An update from this past week

A phone call finally came in from the team!!! Below is an update of what's been happening this week and what is planned for the next few days.

Living and working in Banket with the OM team has been an amazing experience for all of us. It's hard to know how to begin to share an experience that goes far beyond words. Our construction team has been able to accomplish so much in just a few short days. Working with the local hardware store (which is a very small business, but has been helpful in ordering supplies) we've been able to acquire and install toilets all throughout the OM facility. Real toilets. Not the kind that require you to stand and squat! We've also installed a hot water heater in the kitchen providing needed hot water for cooking and washing. And we've completely redone, restored and painted the nursery that cares for AIDS babies. Two of our team members are gifted artists and plan to paint murals this week of bible characters to make it a special place for the kids. We've done lots of minor repairs to the facility as well....sort of taking on all those projects that the missionaries just were not able to find time or the skills to complete. It's been such a blessing to them!!

The rest of the team has been working with the kids at the daycare center. We've enjoyed laughing, worship, games, learning their language, doing dramas, meeting and developing relationships with their families, and becoming part of this community. The local word for "teacher" sounds like "auntie"....so the kids have begun to call our team by "auntie". The laughter we hear and the smiles seems so out of place at times for a country that is so without hope. We had a polaroid camera with us, so the children have so enjoyed getting a picture with their faces painted and a hug from our team. As much as we minister to them, they are ministering to us through their love.

A few of the girls on our team were invited to be part of an HIV Support Group attended by about 50 women. It's a bit sobering to be surrounded by these women who will all die from the AIDS virus. The government offers testing for the disease, but it costs money. Then after they find out they are infected, they have to decide if they want to pay again for their children to be tested. And if they find out that their children are also infected, there is so little money for the drugs needed. Does she use the little money she has to purchase drugs to treat herself? Does she use the money to buy the drugs for her children? Or does she use the money to buy food to feed her entire family. It's heart wrenching to see the despair and the pain these women experience. The girls from our team plan to attend again on Wednesday. God provided the team with bags and bags of extra supplies, and we've been praying about how to distribute what we have. We've decided to put together "care bags" for the women who are a part of the HIV Support Group...toothpaste, soaps, clothes, shoes, kids toothbrushes, nail polish, lipstick, etc. Each of us will write a letter of encouragement to include with some scripture and pray with each women as they recieve the bags. It doesn't seem like much when there is so much that needs to be done. But the Lord is providing a way to express HIS love to these women through us, and we are so honored to be able to touch their lives in some way.

The team has also had several opportunities to speak in the community. Billy spoke at a church in town on Thursday night, and the church enjoyed him so much that the recommended that the Salvary Army Church invite him to come. So Billy will have the chance to speak at their church on Monday night. John Mark and Tiffany were invited to speak on Monday night at the Chyoni University. They are really excited to have an audience with young college students. The team visited 3 separate churches on Sunday, performing their dramas and sharing testimonies at each. John was invited to give the Sunday message at one of them. And over the next few days, OM leaders are arranging for us to perform and speak in several High Schools and a primary school. Please be in prayer for all of these events. Having this open door is exciting and we want to be able to communicate a message of hope and love to this community.

Lis and Seretha, our two nurses on this team, just headed out on an amazing adventure on Sunday morning. They loaded up in an SUV with sleeping bags, food, medical supplies, rubber gloves, and a few other necessities for a 7 hour drive out in to the "bush" to work along side Vicki. She's a nurse that is caring for hundreds of villagers....all by herself! She is the only medical professional for hundreds of miles and travels from village to village 6 days a week to host medical clinics. She cares for the sick, the dying, men, women, children...and shares the Good News every single day at the clinics. She's a close to a modern day "Mother Theresa" as you will find. Liz and Seretha will be there from Sunday through Thursday to assist her with the medical clinics. They will be living in a very remote and rustic location....no electricity (only a generator), no running water (a bucket of water hanging from a rope is their shower), no rooms (just a tent), not bathroom (an outhouse with a resident bat that flies around)...and they are going to have the time of their lives pouring themselves out along side Vicki to meet the needs of the poor, sick and needy. Be praying for their safety and that they remain healthy during their time in the bush.

Until later this week, keep us in you prayers daily.
The Zimbabwe Team

Arrived in Zimbabwe

After two very long days of travel, we have arrived in Harare! Our first flight took us to London, and with a 10 hour layover we were able to get into the city for a bit to see the Palace and a few of the sites, then boarded our second flight from London to Harare. We arrived on Sunday afternoon, and thanks to much prayer, had no problems with customs officials to bring in the medical and children's supplies. After meeting our hosts at the airport, we headed out on a 1 1/2 hour drive to the city of Banket. The sites, sounds and smells are too much to try to describe with such little rest, so I'll save that for another post. But just to give you some insight into life here for us....we are staying dorm style with 4-5 of us in each room. There is no electricity here, except for a few hours right before dinner each day. So we spend a lot of time by candle light. In fact, last night we had an amazing time of worship together by candlelight. There is no hot water, and the guys are staying in the only part of the building that has a shower head. So the girls are enjoying standing in a bathtub and pouring water over us with a bucket. Today, after a good night's sleep, we were taken around the OM property to assess the projects the team will be working on and then went to the hardware store to get some supplies. Beginning tomorrow, 1/2 the team will work on the projects and the other 1/2 will spend time ministering to the local children. We have an amazing opportunity to send 2 or 3 of our team members out to work with an amazing woman about 7 hours into the "bush". Her name is Vicki, and she is the only medical professional serving the villagers. She lives alone, works alone and is single handedly providing care, compassion, hope and the gospel to hundreds of patients daily. It will be a tough trip for those that go, but an amazing experience and opportunity to bless this modern day "mother theresa". The team is doing really well and is learning to be very flexible. Right now, a few team members are syphoning diesel fuel from a broken down OM vehicle in order to have fuel to run the generator to make dinner tonight. Fuel is not available for purchase in the country....gas stations have been closed for years. The only way to get gas is with cash on the black market. So tonight, we at least have the fuel from the broken down truck. Just a note...for those who have family and friends on the team, there is no internet access and very very limited access to phones. So know that everyone is safe and that we will update the blog as often as we can (team leaders will try to make a call every few days back to Calvary and we are updating the blog from the office). Be praying for us to remain safe and healthy and that God would allow us to be a blessing to the OM staff that have committed themselves to care for the suffering. Pray also that God would use us to share HIS hope with the children and their families this week.

In Awe of His Love and Grace,
The Zimbabwe Team

We're on our way!

We met on this rainy day at the church at 3:45pm for a brief meeting and prayer, and then headed off to Miami International Airport to begin the adventure of international travel. The ride to the airport was a test in patience as we drove in rainy traffic for 2 hours. Then it was on to airport security, security, more security. We are taking 13 extra duffel bags filled with medical supplies, toys, clothes, eye glasses, balloons, soccer balls and a pump, children's books, sports equipment, crafts, hygiene products, ...you name it, we've got it packed. Thanks to the generous donations of individuals, hospitals, and businesses, we will be able to bless the full time missionaries with much needed supplies. Our travel schedule has us flying from Miami to London, and with an 10 hour layover we'll be able to enjoy the sights of the city before boarding a second flight on to Harare, Zimbabwe. We will arrive in Zimbabwe after more than 40 hours of travel (yes, that's four zero!). Be praying for us to get plenty of rest on the two international flights, for us to remain healthy and arrive rested and ready for all they will encounter. Keep checking back for updates.... we'll try to write as often as we can.


With much anticipation,
The Zimbabwe Mission Team

A Prayerful Send-0ff

On Wednesday night, the entire team had the priviledge to stand before the church body attending the 6:30pm service at CCFL to be "sent off" as missionaries. Pastor Kelly Lyon shared with the church some of the statistics about the AIDS epidemic in Zimbabwe, and that our call as Christians is to reach out to the sick and suffering in our world. Did you know that approximately 1.8 million people are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus in Zimbabwe, which accounts for nearly 30% of the population of the country? There are thousands upon thousands of children left orphaned as a result. Pastor Bob had the church stretch out their hands as he prayed that God would protect the team, provide them great opportunities for ministry and that the love, compassion and hope of Jesus would be shared with many during the trip.

"For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me." Then these righteous ones will reply, "Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?" And the King will tell them, "I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!' Matthew 25:35-40