Richard & Debbie Lee Newsletter July 2008
Richard & Debbie Lee Newsletter July 2008
We get quite a lot of response by email to our newsletters, which we find very gratifying. It means you are reading and understanding them, and discussing issues raised in them with us. This helps and encourages us to no end as we grapple with situations in Zimbabwe which are very stressful .and, at times, even life-threatening.
About two weeks ago, I was in Filabusi where we used to live and I went to visit a councilor, Mr. Ngwenya, who was very sympathetic and helpful towards our mission and, indeed, ourselves when we worked there. I asked him if it would be possible for us to return to live and work there again. He said, "No, not under any circumstances." When I asked him why not, he told me in no uncertain terms that if we did we would be murdered by the CIO (who stole our property). He told me that even he, a local Councilor, was not safe from the CIO who were a law unto themselves and answerable only to Robert Mugabe.
Many people are encouraging us to pack up and move to greener pastures. We tried to do just that when we attempted to transfer our mission to Zambia. But it seems the Lord said, "No, I want you in Zimbabwe."
There are many of My people there who are suffering and need your help!" So we stay and pray, work and talk with the few fellow missionaries left in Zimbabwe, and wait on the Lord for direction and leading.
Our mission and Debbie and I as individuals support an old folks home here in Bulawayo in as many ways as we can. These are old timers who can no longer support themselves, have pensions that are so eroded by inflation that they can't even afford to buy a single loaf of bread, and would simply die of starvation if they were not helped. These are the very people who gave their entire working lives to the building up and development of Zimbabwe, which the government of Mugabe has totally destroyed in a very short time. We just cannot turn our backs on these old folk.
I lead a weekly Bible study. This is a more advanced type of study, mainly for mature Christians who want to dig deeper into the scriptures. It is a real challenge for me as I have to do a lot of research and study myself to be able to teach men and women who have been Christians for longer than I have, and some of whom are preachers and university-trained themselves. I really enjoy the challenge and growth that these studies bring about in all of us. I am also learning so much from them. Something new stands out each study. I have had some very good commentaries sent to me on a lot of the New Testament books and they have been a tremendous help and such a wonderful gift and blessing. Please pray for us as we attempt to do the Lord's work in this way.
I also get to preach for the church we attend here in Bulawayo. We are working on getting some more home churches started. This seems to be the safest way to worship in Zimbabwe right now. Please pray for this, too, as it is working well and is definitely the New Testament pattern we find in Acts.
Debbie wants to get Bible and sewing groups started for the poorer folk in Bulawayo. The problem is not to find poor folk, but rather to try and limit the classes to what she can cope with. There are thousands of poor in Bulawayo. She starts with prayer, then Bible, and then goes on to sewing. The years she did this in Botswana, Filabusi, and here- in Bulawayo (when we first came back to Zimbabwe), it was a great ministry for many women, some of whom still remember her and want to join the group again. Debbie needs support here and needs to ask for your help with either funds to buy sewing machines (hand operated, which are +/- $130 US each in South Africa). Two will do to start. Also needed are fabric, cottons, pins, and scissors. She can get these from South Africa, so if it is too expensive for postage, any gift to buy these will be most appreciated and welcome. If you want to send any of these, it will have to be posted to South Africa. The address is Botswana Zimbabwe Christian Mission, c/o Mrs. L. Layland, PO Box 11, Musina, 0900 RSA. Please address it FROM a church, label it "gift, not for resale," and keep the value very low. It costs so much a box to bring in, but if the value is too high, they charge import duty. If you send funds, please send them to our Forwarding Agent and he will let us know about it and see that we get it.
Living in Zimbabwe had made us all millionaires and trillionaires!! We don't even know how to deal with it anymore. The amount of naughts just boggle one's mind!! The cost of living soars every day. Today a loaf of bread is $15 bil; tomorrow $30 bil. Our house rent was $535 bil last month; this month it is over a trillion. The alarm system was $150 bil last month; this month $735 bill! How do they justify this??? We asked the women at the Estate agent what happens when folks can't pay that rent
and she said we have to give them a month's notice. So we asked where do they go. "Oh, probably out on the street!" she says!!! We desperately need a change and new government in Zimbabwe. Please pray for our beautiful country and the people. There are so many who are in need and many Aids orphans who need help and homes. We support and work with one of the orphanages just outside of Bulawayo.
We, the Lees, need your continued love, prayers and support. We love you all.
The Lee’s, Richard and Debbie