"People are losing hope," Arthur shared with me during my trip to Zimbabwe last month. He continued, "they are even losing hope in God" after praying for many years that God would bring them relief from their politically and economically generated hardships. The LTLA team is persevering, but I can tell that they are weary. It was hard for me to know how to encourage them.
The overall inflation rate has climbed steadily this year, reaching 353% in September with food prices increasing 480%. The doctors are on strike due to the lack of pay increases and the poor working conditions where there are no medicines or basic supplies at the hospitals. As a result, people are afraid of getting sick as they see others dying for lack of care. While I was there our staff member Shelton sat in line for 10.5 hours to refuel our truck at the only gas station in town with fuel. "If we have another drought this year, we will be finished," stated Mr Chigwida, an LTLA team member. The temperatures reached 100°F while I was there, with no clouds in the skies. From an earthly perspective, it is certainly a hopeless situation.
The Lord helped me encourage the team by reminding them of God's promises and glimpses of what awaits us when His Kingdom is fully established upon Christ's return. Please do continue praying for the LTLA team as they labor for the Lord in very difficult circumstances. Pray Galatians 6:9, that they would not "become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." I leave you with photos of the LTLA children and youth groups drawing pictures and writing notes of encouragement to kids and young people in the US. I also leave you with the passage I shared with the LTLA team that describes what awaits us upon Christ's return.
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| Youth Bible Study children showing pictures they drew for friends in the US. |
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| High School Bible Study group writing notes of encouragement to friends in the US. |
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." (Revelation 21:1-6)
Praise be to God!
Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa
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