Valentine Nyaradzo Kagande O.Carm
The cover photo shows Kizito, Valentine and Primrose, on the morning of the departure. The photo was taken by Agnes.
Introduction This booklet contains my weekly reflections posted from Mother of Peace (Mutemwa). These reflections were originally posted on Facebook, as part of the desire to share my pastoral experiences with my family and friends. During the course of my vocation I have had the support of friends and family, and they have shown a great interest in some of the work I am involved in and in so doing they have been of great help. Mother of Peace is an orphanage in Mutoko, founded in 1994. It is located about 150kms north-east of Harare. My pastoral experience began on the 23rd of June 2014, and ended on the 1st of August 2014. My Carmelite companion during this visit was Trymore Gwengwe O.Carm. Many thanks go out to the team that helped in the production of this booklet.
Week One
June 30, 2014 It has been a week now since we arrived at Mother of Peace, and all I can say is that it has been a blessed week. The bulk of the time was dedicated to getting to know the residents of this place (especially the children); and this went well. I now know a few children by name (Tapiwa, Anthony, Christine, Chipo, Oasis, Prince and Listar, James, Shalom, John, Leo, Norest, Tadiwa, Tino, Peter, Kizito, George). I am told all in all they are around eighty children at Mother of Peace. Young Tapiwa is ranked among those I got to know first, and I seem to like his personality.
The mood in the community changed on Friday with the arrival of a group of children from the USA (Creek Kids). They came to light up this place, and so far they have been doing a good job. They love the kids, they love Zimbabwe, they love sadza, and they love Shona. Just last night they fed all kids SMORZ... and in the process fed me as well. Do not ask me what it is, all I know is that it was good and yummy! Unfortunately they will be leaving on Thursday. I will definitely remember them as the “Apostles of Ubuntu”, yet I am still working on this title. I could also remember them as the “Apostles of Solidarity” or the “Apostles of Love”. Saturday saw children from St Dominics High (Chishawasha) passing by. Though they did not stay for long, they managed to share their love and faith with the kids in that short visit. Their attention means a lot, and proves true the saying that it is the thought that counts.
Week Two
July 8, 2014 The second week at Mother of Peace saw us continuing with our experience of life in this small world. Being an experience of life, and like all human communities, the week had its bright and dark sides.
Map of Mother of Peace
On the bright side, the US visitors (Creek Kids) continued with their quest to brighten up Mother of Peace. Among the things they did during their last days was the completion of the library project. Before their arrival there was no library,
but with their departure Mother of Peace was left with one. Towards the end of their stay they also taught the kids the “Macarena Dance�.
On the dark side of life, we learnt last week that some of the Mother of Peace kids can also be mischievous if they want to. Some of their failures can be pardoned easily, but unfortunately some of it cannot be for it is just terrible. In light of this revelation it has also become our responsibility to help them become angels of light. Besides this negative side, the week went well, and I managed to make new friends as well as catch a few new names. My number one friend last week was young Melisa. She is in Grade Three, and greets me first whenever we meet. More can be said about week two, but for now I will leave it here. Glory to God in the Highest!
Mural in New Library
Time to say goodbye came, and the Mother of Peace kids entertained the visitors the night before their departure. This they did through a variety of artistic presentations. Among them are music, dance and drama. The staff, management and the Carmelites had their turn the following morning.
Thatch House Graffiti
Week Three
July 15, 2014 Last week we had more visitors coming in to see the residents of this place. During the week we had Mother Getrude, the Superior of the Divine Child Sisters. On Saturday we had two groups of visitors. In the afternoon we had students from St Dominics High (Chishawasha), and in the evening we had youths from St Gerard Parish (Borrowdale). The youths from St Gerard also came with other youths from various parishes in Harare, bringing the number in the group to around 127. All visitors were warmly received by the kids. These visits have helped me grow in my "theology of visiting and hospitality."
Trymore O.Carm talking about the love of God to the MOP kids on a Sunday afternoon
On Thursday we went to assist at the clinic with the distribution of ARVs. The experience gave me a rare opportunity to encounter HIV/AIDS victims, and in the process I learnt firsthand how much they value their medication. One patient told us that this medication has been keeping her alive for many years now. I do hope and pray that they will always get their medication on time. It is said that each of us has a story, and that our stories can influence people differently. I believe this to be true, and here too I am coming across stories that inspire people positively. Last week I learnt a bit about Gogo Jean Cornneck's story from the book 1000 Peace Women Across the Globe (published in 2005). Gogo Jean is one of the founding members of this community who is still a resident here. Her sister (Mama Stella) also shared the story of her conversion with us, and in it she said that she met (Blessed) Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Unfortunately her story has not yet been written down so you would need to see her in person for it
Gogo Jean and her story
Last week I made myself three new Facebook friends who are all connected to Mother of Peace. These are Ricke Mula and Juliejean Jordan, who are both members of staff here. There is also Simon Krueger, who was here a few weeks ago as part of the Creek Kids delegation. It seems I did not have a favourite friend last week, unlike the first two weeks.
Week Four
July 21, 2014
This past week I discovered Gogo Manyande’s secrets (she is also one of the senior members of this community). Ok, not really secrets but gifts. This happened when she visited us one morning, holding in her hand a mysterious glass. I was to discover that in this glass was home-made wine. She was looking for wine-tasters and we were among the chosen ones. Besides making wine, Gogo Manyande also makes jam and juice, at times with indigenous ingredients. She is also a herbalist, and can make a concoction (among many others) that cures asthma. Personally I will be associating more with Gogo Manyande the winemaker, especially now that she blessed us with two litres of her brew.
Mother of Peace dam as seen on a Sunday morning walk
I would like to conclude by looking at the gifts that some of the kids have. John is a painter; Emmanuel is a guitarist and composer; Tinashe is a chess player; Agnes has a good memory; Teresa is a footballer; Felistas, Mirriam and Tapiwa are poets (all three are still in pre-school); Delight is an athlete; George plays the keyboard; Danzel is a singer; and James loves teasing people.
Chido and Shalon after celebrating Vocation Sunday at the Leprosy Center
During the course of the week we joined the rest of the Carmelite Family in celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel (July 16). The community members here helped us to celebrate this day in different ways. The Franciscans (from the Mutemwa Leprosy Center) took us out for lunch, where we also played pool and had a few pints. John the painter/artist gave us a few works of art as gifts, and in the process gave me a Facebook profile picture. In the spirit of the “Culture of Solidarity/Ubuntu,” the kids have been inviting me to come and dine with them. On Friday I responded to one such invitation when I joined them for supper, and this week I will be honouring a few more invitations. In some of my informal discussions with the kids I have learnt a few of their internal struggles. One such struggle has to do with their failure to grasp the cultural systems of relating in family set-ups. They tell me that they do not like this subject when it is raised up or discussed in class. Thinking to myself I am sure the fourth commandment could also have the same effect. In light of this revelation I have decided to make myself a few relations among them. So far I have aunty Charmaine and a good few brothers and sisters. The real challenge is to help them realise that as members of the universal family they really have such relations (uncles, aunts, grandparents, brothers, and sisters, etc). While at Church yesterday I made myself a new friend – Tanaka. She is not a member of this community, but rather of the Leprosy Center community. She is handicapped, and both her parents are late. From the short time we spent together I got to know that she likes singing, dancing and music.
On Saturday we had the official opening of the library and hall. This was a small affair as we only had a few visitors from outside. Irregardless of this, the ceremony went well. Last week we welcomed more visitors, and this again gave me the opportunity to grow in my “theology of visiting and hospitality”. During the week we welcomed two young ladies (Tapiwa and Grace), and during their visit they visited the “Blue Cross”. On Saturday we welcomed visitors from Capernaun Trust Zimbabwe. During their stay they addressed the kids and spoke about “Joy”. Currently we have Sister Gerry (Sandra Kativhu), a member of the Divine Child Sisters and a personal friend of mine. Besides these visitors mentioned here, we have been having many other visitors too.
An early morning view of Mt Mutemwa
The “discipline discourse” came up again last week. The cases recorded vary, with one being serious. We just hope that those kids will improve on their behaviour. Fortunately a good number are well behaved and loving. On a sad note Gogo Jean is not feeling well. With the many prayers being said for her, as well as the medication she is taking, I am hopeful that she will get better soon.
Week Five
July 28, 2014
As we entered week five, our minds were slowly being turned to the fact that our stay here would soon come to an end (1 August). This “departure discourse” had to be slowly introduced into the minds of our hosts. But if truth be told, even this mind too had to be prepared. All I can say at the moment is that we (both parties) want to keep this relationship going even if space and time will be separating us. Gogo Jean was admitted last week Tuesday at Parirenyatwa hospital. From those who have visited her or are communicating with her, news is that she is not in a very bad shape. She is missed by her family, and prayers are being said for her by all (including the kids).
From their Sister with love!
Visitors kept on coming during the week, some specifically for Mother of Peace business, and others for something else (but beneficial in its own way). For instance, we had visitors coming in to have their workshop here, under the theme "Healing and Empowerment". After these visitors invited us (and a member of staff here) to join them, we ended up being participants as well, an experience that turned out to be a real blessing. Friday night we had another group, this time for something related to Mother of Peace. Saturday and Sunday also saw more visitors coming in. Of all these weekend visitors I spent a bit more time with one group that came on Saturday. This was so because I knew of their visit through a friend who is also a sister (Anna). It turned out that in this group there were people I already knew, either because we went to the same school or because we had been to the same function and yet remained strangers.
On Friday, after the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the Leprosy Center, I visited Tanaka. This time I spent a bit more time with her, and in the process learnt more about her. Among this new knowledge is that her favourite artists are the late Tongai Moyo Dhewa and Kapfupi, that she has two friends who stay in Marondera and has not seen them in a long time now, that she used to be able to read but now cannot as she is no longer going to school, that in the Bible she likes the "Passion Narratives", and that she lacks knowledge of Catholic saints. My supper invitations have been going on well, and in this past week I responded to five. I am yet to decide who cooks better, the boys or the girls. I am left with visiting one house, St Martin, and this is planned for today. Talk about the "last supper" was introduced yesterday by Leo, but only time will tell where I will have this last supper.
Let the kids play
Week Six
August 5, 2014 Week Six marked the end of our stay at Mother of Peace. As I write this I am now back at Mt Carmel (Harare), preparing to begin a new academic year next week (13 August) at Holy Trinity College. Right now, at this minute, I am listening to Lucky Dube’s Born to Suffer, but I prefer to call this song Think about the Children. Why this song and why the new title? When I was leaving Mother of Peace these words (think about the children) which are in this song came to my mind, and it took me back to my childhood when I grew up in a home where this song used to be played. My title best sums up my stay at Mother of Peace, it was about the children, and it taught me the importance of thinking about the children
From the kids with love!
The last week went on very well, and the farewells were made. The children bid us farewell in their own ways, we did the same, and so did the adults at Mother of Peace. Actions spoke louder than words, but then words were also said to bring about the fact that we were parting as members of one family. Some children followed the way of St Paul and put down into writing their final words, and in this group we have Primrose, Agnes, Jessica, Kizito, and Mary. John (the artist), gave me a collection of his drawings, while Primrose and company gave me a bracelet. We had a farewell get-together at Mama Julie’s place, where we had a braai, and a bit of wine (including Gogo Manyande’s brew). Also present were a few children (including Julie’s Tadiwa), one of the housemothers, the social workers (Tsungai and Miriro) and the driver (Tendai). Tanaka was not forgotten and I bid her farewell on Wednesday, after the morning celebration of the Eucharist. During this brief encounter I learnt something I had missed out during the previous three encounters, and it is that Tanaka is blind. During these last moments I played for her a few songs by Pastor Charamba that are in my phone, as she had requested that I do so for her.
Group photo just before our departure
The last week also saw me making new friends, or rather exchanging contacts with these friends. Among these friends is Mama Roni, the General Manager at Mother of Peace, whom I added as my Facebook friend. Mama Roni was our “breakfast companion”, and, thanks to her, I was initiated into the “mocha club”. Besides her, I also made great strides in
adding many other adults at Mother of Peaceas my Facebook friends. A few were also added as my Whatsapp friends, and in this group we have the social workers. Among the children I also made myself a Zimpost friend in Maggie.
During the course of the week we were involved in a few meetings with some of those involved in the running of Mother of Peace. One such meeting included part of the “spirituality team” (Gogo Manyande and Mama Musere), and it was aimed at evaluating the “liturgical space”, as well as life at Mother of Peace in general. I also got the chance to engage in some formal discussions with one of the social workers. On Friday we attended the morning Eucharistic celebration as is the Mother of Peace tradition. Before departing for the Leprosy Center where we were to have this celebration, I managed to bid farewell to Kizito and Primrose as we would only return after they had gone to school. On our journey to the Leprosy Center we were accompanied by Chipo and Agnes. The celebration was centered on the “death discourse”, as in it we prayed for one of the residents of the Leprosy Center who had passed on during the week. On the journey back to Mother of Peace, I talked a bit about the “death discourse” to Anthony, Chipo, and Agnes.
Aunty Charmaine, Valentine and Takudzwa (Rasta)
The journey back to Harare was a peaceful one, and along the way the “drug discourse” was introduced into our minds. When we arrived home (at Mt Carmel), preparations for the following day’s priestly ordination in Rusape had us up and about. Yet there was still one thing that needed to be done, and that was visiting Gogo Jean in hospital. This we did during the evening visiting hour. Gogo was well, and she thanked us for visiting her home.
Conclusion
Bidding farewell to Gogo Jean
I will conclude by sharing some of the questions the children were asking us as we left Mother of Peace, and I will also quote from one of the epistles we received; Will you come again? When you get ordained will you invite us? Will you invite us to visit you? Will you come and support us during the sports tournament (to be held this week here in Harare)? Are you coming for the John Bradburne celebrations (in September)? This is part of what one of the scribes said to us, “have a safe journey I will pray for you always. I am going to miss you. Please come back. Do not forget Mother of Peace.” So which song am I listening to now? Seh Calaz’s Kwatinobva kwakasiyana (Bodyslam Rdm). *Follow link to access Lucky Dube’s Born to Suffer video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSpHok_rI_c *Follow link to access Seh Calaz’s Kwatinobva kwakasiyana video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz-t_jjZrYs
Such were my experiences at Mother of Peace, and I would not be lying if I said that a lot happened that this booklet is just a summary of what transpired. Where I have seemed to have presented these experiences in bad light, I beg for pardon (mea culpa). The same pardon is begged for those occasions where I would have seem to have presented my accounts in a sensationalistic manner. My intention is that from these reflections you may be inspired to take up a similar trip (that is if you have not done so already), and when you do so, bring love to all the residents of Mother of Peace. To Mother of Peace I say thank you, and if I forget you let my right hand wither!
Appendix Lucky Dube’s Born to Suffer Lyrics The parents are the people we're depending on for the growth of the children if they treat them right we gonna have a brighter future if they treat them wrong we gonna have nothing in the world if they grow up without their parents whose gonna tell them this is right if they grow up without their parent whose gonna tell them this is wrong you can divorce your wife, just think about the children if they grow up without their parents, whose gonna tell them this is right without the mother children are suffering without the father children are suffering without their parents BORN TO SUFFER (4 times) you gonna watch out my son if your mother doesn't care for you you gonna watch out my girl if your mother doesn't care for you Kwashiokor is there its gonna attack you
they need parental care they need spiritual care if they grow up without their parents whose gonna tell them this is right if they grow up without their parents whose gonna tell them this is wrong no no no they need parental care they need spiritual care if they grow up without their parents whose gonna tell them this is wrong without the mother children are suffering without the father children are suffering without the parents BORN TO SUFFER(x5) http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Born-to-Suffer-lyricsLucky-Dube/115B60218EB8674348256FD7000D552A
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