We report on the recent visit of some of our Trustees to deliver a Training of Trainers week in November last year and bring news of progress on some of our long running projects.
Our ZPT Chairman, Chris Boyes went along this time too and he was able to get a really good overview of ministries run by James Kambudzi and Gideon and Jennifer Chishamba.
When ZPT was formed in 2011 the Trustees decided that Partnership was a good way to describe the aims and intended way of operating the new charity. In the goodness of God this has proved to be a remarkably effective means of channelling aid, teaching, and equipment to areas of need across Zimbabwe. In the last few years the development of Zoom, smart phones, and WhatsApp have brought us into (sometimes painfully) direct contact with brothers and sisters in dire need. On line money transfer arrangements have made possible instant responses to emergency situations which has enabled a quick turnaround.
We remain a small charity operated by unpaid volunteers which keeps our operating costs very low.
We report first on the Training of Trainers week at the end of last year – week commencing Monday 20th Nov 2023
Training of Trainers Week
The training was delivered by Derek French doing 7 sessions on the life of Abraham, Ollie Land doing 5 sessions on the book of Daniel, William Danyere doing 3 sessions on 1,2 and 3 John, and Mark Drury doing 3 sessions on the book of Jude.
It was held at a lovely facility called Lasting Impressions, located near Kadoma, which is a camp style conference centre in beautiful surroundings with everything you need for a training week. In the afternoons the men were given the opportunity to preach on a text they had been given previously and our ZPT trainers were able to then provide feedback on ways to further improve and develop their preaching gifts. Derek French reported: The TOT was one of the best I have attended. The attention of the men was first class and their questions and answers and discussions were illuminating showing their growth in handling the Word of God and in their theology. Their desire to be biblical in all they do was very clear.
One of the Zimbabwean Pastors from Harare, Tatenda, told us he is involved in helping a network of 500 pastors across Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa and intends to share what he has learnt from this week with them all. Two of the pastors who shared feedback on the week emphasised how the training week is meeting a need to counter the growing number of false teachers in Zimbabwe.
Project reports – Mount Darwin
Moving on now to Chris Boyes reports from Mount Darwin—He stayed with James Kambudzi and his family for 4 nights and was able to see first hand the 3 projects.
1) Goats,
2) Community Garden
3) Community Field.
There was also a pastoral dimension to Chris’s visit as James has considerable responsibility for his many different roles, his chaplaincy job for Karanda Hospital, handling funds from donors dedicated to the education of orphans, managing the affairs of Tariro Yeupenyu (TY) and looking after the needs of his own family.
There is much to be thankful for however and many communities and families are being helped so we come to a summary of the 3 main Tariro Yeupenyu (Hope for Life) projects.
Goats
Distribution of goats since the project started is as follows:
• 120 goats in distributions of 10 to 12 churches
• 75 goats in distributions of 5 to 15 churches
• 50+ goats to individuals in specific need
• Others have been sold to raise money to meet urgent needs
James is currently working with a number of new churches on developing a vision for orphan care through goat distribution. It takes time to create a shared understanding of how to best use the goats to help orphans meet their own needs, and to avoid churches selling goats to pay for other priorities. All orphans and families who receive goats are regularly followed-up. A sustainable model has been developed in which 12 months after a distribution, the recipients are required to sell a male goat to provide funds for goat medicine for TY.
Community Garden
The garden is just a few yards from James’ home, down a small hill. Like the goat area, it has been fenced around. Work on the garden started with 12 families, all of whom care for orphans. There are currently 8 active families who work on the garden on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the main growing months. The families come together to decide how to use the crops grown; how much to keep for their own use; and how much to sell. The profits from sold produce are shared between them, with $10 set aside to pay for fuel for taking the crops to market.
Cucumbers, watermelon, rugare, rape, and onions are currently being grown. It is planned to plant tomatoes for harvesting in a few months’ time. The garden is only possible because of the regular supply of water from the TY borehole, the pump of which is now badly in need of replacement. When this is working well it meets the needs not only of the garden but also the goat herd and a number of local families who collect water every day.
James is keen that the garden soon becomes self-sustaining. His plan is that there is a one-off injection of money to buy seeds or small plants, which leads to an abundant harvest and significant profits from sales. These profits would be used to pay for the following season’s seed and inputs.
Community Field
There is a 5 Year lease on a large field used to grow maize, which expires this year in June, A decision will need to be made regarding whether to renew this lease.
There are problems associated with the size of this field and its distance from the village, but the harvests have been considerable in some years, and much of the harvested maize is stored to meet the basic needs of the most vulnerable families in the community throughout the year.
James Kambudzi at the Community Field
As well as these 3 projects many individual families are being helped and James has pioneered the cooperative use of two important tools, the oil pressing machine and the grinding mill, this saves a considerable expense to the communities as it avoids commercial milling costs and enables them to retain much more of the proceeds of their crops.
Project reports – Fountain of Hope Foundation
Chris Boyes then moved on to visit Gideon and Jennifer in the South. Gideon and Jennifer oversee many different ministries but have a particular interest in Orphans and helping struggling communities to achieve greater independence through boreholes and good farming practices.
Chris was taken to see a new project a few miles outside Chivi run by Pastor Chigowi. Chris reports here on his visit:
Orphan Project
Pastor Chigowi and other members of Community Fellowship Church have committed themselves to the orphanage project. They shared the vision with me.
Each home will cater for 5 children, under the care of a house mother. The homes will operate on a clear Christian basis. The structure of the first home is basically complete, but more resources are needed for it to be ready for habitation. (Very recent update—we have just received and passed on a substantial donation which will pay for all the plastering and some of the floors, It has also had a roof installed since this picture was taken). This is a matter for thanksgiving and prayer, as indeed, is the need for significant funds for the 4 further homes.
Gideon outside the new Orphan family home
The project is a good example of how Gideon and the Fountain of Hope Foundation works with local churches and pastors in supporting their gospel-based community development initiatives. Gideon provides expertise, encouragement, project management, and a link with donors, while the local leaders identify the needs and carry-out the bulk of the physical work.
Mandiva Primary School Water Project
This project is making a real difference for this large and under-resourced school, which is situated in an extremely dry and hot area. The needs are great with, for example, one teacher we met having 75 children in her class. There was simply no water supply before the recent ZPT-funded project, at least 4 previous boreholes having failed. The new borehole had to be dug 1.8 km from the school itself. The solar panels operate the pump effectively but security is an ongoing concern because there are no other structures nearby. Members of the community dug the trench all the way to the school by hand – a quite astonishing demonstration of their commitment to make water available for the children, staff and local community members. The children have water to drink every day and local people walk to the school to collect water for their own needs. A garden has been planted and a basic irrigation system recently established. This will not only provide much-needed fresh vegetables for the children but also help to teach them sustainable horticultural methods. Hundreds of people benefit all together and the school staff went out of their way to thank us for this vital provision.
Rungai Health Clinic
At the clinic site we met with the project team and looked about the current stage of this long-term project. The structures of both the clinic itself and the nurses’ cottage are in place, and it was clear that very considerable progress has been made. Work was underway at the time of the visit on the construction of a veranda for the internal open area. The need for this had become apparent when a doctor held a pilot session at the clinic and people had to queue for long periods in the sun. I was greatly encouraged by the continued enthusiasm and commitment of those involved in making the clinic a reality. They are realistic about the work and funds required before the clinic can open but are pressing on and looking to the Lord to provide. All rooms need to be fitted out and decorated, together with a long list of other tasks, before any medical equipment can be installed. In addition, other problems arise and have to be overcome. One example relates to the windows. Many of the individual panes have been broken by local hawks that persist in flying into them. Gideon and his colleagues working on the clinic are assured that the health authorities will provide the nurses when the clinic is ready. The local councillor, who was voted in a few months ago, is committed to the project because he sees the value of the clinic to people from many miles around.
Newly completed nurses cottage at the Rungai Health Clinic
We are pleased to report that the funds for furnishing this health clinic have now been sent and they are sourcing the supplies needed.
Community Garden
It was a long drive to this isolated rural community, but the visit was well worth it. Fountain of Hope have worked with a co-operative of 105 women to supply water to a 1 square hectare garden.
The garden is right next to a dam that failed many years ago. ZPT funding for this project has contributed to a borehole and pump, a water tank, and 3 concrete water tanks sunk into the ground.
Each member of the co-operative has a small plot on which to grow maize and vegetables. The consistent water supply has made a profound difference. Over all the miles I travelled during my visit, I didn’t see any maize as high or healthy. The ladies welcomed us with a song of praise, and I was able to say a few words and pray for the Lord’s on-going blessing.
Overall, this is a great example of a successful project that is helping hard working people in need to help themselves and meet their families’ needs. It is also a true partnership between the co-operative women, a local pastor, Fountain of Hope Foundation, and ZPT. Thanks were expressed to ZPT but the glory goes to God.
Chris Boyes’ concluding thoughts from his visit:
At the most basic level, my visit provided substantial evidence of how ZPT funds have been, and are being, used by our various partners. Far more encouraging, however, than simply carrying-out an accountability function, the time spent with James, Try, Gideon, the ToT men, and others served to demonstrate the great heart for people and the gospel our partners have, and the impact that our work together is having on individuals, communities and churches. This impact includes:
• Growth in knowledge and understanding among the men attending Training of Trainers
• Pastors and churches committed to gospel presentation and care for the needy
• People coming to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
• Sustainable community-led projects that are providing essential food and water
• Marginalised people being empowered to work together to take responsibility for meeting their families’ needs
• People in the most desperate need being kept alive and given hope
• Orphans and other young people learning skills that enable them to feed, clothe and educate themselves.
The country is in appalling state whether assessed in political, economic, social, or health terms, and we need to understand that so many of those we work with, or support are often having to make difficult decisions about how to meet their and their families’ needs in a hugely challenging and uncertain context. How much we need to pray that they will continue to be given wisdom, grace and strength as they navigate low and irregular incomes, massive price inflation, corruption and political pressure, failed health care provision, and worryingly low rainfall. I thank God for the ways in which He is using ZPT to serve the people and church in Zimbabwe and trust that this report serves as an encouragement to us all to press on. The needs are truly great and far, far beyond our small resources but vital gospel, kingdom-building work is being carried-out and God is being glorified.
Chris Boyes, January 2024
Makamure School water supply project
We are pleased to report that the Church at Beccles had a Christmas fundraising offering which has provided the necessary funds to pay for a pipe to be installed from an existing borehole one kilometre away to the school where it will be piped to taps for the school and also used to irrigate a new garden and orchard. They are confident that this will pave the way for the school to be able to recruit and retain qualified teachers which in turn raises the standard of education delivered. They expect to be able to grow food for the children on site which is both educational and means much better nutrition for the children in the area. The pipes, solar panels, pump, tank etc have all been paid for by Beccles church and the remarkable feat of digging a one kilometre trench for the pipe has been recently carried out by the people living in the community which obviously saves any cost for labour on this.
Zoom Pastors conference 7th Feb
Coming up soon is a one day Zoom conference organised for the Pastors in Gideon and Robert Chatindo’s area. This means a bit of an early start for Derek, Mark and Ollie to be ready at 7am to tie in with Zim time of 9am!
Derek is to speak on “The Beatitudes”, followed by Ollie on Daniel chapter 1 and Mark Drury on Philippians 2.
Donations can be made to our Account with CAF Bank