TYPHOID OUTBREAK

We are encouraged by the progress that is being made on the projects in Zimbabwe.  We feel privileged to have been a small part of some big things happening in that country.  There is now a state-side church that is partnering with Maranatha Worship Center.  They are helping develop a farm that will provide food for their people as well as some income for some of the church members.

In the Northeast part of Zimbabwe, where we held medical clinics, GAiN is now raising funds to build a new clinic.  This will make it possible for those that are too far from medical care to receive help.

Recently, our GAiN office received a call from Dr. Farai Katsande, who is the South and East Africa Area leader for Cru (Campus Crusade) telling of an urgent need.  He told about the community of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, which is about 18 miles south of Harare, the Capital.  There are 300,000 people in this region.  Because of the economic situation, the government can no longer pump city water to this community and they have not been able to maintain repairs on the sewage system.  The people have dug for themselves open shallow wells to get water.  Because of the sewage issue and lack of clean water a dangerous outbreak of Typhoid is affecting Chitungwiza.  Farai shared that he personally saw 10 cases of Typhoid infected people and the next day 15 more cases were reported.

Life Ministry Zimbabwe is the name for Cru in Zimbabwe.  Farai and his team have been working to train  45 pastors in this community and surrounding areas.  The timing of this training has provided a great opportunity to help the community as well as share the gospel.  The training is called Transformational Development.  The pastors have learned that even though the do not have the financial resources to help in a crisis like typhoid outbreak they still have the ability to help.  Farai and his team took the 45 pastors into the hospital where they were able to help clean the hospital.  This showed the community that the churches are getting involved.  The pastors are also trained to use the Four Spiritual Laws Booklet and the JESUS Film.

Farai has asked for help in two ways.  First, pray for this community and second, to provide 1000 water filters.  The water filters take out all of the bacteria including Typhoid.  Each filter will produce over 400 gallons of water per day.  Farai’s plan is for the pastors to take the water filers to their church members who will be trained to use the filters and trained to share the gospel.  The church members would share clean water from the filters with five to six other families from their community.  Through this method, the churches would be empowering their congregations to help give their neighbors clean water and also share the gospel.

Each filter cost about $100 to purchase, ship and distribute.  Half of the money has been raised to send the filters to Farai.  Our GAiN office has already air freighted 500 filters for this ministry outreach.  Please pray that all of the money comes in that is needed.  Both Farai and GAiN believe that these filters along with training will not only help the community but will make a huge spiritual impact in the churches of Chitungwiza.

This past summer went rather fast.  We put on a mini retreat for some of the Chinese we have been working with.  We also conducted two marriage retreat called the “Art of Marriage”.  Attendees expressed how much they appreciated taking this time to do a check up on their marriage.  One couple expressed how their marriage was experiencing some rough spots at the time and how it helped them work somethings out.  Another involvement was helping with Vacation Bible School at one of our supporting churches.  I know we will all remember the warm time we had this summer.

We also became great grand parents.  Andrea’s daughter, Lauren & Seth had a baby girl, Piper Louise Edgar.  Her other daughter, Emily & Nathan Moore will deliver our second great grand child in November and in February our daughter, Juleen & Jim (Noob) Kenney will give us another grand child.  We are multiplying.

Please continue to pray as we partner with Farai and other ministry organizations to provide hope and share the love of Christ.  We appreciate you continued prayer and support for our ministry with GAiN and Cru.  It is such a privilege to serve on your behalf.

Love, Frank & Ruth Luter

About these ads