Do I Really Thirst?

Do I Really Thirst? It is currently one of the hottest months in Zimbabwe and I am really feeling it. One of my favorite things about summer time in the States is the BIG GULP drinks that you can get at a discounted price at the gas stations. There I seem to always be carrying around a 32 oz drink for less than 75 cents whether I am thirsty or not, usually not. Today we went to a VERY rural school over an hour away, deeper into the ‘bush’ so to speak. Traveling the gravel and dirt paths in the old Toyota pickup tended to be a bit bumpy but the air conditioner in the truck is a luxury we do not take lightly. Pulling up to the school, passing the rural clinic in a place called Nyaunde, brought back memories from many years back when we shared the Gospel and saw people commit to Christ and get baptized. The school had a fresh coat of bright sky-blue paint and it was eerily quiet because the 7th graders were all taking tests, to see if they could qualify for secondary school. The rest of the kids who came to school were outside trying to find any spot of shade available under the trees. We had come to share the story of Salvation with them to pass the time while the others were testing. Over two hundred eager students sang songs with us and listened to the Gospel story. To reinforce the message we had a craft to share with them. Using colors to represent parts of the story we talked about a Golden heaven that we are kept from because of our darkened hearts, but how the red blood of Jesus can clean us and make us white as snow. Once we believe and receive Christ as our Savior we are baptized in the blue water and continue to grow in the green grace and knowledge of Jesus. The youngest students returned to a classroom with a coloring page entitled “C is for CROSS”. Sounds basic and simple, however, these students had never seen crayons before and didn’t know what to do with them. Once they caught on they were thrilled with the results and proudly displayed their pictures to us. The older students created a salvation bracelet and learned about sharing the gospel by using the colors as symbols to tell such an important story.

Doing this outside in the 100 degree heat was not nearly as miserable as cramming inside a classroom with no breeze to present the school with some simple gifts of a soccer ball, jump ropes and more crayons. At the closing prayer our eyes were stinging, not because of emotion, but because of the sweat dripping into them. The children and teachers were thrilled with the day and headed out to lunch. Our day was only half over because soon the Ladies would be gathering for the weekly WMU meeting and my friend Mickey was going to be sharing her testimony. The heat was stifling and we couldn’t seem to get enough to drink. I had brought what I thought was an abundance of frozen water bottles but even as we sipped continuously on the melting drinks, our thirst was still ravishing.

Love Buckets

Love Buckets. So what’s in a “Love Bucket”? Roses, chocolate candies, sentimental notes? Hardly. More like a towel, sheets, gloves, vitamins, a scrub brush, lotion and bendy straws; at least that is some of what is in the Love Buckets sent to AIDS patients around the world through a program sponsored by the Baptist Global Response (BGR). Dubbed “Love Buckets” by missionary emeritus, Bud Fray, these gifts of love and compassion were distributed to 15 different patients in the Sanyati area of Zimbabwe. Bud’s Sunday school class at Central Baptist Church of Crossville, Tennessee, packed the buckets with particular items designed to specifically assist homebound AIDS patients. In September Bud, along with some men from his church, brought the buckets to Sanyati in their duffel bags. Joining up with the Village Health Care Workers, we had the opportunity to visit people in their homes and share the love of Christ in a very tangible way. Every village had a different story.

Amai Tinotenda, lying on a mat in her hut was barely able to sit up when we visited her. Blind and very weak from the Virus, she was being cared for by a 16 year old son, the only other person living there. Who would have thought a simple sheet and mattress protector were loving items? Amai did when the Village Health workers spread them on her straw mat giving her a bit more comfortable place to spend her day. Priska was in too much pain to walk and our hearts were torn as we watched her brother push her in a wheel barrow to their simple living room so we could share the “love bucket” with her. Who would have thought that a tube of Carmex would be a loving item? Priska did when we applied it to her cracked and sore lips. The smile that came as a result of this and the songs we sang for her about God’s love lit up the room. Judith, a 12 year old girl laid on the floor in her room, too weak to go to school. Her parents had both passed away and her Gogo (Grandma) took care of her. Judith was very quiet at first as we greeted her and began to share about why we came to see her; all the while her Gogo lovingly comforted her. Who would have thought that a bendy straw was a loving item? Judith did when she was able to take a drink without having to struggle to sit up and not spilling the juice all over her.

Tyron is 13. Some days are better than others and he can attend school; today he was home. His parents are both deceased and he is living with his grandparents. Small for his age and covered in a rash, Tyron is still able to smile and is very grateful that we have come to see him and share the “love bucket” with him. Who would have thought that Multi vitamins were a loving item? Tyron and the whole village did. They had been praying for a way to get vitamins, often referred to as “boosters”, for HIV+ patients, knowing that good nutrition is vital to someone being treated with ARV’s (anti retroviral). This was an answer to their prayers.

These are a few of the stories. The fact that Love overflowed from these buckets was very evident. It really wasn’t just the material items that the patients received that blessed each recipient and family; it was all the love and prayers that went in to packing each individual bucket, the love and prayers that accompanied each individual visit, and the love and prayers that now continue as names and faces are associated with each individual gift. WE continue to pray for the opportunity to show God’s love in a very real way to the people who are struggling everyday with the harsh reality of illnesses that this world brings. May they find the comfort of a Heavenly Father, who sees their pain, and whose Love NO BUCKET could contain.

The Sandra Jones Center

Old Hotel Rio is a place you just want to take your shoes off and run around in the grass. First because of the obvious, its grass, in Africa. But second because your running with a mass of 3 year olds behind you. You're running with the sound of tiny voices yelling, "Auntie!!!!" As you walk in for tea time, you scan the room for a chair to sit in. You see little feet, shoeless, dangling, and kicking vigorously in their seats. You sit with some older girls and they smile and giggle as you ask them about their tea and how school is going for them. They love to hear you speak, they hang onto your words as they come out of your mouth. They starve for your attention. You see, they have been left, they have been abused, they have been broken, and they need your love. They crave it, its why they ask if you will be returning to them. They want to be sure you won't leave forever. They have come to memorize the day and time of our coming and going, they wait outside as if they were just hanging out out there, in reality you can see in their faces they were waiting for us to drive up. These children have been brought to the Sandra Jones Center, now located at the Old Hotel Rio. They range from birth to 18. They have either been abused in one way or another or just simply abandoned. They are beautiful souls. Beautiful souls in need of Jesus Christ. Us Bulawayo girls have had the privilege and honor to invest our spare time and energy into these children. Some of their precious little faces consume my thoughts at times. They are so full of life, so full of joy, it just ebbs out of them into us and we keep coming back for more. So often I think we find ourselves more ministered to by those we are supposed to be ministering to. God has been good in opening doors and windows and flood gates for us to just pour into this group of children and teens. We have been given the opportunity to share the love of Christ through math tutoring, swim lessons, bible studies, and starting very soon a volley ball team! We take time to do every day things so as to invest for an eternity. We are excited to see what all is going to unfold in our time with these girls, but for now, we know that this is where the Father wants us.

Sanyati Makeover 2012: Picture the Results!

The noise of excited volunteer construction workers at Sanyati Baptist Hospital has come to an end, but the results of their labor of love will be evident for many years to come. So much work had to be done, and if you read back through the blogs you will see the terrible shape the hospital was in before the makeover. Recently, missionary Gregg Fort made a trip to Sanyati. He arrived to this stunning view of the newly painted hospital beautifully framed by these Flamboyant trees.

One of the most urgent projects was getting backup lighting to the hospital due to the frequent and lengthy power cuts at Sanyati. Here you see pictured the new solar powered system.

The new system is capable of supplying power and lights to the surgical theatres (one is seen below), as well as providing lights to the remainder of the hospital!

Another priority was the chapel, where daily services are held and patients and staff are all encouraged to participate. It looks very beautiful after its repairs and painting.

In addition to Baptist donations and construction efforts, the hospital was awarded a government grant to help with some of the refurbishing. The government funds provided for the tile floor you see in the chapel, and throughout the hospital. It also provided for some of the painting which was done as part of the refurbishment process.

It also provided for the repainting of the dormitory for the nursing students.

The government also provided a new ambulance for the hospital.

Thanks to Baptist Global Response and all the Baptists who provided funds and helped by donating their time and talents in the makeover project this year. Stateside Makeover Director Peter Sierson and BGR representative Mark Hatfield will be meeting to determine which needs will be addressed in 2013. Some of the outstanding needs are new covers over the walkways between buildings, the plumbing and the electrical wiring.

Hands On

Welcome to our semester student Hands On missionaries.

Kara Canterbury, seated in the swing, is from Mt. Vernon Kentucky and has been training with Childlife helping children with "emotional wellness" who are doing physiotherapy, dealing with a protracted illness, or those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Haley Richter, seated on top, is from Birmingham, Alabama. She enjoys doing photography and writing and feels called by God to work with orphans. While they are here in Zimbabwe, they are working with journeygirls Robyn Allison and Jennilee Phillips in schools teaching the principals of True Love Waits, assisting as volunteers in various children's homes (for orphans) and sharing the gospel through their life and testimony. Pray for Kara and Haley that God will open their eyes to see how they can minister to others during the short time they are here. Pray for a compassionate and loving heart toward those they come in contact with. Pray that they will learn to rely on God every day and listen to His voice. Pray for wisdom as they face great needs to know what they can and cannot do and not to feel guilty for the things they cannot do.

Baptism Class 101

Missionary Donna Fort has been passionate about teaching God’s Word to others since she was young. “My younger brothers used to have to put up with my “Sunday School Lessons”. As I grew older, I was given the opportunity to teach in Vacation Bible Schools. God has continued to open many more doors for teaching God’s word to people of all ages since we came to Zimbabwe.” Earlier this year, a new opportunity for teaching opened up for Donna. The Baptist Seminary of Zimbabwe has been undergoing some radical changes, and she was asked to fill a part time teaching position. Donna taught two classes from January to May. The six students she taught were in their final term before graduation. Five of the students were present for graduation and they are pictured below with Mrs. Fort.

This current school term Donna has been teaching five new students a total of four classes. “It has been such an amazing experience teaching men who are hungry to know more about God’s word and who desire to be equipped to be ministers of the gospel.”

The Forts were heading to the Mberengwa Resettlement Area for a baptism with Pastor and Mrs. Mabvumba, so Donna made the arrangements for her five students to go as well. They left early Sunday morning and after a 2 ½ hour drive arrived at the place where the people from the Matotse area had gathered to worship. Members from Zvikombe, Gumbalo, and Nyezi Baptist Churches traveled by foot to be part of this joyous occasion. Pastor Mabvumba invited three of the seminary students to help with the baptism. Then he took the time to give them a few important pointers to help them know how to baptize.

Then everyone walked down to the “pond” where the baptism was to take place.

Each student in turn was given the opportunity to baptize about 11 people each. (Altogether 35 people were baptized. Pastor Mabvumba did several first as an example for the students.)

After the baptism, everyone returned to the two large shade trees where the “worship center” had been set up. The people danced and sang in joyous celebration while another student helped write out the baptismal certificates. Then they were distributed as part of the worship service.

Pastor Mabvumba gave a brief message while his wife prepared the elements for the Lord's Supper.

Then Missionary Gregg Fort spoke and administered the Lord’s Supper.

By 2:30 p.m. the worship time was complete and soon after that the visiting guests were served lunch. By 3:30 they were on the road home and got back to Gweru about dark. The students expressed their appreciation to Mrs. Fort for helping them be part of this extraordinary day. Then one student commented, “It is one thing to be taught about baptism and what it means, but quite another thing to be the one who does it! It is not as easy as it looks!” Another student gave his testimony a few days later in chapel at the seminary: “Pastor Mabvumba did a good job teaching us how to baptize. He was very patient with us to show us how to do everything before we got in the water. Then he baptized several people so we could see and hear him do it.” Praise God for this opportunity for seminary students to learn a new aspect of carrying out the Great Commission. . . “Go ye therefore. . . baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

Trinity Medical Team

Trinity Baptist Church of Lake Charles, Louisiana, sent a medical team to work in Mberengwa at the Neta Growth Point. ( A growth point is a very small business center with a service station, a few stores, a clinic, etc., that services the villagers from many miles around.)

Word spread quickly that medical help was available and long lines quickly formed as the clinic opened on day one. A Zimbabwe nurse paired with a nurse from Trinity interviewed the patients to determine whether the patients required help from a physician or if they could be helped by other medical staff. Inside the large one room clinic, four medical stations were set up. Dr. Richard Landry saw patients at his station,

and Dr. Barry Newton saw patients at his station. Several patients even had minor surgery.

Mike Reed, an RN was able to help a number of patients.

as was nursing student Gandy Osburn.

After the patients saw the doctor, they were invited to sit and listen to a gospel presentation by Greg Bath, Missions Minister of Trinity. Many listened while waiting for their turn to see the pharmacist to get their medications.

Their pharmacist, Mandi Jordan was assisted by other Trinity volunteers to distribute the correct medication for each patient.

One young girl about age 10, named Raviroyashe, who was seen had a bowel obstruction of some kind. Her only sibling died last year with a similar problem. Even though the doctors could not help her at the rural clinie, they were able to refer her to a doctor in Harare and donors paid for her to have surgery. She and her parents have come to know the Lord as a result. It is interesting that even though her parents were not Christians at the time that they named their daughter Raviroyashe - which means "The will of the Lord". We praise God that it was the will of the Lord that she live and that he provided for her life in a miraculous and unexpected way! The four medical stations saw over 2,000 patients in five days. In the meantime, Dr. Herbert, a veterinarian from Lake Charles, dosed 3,000 cows for worms, blackleg and other diseases with preventive medicine. He did some minor surgeries and other treatments as well.

Overall, more than 4,000 people prayed to receive Christ during the week. Praise Jehovah Raphe – the God of healing – physical, emotional, and spiritual!

Light and Life: The Sanyati Makeover

John 1:4 says, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of Men.” In early July teams from Heritage Hills Baptist Church (Conyers GA) and Pleasant Heights Baptist Church (Columbia, Tennessee) joined forces with others in Zimbabwe and brought both Light and Life to the folks in the Sanyati area and to the Sanyati Baptist Hospital specifically.

As the Sanyati Makeover progresses, major milestones in the project were reached in June, July, and August of this year. This combined team worked together to see major movement in the replacement of the entire roof on the hospital.

Both teams have visited several times to work with the hospital project and also the sharing of the good news in a more direct manner. Having had repeated experience on the roof, all those involved were qualified for the challenges they would meet and the materials they would use. During this trip the truss structure on one large building was almost completely restored and the complicated hip and valleys of this building fitted into place. The nursing school saw more than two thirds of its roof replaced as well. Accompanying the team were several master electricians who installed the long awaited solar lighting system.

For several years now the electrical supply for the Sanyati Hospital has been erratic due to the deteriorating electrical infrastructure of the country. At times the operating room has had to manage under a headlight powered by a vehicle battery. Now, thanks to the generosity of Samaritans Purse, who supplied the solar equipment, and the electrical installation talent of this volunteer team, there is 24 hour power in the critical portions of the hospital. Yet an even more important “light” was shed at the hospital and surrounding area during this teams visit. On a daily basis the team members shared in the Chapel services and teams trained in the sharing of “Creation to Christ” presented the light of the gospel in the Matumbas. (onsite village where expecting mothers await their delivery.)

The afternoons were spent hosting opportunities for the children to hear the gospel at local schools.

One special day was scheduled for the team members to partner with local pastors and accompany them on door-to-door evangelism visits. By the end of the 10 day visit there were 23 adults and 24 children who made professions of faith. Truly Life and Light was presented as the Heritage Hills/Pleasant Heights Makeover team came to Sanyati. Submitted by Barry Robinson

A Vision for the Ndau - An Unreached People Group

At the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in 2011, Tom Elliff, President of the IMB challenged churches to adopt an unreached people group and seek to reach them. After hearing this challenge, Pastor Tim Hight of Christiansburg, VA shared this challenge with his church to cast the vision to them. One member of the church, Jim Rice, is a retired IMB missionary from Uganda and Kenya, and when he heard about this possibility he got very excited and suggested the possibility of adopting a people group in Africa. They investigated to find what people groups were listed for Africa and began to pray about the various groups. They settled on the Ndau people of Southeastern Zimbabwe. Then they began to work with Tom and Cindy Melvin, the Engagement Personnel for the Kingdom to Kingdom Cluster, (made up of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Western Zambia, and the Limpopo and the Northwest Province of South Africa), to begin making plans for a Visioning trip.

In August, Pastor Tim Hight, Jim Rice, and Chris Webb traveled with the Melvins, Pastor Isaac Mabvumba, the Baptist Convention Evangelist and Pastor James Tembo, Executive Director of the Baptist Convention to the Chipinge Dictrict in Southeastern Zimbabwe to meet with Pastor Karakadzai Munyanga (seen below) of the Chipinge Baptist Church. Pastor Munyanga received them with great joy and gave them a tour of the area around Chipinge.

“This sounds funny”, said Pastor Tim, “But at first I was a bit disappointed to find that there were a few churches in the area already. As I thought about this, though, I realized it could be to our advantage in that part of our ministry could be to disciple the believers in Chipinge and to get them involved in church planting in the unreached areas away from town.”

As they were traveling, they stopped at several places to meet people and get a feel for the area. They discovered that it was a vast remote mountainous area dotted by very small villages that were quite far apart. This has been one of the main barriers to reaching the Ndau people.

Pastor Tim had the opportunity to preach to some of the head men of the area who had gathered for a meeting.

One of the challenges of working in Africa is dealing with the dependency issue. “If Grace Life Baptist Church decides to partner with Pastor Munyanga,” says Pastor Tim, “our goal will be to share the gospel with the lost and disciple the new Christians. We don’t believe that pouring money into buildings and projects will help spread the gospel and it is not reproducible on a local level. We hope to model a ministry that is reproducible by those with whom we work and train.”