Dear friends,The Zimbabwean winter has been long this year. It is still cold enough to require a few extra blankets at night, the winds have started whipping the dried leaves of winter off the trees, the sun hidden behind gray clouds.

If you have been watching international news, you know that we seem to be in the eye of a political storm right now. The political violence has calmed but for small pockets here and there. There is a tenseness in the air, as all Zimbabwe and the world watches to see how talks between the opposing parties, progress. To ease the economic struggles, 10 zeros have been dropped, making what cost $4,000,000,000,000 (trillion) dollars last week, now cost $400 ZD. New currency has been introduced to reflect these changes, and even old coins have been allowed into circulation again. Line ups at the bank for the new cash have tripled and quadrupled, and systems are down temporarily as everyone readjusts.

On the ground, the shops are emptier and basic commodities are getting harder to find. It seems just when we think things can’t get any worse, they do. We really are amazed at how people are surviving. Cash is hard to get, grocery supplies hard to find, medical care difficult because of the foreign supplies needed to keep things going. How the Village of Hope is surviving becomes more of a miracle with each passing month! God is truly making ‘streams in the desert’! We still have yet to cut back on a feeding program, on a preschool meal, or on the protein our resident children get!

In the midst of the economic struggles, this month we have hired one new house mom in training, and we have grown by 4 resident children! Esheka, Yvonne, Mavis and Tinashe have all come to join us. Their stories are sad but they have now found a place to be loved and cared for, a school to go to, regular meals and medical care! (Pictures as background)

Which brings us to the main point of this newsletter…. Over the years, we have been asked many questions on ChildCARE Plus Sponsorship by you. We would like to answer all those questions and more at once, and give you a greater understanding of what drives the program, and just how integral a part you play by one simple act - child sponsorship! These questions and answers are found in the attached document. It is 4 pages, but we trust will leave no questions unanswered.

At the VOH this month /

- we have established a new and larger playground for the older children at CHAPS. Where it is situated has also allowed a safe and fun place to play for our resident children on weekends and evenings, still under the watchful eye of ‘mom’.

- A whole new stock of larger pots to feed the growing number of children at the feeding programs, and in our growing children’s homes, were ordered and delivered!

- CHAPS first netball and soccer competitions with local schools, brought them home jumping and yelling as victors!

- 4 new children joined us at residents. Two sisters, and a brother and sister.

- Doreen, our newest house mom began training.

- On Aug. 1st, we held our 2nd annual Fun Day to close off the second term. 120 preschool aged children from the feeding program, were transported to the VOH for fun and games, and a full lunch with meat, oranges and candies!

- The concrete slab on the second storey school block was completed! Building materials - bricks in particular - have become scarce, so we carry on with the walls slowly.

- Adds for teachers for a growing school, and an ad for house moms went out again. Please pray that God provides His chosen ones!

- The framework for the roof went up on 3 of the 4 children’s homes under construction.

On a personal note

Gord arrived home safely from his trip to Canada and the States on July 30th. We spent the next full day at Immigration and received another 30 day extension stamped into our passports, while a decision is still pending on the reapplication of our work permits. We praise God for one step at a time!

Nathan, soon to be 17 years old next month, passed his drivers test while daddy was away. Our children are now on 2nd term break. They will head back to school for third term on September 8th.

PRAYER REQUESTS THIS MONTH

- for our work permit application - to be resolved quickly, for approval.

- for peace to reign in this country.

- For our new resident children to settle in, for emotional healing.

- For our new house mother Doreen, that she might feel at home here and be a blessing.

- For the many food and building supplies we need to continue the building development and VOH programs.

- That God would bring the right people to minister as teachers and house moms.

- For strength to continue to minister in these very tiring circumstances.

God bless you for being a part of our lives and part of children’s lives at the Village of Hope! Thank you!

(note you can download the ChildCare Plus at the Village of Hope document)

That God would bring the right people to minister as teachers and house moms.

For our new house mother Doreen, that she might feel at home here and be a blessing.

That they’ll settle in and have emotional healing.

…to reign in Zimbabwe.

Pray that our work permit application will be resolved quickly, for approval.