Eyes to See

“You can throw it away…it’s just paper.” – Tsungai told me, as I finished photographing some of the Zim notes found around the house.  They are all just left randomly between books or tossed on shelves and end tables…never to be used again.  It’s as if they’re monopoly money.

Throughout our time in Zimbabwe, our conversations were often sprinkled with talks of politics and the country’s economic situation.  The first night we were there, Tsungai shared that a few days prior, he had heard that $1US was equal to $100 billion Zim dollars.  And by Friday night, we heard the number had once again drastically changed… $350 billion Zim = $1US.

The newest bills being printed – $100 trillion notes.  Which, by next week, may be worth nothing as well.

But what struck me the most – even more than the endless 0’s being added to these bills – was the faith found in the people we met.  Every day we were there, Pastor John (whose house we stayed at) would remind us all that we can’t dwell on the hardships we face.  God has a bigger plan, and this trial will soon pass…  I can’t describe how incredible it was to hear heartbreaking stories about the country’s continuing collapse, and then to hear Pastor John and his sweet wife, Orpah, praise the Lord for all that He has done, and for all the He will continue to do.  They shared time and time again, that it is the Lord that continues to provide for them.

…

Tsungai, one of John and Orpah’s sons, shared his story with us.  He just finished university, and was supposed to spend the next four years working for Zim Plats, Zimbabwe’s biggest platinum mining company.  But after just a few short months of work, he was laid off.  And due to the economy, there’s really no one in Zimbabwe that can hire him…  So he’s been forced to apply for jobs outside the country.

He received money for the months he had worked so far at Zim Plats, but one month’s salary was equal to less than one US cent.  An entire year at Zim Plats wouldn’t even be enough to buy a $1 loaf of bread at the market!

Liz and I asked him how he was able to survive with such a low salary.  He said that the only answer he could honestly come up with was God…  he has no idea how he lived off of that small amount of money.  Or how ANYONE in Zimbabwe can survive off of so little.  It is solely God’s miraculous provision.  Of course, there have been many deaths as a result of cholera or lack of food, malnutrition…  But so many are still surviving, and God is truly protecting and providing for his children.

I was also encouraged by Tsungai’s attitude about being laid off.  I tried putting myself in his situation, and I could imagine just feeling depressed and helpless…  But he said he is thankful to have had that experience, and the short time spent with Zim Plats allowed him to learn more about his field of work.  So even though he was basically working for nothing, he is thankful for it!  In fact, he said that he knew going into the job that he would be getting paid so little, but wanted to work there anyway for the experience.  But despite Tsungai’s desire to work and to learn, it’s just impossible for some to work and survive in this country..  I think someone estimated that 4-5 million Zimbabweans have left the country to work elsewhere.

Liz and I tried to picture the Zim collapse happening in America…  What if all of a sudden, the money in our wallets and bank account and investments were all literally useless?  If $100 bills were now just scratch paper.  If a year’s worth of work couldn’t even buy us a loaf of bread.  What would we do?  Unlike some Zimbabweans, most Americans don’t have gardens or farms to provide at least a LITTLE food to survive…

“We would just die…,” Liz said.

…

Liz and I talked a lot about how different it is to see people’s faith in countries like Zimbabwe.  In America, it’s so easy for most of us to go about life not really relying on God.  We have our jobs, house, sometimes more than one car per household…  So we rely on THOSE things.  But what we’ve witnessed so far in our trip is something I have never experienced back home.  You can’t go through life just relying on your own selfishness…you can’t always expect to have food on the table, no matter how well educated you are, or how big your house is.

It was certainly challenging and humbling to see such strong faith in a country where things are continuing to fall apart…  I hope and pray that I won’t forget these moments when I get back to the states.  And that along with being incredibly thankful for the blessings I have back home, I will also always remember to rely on the Lord rather than myself…  and to remember that those blessings are not because of anything I have done, but because of the incredible grace, love and mercy that our Lord has for us…

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” – Matthew 6:33