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