Grand Slam

For those who love baseball there is nothing more exciting than watching your favorite team hit a Grand Slam.
This July 31st until August 10th a Partnering Team from Conyers, Georgia came to Zimbabwe as part of the Great Sanyati Makeover Project. The equivalent of a grand slam was accomplished as they worked with IMB missionaries, local volunteers, and even the WMU from a nearby Baptist Church. The Great Sanyati Makeover Project seeks, over the next five years, to upgrade the hospital facilities that have not been maintained or replaced with newer equipment for more than 25 years. Partly as a result of the devastating financial crisis experienced in Zimbabwe for a number of years. In partnership with Baptist Global Response, The Baptist Convention of Zimbabwe and other Baptist entities, not only will the hospital facilities be upgraded, but local churches strengthened and encouraged.



The Partnering Team included Jan and Jeff Ross, Dennis McClendon, Ryan Sifford, Marilyn Perkins and Janice Fordham. They were joined by Barry and Marleen Robinson. Meeting the team in Sanyati, and having pre-planned the coming week’s hospital makeover schedule, was Don Smith. Waiting to work with us on the hospital were three or four local volunteers. Amai Dhliwayo , Amai Alice, and the hospital Chaplain were on board as ministry translators. Later in the week, the WMU ladies from Lozane Baptist Church came and joined us as we worked on the hospital.



The first hit, filling first base, was the Hospital Makeover renovation itself. Having been hammered by over 10 years of historic economic chaos, the facilities of the hospital are tattered and worn. The roof leaks and the termites have decimated the wood in the buildings, in some places all the way to the roof peaks. The first order of business is to replace the entire roof and begin the process of installing the new solar array that will give light to the hallways, delivery room, and surgery.
With a will to work, and the experience of construction and engineering under the belts of several of the team members, the old roof was torn away and termite devastated headers and rafters were replaced. With amazing speed and determined toil the new roofing sheets began to be hoisted into place.
By the end of the week the amount of roof replaced more than doubled what had already been done. The entire administrative building, pharmacy, two corridors and a breezeway were now dried in.



The second solid hit, advancing a man to second and keeping first base full, was the Medical portion of this team’s abilities. Some months ago a new sonogram machine had been donated to the hospital. Jan Ross, a sonographer from Conyers, used each day to do numerous sonograms on expectant ladies. In between she sharpened Dr. Mark Byler’s skills on that particular machine. It was a week of joy and as well sadness as the ladies saw even before giving birth, God’s wonders living inside them. Later in the week, one of the ladies who was very sick had a sonogram. At that time she had a living child. A few days later the child was stillborn. In the end she too died. Whether the news of the sonogram was joyful, or the ending saddening, each time was an opportunity to share how Christ could have meaning in their lives.



Filling the bases is the Ministry portion of the team’s time together. Each day was filled with numerous types of ministry. Every morning (except on the two holiday days) part of the team attended and brought devotions to the chapel. Daily they visited patients who had been admitted to the hospital to share words of encouragement and pray with them.
The hospital contains two villages called “Matumbas” (meaning “Shelters” and for these women it is like a “ home away from home”.) where expectant ladies wait for a month or two for their delivery. Four of the days the ladies of the team went to the Matumbas and storied several bible stories and used Creation to Christ to share the plan of salvation with them. On several days the ladies also moved from hut to hut sharing the message of Salvation using Creation to Christ. There were life changing decisions made during these times.
On Saturday, while part of the team continued work on the roof, the ladies and Barry went to Gambiza Baptist Church. Jan Ross led a session on biblical leadership, after which Barry and Marleen led a session on husband/wife relationships from Ephesians Chapter 5.
Sunday the entire group again attended Gambiza Church. Jeff Ross taught the adult Sunday School Class using the storying method. The story of the Prodigal Son was the story used. The ladies were asked to teach the children’s class. After Sunday School, Barry brought the morning message.
On Monday and Tuesday several of the men accompanied the ladies to minister to children. A Little Helpers (our equivalent of Mission Friends) Club had been arranged at a local church, and a similar ministry opportunity at the Community
Center.



Driving in the loaded bases resulting in the Grand Slam was the outcome of the week of ministry. Throughout the week numerous hospital patients were encouraged and had the love of Christ shared with them in word and deed. After the days in the Matumbas, and the Sunday Services there were 22 who had given their lives to Christ.
With the highly successful Makeover work, the positive medical and the life changing Ministry, the week was truly a Grand Slam!