SOS from Zimbabwe

I am DEEPLY moved by what is going on in Zimbabwe, Africa, at the moment. This is not the first report and SOS we have received and I feel to pass it on.

I remember feeling like this years ago during the genocide in Rwanda (we were in Europe at the time, too). We have GOT TO do something, even if it is "just" pray!!!

Please read and do what you can...

Letter from Zimbabwe sent in by John Winter:

I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF... The darkest hour is always before dawn.We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next........I mean they are actually ploughing down brick and mortar houses and one family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when 100 riot police came in with AK47's and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings - because it was 'too close to the airport', so we are feeling extremely insecure right now.

You know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if you do not know - how can you help? Even if you put us in your own mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be with us - that is a help -but I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what's going on here simply because you will feel uncomfortable.

There is no ways we can leave here so that is not an option. I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes... that's all. You can't just be in denial and pretend/believe it's not going on.

To be frank with you, it's genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are - IN level 7 - (level 8 is after it's happened and everyone is in denial). If you don't want me to tell you these things - how bad it is - then it means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation.

We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say - oh well, that's what happens in Africa This Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our plight---or how can we be rescued? It's a reality!

The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality... Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener's wife with two small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already support 8 adult people and a child on this property, and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is water.How can I take on another family of 4 -----and yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?

I am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here - I am asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and want you please to pass on our news and pictures. So PLEASE don't just press the delete button! Help best in the way that you know how. Do face the reality of what is going on here and help us SEND OUT THE WORD. The more people who know about it, the more chance we have of the United Nations coming to our aid.

Please don't ignore or deny what's happening. Some would like to be protected from the truth BUT then, if we are eliminated, how would you feel? 'If only we knew how bad it really was we could have helped in some way'.

[I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what's coming to us]For now,--- we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for the next meal - but what is going to happen next? Will they start on our houses? All property is going to belong to the State now. I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold of those, I can't fight for my rights. Censorship!----We no longer have SW radio [which told us everything that was happening] because the Government jammed it out of existence - we don't have any reporters, and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters here, they would have an absolute field day. Even the pro-Government Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered and blown mindless by the wanton destruction of many folks homes, which are supposed to be 'illegal' but for which a huge percentage actually do have licenses.

Please! - do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something can/may be done.'I am one. I cannot do everything, ---but I can do something.. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.'

Edward Everett Hale

Up North

This week, Rich, Shayden and I traveled about 4-5 hours north - to participate at a missionaries get-together and visit friends on the way. Rich and Shayden just stayed one night and then went back south to be with the other kids, whereas I am staying the rest of the week.
The organization that handles all of our administration from Germany, Globe Europe, requires missionaries to report back at least every 3 years (it´s actually been 4 for us).

I am enjoying some free time - when else can I get to spend 2 hours in the morning fellowshipping with God?!!!

One of the great things about being a missionary is that you get to rub shoulders with some extraordinary people! I´ve thought this many times and this week is no different.

What a caliber of people, many of them young families, who work in very difficult circumstances!!!

I am sharing a room with 4 ladies, all single. One working in Romania, one in Albania, one getting ready to go to Central Asia and one that JUST arrived back from Mozambique!
Amazing ladies, giving up their lives to LOVE - in Jesus´name!

After spending every free minute catching up on sleep (I was sooo tired!) the first couple of days, I am now enjoying socializing with the others.

I even got to play a game of "Fussball" (Tischfussball) yesterday with 2 of our missionaries from Africa. One of them is African, married to a German, the other one is German. Both have young children. Incredible people!

So as you can see, I´m having a bit of fun here - also got to play some ping-pong with the African brother. The only down-side is that I MISS MY FAMILY!!! Wish they could be here, too!!!
(because of space restrictions, nobody was allowed to bring children.)