Mvurwi at the Tumu's

 The dichotomy of Africa, we visited Persuade's family in Mvruwi in a poor compound of farmers. Persuade's mom, Sumeni Tumu, and his grandpa, who is 97 years old. 2023.07.15

    We spent our Saturday enjoying acquaintances. First, we had a lovely lunch at "Amore" with Pres. Maziofa and his wife, Pres. & Sister Judd, and Guy & Roz Petersen's (Humanitarian missionary couple). The restaurant is hidden away in some gardens with some fun ceramic, lotion/soap/candle, vegan, and clothing stores. Definitely the higher end of living in Africa. We enjoyed each other's company and I had a delicious lamb and sundried tomato pasta dish. The Maziofa's are a fairly young couple with 3 children; he serves as the stake president of the East Harare Stake. What a delight to meet this amazing couple. He is a software engineer and helps with a church account on Pathway, the church's online university educational system.

A lovely luncheon at Aroma's with the Petersons, Maziofas, Andersons, and Judds

Pres. Maziofa and his wife, Bridgette. Don't they radiate of the gospel light? 2023.07.15

       After lunch, we drove about 1 hour 45 minutes to meet Persuade Arimoni in Mvurwi, where he grew up. His mother, aunt, and grandpa still live in this agricultural compound and small farming community. His mom lives there free but can't work due to caring for her 97-year-old father. Persuade met us in town and had purchased wholesale supplies for his mother to sell in her "tuck" shop. He saved up about $300.00 over 8 months to purchase goods then sells them to the neighborhood for a slightly marked-up price for a living. Persuade is an amazing son to feel a responsibility as the youngest son, to care for his elderly loved ones. What's amazing is the truck full of goods he was able to purchase on his very small salary of $10.00 per day. He is very frugal and lives off hardly anything; he pays $20.00/month rent for his small room in Chitungwiza. He's so proud to be independent and support his family too. He is a remarkable young man!

Little boys from the neighborhood compound; they wanted to make sure they got a treat for helping.

Persuade and his auntie, this is Lovemore's mother. She had Persuade work on her farm and plow with oxen the old fashion way.

Look at this cool kitchen. This is where Persuade's mom does all the cooking and makes sudsa.

Today was laundry day. I love seeing all the clothes hanging out to dry. Persuade's Rio Douro uniform was on the line.

We met Persuade's Grandpa Tumo, who is blind and 97 years young. He asked if we were "marungas" whites. He could tell by touching our hands and arms; especially Bruce's hair on his arms

I braved the only toilet facilities in Mvurwi; hey when you have to go- you have to go!

We helped carry in the "tuck" store goods for his mother Persudade had purchased wholesale. Bruce tried to carry some on his head the African way. The Tomu's got a good laugh out of it. Although very impoverished, the people are so happy. Persuade just shines with light in his eyes and smile. Persudade's mother asked Bruce to come to say a blessing over her store. They look at him as a holy man. He was happy to do so. Bruce told Persuade he shouldn't be selling cigarettes or alcohol, which he had bought to sell. He wondered why. We told him of the harmful effects they could have on people's health. Bruce told Persuade to pray about it to see if it was the right thing for him to sell. We read him D&C 9:8-9 on how to decern between right and wrong.

The neighborhood reed-lined dirt road in Mvurwi. The countryside was beautiful.

A little neighbor boy peeks out of fencing made with reeds in Mvurwi. 2023.07.15

My favorite photo was out the window during the drive in Mvurwi. I missed the oxen and wagon photo!

Typical African scene of the rural countryside and kamusha's (family huts) in the distance.

                                            Hello! A little boy waves to us as we drive by.

    We got home in the dark and braved downtown Harare. We pray daily we won't be hit or hit anyone. Bruce calls it "tolerance" driving now. It's crazy how they make a 2nd or 3rd right turn lanes or drive against the traffic to pass. We get nervous driving at night because Africans have black skin, wear black a lot, and blend into the environment. We would feel so terrible if we ever hit anyone. The Shona African people like to go out walking at night but there are no street lights; there is no "zesa" electricity in their homes either so that's why they probably roam the streets instead of staying in the dark at home.

Delight, Mario, Agness, Tafara, Persuade, Sydney, and Elder Anderson all learn the gospel together on HZT site. 2023.07.13

    We had an amazing devotional on Thursday at the temple site during the worker's lunch break. We've been teaching them every Thursday at about 1:15 p.m. It started out slow, but now 6-8 people come including our two new converts, Persuade and Agness. Mario Malenga, a member and returned missionary from Ghana, comes and interprets Shona. He's borne his testimony several times and is a great asset on the temple site. We usually show a short video about the gospel and keep it to 10 minutes.

Bruce taught Persuade how to tie a tie. Persuade's father died when he was only 8 years old. He calls Bruce "father" now. He's honored. 2023.07.14