Zimbabwe

At Still Small Voice we are so aware of the great needs there are all over the world.

Each week we ourselves receive pleas for help from all sorts of organis- ations.

But God has placed Zimbabwe on our hearts by sending us out there physically.

They are not 'faceless' people - they are our brothers and sisters in Christ - AND THEY ARE IN NEED!

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a land locked country - so all goods have to arrive by either road or air, via the borders of one of her 4 neighbors.

Food and provisions have to be transported over large distances and in most areas there is now no food and no petrol.

Zambia

Mozambique

Botswana

South Africa

Zimbabwe is three times the size of the UK with about one sixth of the population.

It is rich in gold and mineral resources and has the second largest sub-Saharan steel works, plus coalfields boasting huge reserves of coal.

It is saddening to see the awful plight of many everyday folk. The majority of Zimbabweans live in the rural areas in mud huts or very low quality buildings.

Hwange

In August of 2007 Erika and I travelled to Zimbabwe for a month, after an invitation to minister at a church conference hosted by Hope of Life Ministries in Hwange.
After many months of preparation and supernatural blessing, we arrived there.Below is a copy of our newsletter detailing the events.
   God is still a God of miracles!

READ THE AMAZING STORY BELOW

 
  Still Small Voice Ministries Newsletter
   ZIMBABWE 2007 
 

Firstly: All praise, honour, glory and majesty to our wonderful Heavenly Father who led us to respond to His call and be part of an incredible adventure that led us halfway across the world, and demonstrated that Jesus truly is the same yesterday,today and forever.
Secondly: Our great thanks and blessing to everyone of you who contributed either with prayer or with financial help. We could not have done it without your obedience to the Spirit's leading. And we bring you special greetings, blessings and thanks from our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters.  

Victoria Falls photographed by Erika

How it all sarted: It all began in the spring about 3 years ago. At that time Erika and I were attending The Barn Christian Fellowship at Blaenporth - West Wales.
Bill Shuttleworth - one of the congregation - happened to read out a letter he had received from a Zimbabwean pastor he had met at bible college in Zimbabwe several years earlier.
The letter gave general details and prayer requests from 'Hope of Life Ministries' in Hwange - South West Zimbabwe. It also asked if brothers and sisters would be willing to come over and preach and teach.

At that time we had recently returned from 3 weeks in Egypt where we had been ministering in the Nile Delta area.
We prayed for the folk in Zimbabwe - but to be honest - at that time I felt no leading whatsoever. We were also scheduled to speak at a church in Malta later that same year- and this we subsequently did.
However in the Autumn, shortly after our return from Malta - Bill read out another letter from Pastor Bigboy Sibanda of 'Hope of Life Ministries'.
This time I felt as if something were gripping me in the pit of my stomach - and I just had a 'knowing' that God was calling us to go to Zimbabwe.

We started corresponding with Pastor Bigboy and were invited to come over and minister at their church conference in 2006. At that time however I was awaiting a triple heart by pass operation and had to decline. The timing just did not feel right.

Finally in November of 2006 I had a clear word from the Lord that we should go in 2007. My bypass was scheduled for 26th April, and the conference was in early August.
This meant that there would only be just over 12 weeks between my major heart surgery - and going out to Zimbabwe!
Also our son Joshua was getting married in June and I wanted to be able to take a full part in that.

I had peace about it all - but I must confess I was wondering just how God was going to make it all happen.
Then in early February, I had a phone call from the hospital telling me to come in the next day for my operation!
Almost before I had time to think about it - I was home with a newly repaired heart and time to recuperate for both my son's wedding and the trip to Zimbabwe! - God is so good!

We realised that we had to get our flights booked and take care of innoculations etc. We also had been given quite a list of things by pastor Bigboy, that the brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe needed.

Only 'problem' was - we had no money!