Amen and Alleluia!
Last night we arrived at Habitation of Hope in the dark and were greeted by Gari, Oscar, Stewart, Lucy and Alice. We got a quick tour of the grounds and our sleeping accommodations before heading to dinner followed by an early bedtime after two days of traveling.
I awoke this morning to a beautiful sunny view of the grounds outside the cottages. What a lovely welcome to Zimbabwe!
After breakfast and a team devotion time, we headed to Green Valley Church where Gari Masuka is the lead pastor. He is also the National Director of Hands of Hope in Zimbabwe.
Before the trip, I had agreed to give a teaching “sermon” at the church service. I was nervous and anxious about this, but I did feel like God had put it on my heart so I did it as an act of obedience. I thank our team and all of you who prayed specifically for me because I truly felt God’s presence both before and during the teaching time. The presence of the Lord was surely in this time with all of us. It had been my heart’s desire that He alone be glorified.
I shared the theme verse for our Bible camp this week from Proverbs 119:11: “I have hidden your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” My sermon was translated by a beautiful young woman named Faith, a university student who is supported by Hands of Hope. Faith is also a worship leader and had taught the children a song based on this verse that they sang after my teaching time. What a gift from God to see those children singing that verse. I think all churches definitely need a kids’ choir AND a “praising God through dance” time in their services! What a joy and a blessing to worship together with our brothers and sisters in Africa. The singing, dancing and sharing of God’s goodness in another language just reinforced the universal nature of the body of Christ. Amen and Alleluia!
In the afternoon, we visited a children’s home sponsored by Hands of Hope. A married couple, Conald and Lucia, are caring for twelve orphans and parent them as a family community. Conald and Lucia also pastor a church of their own. We had fun with the children while coloring, playing with balls, and jumping rope.
At the end of our time together, 12 year-old Chipo led the children in song accompanied by three young boys playing the drums. Jesus’ command to care for the poor and the orphans is such a normal and inspiring part of the Christian community here in Zimbabwe. I loved everything about today. Tomorrow, the children arrive for VBS and I am so looking forward to our time together, teaching them about the love of Jesus for each and every one of them.