90 Families Planted a Plot of Corn

December 21, 2013

We ask that you pray for rain in all parts of Chinhoyi where 90 families have planted a plot of corn to help feed their families.  Diana (see below) who leads our Foundations for Farming trainers and oversees this project notified me yesterday that they desperately need rain.  They need to place a second application of fertilizer but must wait for it to rain before doing so.  

These families are taking steps to care for their needs and we are asking God to bless their efforts.  Rain is falling sporadically in different parts of the city, so they are asking for good soaking rain throughout the city where the families have their plots of corn.  Please also pray for Diana's health as she suffered a stroke last year and is not feeling well these days.  Thank you for joining us in prayer over these urgent needs!

A Zimbabwe Thank You

December 21, 2013

40ft Container On Its Way to Zimbabwe

November 20, 2013

We are happy to report that the 40 foot container that you helped fill is on its way to Zimbabwe!  There is 43,000 lbs of items to bless those we are serving in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe.  Thank you for all the donations of items and time to help sort, pack, and load the container!

Along with over 150,000 meals, we packed 113 bags of clothing / shoes / bags / bedding each weighing 70 lbs. (One large bag with stuffed animals as well.) 94 boxes with books/toys/school & household supplies were also included. Three large boxes of fabric were included along with 24 sewing machines.  Two bunk bed sets, four mattresses and 15 bed frames are on their way to help us house post-high school orphans and college students at our Community Center.  Forty cot sized mats were sent for distribution so orphans don't have to sleep on the floor in the homes of their caregivers.

We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this effort!

Mike Sulc & Mary Ann Shimkus

for all at Life to Life Africa

Thank you, ISU Women Club (Stitchery)

Thank you to the ladies of Stitchery (ISU Women Club) for their labor of love. The ladies provided their own supplies and equipment. The ISUWC Stitchery Division constructed over 60 "Dresses for Africa" and "Britches for Boys" on November 4. We appreciate their donation of hand-made dresses for our container.

What a team effort! Thank you!

Dear Friends,

I am glad to report that we have enough items to fill the 40 feet container we are sending to bless orphans, widows and the poor in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. Thank you for your generosity in providing clothing, books, sewing machines, fabric, and household supplies. The container will be loaded here in Ames next Saturday, November 16, 2013

The only remaining items that we are looking for are twin size metal bed frames. They will be used to create bunk beds for post-high school orphans and college students who will live at our Community Center where they will receive ministry and life skills training.

• For those in Ames who have metal bed frames to donate, please email Mike (lifetolifeafrica@gmail.com) to arrange a drop off or pick up.
• If you are outside Ames and can deliver them, you can coordinate with Mike for the drop off. 

We will need these metal bed frames by November 14, 2013.

This has truly been a team effort by friends of Life To Life Africa and the following churches:

• First Evangelical Free Church of Ames, IA
• Ascension Lutheran, Ames, IA
• Grand Avenue Baptist, Ames, IA
• Pleasant Ridge Evangelical Free Church, Glidden, IA
• Ambassadors Church, Harrisonville, MO

We are also grateful for the following organizations and companies for their generous help with the donations of clothing, fabric, household items, sewing machine, food, etc.:

• Bibles for Missions Thrift Store, Pella, IA
• Gift for the Nations, Mound Valley, KS
• Fareway, Ames, IA
• The Loft, Ames, IA
• Duckworthwearing, Ames, IA
• Miss Meyers, Ames, IA.

A special thank you is also extended to the following individuals:

• Kurt Friedrich for supplying us with a great storage space to stage our sorting and packing of the donated items
• Kent and Matt Cooper for providing help with the storage needs
• Dean and Duane Jensen for providing help with transport support
• Kim Kilzer for providing help with donations
• Jonathan and Lily Compton for their help with coordination.

I know God is pleased to see the collaboration of His people in this effort!

With a grateful heart,

Mike

Maita Basa! (Thank you)

Dear Life to Life Africa Friends:

Thank you for praying for my recent trip to Zimbabwe.  It was good to be with our dear friends who are faithfully continuing the work that "Uncle Ron" so diligently started.  We were able to joyfully grieve his passing into glory.  They are eternally grateful for "Uncle Ron" showing the love of Christ as he cared for their physical and spiritual needs.  He taught them to trust God for his promises so we have begun the process of asking God to show us the promises He wants us to believe Him for in the coming years for Life to Life Africa.

I also want to thank everyone who has donated items for the container we are sending to Zimbabwe next month!  We are getting close to filling the container especially after packaging 150,000 meals this past weekend. Life to Life Africa in the Zimbabwean tradition is clapping and loudly saying "Maita Basa," to First Evangelical Free Church of Ames and Ascension Lutheran Church of Ames for the financial support and hands-on packaging of these meals.

We are especially needing sewing machines as we have collected 5 and hope to collect 20 more. 
Here is the video of the "Sewing Project Ladies" as they gathered to encourage one another in the Lord and with their sewing projects.

 

Financial contributions are needed as well to help defray the additional $12,000 needed to purchase and ship the container.  We are purchasing the container so it can be used as storage to free up our Community Center building for ministry use.  You can direct financial contributions for the container by mailing a check to:

Life to Life Africa

PMB 344

10151 University Blvd

Orlando, FL 32817

Volunteers in Ames are needed in the coming weeks to help sort and pack the items we have collected.  So far we have the following sorting and packing days scheduled and will update you on more dates within the next few days:

Saturday, October 19, 9am - noon

Saturday, October 26, 9am - noon

Saturday, October 26, afternoon session

Please contact Jonathan (comptojo@yahoo.com) for more details.

This is a picture of an orphan boy in the Critical Care Center with a "thumbs up" as he said, "Thank You!"

Maita Basa!
Mike

Donations for container still accepted through mid-November

What an amazing turn out on October 13, 2013! Volunteers came and packed more than 100K meals for Zimbabwe. These packets will be part of the 40 feet container that will be shipped in November.

We are still accepting donations for the container through mid-November.

If you wish to donate cash, please send your check to:
Life to Life Ministries
PMB 344
10151 University Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32817

Volunteers are needed for sorting and packing. If you are interested in helping, please contact Jonathan at comptojo@yahoo.com

Thank you for your support!