Back from Zimbabwe

Well here's a very small selection of pictures from the 1500 or so that were taken during our fantastic trip to Zimbabwe. The twelve of us really were so blessed by the people we met and the way God used us. We estimate that we spoke to in the region of 2,500 - 3,000 children, young people and adults in schools, on the football field and in churches. Of those, I would say that some 250 accepted prayed an honest prayer in their hearts to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

I had many new experiences, some great, some not so great. In the "great" column goes, sleeping under an incredible star filled sky, having four young people become Christian at the end of one of my talks, bathing and washing our clothes in a warm river. In the "not so great" column goes eating mouse, eating goat intestines and getting used to a culture which is always on time (give or take a bit - like an hour or even two).

We bonded so well as a team and my life has been enriched and enhanced by the people I spent time with. God used the skills and gifts that he has given each of us to do amazing things.

Zimbabwe is a country in desperate need of our prayers, as you will no doubt have seen in the news lately, it is subject to an evil and brutal dictatorship which is crippling an otherwise resource rich nation. But the people of Zimbabwe, as I am sure is the case in many African nations, have a faith which puts ours in the west, to shame. Against great hardships, they pray and give to others in a very humbling way.

This is how I felt on leaving the UK - "I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power..."

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

Again and again we all felt we could not do what God was asking of us, such as taking a seminar on purity with 50 twenty year old, out of work, young men, or taking a 4 hour church service, or leading a youth cell group in the dark and rain, with an interpreter and 5 minutes notice to prepare, but again and again we saw that we couldn't, but God can. We were given so much energy and enthusiasm despite the char-roasted mouse diet.

Thank you so much for your prayers. God blessed us richly.