Merry Christmas!

We worship with you our good and faithful Heavenly Father who fulfilled the following promise over two thousand years ago: 

 

    For to us a child is born, 

    to us a son is given; 

    and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 

    and his name shall be called 

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, 

    Everlasting Father, 

    Prince of Peace. 

 

    Of the increase of his government and of peace 

    there will be no end, 

    on the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

    to establish it and to uphold it 

    with justice and with righteousness 

    from this time forth and forevermore. 

    The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. 

                                                                 Isaiah 9:6-7 

 

The Life to Life Africa team wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Christ-filled New Year!

Back row (L to R) Faith, Patricia, Itai, Mildred, Shelton, Mr. Chigwida, Otillia, Letwin, Stella, Arthur & Zviko. Middle row (L to R) Gogo Mildred, Kate, Lunga, Prestege & Marvelous. Front row (L to R) Tatenda, Tsungai & Brian. (Jane & Diana were not present as they were recovering from Covid-19 symptoms. We give thanks to God for mild symptoms and for their full recovery!)

Mike joining the team for a selfie photo.

 

 

New Chapters

Life to Life Africa is embarking on a new chapter with a refocusing of our ministry efforts to help accomplish our mission. Shelton, an LTLA team member, has also embarked on a new chapter in his life as he married Tinotenda on December 5th. Thank you for your prayers for my trip, which enabled me to be part of the launching of these new chapters. I am grateful to God for his protection as I remained virus-free throughout the entire trip. 

Each year during my October/November trip, the LTLA leadership team evaluates the past year and develops plans for the next year. On this trip Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Chinhoyi, shared that God has been putting on his heart to focus on training laborers in keeping with his ministry calling verse of 2 Timothy 2:2. He desires to follow in the footsteps of Uncle Ron Shimkus, who provided "on the job" training in his initial years of ministry, as well as Uncle Musa Yashim from whom he received disciple making training in Nigeria during 2013 & 2014. 

At the heart of the mission and vision of Life to Life Africa is Christ's command to "Go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19), and the strategy of spiritual multiplication set forth by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 2:2. We are excited to launch Arthur and his wife, Mildred, in this renewed focus on training disciples to become disciple makers, with a vision to see "the least becoming a thousand" (Isaiah 60:22). They will lead the discipleship training ministry as they focus on developing five or six trainees over the next few years. Arthur will share more about his training plans in next month's update. 

With Arthur focusing on training, we have asked Shelton Nhundu and "Gogo" (Grandmother) Mildred Musapuri to lead the LTLA community ministry efforts, which will seek to be an example of how a discipling movement can transform the lives of multiple generations in a community. The trainees in the training ministry will be involved in continuing this discipling movement along with other LTLA team members. Shelton and Gogo Mildred, along with other team members, are currently evaluating all the current LTLA ministry activities. They are assessing how effective these activities have been at accomplishing our mission to "seek, love & care for those with spiritual and physical needs, lead them to Christ, disciple them to maturity in Christ and train them to lead healthy & productive lives so that they can seek, love, care for, lead to Christ, disciple and train others." Once the evaluations have been conducted they will develop plans that will seek to effectively accomplish our mission. 

Would you pray with us as we seek the Lord to establish our steps (Proverbs 16:9) as we make plans for the training and community ministries of Life to Life Africa? We are grateful for your prayer and financial support, which sustain our ministry efforts! 

 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

Here are photos from my recent trip: 

 

Mike sharing with the team about the new Training Ministry & Community Ministry focus for LTLA.

Chosen Generation meeting (young adult ministry).

LTLA team members planting corn and tending tomatoes at the Community Center. We give praise to God for the good rains that have been watering the soil!

LTLA team members (with Mike helping) digging rows for planting soy beans.

(L to R) Shelton, Zviko, & Mike enjoying a Thanksgiving meal prepared by Zviko. I enjoyed staying at the Community Center with these dear brothers. They kept me very well fed. I was impressed by the cooking skills of these bachelors, though Shelton can no longer call himself a bachelor.

Tinotenda (from the Chosen Generation ministry) cutting Shelton's hair the day before the wedding. Tinotenda means "we are thankful" and is both a male and female name.

Loading lobola (bride price) groceries into the van. Arthur standing outside the van with Zviko inside to check the inventory list.

Shelton and Tinotenda Nhundu.

Mike with Shelton and Tinotenda.

 

 

Well Done, Good & Faithful Servants

Over the past few months the LTLA extended family has lost some dear saints in the Lord. We grieve the loss of their physical presence with us but we rejoice that they are at home with the Lord. In the midst of these fearful days, it is a great comfort to know Christ has prepared a glorious place for those who trust in Him. (John 14:1-2) 

In August Gregg Reisinger, father-in-law to Rebecca (Shimkus), joined the church triumphant after battling Covid-19. He was a good steward of horses and cattle, two of God's creatures that he loved. His horse farm was one of the largest in the state of Iowa, where he raised more than 1700 American Paint Horses, American Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. He had a kind listening ear and was ready to provide expert advice in horsemanship as well as life lessons he learned in his 75 years. 

You will be receiving a letter that details the impact that Gogo (Grandmother) Annie had in Chinhoyi after being discipled through Life to Life Africa. She passed away in September in her mid sixties due to heart trouble. I look forward to meeting her in heaven. 

On October 3 (my father's birthday) my mother, Kay Sulc, passed away at the age of 91. She served in ministry with my father from the time they finished at Columbia Bible College until they retired from 20 years as missionaries in Brazil and 18 years in pastoral ministry in the US. Her cheerful disposition and perseverance after suffering a brain aneurysm 23 years ago then a year later losing her husband speaks to her deep faith in God and His sustaining grace. She deeply impacted my life and I look forward to introducing you to her in heaven. 

Lastly, I would like to honor Rex Rector who launched the construction work of the Life to Life Africa Community Center. He and his wife Debbie spent three months in Chinhoyi in early 2012. They were joined for a month by their son Caleb and his wife Rebekah. Rex went to be with his Lord on November 5 after suffering a stroke. Rex literally laid the foundation of a building where young men are now residing and getting training in ministry. In that building children have heard the good news of Jesus and widows gather to be trained in sewing. It has housed several teams from the US who have traveled to co-labor with the LTLA team. Needless to say Life to Life Africa is grateful for the contribution made by Rex Rector and his family. Our thoughts and prayers for God's comfort are with Debbie and her family as they grieve his loss.

In memory of "Uncle" Rex, Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Chinhoyi, has put together the following thoughts and photos: 

 

This verse sums up the love and kindness we all experienced when Uncle Rex and his family visited us in 2012: "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10 (NIV) 

 Uncle Rex came to Chinhoyi to a bushy area that was to become our ministry centre and began laying the foundation to what would be the flats [apartments] that have accommodated many, including university students from neigboring Chinhoyi University of Technology.

 

Uncle Rex recruited a lot of guys who were unemployed due to the economic hardships we were going through at that moment and brought joy to many. 

 

 

After the completion of the flats, we started using them for ministry meetings and training, as well as accommodating college students of which some went on to commit their life in serving the Lord. (Zviko, in light blue T-shirt in the photo below, is ministering with Life to Life and using his Accounting degree to steward the ministry finances.) 

 

 

MEMORIES 

• I worked with Uncle Rex and enjoyed his experience that he imparted on us. He was a very humble man who left the comfort of his country to be with us here.  - Cecil 
• I hosted them at my house and they were the kindest and most humble people I have met. They could have stayed in a hotel.He also helped by taking the responsibility of paying fees for Prince, as I was looking after him.  - T Shambare 
• After my husband died, he left our house not finished and Uncle Rex and Auntie Debbie helped me finish it. I will forever be grateful.  - Gogo Mildred 
• When my parents died and I thought that was the end of life not knowing that God would send his servants from far away to assist me in a way that I never dreamt. Uncle Rex helped me to make the decision of having Christ as my personal Savior and he also sent me to school and I graduated and now I am married and have a child, a life I never dreamt of.  - Prince 
•  He came at a time when our country was really struggling economically and I was able to be employed during a difficult time which made things better for me.  - Sifelani 
• I can’t say much but after years of sleeping on the floor, uncle Rex bought me a bed, not even my relatives could do that but only a brother in Christ. Uncle Rex also led me Christ, and now I have a relationship with Jesus as my Lord.  - Willard 
• The short time we had together, Uncle Rex taught me about parenting and how to balance ministry and family, he blessed us with a car to generate income and support our ministry.  - Arthur & Mildred 

 

 

Like these faithful servants, "let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." (Hebrews 12:1) 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa

 

 

Still Trusting God

 

"It has been good to reconnect in person with those to whom we have been ministering," reported Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. "They continue to place their trust in God even though their difficult lives have become more challenging with the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown for much of this year. We are grateful that the authorities are allowing more movement which has enabled us to visit more people this past month." The LTLA team re-initiated going out two-by-two visiting people in the community. Here are reports of some of those visits, with accompanying photos: 

 

LTLA team members Tsungai (far left) and Jane (far right) with Moud (middle)

 

Moud Pasi is a widow who was not able to have children so she lives alone in a one room house built for the poor. Despite also having a skin condition she continues to have a smile on her face. Tsungai & Jane noticed her smile when they arrived before she put on her mask. They were encouraged that Moud continues to trust in God and is thankful for His presence in her life. 

 

LTLA team member Tatenda (on left in photo) with Mr Mukuwo (on right in photo)

 

LTLA team members Tatenda and Shelton have been visiting with Mr Mukuwo who attended our Men of Hope meetings before they were suspended in late March. He struggles with mixing animistic beliefs and Christianity but seems to be understanding the Gospel more clearly in his conversations with Tatenda and Shelton. Please join us in asking God to open Mr. Mukuwo's heart so he will respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ. (Acts 16:14) 

 

Here are two other widows whom the LTLA team visited: 

 

Namwasa Zimera

Donnie Khoma (L) and daughter Veria (R)

 

Namwasa Zimera is an 82 year old widow who has no family members watching after her. To survive she works in people's fields or does odd jobs in exchange for food. LTLA team member, Diana, noticed that Namwasa is looking weaker physically due to all the manual work she is doing but Namwasa praises God for keeping her alive and providing for her. 

Donnie Khoma (on left in second photo above) is a 58 year old widow who was diagnosed with HIV 24 years ago and then with TB 10 years ago. In 2015 she was diagnosed with cervical cancer so had her uterus removed. She lost her first born daughter in 2018 and now is left to care for her remaining daughter, Veria (on right in photo), who has downs syndrome. LTLA team member, Diana, reports that despite Donnie's day-to-day struggles she is maintaining her faith in God. 

 Thank you for supporting Life to Life Africa in prayer and finances as the Good News of Jesus Christ is shared in word to care for spiritual needs and in deed to care for physical needs!! 

 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa