Survival & Flourishing - LTLA Update - October 2024

 

Dear LTLA Friends, When you receive this email, I will be en route to Zimbabwe. I covet your prayers as I meet with Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, and the team leaders. We are asking the Lord to guide us as we evaluate this past year and plan for the future. As we make plans, may we delight in the Lord and see the Lord establish our steps to accomplish his purposes through Life to Life Africa. (Psalm 37:23; Proverbs 16:9 & 19:21) God created us to depend on him. Our survival and flourishing spiritually as well as physically require us to depend upon God for his redeeming work in our lives. My report from Zimbabwe this month speaks of how the LTLA team is influencing the next generation to trust in the Lord for their spiritual and physical flourishing. Each October, the LTLA Training Ministry team invites students and alumni for a weekend conference where they are encouraged as followers and laborers for the Lord. Typically they invite a friend of the ministry who has a vibrant walk with the Lord to provide messages. This year due to a late change in conference dates the invited speaker was not able to attend, so the LTLA team took turns as speakers along with the help of Pastor Clarence, who married former LTLA team member, Anna.  Arthur reports that it was a good developmental experience for the team members he has been training. They also utilized alumni from our student ministry to help lead workshops along with students sharing testimonies and devotionals. You will hear a story from the conference in our year-end letter later this month. It is encouraging to see the fruit of our discipleship efforts among those to whom we are ministering.

LTLA Student and Alumni Conference group photo.

Simba and Pamela brought eight students from Mutare for the conference. God is at work through their pioneering efforts!

I also want to share about the individual efforts that the LTLA team members are making to model trusting the Lord to survive and flourish in the midst of the economic challenges in Zimbabwe. The video below shows Brian with his wife, Privilege, working in their vegetable garden where Brian is applying the Biblically practical principles we teach in growing food. He has established a large garden so he can provide income from vegetable sales and food for his family.  On this trip I am taking a tuft gun to Prestege who has been inspired by the sewing training she received in recent months. She is excited about her efforts in rug making and sees this as an opportunity to provide extra income for her family. These are just two efforts that I have heard about in the last month from LTLA team members. Would you pray for Brian and Prestege in their efforts to model trusting the Lord in their efforts to provide for their families? Pray with us as we continue to help people survive and flourish as they, "trust in the Lord with all their heart." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Brian and Privilege working in their garden. Link:  https://youtube.com/shorts/pEIaBZYUwMQ?feature=shared

Prestege made this rug for her daughter while she was pregnant.

Trusting in the Lord to survive and flourish, Mike Sulc  Life to Life Africa

Reproducing - LTLA Update Sept 2024

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, Last month, Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, shared about spiritual fruitfulness in the Life to Life Africa ministry. This month we will hear about reproducing efforts. Yesterday I received an update from Shelton Nhundu, LTLA Community Ministry Team Leader, which displays the heart and faithfulness of the LTLA team in their desire to see God's Kingdom grow in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.  One of our ministry efforts is to train people in sustainable farming practices and the corresponding spiritual principles of faithful stewardship. Twelve years ago, our team received this training from Foundations for Farming, a Christ-centered organization founded in Zimbabwe. Our team has been implementing this training in their own farming efforts and at our LTLA Community Center. They have been reproducing this training every year for people in the Chinhoyi community. This past month we trained 30 different family members, of which 20 were receiving the training for the first time. The worst drought in 20 years this past season motivated these 20 new families and the 10 other families who came for a refresher. They harvested nothing this year and wanted to learn how to get a harvest even in the midst of a drought. Pray with us that they will apply the training and be led to faith in Christ as they learn the spiritual principles of faithful stewardship.

Mr. Lunga, LTLA team member, leading the training for the 30 family members.

The ladies on the LTLA team were trained in sewing by ladies from the Hopevale Church team that visited in July. As you will see in the two videos below, the LTLA ladies are putting into practice the training. The prayer is that as they become more proficient in their sewing skill they will be able to reproduce the sewing training with other ladies in the community. As you can hear from the video, there is a natural opportunity for conversation while sewing, which can lead to spiritual discussions. Pray for that to happen in the near future even among the youth as we see the double blessing of providing skill training while having eternally impactful conversations.

LTLA Sewing Club update.

Gogo Sixpence models the wraparound skirt they have been making. Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YxRC1vH-R6o

Effective reproduction is happening in the LTLA vegetable gardens due to the drip irrigation systems that were installed in July. We are growing off season corn which can be sold for a good profit. We thank Hopevale Church and their team for helping make the drip irrigation systems a reality, along with the 500 capacity chicken coop. We plan to have broilers ready for sale in December in preparation for the Christmas celebration demand. We will plan to do trainings in gardening and broiler production in the coming years. Pray with us for God's blessings on these income generating and training efforts.

Off season corn growing at the LTLA Community Center.

The LTLA Community Ministry team has been discipling a good number of women for a number of years. The team asks for your prayers as they challenge these women to reproduce their lives spiritually in keeping with 2 Timothy 2:2. The men on the team ask for your prayers as they consider ways to reach, disciple, and equip men in the community to reproduce their lives spiritually. It is challenging to reach men who are struggling to meet the demands of their families and in a lot of cases who have given up due to the limited opportunities in a poor economy. Thank you for supporting our efforts to see God's Kingdom grow in Zimbabwe! Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Fruitfulness - LTLA Update - August 2024

 

Greetings LTLA Friends,   August proved to be a fruitful month for the LTLA team in Zimbabwe. Three ladies received Christ through our Women of Hope ministry and Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry team leader, led three boys from his street to Christ. LTLA Community Ministry team members, Itai, Gogo Mildred and Patricia shared the Gospel with Janeffer, Pamela and Ustina respectively while Shelton shared with Dennis, Munyaradzi and Simba. Join us in praying for our team members as they meet with these new believers to help establish them in their faith in Christ.   LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, Arthur Nhau, traveled with LTLA Training Ministry team members, Zviko and Tatenda, to Mutare where they encouraged fellow team members Simba and Pamela in their efforts to launch a ministry to college students. Here is a report from Arthur on their visit:   Our trip to Mutare was fun-filled and exciting to see God at work through Simba and Pamela. Their convictions to follow God in this pioneering work are being challenged and deepened as they trust the Lord to see their lives multiplied spiritually. They are putting into practice what the Lord has taught them and they are continuing to learn as they take steps of trusting and obeying God. Philippians 1:3-6 comes to my mind as I think of my investment in Simba's life. It is truly a joy to see the Lord ministering through him in Mutare.   We had a day of prayer and asked the Lord to open a door for Simba and Pamela to have access to other institutions like Mutare Polytechnic and Mutare Teachers College. We were encouraged today to hear from Simba that he has been allowed to minister at Mutare Teachers College.

Simba sent this photo two days after our visit of his participation at Mutare Teachers College (MTC) with FOCUS, the recognized ministry to students at MTC and Mutare Polytechnic. He will minister to students at MTC and hopefully at Mutare Polytechnic through FOCUS.

(L to R) Zviko, Arthur, Donnell, Tatenda, Simba & Simba's friend Arthur who joined them for a day in prayer for the ministry efforts in Mutare. (Athur is Simba's college classmate who now lives and works in Mutare. Simba is encouraging him in his walk with the Lord.)

It was encouraging to take my son Donnell and daughter Daisy on the trip to let them observe my heart's desire to make Christ known. It was very encouraging to see Donnell's keen interest in how to share your faith with someone.

Donnell (far right) joined Zviko (in the middle) in meeting students at Manicaland State University.

Manicaland State University (MSU) is a 20 minute drive outside of Mutare and currently has no hostels (residence halls) for students. So to meet students we had to approach them in the open grounds, which is different from what we experience at Chinhoyi University of Technology where we meet students in hostels. We engaged students in relational evangelism and later introduced them to Simba. We met many students who expressed an interest in deepening their relationship with Christ. There is an open door at MSU as Simba has built a good relationship with the Chaplain and Dean of Students at the Manicaland State University (MSU) who have encouraged him to minister on campus.

Tatenda (right) sharing with a student at MSU.

Arthur (far right) meeting students at MSU.

It is exciting to observe the enthusiasm that Simba has in ministering to students in Mutare. The doors are open at MSU and now at Mutare Teachers College. Please pray for Simba and Pamela as they respond to these open doors. Simba also has family in that region and hopes to be an influence for Christ with them.

Simba and Pamela in downtown Mutare.

Our prayer is that Simba and Pamela will be a light to many in Mutare and the Manicaland Province. (Matthew 5:16). Serving our Lord, Arthur   Grateful for your partnership in this work of the Lord!   Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Persevering Love - LTLA Update - July 2024

 

Joyful Greetings Friends! My heart is full along with the Life to Life Africa team after the wonderful experience hosting the latest team from Hopevale Church. God richly blessed the time we had serving and learning together. I was greatly encouraged by the spirit of unity, love and perseverance exhibited by the Hopevale team. Thank you for your prayers for us, as much was accomplished for the advance of God's kingdom and for the glory of His Name. There were certainly travel challenges as the team arrived with none of their checked luggage and they were caught in the worldwide technology meltdown on their return home. By God's grace all twenty three bags arrived only two days late to bless the ministry with all the kind donations provided by the Hopevale community. Milwaukee Tool company contributed tools for the construction projects thanks to Roy, Hopevale team member. We thank him for appealing to them for a generous donation of cordless drills and saws. God sustained the team with much needed patience on their return as it took four additional days to get all eleven team members home. The team certainly displayed persevering love throughout the entire trip. As you will see in the photos and videos below there was a lot of activity and much was accomplished. Our prayer and belief is that there will be eternal impact from the interactions that took place. We experienced the blessing of co-laboring in God's kingdom work! Joyfully in Him, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Construction Projects

Clarence (second from right), friend of LTLA in Zimbabwe with drip irrigation experience, oriented and demonstrated how to install the drip irrigation system.

Hopevale team members Kevin, Adeline (first and second from left) and Roy (fourth from left) joined Erasmus and Lunga the first few days digging the trench for the drip irrigation system.

(L to R) Harold, Roy and Kevin found where to connect our new water tank to our well water in order to provide water for the drip irrigation system.

Kevin (right) working with Brian (LTLA team member) to install the drip line connections.

Drip irrigation system in operation. Timely watering will help the vegetable production which will provide income for LTLA. Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/pperJHm4D0c

Zviko (LTLA team member) painting chicken coop metal with Kevin.

Adeline put her welding training to work on the chicken coop.

Team effort on the chicken coop with Zviko and Adeline welding while Kevin, Roy and others painted.

Completed chicken coop that can house 500 broiler chickens which will be an income source for LTLA.

Sewing Training

There were 8 sewing training sessions held by the Hopevale sewing team during the week.

Sewing training in action. Near is Tracy, Hopevale team member, with Letwin while Michelle, another Hopevale team member, encourages Itai and Patricia.

The fashion show at the end of the week with the LTLA ladies wearing the dresses they made. Hopevale sewing team members Michelle & Tracy (left) and Liz & Peggy (right)  joined them

Repairs

Kevin and Roy installed two new doors for the triplex building at the LTLA Community Center.

Harold repaired doors at Gogo Mildred's home. She housed six Hopevale team members in her home.

Shelton and Roy with the donated Milwaukee tools.

Ministry Activities

A morning devotional time for Hopevale & LTLA ladies.

A sharing time of life lessons for the Hopevale & LTLA men.

Adeline (left) teaching a lesson at the LTLA Critical Care Center as Tsungai (center), Critical Care Center director, and Peggy (right) look on.

The LTLA Critical Care Center children enjoyed time with all the "aunties" from Hopevale. Peggy on the left and Ronda on the right.

Jean shared her testimony at the LTLA Women of Hope meeting and at church on Sunday morning.

Roy, Kevin and Harold shared what God has been teaching them with the LTLA Men of Hope.

Ronda and Peggy distributed reading glasses at the LTLA Women of Hope meeting.

Alison (left) and Michelle (right) helped with the LTLA Children of Hope meeting.

Dr. Tafadzwa & the two nurses at the local clinic gratefully received all the medical supplies provided by Hopevale Church.

Ronda, Peggy & Jean (L to R) encouraging Diana, LTLA team member who is recovering from cancer treatments.

The LTLA Chosen Generation group singing praises to the Lord prior to hearing Adeline's testimony.

Final group photo of the Hopevale & LTLA teams.

Arriving in Zimbabwe - LTLA Prayer Bulletin - July 2024

Praying Friends,

I arrive today in Zimbabwe where next week we will welcome a team from Hopevale Church. Your prayers are needed as we prepare to host this team of twelve individuals which is the largest group that has ever come to serve with us. We look forward to what God is going to do!

The next two days will be spent collecting materials for a drip irrigation system and a chicken coop for 500 broilers that four Hopevale team members will help install and construct. The concrete slab and columns for the coop are being poured this week. Sewing machines that were sent in 2013 are being prepared for use and local material is being purchased for the dresses and shirts to be sewn. Four ladies from Hopevale will provide sewing lessons for LTLA ladies with the vision they will become skilled seamstresses who can train ladies in the community. Hopevale team members will also serve with the LTLA team in the various ministry activities that happen each day. They will serve with us July 10-18. Join us in praying for God's blessing on this opportunity to co-labor together. 

Thank you for your prayers for the recent Navigator alumni team that served in Mutare and Chinhoyi. They were able to make close to 20 new student contacts for Simba & Pamela who serve in Mutare with LTLA. Their connections with new students was a big boost to the launching of ministry in Mutare. In Chinhoyi, they had the opportunity to encourage the LTLA team and the young people in the ministry to walk with the Lord. Isaac & Rachel Meyerholz, who led this team, shared that the trip stretched the team members to consider thinking missionally about the opportunities where they live and work.

Diana has completed her cancer treatments, for which she is grateful. Continue to pray with us that God would use the treatments to have eliminated cancer in her body. Thank you for standing with us in praise of what God is doing and in prayer for all that will be happening in the coming days.

Gratefully in Him,

Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

Typical Friday - LTLA Update - June 2024

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, On this Friday morning, I wanted to share with you the typical activities that the Life to Life Africa Community Ministry team will engage in today. I thought sharing their activities will help you know how to pray on a Friday for the LTLA Community Ministry team. As you will see they are busy on Fridays. The Critical Care Center team of Tsungai, Brian, & Letwin welcomes the 30 preschool orphans at 8am as they prepare to feed them a breakfast and a lunch before dismissing them at 1pm. They will engage in spiritual and academic development activities with the children before they take a nap and are sent home with their caregivers, which in a lot of cases, is a grandparent. We begin our investment into these children as preschoolers and seek to continue through their high school years and beyond. I remember meeting Victor at the Critical Care Center on my first trip to Chinhoyi in 2010. Now 14 years later, he is part of our young adult group, the Chosen Generation, where he is encouraged to experience Jesus guiding him as he transitions to life as an adult.

Tsungai with the Critical Care Center pre-school orphans.

The remainder of the Community Ministry team meet on Friday mornings and go out "two by two" meeting with people individually or in small groups to share the Gospel or to follow-up in discipleship with believers. These meetings are the foundation of our ministry as the people we serve experience individual intentional attention from LTLA team members where they are encouraged to receive, believe, and walk with Jesus in their lives. Below you will see some photos of these meetings:

Mr Lunga (first on the left taking this selfie) pairs up with Mr Chigwida to meet with men who attend the Men of Hope meetings on Saturdays.

Mr. Chigwida (far right) with the other men that he and Mr. Lunga meet with on Friday mornings.

Itai (left) pairs up with Kate (right) to meet with ladies. Here they are meeting with Elizabeth.

Itai (left) is meeting with Dorothy in this photo.

After spending Friday mornings ministering to young and older people, the LTLA Community Ministry team eats lunch together at Mildred Nhau's restaurant. Mildred's husband, Arthur, directs LTLA in Zimbabwe. After lunch the team engages in a time of prayer and ministry training sessions along with some gardening at the LTLA Community Ministry Center.

LTLA Community team members eating lunch at Ma D's (Mildred Nhau's) restaurant. (This photo is from July 2022 and you will notice that Ronda & Pete, from Hopevale Church, were visiting. Hopevale is returning with a team of 12 on July 8!)

Itai tending to broccoli at the LTLA Community Center.

Thank you for letting me share a typical Friday in Chinhoyi for the LTLA Community Ministry team. It is our prayer that God continues to do extraordinary things in the lives of people, young and old, through the faithful work of the LTLA team members. Ordinary people serving the extraordinary God, Mike Sulc for the Life to Life Africa team