ZIMBABWE COMES TO MICHIGAN (April 17, 2017)

Helping Hands Touching Hearts Charity is in the final processes of preparing for our return.  We first want to thank all of you because you have opened your heart to help some incredible people.  There are so many grateful hearts your generosity has touched. Wayne, CJ, I, and our Board of Trustees are grateful for you all. 

OUR AFRICAN VISITORS

Gladys & Dadani Ndlovu took their very first flight to fulfill their lifetime dream of coming to America.  They were delightful guests in our home for 2 weeks. Wayne and I tried to give them the “American Experience,” like McDonalds, a Road Trip, Movies, Tea Party, Southern Hospitality, finding out Americans are loving, fun and helpful to each other. 

Gladys and Dadani in prayer meeting at Kenwood Church.

I will share highlights with photos. They are the founders of Dadani Technological and Vocational School in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (where HHTH started a library). Their main thrust is to teach the children in society who think they are useless, to learn vocational skills that gives them ability to make a living if they do not choose a technological direction. This all started with a Welcoming Committee in which many of our Church members and friends came to Welcome the Ndlovu’s to our country. 

L to R Laurie Wilhoit, Todd Lackie, Judy Kvash, Paula Lackie & Debbie Ryan.

The secret Road Trip ended in Kentucky where a life-size version of Noah’s Ark and the Creation Museum took their breath away. Passes were generously given by Bonnie and David Murphy, Chaplains in this area.  

They marveled at this largest timber structure in the world, as we worked our way through 3 floors of the Ark seeing how the animals were cared for and living quarters of the family, among many other amazing things they saw the reality of much of what they are  fighting in their country, and happy to see others were being made aware of it here.

The ravages of malnutrition is an ever present, heartbreaking problem. The Highlight was to personally meet Mr. Ken Ham, the Visionary and CEO of these two projects.  

Meeting Mr. Ken Ham

The Ndlovu’s are members of the Pentecostal Church so we took them to see the Brightmoor Church in Novi, where the Leader of Missions, Mrs. Liza Munro very graciously spoke with them about the  Church in this area, how it is structured, and answered their many probing questions. 

They saw their first movie ever, thanks to the kind heart of Karen Sanford.  And Clark, her husband took Dadani to Macy's for a really handsome suit.

Though “mealie” is their staple, Gladys immediately with  powdered donuts and Arnold Palmer Tea.  CJ made sure she had plenty to take home.

Dadani and Gladys spoke to Kenwood Church and thanked us for all the books in their new library.

The children would never step foot in a library were it not for what everyone did to make this library possible.  The community is also free to come in and check out books as this is “the only library in town.” 

The community is also free to come in and check out books as this is “the only library in town.”  They sang us a beautiful gratitude song, “Thank You Jesus, Amen.”

Then came the fun Tea Party attended by many wonderful people.  

Just a few above are L to R Bonnie (who is recuperating from a fall while there) & David Murphy, Steve & Donna Pettiford (who sponsor 2 of our orphans in Zimbabwe) and Wayne & Sidney. 

Shopping in Meijers, which they have nothing like in Vic Falls.

Dadani tried to convince Gladys to buy drab black walking shoes. But  she went for the “glow in the dark” pair and doesn’t want to take them off. They were most impressed with getting to meet so many of our friends and family.  Gladys commented how friendly and free we all were.  They both felt very welcomed in our country. 

L to R Gladys, my grandson, Jacob, and Dadani.

Jacob wanted to help their school, so he brought them a “tablet,” then he and my son Jerry went out and bought them a vehicle diagnostic machine to use in the car repair shop named JJ after them.

We even put them to work helping us pack boxes for our shipment to South Africa.  The boxes will leave on Monday, April 17th.  They will be happy recipients of some of the boxes themselves.

CJ, Gladys, and Dadani packing clothes to ship to Africa.

Saturday, Gladys and Dadani were exposed to our Family Fun night.  My 3 children, CJ, Jerry, and Brett, with their mates Darrell, Janet and Renee got together for Pizza, fun and visiting.  It was fun to talk about life here and there.  It is quite different, yet rewarding to know we are all humankind simply striving to create a good life, with love, values and kindness.  

They also celebrated Easter with CJ & Darrell Christopher’s family.  A tradition CJ and Darrell started several years ago. Gladys and Dadani are very family oriented, so this was a touching experience.  He said, “I feel God’s love and spirit in the sharing of our Easter meal."

We are now only a few days from “adios” date.  This is what it looked like starting the serious packing.  

L to R, Dadani, Tom Plotkowski (who volunteers to help HHTH whenever he can) 
Wayne and Gladys.  CJ and I were also part of this crew.

Todd, in the middle, and our Kenwood's Chairman of the Board wrote letters to help Gladys and Dadani get into America, which has been truly amazing for them.  I want to recognize just a few of the things Todd has done to help.  He is running off copies of a coloring book for the orphans, helped me create the itinerary for our lovely visitors to maximize their time here,  welcomed them to speak at Kenwood to thank the congregation for the library, and continuously supports HHTH in our work in Africa. 

It would be hard to do without a whole lot of champions who make our work there so fruitful.

Only a few remaining tasks to be done before boarding for a TWO day flight.  We select amongst our home pharmacy what we will need in the Bush to help ourselves and others.

We will be loading the 60 or so boxes into a U-Haul trailer to take to Romulus to get on their way to South Africa.  Some for Zimbabwe. If you want to help pack a trailer, come on down!  I will love getting them out of my house and on their way to AF-RI-CA!!

BUT!! One last surprise!  A little auburn haired pixie visited us this very morning to give Gladys and Dadani a special send off gift.

We were blessed with a personal performance of “Kapiti on the Plain.”  So, Gladys and Dadani will giggle their way back to Zimbabwe every time they think of Barbie Weisserman making the hic ups, raining, mooing, stork-like sounds of Kapiti On ThePlain.  Thank you for the magic Barbie.

We take our precious friends to the airport tomorrow, then we fly into the African sunset on Thursday.  Please keep all of us in your prayers as we travel and get into our work there.  God bless you as you go about your life here.

Next blog, from “the bush!”  See you there...