Peter Gray

I have visited Ameva on five occasions, the first was in 1995, then 2002, 2010, 2011 and 2012. the first two I went to join work parties and help with building work but there was scope to share the gospel too. The last three trips were to teach the BTCP programme in the Bible school; although I was able to stay on and do two weeks practical work at the end of the 2011 visit

I995…this was for five weeks and was made up of a large team whose main task was to build a large accommodation block on the compound, although other work was undertaken.

My lasting memories are of our team leader Jim Bailey’s Hawaiian style shirt which he wore in the airport so we would all spot him [needless to say we did], the large Africa sun which was just rising as we walked across the tarmac on arrival at Harare and journey to the farm on the back of an open truck crammed with people [or so I thought at the time].

The project went well, and good progress was made on the building using a method of interlocking blocks made from compressed mud…its great to learn new things! It took me a while to get used to the fact it wasn’t going to rain all the time we were there [a big factor when you undertake building work in the UK]. I got to help fight a bushfire too along with my roommate Lawrence Richardson, it was something we both wanted to do and were able to on our last weekend there, I was also involved in a much more dramatic one in 2011.

As well as the building work there was outreach to the local farms, on one never to be forgotten occasion we set out on the open truck and picked up people on the way, they came through the bush singing and gladly climbed on board still singing. We kept stopping and picking up more and more, there were loads of happy children, I don’t know how they all got on board, but they found space somehow. Then there was the weekend preaching trip, we left early Saturday morning to drive north, I was in the first team to be dropped off at least that was the plan. I hadn’t seen very much of my dear friend John Valentine as he was extremely busy, and I was delighted to be seated between him and Jim Bailey in the front of the Land Rover. It wasn’t very far to the first place so my delight was only going to be short lived, however, we were short of fuel and every petrol station was closed, the gauge was going lower and lower and I was enjoying the exchanges between John and Jim. Eventually we were directed to a fuel depot, it wasn’t a retail place, and it was also closed. Undeterred John the master negotiator shouted until he got attention but was turned down flat and didn’t get any fuel, a container was thrown over the gate though so one of our party was sent off to walk to the road, wait for the bus into the nearest town and come back with the fuel, it all took hours so we had a wonderful afternoon of fellowship. Team one had a great time at their drop off preaching and sharing as did the others, we were picked up Sunday evening and shared our experiences and rejoiced all the way back, I got to catch up with my old friend after all.

Our trusty team leader had got a great deal on the tickets which included a free trip to Victoria Falls before we boarded for the UK, that was amazing.

My part in the 2002 trip was to work on the secondary school, I shared a room at the farm house with my friend Mickey Wright and he showed me how to use the mobile phone my family had supplied, we had a great time sharing together and had opportunity to preach on Sundays. On my first trip I had the pleasure of being invited to Ian and Elsie Gibson’s house, the swimming pool was pristine and the huge plants in the garden I recognised as the tiny house plants we had at home. Mickey took me swimming on one of the farms and assured me that most of the weed had been removed, I wasn’t so convinced but did get in only to get out quite quickly when I realized that we were sharing the pool/pond with creatures that were clearly resident there!

On the third and fourth trip I was accompanied by my wife and we travelled together with Terry and Fran Watson. The 2010 trip was delayed nine days by the Icelandic dust cloud event but we got there in the end, teaching in the Bible School and the Pastors Conference that year along with Peter and Sue Moffat from Liverpool. We were all able to visit Victoria Falls together before coming home. In 2011 Terry and I were able to do a full session in the Bible School without interruption and had a precious time with the students, we also got to speak at the CMC Ladies Conference that was being held at the farm. When the Watsons left for Malawi Shelagh and I stayed on and helped with practical things as well as various Bible studies, meeting up again with the Watsons in Johannesburg on the way home. The fifth trip in 2012 was with Peter Skinner from the Longcroft Church, we made a good team teaching together in the Bible School, again the students were a pleasure to be with and a delight to teach, I was invited to speak at the Ladies Conference again which was very well attended and it was a great experience to be amongst them.

Colin Davies

I spent 9 months at Ameva between February and October 1982. I travelled there with Clare Strickland (now Clare Ridgers), both of us were from Epsom Christian Fellowship. Clare returned home after 6 months.

When we first arrived Keith and Christine Kelly (from Liverpool) were at the farm, as well as Eric and Ros Taylor from Bracknell. Keith had started a small Bible School with six students from the Christian Marching Church and so I was asked to teach in that. The students varied in age from 18 to over 60. I think I learnt as much from the students as I was able to teach them, but they were very gracious to me. Clare also did some teaching English with them, and Eric taught them some agricultural skills. We had classes in the mornings and then the students did various jobs around the farm in the afternoons. Eric was the farm manager. We also took the students to various local churches on Ameva village compound itself and on neighbouring farms. The gospel was preached, and many responded – we had some wonderful meetings.

I helped Eric with various jobs on the farm, including planting out ground nuts (peanuts), collecting chicken eggs and transporting piles of wood to Chegutu (the local town) for selling there.

We also became involved with a small church in the town which met on Sundays in the Scout Hall. Through this we met and befriended some lovely Christian folk, some of whom we have remained in contact with to this day.

For the first few months of my time at Ameva there were just the four of us living on the farm, Eric and Ros, Clare and myself, together with the bible school students and some farm workers. Keith and Christine left within a week of our arrival for pastures new. We had a wonderful time of fellowship and fun together and it seemed like we were at the start of something special which God was going to raise up and over the passing of time has born much fruit. We drank lots of tea and played lots of games of dominoes. John Valentine came for a visit after about 4 months and Stan Kersley came with him. They both blessed us, and the local churches, immensely. A little later, Dave Latham (from Liverpool) came to head up the Bible School, together with his wife Sue.

We lived in the big, thatched roof house. The other big house was occupied by a chap from New Zealand and his African cook – he was a pilot who carried out crop spaying sorties on local farms. Ameva had a small dirt airstrip in those days, and he kept his single seater propeller plane on the farm. It was exciting to see him fly off and return again later on in the day – he even spayed our field of ground nuts on one occasion, and we held up marker posts for him to fly over so that he could get the correct line – we got soaked by the spray!

Life at Ameva was basic but I can honestly say it was wonderful and I enjoyed it immensely – God blessed the small work which was started in the Bible School, and He provided all we needed for that and the running of the farm. It was a privilege to be part of this work at the very beginning and to meet and have fellowship with so many lovely people. My faith was challenged but the opportunities were great, and God was so faithful in it all. It is wonderful to have seen how the work there has grown and prospered over the years – John and Celia are held in high esteem in my heart for their faithful obedience to God’s calling for them over all these years.

Derrick Harrison - Lecturing at the Bible College

For the first two weeks of our visit I was teaching at Ameva Bible School. I left John and Celia’s house at 7.30 a.m. picking up students on the way in John’s large pick-up truck. Teaching began at 8.00 a.m. and I had two hours in the morning and one or two hours in the afternoon getting home about 4.00 p.m. Church History is not an easy subject to teach especially as most of it concerns the Western church although the North Africa Churches were very influential before they were destroyed by the Islamic armies. It is the one subject that is not Bible based and so requires more work. I had however prepared a booklet about early Christian missionary work in Africa which also included information about the coming of the gospel to the Shona people in Zimbabwe.

I am sure those of you that have “Fellowship” connections will be know how the farm has been run down and John’s house burned down. It is a sorry sight alongside houses now empty that were in full occupation when I was here about 20 years ago. It was strange to look around Martin and Marian William’s house, remembering each room and where I had stayed. Devoid of human life and activity they are strangely empty. I remember Marian treating a young boy from the school who had machete wounds on his legs and I also remember seeing a child from the Infants school drinking water from a plastic container which was not fit for drinking. Some of the children walked many miles getting up as early as 4.00 a.m. Both Infant and Junior Schools continue to function well at Ameva.

There is a beef herd and there are also a few dairy cattle but nothing like the former herds. All

that is left of the chicken sheds is a broken timber frame. The fields have reverted to bush and

the only fields I saw cultivated was one of sunflowers (the seeds are used for cooking oil) and

one of brightly coloured flowers (the seeds will be sold to gardeners). John is positive that there will be a future in the will of God for Ameva Farm. The Lord has kept the farm up to the present time but there are continuing challenges regarding its ownership. Please continue to pray for the farm and for John and Celia for continued strength and protection.

The Graduation Ceremony was the conclusion of two years of study, meeting periodically for

two weeks at a time. Students come from different church affiliations. Some are from Fellowship churches and some from the Christian Marching Church which is a break away from the Salvation Army. The Bishop of the CMC denomination was present. It was moving to see the joy shared by the students and their friends with lots of hugs and dancing. To graduate from Bible School is an unbelievable achievement. I preached during the Conference, at the Graduation and each Sunday I was there. Driving up to the “Scout Hut” in Chegutu reminded me of when I was here twenty years ago; then it was a Student gathering now it is a church meeting. The Lord led me to preach on the Ten Virgins and the Second Coming with a strong sense of urgency.

I have spent time helping the staff with issues related to the Bible School and spent over four

hours trying to make sense of the Library. Some of my subject headings are still there from my

last visit! Of course unpacking and sorting books is a delight to me. It has been a joy to enjoy

John and Celia’s friendship and home. They have been so kind to us. Barbara has been able to relax and spend lots of time reading, although today she had a meeting with some of the local Christian ladies sharing with them about the Lord and her experience of walking with the Lord.

The last week of our stay we left very early for a few days stay at Victoria Falls which is a long

journey from here. It was David Livingstone who was the first white man to see the most

spectacular waterfall in the world. His monument stands overlooking “the Falls”.