We made it safely into the kind and very experienced arms of Pastor Frikkie and Juanita de Jager. They have been doing missionary work throughout Southern Africa for the last 40 years. They have survived wars and persevered to build two orphanages, one in Zimbabwe called Maninga Village and the other just outside Chimoio, called Villa Maninga.
Villa Maninga is not an institution. It does not rely on the government funding. It is funded by donations only and the hard work of the volunteering locals.
It is a thriving project because of the community it has created. The church started the orphanage, which then lead to the school, which incorporated the community and so it grew.
Elezeu, the foster father of the orphanage, works constantly with a smile. He has children of his own, but shows paternal love to all the orphans.
The orphanage is run like a family unit because the chances of adoption are very slim.
The culture frowns on adoption because it breaks the link with the ancestral spirits, so Villa Maninga gives them a home with love.
Frikkie and Juanita have been so kind and entertaining, helping us with so much and also motivating us with our cause.
They had to return to South Africa, but have left us in the care of Elezeu, who has been like a father to us to. He has gone out of his way to make sure we got our 30 days extension in our passports. That is a story on its own.
Elezeu also insisted that we stay an extra day because he feels that we have not rested. Well here I am restfully typing out a blog for you.
Now all at once,”Thank-you Elezeu!”
On our first night we met Father Joe Moffat from the Anglican parish of Chelsea, London. It felt strange meeting a man of the cloth so young. Father Joe is 35 ,married and has two lovely children back in Chelsea. Its the fear of stepping out of line in the company of a priest that probably makes it strange. Silly I know but habit.
He put that all at ease when he insisted I call him Joe and to lighten up because he is not God, only his friend and messenger.
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