Sacred water at Holy Cross, Gokwe

The road to Gokwe from Kwekwe is very welcome tar after so much dirt road driving. It twists through a landscape pockmarked with informal mining activity; diggings and scratchings in the red earth, leaving mounds like an abandoned cemetery of dreams in the veld. Chinese vehicles and trucks weave around the tracks, evidence of their growing presence.

Gokwe is a growing hub of market trading. Houses are springing up, adding pressure to the school places in the town. The main secondary school is already over subscribed with more than 1000 students. Classes are being held outside under trees as classroom space is at a premium.

The Anglican Diocese decided to provide a new school on some of the church land to the west of the town centre. Four years ago the foundations of Holy Cross School were dug and by January this year four classrooms and offices were ready to accept 134 students. However, the provision was water was the critical constraint. The school was paying $50 a week for a delivery of water, a huge amount in this poor area. The Diocese requested a borehole from Tzaba as part of our programme and drilling commenced in March.

The borehole proved very successful, but the real test would be how it functioned in the dry period. Forster Irrigation completed the installation of the pump, solar panels, distribution lines, tank and tap aprons in May and the site was formally commissioned by the Bishop in July, to much celebration.

Our visiting group were welcomed by the enthusiastic and dynamic Headteacher, Mrs Jane Tabarikwa, her staff and the priest. We were taken on a tour of the installation, the latrines, the vegetable garden being cleared, etc. I was particularly impressed by the granite memorial etched with the details of the borehole, standing in the fenced enclosure. Clearly this water source represents a high value to the school and community. 

The school is constructing a new set of flush latrines with shower cubicles using the prolific water now available. The agricultural area is being cleared to a 100 by 60 m area, intended  to provide supplemental feeding for the students as well as other programmes. Various other plans are afoot as the school adjusts for this abundance of water. Another set of classrooms are already under construction, and more students are scheduled to join in the new year. So much happening, giving a sense of growth and excitement, of opportunity and life. Over 30 households also use the water for their needs.

I was invited to give a lecture to the students, and anyone who knows me, knows I’m never one to pass an opportunity to talk! It was a presentation on Our Story, life on our 4,500 million year old Earth. I love introducing students to their ancient ancestors shared with all life, with fish, with primates, and with our monkey cousins. And it always stirs much laughter and such great questions…”Are you saying I come from a fish?”, “Do we come from baboons?” Etc. 

I began by explaining that the word “water” in many languages is in invitation to ask questions, water = “what”, aqua = “qua” in French, wasser = “was” in German. The Hebrew word for “water well” is “ be’er”, which also means “to explain, to comment upon.” Water rising from the deep, giving life, brings questions which we are invited to respond to by engaging with it.

As we open ourselves to the First Revelation, the world around us, in this participative way we discover that every creature and every created thing can be a window of revelation into the divine nature. In doing so, we fall more and more in love with the world. It brings a sense of reverence to the way we walk in the world. I love the idea that all the world, every encounter with people, with animals, trees, a sunrise, can be a sacrament. As has been said: “Sacremental vision like this means not only that we grow in our love of God’s ways, but also that we grow in our sense of kinship with all of creation.” A better translation of the term “the Kingdom of God” is “The Kin-dom of God. All creation is our Kin.

Over our tea and food in the office afterwards we had a lively discussion on the role of science, especially evolutionary studies, and the relationship with religion. Obviously, there are challenges in how science is presented in schools, but Zimbabwe needs scientists. Concepts of the Divine need to adapt to take account of our new understanding of physics, geology, biology, and Reality. But it is never easy, especially in rural areas where old beliefs and theology hold sway.

We left a chemistry box containing a range of experiments in addition to other gifts. But we left with a precious gift from the school and community: a song in our hearts, a sense of thriving and growth, and a reminder of the gift of water…abundant grace, freely given.

Thank you for reading.

Sandy