It is a privilege to share with you a story of a women who has been an inspiration to our partners working at Central Baptist Church (CBC) in Harare, and for us.  Amidst so much despair amazing resilience and faith exists within the people of  Zimbabwe.  However, the needs in this nation remain very real for millions of people who rely on organisations, like CBC, for even the most basic supplies.  We are therefore truely grateful for your support, as it enables us to partner with organisations like CBC who are caring for the people of Zimbabwe. 

We have recently been reminded of how important prayer is for this ministry, it is too easy to get caught up in the doing that we forget about the source of enabling and the one who can change hearts and situations.  We ask that you join with us, using the prayer points in this newsletter, in prayer for Zimbabwe.

Rubatsiro prayer points

•  Praise for the work God is doing in Zimbabwe
•  Pray for good communication with our partners in Zimbabwe
•  Pray for wise stewardship in discerning what needs we can assist with
•  Pray for God to be glorified in all we do
•  Pray for guidance as we plan for 2011

The Story of Emma Saliwe Moyo

  She lives with her two small children in a room, 3 x 3 metres long, in one of Harare’s most impoverished communities, Epworth. In a country with 90% unemployment, there is a lot of competition for work and both her and her husband are unemployed.  Compounding this is the fact that they are both blind.   Not having completed high school, Emma has little hope of ever getting any gainful employment, especially in a country that still considers disability to be inability.   Her husband has relocated, 4 hours drive away, to pursue a degree in Law, being unable to find employment with his marketing qualification.

Emma first came to CBC in January 2009 asking for any form of assistance we could give.  When we met the family their livelihood mainly came from begging on the streets of Harare. We added Emma to Social Concern’s food support programme and have been providing her with a monthly food pack since.  However, on her own with two children to support, she is still often forced to come into town with her children to beg.

  Four-year-old Almer is the one responsible for the family’s moving around, having learnt to be her mother's eyes, and risking her life to guide her mother through the busy streets of Harare. In March they were involved in an accident as Almer was trying to help them cross one of Harare’s busier streets.  By God’s mercy, Emma and two-year-old Alfred came out physically unscathed and Almer is slowly healing from the injuries she sustained.  However, Almer is now of a school going age and, without any generation of income for the family, she will probably be forced to join the large pool of children in her community trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty due to lack of education.  Emma's greatest need right now is capital to start a small project to pay off Almer’s medical bills. Almer still needs regular checkups and each visit to the doctor costs around US$20.

 Emma Moyo is a Christian and desires to have Almer and Alfred grow up as God fearing children. She has recently started attending the services at CBC which is such a joy to us at CBC as we seek to, not only to meet a physical needs, but also spiritual needs. We feel like our lives have been enriched by having met this family who have shown us that disability is not inability, and that perseverance is everything.  Social Concerns Ministry, Central Baptist Church, Harare.

Prayer points for our Social Concerns Ministry, CBC, Harare

• Thank God for his faithfulness in providing the resources and the labourers we need
• Pray for God’s wisdom and strength for the team as they meet with needy people from diverse backgrounds
• Pray for the spirit of discernment as the team makes decisions
• Pray for preaching and evangelism that is faithful to God’s word
• Pray for God’s guidance as we transform into a developmental ministry
• Pray that we may continue to be sensitive to the leading of the holy spirit in every aspect of our work
• Pray for team volunteers who are writing exams this year and those planning to go to university next year
• Pray for good stewardship for all the God given resources entrusted to us
• Pray for God’s spirit to cause change and growth to those we minister to
• Pray that the circumstances of the needy around us may improve to God’s glory
• Pray  for projects that will empower the beneficiaries to self-sustainability
• Praise the Lord for the work he has done and for the harvest he has wrought for Himself

Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Psalm 127:1

Meet the Trustees continued

Hilary Kitto joined the Rubatsiro Board in 2008 bringing with her a range of financial and business expertise.  Hilary was born in Zimbabwe and first came to New Zealand in 1992 where she completed an Honours Degree in Business at Massey University, Palmerston North.  She has worked in banking and run her own mortgage broking business over the last 15 years and now runs an Usana health and wellness business.  Hilary currently lives in Auckland with her 6 year old son, Tague, and 4 year old golden retriever, Diesel.  She has a burden for Zimbabwe, believing she was born there for a reason, and prays that God will use her to care for the poor and needy in that nation.

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