4-Days in Zimbabwe, that changed my life.

I was warned not to go. Told that South African citizens
could have a problem going, and that as a US citizen,
“I should not go.”



Reaching International was gracious and agreed to cover my colleague Hannes and my flight, lodging and food. Jennifer would have liked to have gone, but with the various warnings we thought it was best that she didn’t.

Meanwhile, the container sent from the U.S. bringing food to distribute in various villages and 1,000 EvangeCubes hadn’t arrived. It was scheduled to be early if not on time for the training event February 12 & 13. But with al the delays it got hung up in Beira Mozambique!

It would arrive a week after the training.

There were to be about 60 church leaders and pastors representing many churches throughout Harare and some rural areas of Zimbabwe. The leaders after the
training ideally follow up by training in their churches, making the ‘roll out’ and multiplication process quick and exponential.

Thankfully Hannes was able to bring 1 box of 100 EvangeCubes for the training event.

In the US, I have traveled on 3 or 4-day even week training events or conferences on a regular basis and for many years. But never have I kissed the family goodbye when THEY are staying behind in a new country. And I’m not flying to Florida or Texas, but I need passport and visa to get in and out of Zimbabwe.

Being urged to register my travels with the United States Citizen’s Services one of the first eMail responses is about a 6-page warning, why NOT to travel to “Zim.”

(News Story Link) 2 days before we left, a short 2 miles from our house in South Africa in an upscale, nice neighborhood. Four men broke in, past a security gate that had been damaged from flooding waters. Stole a few laptops, tied up the husband and raped the wife while the children slept through it. The husband, a local Christian musician was then tied up and forced to drive the men out of the neighborhood, passing the guards at the gate.

This heightened the issue of me leaving the family, while I was headed to a country even the US government warned not to visit.

Needles to say, leading up to, packing, and getting on the flight there was a heightened awareness, focus, prayer and concern.

However there were a few people along the path leading up to the trip, (and THIS is key) that had BEEN there that said, “go,” it’s no problem. I think that’s the folks to pay attention to as you and I move forward in life. Take the cues, not from the media or from people that digest and regurgitate media or hearsay, but from those on the ground, or those who have been on the ground.

One example. I have a dear friend who regularly goes to Iran. From what I hear and see around me about going there, I would say, “no thank you, I’ll pass.” But my friend who has been several times highly encourages me to come with him. He’s US born and raised and loves where he lives, but because of many trips TO middle east countries, he has grown to love, (not the politics but), the people.

There is something to be said about the difference of political leadership and common people on the ground. The current president of South Africa is receiving a mass vote of no-confidence by many in the country. However, his miss, or in-actions do not necessarily represent the general population.

The government of Zim as well does not mirror the general population of the country. I’ve seen where the general population lives and seen and heard about where the government officials live.

They are worlds apart.

The people in Zimbabwe were kind. Kind is an understatement. They served us, and loved us. Not just those we were working with; people on the street. I went for a run, walk on a busy street, something I have not done even in South Africa. We went to a park, and struck up conversation with people, wow!

The country has strict seat belt laws, and gorgeous typography. And one of the seven natural wonders of the world. There were neighborhoods with house after house that would remind you of the Hollywood Hills. The majority of homes are small, and some would be considered shacks.

There are over 11 Million people in Zim. The average person, (who works!) earns about $200 US per month. However at the moment there is about 80%, (of the 4 Million workforce) unemployed. Making it rank within the worst countries in the world as far as unemployment. CIA World Factbook.

The US ranks #59 in the world with an inflation rate of 3.8% (2008), Zimbabwe ranks 222 and has fallen off the charts at 12,563%! Their money crashed and burned. I now have a 50-Billion Zimbabwe Dollar ~ I bought it for $1.

“You would go to buy bread in the morning and it was one price, in the afternoon was another price and at night, another.” “We were limited to the amount of money we could pull out of the bank each day, in many cases the amount we could get, would not even cover the taxi fare to work, so
we would just stay home.”

To stabilize, they went to a US Dollarization. I don’t know what HOLE they dug their ‘green-backs’ out of, but I have NEVER seen such retched dollar bills. They were so disgusting, dirty and ready to fall apart that you wanted to take a shower after getting your change. I bought a thin, newspaper for $2
US. When was the last time you paid $2 for a paper?

A loaf of bread is about $1. And food was as expensive as you’d see in the US. A small fast-food pizza was $4 and a nice hotel room is about $100.

Oh yea… and the average person earns $200 per month, (of those who work)!

One of the unheard, not published benefits of skyrocketing inflation in Zimbabwe was this. If you would have taken out a loan, say, 5 years ago on a car or better yet a house. And you owed something like 150,000 Zim Dollars. Inflation skyrockets and 1 Zim dollar is worth 5,000 Zim dollars.
“The banks would just tell us… your loan is paid off, you own your house
outright.” So, “most people if they are in a house or a car they own it outright.”

Zimbabwe was colonized by the British. So there is tea, scones and, “smart” suit and ties everywhere. I was WAY under-dressed. Men everywhere and every walk of life had on a full suite and tie. I put on a tie for the first time in a long time for church Sunday.

I was asked to, “preach.” This quickly became the biggest hurdle in the trip for me. I have done hundreds of EvangeCube trainings, but ‘preaching’ in a church on Sunday morning, if I’ve ever done it, it’s been over 15 years!

From a book that I’d been reading, and also, now living in a culture of fear and separation in South Africa, I taught what I have been being taught. So it was less here’s a message for you, but more, here is what I’ve been learning and growing in personally.

It focused around ‘fear,’ and ‘hope.’ About ¾ of the way through I shared about some of my fears, and fears of friends that had shared with me over FaceBook, (I didn’t use your names). I asked if anyone would like to share his or her personal fears, or ‘worst-case-scenarios.’ It was silent, I felt the blood rush out of my face and think I turned ‘more white.’ I started to move on and asked one-more time if there were one or two that would like to share a one of their fears. Still, silent. Then one hand, towards the back slipped up. He stood up and shared. I asked for one or two more. It grew to
about 30 people with their hand up sharing their fears. For many of them it may have been the first time they ever verbalized a fear, and certainly in a public setting. I received good feedback on the “teaching,” and I apologized that I don’t, “preach.”

One of our new friends in Zim is Herbert. His wife runs an orphanage for kids who have been infected or affected/orphaned by HIV/Aids. The plan quickly formed for us to spend time visiting the orphanage. However, on Saturday at 1:00 PM in the middle of our training a doctor showed up at the hotel to speak to Herbert & his wife. Her twenty-four year old sister suddenly died. All the women gathered around her to comfort Herberts wife and the mood of the training quickly shifted. The wake and funeral went late Sat night and continued Sunday, and from what I understand can last up to a week. We were unable to visit the orphanage but hope to in the future.

Part of the training which took place from 2PM to 3PM was the, “practical,” or “OJT,” (on the job training). About 60 people went out in groups of 2 to use the EvangeCube as they were just classroom trained to do.
Within less than 60 minutes, these 30 groups going out in 2s saw 32 trust Jesus. The group of pastors shared what happened excitedly for about half and hour. It was a tremendous wrap up to our time together.

With the arrival of the 1,000 EvangeCubes, and these leaders trained, and ready to train their constituency, we anticipate exponential growth in their churches over the next several months. Throughout the training we emphasized the concept of preserving the harvest. Getting new believers plugged in and being taught, so that they don’t just fall away, like in many cases.

Zimbabwe is a 15% HIV/Aids positive society. The first night of the training we used the HIV/Aids HOPE Cube to introduce the simple, clear way to communicate, educate and help with prevention and slow the spread of the virus. It was well received, and we were asked many questions and inquiries for additional training and resources for the future.

Additionally Zimbabwe is a Human Trafficking hot bed. With unemployment through the roof and poverty escalated traffickers, (slave-traders) prey on the vulnerable. They are promised work in other
countries. Illegal adoptions are performed. Money is promised to be sent back to the family, but it lines the pockets of the under-belly of society. People go missing and if they manage to make it back they have been used, abused and either escape or are no longer of use to the trafficker. A slave-trader can make up to $600 per day selling women for sex, and purchase a young girl from a needy family for less than $500 US dollars in many instances. We spent about 30 minutes on the topic helping the pastors to just be aware, and make their congregations aware of some of the tactics used by traffickers. It was an eye opener for them, and well received.

When it was time to go, I was ready to stay longer. I told the church congregation where I was teaching Sunday morning that I really wish my wife and kids were here to meet you. But, that maybe in the future we can come back. It’s only a 12-hour drive from Pretoria to Harare. Perhaps soon, we
can go back and this time work with Herbert’s wife’s orphanage.

In closing. My big take-away from this, is to not make your decisions on media and hearsay. If you have an upcoming decision to be made, get input from those who you know, know. Not those who think they know, but from those with hands on, personal experience. Reduce fear & questions.

We love and appreciate you. And are thrilled to be on this journey with you.

May our impact together touch the lives of many.

Mike & Jennifer Greenberg