Sunday, June 5, 2022
Happy Pentecost! The Spirit is alive and well in Zimbabwe!
Today we celebrated the Installation of the Rev. Dr. Jairus Hlatywayo at Glen View West UCCZ in Harare. It was a glorious time of worship – powerful preaching, rousing singing and dancing, heartfelt prayers and high hopes for the unfolding ministry of pastor and congregation. It was also a wonderful time to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances. Happy Pentecost, indeed! A photo from the Installation is included.
It has already been a busy few days! I arrived on Wednesday evening, delayed by seven hours due to a canceled flight, which was more adventure than I needed! In spite of the inconvenience to my hosts, they were gracious and I was warmly welcomed, as you can see in the accompanying photo.
On Friday I spent the day at the United Church of Zimbabwe’s Head Office in Harare and will do the same every day of this week. I will be working with Monica Dondo, the UCCZ Coordinator for the Child and Elder Sponsorship Program. My volunteer assignment for the next six weeks is to learn more about how the program is administered here, to review and update the files, and to consider with the leadership in the UCCZ how we might strengthen and expand the program. After this full week in the office, and a couple of days next week, I will be on the road, meeting with pastors and visiting with as many of the sponsored children as I can. I will bring their stories back to Global Ministries’ Child and Elder Sponsorship Program so that they may then be shared with their US sponsors. I will also share a few stories in subsequent blog posts.
I will also bring information about children who are yet to be sponsored. Perhaps you will be inspired to learn more. Here is the link: https://www.globalministries.org/child_sponsorship/
I am a long-time supporter of the Child and Elder Sponsorship Program, and so I pray that our shared efforts here will help build it up so that more vulnerable children in Zimbabwe might be assisted. Won’t you please pray for that, too?
Lastly, a note about one of many wonderful worship customs in Zimbabwe. Each evening in Zimbabwean Christian homes the family gathers for Evening Devotions. All join together before bedtime to sing hymns and offer prayers. Sometimes a Scripture reading and brief reflection are included. Tonight, the young boy in the family accompanied on the drum. As you will see in the photo, even the kitten enjoys Evening Devotions!