June 22, 2022

June 22, 2022

Big things are happening at the UCCZ Head Office in Harare! Two exciting projects are underway. Both will serve the office and the whole church well. The first is a fish farming project. Though the pond is fairly small – 20 x 10 x 1.5 metres – it will eventually yield a healthy number of bream, a tilapia-like fish. Soon, 3,000 fingerlings will be brought in and after six months they will be ready for market. The project is primarily intended to be a model for local churches to follow so that others may be inspired to create ponds for their own income-generating projects.  There is a concerted effort on the part of the Synod Leadership to encourage and support new initiatives that help the churches become more self-sustaining. Fish farming is quickly becoming a popular choice in areas that have a good water supply.  Global Ministries (www.globalministries.org) has generously provided the funds for the project. The UCCZ is grateful! Grateful as well to the five skilled workers who created the pond in just a few days. They were amazing!!

Global Ministries also partially funded the second project, one that has been a dream for a long time. Solar panels are newly installed on the Head Office roof and before long the building will be generating its own electricity.  This is a HUGE deal!  Power outages are a daily occurrence in Zimbabwe. It has been especially difficult at the office, because we can be without power for four or more hours a day  As you can imagine, it seriously compromises productivity and is frustrating to all the staff.  Additional funding is currently being sourced to close the gap in the next couple of months, but solar power will be a reality in a day or two! Thanks be to God! And to Global Ministries! And to other current and future donors! 

The Child Sponsorship Team (Mrs. Monica Zinduku, Mr. Phillimon Hlatywayo and I) spent five days in Gweru, meeting with Rev. Mhlanga, the Western Conference Superintendent and Rev. Bverkerwa, the new Conference Communications Coordinator. Dear friend, the Rev. Dr. Menson Mpofu hosted me while we were there and took part in some of our meetings. Mrs. Zinduku, the Child Sponsorship Program Coordinator for the UCCZ, facilitated the conversations, as we worked through the basics of the program and detailed the responsibilities of the new coordinator position. We then traveled with the Superintendent and Communications Coordinator to introduce the program to parents, youth and children who are eagerly anticipating sponsorship. Mr. Hlatywayo, in addition to his driving duties, was our ace photographer, recording photos of the children that will accompany their applications. He also captured much of our activity along the way. 

We are hopeful about the expansion of the program to a new area of Zimbabwe. Life is difficult here for so many.  In spite of that – or perhaps because of it – the joy here is rich and deep.  It is a privilege to be among such profoundly faithful folks.

Of course, there was time for worship! Two Gweru churches – Gweru and Ivene – came together to worship at Ivene.  It was Father’s Day, so the dads in the congregation were celebrated – and they responded with a dance, of course! Such joy! You can see it for yourselves in these two short videos. 

I had the honor of preaching that day, with Dr. Mpofu translating. That was also a joy. I began the sermon remembering that the last time I was in Gweru, staying at the Mpofu home, a grandson was born in the middle of the night. Talk about joy!!

In a future post, near the end of my stay, I may share a whole batch of photos from the various worship services here. I can’t even count the number of photos I’ve taken! There is so much to capture in every moment… 

For now, one more video from Sunday… and even more joy! Take a look at this energetic drumming and singing from the youth in the church. They kept it up for more than 15 minutes! This was after two hours of worship and while others were beginning to have lunch. They waited until everyone was served before taking a break to fill their own plates. They earned it!!

Ndinokushuwira mufaro! I wish you joy!