Proverbs 13:22 tells us, “Plans fail when there is no consultation, but there is accomplishment with many advisors. Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans of the human heart, but counsel of Jehovah is what will prevail“
Our team of 15 missionaries from community United Methodist Church traveled to the Hanwa mission school in Zimbabwe on Sunday, July 19. Although good consultation led to excellent plans, there were still challenges with connecting flights (two unfortunate team members did not make a connecting flight out of Johannesburg, and so their luggage did not make the flight either; at the time of this writing, the luggage still has not arrived.
On the way out of the capital city, Harare, on the two-hour drive toward the Hanwa Mission school, our caravan of four vans passed through miles and miles of roadside vendors along a well-paved road. The caravan turned left onto a dirt road, and a new world emerged: a world of thatched huts, children walking home from school in their different school uniforms of differing colors. We learned these children walk as far as 10 miles each way for the opportunity to learn. Some of these children are Hanwa children, and they begin waving and welcoming our caravan!
It’s all very emotional for team member Zanda Miller (Richmond, VA), who is interviewed by Reagan Reynolds (St. Louis, MO) here
The team is grateful for all of our prayer partners, including Zanda’s prayer partner, Barbara Julian, and Reagan’s prayer partner, Kathy Monte, there at home. Our team was also grateful to share gifts gathered by our congregation with those who live in this Hanwa village, including the women mentioned by Zanda in the video, who received aprons handcrafted by Community UMC members. As you can tell from the song, the aprons are loved!
The first days we toured buildings on campus for the secondary school and learned of the newly operational computer lab, including a smart board. The team also toured the agricultural greenhouses and aquaculture site where tilapia fish will be raised. The United Methodist Church offered grants for these important initiatives, as they help the school become more sustainable. Thank you for your financial support, Church!
Pastor Doug was among the first volunteers given the opportunity to meet 100 secondary school students in a chapel service Wednesday (thank you, prayer partner, Vita Hansen). The entire team is joining all 100 secondary school children to visit a local wildlife park to see elephants and antelope on Thursday. Please pray for good conversations and safety as we travel! This will be the first time most of these children have ridden on buses or even left their farming home community, as well as their first encounters with God’s most magnificent creatures!
Those interested in seeing more pictures from the Zimbabwe Volunteer in Mission are invited to join us in worship the next two Sundays as stories are shared.
