I’ll be in Zimbabwe for a few weeks, and won’t often have time or access to the internet for blogging, and this week has been busy in preparing to depart. I go with mixed emotion, as always. On the one hand, I will miss my family and church here in the US, which is a good thing because it means I really love them! After all, I have a great life; why would I ever want to leave it?
On the other hand, I have both great friends and exciting work to do in Zimbabwe, where we’re developing a rural secondary school as a mission of the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. It’s called Emsizini Secondary School and you can follow the link to our Facebook page.
I’ll get to preach, teach, listen, laugh, and learn while I’m there, along with the regular duties of being a guest and pastor.
The incredible opportunity I’m being given as part of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church’s 3Cs initiative to support Churches, Clinics, and Classrooms in Africa and Russia (follow the link for more information) has been a cultural and spiritual awakening. I am continually amazed at how positive and joyful the people in Zimbabwe are, in spite of outrageous economic, social and political challenges. Unemployment, AIDS, Malaria, inflation..the list is long, but their love for their country and culture and their commitment to faith and family keep them hopeful. I am especially blessed by the young people I know.
Pray for me, for our mission school, for the pastors and lay people in Zimbabwe. If you want to give, you may send a check marked “3Cs” or “Zimbabwe” to the United Methodist Church of Macedonia, 1280 East Aurora Rd., Macedonia, Ohio, 44056. 100% of any donation goes directly to the work we do, not for administration or local church. Of course it’s tax-deductible and we’ll send you a statement at the end of the year.
Thanks for your prayer support!
