Alive despite odds... Love & unity take the win

How many times have we chosen the easier way out due to fear? Most often we're scared to tackle the bull by it's horns therefore we chose the easiest way out. We're arrogant too, so long I'm okay, nothing matters. The love for others is like a mystery to be discovered.

Cyclone Idai was real and it left scars in the lives of many. It mainly affected the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe. The land was massively destructed and souls were lost, as of today some haven't been recovered. I was fortunate enough to get a first-hand information from Chania Sympote. Her story touched my heart as she put her life in danger for the sake of others, together with fam fought odds by increasing chances of survival where they were minimum. Imagine placing your foot on ground you're unsure whether it will sink, you'll slip or you'll be carried away with water yet scale through because of grit and determination. If she purposed it in her heart, believed and made it safely, what's your excuse?

Disclaimer: No real names used for the protection of the victim.

Tell us your story?

I was away from home, at my husband work's place where I suddenly woke up with water on my knee length. I quickly grabbed my daughter from the bed and tied her at my back as the water level seemed rising. Looking at the clock, it was midnight hour thereabout. Waited till dawn only to find out that some parts were washed away with the waters. As it dawned, the crew I was with made a decision to head to Rusitu opposite place to areas of safety because we knew a lot of people there especially my in-laws. It was merely an act of love, for surely how can one jump from a frying pan into the open fire, LOL. 

The rains drizzled slowly as if nothing major had occurred. At dawn it was breezy and streams of water flowed with livestock, furniture and probably humans too. At that moment, I cared less about my surrounding than getting to my destination. With my baby on my back I followed my crew, and I made sure to cover my child with plastic. We walked and crossed water-ways where water levels were around my waist, truly speaking it was scary. 

My greatest obstacle was a huge water-way which washed away a house right before our eyes. Then, I knew that this was not an easy journey yet we had to cross to the other side. We had to apply techniques to check if it was safe to cross. First, it was to measure the intensity of the water using objects, if the object is carried away, it is not safe and if it is unmoved, we will be able to proceed with caution of course. A huge tree was cut and used as our first object and it was washed away. Then a stone, same predicament. Right there and then, I knew that our surviving chances were minimum. To think of it we were halfway through our journey, as always forward ever and backward never, yet; we're stuck. As we were devising a plan to cross over to the other side, four men approached us, from the opposite direction wishing to cross as well. They attempted to cross holding one another, as they were halfway into the water, the man in the middle scram as he was carried away and he shouted till he was heard no more. All hope was lost. Am I going to make it across the river/water-way? is what I could only think of.

We kept on checking if it were safe to cross, then after couple of attempts we realised that the pressures were low. I handed over our child to my husband because I was scared after seeing a grown man swept off. He carried her, we held hands and made it to the other side. I was thrilled, I rejoiced as one who had won the lottery, but the irony is we were still in the middle of nowhere, far away from our loved ones. It was the joy of making it through hurdles and succeeding together. We continued the journey, correctly placing our feet to the ground because one wrong move resulted in disaster. In such a situation you dont feel cold, rain, hunger because all focus will be centralised at reaching the destination. 

I was simply a moving zombie. As we were getting closer to our destination, we retired from our journey only to rest and have a meal. We found shelter in a nearby house, only to discover that the owner who happened to be an old lady was crashed by a huge stone right outside her house and she was leaning against the wall, she died in a sitting posture. May her soul rest in peace. So devastating. We paid our final rites, rested and continued moving. The land was destroyed massively, nothing was left. We made it home to our loved ones and our joy was complete because they were okay.

Have you completely healed from this incident?

Truth be told, healing is a process. Whenever I think about this day, streams of tears run down my cheeks, how we survived it can only be God. Seeing rain drizzling always remind me of this fateful day and I always ask myself what if the cyclone returns. Rain brings fear for what I saw remains the untold story.

Any take home notes...

I would love to emphasis the importance of unity. I was with my family, facing challenges together and counter-acting obstacles as one. What might have given me solace during the cyclone period was the fact that I was with them and we witnessed everything together unlike heresay. It doesn't matter the obstacles/challeges you face in life, make sure to work with others to overcome it. If one can chase a thousand and two ten thousand, imagine what a team can do. Never undermine the power of unity. 

We do not choose what calamity befall us but we're equally responsible for our actions and aftermath thereof, therefore apply wisdom. Nnessy💕

Pic 1: This used to be a settlement but all houses were washed away.

    Pic 2                                                                            Pic 3

Both pictures 2 & 3 taken on the same house but shot on different angles, as you can see, it is the remaining piece of the structure. The entire house was swept off.