Southlea Park Church, Harare

One last reflection on December's visit to Zimbabwe. As we reached the second Sunday, and penultimate day of the trip, each of the group’s members was preaching in a different church in and around Harare.

For me, in contrast to the previous Sunday, I was sharing in worship at one of the newest expressions of church in the Presbytery, not yet a properly constituted congregation.

Southlea Park, one of the developing townships on the edge of Harare, is a fast-growing community with lots of new housing. Challengingly, there is no running water, though most homes have their own well.

The congregation was relatively small, but not lacking in enthusiasm. We sang and danced, prayed 'all together' and I had the opportunity to preach.

The wooden ‘hut’ where they worship was erected about two years ago, the congregation having started two years prior to that in a member’s home. The congregation, currently looked after by Revd. Stan Chatikobo (at the moment without formal appointment) made me very welcome and it was a fitting end to this particular Zimbabwean journey as we greeted each other in the hot sunshine, in the traditional Zimbawean way, following the service.