Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

| by archiveworldraceblogs

Beauty in Zimbabwe

 

As I sit on the back ledge of the house we are staying at in Zimbabwe I look out and see GOD’s awesomeness and glory in His creation. As you can see from the picture below there are rolling lush green mountains with a central Pride Rock formation that kisses the heavens above. 

 
 

 I look out and see people walking around the middle class neighborhood of Mutari, Zimbabwe. The beautiful ebony color of the people’s skin radiates under the warm rays of the Sun.  Underneath the people’s smiles you can see a gleam of pain and sadness.

 

 

One of Our primary ministry opportunities this month was ministering to orphans and displaced people in Zimbabwe.  The first day of ministry we went to visit a building where over 100 displaced adults and kids “live.” As we enter the small concrete courtyard of the building we see people laying outside on the cold, hard concrete in obvious discomfort. I see a small boy under the age of 6 who is crying due to a large puss filled boil on his butt. We learn that sick people have to sleep outside on the hard, cold concrete and are not allowed in the building. As we continue to walk in the courtyard, we see women in the courtyard crouched over little fires cooking food for their families. Before we enter the cold, dark building we pass the one bathroom that is used for over 100 people. 
ONE BATHROOM FOR OVER 100 MEN, WOMEN AND KIDS).

 
 

As we enter the building we begin to see the seriousness of the situation, besides the building being very dark, the living spaces are very small. In one room that is about 16 by 16 there are over 15 kids with HIV/Aids that sleep on the floor.  We visit another room where a husband, wife and couple kids live in the 16 by 16 space.  Each family’s home is only separated by bedroom sheets hanging from the wall. The lady that shows us around the building also lives here, she introduces us to several people and we pray for them.

 

While visiting and praying for people we meet a woman named Beauty. We instantly connected the moment I meant her. We immediately hugged several times like we were long lost friends. She did not speak much English and I know two words in the Shona language but that did not matter GOD connected our spirits long before we ever met each other. Her warm spirit shone through in her many hugs, her huge smile and hearty laugh. She epitomized the type of joy CHRIST brings to our lives. She was the living example of Philippians 4:11-12 which states I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Despite the horrible situation she was living in she was more than content she was full of joy. She was the light in this dark place and her faith shone through the darkness.

 

I saw her again the day before we left Zimbabwe and was honored when she asked me to pray for her and her household. I met her young daughter who was less than two years old.  Her faith and joy are amazing and something I have never seen or experienced before. My life and my definition of faith and joy have been forever changed.

 

Thank you Beauty for showing me what TRUE, Faith and Love in CHRIST means.
Thank you Zimbabwe for deepening my love of GOD’s beautiful creation.
 GOD THANK YOU FOR BRINGING BEAUTY INTO MY LIFE TO TEACH ME THERE IS A  DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JOY AND HAPPINESS !!!

 
 

Kids playing outside the building where over 100 displaced men, women and children live

 

 Young Girl Washing Dishes in the Courtyard. People cook, wash dishes and clothes in the courtyard.
 
The home of a displaced family, estimated 16 feet by 16 feet. The family’s only privacy is the bedroom sheet that seperates their
home from another families home.
 
 

 
Picture of me and Beauty . SHE RADIATES GOD’S JOY AND BEAUTY !!!