Psalm 23
Yolanda, preparing the Bible study on the whiteboard, to help the women take their notes Psalm 23 is going to be our theme for our upcoming VBS, which will take place December 11-15. We are excited for the children to learn all about it! In preparation for that, we have been going through Psalm 23 during our weekly women’s Bible studies. Since most of them will be volunteering in one way or another with VBS, we want to make sure they have a clear understanding of it, whether they will be doing any actual teaching or not.
In thinking ahead to some of the women hopefully starting their own small groups, Yolanda is doing something different this week. Usually, she teaches the same Bible lesson to both groups each week. However, this time, she is teaching one lesson to the Tuesday group and a different lesson to the Wednesday group. Then next week, one of the Tuesday ladies will teach Tuesday’s lesson to the Wednesday group and one of the Wednesday ladies will teach Wednesday’s lesson to the Tuesday group. Even though they are capable of teaching what they’ve learned, they are lacking the confidence to do so. So this is a good opportunity to start gaining some experience, and thus, some confidence. Thankfully in both groups a lady was eager to volunteer.
Just today, one of the ladies said, “Wow, we are now going deeper and deeper into the Bible. There is so much to learn and know so that we can continue to grow.” Yolanda expressed how they had been receiving milk before, but now that they have grown and matured, it is time for them to receive meat. They agreed and are excited about the prospect!
In thinking ahead to some of the women hopefully starting their own small groups, Yolanda is doing something different this week. Usually, she teaches the same Bible lesson to both groups each week. However, this time, she is teaching one lesson to the Tuesday group and a different lesson to the Wednesday group. Then next week, one of the Tuesday ladies will teach Tuesday’s lesson to the Wednesday group and one of the Wednesday ladies will teach Wednesday’s lesson to the Tuesday group. Even though they are capable of teaching what they’ve learned, they are lacking the confidence to do so. So this is a good opportunity to start gaining some experience, and thus, some confidence. Thankfully in both groups a lady was eager to volunteer.
Just today, one of the ladies said, “Wow, we are now going deeper and deeper into the Bible. There is so much to learn and know so that we can continue to grow.” Yolanda expressed how they had been receiving milk before, but now that they have grown and matured, it is time for them to receive meat. They agreed and are excited about the prospect!
Thrive Conference
Yolanda, signing up for various activities during registration Yolanda’s conference in South Africa went very well! It was much needed and perfect timing. Stats were given, saying that 50% of long-term missionaries leave the mission field after 5 years. 80% of missionaries leave the mission field after 10 years. We just hit the 10 year mark, so that was a great encouragement in terms of perseverance. Conferences like this are critical to be able to keep going. It was so beneficial just to be able to be with other women who are missionaries from around the world and no matter where they serve, to see that others are going through some of the same things we do.
Yolanda could not stop talking about how wonderful the retreat was and what an incredible, blessing it had been. Thrive spoiled all the ladies with gifts and treats from the US, as well as practical things like notebooks and pens and tissues while at the retreat (I believe there were lots of tears all around, which was therapeutic). Yolanda shared about the wonderful teaching times and the encouraging small group opportunities. In addition, there were fun games (related to questions of living cross-culturally such as, “Have you ever been gifted a live animal?”)
We highly encourage anyone who is interested in blessing missionaries to look into this ministry. It’s also a great opportunity for female leaders on mission committees to consider volunteering at a Thrive conference. They are hosted all around the world and even once a year stateside for missionaries on furlough. Volunteering at a retreat such as this will open your eyes to what missionaries go through, what their struggles are, what working cross-culturally looks like, and how best to encourage and support them in their calling. For more information regarding this, click on the link below.
Yolanda could not stop talking about how wonderful the retreat was and what an incredible, blessing it had been. Thrive spoiled all the ladies with gifts and treats from the US, as well as practical things like notebooks and pens and tissues while at the retreat (I believe there were lots of tears all around, which was therapeutic). Yolanda shared about the wonderful teaching times and the encouraging small group opportunities. In addition, there were fun games (related to questions of living cross-culturally such as, “Have you ever been gifted a live animal?”)
We highly encourage anyone who is interested in blessing missionaries to look into this ministry. It’s also a great opportunity for female leaders on mission committees to consider volunteering at a Thrive conference. They are hosted all around the world and even once a year stateside for missionaries on furlough. Volunteering at a retreat such as this will open your eyes to what missionaries go through, what their struggles are, what working cross-culturally looks like, and how best to encourage and support them in their calling. For more information regarding this, click on the link below.
It was also a blessing for me to be able to make the trip also. I (Andrew) was able to focus on my own spiritual and physical recuperation. We know that some other missionaries do it differently, but before we got married, Yolanda and I decided that we would never be in two different countries at the same time. Since we work together, we are together about 22-23 hours each day. We know it makes us stronger as a couple and also keeps us going on the mission field. It’s a huge blessing for us and we don’t know married life any other way. The Lord is obviously the one who sustains us, but having both of us working together, makes this ministry more effective
A group picture of everyone who attended the conference
Yolanda, meeting with her small group. Notice some American treats on the table that were provided during the few days
We got to visit the Cape of Good Hope
Breast Cancer Awareness
Last month, the women in our groups all traveled to Harare together to do a breast cancer screening. They did this last year for the first time. Throughout October, the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe gives the screenings for just $1. So we covered for them to do that, take a kombi (15 passenger van that’s a taxi), and have lunch. It’s obviously important to do this, so we want them to get into the habit of it. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for both groups to be together and to experience some camaraderie as sisters-in-Christ. This time they were treated to Chicken Inn (a fast food chain in Zimbabwe) for lunch and they were overjoyed at the blessing of eating once again at a restaurant (fast-food joint). No doubt they were all dressed in their Sunday best for the big outing to the capital city
 Gladys, sitting in the waiting room, before her exam |  Mai Whisper, heading into her exam |
New Micro-enterprises
Some new micro-enterprises are taking form. For example, Mai Chiutsi, one of our Tuesday ladies, is working towards starting a mushroom business in the new year. She needs a building to grow these mushrooms, which she has already built. In the meantime however, she has temporarily started a chicken business. She is able to use the mushroom building as a temporary chicken coop. Her business is based out on a farm (in the rural area), so she is able to have 150 chickens (unlike 100 being the maximum for the other women living in the high-density area). She knows that Christmas is coming up and that the special Christmas meal in Zimbabwe is chicken and rice. So she is beginning at a good time when she is guaranteed a profit that will help boost her mushroom business. She and her husband will take turns living in the rural area to care for the business.
Mai Chiutsi, along with a few other women, are planning towards starting new businesses. These businesses are only possible due to the generosity of JM2Z supporters. Being able to assist and help these ladies start out, sets them up for success. We make sure to discuss biblical finances, budgeting, planning everything out on paper, doing research, knowing all startup and on-going costs to ensure a profit. We are so very proud of these women working towards bettering their lives and the lives of their families.
Mai Chiutsi, along with a few other women, are planning towards starting new businesses. These businesses are only possible due to the generosity of JM2Z supporters. Being able to assist and help these ladies start out, sets them up for success. We make sure to discuss biblical finances, budgeting, planning everything out on paper, doing research, knowing all startup and on-going costs to ensure a profit. We are so very proud of these women working towards bettering their lives and the lives of their families.
Mai Chiutsi's new building for mushrooms/chickens
 Almost to the 5 week mark |  Day-old chicks |
Zesa
Zesa is what electricity is called in Zimbabwe. It is an acronym for Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority. The term is used so freely, that most people probably don’t know that it’s an acronym. It’s just the word for electricity. No one asks, “How has the electricity been lately at your house?” They ask, “Do you have zesa today?” or “Is your zesa on or off right now?”
Mai Maka, one of our Wednesday ladies, moved in to her small one-room home with her family 7 or 8 years ago. All of the homes in this area are small, modest, and unfinished. But people are living in them. You only build what you can pay cash for. Once you save some money, then you can add another room, etc. None of these homes in this area have had zesa connected. I don’t mean just not turned on, but since it was a new set of homes, there were no electrical lines running to the area. However about 3 or 4 years ago, everyone who lived there paid for the electrical lines to be set up and installed, and each home could have an electrical meter, etc. After they paid, nothing happened. Zesa said that they were “willing” to set it up, only after a modest bribe was paid. No one paid the bribe and they all went in to complain. Nothing changed for awhile, until just a couple weeks ago. They finally set up zesa in the area and connected her home to the grid. For the first time, Mai Maka’s home has zesa and she couldn’t be more excited about it!
Being 2023, I can’t imagine not having electricity in my house! That’s something our grandparents or great-grandparents experienced, but not in the 21st century! We complain about how slow our internet is and she is excited to just have a light bulb that can be switched on after dark, instead of burning candles at night. Now this is the time of year that it is the hottest outside. This is the peak of summer and more people are using more appliances, fans, air conditioners, etc. So naturally, this is the time the g0vernment turns off the electricity at different times, because they don’t produce enough to meet the demand. Last week, for 5 out of the 7 days, the electricity was off at our house from 5:30am until 8:30pm. So now, Mai Maka will get to experience power cuts for the first time, but when the zesa is on, you better believe she’s going to turn on her new light bulb! She and her family are feeling blessed!
In the same breath, we continue to feel incredibly blessed due to our solar system. Since the zesa has been off so much lately it has been a blessing to have solar access, which ensures we have internet access, our fridge and freezers are working, our fans can produce some relief from the 90-100 degree temps, and other electrical needs. Due to all the power outages, the ladies continue to bring their cell phones and rechargeable lights (that they were gifted with last Christmas) to charge at our home since we have solar. Solar certainly is blessing not only ourselves, but to many others too.
Mai Maka, one of our Wednesday ladies, moved in to her small one-room home with her family 7 or 8 years ago. All of the homes in this area are small, modest, and unfinished. But people are living in them. You only build what you can pay cash for. Once you save some money, then you can add another room, etc. None of these homes in this area have had zesa connected. I don’t mean just not turned on, but since it was a new set of homes, there were no electrical lines running to the area. However about 3 or 4 years ago, everyone who lived there paid for the electrical lines to be set up and installed, and each home could have an electrical meter, etc. After they paid, nothing happened. Zesa said that they were “willing” to set it up, only after a modest bribe was paid. No one paid the bribe and they all went in to complain. Nothing changed for awhile, until just a couple weeks ago. They finally set up zesa in the area and connected her home to the grid. For the first time, Mai Maka’s home has zesa and she couldn’t be more excited about it!
Being 2023, I can’t imagine not having electricity in my house! That’s something our grandparents or great-grandparents experienced, but not in the 21st century! We complain about how slow our internet is and she is excited to just have a light bulb that can be switched on after dark, instead of burning candles at night. Now this is the time of year that it is the hottest outside. This is the peak of summer and more people are using more appliances, fans, air conditioners, etc. So naturally, this is the time the g0vernment turns off the electricity at different times, because they don’t produce enough to meet the demand. Last week, for 5 out of the 7 days, the electricity was off at our house from 5:30am until 8:30pm. So now, Mai Maka will get to experience power cuts for the first time, but when the zesa is on, you better believe she’s going to turn on her new light bulb! She and her family are feeling blessed!
In the same breath, we continue to feel incredibly blessed due to our solar system. Since the zesa has been off so much lately it has been a blessing to have solar access, which ensures we have internet access, our fridge and freezers are working, our fans can produce some relief from the 90-100 degree temps, and other electrical needs. Due to all the power outages, the ladies continue to bring their cell phones and rechargeable lights (that they were gifted with last Christmas) to charge at our home since we have solar. Solar certainly is blessing not only ourselves, but to many others too.
An Assortment of Pictures
One week, Yolanda taught new ways to utilize some of the staple foods in the traditional Shona diet so they and their families can experience some variety.
Getting ready to try what they've made
They really enjoyed lunch that week!
Below are examples of what a report card looks like at a Zimbabwean public school. They are from Mai Maka's child. You can see the improvements from the 2nd term (left) to the 3rd term (right) after having extra tutoring lessons. This is covered by JM2Z's Education Sponsorship Program.
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The next few pictures were taken driving between our town (Chinhoyi) and the capital (Harare). The 2 cities are about 70 miles apart.
A little shop that works on aluminum and glasswork
2 adult baboons. Baboons and monkeys are the only "African animals we see along this stretch of road. The cattle, donkeys, goats, and dogs aren't too exciting.
Since car maintenance costs money, it is very common to see breakdowns along the way
There are many oversized loads coming through for big projects, like mining in Zimbabwe or some trucks are heading on to Zambia
Thankfully there is a bit of a shoulder for the car to pull of the road, but many times, a car is stopped on the road and split-second decisions need to be made, sometimes coming around a curve
There are many pedestrians looking for rides
A few small huts just off the road. Most used to be made of mud in decades past, but now they are mainly made of bricks, yet with a thatched roof
There are toll booths in Zimbabwe. All are $2 for normal vehicles.
Sweet potatoes being sold on the side of the road
Western killed this snake in our yard a couple weeks ago. It is a boomslang, which means "tree snake" in Afrikaans. He said he felt goosebumps and looked up, and this snake was just above him in the tree. Boomslangs live in trees and are highly venomous, so we are thankful that Western got it. With his color, it's easy to see how he blends in with tree branches and leaves.
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