Drought Relief

All over the world the weather patterns are changing.   In some places this does not create too much of a hardship, but for countries who depend solely on the seasonal rains coming at just the right time to produce a harvest, these changing weather patterns have been devastating.  This has been one more year in a string of years where the rains did not come in time to save the corn crops.   Thanks to Parkview Baptist Church of Baton Rouge Louisiana who took up a challenge offering in honor of former missionary to Zimbabwe, Dr. Wana Ann Fort, we have been able to supply 22 tons of corn meal throughout Zimbabwe to Baptists in the worst hit areas.  Pictured below are the grateful recipients of one delivery of food relief in the Mberengwa area in south central Zimbabwe.

In Zimbabwe, people clap their hands to say thank you.   Here you see this grateful Grandmother expressing her deep gratitude.

 After the food was distributed, the next challenge was to get it home.  Various modes of transport were used. . .

Thank you Parkview Baptist Church.

Zimbabwean Lay-Leaders Do Construction at Nenyunga Clinic

A number of years ago the old Nenyunga Baptist Clinic in Tongaland was declared unfit for use because erosion from the nearby river was undercutting the foundation and the roof was collapsing.   Volunteers from the states came about 5 years ago to help build a new clinic, but the work was never completed and the clinic has not been in operation for at least that many years. 

In December 2015, in addition to its regular Lottie Moon Offering, Parkview Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana took up a “Wana Ann Fort” challenge offering to honor the life of this former missionary doctor to Zimbabwe who had passed away earlier in the year.  

The challenge offering was given to meet needs in Zimbabwe.  About 40% of this sacrificial gift has been used to purchase building materials and supplies needed to help complete the Nenyunga clinic. 

In February of this year Lay-Leaders Mr. Shumba from Shauro Baptist Church in Mberengwa and Mr. Dhubani from Sibomvu Baptist Church in Lower Gweru recently joined Pastor Mabvumba and traveled to Nenyunga in Tongaland to work on the clinic building.   Pastor Mabvumba also hired local Tonga men to help with the work.  

 During the time they were there each morning Mabvumba gave a devotional from the book of Nehemiah.  After that the men got to work.   They put the ridge on the roof, installed window panes and bricked up the gable ends of each building and then plastered them inside and out.  In the evenings the men fellowshipped together.  Much work was accomplished during their short stay at Nenyunga.

Because the drought in Tongaland has been so great, the workers were paid in corn meal.

On the way back home, lay-leader Dhubani asked Mabvumba when they were going to do another project like this.   He said, “It was like a revival to me.” 

The Hills of Matopos are Alive with the Sound of Music!

After two short days in Harare, the music team traveled onto Bulawayo where they were hosted by Ramona Beam and Bulawayo Baptist Church.   Here they led a songwriter's workshop on two consecutive evenings.  Pictured here is team member Aaron Blanton teaching principles of songwriting. 

The team were also able to share their music and testimonies at several schools outside Bulawayo in the Hills of Matopos. 

Musicians go on Safari

Thanks to Gordon and Debbie Putterill (and their daughters Abbie and Eden), the music team spent a day at their game park, Bally Vaughn, outside Harare,  Members of the Worship Team from Chisipite Bible Baptist Church as well as Gregg and Donna Fort also joined them for the day.  Pictured here are some of the highlights of their safari.

Singing New Songs to the Lord

James Tealy, adjunct professor of music at Belmont University in Nashville Tennessee, and Worship Pastor at Redemption City Church, brought a talented team of songwriters and musicians to Zimbabwe in March.  They arrived late on Saturday night, but were up early, despite jetlag, to prepare to lead worship at Chisipite Bible Baptist Church in Harare.

 Tealy led the worship group in song and the sharing of scripture.

Aaron  Blanton, songwriter, as well as singer, guitarist and drummer, shared some of the songs he had written and glorified God with these various instruments. 

Mackenzie Davis (left) and Emily Dempsey (rt.), both sing beautifully and write songs as well.  Their sweet voices added much to the worship.

Another talented songwriter, musician and vocalist is Taylor Agan.

 Sunday afternoon the team led a songwriter's

workshop. Several churches from Harare sent
their worship team members as well as a church
from Kadoma.  Tealy gave some basic universal elements and principles to good song writing.

Then the 40+ participants were divided into small groups and given 30 minutes in which to compose and write lyrics for a new song. 












The groups began by getting to know one another and spiritual truths that were on their hearts.
From there sprung an idea for a song, and the
words began to flow with the help of the professional song writers!
After that came the melody.   It was amazing the
songs which were written in such short period of time!

Baptist Boys on Bikes

The missions leader of the Baptist Young Men's Fellowship of Mkoba Baptist Church in Gweru, felt led to take the group on a bicycle road trip to encourage Baptist Young Men at rural Gambiza Baptist Church.  

 On a Friday afternoon, Dzinashe, and his team members traveled about 25 miles over paved and rough rocky roads to get there.  

 On the way several bikes had to be repaired, and an accident bent the rim of another bike.

Team member Willie Green said that keeping the bikes going was probably the most challenging part of the trip.   As a result of all these issues they arrived at their destination long after they had planned, some arriving as late as 9:00 p.m.

 Saturday they had a time of fellowship and encouragement with the Gambiza Baptist young men.
Dzinashe and his team shared ways they could be a more active part in helping their own church and in reaching out to their community to share God's love.

The Mkoba guys proved that "boys will be boys" when it came to cleaning up.  They enjoyed the running water over this dam from a recent rain.















On the way home they had no problems with their bicycles, but they rode in rain most of the way home.   This did not dampen their excitement at all!  Team member Willie Green said it was a growing and bonding experience for all the young men and they are looking forward to their next trip!