I hope that your week has gone well. We’ve had a variety of activity and are 98% finished with payment of term three fees. Now, I’m just trying to catch up with each student to review report cards and the volunteer work situation! As we’ve said before the ZMF-C kids are an exceptional group! I even saw one kid achieve a 100% this week—can you imagine? The 100% was in History and he just happens to live with a history teacher. That is Mohammed Chondonda at Mwaata High School—and there was no cheating!
Since Thursday we’ve been visited by Jean Webster and Nomazula Nares of ZOE (Zimbabwe Orphans through Extended Hands). After we’d introduced ourselves we were anxious to get the lowdown on the political climate in Zimbabwe. Things are not good—this is a nation that needs the prayers of the world! Many are suffering daily.
I had not met Jean before, but had heard of her through Joan and Steve Mann and through Doug Funk (Solon Foundation). I had read and been praying about her work and really thought that she needs to come to a community that we are working with—Siabalumbi. She took the offer; we and Siabalumbi are grateful!
ZOE has been operating for about fourteen years and with the Lord heading this work approximately 67,000 orphans in Zimbabwe have been cared for in their own communities. Jean has many great connections in Zimbabwe through her work in UNICEF, and has spoken on this model in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Thailand and even in Toronto, Canada at the 2006 AIDS conference.
Yesterday, about twenty church leaders from various denominations gathered at Siabalumbi as Jean and Noma shared about ZOE—a community based approach to orphan care.
At the end of the session, and after the headman, Mr. Dickson, had given his final round of appreciation, such enthusiasm had built that the various church and community leaders continued to meet so that a plan for the future of Siabalumbi could be sketched out!
Praise God for the vision and prayerfulness of women like Jean and for church leaders like Samuel Moono and the others who walked long distances to gather. It was so wonderful to watch the various church leaders discuss together how they could continue to work together on the issue of orphan care!
Last night on our porch Richard, Jean, Noma and I were encouraged by a choir of thirty-five under the leadership of one of our grade 11 sponsored students, Steward. What great voices and actions to go with them! Richard gave an encouragement lesson, because he was apparently on the program. He had six minutes to prepare!
Richard and I continue to audit two university of Harding classes each morning from 0630 – 0800. We are taking Tonga and African History and Literature. The classes are wonderful! If there was only a Tim Horton’s on the way—that would be perfect! Sometimes, if the power has been on I take a coffee (instant) made at home and Richard takes his tea! The mornings are chilly and we sit outside—so a hot drink is nice! The dogs always follow us and Richard ends up spending the start of each class trying to gruffly chase them away. At least one of them usually finds their way back—and sits nearer to me!
If you have time, look up ZOE on the internet (ZOE itself does not have a website – but if you type in Jean Webster and ZOE you will find information). One good source at this time is at:
http://www.viva.org/?page_id=164
Excellent work!
Since Thursday we’ve been visited by Jean Webster and Nomazula Nares of ZOE (Zimbabwe Orphans through Extended Hands). After we’d introduced ourselves we were anxious to get the lowdown on the political climate in Zimbabwe. Things are not good—this is a nation that needs the prayers of the world! Many are suffering daily.
I had not met Jean before, but had heard of her through Joan and Steve Mann and through Doug Funk (Solon Foundation). I had read and been praying about her work and really thought that she needs to come to a community that we are working with—Siabalumbi. She took the offer; we and Siabalumbi are grateful!
ZOE has been operating for about fourteen years and with the Lord heading this work approximately 67,000 orphans in Zimbabwe have been cared for in their own communities. Jean has many great connections in Zimbabwe through her work in UNICEF, and has spoken on this model in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Thailand and even in Toronto, Canada at the 2006 AIDS conference.
Yesterday, about twenty church leaders from various denominations gathered at Siabalumbi as Jean and Noma shared about ZOE—a community based approach to orphan care.
At the end of the session, and after the headman, Mr. Dickson, had given his final round of appreciation, such enthusiasm had built that the various church and community leaders continued to meet so that a plan for the future of Siabalumbi could be sketched out!Praise God for the vision and prayerfulness of women like Jean and for church leaders like Samuel Moono and the others who walked long distances to gather. It was so wonderful to watch the various church leaders discuss together how they could continue to work together on the issue of orphan care!
Last night on our porch Richard, Jean, Noma and I were encouraged by a choir of thirty-five under the leadership of one of our grade 11 sponsored students, Steward. What great voices and actions to go with them! Richard gave an encouragement lesson, because he was apparently on the program. He had six minutes to prepare!
Richard and I continue to audit two university of Harding classes each morning from 0630 – 0800. We are taking Tonga and African History and Literature. The classes are wonderful! If there was only a Tim Horton’s on the way—that would be perfect! Sometimes, if the power has been on I take a coffee (instant) made at home and Richard takes his tea! The mornings are chilly and we sit outside—so a hot drink is nice! The dogs always follow us and Richard ends up spending the start of each class trying to gruffly chase them away. At least one of them usually finds their way back—and sits nearer to me!
If you have time, look up ZOE on the internet (ZOE itself does not have a website – but if you type in Jean Webster and ZOE you will find information). One good source at this time is at:
http://www.viva.org/?page_id=164
Excellent work!
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