We arrived in Bulawayo on the 17th of September after traveling a total 28 hours and spending 3 hours at the border getting our visas. The Lord blessed me on the bus with a whole row to myself so I was able to lay out and actually sleep.
Once we reached our destination, we immediately jumped into this country and its beautiful culture. This month consisted of so many different ministry opportunities; I’m going to take a few minutes and tell you about the different things we did!
The first full week of us being here consisted of evangelism training and school visits. The same night we got here, we went to our church for the month, Revival, and we had small groups to help us get comfortable with evangelism. It was so nice getting to know people, build relationships, and learn how to tell strangers about Jesus in under 5 minutes.
Every morning we’d go to our host’s kids’ school and do a short devotional with the students. We primarily concentrated on the 5th, 6th, and 7th grade classes, and we’d alternate which classroom we’d go to each day. Monday’s quickly became my favorite because Mrs. Dube’s class is the best! #Emerald6Forever
The second week we were here was an event called Bulawayo for Jesus. Several churches around the area participated in various activities. There were crusades, more school visits, and door to door evangelism. While there were doors literally slammed in our face, there were also doors opened for God to do some work in people’s lives. It was beautiful!
During that time we went to an organization called Baby Heroes. We got to pray over premature babies and mothers in the wards who were visiting their tiny babies. They have such a shortage of beds and equipment, so lots of times there would be 2-3 infants in a crib together. Tiny IV’s, feeding tubes, and oxygen masks were everywhere we looked.
After a while of praying (and fawning) over the tiny babies, we ventured into the room where moms were preparing to take their babies home. We held babies and mothers alike and prayed over them, and we even got to bless them with some clothes, blankets, and diapers! Blessing them was such a blessing.
We went to a local hospital and prayed over the patients there. We prayed for healing, and we prayed for Jesus to make His presence known. My teammate Allison, who graduated nursing school prior to launch, and I partnered up together. We assisted patients with their water and food, and showed them the same love we’ve shown our own patients at home.
The third week was filled with many more evangelism time. More schools, assemblies, scripture unions, and we even drove out to a rural area and visited a village. We met the chief, a wonderful Christian man with a beautiful story, and gained permission to enter his village where we visited more schools to hand out bibles and even had the privilege of going to the village clinic and praying over the staff and expectant moms!
Throughout the 3 1/2 weeks we spent in Bulawayo, we visited various schools, did numerous worship and prayer nights, delivered many sermons, and prayed for countless people. All in all, I probably shared my testimony upwards of 20+ times. There is such a brokenness in Zim. Broken homes and families, a broken government and economy, and a whole nation needing to know the love of a Father.
There’s major daddy issues here in Zimbabwe. Fathers who have left their families, and step fathers abusing their children. My heart breaks for these kids I’ve spoken to about their home life.
So many young people, children and teens alike, pulled me aside and told me they were struggling with depression, suicidal, felt unwanted, cut themselves, etc. We prayed and we cried, but most of all we rebuked the enemy trying to take a hold on them and their lives. Please continue to pray for all the friends I’ve made in Zim. Pray for healing, for scars, and for brokenness. Most importantly pray that they see the love of their Heavenly Father.
Carley being a human basketball hoop
the first weekend we went to a women’s conference, and each woman there was gifted with a unique experience at the park. Kacie and I got to go to the lion feeding!
Rob, Liesl, Brandi, Carley, Allison, Elaina, and Kacie on the roof of the police station. We has the privilege of praying for them, and Kacie preached to them. Afterwards they gave us each a coke and gave us a neat view of the city!
Some of the beautiful children we encountered one day. We played soccer, frisbee, and various group games. As soon as we stepped out of the truck, the locals started shouting “makiwa” which translates to “white people.”
Brandi, Elaina, Allison, and Liesl crammed into the back of a truck with 6 boxes of bibles with us. This was in the process of driving out to the rural villages.
Mrs. Dube’s 6th grade class! These students are so amazing and so full of Jesus. These are the most beautiful people, and these 10-12 year olds have changed my life!
Thanks for reading about my second month on the race spent in Zimbabwe! This country is beautiful, and I could see myself making a home here one day. We’ll see where God leads me, but don’t be surprised when I leave the US to be a midwife somewhere here in Africa some day…
love y’all lots!
Brandi
