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I went to Zimbabwe yesterday and what I am seeing is hard to describe. The people there are so resilient, tough, thankful, and continuing to remain hopeful, in a time when there is no way their government can bail them out of anything. Let me ask you some questions as a way to describe what I have seen. This may be a strange newsletter but I hope you get my point.
Have you ever seen the bristles on a toothbrush erode because of use and now there are only half of them remaining? Have you ever not had toilet paper for months? Have you ever drawn water from the tap at 3 a.m. because there would be no water the rest of the day? Have you ever drunk city water and it made you sick because it wasn't treated properly? Have you ever had electricity go out for days with no real hope of it coming back on because thieves keep stealing the copper from the lines? Have you ever received a month's salary only to find it wouldn't pay for a bus ticket to the next town? Have you ever not been able to buy your children notebooks for their school work? Have you ever seen the price of a notebook cost more than you make in a month? Have you ever been able to withdraw only $5,000 dollars a day and it wouldn't be enough to pay for transport to the next city? Have you ever had to wait three days to collect enough money to travel to the next city? Have you ever worried about seeing relatives because one of them had died and you didn't know how to get there or how they would contact you, and it was only 60 miles away?
To some of these questions you will be able to answer yes. Some seem far fetched and impossible. This is the situation in Zimbabwe. It is continuous and worsening, gradually of course, but worsening day by day. I wonder how long these people will be able to withstand the constant deterioration of their country.
I know we don't talk about money, but I have seen what a little money can do, and the people are so thankful. Mothers came up to me almost in tears because we had given their children notebooks. I couldn't stand to have them thank me. It is you, Baptist people from all over, who have allowed me the privilege of driving your vehicle and carrying gifts which bear your name. We do this in the name of Christ, but it does make a difference. Next week I will be traveling back to Zimbabwe to do the next step in all relief projects: teach the Word of God, because it is the greatest gift we deliver. Pray for me to have strength. Missionary Kelly Carruthers |
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(entered into Gerri Helton’s journal, Sunday, August 24, 2008)
THE SCRIPTURES BURNED INTO MY HEART
Fasting on Friday and (birthday) partying on Saturday makes for a “hyper” old lady, but I was able to get myself awake at 4 AM...Devotional...Finished getting things ready...Breakfast...Sent text message to Mutemwa “I’m starting. Meeting you and the others at church.” At 5:45 I left my house behind...We arrived in Kasheke by 9:00...I was prepared to teach the adults...But God had other plans!...Mr. Mate whispered that Sepiso had a testimony to give...I gladly relinquished my time! Mr. Moola introduced what had previously transpired…"Last time Bo Liseli was here, she told us, ‘You need to deal with Mr. Sepiso. He is a naka (witch doctor) and driving people from his church.’ So we leaders went...we talked...we prayed...and Mr. Mate left some scriptures for him to read.
Then Sepiso rose and (as part of his testimony) began telling how God had allowed many trials/troubles/suffering...that he had once prayed to receive Jesus...but, even though he had tried to do right, he wanted to keep his idols and his “business” to make a living...He continued taking medicines, smoking, drinking, etc…
But when the leaders came to see him he began to be sorry…"The scriptures burned into my heart, so I went to Mr. Mate and told him to come to my house on Wednesday that I was going to burn all my idols. He was unable to come, so yesterday I took them all outside, I gathered firewood, and I burned them...everything!"
Sepiso finished by saying that the late President Mwanawasa had much wealth… “But now he is dead...And he cannot take any of those things with him….all his money, all those things are still here...the only important thing is to have Jesus!” (Then with a big gesture of his arm, he spoke louder than I had ever heard him speak.) “IT IS JESUS ALONE!”
Mr. Nyundu then went up and asked for prayer because he is facing the same situation. He is a naka...He needs his “business” to make a living...He fears leaving all that behind...His wife immediately spoke saying that we need not only to say with our mouth...but we must believe in our heart…
I could feel the spiritual battle raging in that place… Moola was asking, “How do you go from doing these things to accepting Jesus?” I asked for permission to speak. Using the story of Peter walking on the water (Matthew 14:23-32) I first explained that Jesus told Peter to come to Him, just as the Holy Spirit is calling you to come to Him.’’
“Now is the hard part...Peter had to step out of the boat...you folks know what would happen if you were on the Zambezi and you stepped out of your canoe!!” (They all showed agreement.) “That is where you have to put ALL of yourself and your trust in Jesus!! Even if you do take your eyes off of Jesus, He is still there! But the hardest part is to take that first step and let Jesus “take over” and provide for your life!”
After church, I encouraged the leaders to go to Nyundu’s village and to prayer walk around it...to keep praying for and encouraging him...and Sepiso...because folks will still fear him…
I was “wiped out” when I got back to Mongu at 5:30...but what an awesome time in Kasheke!!... |
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