July 8, 2022
It’s been a while! I’ve been on the road, busy from morning to night, and in an area with internet challenges. So posting didn’t happen. When I got back to Harare, I hardly knew where to begin by way of catching up. There is just so much to say!
So I’ve decided to share just a few stories about a couple of children who are sponsored through the Global Ministries Child Sponsorship Program and one young adult who is hoping to be sponsored. The program is actually for both children and vulnerable elders, but for the time being, here in Zimbabwe only children are enrolled. Check out the program here: https://www.globalministries.org/child_sponsorship/
Before I tell you their stories, I have a video and then a photo from worship on June 26 (told you I was behind…). All 23 churches in the Northern Conference of the UCCZ came together for worship that day. It was fabulous! The video shows the choir (a combined choir from a number of different churches) singing during a break in the service. It is so neat to watch their choreography! I hope you will take a look. What I especially want you to see is a moment when an old friend and I meet after many years. He doesn’t miss a dance step as he turns to greet me. Ah, the joy of reunions! That has been such a wonderful part of this journey.
And then, just because she was so cute, I’ve included a photograph of a young worshiper enjoying an after-worship ice cream bar. The service that day was about six hours long! It was wonderful and rich – but even so, that is a long time, especially for little ones. Her reward was sweet and well-deserved!
The young fellow you see in this next photo is one of the sponsored children. At the time his sponsorship began some time back, he was unable to walk, and moved about in a wheelchair. With the help of the sponsorship program, he was able to have a medical evaluation and began intensive Physical Therapy. As you can see, he is standing tall! He has other challenges to overcome, but has made astonishing progress.
The Child Sponsorship Program is designed to help students with their primary and secondary education. In some circumstances, if a student desires to continue with their education beyond secondary school, some assistance may be offered. The young woman pictured here with her grandmother, is seeking a sponsor. She finished her secondary education and hopes to continue her studies. She has lived with her grandmother since her mother died some years back. The young woman herself suffered a slight stroke and has some damage to her eyes as a result. She is undeterred by any challenges and is optimistic about her life ahead.
The program also provides sponsorships for children and youth who are not able to be in school because of a variety of disabilities.
Finally, I want to share a wonderful story about a resident at the Daisy Dube Home at Mt. Selinda Mission of the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe. The Child Sponsorship Program began at Daisy Dube in 2007 as a way to assist the orphaned children there. I’ve visited there many times over the last 21 years – I never miss the chance to spend time with the children who call Daisy Dube home. When I arrived there a week ago yesterday, I was met at the door by a young man with a dazzling smile, that I would recognize anywhere! “You’re __________, aren’t you?” I asked. (I’m not naming any of the young people whose stories I share…) The answer was yes. He looked a bit confused that I knew who he was, because he clearly didn’t know me. I told him I’d met him eight years ago when he was two or three. And, I told him, I had a picture to prove it!
I scrolled through the (way too many) photos on my phone and found this: This was a member of our travel delegation in 2014 with the then-toddler on her lap. He recognized himself in the photo and cracked up! He then proceeded to show it to others, and the whole room full of children and youth dissolved into laughter. It was a great moment!
There are more children at Daisy Dube Home who are waiting to be sponsored, and there are always newcomers. While we were there a two-year old girl was brought in by a Social Services Agency. She’d been found – abandoned and malnourished – and brought to Daisy Dube for care, either for a short term or permanently.
In these difficult days in Zimbabwe, there are challenges at Daisy Dube. The Child Sponsorship Program plays one small part in helping to alleviate some of them. The church here is grateful to all who are sponsoring children and youth at Daisy Dube and throughout the UCCZ and to those who may become sponsors in the months ahead. Blessed are you!