Home of Hope

Dear Friends,

We continue to be in awe of how faithful God has been with the needs of this ministry. We are so mindful of the worldwide recession still affecting us all, and our hearts are filled with gratitude for the goodness and generosity from you dear people who have continued to help make Home of Hope possible. Thank you for your sensitive hearts that make a difference in the lives of many with so little.

We have been amazed that despite our economy transitioning to the use of the dollar, the cost of living has continued to rise. One example is the recent 30 to 50 per cent increase in our power bill. Because the power bill also includes charges for water, it must be paid or they will disconnect the water which would be a disaster for the Home. Consequently, we have been even more grateful for the additional food and clothing donations received during the year.

One couple donated kitchen utensils, which we were able to give to the trainee mothers. They also gave us two large boxes of clothing. Another couple donated 60 cabbages. Some were kept for meals, and the rest were handed out to the destitute that come to the Home for food. Another lady brought a good supply of spinach which could be cooked for meals, and a Congolese businessman who works in Harare donated three kilograms of kapenta (small fish netted in Lake Kariba and sun-dried, a very good addition to our diet).

Home Repairs and Maintenance
Craig has been busy painting the window frames and the exterior of the house and is hoping to complete this work before the rains set in. After that he will work on the interior of the house.                                                                                                                              
School Fees
We have helped about 50 children get into school for the final term. The priority, as always, was the children of the mothers who come for training and then others who are in need.

Seventh Grade Exams
Prince and Cecil, who have been coming to the Home for about two years and attending the Presbyterian Club, as well as one other student, recently took their seventh grade exams. A teacher at the Club was able to register them. She visited eight different schools before she found one that would allow the three children to do this. Many schools are at maximum pupil levels, and others don’t allow non-pupils to take exams. Thank God for this persevering teacher.

Food for the Homeless
This program is still offered for about 60 people, mostly men, every Monday through Friday at 7:00 a.m. with bread and tea served daily and a bar of soap given out every two weeks. Medicines are also distributed, as well as money to go to the clinic or hospital for more serious cases

Mary   
Mary, who is from Switzerland, is retired and came to Zimbabwe to stay for two months. She spends most of her time teaching the street children at the Presbyterian Club. She has also been wonderful in securing donations for these kids.
                                                                                                    
Presbyterian Church School Club
At present there are ten boys who are being helped through the Club. They come for breakfast and clean clothes, then schooling, a meal at the home during the day, a change of clothes, and finally back to the streets for the night. Please keep all of them in your prayers.                         

Trainee Mothers
There are presently 25 mothers being trained in dress-making skills by Lucy. Our favorite time with them includes praise and worship and a meal.

O’Brien and Anelka               
O’Brien, one of the kids from the Home, was hospitalized with pains in his chest. Social Welfare paid for him to be treated, and they are planning to put him into a children’s home where he can be placed into a proper school. That would be an answer to our prayers. Anelka has been with the Home for about two years and has been having serious health problems. He often gets sick and has a terrible skin problem that just won’t clear up. At one time his joints were so swollen, he could barely walk. About four months ago, the Home referred him to Social Welfare to have him tested for HIV and to get him into a home but nothing was done. One of the teachers from Presbyterian Club said she would try, and she succeeded. He tested positive for TB and for HIV, and he is now on medication and in a children’s home. We are so grateful and thankful to God that Anelka could be taken off the streets and put into a home to be properly cared for. We thank God for he is good. His mercies never fail but are new every morning!

With blessings from us to you,

Joan, Craig, Ria, and Dave