God Hears - LTLA Update - February 2025

 

Greetings from rainy Zimbabwe, When arriving here last week, Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry team leader, informed me that the crops needed rain. Well, the Lord heard the prayers and has answered bountifully. We have had a lot of rain and we were blessed the other day with the reminder of God's faithfulness as a brilliant rainbow graced the sky over the Life to Life Africa Community Center as seen in the photo below.

Rainbow over the LTLA Community Center.

There was concern in Chinhoyi that the rains would miss this area as it seemed like the southern part of the country was getting all the rain. But God heard their cry and has provided timely rain. When it rains, there are even more power cuts which affects pumping water in the city. That is affecting our operations for the Critical Care Center ministry to preschool orphans.  Twice per week, we are transporting water in containers from our Community Center where we use a generator to pump water from our well when there is no electricity. These challenges are leading us to consider drilling a well at our Critical Care Center as well as installing solar power at our Community Center and our third ministry location where we serve the other side of town. With support from Hopevale Church, that location has a well and we have solar power at our Critical Care Center.

(L to R) Arthur, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, with Tatenda & Letwin, transferring water from containers on our truck to containers at our Critical Care Center.

The challenges are ever present in Zimbabwe, even in the midst of the blessings.. It causes the LTLA team to be dependent upon the Lord on a daily basis. The LTLA Community Ministry team begins and ends the week in prayer as seen in the photo below. There were two team members absent, Itai due to the death of her daughter-in-law from complications in delivering her first child and the other due to a bad bacterial infection on a finger. Unfortunately, these situations are common in Zimbabwe where medical care is poor. Thankfully the LTLA Clinic doctor caught the bad infection on Otillia's finger.

LTLA Community Ministry team praying yesterday.

You can join us in prayer during the month of March for two items. First is the Love Zimbabwe Festival that will be held in Chinhoyi April 3-6. Many churches in Chinhoyi are collaborating with this evangelistic event. LTLA will provide some discipleship training as churches prepare to follow-up those who respond to the Gospel. Would you pray for lasting fruit from this festival?

Marvelous (left), LTLA Training Ministry team member, helped with translation and participated in this evangelism demonstration at the Love Zimbabwe Festival evangelism & discipleship training.

Secondly, we have learned of an opportunity to share the Gospel with a Mapostori group from Mutare, where LTLA team members Simba & Pamela are ministering. Mapostori is the largest religious group in Zimbabwe. They mix traditional African religion with some Christian teaching, but they typically do not allow their members to read the Bible. It sounds like God's Spirit is moving in this group as an influential member has been impacted by the truth of Christ. Would you pray that the door for sharing the Gospel with this Mapostori group remains open and that the leaders would turn to Christ? If the leaders receive Christ, they will have a big influence upon the members. Thank you for praying with us to our God who hears, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Here are some additional photos:

Mr. Chigwida holding the first eggs from his hens with his wife and Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry team leader, along with him. He is retiring from serving with LTLA, so we have helped him establish an egg business to provide him retirement income.

The LTLA ladies continue with their sewing projects on Mondays. Shelton & Tinotenda's young daughter, Kunashe, in the foreground keeps everyone entertained with her jabering.

A full room of kids at the LTLA Critical Care Center.

Patricia busy cooking for the Critical Care children.

I was really encouraged by the interaction among the LTLA Chosen Generation group. These young people have good insights from God's Word.

There is a new batch of broiler chickens. The heat light was off due to a power outage, which is common when it rains. The frequent power outages have caused us to lose some of the chicks. We will try starting them inside a room in our triplex and put buckets with hot coals near their enclosure to keep them warm.

Mr. Lunga washing the feeders and waterers for the broiler chickens in preparation of new batches of chickens. We are planning to do batches of 50 every 2-3 weeks.

Unloading corn meal and cabbages for the LTLA food distribution.

The packed church for the Love Zimbabwe Festival evangelism and discipleship training.

Corn & Chicken Production - LTLA Update - January 2025

 

New Year Greetings! We are extremely grateful to everyone who made year end contributions to Life to Life Africa. Your support and that of our faithful monthly partners enables us to start another year of ministry among vulnerable people in Zimbabwe, where last year the inflation rate reached 635%, highest in the world. We ask for your continued prayers as we come alongside increasing numbers of hurting people who are struggling to survive with no hope in sight for an improved economy. Thankfully it appears like this year there is hope for a harvest of corn, the staple food. Last year the country experienced a severe drought, but there has been more rain so far this year, though erratic, and some farmers had to replant. With our new drip irrigation system, we have been able to ensure a good harvest of corn at our LTLA Community Center. The three plots for planting are filled with corn, as you can see in the photos below. We estimate that it will supply the corn meal needs for the LTLA Critical Care Center that feeds 30 pre-school orphans along with our team of 20 people for a year, as well as helping feed some of the batches of broiler chickens we are now raising.

From our first batch of 100 broiler chickens, we sold 60 and will use 12 for our ministry needs. We lost 28 but heard that some people lost half of their batches. There was a rush to produce day-old chicks in preparation for Christmas and it is believed that impacted the quality and health of the chickens. Our plan is now to begin with batches of 50 chickens every three weeks to ensure we have a steady supply and then increase the number as our market grows. We have purchased a large freezer where we will store chickens, as butchered and frozen chicken sells at a higher price. Most people purchase live chickens and butcher themselves. LTLA team member Tatenda, shown in the photo below, was our first customer buying two chickens. We sold the chickens for $6 each.

Tatenda holding the two broiler chickens he bought.

Freezer for storing butchered chickens.

Video of the broiler chickens nearing maturity and point of sale. Video Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/ehPoDXyh1q0

Thank you for your prayers for our corn and chicken production along with our ministry efforts among the vulnerable in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. By His grace, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Life Changing Investment - LTLA Update - December 2024

 

Dear LTLA Partners, Since Thanksgiving, I have been sharing with you words of gratitude for Life to Life Africa from those to whom we minister. I would like to share a few more words of gratitude for the impact that your support is having in the lives of the next generation in Zimbabwe. Through your prayers and financial investment lives are being changed.

Tambuzai Perego

My name is Tambuzai Perego. My husband and I have been blessed to be discipled by the Life to Life Ministry through our involvement in the Women and Men of Hope meetings. We are growing in our relationship with Christ which is helping our marriage. Due to our financial hardships, the ministry has also cared for our two children as they attend the (LTLA) Critical Care Center where they receive two meals each day and are taught about God. They are also prepared well to begin school and our older child is now attending first grade. We are grateful to Life to Life for helping our whole family. The following two young girls are part of our Children of Hope ministry to those who live near and make a living collecting recyclable materials from the landfill just outside Chinhoyi.

Janet Mutsago

My name is Janet Mutsago. I am so grateful for Life to Life because two years ago I was not going to school and now with the help of the ministry I have been attending school for two years. I can now read and write. The weekly Bible studies have helped me learn how to pray and talk with God. The lessons on forgiveness and obedience have really helped me with my anger issues. I am so glad to see the positive changes in my life.

Margaret Banda

My name is Margaret Banda, I am thankful that Life to Life is paying for my school fees so I can go to school. The Bible studies have taught me more about God and how to be obedient. I am most thankful that I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior at one of the Bible studies. Below are words expressed to me by Tinotenda Kakusa in a handwritten letter he gave me on my last trip to Zimbabwe. Tinotenda is an orphan to whom we have ministered since he was in high school. With the help of a sponsor, the ministry has supported him as he pursues his mechanical engineering degree. Next year he will attend the Mutare Polytechnic where he will help LTLA team member, Simba, launch a ministry on that campus.

Mike with Tinotenda Kakusa

"I am deeply grateful to Life to Life in spreading the Word of God in Zimbabwe and serving people in need here. The impact of the ministry extended to me as I gave my life to Christ and have been challenged to grow as a disciple of Christ. I now have the opportunity to continue my education and to spread the Gospel with others. The guidance and mentoring I have received has been invaluable. As I reflect on the impact of the ministry, I am reminded of the profound difference it has made. The investment has sparked a fire in us that burns brightly and compels us to share the Word with others. Remember that the labor in the Lord is not in vain. You are shaping lives, including mine, for eternal purposes. Keep shining God's light into our lives and keep in mind that we are committed to carrying the torch forward. Thank you again for sharing the beacon of hope with us, Jesus Christ." Yes, thank you for your partnership that enables us to share the great news of Jesus Christ and to help those in need carry the light of the Gospel forward in this dark world. Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Thankfulness for LTLA - December 2024

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, As we finish another year in which God has sustained the ministry efforts of Life to Life Africa through your prayers and financial contributions, we want to share with you words of thankfulness from those to whom we minister. You heard from the young generation in our Thanksgiving greeting so we want to share words of gratitude from the older men and women whom we serve in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.

Lina Mukuwo

My name is Lina Mukowo. I am a widow who cares for six grandchildren who lost their father. Life to Life Ministry helps me provide food for my grandchildren and has trained me in how to grow a plot of corn to supplement our food needs. My grandchildren and I are also receiving spiritual nourishment through the ministry as we are encouraged to grow in our faith in Jesus. I am grateful for the spiritual and physical support I am receiving through Life to Life Ministry.

Mr. Terekwani

My name is Murambiwa Tarekwani. I am grateful to those who give to Life to Life Ministry, because the support makes it possible for me to receive the medication I need as a stroke survivor. Through the ministry I am also encouraged spiritually through the Men of Hope meetings that I attend. Thank you for your support.

Linda Dutiro

My name is Linda Dutiro. I have been involved with the Life to Life Ministry Women of Hope meetings for some time now. The meetings and fellowship have helped me grow in my relationship with Christ. I am especially thankful for the discipleship follow-up meetings that I have with Life to Life team members which have really helped me in my walk with Christ. I am grateful for Life to Life Ministry and those who support such a noble cause. Thank you for your prayerful support of this ministry. Year-end gifts provide close to a third of our annual budget. If you have not contributed and would like to do so you can mail a check to: Life to Life Africa PMB 344 10151 University Blvd Orlando, FL 32817 For an online option, you can use "Bill Pay" from your online bank account. Typically your bank will mail a check as you provide the address for Life to Life Africa listed above but if they require the Life to Life Africa bank account and routing number please contact me for those details. If you have any other questions regarding financial contributions feel free to contact me. Grateful for your partnership! Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa 515-520-3607

Discipleship Impact - 2024 Newsletter

 

“I was going to divorce my husband,” Barbara Romeo shared with LTLA team members, Diana and Jane. She and her husband were struggling in their marriage, burdened by the stress of poverty. Diana and Jane live in her neighborhood and reached out to her as our ministry follows the model Christ established in sending out his disciples two by two. (Mark 6:7) The LTLA Community Ministry team goes out in pairs every Friday to meet with people. In January, Barbara made a decision to receive Christ when Diana and Jane shared a Gospel illustration with her on a Friday morning. Now they meet each week for a discipleship Bible study. Barbara attributes the saving of her marriage to giving her life to Christ and the discipleship she is receiving from Diana and Jane. She is so excited about her new life in Christ that she is sharing her testimony with her neighbors. One of her neighbors now attends the weekly Bible study but has not yet given her life to Christ, so Barbara invites us to pray for her. You may recall that LTLA team member, Diana, had surgery for cancer in April this year. Jane carried on meeting with Barbara and the other ladies in Diana’s absence, but Diana has rejoined them now that she has regained strength.

(L to R) Jane, Barbara & Diana

Among the young people in Chinhoyi, the LTLA Training Ministry team has also been faithful in discipling the next generation. Messiah is in his early twenties and he has been involved with LTLA since his first year of high school. LTLA team member, Zviko, has been discipling Messiah and calls him a “faithful, available and teachable” guy. He always has a smile even though life has been hard as he struggled to get the needed scores in order to go to college. LTLA assisted him in receiving tutoring to achieve the required scores. We are now sponsoring him as he pursues a degree in development studies at the Catholic University of Zimbabwe. Last month after attending the LTLA student & alumni conference, he was involved in helping a young lady, Blessing, pray to receive Christ.

Messiah

The other person involved in Blessing coming to Christ is Ivai, an alum of our ministry at Chinhoyi Univ of Technology. Ivai was discipled by Marvelous, a LTLA team member, initially via WhatsApp calls and messages during the pandemic. Once they were able to meet in person, they met weekly to continue encouraging each other in the Lord. She returned for the conference last month as an alumnus and helped with a workshop on our identity in Christ. At the conference she was challenged to share her faith without shame by a student’s devotional from Romans 1:16. That propelled her to share the Gospel with Blessing, a young lady who caught a ride in the van that was carrying Ivai, Messiah and others from the conference. Upon hearing the Gospel, Blessing was ready to pray to receive Christ but Ivai wasn't sure how to do that so Messiah offered to lead her in prayer.

Ivai and Marvelous

From what we read on Messiah’s shirt, the LTLA team has learned that, “We are stronger together.” Thank you for your partnership with us that makes us stronger together. We ask for your support as we seek to see the impact of Christ focused discipleship continue into next year.

To give you can send a check payable to: Life to Life Africa PMB 344 10151 University Blvd Orlando, FL 32817 For an online option, you can use "Bill Pay" from your online bank account. Here are the details you may need for sending money to the Life to Life Ministry bank account: For an online option, you can use "Bill Pay" from your online bank account. Typically your bank will mail a check as you provide the address for Life to Life Africa listed above but if they require the Life to Life Africa bank account and routing number please contact me for those details. If you have any other questions regarding financial contributions feel free to contact me. Grateful for your prayer and financial support! Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Happy Thanksgiving from LTLA!

 

Dear LTLA Friends, We at Life to Life Africa wish to extend our warm Thanksgiving greetings. Thank you for your support in prayer and finances of our efforts to share the love of God and disciple young and old among orphans, widows, the poor as well as college students in Zimbabwe! It is not only our team that are grateful but also those to whom we minister. Over the remaining weeks of this year, we will share how grateful young and old in Zimbabwe are for the ministry of Life to Life Africa. Today, we will share words of thankfulness from elementary and high school students who participate in the weekly Saturday youth LTLA meetings:

"My name is Ethan. I am 11 years old and I am in Grade 5. I would like to thank Life to Life for providing a place on Saturdays where I can spend time with friends playing games, memorizing verses like Philippians 4:4, 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice,' along with eating cookies and juice."

"My name is Kupakwashe. I am 12 years old and I am in Grade 6. I want to thank Life to Life for the opportunity to attend Bible study on Saturdays. It helps me alot and the teachers are lovely."

"My name is Mthulisi. I am 13 years old and I am in Grade 6. I would like to thank Life to Life for teaching us the Bible and for a place to play games and eat cookies and drink juice. I want to say thank you for helping us with school fees. Thank you for everything you do for us. THANK YOU LIFE TO LIFE!"

Here is a video of Amit, who is in her second year of high school.  Link:  https://youtube.com/shorts/wYAcBNZ2vic

Happy Thanksgiving! Mike Sulc for the LTLA Team

Pressing Forward - LTLA Update - November 2024

 

Thanksgiving Greetings, I would like to share with you through photos the encouraging news from my recent trip to Zimbabwe. God is at work through the efforts of the Life to Life Africa team in Chinhoyi and in Mutare. Your prayers and financial support are instrumental in the progress we are seeing as the LTLA team presses forward in advancing God's Kingdom. Thank you!!

Tatenda leading a lesson with the LTLA Youth Bible Study.

Shelton and Lunga, LTLA Community Ministry team members on the left, distribute corn plot inputs to people whose plots were inspected for readiness to plant. We thank the Lord as rains have been watering the land. Please pray for continued timely rains for the corn to grow this season. Last year Zimbabwe experienced a very bad drought which prevented people from harvesting what they needed to feed their families.

LTLA Sewing Group meets every Monday afternoon to fill the orders they are receiving from people in the community. The orders are helping build the group's sewing skills and the income is helping provide some ministry funds.

Brandon (left), a young man we have been discipling, is helping install a fence in preparation for having the dogs at the LTLA Community Center patrol the area around the broiler chicken coop which can be seen back to the right. The fence will keep the dogs out of the vegetable gardens where we are growing food for the ministry and for sale in the community.

Our first batch of broiler chicks. They will be ready for sale for all the Christmas celebrations in the community. This will be a year-round income project for the ministry as chicken is the primary source of protein in Zimbabwe.

I traveled to Mutare, the third largest city in Zimbabwe, where I visited Simba and Pamela. They have launched our ministry efforts among the college students at the five colleges and universities in that city. God has opened wide the doors for ministry at these schools, especially Manicaland State University where the administrators want to see the students impacted spiritually.

Pamela (far left) and Marvelous (far right) hosted these young ladies from Manicaland State University for a sleepover during our visit. They are some of the 30 students who are in Bible study. Marvelous accompanied me from Chinhoyi. She had spent a week in Mutare in June with a team from the US and she had met these girls last month at the LTLA Student & Alumni Conference.

Tinotenda, fruit from the LTLA Youth Ministry in Chinhoyi, also accompanied me to Mutare. He plans to enroll at Mutare Polytechnic, where he will continue his mechanical engineering studies and will help Simba launch a ministry to students on that campus.

Mike with Simba and Rev Paul Neshangwe. I had the privilege to meet Rev Paul Neshangwe who was instrumental in helping Ron Shimkus launch Life to Life Africa in Chinhoyi. He is now the pastor at the Presbyterian Church in Mutare where Simba and Pamela are becoming members. As we start ministering in Mutare we are very encouraged to have the support of Rev Paul, who is excited to reconnect with Life to Life Africa.

With a thankful heart to our Lord, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa