Itai describes her early life as “horrible.” “My parents divorced when I was young and I received very little guidance which led me to get pregnant and married by the age of nineteen. When my fourth child was born, my husband died and left me in a desperate situation needing rescuing. That is when I became a beneficiary of Life to Life Africa. I received food assistance and training in growing food for my family. Most importantly,” Itai continues, “through the ministry I learned about having a relationship with God. The Bible studies and individual spiritual mentoring I received changed my life. I am a new person and now I counsel others that God is the only one who can save and redeem us from all our problems.”
Itai was invited to join the LTLA team and has been faithfully serving the ministry since 2009. Ron Shimkus equipped Gogo Mildred to disciple Itai and the other ladies that comprised the LTLA Ambassadors. Now Itai, along with fellow team member, Kate, are discipling other widows who are in turn discipling others.
Itai (top left) and Kate (top right) have been discipling Mrs Bangira (top middle), Mrs Butau (middle 2nd from left), Mrs Mapiriyawo (middle 3rd from left) and Mrs Mashevedzanwa (front). And now Mrs Mapiriyawo is discipling Mrs Nyirenda (middle far left) and Mrs Butau is discipling Mrs Mabote (middle far right).
“I remember trying to sneak away when ‘Baba Donnell’ (Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, whose son is Donnell) would stop by to read the Bible with me and my brother. Thankfully he didn’t stop pursuing me, because his spiritual investment in my life and that of the other LTLA team members has really impacted my life.” Tinotenda went on to share, “Both of my parents passed away when I was young, so my siblings and I were raised by our grandmother. As a caregiver to orphans my grandmother received assistance from Life to Life Africa and we grandkids participated in the weekly youth Bible study. Through these Bible studies and the Bible reading sessions I placed my trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior.”
“The ministry continues to bless me as they have matched me with a sponsoring donor to help me pursue a college degree. This year the Lord opened the door for me to continue my education at Mutare Polytechnic where next year I will complete a national diploma in production engineering. It has been exciting to join Simba & Pamela in Mutare. (Simba & Pamela launched an LTLA ministry effort to college students in Mutare last year.) I live with them, so I am continuing to be discipled and Simba is coaching me as I lead a Bible study with classmates. As I have been discipled, I desire to share with others what I have received.”
Tinotenda (L) studies the Bible with Tinashe, Lucky & Takudzwa.
It is encouraging to share with you what God has done through Life to Life Africa in the lives of Itai and Tinotenda. Your faithful prayer and financial support have made this possible. As the ministry continues to grow, we are finishing this year with limited funds. Would you prayerfully consider helping us start 2026 on strong financial footing with a special gift or commit to begin or increase monthly/quarterly donations?
To donate, you can send checks payable to:
Life to Life Ministries (please write "Africa" in the memo line) PMB 344 10151 University Blvd Orlando, FL 32817
You may also initiate a Bill Pay donation and make it recurring if you wish through your bank. Please also make the payment to Life to Life Ministries (writing "Africa" in the memo line) and have your bank mail it to the address listed above.
Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can partner with us and help us continue rescuing and pursuing orphans and widows, young and old, children and young adults, men and women. All for Christ's kingdom and glory.
Mike Sulc Life to Life Ministries, Africa Director
The Life to Life Africa team and I wish your family a joyous Thanksgiving! We are certainly grateful for your partnership with us in carrying the great news of Jesus to young and old in Chinhoyi and now also in Mutare, Zimbabwe. A common prayer I hear in Zim is thanking God for the gift of every breath we take. With that perspective, it is appropriate to live with thankful hearts for God creating us and for his desire to be in relationship with us.
On my recent trip, it was encouraging to hear the children who live next to the landfill singing impromptu on the way back from the Children of Hope Bible Study. (see below) Their response after spending time learning about a relationship with Jesus was one of joy in song. They were singing: "Do not be worried or cry, for I am with you and I will lead you."
Children singing on the way home after the LTLA Children of Hope Bible Study.
"I have to guard my heart from all kinds of evil for it is the source of good and bad intentions." This was the key lesson from Lucy, a student from Mutare, who attended the Life to Life Student and Alumni Conference. She was one of 45 students and alumni who gathered at Hunnington Retreat Center outside of Chinhoyi.
In sharing about what she learned, she referenced the conference theme, "In His Steps," taken from 1 Peter 2:19-23. Students were encouraged to remember that we can follow the example of Christ in resisting temptation. As a point of application, Lucy noted from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God provides a way out of temptation, just as he did for Jesus when tempted by the devil. She also was encouraged that when we do fall into sin, God is willing to forgive us as we confess and repent of our sins. As a next step, she wants to get grounded in God's word so she can use scripture to resist temptation like Jesus.
Pray with us that the conference will continue to bear fruit in Lucy's life and that of the others who attended. May the impact extend beyond these students into the lives of their friends as they follow in Christ's steps.
Below are photos from the conference as well as from the recent corn plot training the LTLA Community Ministry team undertook with families we serve.
Thank you for your support in prayer and finances that sustain our ministry efforts in Zimbabwe!
Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa
LTL Student & Alumni Conference group photo.
Mutare students at the conference. Lucy is the second from the right.
Leo, an alumni, served as the MC for the conference.
Tinotenda, fruit of our high school ministry in Chinhoyi, and now a student at Mutare Polytechnic led the evangelism workshop at the conference.
Saturday evening formal meal at the conference.
Mr. Lunga leading the theory portion of the corn plot training.
Brian leading the practical portion of the corn plot training.
