From the email archives
June newsletter 2015
June Report 2015
Dear Co-workers in Christ
Pastor Ticky Mugande is the oldest pastor in our Mission. He has faithfully served his Lord for more than 40 years in Binga and in other Districts of Zimbabwe. He has worked with several missionaries as an evangelist. He planted many Churches and made many converts to be faithful and committed followers of Christ. In the late seventies during our national liberation struggle, pastor Ticky underwent many harassment, intimidation and detention. He endured all these hardships and remained firm in his faith. He earns his living through subsistence farming. Sometime in 1999, he went to his field to scare baboons which were devastating his crops. He scared them by rolling big stones. Unfortunately, one of the big stones rolled over his leg and broke it. He went through many surgeries and treatments without much improvement. This month the leg became worse. His family took him to Livingstone for better treatment. The Doctors decided to cut off the leg. He is in great pain and does not understand why he is going through all these hardships. When I and Elder Lungisani visited him, he expressed many concerns and worries such as, Will people still love him? Will he be still able to do God’s work? How will his life look like? Where is God in the midst of all these problems? We counseled and prayed for him– giving him a message of hope that God still loves and cares for him. He still has purpose with him. God can still effectively use him despite of his physical disability. Also we urged Church members to make a frequent visit to show our love and care for him. Pastor Ticky needs our prayers. Besides his leg problem, he is a diabetic and has High Blood Pressure.
I kindly request you all to remember him as you kneel down in prayer to the Lord.
There was Women’s Conference at Siachilaba commencing on 25-29 June. Women have great responsibility to teach and encourage one another in their spiritual journey. Some of these women are really experiencing transformed lives in Christ. Others are experiencing happier and successful marriages. One other thing I have liked about these women’s gatherings is that some women have discovered their spiritual gifts. I am glad that we now have powerful and gifted preachers and teachers. I hope the more they continue gathering the more they will discover their strengths and weaknesses in their spiritual life.
God continues to show me and my family His love and care in our every day lives. Timothy and Chilengwa are doing very well at School. God takes care of them and provides them with their daily needs. They will be back in Hwange in the next 5 weeks for School break. Last weekend I saw Obey seated at the veranda quietly with unhappy face. I asked him if there was anything wrong with him.. He said, “Daddy, when you see me seated like this I will be deeply thinking of Timothy and Chilengwa.” I knew he was feeling lonely. He has friends to play together, but I think his immediate family members are always the best friends. I promised him a cake to celebrate family reunion when Timothy and Chilengwa come back. He was very excited.
We are working on our small garden. Again, we planted the small yellow tomatoes and other varieties. They are doing very well. We are enjoying eating green vegetables. I hope the tomatoes will be ripe by the end of July. I find it to be a blessing to work together as a family in the garden.
I am very excited that the Local Authorities have granted me permission to do the Bio-Sand Water Filtration project in a new area. I had a fear that they would require paper work or Registration certificate. God is wonderful. He intervenes for me. I will begin the project this month though my schedule is tight. I hope we are not going to run out water. We had very little rainfall this year. Many villagers are going to experience water and food crisis. We look forward to God’s provision.
I pray that you will all have a blessed July. For all those who are interested in supporting Zimbabwe ministry, please make your donations to:
Jill Hartzell
Good Neighbor Network
2445 Sw Crestdale Dr
Portland, OR 97225.
Fhone: 503-317-9852
email: hartzz1@comcast.net
Alec.
