I know I'm behind on blogging... We have had serious power cuts this week and have been running a generator when we can so we can work during the day. I am getting used to living with candles and little water. Fortunately I have access to well water but I still can't get the water unless I have power. Many families have had no water at all for several days because they have municipal water. Please pray the power failures and water issues are resolved soon.
I know many of you are wanting a report from the outreaches from last weekend. I wasn't able to go due to some technicalities, but I am working out the small details with the staff of the church and we have a meeting set next week to get my credentials reviewed.
My heart goes out to women and especially children that are sold into sex trafficking. Exodus Cry, associated with IHOP in KC, is a ministry that deals specifically with this issue. I get their email updates and join in the live prayer stream when I can concerning this issue. Well, earlier this year, I saw that the Exodus Cry team was coming to Zimbabwe. I had emailed them asking for more info and who I could contact once I got here so I could get involved. Well, I never heard back from them and just prayed the Lord would open the door for me here.
This morning I met with the pastor of a ministry called the Voice of Peace. I went to see him because he was in need of a website. When he started talking, all of the pieces fell together and I discovered that his ministry was the one involved with Exodus Cry. They take care of 15 rescued children... I was SO thankful the Lord provided the contact person!!! Out of his ministry, there have been around 350 church plants, they feed 5000 to 6000 orphans a day, and they run 4 or 5 orphanages. I can't remember the exact numbers....
The pastor extended the opportunity to me to come see the orphanages and speak at his churches as often as I am available. He also asked if I could lead a bible study at one of the orphanages or do whatever I wanted, play games, pray with them... whatever I wanted to do. I am so looking forward to seeing the kids and getting to pray over them and speak the Word of the Lord to them.
As I sit here and write this (at almost midnight), I heard some people start singing outside. I didn't know where it was coming from and so I grabbed my little camera which can also take video. I recorded a short clip for you to listen but it says it will take an hour and a half to upload the 2 minute video. I think this is a religious group known as the Apostates. The wear all white to all of their meetings and you will see them lined up and down the roads everywhere on Sunday's. The believe in the bible, but they also worship the rocks and water... I don't know much about it yet, but some friends here say it is one of the largest religious groups in Africa.
I am going to bed now and if the video has uploaded by the morning, I will post for you to see. May the Lord continue to bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you. Thank you for sowing into me and Zimbabwe in prayer!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
On Saturday, Annah and I went out to purchase a few things that I needed like some soap and electrical convertors and some other small items. If you don’t have a car here, the main mode of transportation is combi. A combi is like a 14 passenger van that they squeeze at least 20 people in. It is hot and sweaty and it has little air flow. But this time Annah and I didn’t catch a combi. We were waiting for a combi but this car pulled up next to us and the next think I knew, we were hitchhiking. Well, I guess you can’t say it’s hitchhiking if you have to pay. A combi ride is 50 cents no matter how far you go. And so this driver collected 50 cents from each of us. It was way better than a combi ride and he took us directly to the spot we wanted to go. Another guy got in the car with Annah and I when we got in. He handed us back our dollar and paid for our ride. That was really cool…
After we did all my little shopping and she showed me around downtown, we took a combi and went out to where she lives, about 20 minutes out of Harare. I got to watch the dance team practice in the afternoon.
Annah is the head of the dance team there, and she is a great role model for the younger girls. Most of them are 14 to 18. They practiced outside the front of her house. Most of her neighbors came out to greet me and they called me Shamwari, which is a Shona word that equates to something along the lines of friend/buddy/pal… something like that. 
There were kids playing up and down the street. Not many murungu’s (white people) come to this part of town. So, most of them didn’t know what to make of me.
It was a very safe place, and I played with the kids in the street for a while. I took some pictures of them. One little boy didn’t want to be in the picture because he said he was all dirty. He finally let me take his picture. They all crowded around me to see their picture on the camera.
Some of the kids were so funny. Most of the older kids were very curious and everyone, including most adults was staring at me. I stopped along the road and said hello to most of them.
They were all friendly and somehow wanted to get my attention. One little boy was sitting on the ground with his friend and he shouted out “I love you!” And then him and his friend burst out laughing. He must’ve been only 8 or 10 years old. Annah said he was just trying to impress me. Some of the kids were scared of me. Some of the little ones cried when they saw me… probly haven’t seen many white people before. I was definitely the one white person in the entire town. Annah said that it was rare that a white person come to their town.
After dance practice was over, I headed over to the church. Annah had informed the worship team that I was a musician and would give them lessons. I met the piano player and he asked me to play a few of the songs that they were going to do this morning and so I did. He then asked me to show him how to play them. I didn’t realize how little he knew until he started asking me questions. Then I found out that they had only had these instruments for 3 months and they have not had anyone to teach them to play. So, they try and figure things out on their own but it would go much faster to learn if someone would show them. So then the worship leader arrives and Tatenda (the piano player) was playing some of the things that I just showed him. She came right up to the keyboard and said – You are playing something new! And then she looked at me and said – Did you teach him this?!
Worship practice started and I gave a bass and guitar lesson during the practice. There was this one young man, maybe 10 or 12 and he was playing the bass. He was full of smiles and couldn’t stop smiling even if he tried!
I showed him the bass line on the song that they were singing and he playing it correctly the first time, keeping up with the drummer and keyboarder! He learned it so quickly… I was really amazed! The head of the arts department for the church said I am welcome to come back anytime and have freedom to do whatever I want…. Whether that be sing, play, dance… She was so grateful I could help train their worship team.
They all kept asking me if I was going to come to church this morning. I decided to go. I rode out there with Pst Munya and his wife Pst Bertha. I didn’t realize that they were the head pastors of the church at the time. I just thought they were helping the church since it’s only been going since last November. (and by the way, it’s at almost 300 already, with about 100 children!) They had asked a few questions about how I see myself involved in the body of Christ and what do I really like to do. So, I shared some of my story with them and Pst Munya says – I want you to speak this morning. We need to hear what you have to say…. Sound familiar? Lol… This is the second time since Friday I have been invited to speak at a church. Yay Jesus!
Worship was really anointed and I could really feel the presence of the Lord. There was a hunger in the air for more of Him. So, Pst Bertha went up after worship and introduced me as the red rose in a sea of yellow lilies… I thought that was an awesome and sweet way to point out the murungu sitting in the front row that everyone was wondering about. Everyone laughed. The Lord had given me a word during worship to share and it tied in exactly with what pst Bertha had just shared at offering. I love how the Holy Spirit does that! I only spoke for 10 and then I felt the Holy Spirit say to pray. So, I started praying and the whole room just lit up… It was really fun!
I handed it back to Pst Munya and in the middle of his sermon, he asked for a show of hands, not just to put them in the air, but those who truly could answer yes, he wanted to know how my words had impacted them. He asked them whose life would never be the same after hearing the word I shared. Probably 90% of the room raised their hands. After service, everyone thanked me for coming and wanted to know if I was a missionary. They were so welcoming and so happy to see me.
I know you are probably tired of reading by now, but the day is not over yet. A gentleman came up to me after the service and said thanks for sharing what you did. It was a good confirmation for us. He said that he has been to several very large conferences in the area in the last three weeks and all the main speakers were saying the exact same thing I said. There was a baptism scheduled for this afternoon and 18 new believers got baptized! Pst Munya dunked them and then he sent them to me to pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I prayed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit but I kept getting distracted by the prophetic word of the Lord for them. So, I just gave in to the Holy Spirit and I prayed for the baptism of Holy Spirit and Fire, but I gave each person a prophetic word. It was so cool to see the smile on their face when I would start sharing with them what the Lord was speaking to them.
I spoke with Pst Munya and Pst Bertha and asked if we could do a prayer set, like I would have done at KHOP and they were more than willing to have me. They already had all night prayer scheduled for the first weekend in September. So, I will be leading that and working more with the worship team in the mean time to teach them some of the songs that I know and me learning some of the songs that they know. He also asked me to speak at his leadership meeting, which is all the pastors under him from all the local churches in the area. Wow… I am just in awe of how the Lord is making a way for me. Lord thank you for the body of Christ in Zimbabwe. Pour out your Spirit in this place. May the name of your son Jesus Christ be glorified by every word and action that I take. Thank you all for your continued prayer and support. I love you and I will keep you posted on what’s happening!
After we did all my little shopping and she showed me around downtown, we took a combi and went out to where she lives, about 20 minutes out of Harare. I got to watch the dance team practice in the afternoon.
Annah is the head of the dance team there, and she is a great role model for the younger girls. Most of them are 14 to 18. They practiced outside the front of her house. Most of her neighbors came out to greet me and they called me Shamwari, which is a Shona word that equates to something along the lines of friend/buddy/pal… something like that. 
There were kids playing up and down the street. Not many murungu’s (white people) come to this part of town. So, most of them didn’t know what to make of me. 
It was a very safe place, and I played with the kids in the street for a while. I took some pictures of them. One little boy didn’t want to be in the picture because he said he was all dirty. He finally let me take his picture. They all crowded around me to see their picture on the camera. 
Some of the kids were so funny. Most of the older kids were very curious and everyone, including most adults was staring at me. I stopped along the road and said hello to most of them.
They were all friendly and somehow wanted to get my attention. One little boy was sitting on the ground with his friend and he shouted out “I love you!” And then him and his friend burst out laughing. He must’ve been only 8 or 10 years old. Annah said he was just trying to impress me. Some of the kids were scared of me. Some of the little ones cried when they saw me… probly haven’t seen many white people before. I was definitely the one white person in the entire town. Annah said that it was rare that a white person come to their town. 
After dance practice was over, I headed over to the church. Annah had informed the worship team that I was a musician and would give them lessons. I met the piano player and he asked me to play a few of the songs that they were going to do this morning and so I did. He then asked me to show him how to play them. I didn’t realize how little he knew until he started asking me questions. Then I found out that they had only had these instruments for 3 months and they have not had anyone to teach them to play. So, they try and figure things out on their own but it would go much faster to learn if someone would show them. So then the worship leader arrives and Tatenda (the piano player) was playing some of the things that I just showed him. She came right up to the keyboard and said – You are playing something new! And then she looked at me and said – Did you teach him this?!
Worship practice started and I gave a bass and guitar lesson during the practice. There was this one young man, maybe 10 or 12 and he was playing the bass. He was full of smiles and couldn’t stop smiling even if he tried!
I showed him the bass line on the song that they were singing and he playing it correctly the first time, keeping up with the drummer and keyboarder! He learned it so quickly… I was really amazed! The head of the arts department for the church said I am welcome to come back anytime and have freedom to do whatever I want…. Whether that be sing, play, dance… She was so grateful I could help train their worship team. They all kept asking me if I was going to come to church this morning. I decided to go. I rode out there with Pst Munya and his wife Pst Bertha. I didn’t realize that they were the head pastors of the church at the time. I just thought they were helping the church since it’s only been going since last November. (and by the way, it’s at almost 300 already, with about 100 children!) They had asked a few questions about how I see myself involved in the body of Christ and what do I really like to do. So, I shared some of my story with them and Pst Munya says – I want you to speak this morning. We need to hear what you have to say…. Sound familiar? Lol… This is the second time since Friday I have been invited to speak at a church. Yay Jesus!
Worship was really anointed and I could really feel the presence of the Lord. There was a hunger in the air for more of Him. So, Pst Bertha went up after worship and introduced me as the red rose in a sea of yellow lilies… I thought that was an awesome and sweet way to point out the murungu sitting in the front row that everyone was wondering about. Everyone laughed. The Lord had given me a word during worship to share and it tied in exactly with what pst Bertha had just shared at offering. I love how the Holy Spirit does that! I only spoke for 10 and then I felt the Holy Spirit say to pray. So, I started praying and the whole room just lit up… It was really fun!
I handed it back to Pst Munya and in the middle of his sermon, he asked for a show of hands, not just to put them in the air, but those who truly could answer yes, he wanted to know how my words had impacted them. He asked them whose life would never be the same after hearing the word I shared. Probably 90% of the room raised their hands. After service, everyone thanked me for coming and wanted to know if I was a missionary. They were so welcoming and so happy to see me.
I know you are probably tired of reading by now, but the day is not over yet. A gentleman came up to me after the service and said thanks for sharing what you did. It was a good confirmation for us. He said that he has been to several very large conferences in the area in the last three weeks and all the main speakers were saying the exact same thing I said. There was a baptism scheduled for this afternoon and 18 new believers got baptized! Pst Munya dunked them and then he sent them to me to pray for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I prayed for the baptism of the Holy Spirit but I kept getting distracted by the prophetic word of the Lord for them. So, I just gave in to the Holy Spirit and I prayed for the baptism of Holy Spirit and Fire, but I gave each person a prophetic word. It was so cool to see the smile on their face when I would start sharing with them what the Lord was speaking to them.
I spoke with Pst Munya and Pst Bertha and asked if we could do a prayer set, like I would have done at KHOP and they were more than willing to have me. They already had all night prayer scheduled for the first weekend in September. So, I will be leading that and working more with the worship team in the mean time to teach them some of the songs that I know and me learning some of the songs that they know. He also asked me to speak at his leadership meeting, which is all the pastors under him from all the local churches in the area. Wow… I am just in awe of how the Lord is making a way for me. Lord thank you for the body of Christ in Zimbabwe. Pour out your Spirit in this place. May the name of your son Jesus Christ be glorified by every word and action that I take. Thank you all for your continued prayer and support. I love you and I will keep you posted on what’s happening!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Arrival & Outreach
I landed a few days ago in Harare and it was an easy trip! I want to thank you all so much for praying for me while I was traveling. I have been staying with the Edward’s family for a few days and they have been SO awesome. They have definitely made my transition to Harare much easier!
Working for a technology company definitely has its perks. I will have almost normal access to internet and a US phone number as well. The number will only work when the internet is working so it’s not completely reliable, but I am excited anyway… I’ll be able to keep in touch with all you on a somewhat normal basis. I had no idea that I would be getting my own line like that so thank you Appcore team for hooking me up!!!
I will actually be staying at the place I am working. It’s a super large house with 4 different levels, over 14 huge rooms and 5 bathrooms that I know of. It has a pool too. The pool doesn’t have any water in it but that can be fixed. I can’t move in just yet because there is no hot water heater and no refrigerator. I wouldn’t mind a cold shower if it were summer, but since we are on the other side of the equator, it’s winter here. And it’s been cold! There was actually frost on the ground the other morning when we woke up!!
Just today, (Friday) I was sharing my testimony with a friend here about how I came to Zimbabwe and how the Lord directed my steps. He asked me if I would come and speak at his church. I didn’t even know that he was a pastor of a congregation! I said YES, of course! I am really excited about this opportunity. There are about 80 members in his church in a town called Norton, about a 20 minute drive outside of Harare. They are also hosting an outreach in their town next weekend, especially encouraging the sick to come that the Lord would heal them. I told him I wanted to pray for the sick with his church, and he was so excited that I wanted to be a part of it. I am looking forward to sharing some testimonies with you!!!! Please pray for me and the rest of this team… Come Lord Jesus Come!
This is a bar that I visited in Norton, a common hang out place in the town since there is little else to do. As soon as I walked into this place, I could feel the women's lives that had been destroyed by either prostitution or sexual slavery. I am praying more about this would be revealed.
Here is what the town looks like.
This is where you would go to buy something in town. It's like the town center.
Working for a technology company definitely has its perks. I will have almost normal access to internet and a US phone number as well. The number will only work when the internet is working so it’s not completely reliable, but I am excited anyway… I’ll be able to keep in touch with all you on a somewhat normal basis. I had no idea that I would be getting my own line like that so thank you Appcore team for hooking me up!!!
I will actually be staying at the place I am working. It’s a super large house with 4 different levels, over 14 huge rooms and 5 bathrooms that I know of. It has a pool too. The pool doesn’t have any water in it but that can be fixed. I can’t move in just yet because there is no hot water heater and no refrigerator. I wouldn’t mind a cold shower if it were summer, but since we are on the other side of the equator, it’s winter here. And it’s been cold! There was actually frost on the ground the other morning when we woke up!!
Just today, (Friday) I was sharing my testimony with a friend here about how I came to Zimbabwe and how the Lord directed my steps. He asked me if I would come and speak at his church. I didn’t even know that he was a pastor of a congregation! I said YES, of course! I am really excited about this opportunity. There are about 80 members in his church in a town called Norton, about a 20 minute drive outside of Harare. They are also hosting an outreach in their town next weekend, especially encouraging the sick to come that the Lord would heal them. I told him I wanted to pray for the sick with his church, and he was so excited that I wanted to be a part of it. I am looking forward to sharing some testimonies with you!!!! Please pray for me and the rest of this team… Come Lord Jesus Come!
This is a bar that I visited in Norton, a common hang out place in the town since there is little else to do. As soon as I walked into this place, I could feel the women's lives that had been destroyed by either prostitution or sexual slavery. I am praying more about this would be revealed.
Here is what the town looks like.
This is where you would go to buy something in town. It's like the town center.
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