Amazing Mtshabezi Mission

Today we headed to Mtshabezi Mission, founded in 1906 by BICC missionaries with firstly a church and then a school in the same year. Today Mtshabezi Mission is almost a small town – with a church, primary school, secondary school, hospital, and theological training college (Ekuphileni Bible Institute). ‘Ekuphileni’ means ‘where there is life’. There is also a soon to be re-developed Youth Camp area, and land for agriculture.

We started off in the library of EBI and met Beaula the librarian who showed us around. There was a very impressive kudu head in the library, who clearly watches over all the proceedings. We then went to ‘Teen Missions’ where BICC Youth Camps had until recently been organised (many of the church leaders and hosts present today were recalling times of great fun and camaraderie with their peers at those camps – “If the trees could talk…”). There is open auditorium/ performance area with seating, hostel accommodation and the Wall of Fear. Rev Sima was explaining that you got into teams and had to scale the sheer wall face with the help of your team mates – making sure that your whole team got over the wall. (There were steps on the other side, thankfully!) It was quite impressive, and did get me thinking about what my trustees would think if I suggested it as an addition to our garden space at Amott Road!

We then went back along the very bumpy, dusty sand road to the Mtshabezi Mission Hospital. This local hospital serves a huge area with testing and diagnostics, an outpatient ward, pharmacy, Family and Child Ward and one operating theatre (which was currently closed while they waited on a new anaesthetic machine.) There is a friendly team of nurses and one doctor based at the hospital. We headed back to EBI for a delicious lunch before a whistle stop tour of Mtshabezi High School. This is one of the best performing secondary schools in Zimbabwe, and while the students achieve fantastic results the Principal emphasized that education is about the whole child, so developing character is as important as academic success. Principal Moyo has been at the school for 20 years and in his time the school has initiated a number of fantastic enterprises alongside the provision of education. From developing biofuel systems for the school, to chicken farming, and building a multi-use sports pavilion with guest accommodation. The grounds are beautifully kept and the students that we met stopped to say hello and have a chat. Throughout the day we were welcomed warmly into the different organisations that are based at Mtshabezi. I was impressed by the big dreams of this beautiful little BICC town:

• For the college to develop into a university with degree level accredited courses in theology but also healthcare, business administration and agriculture. (At the moment, they have certificate level accreditation for their theology course. They have submitted their application to the government and wait in hope for their official inspection!)
• For EBI to recruit more female lecturers and staff to the college.
• To develop entrepreneurial and ministry-sustaining training for students who come to EBI (who are generally younger than the students that attend the Bulawayo campus of EBI which offers part-time courses) so that once they have completed their theological studies they will also have basic training in practical life skills and even ways of sustaining their ministries.
• To raise funds and invest in more renewable energy sources, solar in particular. (The hospital already has enough solar panels to power the whole mission, but they aim to store some energy so that they are not at risk of running out themselves.)
• The area is very beautiful, with amazing rock formations dotted across the landscape. So they would like to develop the offer to tourists/ visitors through self-catering accommodation in chalets (and facilities like the brilliant sports pavilion at the secondary school.)
• To refurbish the Youth Camp area for visiting groups/ young people to be able to use and enjoy again.
• To expand agriculture and farming chickens for the mission and for local people.

Two other beautiful things: We met Rev Simangalisa Ncube. She is the first woman to be ordained in the BICC. It is always a joy to meet other women ministers who are serving and ministering in our global church family. It was especially wonderful to meet Rev Sima – the very first woman to be ordained in the BICC in Zimbabwe. We pray for more of her sisters to follow in her footsteps. Secondly – the small farm in the grounds of the secondary school there were mielies (corn on the cob) growing which I admired as we walked past. Themba asked Principal Moyo if we could take a few with us, and our request was granted – this evening for dinner we enjoy red wine from South Africa and mielies from Mtshabezi Mission. And we gave thanks for this beautiful BICC family that we have been getting to know over the past few days in Zimbabwe, and for the friendships that have been deepening between the four of us travelling together. We are so grateful for the welcome we have received, for the opportunities for conversation and reflection that have been created, and for what we are learning about God, ourselves, and the beauty of the kingdom of God worked out in different people and places through this visit. It feels like holy ground.