October 16, 2015
This week parts of Zimbabwe experienced temperatures over 100 degrees and drought conditions continue as there as been very little rain in the last 18 months. Coupled with a cash shortage in the country due to a standstill in the economy and extreme power cuts where electricity is off all day, only on from 11pm - 5am, the people are experiencing very difficulty circumstances. Here is how it is affecting the work of Life to Life Africa:
Cooking with Firewood
The average Zimbabweans prepare their meals outside their homes over a fire. This is even more prevalent now with the extreme power cuts that are caused by lack of money to maintain power generation in the country. The LTLA Critical Care Center prepares two meals per day Monday-Friday for 30 orphans using firewood, as it is the most reliable and cost effective method. Stella who directs this ministry cooks these meals but has been ill since August with respiratory issues caused from inhaling the smoke.
Her illness has alerted me to the danger that so many are facing in Zimbabwe with constantly breathing smoke as they cook. Inhaling smoke while cooking can be equivalent to smoking 4 packs of cigarettes in a day. With this awareness and the desire to minimize deforestation, which is a big problem in Zimbabwe, we are looking to build a rocket stove for the Critical Care Center. Rocket stoves (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_stove) efficiently burn wood or other biomass which will minimize our firewood expense and help alleviate deforestation. It will also eliminate most of the smoke, promoting better health for Stella and others who help cook meals for the orphans. Shelton, a recent engineering graduate, from Chinhoyi University of Technology will spearhead this project with an eye on manufacturing these stoves for the families we serve and the community of Chinhoyi.
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Stella at the Critical Care Center cooking area |
No Corn Harvest
Last May, 90 families we serve harvested next to nothing from their corn plots that yielded 4 months of grain the previous year. In response we have continued distributing food to these families where last year we stopped for 4 months. There was very little rain during this past growing season, November-May. Most were also not able to have a mulch cover on their plots to preserve some moisture in the soil due to the practice of burning to clear land and to hunt for mice. The families are trained not to burn but their neighbors do, which leads to the burning of their plots. As they prepare to plant their plots next month, we will need to extend the farming training to their neighbors and take measures in helping store mulch for their plots. Introducing drought tolerant crops, like millet and sorghum, is another option that we hope to explore.
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| Veronica, a widow, at her drought damaged corn plot in March, 2015 |
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| Diana, our Foundations for Farming director, at her mulched plot this month, October 2015 |
Prayer Needed
As these families in Zimbabwe face the effects of hot weather, a drought, an economic standstill and no electricity, please pray for sustaining grace and relief from the Lord. Pray that the Lord leads us in ways to effectively help them and that people will turn to Christ who is the only source of true hope. Also pray for the 21 students who have expressed interest in attending the Navigators Student Conference, Oct 16-18. May their lives be transformed by an ever deepening relationship with Christ.
I travel to Zimbabwe Oct 18 - Nov 6, so will welcome your prayers as my focus will be planning for 2016 with Arhur Nhau, LTLA Director in Chinhoyi.
For His Kingdom & Glory,
Mike Sulc
