Wednesday, July 28th
The last update from the Mission Zimbabwe 2010 team!
The five of us who arrived home from Zimbabwe on Sunday are recovering from jet-lag and getting back into the swing of our everyday lives. The three team members who are on safari (Audrey, Donna B. and Marion) will be visiting famous Victoria Falls and seeing other incredible sights. Hopefully, they are able to avoid trouble with the lions, hippos, rhinos, etc.
I want to thank Becky and Mark for writing the updates on behalf of the team while we were in Zimbabwe. Even though tired each night and sometimes without Zesa (electricity), they endured and did a great job. Thank you to Pastor Scott Broad for putting the updates on the missionzimbabwe.org website and to Kevin Schaab for being our communication connection with our supporters.
Let me take this final opportunity to review for you what the team was able to accomplish through God’s grace and with your support.
* The team erected a new playground amidst the Children’s Homes. This is so vital to keep
the smallest children under the watchful eye of the house mothers, and to encourage them to not wander away to the school playgrounds! The joy on their faces as they climbed for the first time on the new teeter-totters, swings and climbing equipment was beyond description, as was the joy on our faces to see what was accomplished!
* Donna B. and Donna D. taught English as a second language classes to over 20 local moms,with children on Child Care Plus sponsorship. Gord and Anita have made a commitment to thesewomen to carry this on and so help them tohelp their children who are learning schoollessons in English.
*Mark taught basic first aid to the house moms and to a crowd of over 150 CCP parents on a Saturday.
* AND... The team blessed our resident children with self designed t-shirts; our Chosen One children with warm hats, underwear and treats; repaired stacks of mending; participated in coaching volleyball & youth services; and treated the workers to a staff lunch complete with maple syrup and butter tarts for a taste of Canada!
* The team was able to leave behind a financial blessing of over $4000.00. These dollars will allow the Cooledges to shower special blessings on all parts of the Village of Hope. (refer to the last update for details)
* The team was able to visit Vimbainesu Children’s Home in Zvimba district. We provided gifts for the pre-school children, interacted with the resident children, provided a lunch and were blessed with their beautiful singing. Doug and I had the privilege of meeting with the local Management Committee and the result may be that we will partner with them to help support this orphanage.
I want to thank you on behalf of our team for taking the time to read our updates and for your interest in and support for the Mission Zimbabwe Project. Each time a team returns, we become more committed to “going the extra mile” in partnership with the Village of Hope. It’s not over! Our team will be meeting on Friday evening, August 13th to de-brief and to look to the future as to what God would have us do to continue “walking in unity” with the Village of Hope.
May God richly bless you
Barry Mutrie
Team Leader
Mission Zimbabwe Project
