Auntie Tete and the plow: The Arimoni Kamusha in Mvuranhema

 

Here's the new meaning of being "yoked", Mathew 11:29-30, "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

    We spent the day in Mvuranhema visiting Persuade's auntie Tete (Margaret) Armoni. Bruce had wanted to learn to plow a field the old-fashioned way with oxen. It was quite an amazing experience! Wonderful people! Persuade showed us his father's kamusha and where he attended secondary school. We loved every minute of learning new African culture.

    We set out Saturday morning to meet Persuade then head on a dirt road to an isolated farming community in Mvuranhema, where Persuade's Auntie Tumu lives. This is Persuade's father's kamusha and his aunt raised him on her farmlands. Bruce had wanted to learn to plow the old-fashioned way with oxen and Persuade invited us to come try it out. Along the way, we stopped at Persuade's Secondary School (7th-12th grade), although Persuade never finished high school. We met some high school students doing some extra studying on a Saturday. Bruce had 2 Books of Mormon and he taught the group about the restoration. The school looked abandoned with broken windows and much need of repair. You could tell it must have been a nice farmer's home during the prosperous Rhodesia times. Most of the white farmers were kicked off their farms during military force in 2018. We've met many families who were affected during this takeover. The military told the prosperous farmers they had 24-48 hours to leave or it would be taken by force. They were never compensated. Rhodesia once was the bread basket of Africa. They still grow many fruits and vegetables. When the farms were taken over, the Africans who were given the land didn't know how to farm or do the agricultural things they needed. Most went to the wayside and are no longer productive farms. The Nields tell me Rhodesia was beautiful with well-kept streets and no litter back in the 1980s. Now it's gone a bit backward in time, with little street repairs, traffic lights out of order, and razor wire on every estate's high protective walls. Kind of sad.

Persuade's Old Classroom, he also showed us the school bell and how to ring it.

We often see the "Mazoe" congregations outside worshipping under trees. The are dressed in white and have a leader, portraying Moses or Elijah with a staff. They are very dedicated and pray into the night Thursday-Sunday. I love seeing these beautiful faithful people in their white gowns.

Below, is the Muzhnje tree with the yellow fruit in my hand. The larger fruit is from the Mutamba tree, and the fruit turns from green to yellow. It's called the "monkey orange". The shell is hard but the monkeys crack them open against rocks to enjoy this citrus-like fruit inside. This man showed us a monkey fruit along the side of the road as Persuade explained it to us.

Beautiful yellow trumpet tree in full bloom! We met some of Persuade's classmates and relatives along the side of the dirt roads traveling to his Aunt's place. Everyone was so friendly and wanted their photos taken. 2023.09.07

Meet Persuade's Auntie Tumu, a delightful woman in her 50s who farms the area and allowed us to try out the oxen. She had a large kitchen hut, chickens and pigeons, and a vegetable garden. She was self-sufficient and helped to raise Persuade. He grew up learning to plow and plant and really wants to be a farmer someday. She had this amazing axe with Persuade's father, Issac Amos's initials on it. Persuade showed us the fine art of using it and we asked if we could buy it from her. For $10.00 it was ours, so we paid her $15.00 and brought it back with us as a real treasure.

Kitchen Stove Dishwasher

Auntie Tumu, the salt of the "earth". I loved her feet showing a hard-working woman!

We loved these ancient farm tools, still in use today.

Getting the plow ready for use.

Persuade showed us his father, Amos, and Grandfather Arimoni's graves. They were buried just behind the farm house in simple graves with mounds. We had just done the temple work for these men in Johannesburg. It was a privilege to honor them at their burial site.

We walked with Persuade to collect the oxen. Four little boys (relatives) came herding the cattle along the dirt road with sticks. They seemed to know just how to handle these beasts even at their very young ages, 11, 10, 8, and 5. The older boy, even helped yoke the oxen and guide us. I gave them some apples we had in the truck for a treat they enjoyed.

Yoking up the oxen and ready to plow!

Bruce, Persuade, and I each took a turn around the field in circular motions plowing with the oxen and hand plow. It was an amazing opportunity and I felt like a true pioneer.

After plowing, we walked down to Persuade's father's kamusha, where he actually lived. It was sobering to see where he died in Persuade's arms in 2019. Persuade's cousin, Prince now stays there.

Persuade showed his auntie and neighbors his photos on his phone of his great Johannesburg trip. It was so fun to see them all gathered around the phone in complete awe. We bid goodbye to Autie Tete and the neighborhood relatives and were off to visit Mvurwe to see Persuade's mom and grandpa. We continued to stop to see friends and relatives along the dirt road that Persuade knew along the way. Everyone was so friendly and wanted their pictures taken with the marungas. When we got to Persuade's mom's kamusha in Mvurwe all the neighborhood children peeked around the corner to see us. A nearby pastor was visiting his mom and said "Look at the children, they have never seen a white person before!" At that, I got up and greeted each one of them with a friendly handshake.

Persudae's mother, Sumini Tumu and his 98-year-old blind grandfather Tumu. It was our second visit and they were welcoming with open arms. Persuade shows such love and respect for his family. Mvruri is about 2 hours from Harare where we stay. We loved visiting this rural population.

    Mazoe women walking home after Saturday worship. They showed me how they wrapped their babies on their backs. They were delightful to visit with that Saturday afternoon of adventure!

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