name of our driver. It is also called Gokwe.
We stop for fuel.
I ask Mr Gokwe how he came to have the same name as the town. He tells me his (much longer full name) was actually Gorwe, but an error in a processing center resulted I the change. Apparently other members of his family have now adopted the changed form.
In Gokwe we also pick up a local pastor who will now accompany us to Siakobvo. He informs us we have three hours of travel, the last over 50 kilometers of dirt road.
It doesn’t matter what time it is or where you are, there are always people by the side of the road in Zimbabwe. Cattle graze alongside, or on, the roadways; oxen or donkeys pull carts; goats can be found in every yard which surrounds the huts which mushroom across the countryside.
As promised, the last fifty kilometers are dirt, more actually fine red dust and large stones. We travel a little faster than would be advisable; the Jesus movie is supposed to start showing at 6.00pm, we will arrive after that.
Setting up the audio visual equipment in the semi-dark goes as well as can be expected. A generous person has provided Isaac with a wooden cabinet/chest which contains a video projector, DVD player, amplifier with storage space for speakers which mount on the sides do the aluminum frame screen. The projector shines through the back, so the audience can sit all around the display.
Isaac starts with a general introduction and a song, with the others joining in. He then introduces the evangelist who also speaks briefly, and then the movie starts.
Through the program the crowd continues to grow, people making their way along and remaining for the duration. By the end there are a couple of hundred people watching.
Afterwards, Isaac gives a strong address and then invites those who wish to pray a prayer of commitment to come forward. Many do. He then introduces us all to the crowd, who then disperse.
We then had a (very) late supper cooked for us by the evangelist’s wife.
I’ll fill you in in the rest of the trip later.