In Arthur's Words

April 28, 2017


Greetings LTLA friends,

Arthur Nhau, Director of Life to Life Africa in Chinhoyi, just sent the following update:

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Below is a brief summary of what God is doing through our efforts in the various ministries under Life to Life Africa: 


Food Distribution/Foundations for Farming 
This season we have had good rains and the families we serve are expecting a bumper harvest in the corn plots they were trained to plant in our Foundations for Farming efforts. Most dams, rivers and lakes have been filled to capacity with water (Zechariah 10:1). We are so grateful to God for we once received this kind of good rains decades ago and we pray that this will draw our nation even more closely to God.

Families collect corn meal, beans & a cabbage twice per month.

Critical Care Center 
This program cares for the malnourished children in our community. We are always encouraged as some come in critical condition but after a while they begin to regain their health. We pray that these young ones will continue to grow as Christ in "wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52)

Critical Care Center children holding clothes and shoes they received from LTLA.

Ambassadors

Our LTLA team serve as ambassadors for Christ in the community as we wrestle in prayer and teach the families in our program how to walk with God spiritually and how to sustain themselves practically through income generating projects like farming, sewing, selling dried fish and other entrepreneurial endeavors. (Colossians 1:9-13) 

Discipleship 
This year God provided internships in Chinhoyi for Simba and Zviko, two university students we are discipling. I am really encouraged that these men have caught the vision to reproduce and multiply as each weekend they are going on campus to do evangelism and discipleship on their own. Pray that they will become a thousand and a mighty nation. (Isaiah 60:22) Also pray that students will encounter Christ as they dig into the scriptures together during our weekly Bible study group.

Simba, Tatenda, and Zviko.

Men of Hope 
This is a group of men that meet every other Saturday. Many of them are elderly and attend faithfully since they see this gathering as their “church." Most of them cannot read or write so we read out load for them or use the Proclaimer. (A device that plays a recording of the Bible in the Shona language. It was a gift from Pleasant Ridge Church in Glidden, IA.) We are always amazed at how they grasp the Word and reflect on it. Pray for Lunga (who is leading the group) that God will fill him with knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding and that these men like Caleb will take on giants with God's help, even in old age. (Joshua 14:10-12)

Men of Hope listening to the Bible in their native tongue via the Proclaimer.
(A gift from Pleasant Ridge Church in Glidden, IA.)

Women of Hope 
The women in our ministry gather after the men and are also passionate about meeting together. Most of these elderly women can memorize scripture which really challenges the younger generation. Pray that Gogo Mildred, who leads this group, will continue to renew her strength in the Lord and that out of this group God will raise up “Lydias" and "Samaritan women." (Acts 16:13-15; John 4) 

Women of Hope meeting at the LTLA Life Dicipleship Center.

 

Primary & High School Ministry 

For over six years Anna hosted in her home our weekly Bible study group for primary and high school orphans. In February, she got married to Clarence, a pastor in a town 2 hours away. We pray that He who began a good work in her will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) Pray for our team as we carry on the discipleship efforts Anna pioneered among the next generation. 

Anna and Clarence.

We always thank God every time we remember you. In all our prayers for all of you, we pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel. We are thankful that even as we draw closer to presidential elections in our country next year, the political environment has been quiet and we pray that God will give us God fearing leaders. 

-Arthur Nhau 

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Thank you for reading this update from Arthur!

Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

When People Live in Unity

March 31, 2017  

"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity." Psalm 133:1

Racism is alive and well around the world. This sin problem has significantly damaged societies everywhere. We are all susceptible to it when we forget the "value of every individual" in God's eyes as His image bearers.

I am grateful for Naomi, Rod and Harold from Hopevale Church who see this value in people and made the effort to travel 8,297 miles (actually more since it was not a direct flight from Saginaw, MI to Zimbabwe), crossing the Atlantic ocean and cultural differences, to love instead of hate. They demonstrated their love in caring acts of service, in skill training, in spiritual instruction, in compassionate prayer, in joyful dancing and in much laughter to name a few ways. (Below you will find photos and a video of these acts of love.)

Unity is not a one way street as we discovered once again through the wonderfully welcoming hospitality we received from the Life to Life Africa team. They accept us and love us as we are, quite different from them in several respects, yet we share the same Spirit and Savior. As always it was truly a blessing to have shared in the experience of fellowship in Christ, who has destroyed the "dividing wall of hostility." (Ephesians 2:14)

While our acts of love are not always perfect, the mere attempts to not be selfish but to think of others go a long way in making this world a better place. Thank you for your prayers and support in the efforts of Life to Life Africa to incarnate God's kingdom, making Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe, a better place.


Because He loves,

Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

Harold teaching Tinotenda how to grout tile in a bathroom in the Life Discipleship Center.

Rod & Fara got dirty installing tile at Life Discipleship Center.

Naomi ministered to the women through teaching and prayer.

Video: The "Murungus," or white people, were invited to dance at Anna & Clarence's wedding. 

So Naomi, Mike, Rod & Harold obliged, much to everyone's delight.

Rain, A Wedding, and Other Praises

February 16, 2017


Greetings LTLA Friends,

We have several things to praise God for so I am passing along these praise points along with prayer requests. I am in route to Zimbabwe so would appreciate your prayers for me and some dear friends traveling with me over the next few weeks.

RAIN: God has provided the needed rain for good corn growth for the 100 families we serve in Chinhoyi. It is a special blessing after two years of drought and for the 18 new families who were trained to plant their plot of corn last October.


FLORA: In the photo below you will see Flora on the left, a Muslim woman, standing by her corn plot with Itai, one of our LTLA Ambassadors She has received our training in effective farming and attends the LTLA Women of Hope evangelism and discipleship meetings. She has always greeted me with a kind smile when I see her on my visits. Pray for her to experience salvation in Christ.

Flora (l) standing by her corn plot with Itai, an LTLA Ambassador

SIMBA: We are grateful to have Simba, fruit of our orphan high school ministry who is attending a trade college, around this coming year. He has an internship with the city of Chinhoyi water department. We look forward to continue encouraging him in his relationship with Christ and in his evangelism/discipleship efforts with his co-workers. Pray he will influence others to Christ in the city water department.

Simba

CLARENCE & ANNA: Clarence & Anna are getting married on Feb 25, so I get to witness my first African wedding. Anna has been a long term member of the LTLA ministry team, hosting the orphan Bible studies in her home. Pray as they begin their life together ministering in the farming community where Clarence pastors a church. We are encouraged to see our ministry impact expanding beyond Chinhoyi.

Anna & Clarence

HAROLD, ROD & NAOMI: I look forward to having these dear co-laborers in Christ joining me from Hopevale Church on this trip. Harold & Rod join me for their fourth trip and will assist in completing the plumbing and electrical work for the Life Discipleship Center. Naomi returns for her second trip where she will continue ministering to the spiritual needs of the ladies. Pray for God to lead us in our actions and words as well as for His protection in travel and spiritually.

Harold (r) and Rod (l) standing behind Misters Ephraim, Philiko & Marume, during their first trip in May 2015. 

Naomi (r) loves the women well with Christ's love. 

LIFE TO LIFE ZIMBABWE TRUST BOARD: Pray the Lord will guide us as we meet on Feb 18. May we seek His mind and heart as we assess the condition of our ministry, addressing current issues and determining the plans he desires us to trust Him for in the future. May the Lord unite Arthur, Jonathan, Mildred, Tamari, Felix and I with His vision for LTLA.

Gratefully in Him,

Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

Fasting & Transformation

January 26, 2017


Belated New Year Greetings,

Thank you for praying for the four young men who joined 17 others from Zimbabwe in attending the Pamoja Conference. Each of these young men were led to Christ and discipled through the LTLA ministry in Chinhoyi. They were impacted as you can read in their comments below on fasting and transformation:

"For our world to continue evolving, fasting is a fundamental phenomena. Many people changed their world through fasting (Isaiah 58:6) as seen by Moses, Hannah, Daniel in scripture and Martin Luther in more recent times. Fasting is a channel of power. We need the Holy Spirit for us to transform the world." (Lazarus- a 3rd year college student reached by LTLA in high school)

"I learned we need transformation in our lives first so that we can transform our communities and the Gospel is the only thing that can transform everything." (Simba- 2nd year college student reached by LTLA in high school and served 4 years on the LTLA ministry team)

"I learned that fasting is a divine corrective to the pride of the human heart. I also learned the importance of following up a new believer so they can reach full maturity and the ability to multiply their lives spiritually but remembering that only God can produce the growth. God can use me to create an environment for growth. Finally, we do not change we cannot become new people and new leaders for a new Africa." (Tatenda- reached by LTLA in high school and has served on the LTLA ministry team for the past year)

"There was a call for Christians to take part in the development of Africa but I can't change Africa unless transformation begins in me." (Shelton- college graduate reached as a student and who has served on the LTLA ministry team 2 years)

The Zimbabwe contingent at the Pamoja Conference 

(Tatenda is wearing a big smile as he kneels in front of the Zimbabwe flag.)

Simba, Shelton, Tatenda and Jonathan Govero

Lazarus (on the right) horsing around with a friend as Shelton looks on.

Excited to see the transformation God will bring in and through these young men!

Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

Prayer Bulletin -- Next Generation Leaders

December 29, 2016


Praying friends, please pray for four young LTLA men who have traveled to participate in an African continent conference sponsored by CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ). Shelton and Tatenda (current LTLA staff members) along with Simba and Lazarus (LTLA-discipled college students) boarded a bus yesterday for Lusaka, Zambia, where they will gather with 2000 other young Africans at the Pamoja Africa IV Conference from December 28 - January 2. (Pamoja means "together" in Swahili.)

Shelton, Lazarus, Tatenda, and Simba on their way to Pamoja Africa IV.
(Tatenda has a serious look in this photo, but usually he wears a big smile.
He may be nervous, as this is likely the first trip out of Zimbabwe for each of these young men.)

Jonathan & Shalom Govero will also be attending with several students from their ministry efforts at the University of Zimbabwe and Bindura University of Science Education. As stated in the conference description, "Pamoja Africa IV will challenge the participants to develop commitment and responsibility for their campuses, societies, nations and continent. We will help them on how to practice self-discipline and become leaders of integrity. We will encourage them to take initiatives to solve problems and lead change with biblical values. This will lead into growing spiritual movements and impacting not only campuses and churches but also the societies at large."

We are grateful for the collaborative effort by CRU to open up this opportunity for other organizations to send the fruit of our ministries to this conference. Please join us in praying for Shelton, Tatenda, Simba and Lazarus; for Jonathan, Shalom, and their students; and for the other 2000 in attendance, as they are all challenged and motivated to be laborers in God's kingdom work in Africa.


For His Kingdom & Glory,
Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa

Wishing You a Very Merry Christmas

December 23, 2016


Christmas Greetings!

On behalf of the Life to Life Africa team, Arthur Nhau, LTLA Director in Chinhoyi, writes:

"Wishing you the beauty, blessings and joy this season brings. We are very grateful for the prayer and financial support you continue to give this ministry. Lives are being transformed physically and spiritually." 


The LTLA team memorized the following verse this month:

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

We are truly blessed by your partnership as we serve this wonderful, mighty, everlasting and peaceful Lord.

Mike and Arthur in Chinhoyi

Merry Christmas!

Mike Sulc & Arthur Nhau
Life to Life Africa

Investing in the Next Generation

December 22, 2016



When I was in my late 20s, I found myself not "fitting in" with the college students I was ministering among. At that time, the Lord impressed upon me the first 7 verses of Psalm 78. I recognized I was ministering to the "next" generation. "What I have heard and known, what our fathers have told us...the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, the wonders he has done," we are "not to hide" these things but "tell" them to the next generation. (Psalm 78:3-4) The impact of imparting these things to the next generation reaches "the children yet to be born and they in turn will tell their children... then they would put their trust in God." (Psalm 78:6-7)

In Chinhoyi, we are applying these instructions as we labor to see God's kingdom advance now and in the years to come. Our spiritual input focus from the beginning has been with young people. As their parents and caregivers noticed the impact of discipleship with this generation, the older women and men requested discipleship, which resulted in the Women and Men of Hope groups.

We have "discipled," or trained, the parents and caregivers in feeding their families through effective farming practices as well as income-generating entrepreneurial projects. As the younger generation has reached the working age, we are mentoring them in these same ways. This month we held a Foundations for Farming training for our young adult group, "Chosen Generation," so that they can assist their families in growing food. We are looking to launch them in income-generating projects in the coming year, so pray with us as we instill the value of work in the lives of young people.

Chosen Generation receiving Foundations for Farming training at the LTLA Community Center.

We are also reaching the next generation of young men through soccer. This month the Life to Life team traveled to play a soccer match with youth from a farming community where we hope to launch a satellite ministry effort. We are grateful to Cathy Twito, fellow Overflow Thrift Store co-founder, who secured Ames Soccer Club uniforms for our team.

LTLA soccer team at the farming community soccer "pitch."

Team members hamming it up for a "selife" in the back of the LTLA truck.

So the next generation knows,
Mike Sulc
Life to Life Africa