May 15, 2019
LTLA Friends,
Recently I have been reflecting on John 15 as I commit it to memory. Here is a prayer guide as I travel to Zimbabwe along with Madison, a veterinary student at Iowa State (ISU), and Matt, who spent the summer of 2016 in Zimbabwe. We will join the Life to Life Ministry team from the University of Central Florida, which is already in Chinhoyi:
15 May - Madison & I arrive in Chinhoyi where, like everywhere, Jesus is the true vine and the Father is the gardener. (Jn 15:1)
16 May - The Father has created us for fruitfulness and is committed to developing us in it. May all serving Him in Chinhoyi and everywhere experience it as we avail ourselves of Him. (Jn 15:2) There will be opportunities to engage with individuals in the community for evangelism and discipleship. Madison will be able to serve at a local veterinary clinic.
17 May - Thank you, Lord, for cleansing us through your word! (Jn 15:3) May those who need cleansing hear His word as we minister with the LTLA team among pre-school orphans, widows, the poor, and with college students.
18 May - Can you imagine that the Lord Jesus desires a relationship with us? Shouldn't we desire a relationship with Him? (Jn 15:4a) Those of us visiting will share about our relationship with Jesus at the the school-age youth Bible studies.
19 May - The fruitfulness that the Father created us for is directly related to our connection with Jesus. (Jn 15:4b) On this sabbath may we rest in our relationship with Christ to prepare us for more fruitfulness.
20 May - Christ is the vine, we are the branches. In Him we bear much fruit, apart from Him we accomplish nothing. (Jn 15:5) More opportunities today to serve pre-school orphans and interact with developing friendships. Another opportunity for Madison to serve at the veterinary clinic. Matt arrives to reconnect with Zimbabwean brothers and sisters in Christ he served with in 2016.
21 May - Walking away or never walking with Jesus is disastrous. (Jn 15:6) Those visiting will experience the opposite as they observe the rich time of fellowship in God's Word by the LTLA team on Tuesday mornings. They will have time with the Chosen Generation (young adult orphans) in the afternoon, as well as pick-up soccer.
22 May - The amazing part of the promise in Jn 15:7 is that our desires change and we ask for what God will gladly give. We will have another time of digging into God's Word with the LTLA team followed by time at Chinhoyi University of Technology students.
23 May - Fruit-bearing by followers of Christ is what delights God. (Jn 15:8) Continued opportunities to serve alongside the LTLA team. A final chance for Madison to serve with the local veterinarian whose assistant is eager to discuss the Bible as well.
24 May - We have the great blessing of being loved by God and by Christ Jesus. Let's stay grounded in it. (Jn 15:9) The UCF team remains serving with LTLA in Chinhoyi. Madison will serve in Harare until 29 May alongside two people with an early connection to Life to Life Africa, through the school on Jim Steele's farm where we built a school building. Today she will go to a dairy farm with Jesse Steele, Jim's grandson, who is a veterinarian.
25 May - Following Christ's example of obeying God's commands is how we stay grounded in His love. (Jn 15:10) The UCF team spend time with the Women & Men of Hope today as Shelton, Matt & I travel to Mzuzu, Malawi to meet Tyler, who was in Zimbabwe summer 2015 and again in the summer of 2016 with Matt.
26 May - Christ delights in sharing the completeness of His joy with us. (Jn 15:11) May we delight in His joy as we follow His example in obedience to God's commands.
27 May - Love one another as Christ has loved us, that is His command. (Jn 15:12) Today the UCF team is enjoying a safari experience along with some LTLA teammates. Those of us in Malawi are exploring Chitipa village where Tyler has lived for a year and a half with the Peace Corps. Madison will spend time in English conversations with students at the Millennial Academy, a school started by Edmond Mudzimu, who was discipled by Ron Shimkus while teaching at the school on Jim Steele's farm. Edmond passed along what he learned from Ron to a faithful, available, teachable young man named Arthur Nhau, now LTLA Director in Chinhoyi.
28 May - Jesus personified what he said in (Jn 15:13). The safari experience continues for the UCF team. Park, a zealous brother in Christ from Chitipa, joins our little team as we travel to southern Malawi to observe agricultural projects. Madison will serve with Edmond at his school if there is not a farm visit with Jesse Steele's veterinary work.
29 May - Friendship with Christ requires we follow His command. (Jn 15:14) Today Madison returns to the US, the UCF team continues ministry in Chinhoyi and the Malawi team connects with Chris Weaver of the Malawi Talent Fund in Zomba.
30 May - What a privilege we have to be called friends of Christ, and that he shares with us everything he has learned from the Father. (Jn 15:15) The Malawi team learns from and serves with Chris Weaver on the farm he is establishing to provide jobs and income to a local ministry.
31 May - Chosen by God to bear lasting fruit, that is who we are. (Jn 15:16) The LTLA team will send off the UCF team with a farewell gathering today. We are grateful for the lasting fruit that was generated by the shared experiences of all who served during this month in Zimbabwe. The Malawi team gets a tour of the Foundations for Farming training center in Blantyre where they will learn of the training program opportunities offered there in sustainable agriculture.
1 June - The UCF team begins their journey home to the US, as do Matt and Mike from Malawi. Shelton returns to Chinhoyi with fresh ideas for agricultural projects and business as mission exposure. Park returns to northern Malawi with the same, along with exposure to the Life to Life Africa vision.
Thank you for supporting us in prayer!
Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa
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