Home of Hope Zimbabwe - April 2022 Update
Harare, Zimbabwe
Dear friends and supporters of Home of Hope,
In this update, Craig shares news about the street children. Some are now grown-ups; some were able to start new lives by joining a family; some rejoined their own family; some attend primary school. Given how tough life is in Zimbabwe, each case is a miracle in itself. This was made possible through your prayers, your generous gifts, and your love for the destitute, the homeless, and the otherwise uncared for.
Mike
We have known Mike for about fifteen years. We met him when he, unfortunately, had to live on the streets because of family problems. We have tried to help him with food, clothing, education, and by sharing the Good News of Jesus with him. He finally went to a children's home and finished his schooling. He lived in the children's home for about six years until it closed this year. He had to then find a place to live, which is not easy when you don’t have a job or money to pay rent and food. We thank God that He continues to look after Mike and helped him find a place to stay. Mike is sharing a home with Simeon, who worked at the children’s home where Mike lived. Simeon knows the Lord and, by God’s grace, was able to get a job after the children’s home closed. He is letting Mike stay with him and is paying Mike’s rent and food. We were able to help them the first month.
Mike told us that he would like to get a driver's license for large vehicles and work as a driver for a company. We are helping him with driving lessons, etc. until he can pass the test. In the meantime, we wanted to help him become self-supportive and earn a living. He came up with the idea of cooking and selling food. He knows places where he can buy the food to cook at a reasonable price. In the past, he helped us buy food and clothes for those we help at very cheap places. We agreed to help him get started by buying the stove and food he needed to start his business. He is very energetic and wants to achieve something in his life. We thank God that we can continue to help him.
Nkoni and Anelka
We are also helping Nkoni and Anelka, who lived on the streets with Mike. We have known them for many years, too. Nkoni was also living in a children's home, and we paid for his primary and secondary education. Unfortunately, he had to leave the children's home and had nowhere else to go. We have been helping him pay for his rent and groceries. He also wanted to work and suggested selling groceries. We helped him buy some groceries to start his business. We will continue to help pay for his rent and food until he can become independent. Nokoni is happy because his grocery business is doing quite well!
Anelka has been in poor health for most of his life as he is HIV positive but has been doing well the past few years. He lives with his grandmother, and we have been supporting them for several years by paying for their groceries and his education. He also wanted to earn some money. So, we helped him buy large bags of potatoes, which he then divides into smaller bags to sell for profit.
Schooling
We have helped some mothers who couldn't afford to pay for their children's school fees and another mother whose children needed school uniforms. We have helped about ten children this term to go to school.
Serving Food
We are still serving food Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sixty to ninety people per day. We give them hot tea, jam sandwiches, and biscuits, and bananas on Fridays. In January, we gave them mangoes from our trees. We also help with medicine for headaches, colds, toothaches, and upset stomachs. Some people need to be treated at the clinic, so we help them with that, too.
Joan
Mom’s hip operation was a success. Her walking has improved, and we walk to the shops three times a week, which is good exercise. Her dementia comes and goes, some days she doesn’t recognize me. But I can’t complain as the Lord is helping us through. She is less agitated than last year and a bit calmer and happier.
We thank you for all those who have supported us and prayed for us. It’s amazing that we can still carry on.
Many blessings and love,
Joan, Craig, Ria, and Dave
Read more about Home of Hope Zimbabwe HERE.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of Home of Hope in Zimbabwe. All gifts of any size are welcomed to help minister to street people. You may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.