by Barb Julian
Jesus said to them, “I am fed by doing the will of the one who sent me and by completing his work. Don’t you have a saying, ‘Four more months and then it’s time for harvest’? Look, I tell you: open your eyes and notice that the fields are ripe for the harvest.. John 4:34-35
Devotion
In John 4, Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at the well and asks for a drink of water. She asks, “Why me? How, anyway, you don’t even have a cup”? Jesus tells her about his ability to give her living water that never stops flowing…She’s talking naturally, getting a drink of water. Jesus is not. She is being coached in the conversation to the recognition of who he is: the Messiah – the One source of living water of salvation, and she gets it! She runs to town and shouts: “Come and see, come and see the Messiah, the One who knows everything about me”! Villagers listen to her (because she has a story) and go to see for themselves. This is the point our scripture reading comes in. Jesus is seeing these white-clad Samaritans, evangelized by the woman, ready for his Word to be sown in them, ready to believe and be forever changed. He’s changing the idea of harvest from the long-awaited future of the last days to right now. The harvest is the many hearts, minds, and souls in the Samaritans, prepared and open to meet Jesus, God’s Son. It’s also for us. We live in God’s Kingdom now, yet there’s more when Christ comes again. Let’s celebrate. Praise God!
For many years, ZIMVIM teams—past and present—have partnered with our Zimbabwean friends, United Methodist leaders, and the Hanwa Mission to strengthen educational opportunities and prepare children and youth for a changing world. Through shared vision, prayer, discernment, planning, brick-making, fundraising, and the blessings of deepening relationships, God has brought forth an abundant harvest. This year’s project—new and upgraded teacher housing along with administrative space—supports the hope of preschool, primary, and secondary students, their families, the mission, and the village of Hanwa by strengthening educational opportunities.
Every previous building project has shared this same purpose. Churches, parsonages, guest houses, offices, kitchens, classrooms, science laboratories, libraries, computer labs, teacher housing, boreholes, electricity, solar panels, and income-producing greenhouses have all been tangible expressions of hope.
By God’s grace, these resources have been transformed into opportunities for brighter futures. We are witnessing a Kingdom harvest, and every project stands as a visible legacy of God’s love in Christ Jesus. Let us celebrate together and give thanks to God!
Prayer
Holy Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, your presence with us in ZIMVIM teamwork and Charlie’s leadership experiences is experiencing You in the face of another. We thank you and praise you for your ministry gifts in us of loving boldly, serving joyfully, and leading courageously as we seek to live more Christlike lives, and you provide the harvest. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
