But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair.

2 Corinthians 4:7-8

Over the years we have often reported on famine and dire economic conditions, now it seems to be one continuous crisis, as our text above says— our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters are definitely hard pressed on every side! Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse they are hit with a new low such as last months Zim dollar devaluation of 44% . Zimbabweans are peace loving, if this were to happen in Europe there would be riots!

In this report we will be sharing concerns, prayer requests, updates, some of the material we are simply passing on as it has come to us in their own words which will give you a picture of the ongoing needs but also the tremendous gratitude that is conveyed back.

Training of Trainers

We were told that ninety-nine people were in attendance.

Next May a UK team, comprising of Ollie Land, Mark Drury and Tom Fenning, plan to do an in-person conference in Bulawayo with the same two groups of men and preparations are already underway. We have decided to call the conference EQUIP – A Day Conference to Equip Pastors to Correctly Handle the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2 v15).

After the conference in Bulawayo, the UK team plans to travel to Lasting Impressions for the Training of Trainers’ week. By the time this newsletter has gone to print we will almost certainly have organised another Zoom Conference with Robert and Gideon’s men for February 2025. The planned speakers for this are Derek French, Ollie Land and Ray Pountney.

We are so encouraged by the way the work of helping to train and equip pastors to preach the word of God has grown in the last few years and we give thanks to God for this.

Famine relief and support for farming

Gideon and Jennifer – Fountain of Hope

The following is from Gideon’s most recent report dated October 28th, 2024 which was bringing feedback from a meeting with Chivi District Council:

Water is undoubtedly going a long way in improving the quality of life in the district as some schools like Makamure and Mandiva can now run their gardens and provide Agricultural lessons to their students. The water projects done by Fountain of Hope are by far unlocking potential in this dry poor district of Chivi. Some communities like Makamure which used to struggle with the lack of clean and safe water for drinking are doing great by utilizing the water they have to run viable gardens even during this drought year. The council team therefore appealed to Fountain of Hope to keep on doing this work of giving communities and schools water especially those communities and schools that are in very remote parts of the district.

Apart from the water, the council also appreciated Fountain of Hope for all the other projects that are being run in the district to alleviate poverty. These projects include training farmers to practice conservation farming, food relief program, school feeding program (Makamure school), the building of Rungai Clinic, running psycho-social support programs for orphans and vulnerable children, skills training for out-of school youth, and Pastors’ conferences. It was a blessing to hear one of the council members mentioning that Fountain of Hope is also reducing Bible poverty in the district. Our passion is to make Jesus known in all downtrodden communities breaking the cycle of poverty.

We do this by demonstrating His love to the people through so many ways, one of which is giving them Bibles to read for themselves.

We are grateful to ZPT for partnering us in bringing hope and brightening the future of the vulnerable. Through the support from ZPT, we can boldly share the gospel of Jesus Christ, thereby bringing many into the kingdom of God. Rural Pastors are being equipped with tools to rightfully share the word of God.

Thank you ZPT for the amazing work you are doing, may the Lord richly bless you.

Gideon and Jennifer

Bibles

We have been talking together about how we can get more bibles through to where they are needed. In the short term we have allocated $1500 to divide up between Robert, Gideon, James and Trymore to purchase a supply. We are talking to The Trinitarian Bible Society about a substantial grant of Ndbele and Shona bibles from them which will make an impact, but we are seeking a more streamlined way of channelling these bibles through, as last time it was quite administratively burdensome and in spite of the TBS getting them into Zimbabwe without cost to ZPT, still incurring unreasonable customs charges.

Just as there is a shortage of physical food in Zimbabwe so there is also a shortage of the bread of life, it is our task to try and meet both needs. Two quotes below from recent WhatsApp conversations illustrate the point:

I have a men’s conference which kicked off tonight and many men had no bibles.

Trymore – 18 October 2024

Thank you so much for speaking on behalf of people with no Bibles. Yesterday I went to preach in one of the rural Churches outside Bulawayo and I was actually shocked to find out that there was only one Bible for the whole congregation.

Gideon – 21 October 2024

This is an area which churches and supporters may wish to consider supporting, Shona and Ndbele Bibles cost between $10 and $20 US dollars to buy locally in the shops depending on the size and quality. £15 at current exchange rates works converts to nearly $20 US dollars, so would be a good figure to aim for per bible sponsored, and every bible bought will make a big difference to a Christian or Christian family in Zimbabwe. Please join us in praying that in various ways we can increase the supply of bibles for our brothers and sisters in this vital area.

James Kambudzi – Tariro Yeupenyu – (Hope for Life) Mount Darwin area

The following are excerpts from James recent reports in his own words

Water

Let me start by appreciating the water that we have. The borehole has plenty of water and it is proving to sustain the community garden, the community itself, and the TY animals, as well as the community animals too. 

At first we had around 60 families of about 6 members each who were fetching (benefiting from this) water every day to use at their homes. Now there have been more boreholes drilled in the area and we are left with between 20 and 35 families still fetching water every day. The community that has a strong and reliable water source every day.

Goats

We currently we have 45 adult goats and 20 young ones in the TY herd. It is planned to distribute 20 goats to individual orphans, and an other 20 to 2 local churches.
Famine relief

38 families have received monthly food relief between April and October. Most of these families are looking after orphans or are headed by orphans themselves.

Community Field
15 families have been involved in a project to grow cabbages over recent months. When harvesting we put the cabbages on the ground grade them and count them before loading in a hired lorry. It has charged us $250 taking the cab bages to Bindura market, then at the market we are charged $50 to be able to trade. We got back home with $3000 dollars after 2 trips for the 15 families to share. Each family was able to buy maize for the next 4-6 months.

James – Tariro Yeupenyu

James has requested we pray about the following ministry matters—(again in his own words):

• Continued unity of the committee Volunteers as they help in visiting orphans, and for the monitoring and evaluation visits to go well
• Care givers as they take care of the orphans
• The orphans themselves
• Our livestock to survive during this time of hunger
• Good rains and good harvest
• God’s help as we continue evangelizing the world
• A solution on taking our produce to the market
• A God-fearing person who can take over this work.
• Goat distribution
• Food distributions
• Trainings
• More Bibles and, if possible, even audio Bibles

James personal prayer requests:

• God’s direction
• Care of my children, their schooling and their health
• Help to play both father and mother roles fairly
• Strength for all the work
• My church ministry; I am seeing God working in my life
• Transport to be able to move around and make ministry visits.

Trymore and Bester – Community Development Centre Mount Darwin

They continue a program of famine relief, Caring for orphans—taking them through to livelihood skills training to prepare and equip them for independence in adulthood.

Bester

You may remember in our last newsletter we encouraged Trymore and Bester to seek proper diagnosis and treatment for suspected diabetes. A clinic in Harare has stabilised the condition and her health is improving. We are thankful for those who were moved to get on board with financing her ongoing treatment and Bester now has a small fridge and the equipment she needs to inject herself with insulin but we would ask for prayer that the doctors will be able to successfully treat the continuous pain she suffers in her legs from neuropathy, a common consequence of the damage caused by prolonged high blood pressure.

Widows

Juliet is keeping in regular contact with Agnes, Loveness, and Chipo via WhatsApp. The ongoing drought and dire economic conditions hit them hard but somehow they keep going.

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