Working Together for the Truth

Thank you for your prayers for the recent trip to Zimbabwe. They were certainly needed, as we experienced delays in arriving. Rachel & I sat on the plane for 6 hours in Asmara, Eritrea, while the weather cleared in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The weather delays then affected Ronda, Pete & Harold, who missed their connecting flight and arrived in Zimbabwe a day late. They also had their Chicago to Saginaw, MI flight cancelled on their return, so they had to rent a car to get home. 

We are grateful for the grace God provided us in handling these travel delays. His grace also poured out on our time together with the LTLA team, as he blessed our efforts to work together for the truth. In keeping with 3 John 1:8 the LTLA team provided great hospitality. It was good to get "face to face" time (3 John 1:14), as you will see from the photos below. 

The Apostle John certainly understood the value of incarnational ministry, which he witnessed firsthand with Christ Jesus. Ronda, Pete & Harold of Hopevale Church in Michigan and Rachel & Timothy of Ames, IA had the joy of seeing first hand what God is doing through the LTLA team. Relationships were built, mutual encouragement was experienced, the love of God was shared, and two water tanks were installed. To God be the glory as his kingdom continues to advance in Chinhoyi! 

For the sake of the Name, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

 

Diana (LTLA team Member) & Ronda distributing clothes to children at the landfill. 

 

Ronda helping Tinotenda (wife of Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry team Leader) in the kitchen. 

 

Ronda (L) & Rachel (R) sharing with the LTL team ladies. 

 

Rachel digging holes for planting broccoli, as Ronda prepares to place compost in the holes. 

 

Rachel teaching the LTLA High School Bible Study. 

 

Timothy with the LTLA Youth Bible Study children. 

 

Timothy & Harold shared their testimonies at the Men of Hope meeting along with Pete, who took this picture.

Harold starting the plumbing connections for the water tank at the LTLA Community Center. 

 

Harold finishing the plumbing connection for the water tank. Erasmus, an LTLA Chosen Generation member, assisted Harold in this work. 

 

Simba, LTLA Training Ministry team member, climbed to the top of the tank to place the lid as Harold secured the ladder. 

 

Pete (Creative Media Pastor at Hopevale Church) spent time teaching Natalie the finer points of photography & videography. She is studying Visual Communication & Multimedia Design at Chinhoyi University of Technology and is involved in the LTLA College Ministry. 

 

Pete showing the Chosen Generation guys how he uses a drone to capture aerial video & photos. 

 

An aerial photo Pete captured with the drone of the LTLA Community Center. 

 

The LTLA Community Ministry team joined us in visiting the Chinhoyi Caves, where the rock creates a brilliant blue color to the water at the bottom of the cave. 

 

Ronda, Pete, Harold & Mike donning their Life to Life shirts with the LTLA team. 

 

 

 

Face to Face - Prayer Bulletin

Rachel Iliff and I have arrived in Zimbabwe. Our prayer is that Ronda Grosse, Pete Carlson & Harold Dost from Hopevale Church, and Timothy Steward from Ames, will arrive safely this week after travel delays. As I shared 3 John 1:8 in my recent update, I echo the Apostle John's sentiment in his prior letter (2 John 1:12) that our "joy will be complete" as we "talk face to face" with our Zimbabwean brothers and sisters in the Lord. Would you pray as we "work together for the truth" (3 John 1:8) and encourage one another to "walk in the truth" (3 John 1:4)? And, praise be to God, the truth is that "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all... If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:5,7). 

While in Chinhoyi, I look forward to being able to comfort and grieve face to face with Shelton, LTLA Community Team Leader, and his wife Tinotenda, as they lost their baby girl in the seventh month of pregnancy three weeks ago today. Please pray for them as they heal from this heartbreaking loss. I will also be able to spend face-to-face time with Tatenda, LTLA Training Ministry team member, who has continued struggling physically & emotionally from his bout with transverse myelitis. Please pray that our visit would encourage them to continue to find hope in Christ, our loving creator and sustainer. 

 

Grateful for your prayerful support!! 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

P.S. Thank you for your prayers for my brother, Mark. A recent MRI showed that there is no new cancer growth in his brain. He continues to be a strong example of trusting in God no matter our circumstances. He is also rejoicing that his two daughters are both expecting their first child later later this year. 

 

Co-Laboring

Last month Life to Life Africa was blessed by co-laboring efforts of a team from The Navigators at Iowa State University. And this month, I will be joined in Chinhoyi by a team from Hopevale Church in Saginaw, MI and by two recent college graduates. The LTLA team has and will be putting into practice 3 John 1:8, "We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth." 

Ezra Iliff, Navigators staff member at Iowa State, served in Zimbabwe in 2017 as a student with a team from Iowa State. His love for the Lord is infectious and he has been eager to return with others to participate in what God is doing in that land. He led a team of six (three students, one recent college graduate, and a young couple) that worked with The Navigators in their ministry to college students in Harare (Zimbabwe's capitol) and Bulawayo (the country's second largest city). They then joined our team in Chinhoyi, where they especially energized our efforts among the younger generation. We look forward to seeing the result of the Gospel seeds that they planted in the years ahead! Below you will find photos of their time in Chinhoyi. 

On Sunday, I depart for Zimbabwe with Rachel Iliff, who graduated from college a year ago and is Ezra's sister. Ezra recruited her, along with Timothy Steward (who graduated from Iowa State two years ago), to travel with me and serve the Lord in Zimbabwe. In addition, a team from Hopevale Church (Ronda Grosse, Pete Carlson & Harold Dost, who has served in Chinhoyi several times) will join us later next week. I am excited to travel with these sisters and brothers in the Lord, and to join with them in the opportunity to be blessed and be a blessing. Be on the lookout for an update on our trip later this month! 

 

Co-laboring in the Lord's harvest fields, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

ISU Navigators Team with LTLA Training Ministry Team.

 

(L to R) Ezra, Zviko, Keziah & Sam riding in the LTLA truck as they enter 

Chinhoyi University of Technology where they had the opportunity to connect with students.

 

(L to R) Ezra, Kenton, Tinotenda, Simba, Luke & Sam. 

The ISU Navigators team helped Simba and the LTLA team make contact with new students like Kenton & Tinotenda.

 

ISU Navigators team enjoying a meal at Eat N Lick with LTLA staff and students.

 

ISU Navigators team helping with Youth Bible Study at the LTLA Community Center.

 

Ezra, Sam & Luke (only white faces) hanging with boys from the LTLA 'Hood ministry.

 

Ezra & Luke helping the LTLA Community Ministry team in their gardening efforts.

 

Keziah enjoying lunch with LTLA Community Ministry ladies.

 

(L to R) Rebekah & Keziah helping Kate shell corn harvested at the LTLA Community Center.

 

Zach & Rebekah Runyon with Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry Team Leader. 

Rebekah traveled to Zimbabwe in 2017 as a student on the same team with Ezra, 

and wanted to return so her husband, Zach, could experience the ministry, 

the people and the beauty of Zimbabwe. 

 

 

Landfill Ministry

Landfill ministry? Yes, Life to Life Africa has initiated a ministry to people living at the Chinhoyi landfill. You may recall me sharing late last year about Mr. Gwara, who lives with his 10 grandchildren at the landfill where he makes a living collecting recyclables. Here is an update from Shelton, LTLA Community Ministry leader, on our efforts to minister to his family as well as others living there. 

"After a lot of coordinating work, we have managed to get six children living at the landfill admitted into grade 1 at a nearby primary school. Two are Mr. Gwara's grandchildren and the other four are Mrs. Nyamangara's grandchildren. I wish you could have seen the bright smiles on their faces and the group hug they gave me when I supplied them with their school uniforms. 

It is a rich blessing to be part of making this happen for them. The process was complicated by the fact that none of the children had birth certificates. [The LTLA team worked to get birth certificates issued retroactively.] We are grateful for the financial support through LTLA that is allowing us to help these children get caught up with extra lessons after school. They missed the first school term this year as we worked on getting them admitted. All six are in the same class so we are paying their teacher to provide the extra lessons. 

We have begun a weekly Bible lesson with these kids and the other kids living at the landfill. We are taking the approach to minister to them on their 'turf' as we conduct the lesson on site at the landfill. Our prayer is that as we minister to these children it will open doors to minister to their caregivers. Pray with us for a harvest to be gathered for the Lord's glory as we do the hard work of cultivating and sowing the seed of the Gospel among those living at the Chinhoyi landfill (Galatians 6:9-10)." 

Speaking of harvest, we are grateful for the corn harvest that has been gathered among the families we serve. It was particularly encouraging to see that 13 of the 56 new families we trained did very well with their harvest despite a lack of rainfall at the beginning of the growing season. Members of all these families are receiving spiritual input through the Men & Women of Hope meetings, and the children are participating in our weekly youth Bible lessons. Pray that a spiritual harvest is also gathered among them. 

 

Serving in the Lord's harvest, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

Here are photos of the landfill ministry and of the corn harvest:

The six landfill children with whom LTLA has been working to enable them to go to school. 

 

The six landfill children in their school uniforms in front of their school with Marvelous, 

who oversees the LTLA school sponsorship program. 

 

Mr. Gwara's two grandchildren who are now going to school. 

You will note the gloves being worn by the grandson on the left. 

He uses the gloves when helping his grandfather search for recyclables in the landfill. 

 

Some of the children playing at the landfill. 

 

Landfill children posing for a picture at a recent LTLA Bible lesson. 

 

 

Two of the 13 new families who did well with their corn harvest:

   

Back to Normal

Life is gradually getting back to normal in Chinhoyi, though in our fallen world we know it is not the type of normal that God intended, as it is fraught with hardships and evil. Nevertheless, it is encouraging for the LTLA team to re-engage in ministry activities that were taking place prior to the pandemic. Thank you for holding us up in prayer as we navigated the many restrictions that affected our ability to minister to people. 

The most recent encouraging development has been the ability for the Training Ministry Team to meet on campus with students at the Chinhoyi University of Technology. For the past two years they have not been able to set foot on campus with the Covid-19 restrictions. During the pandemic they had been meeting off campus with students. Needless to say, that made college ministry very challenging, especially in meeting new students. They are very glad to be able to return now. 

We are also excited that the university is bringing back all the students to campus. What the university has been doing the past two years is only bringing back the number of students they could house on campus for two weeks at a time. The students would receive all their in-person lectures for the semester during those two weeks and then they were sent home to complete assignments remotely. At the end of the semester the students returned in batches to take exams. It was a very disruptive schedule, not at all conducive for learning or for ministry. We rejoice that all the students are coming back to campus to complete the current semester! Would you pray as the Training Ministry Team re-engages with students on campus, renewing relationships and establishing new ones? As it is harvest time for corn in Zimbabwe, we are asking the Lord for a spiritual harvest among the students at Chinhoyi University of Technology.

The Training Ministry Team at he entrance to Chinhoyi University of Technology 

(L to R: Mildred, Marvelous, Simba, Stella, & Zviko. Arthur took the the photo.) 

 

Below are photos of other ministry activities that were re-initiated in the last couple of months. We are thanking the Lord for these renewed ministry efforts! 

 

Ministering in the Lord's harvest, 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

 

 

The LTLA Critical Care Center (Preschool Orphan ministry) re-opened at the beginning of March. 

Tsungai (sitting at right) & Brian (in yellow shirt serving food) are currently providing care for 20 preschool orphans. 

 

The LTLA Training Ministry has re-initiated their soccer ministry efforts. 

Simba (with the ball) loves playing soccer and is spearheading the charge 

to reach out to high school and young adult men in the community. 

 

Arthur (LTLA Director in Chinhoyi) loves playing soccer as well and joins in the action. 

 

The LTLA Clinic has now been able to consistently take place each month. 

Here family members are waiting for their doctor consultation. 

 

Dr. Munya consulting with a patient during the LTLA clinic.

 

The 3 Great Cs

The work of advancing God's kingdom is not just for those called into full time ministry. For this task, God has enlisted the help of everyone who believes and follows Jesus Christ in their life. Charles Call, who accompanied me on my recent trip to Zimbabwe, firmly believes this truth and shared it with the Life to Life Africa team. 

Charles shared the 3 Great Cs with our team: the Great Calling, the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Jesus called ordinary fishermen to follow him, and said that as they did that he would make them "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). As they followed him, he modeled fishing for men and taught them the great commandment, which directs us to love God with all our heart and to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). After his resurrection, the last instruction of Jesus to his followers was the great commission, where he sends them out to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19-20). 

Was this calling, commandment and commission just for those who followed Jesus, then? We see that Jesus prayed for "those who will believe in me through their message" (John 17:20). This calling, commandment and commission is for all of us who believe in Jesus. While the majority of Christ's followers did not go into "full time" ministry, they nevertheless acted upon the calling, commandment and commission they received. They certainly had a "full" impact along with those in "full time" ministry, as evidenced in Acts (2:41,47; 5:14; 6:1,7; 9:31,35,42; 11:21,24: 14:1,21; 16:5; 17:12). Likely, all of us can identify ordinary followers of Jesus who pointed us to him and had a significant impact in our lives. 

It was good to have Charles remind us of this and encourage the LTLA team to equip everyone we disciple to labor for Christ because we are all called, commanded and commissioned to serve the Lord. Charles also encouraged us to love our spouses and children, for they should be of first priority. It is evident that he has done that in his life, as he drew from personal stories related to his family. From his agricultural career, he also had good counsel for us in farming efforts. I was blessed to have Charles travel with me and the team was blessed by the interactions with him. 

Thank you for your prayers for our trip! Below you will find photos of activities in which we engaged while in Zimbabwe. 

What a joy that we are all called, commanded and commissioned to serve the Lord! 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa 

 

 

Charles sharing with LTLA Training Ministry Team. 

 

Charles sharing with LTLA Community Ministry Team. 

 

Charles with Brian, who was preparing a tomato seed bed at LTLA's vegetable garden. 

 

Charles helping with LTLA Food Distribution. 

 

Charles counsels Shelton (left) and Arthur (right) on their sugar bean farming efforts. 

 

LTLA Community Ministry Team Farming Q&A with Charles. 

 

Diana shows Charles baobab fruit seeds.

 

Ottilia cooks down the baobab fruit juice as Patricia helps in the jam making process. 

LTLA is experimenting with making different jams to sell. 

 

Charles had many personal interactions with LTLA team members like this one with Gogo Mildred. 

 

Charles sharing at the LTLA Men of Hope meeting. 

 

Charles with most of the LTLA team.

 

 

Prayer Bulletin: Traveling to Zimbabwe

Dear LTLA Friends,

I return to Zimbabwe today, accompanied by Charles Call (see photo below). After a career as a farmer, agricultural extension agent, and banker, Charles wants to remain active serving the Lord in his retirement years. He has experience serving ministries in Zambia and Kenya so it will be a blessing to have him join me on this trip! A fun connection he has with LTLA is that he was a senior at Kansas State involved with The Navigators when Ron & Mary Ann Shimkus arrived to minister there in the early 1970s.

Charles Call & Mike Sulc 

 

Would you pray in the following ways for us? 

• Safety & health as we travel (Feb. 18 - Mar. 7). 
• Mutual encouragement in the Lord as we spend time with the LTLA team and others in Zimbabwe. 
• For Charles to understand the heart and vision for ministry that the Lord has impressed upon Arthur, LTLA Director in Zimbabwe, and Shelton, Community Ministry Leader in Chinhoyi. 
• Discernment for Charles and the LTLA leaders regarding future collaboration in ministry. 
• Clear leading from the Lord for the LTLA leadership team as we consider ministry expansion plans. 

Here are prayer updates on Tatenda (LTLA Training Ministry team member) and my brother, Mark:

• Last August Tatenda was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spine, after collapsing in April and not being able to walk. After a round of medications and physical therapy sessions, he is now able to walk with the assistance of a single elbow crutch. He still does occasionally have bouts with severe back pain but overall his condition is much better. 
• My brother, Mark, was diagnosed in October with glioblastoma, a very aggressive brain cancer. After surgery followed by a six week course of radiation treatment and half dose of chemotherapy, an MRI last week revealed there is no new growth in the tumors. He will soon begin a full dose chemotherapy treatment round along with an Optune treatment, which requires wearing electrodes on the head that help disrupt the growth of cancer cells. He is encouraged that his body tolerated the first round of treatments, and asks for prayer that he is able to handle this second round of treatments. The initial crisis of his diagnosis drew him very close to the Lord and he asks that he is able to continue that close fellowship with Christ as well as continue sharing about it with others. He is convinced that his close relationship with the Lord and positive attitude in facing his battle with cancer is directly related to the prayer support he is receiving. 

 

Thank you for your prayer support that calls on our Lord who empowers us to experience Him and reveal His glory! 

Mike Sulc 

Life to Life Africa