Dear friends,

Please do continue to pray for the situation here.  We know that many of you have asked how we are coping and wanted to answer you as a whole.

-          A missionary colleague here was just denied their work permit and given 7 days to get out of country, after over 4 years of service.

-          Our work permit expired June 16th.  We are now working here on 30 day extensions stamped into our passport each month until a final decision on our permits is made.  However we are praying about our safety here and whether we as a family, should be getting out.  The repercussions on our work permit and extension stamps however are uncertain.  The timing of all of this was never planned, but God knows.

-          All aid into the country has been suspended.  Our own VOH feeding programs have been suspended until the situation calms, the most recent Short Term Missions team cancelled.  As a management team we decided these moves were prudent and for the safety of all our workers.

-          The violence in the rural areas has affected almost all of our workers at the VOH because of their family living outside the city.  There is heartache all around us.

-          Inflation is now running well over 2,500,000%, some reports citing 4,000,000%.  ATM machines no longer work, Interac systems are constantly down, and we can take the equivalent of about $1 out of the bank in a day.  These things are grinding the economy to a halt.  Some shops are closed and no longer selling or open for business because of the rapid price hikes due to inflation.  They simply cannot make a profit and stay afloat in this environment.  Shelves cannot be restocked.  Prices have increased x 72 in the last month!

-          The above has meant that shopping for the Village has become worse than ever and we need your prayers to stay afloat and provide for those who rely on us.

-          The Canadian embassy has just upgraded their travel warnings and advised against ALL travel to Zimbabwe.

-          The rerun is going ahead despite the opposition pulling out, hoping that the violence will stop by such action.

-          Our own family will be staying indoors over the next few days, as we watch the situation closely.

Please pray strength for Pastor Zowa and his family as they try to encourage and lead a church of hurting people, through this time.  The challenges on their own family are significant, they are suffering no less than those around them whom they minister to.

Please pray for our own family’s safety, for wisdom, for peace and for the future of this beautiful nation.

To date we are safe at the Village of Hope and at home.  We have slowed down construction and the purchase of materials in this hyperinflationary environment.  We are decreasing our trips in and around the city.  Our children are now at home – all schools ordered closed this past Monday. We are no longer receiving calls from Social Welfare about children in need of a home, because their own offices are not functioning well.  The stresses are mounting as we face an uncertain future.

We are leaning on scripture and waiting on the Lord for clear direction.  Romans 8 brought me comfort, as I was meditating and asking God if He wanted us as a family to stay or to get out for a time.

(vs. 18) “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us….(vs 25 - 28) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to this purpose.”

And so we appreciate your prayer support through this time.  We ourselves, pray that our next communication is a PRAISE report !