Durham couple has passion for Zimbabwe
Staff writer
Merlin and Karletta Wiebe's passion for the country of Zimbabwe in Africa and its people is evident when visiting with them.
"Whenever we get together with family and friends, it seems that's all we talk about," Karletta said. "The country is lovely and beautiful, and I love it."
"It opens your mind to another part of the world," Merlin said. "They have the same feelings as we do when you go to the villages to visit. They shared with us and were open. It really is a good experience to go there."
The Wiebes described the climate as sub-tropical with normal temperatures around the upper 70s to the low 80s.
When a need arose in Zimbabwe, the Wiebes had no hesitation about going in December of 2002 for a second time.
Previously, they had gone to Zimbabwe to do mission work from 1994 to 1997. The Wiebes and their children, Anthony, Kendall, Jana and Janessa, were sent to Africa through their church organization, the Church of God in Christ Mennonite, headquartered in Moundridge.
During their three-year stay, they spent time with the people, held church services, passed out Gospel tracts, taught Bible lessons, and made contacts. They worked among those living in the high-density areas of the city of Gweru, the third-largest city in Zimbabwe.
But most of their work was with those in the rural and bush areas — in and around the city of Gweru. The city is in the higher elevations of the country.
This time the Wiebes went to help with the humanitarian needs of the people. The church wanted to send volunteers back to Zimbabwe to help with the relief effort there. Through the Christian Service International, an arm of the church, the Wiebes flew to Zimbabwe. They helped distribute food to the people in the region where they had worked earlier.
CSI operates from members' donations throughout the United States, and it paid for the Wiebes to go to Zimbabwe. The organization has missions in other countries in Africa as well as Mexico, Russia, the Ukraine, the Philippines, and other locationss.
Merlin described some of the conditions of the people in Zimbabwe because of the drought. Their growing season is from November to March, and with no rainfall the people weren't able to plant their staple crops of maize or corn. The political unrest in the country and the declining economy are also major reasons for the deplorable living conditions.
Merlin said that the inflation rate is about 220 percent. The Wiebes witnessed as many as 200 or 300 people, mostly women, waiting in line for hours for food.
Since the people are unable to buy the white maize or corn to plant, they are not able to make their "mealie meal." Mealie meal, which is very important to the people, is the ground corn that is boiled to the consistency of mashed potatoes and served with vegetables. After the corn meal is cooked, it is called sadza.
Merlin said most of the people speak English, but the native language is Shona.
CSI provided the people with corn shipped from South Africa in a 30-ton semi-load truck. Because there is not corn to mill, the milling plants are empty. According to Merlin, at one time when there was no drought, the mills would be running 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Now that the region is experiencing a drought, the mills are running at about four percent.
Part of what the Wiebes did was distribute bags of the milled corn in 10 kg bags (22 pounds). Through their contacts, they and others in the organization were able to give those living in the villages the fine corn meal along with a six to seven pound bag of sugar (pinto) beans, one bottle of cooking oil, one bag of salt, and a jar of peanut butter once every two weeks.
Merlin said that they worked with other relief organizations such as CARE, the World Food program, and World Vision to insure that no one area was covered by more than one organization.
Merlin said their two sons, Anthony, 18, and Kendall, 16, were a big help. Along with another couple, they distributed food to approximately 25 villages who sent representatives to the designated drop off point. Merlin estimated that approximately 250 to 300 people from the villages, mostly women, walked nearly five or six miles to the dropoff point. They served villages with a 10-mile radius of the site.
The village chairman would register all of the "stands," which are groups of families living together. According to Merlin, there may be 25 stands in one village. The surname of the stand is written down, and they are given the rations twice a month.
"Sometimes, we may have 20 to 30 extras," Merlin said, "We have to figure out if it is a legitimate need, and then we share what is left."
Merlin said that it was not uncommon for those getting the food to sing a song to them in their native tongue.
"They are so thankful for something to eat," he said
Merlin and Karletta Wiebe and their family are now back in the states adjusting to farm life in rural Tampa. But their hearts are miles away, across the ocean in a town in Zimbabwe called Gweru.
