We finally completed our whirlwind of travels and visits to update supporting churches and individuals! Our last church was last month, but we've been visiting individuals since then. We were blessed by so many of you, who welcomed us into your homes and into your churches! We traveled over 16,000 miles within the US during these few months. We are exhausted, but we are extremely thankful for each one of you and the time and conversations we were able to have together! Even though our bodies are tired, our spirits are encouraged. Thank you for your encouraging words, prayers, and support. It is a blessing knowing that as we return to Zimbabwe, we have so many of you praying for us and the women and children we work with, and also supporting us in a variety of ways!
Speaking of being tired, our board has insisted that we take some time for ourselves. So we will be taking a 1 week vacation, to recuperate from our busy time in the US and to be able to feel refreshed for our upcoming assignment in Zimbabwe. We are thankful for this time!
Speaking of being tired, our board has insisted that we take some time for ourselves. So we will be taking a 1 week vacation, to recuperate from our busy time in the US and to be able to feel refreshed for our upcoming assignment in Zimbabwe. We are thankful for this time!
We fly out of Chicago on Saturday (7/1) and still have plenty to do this week. Several of you have blessed us by sending us items from our Amazon wish list (as advertised on our Facebook page). We appreciate you being so generous! We're now packing everything into 6 suitcases, which we'll take, plus carryons. It's quite a puzzle to fit everything in just the right spot, but this is our chance to take things that we aren't able to get in Africa.
Some of you have asked, but unfortunately we are unable to receive any kind of packages in the mail, once we're back in Zimbabwe. We have to pay quite a bit of duty when we receive packages in Zimbabwe. One time, we paid $100 to receive a shoebox sized parcel. So it's just not worth it.
Some of you have asked, but unfortunately we are unable to receive any kind of packages in the mail, once we're back in Zimbabwe. We have to pay quite a bit of duty when we receive packages in Zimbabwe. One time, we paid $100 to receive a shoebox sized parcel. So it's just not worth it.
New Project
The church where we host our Vacation Bible Schools has always allowed us to use the building and premises for the week free of charge. The missionaries who run it have never asked us for anything. Although, we always give them “rent” money for it or do some type of repair on the building to help them out. Water is a problem there. The church is connected to city water, which is only available for a few hours in the early morning. So when we are there for a VBS, the caretaker gets up around 3:00am to collect water in buckets for us to use for toilets, washing hands, washing dishes, etc. But it is not good for drinking, so we cart water from our house to the church each day for drinking. The missionaries who run the church have asked if we would be willing to dig a borehole (well) at the church, since we have offered to do projects in the past. They just replaced the church roof, which probably cost them upwards of $30,000, which we were not at all involved with, but they are not currently in a position to dig a borehole. It will cost between $5,000 and $7,000. Our board has voted in favor of JM2Z paying for it. Yolanda and I were clear that we don't have time to oversee the project, but we can cover the cost.
We have some unallocated funds that will cover this project, so there is no fundraising needed. This project will benefit both the English and Shona congregations who utilize the church, and we know they will also be generous with other people in the surrounding area who will be able to have access to this water too. Obviously, this will also benefit us and all the children and women during all our children's events at the church. We aren't sure the exact timing of it, but it should happen in the near future.
We have some unallocated funds that will cover this project, so there is no fundraising needed. This project will benefit both the English and Shona congregations who utilize the church, and we know they will also be generous with other people in the surrounding area who will be able to have access to this water too. Obviously, this will also benefit us and all the children and women during all our children's events at the church. We aren't sure the exact timing of it, but it should happen in the near future.
Visiting Friends and Family
It's been such a joy to visit so many of YOU in person. We saw most people at our supporting churches and the surrounding areas. However, we were also blessed to make some special trips to see many of you in your home towns. What a joy it is to hug folks in person, to hear all that's happening in their lives, and to catch up since we last saw one another (for some it's been as long as 13 years). Thanks for taking the time to meet briefly for a chat, or over a meal, or even hosting us in your home. We feel so blessed and our hearts are full. Below are some of the faces of those whom we have met with, but the list is not exhaustive of everyone we have seen.
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Prayer
Mai Mika's children, who recently dressed up to celebrate Africa Day at school As we head out for our next assignment in Zimbabwe, please continue to pray when you think about it. Please pray for the women and children we work with. The past few months, they've been sending us lots of pictures and messages (like the one to the left). They're really looking forward to having us return!
Please also pray for those who the women minister to in their own groups. Each woman runs a group, though it doesn't look like the way we do it, each one is involved in some type of ministry elsewhere.
Please pray for our board members. We are thankful for each one of them. Each one has volunteered their time to serve JM2Z, while taking care of their own jobs and families at the same time. Please keep them in your prayers.
Please pray for us as missionaries, during this time of transition, during our vacation week for good rest, and then as we get back into our rhythms of life and ministry in Zimbabwe.
Please pray for both Yolanda's family and my family, as they are all around the world. We just said goodbye to my grandpa last week in Michigan. He is 101 years old and is slowing down, so we are quite certain that we won't get to see him again this side of heaven. Missing time with family is one of the hard aspects of being missionaries far away. We are thankful for the times that we have had with my family here and we are thankful that we can stop to see Yolanda's mom on the way back to Zimbabwe.
Please also pray for those who the women minister to in their own groups. Each woman runs a group, though it doesn't look like the way we do it, each one is involved in some type of ministry elsewhere.
Please pray for our board members. We are thankful for each one of them. Each one has volunteered their time to serve JM2Z, while taking care of their own jobs and families at the same time. Please keep them in your prayers.
Please pray for us as missionaries, during this time of transition, during our vacation week for good rest, and then as we get back into our rhythms of life and ministry in Zimbabwe.
Please pray for both Yolanda's family and my family, as they are all around the world. We just said goodbye to my grandpa last week in Michigan. He is 101 years old and is slowing down, so we are quite certain that we won't get to see him again this side of heaven. Missing time with family is one of the hard aspects of being missionaries far away. We are thankful for the times that we have had with my family here and we are thankful that we can stop to see Yolanda's mom on the way back to Zimbabwe.
Our final visit with Grandpa
Thank you for your part in this ministry, whether praying, whether encouraging, whether financial! We appreciate YOU!!!
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