Mother and Son Make The World Their Classroom for a School Year: October 2, 2014

This morning there was a change of plans since Brother Nield wasn't feeling well. Rachel took him to the Doctor's and we hung out and played games and Sam got caught up on his blog. We taught Samuel and Elijah Bamboozle as we sat on their tramp under a large tree in their yard. I spent some time visiting as well with a couple of young members of the LDS Church who had come to the Nield's home to receive their Patriarchal Blessing. This blessing is something unique I believe to our faith. You receive one in your life by a Patriarch, which Reg Nield has been called to be. It is a very sacred calling because you are asked to give young men and women you often don't know blessings that we believe are from our loving Heavenly Father about our lives as individual daughters or sons of God. It is something sacred that you can read and can give you guidance in your life. Each one is different and specific to that person. Since Patriarch Nield wasn't at home a young man and woman were waiting to receive theirs. It gave me an opportunity to visit with this 24 year old girl and a 21 year old young man who was leaving on his mission for our church to South Africa. His name was Craigen and her name was Lavinia. I was so impressed by these two and especially this boy who joined the LDS church in high school and has worked hard to prepare for his mission and is so excited about serving for 2 years. It was touched by his desire to serve.

In the afternoon after Rachel had returned we headed out of town for about 1 hr and a half. We met up with a local minister who had told Rachel about this orphanage and we were going to and asked for some support. Eyes4Zimbabwe mission is really to help those that are in need but also they prefer to target those that have the least. We were also bringing a few dentists with us that were going to do oral exams and extractions on those that might need it. We were all piled into the truck with the items we were going to deliver, and I mean piled ;) and we met up with the minister in the center of town that took 2 of our group.

Rachel will be a rally car driver one day and I think Sam hopes to be her navigator;) We got pulled over by a police group about an hour out of town and they wanted to fine Rachel for too many people in the car, but she explained what we were doing and the mission we were on and they let us go. When we arrived at the orphanage it had many less children than expected and it was in good condition and the children all looked healthy. We all unloaded boxes and then the dentists set up a clinic. They looked at each of the children's teeth and had to pull only one tooth that was rotten and aching in an older teen. They ran an oral hygiene clinic. We put a stack together for each child that had a blanket, a stuffed animal, a wooden car toy, and then a bible, pad of paper, 2 pencils and 2 pens and a couple photos of Christ, three bars of soap and they all received a hand towel, a toothbrush, toothpaste and a comb. Sam and I sat on the ground and sorted the items into piles with Rachel and then he went off to find the pigs. Before we left the children sang a few songs, there were a couple of prayers, the ministers there said a few words and Rachel said a few words. She spoke about how these items were for them specifically, each child. That the Bible will help them find answers in their lives and will give them direction. She expressed God's love for each of them. We said goodbye to the children and then headed back on our hour and a half drive home.

It was dark and Rachel has a keen eye and spirit for seeking out those in need. As we drove we saw several children with tattered clothes on and she would pull over and offer them a change of clothes. She operated by see a need, meet it. From even in the town buying peaches from someone on the road at a stoplight and then at the next stoplight hand them to a mother with a baby on her back that was looking for support. It opened my eyes to how to serve so many.

That evening we got back late, after dark. We piled out of the truck and prayed there would be some water to take showers since the water situation hadn't been totally resolved. Sam took a quick cold one and then we joined the Nields for dinner. Another tasty meal that was prepared without electricity that day. I felt badly for the Nields. One thing is having no electricity often, another was their water gone. They have learned to roll with it. We were all a bit exhausted. After teaching Reg and Iris Bamboozle at their card table after dinner, we headed right to bed.