God's Hand Already Seen in 2018

We hope that 2018 is off to a great start for you! We know that in various places throughout the US, it has been quite frigid the last few weeks. As you can see below, we can't identify with that at all right now. Our candles, which used to stand straight up, are drooping over to the side. This afternoon it was 100 outside and 87 inside, so we would love for you to send the cold our way!

We've had so much heat that our candles have melted

This afternoon, it is 100 outside and 87 inside

A Blessing

On Christmas Eve, our electricity was out all morning and then came back on in the afternoon. A minute after it came on, the breaker for the outlets switched off. We turned it back on and realized that the pump for the well wasn't working. We checked the electrical panel for the well outside and there wasn't a fuse that needed to be replaced. We feared that with a jolt in voltage, that the pump had blown out. We needed to call our electrician, but since it was a holiday, we had to wait until the 27th (the 26th is also celebrated as a holiday in Zim, "Boxing Day"). Thankfully, our water tank had been full before the electricity originally went out, which holds 1,200 gallons. It lasted us well until the 27th and would have last a few days after that if needed.
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​The electrician came and tested the electrical side of the pump at the panel and everything checked out. Unfortunately, that meant that the pump was the most likely problem and I began to get quotes for a new one (several hundred dollars). We have only had it for 3.5 years, which isn't that long. After closing up the panel, he bent down and lifted the cement lid off the hole only to find that there was a wire connected to another wire, which had not been weatherproofed by the people who installed it. They merely twisted the wires together. We had some heavy rains the few days prior and water had gotten down in there and, as you can see in the picture below, and the wires got wet, burned, and caused the pump not to work. So the electrician made a new connection, properly protected it with a conduit, and the pump worked again! We were so thankful that we didn't have to buy a new pump, that we had stayed home for Christmas and were here when it happened, and that we had plenty of water stored to last us for the 3.5 days without the pump!

The burned wires

Just below ground level

We are very thankful for an electrician who knows what he's doing!

Wednesday Group

We are very close to completing the startup of the microenterprises for the women starting chicken businesses. The last step of their building was to install a doorframe and door. This was to be done last week, so Yolanda and I visited half of the women at their homes yesterday and will visit the other half tomorrow to make sure that everything is ready to get day-old chicks. We were very happy with what we saw. Their structures were sturdy, with roofs that were sealed from the weather. They had good sized windows for airflow and had burglar bars and chicken wire. They also had locking doors with bars.

Gogo Dondo and her grandson, in their chicken coop

Mai Baleni, with her chicken coop

Gladys and her husband, with their chicken coop

Inside the chicken coops, they had the needed feeders, drinkers, lights, and thermometers. They have really done a lot of work in overseeing the building and constructing these structures. Our plan is to purchase chicks at the end of next week and to drop them off with each lady.

We can visibly see how proud and accomplished these ladies already feel, even before the chicks are here. These ladies are sooooo excited that their chicken businesses are so close to be up and running. This is especially true at this time of year, as January is the start of the school year and most parents are running around, trying to make a plan to see how they will be able to pay school fees.

Success Stories

Mai Whisper (pictured below) is the woman who JM2Z helped start a fish business. We asked how everything is going with it and she said that for the first time, she was able to pay the school fees for her daughter, Whisper (pictured right), buy the school uniform, and buy textbooks. Not only was she able to afford those costs, but she said it didn't feel like it was a burden or worry. A year ago, this is one of the children who JM2Z covered school fees for and now, Mai Whisper is able to stand on her own feet due to the Lord's provision through all of you who have given toward our microenterprises!

The hat Whisper is wearing is a part of her school uniform

Mai Dean (pictured below) is the woman who JM2Z helped to start a business buying and selling bales of clothes. Just like Mai Whisper, she has done very well and has felt the burden of school fees for her son lifted ever since she began making good profits. She keeps excellent records of the finances for her business (pictured below). Things are going so well for her that with money she's made, she has started buying and selling firewood and corn as well. Mai Dean has great initiative and planning skills, and works hard in order to meet her goals. She told us how thankful she is to the Lord for providing her with these opportunities and the fact that so much stress has been alleviated from her family's lives.

Brief Health Update

We have received messages from several of you, asking how Yolanda is doing physically. Since her surgery and post-op appointments, she has had appointments with her gynecologist and a GI specialist. She has a diagnosis that has no clear cure, and still has strong symptoms at various times. She has recently started a natural supplement program that we are hoping helps in this area with the full support of her gynecologist.

​We are confident that we are dealing with excellent doctors and are very thankful for them. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

This Year

I had K-Love radio on in the background while I was working today (other days it's ESPN radio :-), and one of the songs they played was Chris Tomlin's "Whom Shall I Fear." As you may know, the chorus says,

"I know who goes before me.
I know who stands behind.
The God of angel armies is always by my side.
The One who reigns forever,
he is a friend of mine."

​As 2018 is now underway, we know that the Lord has gone before us and JM2Z in this year and He knows all that will take place. Zimbabwe has a new presldent, with an electlon coming up. Prices of all goods are soaring. This rainy season has provided far less rain so far than last year. The job market hasn't improved.  Will things improve, get worse, or stay relatively the same?

​Even though we don't know what all is in store for 2018, we know the Lord has gone before us. The neat thing is that these women we are working with have come to grasp that understanding and believe it for themselves. The amount of spiritual growth that has taken place in the last year has been phenomenal. No matter what their circumstances, they have learned to trust the Lord and take in His Word.

​We are looking forward to the rest of this year and are excited to be a part of how God is working in the hearts and lives of these women and children.