Visit to Mtshabezi Mission

The first BIC missionaries started in Africa in 1898.  Since the railway had just been completed from Cape Town to Bulowayo, they set up the first mission in Bulowayo.  It always started with a church (mission), then a school would be built, and then a hospital would be built.  Mitopo Mission was the first mission established in Zimbabwe.  After it’s start in 1898, a year later, they baptized their first 10 believers.  Mtshabezi Mission was the second mission started.

On Wednesday, we visited Mtshabezi Mission.  MT was our guide for the day.  He was extremely helpful in giving us the various tours and answering my many questions.  MT actually completed all of his schooling here as a child.  Mtshabezi Mission has a primary school, secondary school and EBI (Ekuphileni Bible Institute…ekuphileni means “at the place of life”). 

the cattle on the Mission

Bridget, me and MT

The primary school has from grade 0-7.  There are about 630 students in primary school.  There are about 900 students at the secondary school.  During our visit at the secondary school, we were served a breakfast and tea (we didn’t know we would be eating…we had eaten breakfast a few hours prior to that at Jake and Nancy’s house!).  They served hard boiled eggs, bread, butter, jam and beans, along with the tea.  I wasn’t quite sure what to do with all of the food or how to eat it—they didn’t give us utensils or plates.  So, after asking MT, I made a bean sandwich (another first!) 

At the secondary class, they also have a class for special needs.  One of the classes even had a visually impaired teacher.  I was extremely impressed with the respect shown to her by the students. 

Primary School

Class at Primary School

Our "second" breakfast

The church on the Mission

The hospital on the Mission

EBI is the backbone of the BIC church here.  All leaders trained go out and serve as pastors.  There are about 20 students at EBI.  While they are in school, they are also learning other skills like gardening, carpentry and raising chickens.  

After our visits to the schools, we ended at The Farm.  They raise many cattle as well as grow many different plants and vegetables to sell.  The people there are really learning and doing well with selling their produce.

The foreman for the farm

other workers at the farm

We ended our time with lunch at EBI (just 2 hours after eating our second breakfast!).  It was nice to visit with many of the teachers.  It was also fun to find out that MT and Alex (another teacher there) knew some of our co-workers in PA.  They are sending their greetings back with us.

Bridget and me during lunch

me and Alex

We returned home late in the afternoon and made a quick trip to shop for a few souvenirs.  We enjoyed supper with Jake and Nancy and an evening spent with their Bible Study group studying Elijah.

This entire trip has been such a helpful and meaningful experience to me.  For so many years, I have heard about all of these places, schools, missions, etc., and now I have actual experiences to share related to all of these locations.  I have a much better understanding of the BIC work in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.  I have been learning so much.  Most days, I go to bed exhausted just trying to absorb and process all of the things I’ve seen and have been learning.  It has also been such a joy to spend time with each of the global workers in each of the areas.  What a wealth of knowledge and experience they all have!  Such humble servants of God!  I have much to learn from all of them as well.

It’s hard to believe that tomorrow is our last day here and we soon return home!  I am in awe of all that I have seen!