The
Carvers were very excited when we asked if they would like to do this and
whatever money was collected would go to help feed more orphans. Immediately,
they wanted to buy tickets. We promised to come several times to allow them to
participate. The tickets were $1. each with a limit of 10 tickets per person.
May 10th was the lucky day set and tickets went on sale.
(CJ & Sidney at table selling tickets)
We
were not overwhelmed with sales as even one dollar for them was hard to come by.
But they very badly wanted this opportunity. Their carvers' committee made up of
Vusa, Kumbirai, Bonzo, and Denzel, and others
told
us the next day that they all had many discussions about this bike and how
amazing they felt that one of them would actually win it! They also discussed
what the second and third prizes might be.
We
hadn't thought about that! We searched through our belongings decided is a
donated smart phone for prize #two and acquired an electric tea pot for prize
#three. Because we had T-Shirts left, a fourth prize was a "family of
T-Shirts." One for Papa carver, one for Moma, and two little ones.
When
we told them there were 4 prizes they clapped, hooted and hollered for joy. Then
there were excited conversations about what those prizes might be since we told
them it was a surprise.
Sale
of tickets continued as the days went on with the guys virtually seeing
themselves being a winner.
(Ticket sales)
Finally,
the big day came. We had collected $104. From a group of almost 40 men. They
were fairly trembling with excitement and they chose Wayne, their beloved
"Madala" (respected old man) to draw the magic number.
(Wayne drawing ticket from a pitcher)
He reached his hand in the pitcher and
stirred the tickets. There was a hushed silence as if their collective breath
was held in anticipation, to avoid missing the call. Sidney read off the
number... Nothing. She read it again very loudly. Everyone rechecked their
tickets... Nothing! The tension was like a contained explosion. Then Sidney
read the number for the third and final time... all eyes 👀
scanned the group of carvers. There might be hope for them again.
When
suddenly Shingai Chipunza burst through the crowd waving his ticket!!
"It's
mine! It's mine!! I won it!!!" He ran up and down the length of the circled
carvers. Finally he grabbed the bike, lifted it above his head and did a dance
of jubilation, spun around and sprinted into a victory run around all of us.
Everyone was caught up in his exuberant frenzy!
(The winner)
Shingai
won transportation that he never dreamed he could have.
(Winner of cell phone)
Maxwell
Chipunza won the cell phone and he had never hoped to own one. He said it would
help him sell his art work.
(Winner of the electric tea pot)
Vincent Lungawon the electric tea pot; he
dearly loves his tea and his old pot had just "given up the ghost" on him.
(Winner of the T-Shirts)
Admire Mzwazwa won the family of shirts. The other
carvers tried to get him to give them the shirts because he had no family. But
Admire vigorously replied, "I will go out and get me a family today!"
The
whole group was in need, yet they were able to buy food for hungry children who
had even less than them. It made them very proud.
(The group Happy for the winners)
What was most striking to us was how happy
the ones who did not win a prize were for the ones who did. It was as if they
could experience the winner's joy as their own. They truly celebrated the good
fortune of the prize winners and were honestly happy for them. It was one of
the most unselfish displays of goodwill I have ever witnessed. So.., the
conclusion is, everyone was a Winner!
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