We set out early Saturday morning for the town of Mvurwi, a community of approximately 40,000, 150 kms north of Harare. The countryside is beautiful. Rich red earth coupled with massive fields dotted with trees, grass blowing in the wind and the huge African sky with its endless horizon – it’s all quite amazing.
The community of Mvurwi has no industry but many bars and is home to the largest HIV population in Zimbabwe. Indeed, government sources suggest that 1/3 of the local population is HIV positive. This figure could be higher.
We arrive at the corps to film a meeting of an HIV support program. Started as a grassroots initiative. it has become a significant force for good – helping people to secure much-needed drugs, providing home support as well as counseling. We interviewed the founder, Gordon, who is HIV positive and we also visited two clients at their homes with their caregivers.
The visits were sad but powerful. Team members listened carefully to the stories of those suffering from HIV and it was evident that the disease affects the whole family. A beautiful moment was when Major Kyle Smith and Ricky of the SAVN.TV crew stepped forward, knelt down and held the hands of one of the patients. We concluded our visits with prayer.
We closed our day with a visit to the farm of Benjamin Bofu, a Salvationist and 30-year employee of The Salvation Army. He is a fascinating man with a significant history in the development sector across Africa.
So there ends Day 5. A day filled with raw emotion as we witnessed first hand the devastating effects of HIV in one African community. The things we read about at home so far away became crystal clear.
Tomorrow, we’re off to Victoria Falls. Please pray for us as we travel and thanks again for reading.
Major John Murray, IHQ Communications and Literary Secretary
GOD Bless you all and the work you do.
What other required fields am I missing? I have always supported the Salvation Army in prayer and with donations every month. My comment was – “GOD bless you and the work you are doing”. Is there something wrong with that? If so what? My full name is Merle Wayne Padgett and I am an ordained Christian minister. I under stand that sometimes people with the Salvation Army get mixed up and do things that are not appropriate. If I have done so please tell me what it was. One time I tried to write a check for $1,000 to the Salvation Army and the lady would not accept it. I ask to speak with the supervisor and the lady went to the back room and I watched her talk and point at me for several minutes. Then she came out and ask for ID, I showed her my drivers license and she asked for more picture ID so I gave her my disabled veterans picture ID. She took them with her and went to the back room to call my Bank. After about ten minutes she hung up the phone and her and several others stood around looking at my check and me. Then she came out and told me in a not so nice way that the bank told her the check was good. She then said It may be good now but you could always go to the bank and remove the money. That was when I first moved here to my new home. Now I pay online every month. The Salvation Army is a wonderful thing that has helped probably millions of people and saved GOD only knows how many souls. I will continue to pray for and tithe to the Salvation Army but will not attempt to POST a comment again. Thank you