CHIRONGA & KARANDA HOSPITAL

THE TRIP

The next day, Thursday January 15th, was going to be another long day as we piled back into the van and headed for Karanda. This trip we were only going to be about 8 people (Lynn & Judy, along with Rebecca, Bud Jackson, Francis Mpindu, Anna Mortensen, a new nurse in Zimbabwe and Dad and I), so fit comfortably into the one Hiace van. The abundant rains though meant that we would have to take the long way around to Karanda via the high bridge over the Ruya River, therefore a little extra time travelling. On our way, we were observing the changes that had taken place through the years in Mazoe and the Mining areas around Bindura. Although there were a few citrus areas, the vast majority of them had been replaced with fields of Maize, tobacco and or other staple crops. Many of the mines in those areas were no longer even in service. As we went through Bindura we had to drive by the old TEAM Bindura house that Lynn and Judy had lived in as well as Jacksons and others, but we almost didn’t make it there, trying to navigate through the extensive potholed streets.

With every town we entered or left, we encountered the ever present police roadblocks, but as before, there was seldom a delay with our ever present “Karanda Hospital” sign smoothing the way. It was amusing to watch the policeman’s eyes as they first raised their hand to have us stop and then see them glance down at the side door, see the sign and promptly wave us on . . . sometimes some of their comrades, on the side, even giving out a cheerful holler “Karanda”. Arriving at the high Ruya bridge we could see that we had made the right decision and watched as the chocolate, rain fuelled river roared below... what memories that brought back for all of us. Then next ½ hour was story after story connected to that river and others and how they affected our lives and ministries.

CHIRONGA STATION

Not much later we were passing Mt. Chironga and climbing the hill up to the turn off to Karanda or Chironga. We had decided earlier that we were going to drive in to the Chironga Station to look around and see if we could find the grave sites from the past. The Ratzlaffs had buried a baby boy there, and Dick Dunkeld was also buried there after he passed away in the ‘70’s, while serving as a missionary. The roads and access were significantly changed on the station and it initially proved difficult to identify which were the original houses and what had been added since we left. We could recognize most of the school buildings from the past and then a brief walk past a Baobab tree and some of the sharper minds quickly solved the mystery. We did, however, ask one of the young boys around if he knew where the graves were. Of course he did and promptly led us on a walk directly to them. There were a few bushes growing near, but the area was surprisingly accessible, with still a wonderful view of the valley and Chironga mountain beyond. As we prepared to leave a couple of men with their plough and oxen team came by. They wondered if we knew or remembered the Driedgers and the one man said he was young Wayne Driedger’s age. This was a brief stop, but it enabled us to reminisce about the numerous ones who had died through the early years or had lost children, while serving the Lord in Zimbabwe.

KARANDA HOSPITAL

Karanda is more significantly built up than most of us remembered and the entrance was now strategically situated next to a police building on the Station. For some of us the expansion included the large new guest facility, which is ideal for hosting the large short-term teams that frequently come to help. The expanded Nursing school and more facilities at the hospital, as well as more staff housing and the new school. The once open middle area of the station is now utilized fully. As we arrived at the guest house and unloaded we realized that we had a brief enough window to run up the “airstrip” (it is now overgrown or planted with fields) to Mufundisi Chisaya’s village to see his daughter, Esnati, Lynn Everswick’s nanny, when he was a child. What a beautiful sunset it was as we walked and looked out over Mt. Darwin and the huge expanse between Karanda and there. As we entered the village Esnati had the most phenomenal reaction to seeing Lynn and Dad. She tried to do the traditional greeting for a moment, but then just succumbed and began hugging them both . . . and hollering as only an African lady can. She was so excited and was begging us to stay for supper, but we already had a prior commitment with the missionary staff.

We returned back down to the guest house before it was completely dark and in time to enjoy a dinner with Dan & Julie Stephens and the all the nurses, plus Esther McCloy Oliver, who was out helping Julie get the new term started at the school for all the staff children. This school was far larger than we had expected and it has the challenge that they need teachers to help relieve Julie of all the responsibility. We were treated to another sadza meal, before we gathered with the hospital and missionary staff for prayer meeting. With the 8 of us visitors joining and all the staff, it was a wonderful time of prayer together; bringing specific local requests and broad reaching and far off needs also. This time together gave us the opportunity to meet some of the newer staff and the National Zimbabwean doctor as well as reconnect with old friends like Dorothy Chirindu (now the hospital matron) and Friday Chimukangara. That night our only complaint was that there was no water for a bath or shower as they couldn’t pump water. The power had been off for most of the week and they had used up the entire diesel reserves for the generator powering the hospitals needs. When I usually sit in Canada and imagine I can easily go a day without a shower, my mind has usually forgotten how my body acts in HOT, HUMID weather, after a long day in a stuffy van. I usually forget that OTHERS would like me to shower even more than I would. Well, we did survive that hygiene challenge, but were glad when we eventually did shower, back in Harare.

Friday morning started early as we had been invited to go with the nursing students and staff to sing in the wards at 7am, in lieu of the regular morning devotions. The sound of singing coming from all wards, through open windows and doors, soon permeates the hospital grounds. After the singing, we visitors spent some time looking around and Lynn and Judy’s group passed out some food snacks and prayed with patients. We were surprised the hospital was not full at all considering that the countries entire medical system had collapsed and the government hospitals in Harare and elsewhere were all closed (Some of the factors that caused the closing of the government hospitals were the lack of supplies and medications, but also because the doctors, nurses and staff wanted to be paid more and in foreign currency). This has put a huge burden on the Mission Hospitals because the regular city people and rural people couldn’t afford the exorbitant fees at the still functioning private hospitals. Before Christmas , Karanda was swamped and strained to keep up. When we inquired as to why Karanda was not full, we were given too speculative reasons. One was that it was usual that right after New Year, things were slower, but the second main reason they felt was that the buses and transport providers were now demanding their fares in foreign currency. How could a poor rural person afford to pay in a currency that they have no access to, never mind that the fee would be equivalent to a couple months’ income?