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Monday, November 14, 2016

Birthday Celebrations

After SO MANY years of not having little ones around, the Zimabwe Evangelism Team is enjoying having 8 children as part of our team.   What a joy it is to have the Moore family and Barnhill family with us now.   How much more fun it is to celebrate birthdays too!   Recently our team all gathered at Antelope Park to celebrate the birthdays of Beau Barnhill and Sophia Moore.   Here are some pictures of our celebration.














God's Provision for Street Vendors



The pastor of Bulawayo Baptist Church felt a great burden for the neighborhood surrounding the church. As he began walking the streets around the church, praying and speaking with those whom he came in contact, he  developed a heart for a group of ladies who work at the street vegetable market located just a couple of blocks away from the church. As he visited with these ladies, many of whom are widows, he asked them, “How can the church help? What is the thing you need most?”
Almost as one, the ladies responded, “We are hungry. We are working, but it is not enough to provide food for our families. We need food.”


Knowing that church did not have resources available to help these ladies, the pastor prayed for them, asking the Father to please provide for their needs. He then asked others in leadership at the church to pray with him for these widows.
Within just a few days, he received an unexpected phone call from the US. The lady on the other end of the phone said, “You don’t know me, but my church has committed to provide food for someone who is hungry, and we want to help someone there in Bulawayo.”
Of course, the pastor said, “Well, let me tell you what God has just done. We needed funds to provide food for some widows here, and your phone call is the answer to our prayer.” The church took up their offering, and instead of the $1000 that was pledged, they raised $4000!
Because of the prayers of the church in Bulawayo, and the generous giving of the church in the states, fifteen widows will now receive food assistance every month for the next six months! During this time of drought in Zimbabwe, God is providing for the needs of these precious ladies and their families. Each lady will receive a packet containing 40 lbs of mealie meal (corn meal, the staple food for most Zimbabweans), a half a gallon of cooking oil, 10 lbs of dried beans, 5 lbs of salt, and a tray of fresh eggs (2 ½ dozen).

Missionary Ramona Beam will be heading up the ministry to these widows, helping to organize the monthly food distribution, which will be at the church after Sunday morning service once a month, and meeting with the ladies to share the gospel and disciple believers among them. Praise God that several of the ladies have already started coming to church. Please pray that as they receive needed food to assuage the effects of the physical drought in this country that they will also receive showers of blessings to assuage the spiritual drought in which many of them live.





John Ivins Worship Band Ministers in Zimbabwe for Second Time







The John Ivins Worship Band from Richmond, VA, paid their second visit to Bulawayo in October. Last year in December, the band came to lead worship for the annual youth camp at Bulawayo Baptist Church, so this most recent visit helped them to solidify and build on relationships that were begun at the camp.


During a whirlwind two weeks, the band was able to help with several ministries, by leading worship at Bulawayo Baptist, sharing with the youth and young adult ministries, the twice weekly soup kitchen, and in several area high schools.

One of the highlights of their visit was an afternoon block party and braai (barbeque) on the street in front of the church, where the band played (and I, Ramona Beam, got the opportunity, once again, to sit in with them on keyboard).  Several local choirs and dance groups also had an opportunity to share. 




There were jumping castles for the kids, candy floss (cotton candy), and hamburgers for all of the more than 400 people who came out for the Saturday afternoon fun. It proved to be very effective as an outreach to the neighborhoods around the church. The pastor of the church has declared that this was the “first annual” block party, so hopefully we can convince the Ivins Band to return again next year for round two. Please pray for the church as follow-up is done during the coming weeks with those who came who are not members of the church.

The following week, the band was asked to come and share music and a devotion at the bi-weekly soup kitchen at the church.




 That morning, as we arrived, a man met us as we were getting out of the car, asking for help as folks often do. He approached one of the band members specifically, but I sort of brushed him off and we went on inside. After the band started playing, I was just sort of roaming around, taking pictures, helping to serve tea, and all that. I noticed that this same guy was there, and he was really into the music, even getting up and dancing around. I just felt a really strong sense that I needed to go and talk to him. 

As he told me part of his story (his name is Malcolm), I found out that he was raised in a foster home, and his foster parents were missionaries. I also found that he knew lots of things about the Bible, so I just bluntly asked him, “Have you ever accepted Jesus as your Savior?” His answer was, “No, but I would like to.” Well, how easy is that?!?
So I was able to share the Gospel with him, and as I shared, I noticed that the guy sitting next to him was listening, very intently. At the end, both of them accepted Christ. I was able to talk more, about baptism, and the need to share what Jesus has done for them with family and friends. As I watched Malcolm the rest of the day, I could see a new joy on his face. And I did notice that he was talking to other guys around him, sharing his new faith with them. Praise God!!
 

One of the most helpful aspects of the band’s ministry for my strategy was time spent at the Bulawayo street market, playing music, and visiting with some of the vegetable and curio vendors. This area has become a significant outreach for the church, with a specific ministry to a group of widows who work there. The band’s music and sharing will help serve as an introduction for me to begin further ministry with these widows and others at the street market, through Bible study, holistic ministries, and just loving on them.
One of the band members said about this most recent visit, “Our first time in Bulawayo was limited to leading the youth camp. Though we did a few other things, that was our focus. This time has been so much richer, because we not only were able to build on relationships and friendships started last December, but we have seen deeper insights into the lives and culture of the people of Bulawayo.”