THE

P I C K E T T

LINE

2659 First St.Napa, CA 94558

Non-Profit Organiz.U. S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit No. 28

Napa, Calif. 94558

Mission ServicesBox 177Kempton, Ind.

Chidamoyo Christian HospitalBox 330

Karoi, Rhodesia, AfricaApril 1974

NEWS FLASH ! ! ! ! !

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON AFRICAN FREEWAY

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 1974, URUNOWE RESERVE

An automobile accident occurred on the "Rocky Road Freeway" about five miles fromChidamoyo Mission. One victim walked away apparently uninjured, while the other"victim" limped home with a bent fender. It was a rainy day as the blue Land-Rover,driven by the Hospital driver, traveled down the "freeway" carrying a patient toChidamoyo Hospital. The road was banked on both sides by beautiful tall grass.The Landy was traveling well, when all of a sudden, out of the grass came. . . .a donkey.The Landy swerved, but the donkey was right there, making the collision unavoidable.The donkey walked away on all fours, but the Landy returned home with a badly crushedfender and broken headlamp. But behind every cloud is a silver lining the nextday, the Landy was taken to the car hospital (garage) in Karoi, and had her dentsstraightened and light repaired. All is well except for a few tear spots left on theLandy by the owner.

The above is a description of the first accident to happen to my beautiful Landy,but, praise God, no individual or animal was injured. Our "freeways" are quite haz-ardous-these days with the^nrud-very-slick, the grass very-tall, and-the-animals-run—ning free. Many times I have narrowly missed a chicken, dog or goat myself. TheAfrican driver was so upset because he had not been able to avoid the impact, thusputting the first scratches on the Landy, that I couldn't be angry with him. However,after repairs, the "scratches" are barely visible.

Rain, Rain, and more Rain, is our theme song these days -- we have had over triplethe amoimt of normal rainfall. The people are beginning to fear for their otherwise beautiful crops which are beginning to rot in the fields. Just a few days ofbright sunshine would mean so much to so many right now. Rivers are constantly inflood, and the roads are rutted and mud-slick, making it very difficult to visit ourchurches, women's clubs, youth clubs and medical clinics. The other day. BillHarrison andnurse, Cathy Grogg, flew to Ma sampaka rumba, and upon landing, promptlygot stuck. Sending out a call for help to push the plane, they were delighted whenthe entire student body of a school, plus the Chief, came to help.

Due to an intensive spraying campaign in the villages by Government Health officials,we have seen much less malaria this year. However, we have seen many, and lostseveral, cases of malnutrition due to last ycjar's drought.

Many of you Christian friends have been making and sending baby layettes to theHospital. Recently, we had four mothers being dismissed at the same time. Whata joyful sight they were when they receive! their lovely layettes, and went hurriedlyabout dressing the babies so that I couldj take a picture of them. I only wish thateach one of you could have been here to expcirience their joy.

But the most wonderful joy of all occurother day, a man by the name of Mukuti cthat he had T.B., and was advised that heabout 100 miles from this mission. Beforj^iin our Hospital once before for an operatiloconverted. But, this time, he realized h:.the Hospital Chaplain, and asked to be ba.with a burden, but now he had Christ to he:Mukuti.

when we see a soul won to Christ, The

^me into the Hospital. It was discoveredwould be transferred to a T.B. hospitalhe left he did much thinking. He had beenn, and at that time, vocally refused to bes deep need for Christ, went in search ofptized. When he left Chidamoyo he leftIp him bear it. Praise God for men like

May I again thank each one of you for yourprayers for the work here. Also, I wantcoming. These are so welcome and upliftingaries so far away.

constant support in service, finances andto thank all of you for keeping the lettersto my spirit, as is any mail to all mission-

Forwarding Agents:

Mr. & Mrs. Stanley Anderson1521 Menlo Ave.

Napa, CA 94558

]!n Christ,

JvHSS JUDY (PICKETT)

THE

PICKETT

LINE

"Miss Judy" Pickett

Dear Christian Friends

Chidamoyo Christian HospitalBox 330

Karoi, Rhodesia, AfricaJune 1974

J'JL23 1974

It is a beautiful sunny Sunday here in Rhodesia, and I am enjoying a relaxingday after being very busy for the last month or so. May, indeed, was a verybusy month, and June promises to be just as busy.

On May 10, Miss Ola Marion, Cathy Grogg and X loaded my Landrover with fiveyoung men and headed for Chengere farms near Gatooma, Rhodesia. The occasion was the marriage of our Head Teacher here at Chidamoyo, Mr. Nyoni. Wewere all excited at the prospect of the trip. I especially was glad, as Ihad never been to a very formal African Christian wedding. We spent thenight in Sinoia, and then left early on Saturday, and after five hours ofdriving, arrived at the Village. The initial ceremony had been held theweek before in the Bride's village near Gwelo, but this reception was inthe village of the Groom. It was so interesting to watch the differentcustoms. The groom, bride and attendants, were all in the house when wearrived, and after eating, the ceremony began. They marched to a veryfast jazzy record from the house to a grass shelter where they receivedwell-wishers and gifts. The gift-giving is held much like we would hold anauction in the States. Each individual goes up before the bride and groom,and an announcer counts the money (most accepted gift) and calls out theamount of each gift. This announcer makes quite a show of the gift receiving,and each name is written down, and the gift. After this ceremony thecouple and attendants dance back to the houses to change clothing. The groomthen has to pay each time his bride is inside the house before she will belet out by her relatives. The bride's family can be quite ruthless in thecharging of Labola (bride price) and the groom has to pay for every littlething until he actually has his bride at home. For instance, as the brideand her family came to this village, they stopped at the outer edge and hehad to pay $5.00 before they would let her come into his village. The weddingmarch was a dance step to the jazz record, and was quite beautiful to watch.The bride was not allowed to lift her head or smile during the whole ceremony.

May was a very busy month at the Hospital. Dr. Frasure and Nurse Cathy Groggcompleted 53 major and minor procedures in our operating theater, besidesseeing many seriously ill patients. Four "C" sections (Caesarian) were doneand we were sad when one mother had a heart arrest and died before the doctor

,T H EPICKET!

LINE

2659 First St.

Napa, OA 94558

Mission ServicesBox 177Kempton, Ind• 46 049

Non-Profit OrganizationU. 8. POSTAGE PAID

Permit No. 28

Napa, Calif. 94558

-2-

even began to operate, but the operatic^the baby, but it, too, died. Anotherfor surgery. But two of the operation^mothers and children were doing fine.

n

The month of May also saw me getting bgroups and enjoying it tremendously.Chidamoyo how to make pumpkin bread,them for special treats for their familearn how to make a cake from them.

'h-\\ \ •

was ccnnpleted in an effort to savechild was dead when the mother came in

were complete successes and both

£ick into full swing with my ladies^Cin May 31 I taught the ladies here at"^ey raise many pumpkins and cooklies. They were especially happy to

Our Hospital Bible Study group are still thrilling my heart by being sodedicated in their study of the scriptures and participation in discussion.Each week the Holy Spirit blesses us all by this session. The Singles

pur home has been a blessing to bothfellowship together, and lots of

girls' club which has been meeting atCathy and me. The girls enjoy a sweetsinging. Just recently I introduced tliem to conversational prayer, andwhat a joy to hear these girls give thpir hearts to Jesus and let the HolySpirit lead in their prayers.

Please pray for a replacement for Nursje"~furlough~in mid-July. As yet we have inifor her. This is a serious need. If yinterested in giving a year, two or evfin Khodesia, please contact Dr. James SHhodesia, for further information.

en

Do continue to pray for the work hereall for your continued support of me p<

i

Cathy Grogg, who is leaving for her,<Jt received-any~word—of^^^£eplaeenient—ou know of a nurse who might bethree years, to the Lord's work hereErasure, P.O. Box 330, Karoi,

n Bhodesia, and may God bless youersonally.

"MISS JUDY"

(Judith L. Pickett)

Forwarding Agents:Mr./Mrs. Stanley Anderson1521 Menlo Ave.

Napa, CA 94558

THE

PICKETT

m■1

LINE

V

Chidamoyo Christian HospitalBox 330Karol, Rhodesia, Africa

"Miss Judy" Pickett

Dear Christian Friends:

DOTSeptember, 197^

Greetings from Chidamoyo once again. I have so much to tell and so little space to tellit. So many things have happened since my last letter that 1 hardly know where to begin.As I mentioned in the last letter, July saw the departure of Miss Cathy Grogg, R. N. atthe hospital, and my room mate. She is sorely missed by both the staff of the Hospital,and myself. But the Medical Assistants (African) are carrying on in a tremendous way^in her absence. Mrs. Frasure is helping out in emergencies as she is an R. N., but withthree small children at home, she is rather hampered in the time she can spend at theHospital. Mrs. Eunice Smith manages to get over from Binga from time to time to helpfor about ten days or two weeks at a time, but the need is still great for a regularR. N.

The end of July brought the local "Fair" or "Show" at Mujumje township. We four Mis-- sionary women were asked to be judges, along with three other women. Oh, my, what a

task that proved to be. 1 was Judging the crochet work, and it was all excellent, and avery difficult decision to choose the first, second, third and fourth prizes. We werethrilled when the Chidamoyo School girls' netball team came in first place in the competition, and so were they.

The second week of August brought the tri-annual Missionary meeting in Salisbury, and allof us here traveled in for that. It was a good meeting, and we were all blessed spiritually, although w e had great heartache during that time. One of the children of theAmmerman family, daughter Gay,-had recently been operated on for appendicitis, and it was

""found that she had a growth that was very serious. They were advised to return toAmerica immediately for further treatment. This saddened our hearts. From our latestreports, prayers are still requested on her behalf.

Immediately after the Missionary meeting, I traveled to Dadaya Mission (400 miles) to thebi-annual Churches of Christ Conference. 1 loaded my Landy with nine members of the Hospital Choir, and we had a tremendous time in the Lord. The choir girls had made longblue dresses, with matching blue shirts for the men, and they were invited to sing several times for the conference, and gave a great witness for the Gospel in that place.The complete trip was made without one bit of car trouble. Oh, Just a not e of humor.I had been having trouble getting enough petrol (gasoline) rationing coupons, and I hadtold the choir that I would be unable to take them because of this. However, one ofthe members of the choir said he had an uncle whose car was not running, and perhaps hewould let us have his coupons. I told him I would need about thir^y more than I had.

^ I thought he would probably get a few, but when we met up for the trip he informed me hehad 181 coupons! They wanted to make sure we got there!

,/ Then I recently had a mountain-top experience which I want to share with you. I supervise a women's club-^at one of: our^churches about A5 miles from the Mission. The last

^time I was there, they informed me that they had some candidates for baptism, and wouldcr I come with one of our Hospital Chaplains to help them with this. Last Sunday I went,

expecting to have three or four baptisms, and what a glorious shock (and shame at mylittle faith) when 24.^£|:pple stepped forward at the invitation, 12 adults, eight teenagersand six older chi^fS'^n. Praise the Lord. But the great Joy was when the Headman of the

-^Village and Church stepped forward to rededicate his life. He had a 20-year-old son who''^ was a strong Christian and had recently died. Before he died, he told his father that

he must get closer to the Lord. This Headman had four wives, only one of which was a

THE PICKETT LINE

2659 First St.Napa, Ca. 9^558

nCT i Q ''.974

Mission ServicedBox 177 IKerapton, In, 46049

: Napir illi?: 94558

f

Christian. After the son's death, he made arjrangements for the care of three wives, andsent them back to their homes, remaining with the one Christian wife. The shocking and joyouspart of this is that in the African custom, the wife who cannot have children is usually thefirst to be rejected. This man chose to stay w|ith the dedicated wife who has no children, butwho is taking care of his other children and raising them as Christians, which the other wiveswould not do. Praise the Lord for His Holy Spint who can change lives. This is one of ourstrongest churches, and I am so humbled that t^ey consider me their Sharawari (friend). Besides the 2k baptisms, there were 70 others present for the service.

Last evening we shared another rich experience;asked if I would take him to a little church aljthe Landy was loaded with young people from theprogram is held, not only the Church people attThis is an excellent opportunity for witnessingand prayer. Last evening present in the servi'with loud talking and laughter. Much to our jpyhim that he rmJst be~^iet", tfr^t he was slnmngand 1isten to the Lord's message. He was quietto see the growth of these Christians and their

ce

rpT

Mr. Marova, one of our Hospital Chaplains,t^ut 12 miles away for a Bioscope program. AgainHospital and we set off. Whenever a Bioscope

^nd, but people from all over the coiranunity.of the Gospel through preaching, film, singingwas a drunk. He kept interrupting the servicethe Church members turned.to him and told

n his drinkihg, anT'that he sfioliid De quietthe rest of the service. It was a blessingdesire to help this man in a Christian way.

TRi

ain. We have been using the "Jungle Doctor"ng forms containing African characters. I am

series that would serve in this way. WeIm

This brings to mind a need of our Hospital Chapseries of filmstrips, which are excellent teachiiwondering if there is available another such 1]ihave been using t hese for some three years now, and most of our people have seen them manytimes. Perhaps some church women's group or Sunday School class would like to take this as aproject and help us with this^:; need Is ton a simple, true presentation of the Gospelthrough films. These must be adaptable for translation into the Shona language. Please contactmy forwarding agents if you would be interested {in such a project.

PRAISE THE LORD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW.

MISS JUDY.

Forwarding Agents:Mr./Mrs. Stanley E. Anderson1521 Menlo Ave.

Napa, California 9^*558