 Report on Deaf Mission Team to Zimbabwe: 2003 |
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by Carol J. Stevens |
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Carol Stevens, Team Leader, shares some of the highlights of the Deaf Mission Team’s recent trip to Mutare and Manicaland, and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit that’s occurred since the first team went in 2000. First, thanks to everyone for their prayers for the team’s safety. Although there have been political demonstrations, shortages of food and petrol, and an unbelievable rate of inflation, our partners on the ground in Mutare, and Dr. Murapa, the President of Africa University, reassured us that conditions would be quiet. Thankfully, our partners had done an excellent job in securing transport and petrol for our mission. I give thanks that we decided to travel when we did, as timing is so crucial a factor to our mission. But unlike our earlier trip in 2000, this time our Conference, the Zimbabwe Annual Conference leadership, and the leaders at Africa University were aware of our mission and interested in the Deaf people of Zimbabwe. As soon as our team (Carolyn Sangrey, a professional clown from Pine Castle UMC in Orlando, Linda Mason, attorney from Brown’s Memorial Baptist Church in Baltimore, Rev. Leo Yates, Jr. of Magothy UMC of the Deaf, and I) touched down in Harare, we were able to schedule a meeting with Bishop Skeets, who was receptive and sincerely interested to our mission’s purpose. We shared our knowledge of the situation of Deaf people in Zimbabwe with him. Foremost was our concern that there has been no church--of any denomination--for Deaf people in the entire country. Shortly after our mission trip in 2000, the first Deaf community organization, “Sanganai,” was formed in Mutare at the site of Nzeve, the only Deaf preschool in Zimbabwe. The preschool’s leader, Libby Foster, is a wonderful woman beloved by the Deaf and anyone with contact with them. Currently, forty Deaf adult members are standardizing Zimbabwe sign language, developing leadership skills, and learning about everything from the marimba to HIV/AIDS. The new building, built in part with a grant from the UMC National Committee on Ministry with People who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Late Deafened, and Deaf-Blind, opened during our visit. It houses a classroom, a fellowship room, and a work project room. The Deaf ministry at the Sanganai Deaf Club, which is under the leadership of Pastor Amos Muyambo, has flourished. During our exploratory trip in 1999 and team trip in 2000, Pastor Mayambo was our God-given guide. He has since resigned as a teacher, and is attending the School of Theology at Africa University. After Deaf ministry worship workshops on visual worship, banner making, signed singing, and Deaf Bible drama, we all worshiped together using the new skills developed in the workshops. Deaf students, some traveling a distance of more than 2 hours, gathered to compete in the 3rd Annual Deaf Sports Day. The event, which we have helped to sponsor since its inception, coincided with our visit. This competition, which was started by Pastor Muyambo, is part of the effort to build community with the Deaf children. Our team then split into three groups; each group consisted of one mission team member and three Deaf Zimbabweans, who not only acted as sign language models and role models for the students, but led the classes as well. Each group was sent to work with Deaf children in their classes in Chipinge/Mt. Selinda, Mutambara, Mutare, and Munyaro. The class in Munyaro is the only Deaf secondary class in Manicaland Province. One of the most exciting parts of our trip was our continuing relationship with Africa University and Dr. Murapa. While preaching at the University Chapel service, my goal was to sensitize the congregation about Deaf people. I spoke of the Body of Christ, which cannot be truly complete unless all of its members, including the Deaf, are a part of the Body. Afterwards, we met with Dr. Murapa and Dr. Quarshie, the Dean of the Faculty of Education. They asked us how Africa University could be of assistance in Deaf Ministry. A course in the School of Theology on Ministry to People who are Deaf, and another on Ministry to People with Disabilities, was suggested. We also suggested that Africa University could transform the lives of many disabled people on the continent if they were to include courses on Special Education and Deaf Education. Three days later, Dr. Murapa, speaking at the opening of the Deaf building at Nzeve, announced Africa University’s intention to offer Special Education and Deaf Education courses beginning in September 2004. His announcement was met with a mixture of delight, joy, and thanks. It is my prayer that the members of the Board of Africa University will approve this potentially life-changing course of study. Finally, the reception by Conference leaders was extremely gratifying. We met with Bishop Skeete, his administrative assistant for the East, Rev. Philip Mapindu, D. S. John Rugayo, and others. We discussed Deaf ministry at local churches, as a Conference-wide resource to the whole church, funding, and other issues. After I met with Rev. Mapindu, he asked Pastor Amos Muyambo to write a proposal for Deaf ministry for the Zimbabwe Annual Conference. We had a “thank you” celebration on our last night which allowed those most involved to meet and mix with one another. The dinner, accompanied by mbera, a traditional musical instrument, and traditional dancers, was attended by people from the Conference, members of Africa University, Deaf adults, and our team. It is our prayer that this group will unite to bring Christ to the Deaf people of Zimbabwe and to improve the lives of Deaf children and adults. We thank God for inviting us on this second mission team with the Deaf of Zimbabwe. We rejoice in the transforming work of the Holy Spirit which is performing wondrous miracles in the lives of the Deaf community. Please keep Zimbabwe and the nation’s Deaf people in your prayers. Carol J. Stevens is a missionary of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church assigned through the 10-10-10 program to the Deaf Shalom Zone in the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference.
Date posted: Sep 22, 2003 |
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