"We are asking the Lord for open doors to minister to students at the universities and colleges in Mutare," Simba shared with me yesterday. Simba and Pamela Mangore are settling into life in Mutare, the third largest city in Zimbabwe, where they seek to expand the reach of Life to Life Africa in Zimbabwe. There is a large population of college students in Murare with 2 universities and 3 colleges.
Simba & Pamela Mangore in front of Mutare Polytechnic.
"Last week, when Thomas and Arthur were visiting we met with the dean of students at Mamicaland State University (MSU). He was excited to hear that Life to Life wants to minister to students at his campus. He sees the need for students to develop spiritually while they are in college. That was our first open door!" Simba was excited to share this news with me. The campus is 10km outside of the city so the students there are not distracted by life in the city which will give Simba & Pamela the opportunity to connect well with them. We are thanking the Lord for this open door!
You can pray for Simba to have a good meeting in the near future with the person who oversees ministry efforts to students at the three colleges in town, Mutare Polytechnic, Mutare Teachers College, and Marymount Teachers College. Pray that he and Pamela, who are graduates of Harare Polytechnic in the capital, will be received well and granted favor to minister to students at these three colleges. The ministry efforts at these colleges are closely monitored by the government to discourage anti-government sentiment. Simba & Pamela also hope that they can teach or tutor students at the polytechnic since they are graduates of the polytechnic system.
Simba has found opportunities to minister alongside a Navigator staff at Africa University on the outskirts of Mutare. He is also helping two junior pastors from the Presbyterian Church with a weekly Bible study and discipleship for 8 former homeless street boys. These boys are being helped with drug addictions at a residential rehabilitation center situated 10 miles from Mutare. We are encouraged by these ministry collaboration opportunities.
Residential Rehabilitation Center outside of Mutare where Simba is helping with a weekly Bible study and discipleship with 8 former homeless street boys.
Please pray for Simba and Pamela as they develop relationships with fellow believers in a place where they had no family and friends. They have taken a big step of faith to be used of God among young people in a new city and region. Simba was born in Mutare and lived there until the age of 4 before moving to Chinhoyi to live with an aunt after his mother passed away and his father abandoned him. He has some family that lives in the region but Pamela's family lives 5 hours away. It is a big adjustment, so we are praying they experience the Lord's presence with them. Simba said, "We are drawing close to God and one another as we settle into life here in Mutare."
Thank you for joining us in prayer for Simba & Pamela Mangore.
Fellow Life to Life Ministry staff, Thomas Gilbert, is currently in Zimbabwe for a three week trip to visit our team. Would you join in praying for him as he seeks to encourage Arthur Nhau, Life to Life Africa director in ZImbabwe, along with the other 21 LTLA team members? This week he and Arthur are visiting Simba & Pamela who recently moved to Mutare, the third largest city in Zimbabwe. They are encouraging and guiding this young couple as they seek to launch a ministry effort to college students since there are 3 universities and 1 polytechnic in Mutare.
Arthur, Thomas & Simba in front of Mutare Polytechnic.
We also ask for your prayers for Diana, a long time and faithful LTLA team member, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. You may remember that she accompanied our other team member, Tsungai, for her cancer radiation treatments in Harare, the capital, last year. Like Tsungai, Diana is needing radiation treatments for her cancer which will cost $4,000. We would like to assist Diana with these treatments. If you are able to help toward this need you can send a check payable to Life to Life Africa, writing Diana on the memo line. See below for the address where to send a check. Thank you for considering how you can help with this need.
Diana has led our efforts in training families in sustainable farming and helped us launch our weekly Children of Hope Bible study for children living at the landfill.
Zimbabweans have been dealt more bad news in recent weeks with the official declaration of a drought, which is considered one of the worst in 40 years. We typically stop food distribution for four months after the families we serve harvest their corn, but this year they have harvested very little if anything. We may need to continue providing food for these families if the government is not able to assist them. To do so it would cost an additional $7,000 beyond what we have budgeted. Your gifts to help us feed these families will be greatly appreciated. Click here for an article about the drought:
The Zimbabwean government has also introduced a new currency (ZiG- for Zimbabwe Gold) which unsurprisingly is predicted to fail due to the lack of confidence that Zimbabweans have in their leaders. The sad reality is that people lose their savings when the government introduces new currencies. This will be the fourth failed currency in Zimbabwe since 2008. Click here to read how this currency change is affecting Zimbabweans.
Thank you for standing with us as we show the love of Christ in real tangible ways to the people of Zimbabwe who are experiencing difficult hardships in this troubled world.
Gifts toward Diana and/or for Food Distribution can be sent via check to:
Life to Life Africa PMB 344 10151 University Blvd Orlando, FL 32817
On this Good Friday, the Life to Life Africa team solemnly reflects with you upon the suffering and death our Lord endured on our behalf. And with you we also rejoice in his victory over sin and death which has granted eternal life to those who believe in his Name. This truth encourages us especially as we see the hardships of two team members.
Last year LTLA team member, Tsungai, was diagnosed and treated for cancer. She was accompanied in the capital city, Harare, for her treatments by teammate Diana. In 2020, Diana had undergone similar surgery to remove cancer from her body so she was a comfort to Tsungai. Unfortunately, we recently learned that cancer has returned to Diana at a stage 1 level. We ask for your prayers for Diana and her family as we await the treatment plan for her cancer. Diana provides leadership for our sustainable farming efforts along with helping lead the weekly Children of Hope Bible study that reaches out to children living at the landfill. She is a widow with 3 adult children and cares for 4 grandchildren at her home.
Diana (left) last year with Tsungai on her last day of radiation treatment.
Another team member who is ailing is Mr. Chigwida. Old age is catching up with him, so we will help him develop income generating projects he can do around his home. For over ten years, he has faithfully served in our Men of Hope ministry along with training and modeling well the sustainable farming principles we teach. He credits LTLA for saving the life of his granddaughter by providing formula for her after her mother, his daughter, died when she was 2 months old. He has served the ministry with joy and delight. It is hard for him to "slow down" in his old age. Please pray for Mr. Chigwida as he transitions to a slower pace and continues to share from his relationship with Christ to those around him.
Mr. Chigwida.
Thank you for your prayer support for Diana & Mr. Chigwida!
