Zim Staff

God has truly blessed us here with some wonderful staff. It is great to be able to work with each of them (right to left): Shadrack, Alice, Cleopatra, Ruth, Brighton and Me. Please remember them in your prayers as they work to bring hope in difficult circumstances.

Why?

Some of you have asked me why Samaritan's Purse has decided open an office in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe suffers from a variety of factors due to erratic weather, high HIV/AIDS rate and an economic crisis.

Life expectancy dropped from 51.8 years in 1995 to 37.2 in 2006; mainly due to a high HIV/AIDS rate but also do to food insecurity.

HIV/AIDS rate has dropped from 20.1 to 18.1 in 2006 through intensive awareness and behavioral change programs but it is still one of the highest in the world.

Over 80 percent of the population is unemployed in the formal sector. This is mainly due to the agricultural decline; the agricultural sector use to employ up to 70 % of the population.

There are currently 1.3 Million orphaned children in Zimbabwe - 77% as a result of HIV/AIDS.

Zimbabwe needs our prayers, they need our help. Please continue to pray for Zimbabwe as it goes through this election time. There is a lot of uncertianity and insecurity for people here. Also, pray for our office as we work to develop the best programs to bring hope both physically and spiritually. This time of uncertainty has also lead to the slowing of our registration process, please pray it can move forward quickly. I hope to post some pictures soon but it is a little tricky right now with the situation to be seen taking photographs. Thank you for your prayers.

More Photos of Mozambique

Current Picture for NGOs

Here is a very good and accurate picture of things in Zimbabwe right now from Reuters.

http://www.alertnet.org/db/blogs/50698/2008/03/14-124329-1.htm

Maputo

Well it has been a long time since I have written on the blog. But, last month I was able to take my home leave and spend some great time with friends and family. Now I am back, from the time I have written a lot has changed at the office. We have hired some actual staff and are starting to actually function. The registration process for us is long but hopefully by God's grace we will be registered by June. The biggest issue right is the current election crisis and the uncertainty of what will happen next. But we press forward.

Me with some of the nieces and nephews:




However, because of the uncertainty there, my office decided it was best I leave for this month. So now I am in Maputo, Mozambique visiting the Samaritan's Purse office there. I have wanted to do this for a while, although the timing is a bit difficult. I can't say too much on this public site but I can say that Zimbabwe needs our prayers during this time. SP Moz is doing some great work in the area of HIV/AIDS, food relief, livelihoods and water/sanitation. They have been great hosts to me here.

Here are some fisherman on the beach in Moz: