Harare, Zimbabwe

Dear friends and partners in the ministry,

We bring you greetings from Home of Hope in Harare, Zimbabwe. Greetings from the Tea and Bread Lady, Joan Trevelyan and her son, Craig Trevelyan; from Dave and Ria Rock and from others like Lucy and Ongai, with whom a team from Outreach – Ted and Sue Wright, Jennifer L. Ellis, Frank Dimmock and Ebralie Mwizerwa – had the pleasure of visiting in early September 2018. The Outreach team also enjoyed meeting with the CCAP General Secretary, Rev. Kingstar Chipata, and CCAP Moderator, Rev. Aston Galanti.

For nearly two decades Joan Trevelyan and her son Craig have led the Home of Hope ministry providing food, primary health care, and skills training to hundreds of destitute children and mothers. The ministry is strategically located in the inner city on CCAP property. Their team includes Lucy, who provides street mothers with training in sewing.

This news update focuses on Lucy’s call to serve “street families” as you will read in her story below. It was a blessing for us to spend time at Home of Hope and examine ways to nurture this critical ministry. They (and we) are grateful for your prayers and support. Here is Lucy’s letter:

Dear Reader,

My name is Little Lucy, as I am known to many, of which I thank God for. He made possible a way for me to serve him in a unique manner. Working with the most vulnerable people, I have learned a lot. One day as I was standing by the gate at Home of Hope watching cars and passersby, I saw a young lady who was pregnant. She walked straight to me and asked for help. As I was chatting with her she said, “I am eight months pregnant.” Dressed in tight-fitting, dirty, smelly clothes she continued, “Both my parents died when I was too small, and then granny took over. She also died and now I am 16 years old and expecting a baby. I have not gone for a medical check-up.” Tears ran down her face. I said, “Please do not cry, I am here to listen and help you.” She wiped her tears and I gave her a cup of tea and bread. I also gave her a piece of paper with an address to go to for medical assistance. The next day she came back with a card to say thank you because she had registered for a prenatal clinic. With a smile, I gave her a hug and said, “Thank you Lord!” She looked at me and said, “Who is that?” And I said, “It is the Lord Jesus. He loves you no matter what. He is the one who called me here to meet you and help you. So, take him as you friend, too. Accept him as your Lord and Savior.” She agreed and accepted Jesus right there. We prayed together, and she said, “Thank you because I was so afraid all this time but now I am not. Thank you, Lord,” she said. I asked her who was responsible for the pregnancy. She said, “My boyfriend who is going around picking up plastics and bottles for re-sale so that we can have some food. We stay together along the river in a plastic shack.” I said, “I see” and handed her a loaf of bread and a piece of soap. “I’m sorry that’s all I have to give you to take home.” She thanked me again with a little smile.

A month later I again saw her with a rag wrapped with something in it and a plastic bag in another hand. I could not believe what I saw. She was dragging her feet towards me, dust on her bare feet. She said, “The Lord helped me last night, I gave birth to a baby boy.” I could not believe what I saw in those tattered clothes: a bouncy baby boy. I quickly invited her in and gave her some warm clothes and some baby clothes, too, because the baby was still naked. I gave her a towel and a blanket, shed some tears again, then she said, “Thank you Lord.” I said to her, “Run to him anytime with your life. He is waiting for us all the time. I only do a little and the Lord the rest hence the name, “Little Lucy.” “Oh!” she exclaimed, and I said, “Yes, that the truth!” Then off she went to her shack home, happy! From that day on, I replaced the word “Street kids” with “Street families.”

So, dear friends, learn to say “YES” when the Lord calls you! He wants to use you for his glory. Open your hearts and say, “Here I am Lord, use me.” Love God and his people. Though poor, many families live together with their children in these shacks. Some are responsible and love each other, yet they face so many challenges associated with being poor. They need your help. Every little bit of help to them goes a long way. Thank you and may God bless you.

I love you!

Little Lucy

Home of Hope November 2018 update Lucy's doll.png

Every woman that comes to Home of Hope has a story. Each of them makes a doll like Lucy’s doll, pictured here, that includes a personal story found in the doll’s pocket. When you make a gift to Home of Hope, you are helping these women come off the streets and you are also helping prevent their children from living on the streets. You are a blessing to many generations even when you do not realize the impact of your gift. Every time you send the love of Christ, he does miracles through your actions for his glory. We are grateful for your gifts that make a big difference in the lives of many.

Ebralie Mwizerwa
Projects Coordinator

Home of Hope - November Update

Harare, Zimbabwe