New Team Member: Ramona Beam

The newest team member of the Zimbabwe Evangelism Team, Ramona Beam was privileged to see God at work in the villages of the re-settlement area of Mberengwa in Southern Zimbabwe. She joined the volunteer team from First Baptist Church, Bryan Texas in going village to village sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, leading discipleship classes for new believers, and helping to start a new church in this dry, mountainous region. Ramona has this to say about her time in Mberengwa:

"For five days, the team, along with missionaries from the Zimbabwe Evangelism Team walked from village to village, stopping in homes and sharing testimonies and the Creation to Christ story. In spite of rugged conditions, sleeping in school classrooms and with no electricity or running water, we were so blessed to be able to work in this area to start a new church.



I am reminded of one widow lady in particular, who had been left with four children to raise, and who had a somewhat bitter outlook on her life. Being a widow myself, I was privileged to share encouragement with her and let her know that Jesus Christ could be her sustainer during the hard and lonely times. I must admit to being somewhat disappointed when she responded that she had heard what I said and appreciated the encouragement, but was not ready to decide at this time.



Imagine my excitement when, that very afternoon, this same lady came to the new believers’ class, and joyfully exclaimed, “I have decided!” Praise God for His working in the hearts of those who hear the Good News!



Friday was our last day in Mberengwa. We were scheduled to leave right after breakfast to return to the city, but Isaac, the national pastor who was heading up the work, asked that we make one more visit to Village 10-C. This village was down a dirt track, in a remote area far away from the school and the other surrounding villages.



I’m so thankful we went! When we arrived, we found not one but two small villages, one on either side of a mountain. So, our team split up, and the group I was with went to one side. There we found Mrs. M. We knew from the first moment that this lady was special. Her enthusiasm was so contagious, and her joy was evident to all. It didn’t take long to discover that she was already a believer, and so much in love with her Lord.



When one of our team asked her if she had shared Jesus Christ with her friends and family, we were met with a blank look, and she replied, “No, I never thought of doing that. Can I do that?” Of course we told her yes, that she could and she should.

She said, “You must come with me!” She then took us to a neighbor’s home, where a young man prayed to receive Jesus Christ into his heart when he heard the story. Praise God for this lady, who now will be an evangelist in her village.

Praise God for the new church that met the following Sunday at the school, with 67 people in attendance!"

Sharing the Good News: Creation to Christ

For the 2nd time this year, First Baptist Church of Bryan Texas has sent a volunteer group to work in the Mberengwa area in Southern Zimbabwe. They worked along side national pastors and lay-leaders sharing the Good News.



Mr. S. has experienced God's mighty and miraculous hand at work in the lives of his son-in-law (bringing him back to life) and his son (ridding him of a strange type of paralysis in his body). Mr. S. received Christ when the team came to his village in March of this year. (His picture is the 4th on April 27 blog - Baptism in Mberengwa.) When he heard that the volunteers were coming back to start a church in a neighboring area about 8 kilometers from his own, he walked over and spent the week with them sharing his own testimonies of God's power and grace!



The volunteers came equipped to use the Creation to Christ witnessing presentation and the people in the villages were deeply touched. In some areas people who had heard the story went with the volunteers to the next village so they could hear the story again! One lady who was a Christian testified that she had never witnessed to anyone else and she was thankful that these volunteers showed her that she should also be out telling people the Good News. She joined the group and went with them to witness to her neighbors.

One team met a young lady who was trying to sell tomatoes to a neighbor. The neighbor lady was out trying to find her cows so the tomato seller was waiting for her to come home. In the meantime the team shared Creation to Christ with the tomato seller and she came to know the LORD! Praise God for working it all out in his perfect timing!



During 4 short days many people came to know Christ and discipleship classes were offered to new Christians in the afternoon. There was a class for men, another for women, and a third for young people. Youth pastor Randy Biddlecombe shared with the young people how to follow Christ and included a lesson on sexual purity as well.



There are others however, who continue to cling to the old ways and beliefs. Pray that God’s power and light will become very real to them and they also will come to a personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.

Compelled to Serve

Growing up in Botswana and Zimbabwe as a missionary kid was an amazing growing and learning experience that has helped broaden my view of the world.
This summer I was given the awesome opportunity to return to Zimbabwe after having left six years ago to move to Richmond, VA.



Even after being gone all these years and all the changes that have occurred (like toll booths and getting a mixture of rand and US dollars for change in the stores) it felt so familiar and natural for me to be there. Oh how I have missed worshipping with my Zimbabwean brothers and sisters in Christ while being in the USA.

It is truly a blessing! I had my fill of sadza, boerewors, and coke in a glass bottle.



I even tried a Mopani worm again and yes it still tasted disgusting!



Being in medical school (now in my second year) I was so excited to learn more about health care in Zimbabwe and gain some experience in that area.



I was prepared for the poor conditions but it didn’t lessen the shock of seeing the overwhelming need. I was able to work with the Beaty’s the last two weeks I was in Zimbabwe doing eye clinics in and around Bulawayo. I saw my first eye surgery, gave my first eye block (injection under the eye to block all sensation to the eye) and so much more! But by far an experience that stands out to me occurred at Mater Dei hospital in Bulawayo. Uncle Steve (Dr. Beaty) was conducting cataract surgery that day and I was helping out by doing the “very difficult task” of dilating people’s eyes before they go in to see him. This may be too complicated for you to understand if you’re not in the medical world but you have to tell the person to look up and put 2 drops of atropine in their eye! Phew, now that’s hard! Well, I was doing my very important, difficult task when I started talking to the patient (the fourth that day) whose eyes I had just dilated. He was nervous about the procedure and needed a little assurance. In the middle of our conversation he looked up at me and asked quite genuinely “I wonder why Dr. Beaty pays all this money to come over here and do these surgeries for free” (do I hear opportunity knocking or what?!). I told him simply that it was because of grace; Uncle Steve had been shown so much grace and love by Christ Jesus that he can’t help but want to do the same for others. How can he not when he’s been forgiven and loved so much! The man was contemplative and we talked a while longer before he was called for his exam.



That is what it’s all about isn’t it? We are not good saviors coming to help poor heathens. We are wretched sinners, forgiven and loved thanks to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ’s love compels us to share His love and grace with others!

Submitted by Sarah Fort

Sanyati Baptist Hospital Makeover Team Part Two

(If you haven't read Part One, scroll down and read that first. I'm still learning about blogs. . . I could only put five pictures in one blog so I had to divide this blog in half to get all the pictures in.)

As the Sanyati Hospital Makeover Team examined each hallway and room, it was obvious how much repair work was needed at the hospital which had probably not seen any serious repairs done since 1980.



The chapel is one of the rooms that every patient as well as his relatives see. It is the place where the day begins as all those in the hospital come for daily devotions and prayer. The team felt it only right to put God and His work first by making the renovation of the chapel their first priority.



After an inspection of the hospital, the volunteers met with Mark Hatfield of Baptist Global Response (pictured below) as well as Zimbabwe missionaries Dr. Mark Byler, Gregg Fort, and Barry Robinson to discuss long range planning.




Determining that this would be a five year project (2011-2015) helped the team begin to break down the job into smaller projects.

In February 2011 the newly purchased solar electrical system will be installed by volunteers who are already making plans to come.

In May 2011 the project will begin in earnest as the first team coming hopes to get a good start on the renovation of the chapel. Other 2011 teams will complete the work.

It is hoped that 6 teams of 12-15 workers will be able to come in 2011 and during each of the four consecutive years to complete the renovation of the entire hospital.



Peter Sierson, project manager, says when he agreed to the job he never dreamed what a mammoth task it would be. He says he feels like David going up against Goliath, and he doesn’t even have any stones! He is excited and fearful all at the same time. As we prayed together Peter prayed, “God has given us a dream and a vision. We must believe that God will provide the spiritual, physical, financial, and human resources needed to complete the task.”

One man prayed that as nationals and volunteers worked side by side that a oneness and spiritual renewal would occur at Sanyati that would spread throughout all the Baptist Churches, the Baptist Convention, and the country of Zimbabwe as a whole.



Another prayed, “Bless this project from the first nail driven to the last floor swept.”

The closing prayer, “Lord, grant that the greatest days of the Sanyati Baptist Hospital are still ahead. May they continue to reach out in a mighty way to meet the spiritual and physical needs of those who come for treatment.”

If you or anyone you know of is skilled in renovation and might want to participate in this project please contact Peter Sierson at this e-mail address: psierson@charter.net

If you would like to see how you can help through Baptist Global Response, check out their website: www.baptistglobalresponse.com

Sanyati Baptist Hospital Makeover Team Part One

Six Volunteers from Tennessee (left to right Jordan Fray, John Carlisle, Doug Kelley, Cory Miller, Peter Sierson, and Bud Fray) came to Sanyati Hospital the last week of August to inspect the hospital and get an idea of what all was needed to complete the renovation.



Sanyati Baptist Hospital opened in 1953 as two huts in which patients could receive medical attention from Drs. Giles and Wana Ann Fort. The first incubator at the hospital was an apple crate with blankets and a hot water bottle. By 1956 the first wing of the hospital was built and other wings were added later on. Today the hospital is a large complex.



Even though the hospital was “nationalized” in 1980, Baptists continue to support the work there and currently Dr. Mark Byler is a physician there.



Every nook and cranny of the hospital was inspected and the volunteers had a number of “light” and humorous moments as they made their rounds.



It didn’t take long to notice how outdated the equipment was throughout the hospital.



Continued in Sanyati Baptist Hospital Makeover Team Part Two