Our family has now settled back into life in Zimbabwe. The familiarity of our family dogs, the neighbour’s rooster that starts shouting to the dawn at 4 a.m., the beauty and freshness of the gardens after the rains, the children’s smiles and hugs as they came running to us at the Village, were all welcoming sights, sounds, smells and touches.

We have been blessed to see the stores expand to such an extent that we have never seen them so full in the 4 ½ years we have lived here, garbage bins line driveways as services are slowly restored area by area. The potholes in the roads remain as that old back stiffness sets in as we weave our way through the streets and praying we don’t hit a drumhole that will flatten a tire. But after a week, routine is setting in, our children are catching up with friends and back in school, and we are well and blessed!

At the Village of Hope, we met our 5 new resident children who took their cues from others and ran and hugged us. I fed Tapiwanashe, one of the new babies, her bottle of milk and shed a tear and prayed a blessing over her little head as we listened to the other children recite poems and songs of welcome. On our first Sunday back at Hope Community Church, we were blessed to hold and pray over these new little ones as they were dedicated to God before our assembly. What an honour!

The concrete slabs for two new Children’s homes are being poured.

Our new housemothers are settling in and the Village will be opening one new Children’s Home this week, as Addeline, one of our newly trained moms takes the building and begins to build a family. Last minute items are being purchased to make this happen.

Plans are being developed for the newly registered Secondary School. There is much to do in preparation of the first building going up – approvals, clearing, budgets, purchasing of materials, etc..

What an excitement to see the computer lab at CHAPS (Cornelius Hope Academy Primary School) in full operation with a full time computer teacher blessing our children! We walked in as grade 2 students were opening up a Word document and typing their first sentence on the keyboard amidst smiles and giggles! (pictured below) Praise God for the church in Canada that supplied the funds for the computers – a gift that will help hundreds of children for years to come!

• Our grade 7 students, now in Form 1 (the beginning of high school in Zimbabwe) at CHASS (Cornelius Hope Academy Secondary School), placed #11 of a total of 202 schools in Harare province after their grade 7 final exams! And #4 in our local district! What a testimony to our teachers, and to the potential God has placed in each one of these young men and women of God!

But better than all the physical developments, the management that did nothing more than SHINE in their duties in our absence, are the children’s stories we are hearing of how the Village of Hope is changing lives….

• Malcolm, at the age of 4, abandoned at a police station, is recounting in his young way, how much more he likes being at the Village of Hope because he gets food all the time and isn’t lonely or hungry.

• Esthery, in grade 4, is showing herself an amazing athlete and the promise of national competitions as she leaves others in her dust every time she runs in interschool competitions. An opportunity she would not have had but for the Village of Hope.
• Tendayi, at the age of 7 and once living on the streets, was dancing in praise to God at the altar in church on Sunday!

Thank you for what you do to be a part of these children’s lives. CHAPS now has an enrolment of 400 students! CHASS, in its first month, has an enrolment of 27! Two thirds of these children are sponsored by people like you! We now have 29 resident children, including babies.

Our hearts cry would be that the Village of Hope would never be needed, but in the world of today, we are glad it is here and ministering to the lives of hundreds of children day by day, by dedicated national men and women of Zimbabwe! This is the body of Christ again – working together internationally! God is good!

PRAYER REQUESTS /

• That God would guide the men and women shaping the national vision for care of orphaned and vulnerable children. For wisdom, creativity, enthusiasm and resources to accomplish the task.
• For housemothers – the most difficult position to fill at the Village of Hope. For Godly women with a ‘calling’ to work with children long term.
• For all the preparation to happen in the establishing of Cornelius Hope Academy Secondary School. That we be in line with God’s thoughts. For favour along the way.
• For salvation for our children and their families. That staff and leaders alike be faithful in representing Christ in our community!
• For strength for our own family as we settle back into life in Zimbabwe and the work ahead.

Thank you again for all the kindness shown to our family, for your faithful support of the Village of Hope, for making a difference!

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”