Meeting Kunashe - LTLA Prayer Bulletin - June 2023

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, I am pleased to report that on June 9th Tinotenda, Shelton's wife, gave birth to Kunashe Liz. Tino was having contractions most of the day, so the doctor delivered Kunashe via C-section at 32 weeks. Kunashe weighed 4lbs and was initially assisted with a breathing and feeding tube in intensive care at a private hospital in Chinhoyi. Thankfully, she is now breathing and eating on her own. A year ago this month Shelton & Tino lost their first child at 8 months of pregnancy. Tino has type 1 diabetes, so her pregnancies are at a higher risk. The doctor made the decision to deliver the baby as he felt good about the baby's development. We are grateful to the Lord for guiding the doctor and preserving Kunashe's life. Her name means "there is God." Shelton & Tino have certainly felt God's presence very near to them as they are rejoicing in his gift of Kunashe to them. Join us in praying that she can go home soon. Thank you for the prayer and financial support for Tsungai. She began radiation treatment today. Pray that this treatment will eliminate all cancer cells in her body. I arrive today to Zimbabwe and plan to visit Tsungai in the capital, Harare, where she is undergoing the radiation treatment at a private clinic. She is being housed there by good friends of the ministry that live close to the clinic. Hopefully I can hold Kunashe on this trip if she is released from the hospital. Would you pray that I am able to encourage our team as they continue to persevere in challenging circumstances with the Zim dollar collapsing in value and as they face presidential elections at the end of August? Thank you for holding us up in prayer before our good Heavenly Father who is ever present. Gratefully in Him, Mike Sulc Life to Life Africa

Kunashe was in the incubator with a breathing & feeding tube for the first five days. She remained in the incubator another five days.

Kunashe is now out of the incubator and is continuing to adapt to breast feeding while also taking bottles.

Bringing Hope To The Next Generation - LTLA Update - May 2023

 Greetings Again,

 

In the midst of challenging circumstances in Zimbabwe, the LTLA Training Ministry team has faithfully continued reaching out to Zimbabwean youth and young people. The situation there is leaving the next generation with a hopeless forecast from a human perspective but we are pointing them to the only true source of hope. Here is a report from Arthur Nhau, LTLA Zimbabwe Director and Training Ministry Director:

 

College Ministry - Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT)

 

We had a session on mental health and invited a professional counselor who is a believer. She was really engaging and the students kept asking a lot of questions regarding their future along with life challenges. She continued to point them to Jesus who invites us to come to him with all our questions and concerns.

Mental health session with CUT students.

Our student conference had more than 40 students who attended. We didn’t invite a guest speaker but gave the opportunity for the LTLA Training Ministry trainees to share from their own walk with the Lord. It really encouraged the students to hear from young adults who are walking with Jesus and some new contacts we invited gave their lives to Christ. College Ministry Conference gathering.            College Ministry Conference fun activity. We have also started engaging students through sports on campus, mainly soccer. We are thankful that God is giving us new contacts through this ministry outreach. In the past we have reached out into the community through forming a soccer team so we are now trying it on campus with students. LTLA College Ministry soccer team (wearing donated Ames High School soccer uniforms). Young Adult Ministry - Chosen Generation Lately the group has been dominated by guys so we prayed that girls would also attend the fellowship. We are thankful to the Lord that more girls are now coming. Pray with us that God will raise laborers from this fellowship and open doors of opportunities for this group which is composed of unemployed youths in our community. (As you have heard about the situation in Zimbabwe, there are very few jobs available.) Chosen Generation Bible Study. Chosen Generation barbeque gathering. Primary & High School Ministry The love for scripture memory continues among the youth which is very encouraging. Pray with us that as they commit God's Word to memory it will guide them to Christ throughout their life.  We had been doing a separate Bible study with the Children of Hope (children living at the landfill) but have incorporated them with the other children. It is helping remove the stigma associated with their circumstances. Would you pray that the Children of Hope and all the children will open their hearts to Christ as they spend time in God's word and with one another.  Youth Bible Study that is incorporating Children of Hope (children living at the landfill). Thank you for your prayers for the LTLA Training Ministry team efforts in sharing Christ with the next generation here in Zimbabwe. Faithfully yours in Christ, Arthur Nhau LTLA Zimbabwe Director

Misery Index - LTLA Prayer Bulletin - May 2023

 Dear LTLA Friends,

Thank you to those who responded to our appeal for financial help! Your support will keep us going during the summer months when our gift income is lower. It will certainly help us as we face increased needs in the country that has been named the most miserable place to live in 2022. You can read about it in the following link:

https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/05/hankes-2022-misery-index/

The situation is only getting worse as the exchange rate of the Zimbabwe Dollar for one US Dollar has increased from 850 Zim Dollars in January to 2000 Zim Dollars in May for $1 USD. The result of this is a further increase in prices for basic goods, only making things harder for the Zimbabwean people. So, thank you for your contributions that help us share the love of God in tangible ways with the people to whom we are ministering.

Our team member, Tsungai, is needing to undergo radiation treatments to help kill off any remaining cancer cells after a hysterectomy identified evidence of cervical cancer. Typically this radiation treatment could be performed at one of two government hospitals in the country, but both of the machines are not in operational order. So she is left with the private clinic route which is more than twice the cost, $4000. She, like most Zimbabweans, does not have medical insurance and does not have the money to pay for this treatment. Our ministry would like to help her. If you would like to contribute toward this need, you can send a check to:

Life to Life Africa
PMB 344
10151 University Blvd
Orlando, FL 32817
(Write "Tsungai" in the memo line)

I must admit that I personally am feeling very discouraged with the ongoing struggle of the people in Zimbabwe. They topped the list of most miserable in 2022 but there are countless other people around the world who face very similar circumstances. It can be overwhelming to consider, but I know that God sees it all and he has made a way for people to be saved along with prompting his people to help bring good for the glory of his Name. Would you pray for Life to Life Africa as we seek the Lord to strengthen us to persevere and guide us in doing good? (1 Peter 4:19)


Committed to our faithful Creator,

Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

Harvest Time - April 2023

 

Greetings LTLA Friends, 

April in Zimbabwe is the beginning of harvest for their staple crop, corn. The Lord graciously provided abundant rain this year so good yields are being reported. Thank you for your prayers in this regard!

Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry team leader, reports that of the 44 families that we trained in sustainable farming practices 31 families had a good harvest while 8 families were not faithful in implementing the training. The plots from 4 families have not yet been assessed and unfortunately 1 family lost their plot because the owner of the land decided to build after they had planted. Most of the families do not have land on which to plant so they take the risk to plant on unused land hoping that the owner doesn't decide to use it. 

We are grateful for the faithfulness and blessing of the Lord on the 31 families who yielded a good harvest. Along with this good harvest of food, our prayer is that people in these families will respond to God's blessing of forgiveness for sins in their lives and enter into a relationship with God through Christ. We are seeing many members of the new families we added this year begin attending our youth Bible studies as well as our Women and Men of Hope meetings. Mr. Gomo, a man who lives and works at the landfill, has accepted Christ and Shelton is helping establish him in his relationship with Christ. Please join us in praying that others will place their faith in Christ like Mr. Gomo. 

(See LTLA Community Ministry photos below.) 

Prayer & Financial Update 

Thank you for your prayers for the medical needs on our team. Tinotenda, Shelton's wife who is diabetic, continues to progress well with her pregnancy as she controls her blood sugar levels through her diet. It has been determined that Tatenda, LTLA Training Ministry team member, is having panic attacks which are causing him to feel severe chest pains, so with the help of counseling and, most importantly, from his relationship with Christ, he is receiving care for his mental and emotional health. 

We are grateful for the surgery that has relieved the abdominal pain that was plaguing Tsungai, who has led the LTLA Critical Care Center for 13 years. Unfortunately, during surgery they found that Tsungai has cervical cancer. She will now undergo treatment that we hope will stop the spread of the cancer. As you can imagine, this is very sad news for her and for our LTLA team. Would you pray for Tsungai and our team as we place our trust in the Lord during this challenging time? 

With these additional medical expenses and with the effects of high inflation in Zimbabwe our ministry is experiencing a deficit. The monthly expenses for the work in Zimbabwe averaged $16,600 in 2022 and this year we are averaging $19,000 per month. We are examining where we can cut expenses but I ask if you would consider a special gift or monthly support to help meet these increased financial needs? Thank you for prayerfully considering how you can help. (Below is giving information.)

Trusting our Lord, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

To give you can send a check payable to:

Life to Life Africa 

PMB 344 

10151 University Blvd 

Orlando, FL 32817 

You can also contribute through your bank via "bill pay" using the following information for the Life to Life Ministry bank account: 

Routing #: 267084131 

Account #: 586600386

Mrs Marikano & Mrs Phiri did well with their corn plots and are expecting a good harvest. LTLA Community Ministry team conducting compost training for the families we serve. We are helping them learn how to create fertilizer for their vegetable gardens.  Family members who attended the compost training.

Praise & Prayers

 

LTLA Friends, 

We are thanking the Lord for the provision of water at a new ministry location in Chinhoyi. Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry team leader, and his wife, Tinotenda, moved into a house last June in the White City neighborhood. A tank was placed there to capture city water in preparation to locate our Critical Care Center (preschool orphan ministry) there. The tank filled up with water just once as the city has struggled to maintain the water supply throughout the city. With the need for water, we took the step to install a borehole (well). Now it looks like we have a good source of water for which we thank the Lord. (As seen in the video below.) 

 You may remember that Shelton & Tinotenda lost their first child last June in the eighth month of pregnancy. With the Lord's healing touch, they have recovered from that loss and are now again pregnant. Tinotenda is being monitored closely in this pregnancy by an endocrinologist since she is diabetic. We ask for your prayers that she will remain healthy to deliver a healthy baby in five months. 

 We also ask for your prayers for Tsungai who has provided leadership for our Critical Care Center for over ten years. She was hospitalized last week with a lot of abdominal pain and now is waiting for the biopsy results from a growth in her uterus. She loves caring for preschool orphans and we pray she returns to full health so she can continue sharing Christ's love for these children. 

 I arrived back in Zimbabwe today with Thomas Gilbert, Life to Life Ministry director at the Univ of Central Florida. We have the privilege to witness the wedding of LTLA team member, Simba, on Saturday. In fact, Thomas will be officiating the wedding. We then will have the joy of ministering to and with the LTLA team for a week. Would you pray for Simba and Pamela as they start their married life together? Would you also pray for Thomas & I as we minister to and alongside the LTLA team? 

Christ sustains this ministry through your prayerful support. 

Thank you! 

 Mike Sulc 

 Life to Life Africa

LTLA "White City" Ministry House (In the White City neighborhood of Chinhoyi)

Satellite photo of the LTLA "White City" Ministry House with blue square showing future home of theLTLA Critical Care Center. The blue circle is area where the "borehole" (well) was drilled for water.

The blue pipe in the ground comes from the well and leads to the red pressure tank before the water goes up to the water tank. Video link: https://youtube.com/shorts/o5VPN44kXE8

Shelton & Tinotenda were refreshed in September after grieving their loss with a trip to the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe.

Tsungai in December holding Romley, a girl in the LTLA Critical Care Center.

Simba and Pamela will get married on Saturday in a ceremony at the LTLA Community Center.

Showers of Blessing

"God seems to bless us with good weather when you visit," stated Arthur, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, during my most recent trip. I was expecting hot weather, as it seems like the seasons in Zimbabwe quickly move from winter to summer. It is very hot in September, October and November following the much cooler months of June, July and August. Rains typically start in late November, but this year they started earlier, as good rains fell the last week of October and first week of November. We are asking God for continued rains to water the crops that have been planted. 

God is also blessing the ministry efforts of the LTLA team, as they are seeing increased numbers at their many Bible study groups. I was able to witness the Bible studies with kids, youth and young adults, but unfortunately it was raining too hard to hold the Men and Women of Hope gatherings while I was there. The men and women walk to these meetings and the dirt streets get pretty muddy and slick. It was fun for me to share with the youth and young adults, along with the LTLA team, the lessons that I learned during my first devotional time with the Lord the morning after I committed my life to Christ. 

When I was a freshman in college, Dan, an upperclassman who shared the Gospel with me, invited me to join him the following morning for his "quiet time" with the Lord. He guided me to Exodus 33:7-23 where I was able to see the value of engaging in a relationship with God and the importance of getting time with him in prayer. Finding this rich passage in God's Word exposed me to the need to feast on it for my spiritual nourishment. As we enter into this advent season, may we all feast on the riches of spending time with the Lord in his Word and with him in prayer. How appropriate for us to celebrate Thanksgiving just before we start advent to help our hearts be grateful for the incredible love that God has poured out on us through his Son, Jesus Christ. 

Praying you experience God's deep and rich love this Christmas season, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

Below are some photos of my time in Zimbabwe, along with a video of the showers of blessing that the Lord poured out on us:

Mike sharing from Exodus 33:7-23 with the young adult Bible study (the Chosen Generation group). 

 

Mike (only "murungu," white man) with the college Bible study group. 

 

Zviko sharing the "Well" illustration with the college Bible study group. The "Well" uses Jeremiah 2:13, Ecclesiastes 1:12 - 2:11 and John 4:13-14 to illustrate the empitness of all the "cisterns that we dig, versus the abundant water that Jesus gives that becomes "a spring of living water welling up to eternal life." 

 

Mike preached from Exodus 33:7-23 at Hatfield Presbyterian Church in Harare, Zimbabwe. Pastor Clarence Tungunu and his wife Anna serve that congregation with their daughter, Iana, and son, Ian (held by Mike). Anna is fruit of the LTLA ministry in Chinhoyi and served the ministry for several years before marrying Clarence. 

 

Showers of Blessing

 

Sowing and Reaping

Thank you for your prayers for my safe arrival to Zimbabwe. Your continued prayers are certainly welcomed for my time with the LTLA team, and as the Life to Life Zimbabwe Trust board meets tomorrow to evaluate the ministry progress this year and consider plans for next year. Despite the challenges and the discouragements among the team and ministry this past year, it is very evident that God is at work, as you will see in the report below from this past month. 

The Community Ministry team was busy this month assessing the needs of the families we serve. The outcome of the assessment was as follows: 12 families did well with their corn plots and will not need food assistance, while 8 families were not faithful in their efforts with growing corn so have been removed from food assistance. We have learned not to prolong support for those who do not participate in what we have asked them to do to grow food for their families. 

Going forward, 124 families have asked for assistance, as they face dire situations, and we plan to help all of them. We will increase our food allotment for each family, and provide 28 families a monthly allotment while 96 families receive a twice-monthly allotment. As an end result we are now serving 44 new families. LTLA recently conducted training for these new families in planting corn sustainably. We are also encouraged to report that the numbers of people attending the Men & Women of Hope discipleship meetings has grown, with members of the new families joining. (See photos below.) 

The Training Ministry team has been busy sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with students at Chinhoyi University of Technology. Nine young ladies and one young man have responded to the Holy Spirit's work in their lives and have made decisions to receive Christ. The young man is named Innocent and the young ladies are: Mercy, Kelly, Leen, Zvikomborero, Xixi, Tino, Ropafadzo and Judith. All but one of them are first year students at CUT, which gives the team a lot of opportunity to disciple them over the next few years. Ropafadzo is a 4th year student who responded when Theodora, a recent graduate, shared the Bridge Illustration with her at the LTLA Student Conference on Oct 14-16. Training Ministry team members, Marvelous & Prestege, taught how to share the Bridge Illustration at the conference and then paired up older students to share the illustration with younger students. Theodora was paired with Ropafadzo who responded that she needed to receive Christ! (See photos below.) 

 

What a joy to share this report, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

Members of the 124 families seeking food assistance gather at the Community Discipleship Center.

Members of the new families and some of the returning families we assist 

at our demonstration plot to receive training in growing corn sustainably. 

 

Men and women gathering for a combined meeting of the Men of Hope and Women of Hope, a first but certainly not a last time, as it proved very encouraging for everyone. The men were challenged by hearing the old ladies memorizing scripture. We pray it will motivate them to follow their example and experience the blessing of having God's Word in their hearts.

 

Prestege (L) and Marvelous (R) teaching how to share the Bridge Illustration at the LTLA Student Conference. 

 

Theodora (R) sharing the Bridge Illustration with Ropafadzo, who responded in receiving Christ. 

 

LTLA Student Conference group photo.