Zimbabwe Daily Life

A few pictures into our daily life here in Zimbabwe....

Pray for the Outreach Bulawayo team as they finish up their last 10 days on the field. Pray for fruitful ministry & good times of saying "good bye" to new friends.

There's No One Like You Jesus

Sitting around a campfire listening to voices sing in an African language, “Akuna Wakaita Sajesu” (There’s no one like you Jesus), it is easy to picture what Heaven might be like. A thousand different cultures all worshiping the same God. The same God who has called us all to share with the nations that Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. 

Outreach Bulawayo has spent a lot of time in vegetable markets, the public school system, and the small village of K, sharing this truth with the Ndebele and Shona people groups. We’ve been able to spend a week at a care center for orphans, doing house to house evangelism in the rural areas where we gained a few new brothers and sisters in Christ.

Pray for us:
Pray for the new believers... that God will surround them with people who will hold them accountable in their new faith, and pray that they will desire to grow in their relationship with Him.
Pray for the people of Bulawayo... Many know of Jesus Christ but do not have that a personal relationship with Him. 
There are many different branches of Christianity here, and it can be difficult knowing how to determine if they really know Christ or not. Pray for these religions that the people would come to know Him as their Savior and Lord and for clarity that the team will know the best way to witness to them. 

-Danyel
Outreach Bulawayo Team
Zimbabwe 

Wonderful Time in Zimbabwe

Our time in Zimbabwe is quickly coming to an end; honestly this idea upsets me, but it is good to think back on our time in Zim. It has been a truly amazing summer full of so many wonderful things. Things haven't turned out exactly like we planned them, but the Lord has worked through all of that. It is good to think of all the opportunities that God has allowed us to be a part of in our time here. 

We have been able to work at orphanages, markets, schools, and soup kitchens, and we have had the opportunity to see some truly beautiful things the Lord has created such as Victoria Falls, the mountains of Zim, rocks at Matapos, and lots of wildlife. 

I think the best part of our time here has been the relationships that we have developed. People from the markets are so generous and kind, and their friendship and love means so much to me. The church we have been attending has been a wonderful church home here in Zim. They made us feel at home from the very beginning, and developing relationships with them has truly been great. I have especially enjoyed the fellowship with the young adults. I have talked with several of them about our lives and the fellowship that we have. 

In some ways we are very different, but in some ways there are things that unite us. Two such things are the Lord and food. There are things that I love about the life and people here that might not be so true about our lives in the states. I love how their focus is more on relationships and not time. Their joy and laughter is contagious to me, and I absolutely love to laugh with them. I will miss them, but I know that our relationships will continue even after we leave. God has also given us an opportunity to grow as a group. We barely knew each other when we arrived, but now we have a deeper friendship. This summer has been an incredible experience that I wouldn't change for anything.

Please pray that God would continue to work here in Zimbabwe, and we would continue to see the opportunities that God is giving us.

-Heather

Farming in Africa

Through being in Zimbabwe, God has confirmed the plans He has for me for at least the next few years; I am going to school to be an Agronomist. Not only is there a need for Agronomist in the states but also in Zimbabwe. The soil here is very sandy, not the most suitable for growing crops.The irrigation of water here is not as widely used as it should be, one of the main reasons being the cost and not having the ability to get money and resources. Also people here need to learn to how utilize their biggest energy source, the sun. I have seen seen several small farms using some sort of solar power but there are still many areas that would benefit from the use of solar power.

In saying all that, I feel as though my purpose is to become an Agronomist so I can come back to Zim and teach the people how to help themselves, meaning, teach them better, more economical farming methods. I'm proud of my American roots because without them, God wouldn't have shown me this awesome opportunity and career path. I'm thankful that I can use my passion for farming to help the people at home and across the world.

Please pray that other people with farming backgrounds and mindsets would realize the needs in area like this and that they would use their skills to help the people help themselves. Also, pray that God would open up opportunities for me to come back to Zim as well as opening the doors to other placs so that I can help the people help themselves.

-Lindsay

And So They Laugh

There are an innumerable amount of things that we can learn from the African people. The women are strong, and the men work hard. However, I suppose the most notable thing, to me, is their ability to laugh. They love to laugh. It does not matter the circumstances, they can always be found laughing. The small children who don't go to school and have next to nothing can still be found throwing their heads back laughing as they run through the dust roads of their small village. The older widows are perhaps my favorite to be around. Some are taking care of little ones, and some are trying to simply take care of themselves. These women have the most beautiful smiles and laughs of all. No matter their circumstances, those who love the Lord, truly laugh at the times to come. They have the most beautiful laugh lines that I have ever seen. Their faces are full of wisdom and knowledge, and they radiate the love of the Lord. We could learn a lesson or two from these marvelous people. In troubled times, they laugh. In happy times, they laugh. In working times, they laugh. They love to laugh, but when they worship their One True King they don't just laugh... they dance. 

Pray that we will continue to listen to what it is that the Lord has called us to do and that we can love these wonderful people with all that we have. 

-Katie 

God's Provision

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

Team of the Day: Outreach Bulawayo

Country of the Day: Zimbabwe

We serve a mighty God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Pray for team members to trust for God's good provision of all their needs in His timing and manner.

People are the same

No matter where you go, most people have the same interests and desires - or at minimum the same questions.

Pray for our team as we seek to help answer some of these questions.

-Katie
Outreach Bulawayo

God is Working through Relationships

It's good to see how God is working in our interactions with the people. We are beginning to develop deeper relationships with them. It is good to be able to get closer to the people of this area. We have been hanging out more with the young adults at the church, and it has been rewarding to be able to fellowship with the Christian young adults. It actually feels like we are making an impact to see our relationship with others grow and deepen. When we missed a week, the ladies at the market also asked about us and why weren't there; they also want to make sure that we were going to be there this week. It is so good to see that they are truly interested in the Bible study that takes place. On Sunday we also learned that one of the women went around and evangelized in our place, and she said people asked about where we were; it was nice to see that God is truly working in their lives. It is also good to see that they are taking a genuine interest in the things of God.

Please pray that we will continue to see God work in this area and that people will grow in their faith. 

-Heather

It's Worth It

I first tried to write about how incredible this summer has been thus far, but I quickly had to delete my words because words cannot even begin to describe what we have experienced. God has shown Himself in so many ways. He has helped us to serve those that desperately need basic things such as food and clothing. Most importantly, He has allowed us to love the most beautiful people that I have ever met. As I spend time with these incredible people, they capture my heart. But there was one day where I found myself standing in a village, covered in dust, and surrounded by loving and laughing children. In that moment I realized that these people, whom I have grown so fond of, have completely stolen my heart. My journal entry from this day writes: 

Day 23

I am covered head to toe in dust and my heart is fuller than it has ever been... We ended up sitting with the children while listening to the lesson that R was teaching. We plopped down in the dirt right along with the kids. When I sat down, almost all of the kids cautiously got as close to me as possible. They would just look at me and smile. Most of the kids didn't know and English. But if all I did today was love on them and tell them "UJesu Ugutando" (Jesus loves you)... it's worth it. 

Soon after saying UJesus Ugutando over and over, the more shy kids started coming closer and closer. One little boy started off at a distance but soon was sitting as close to me as possible. He couldn't have been older than 4. His need to be loved was so evident. He laid his head on my legs and held my hand up close to his face. No doubt part of it was because he was amazed by my very white skin, but the other part, I just knew, was because he wanted to feel the love and comfort that I was giving to every child that I could. 

If I could just love those kids the way Christ loves me... they deserve that love just as much as I do. My prayer is that they will one day come to know the God who created them and who loves them unconditionally. 

-Katie 

God at work in Bulawayo

Thursday we went back to the vegetable market to pray with people and do a Bible study. We prayed with people, and it was encouraging to see that they were willing to pray with us. During the Bible study, they were encouraged to share their faith with others. After the Bible study, we saw one of the women sharing her faith with another woman. It was such a blessing to see how God is working in people's lives and leading them to follow Him.

Pray that the people in the vegetable market will hear the truth about God and that the believers will share their faith will those who are around in Him.

The beauty of God's creation

Our team had the honor of going to see the Falls today. It was so beautiful. I have no words to describe how beautiful they truly are. The Falls absolutely left me in awe. It reminded me of the wonder and greatness of God. It also reminded me of the great need that we have to share this great God with others. Things like this should help us to see that there is a God who created all things, but not everyone has this perspective. Therefore we should help point people to God and help them to see that He has created all the beauty they see. These things should lead us to constantly be in awe of God and how amazing He is. While at the Falls, we met people who were doing mission work nearby; they were talking about starting a church, and many coming to the Lord. It was encouraging to hear that God is at work in many different areas around here.

Please pray that God will continue to help us be in awe of Him and that we will continue to share His greatness with others. 
Pray that His work will continue in this area.

The Lord's Harvest: Outreach Bulawayo

This week our team had the opportunity to go out and talk with people in a vegetable market. As we went around, we asked people if we could pray for them, and we would share the gospel as we felt the Spirit leading. During our prayer time, we talked with many people & we saw their need for the Lord. The harvest is truly plentiful here, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to come. 

As we prayed, Lindsay and a couple of people were talking to a woman who decided to become a follower of Jesus. Lindsay said, "I could just feel the Lord working inside her as we prayed with her." Later we had a Bible study that she attended and was very engaged. That day we had many that attended the study, more than usual. So we are so grateful for the work the Lord is doing.

Please pray that the lady who got saved will remain strong in her faith. 
Pray that we will continue to see God work here in the lives of people.

-Heather

Children of Bulawayo

We have had many opportunities to work with kids in various ways. We have gone to a primary school  to give children eggs to eat, and we went to another school sharing our testimony with the girls there.It was so good for me to be able to talk to them and answer their questions as best as I could. 

We have also had opportunities to visit orphanages. One was a babies home... and those babies were so precious! We went to another with older kids... just hanging out with them. The kids are wonderful & kind, and they touched my heart. I can understand why God said that we must be like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. These kids are so kind, loving, and joyful even after all they have been through. It truly touches my heart to visit them, and I am so glad that the Lord has given us the opportunities that He has.

Please pray that God will open doors for us to be able to go places where kids have needs. 
Pray that we will love them the way that God loves them.

-Heather

Outreach Bulawayo Update

We have been in Zimbabwe about a week. We have enjoyed exploring the town and getting to know some of the people here. It is such a beautiful city, and the people are so friendly. We have had a few ministry opportunities in the days that have passed. We worked with kids some and gave people food a couple of times. 

Please pray for the needs of the people here: spiritual, emotional, physical, etc. 

Please pray that our team will be able to minister to the people that we come in contact with.

-Heather

Meet the Team: Outreach Bulawayo

We are the Outreach Bulawayo team working in Zimbabwe, and we have three members.

My name is Heather, and I will be writing the majority of the blogs for our team. I am originally from Georgia but I am currently attending Southeastern Seminary in North Carolina. One of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:8, and my favorite color is purple.

Lindsay is from Indiana attending Purdue University. Her favorite verse is Philippians 4:13, and her favorite color is yellow. 

Katie (team leader) is from Mississippi, studying at Delta State University. Her favorite verse is 2 Timothy 2:22, and her favorite color is blue.

Get whipped into shape!

Not sure what to do this summer? Why not go on mission?! 

Nehemiah Teams is an incredible organization that sends college students all over Asia, Africa, and more! God has used Nehemiah Teams to not only change the lives of those that students reach on the field, but God has used it to personally change my life. Before going through NT, I knew I wanted to be a missionary, but I had no idea how little I cared about lost. I had no idea how little I cared about reading God's word and talking to God. When I went on Nehemiah Teams, just the orientation was enough to whip me into shape spiritually and emotionally. NT helped me realize how much I lacked a personal relationship with Jesus. It helped me to grow so much closer with Him, and it allowed me to be used by God to help others find Jesus Christ.

Go!! You won't regret it. If anything, just apply and see what God does!

-Alex

It is not just an overseas project...

Has it really been over two months?? It's hard to believe I survived being this far away from Africa for this long. It is so crazy to think that a place I was only in for two months has completely taken my heart. It hurts to be away from Africa. It is literally taking my breath away to look back at these pictures and recall the brokenness and yet beauty, the poor and yet rich, the sorrow and yet joy that a camera lens cannot capture. I was blessed beyond measure to be able to experience all that I did. 

Even though I want more than anything to go back right now, I know God is using me here where I am and teaching me what I need to learn. It has not been an easy transition these past few months coming back to the states with losing a few things I had before I left, hearing unexpected news that is completely life changing (which I am very excited about), and being in a culture that once was my whole life and now is foreign to me. But, God is sovereign and faithful and He knows what He's doing with me. "He's got this," is what I am constantly telling myself throughout each day.

And how could I forget the people around me? They need Jesus just as much as an orphan in Africa does, believe it or not. How can I be an overseas missionary if I cannot even turn to my current neighbor and tell them about Jesus? It is just not an overseas project, it is a lifestyle I must live daily, no matter where I am. I cannot wait to go love on the people on my campus today. 

Cheers, 

Alex

Want to read more from Alex?  Go to http://alexgraceanthony.blogspot.com

Accept the Command

So . . . Wow God is good.

I just had a precious memory from my trip to Zimbabwe, and I wanted to share it with you.

I had been paying no attention to our schedule because I got to the point on my trip where I couldn't keep up with our crazy schedule and I was just thinking, "Okay, I'm up for anything today."

So to be honest, I was not in a good place in my life. I was farther away from God than I wanted to admit to myself or anyone else. But as we pull into a very rural primary school where a lot of kids didn't even know English (which is very uncommon in Zim), I remember thinking, "God, this is going to be the best day of my life."

Over the past few years prior, I lost my joy and heart for a lot of things, including Africa, even though my life dream was to work with little African children and love them like Jesus does.

So as we pull up to this school with my heart in terrible condition, the past few years of neglecting God and ignoring all the plans He has for me was completely forgotten.

We get out of the car and the school is awesome! Like I said before, this was a very poor and rural area. A lot of the kids have their only good meal at that school. The headmaster of the primary school walked us around campus and took us to different classrooms. We got stares and giggles and smiles. When class was dismissed, a BUNCH of kids came darting in our direction. One of the girls on my team and I were suddenly surrounded by at least thirty small African children, all fighting over who gets to touch (not just touch, but hold in amazement) my white skin and hair. Oh, how crazy about my hair they were!

In that moment, all I could think was "God is so good. God is so good. God is so good." I looked at these kids who were in bad shape and dirty and broken, and I saw Jesus. I saw joy in their eyes that I had never seen before. And in my heart, I felt a kind of love that I have never felt with anyone or anything before. I didn't know someone could love so much. This isn't the kind of love you get for a boyfriend or girlfriend, it was a kind of love that could only come from God. It was a love that I can only experience again with how I love Christ, and the thing is, I love Christ even more than I love those beautiful creations of God in Zimbabwe.

It breaks my heart to say that unfortunately, a lot of those children are lost. The reality is those who are lost are going to hell. They don't have anyone telling them about the Lord because of us Christians. We aren't doing our DUTY. We aren't doing our COMMAND. When I went to Zimbabwe, people were telling me left and right how special I was for going there. They were telling me how wonderful it is that I am doing this for God. But we are missing the point!! I did NOTHING significant for going, I was simply accepting the call God has given me to go.

It should be normal for Christians to go tell people about Jesus. It should not be significant when one Christian we know actually goes.

We should not say that only specific Christians have the calling to go be missionaries. When Jesus said to His disciples, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men," He didn't say, "and I will make you fishers of men" for no reason, He meant it. And when He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations," He didn't say, "only go if you are called." This was a command for all Christians. So, if we assume that we have to have a specific calling, then why don't we say we have to have a specific calling to stay? Because as far as I can tell, Jesus meant all of us.

So, go. GO AND TELL THE NATIONS ABOUT THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU! Don't keep it in, don't contain it. Start a revival in our nation and in our world. You can make a difference. You can make disciples.

Accept the command!

-Alex A

2015 Zimbabwe Orphan Care

“It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home.”
-Hudson Taylor 

It's Not Easy

Recently I went on a trip to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe in Africa. What can I say? It was the most incredible place I have ever seen. I was so blessed to have been able to have that experience. I was there for 52 days. We visited orphanages and schools and shared the Gospel with them. Over all, 54 kids that we know of received Christ. It was so awesome! The people were wonderful. They were all so polite and the children spoke in unison when you asked them, "How are you?" They would each say something like, "I am very well. Thank you and how are you?" They spoke with rich accents and had rich dark skin and rich bright smiles. They were amazing. They treated us "makiwah's" (white people) like kings and queens. I will never forget their hospitality and generous hearts. 

Here's the problem: I left. I don't know what to do with myself because I don't see my precious friends Tando and Michael every day. My heart is broken because I can't play with the greatest orphaned babies that ever existed. My eyes are filled with tears because I can't hug my friends at church every Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday. Where did the time go? 
My heart did not come with me back to America. It stayed in Bulawayo with my friends and orphans of whom I came to love so dearly. I miss them. I miss the baby snot I would have to wipe off their face every time I held them. I miss the white girl hip hop jam outs I would have with my team at one of Tawanda's concerts. I miss the freedom of going into schools and praying with students and sharing with them the love of Christ and what He did for them. I miss telling them that Jesus wants a relationship with them if they only surrender their lives to Him. I miss the responses. I miss the hearts of each person I came into contact with. I miss the thirst and hunger to hear truth. I miss being asked the hardest questions. 
 
I miss Zimbabwe. It's not easy not being there. It's not easy being here. 
The hardest thing I ever had to do was leave Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. 

But God is a faithful God. If it weren't for Him, I would not be able to get through the day. He constantly provides strength and endurance. He is even giving me countless opportunities to serve Him in America. 
So, Africa, until I return, I will be praying for you. Know that I love you. Know that you have stolen my heart. But most importantly, know that God is with you. You are so important to Him. Don't forget about me. I'll be back soon. 

 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.  I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.  However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."   Acts 20:22-24

 

-Alex

Zimbabwe

Last week in Zim

Hey everyone!!! With one week left in Zim, things are going very well! This week has been very emotional because we are doing things and going places for the last time.
 
But God continues to bless us with amazing opportunities! In total, (so far) 54 kids have gotten saved this summer!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!   Thank you all for your prayers and love!

-Alex