Information for Visitors

General Information:

AIDS is a major problem in Zimbabwe with an estimated 40% of the general adult population infected. Studies of pregnant women have shown the rate to be as high as 70% in some parts of the country. Voluntary testing is offered at the hospital as well as a program for pregnant mom’s to get a one dose antiviral drug to decrease the rate of transmission to the newborn baby. AIDS education and prevention programs are an important part of work in schools and churches and other community groups. Home Care for terminally ill patients with AIDS is offered by the hospital. There are no anti-retrovirals available for the general population of Zimbabwe. Many people die of AIDS in Zimbabwe —500 a week, it is estimated.

We feel very strongly that AIDS is passed through sexual intercourse and mother to baby transmission and not through casual contact. If you are afraid of working with AIDS patients or ministering to them—don’t come! This is a big part of our ministry.

The hospital has X-ray and Laboratory facilities, as well as a fully equipped theater (operating room). We do major and minor operations. We should be able to handle any illness or emergency of visitors, if not, there are trauma centers in Harare with medical evacuation facilities available from Chidamoyo—day or night (we have an airstrip). You should either have insurance that covers you outside of the US or bring enough money to put up front for private hospitals here ($200 US).

There is a national doctor at Chidamoyo, Dr. Jono Mbangani, who is the Medical Superintendent and in charge of medical decisions at the hospital. We have a hospital staff of 50+ people including nurses and unqualified staff.. I am the only American at the mission.

The main purpose of this hospital is that it will be a tool for medical evangelism, a way into the community and into people lives to share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ and how he changes their lives. All programs at the hospital and mission are there to accomplish this mission. Through daily devotions, chaplains and staff working with the patients, praying with them and offering spiritual care as well as physical care; we hope to reach our goal. Weekly Bible studies and church services also foster evangelism at a personal level for each patient and staff member and the community. We have 43 churches in our area that we are responsible for with 8 evangelists.

Work Schedule:

07:30—Devotions at the hospital with staff and patients
07:45—Get daily assignments
08:00—Radio contact with Chinhoyi
08:00-10:30—In-patient rounds (or work schedule for non-medical people)
10:30-11:00—Teatime
11:00-1:00 p.m.—work
1-2 p.m.—Lunch
2-4:30 or 5 p.m.—Work (until we are done!)
5-6:30 p.m.—Free time (maybe), sports, TV, prepare for dinner
6:30 p.m.—Dinner

Tuesday and Fridays: 4:30 p.m. — Singing and praying with patients Wednesday: 7-8 p.m — Bible study from
Fridays: 7 p.m. — Group prayer time
Sundays: 10:00 a.m. — church at Chidamoyo
Sundays: 6 p.m. — church at hospital

Electricity:

We are on 220 volts and so no American appliances work here unless through a transformer, which we have some here. There are blow dryers, curling irons, and most appliances here for you to use. Most video cameras and digital cameras and laptop computers work on 110 or 220 volts and don’t need transformers. We now have electricity (since June 2002) but there are occasional times when it goes out, but we have a back up generator that we can use for electricity (if we have diesel) at the hospital.

Money:

The Zimbabwe dollar (based on 100 cents to a dollar) is the form of currency in the country. It is illegal to give US money to any person in Zimbabwe except to pay for hotels, or in banks, or to me J! Major credit cards are accepted at all businesses here but come through at the official rate of 1:824 and I can get 1:6000 as of December 2003, so I don’t advise using credit cards. You can bring Travelers checks or personal checks to cash with you or you can put money in my US account ahead of time to use here. Bring only traveler checks, there have been roadblocks to take away foreign currency.

Correspondence:

People can write letters and send you packages to you at the hospital address: put your name and then Chidamoyo Christian Hospital P.O. Box 330 Karoi, Zimbabwe. Count on 10-14 days to reach here by airmail. Mail from Zimbabwe to US takes 2 weeks to 2 years! Any packages that arrive after you leave we claim (only if they have candy and goodies in them)!

Important:

The most important thing I can share with you is that you must be flexible and expect the unexpected! Life is slower and much less efficient in Zimbabwe, but we try not to get upset or worried about that—in fact it can be a great source of humor and material for a book!L We live life at a slower pace here. So don’t come with the time constraints of American life or you will go crazy very fast! Slow down and enjoy it—you’ll live longer!

Caution:

The economy in Zimbabwe is very bad and there is a lot of thievery in Harare and tourist places. You must watch out for pickpockets at all times. Keep cameras and videos in your possession at all times—don’t leave unattended or in a car. Don’t let anyone you don’t know help, hold or carry things for you. We have very friendly and outgoing thieves here! When you arrive in the airport and are picking up luggage off the luggage carrousel, have one member of the group stay with it as you return to get other bags. Be careful of people surrounding you or following you or getting your attention on one side while they go through your things on the other side. Don’t roll window down in a vehicle if people knock on the window—unless you know them. Just keep alert—like in any big city in America. Take a copy of your passport and put it in a different place in your luggage and leave a copy with the church in US so if your passport is stolen they can fax a copy to embassy here.

Some basic Shona greetings that you will hear each day:

Greetings are a very important part of culture here and it would help you to learn these before you come as people will be greeting you with these at all time of the day and night. You can be the person who asks (1) or answers (2):

Morning greeting:

1- Mangwanani (Good morning) (Mon-gwan-na-knee)
2- Mangwanani
1- Marara sei? (How did you sleep?) (Ma rah-rah-say?)
2- Ndarara mararawo (I slept well if you did also) (Duh-rah-rah Ma-rah-rah-woe)
1-Ndarara (I slept) (duh rah-rah)

Or alternative morning

greeting: 1- Mangwanani
2- Mangwanani
1- Mamuka sei? (How did you get up?) (Ma-moo-ka say?)
2- Ndamuka mamukawo (I got up well if you did also) (Duh-moo-ka, mama-cow-woe
1- Ndamuka

Afternoon greeting:
1- Masakati (Good afternoon) (Ma-see-ka-tea)
2- Masakati1- Maswera sei? (How did you spend the day?) (Ma- swear-ra-say?)
2- Ndaswera maswerawo (I spent it well if you spent it well also) (Dah- swear-ra Ma-swear-ra-woe)
1- Ndaswera

Evening greeting:
1- Manerhu (good evening) (mon-nay rue)
2- Maneruhu
1 Maswera sei? (Same as afternoon greeting)
2 Ndaswera maswerawo
1- Ndaswera

Greeting if you have never met someone before or if you haven’t seen them in a long time:
1- Makadii? (How are you, really?) (Mock-a-dee?)
2- Ndiripo makadiiwo (I am here if you are also) (Dee-ree-poe mock-a dee-woe)
1- Ndiripo (Dee-ree-poe)