SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS

My husband Bob and I traveled to Africa in November with a team of 12, including six United Methodist pastors, from Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia. Each day we were faced with a new adventure, some warm and uplifting and others heartbreaking and emotionally draining.

We spent time in Mutare, Zimbabwe, at Africa University, which was started 15 years ago by The United Methodist Church (UMC). The university gives 1,250 young adults the skills to make a difference. One morning while visiting the university, we were told that the students were truly blessed that morning. For the first time in two months, they had bread at breakfast. This was quite a joy for the students, but the kitchen staff was upset because they were now getting up at 2 a.m. to start looking for food each day to feed the students.

The country is in great political turmoil, but in spite of this, many of the people wear great smiles. As one of the university staff told me, “They are happy because we are not at war, and things could be so much worse.” We were reminded each day that we need to begin our day with a prayer of thanks to God for all we have, and we need to live each day in the moment and one day at a time.

We also went to the Old Mutare orphanage and hospital (these facilities are funded by the UMC) as well as another orphanage about 45 minutes away where 600 children went to school and were cared for. Each child had one or both of their parents who died from AIDS. The experience was one that is too difficult emotionally to describe.

I experienced many joys on this trip, but two days stand out. I was able to present gifts to the orphanage that had been generously donated by families where I work and by our doctor’s office. I took as many pictures as possible of the children and the “house Mom” and “Auntie” who care for the children. After our visit to the orphanage, we went to the hospital. That morning, three new babies came into the world. I was able to take their pictures.

We were without electricity that day, so I was unable to print the pictures until the next day. I printed more than 40 pictures to take back to the new moms and to give to the children at the orphanage. One of the new moms kept looking at the picture, and all she could do was hold it joyously and laugh. That moment made the trip perfect! Something we take for granted when a new child is born in the United States in our state-of-the-art hospitals was of such joy to them. This trip renewed my faith in the outreach of the UMC and gave me time to pause and continue to thank God for all He does.

— Tina Harkness

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist