6 December 2000
In Filabusi we have now had thirty-five inches of rain this season. The average over the last fifty years or so is twenty-one inches, so we are way above average this year. In fact, it has been so wet that there are churches I have been unable to get to since December. They keep in touch with me by bicycle.
In our newsletters, I try to keep away from politics; but the situation here in Zimbabwe has become so politically volatile that it is impossible to just ignore the situation. The only way I can describe the situation at present is, "State initiated and sanctioned anarchy." The state-controlled radio, television and newspapers all trot out, on a daily basis, anti-white, anti-commercial farmer propaganda. This has led to a situation of near anarchy as commercially owned farms are invaded by mobs of state paid invaders. Farmers are assaulted, workers are intimidated and property is destroyed.
We have been lucky as our property is not very desirable as it consists mainly of stony hills and very thick thorny bush. Also, we are very well known in our district and our work is respected by the local people, but we are not immune. Two adjacent properties have already been invaded by mobs. Please pray for this country and its people. It desperately needs good governance and stability to get it out of this state of stagnation and economic chaos.
The US dollar has been pegged against the Zimbabwe dollar for about a year now. The rate of inflation is about 70%; this means the buying power of the US dollar continues to slide downwards against the Zimbabwe dollar because of a state controlled exchange rate. This is beginning to affect us and our mission in quite a serious way. We can only pray that the Lord intervenes in the lives of people and especially in the lives of government leaders.
Debbie and I are due to visit our supporters in the US this year beginning in June. We just hope and pray the situation here will have settled down by then or who knows what will happen while we are away. Fortunately our son and his wife are here now; but it is a big responsibility for them -- especially as they are new here and new to the situation.
B.Z.C.M. has now made it to the 21st Century!! We now have a computer, our own telephone line and are hoping to get electronic mail in the very near future. We will let you know our address in our next newsletter. While on the subject of addresses, I must tell you that our Forwarding Agent, Vivian Ottinger, has a new address:
708 Blossom Hill Road, #231
Los Gatos, CA 95032.
Gayle, our daughter, has now moved into her own apartment and consequently, her address has also changed. If you write to her, please use:
71 Frizley Gardens
Frizling Hall
Bradford
BD 9 RLZ
Sorry about all that. I can't wait until our address reads "HEAVEN" only!! Gayle is doing very well in her studies. Most of her exams and assignments get her A's. In fact, she has over thirty so far and is in line to get into University in September 2001 without too much trouble. She is now so grown up and responsible that it is hard to believe she is our "little" girl who left home only last year. She has four days a week at college, has to put in hours and hours of study a week at the library, works one full day job and one evening job a week, and still plays some sport and manages a limited social life. She keeps her own apartment and cooks all her own meals, does laundry and all the other things domestic life requires. She works very hard and we are very proud of her. Gayle also manages to keep her spiritual life well on track. Please pray for her; she needs our prayers.
I was at in Swazi last Sunday to worship with Makoba Church of Christ. This was a combined service with Baka Church of Christ joining us. We were over one hundred Christians in attendance and there were three baptisms. Sounds just like a normal church meeting anywhere in the world? Barely two years ago there was no church at all there, and in just such a short period of time a church has been planted, buildings built, teachers trained and now there are two self-sustaining congregations almost totally able to look after themselves with the Holy Spirit in control.
Last month these two churches hired a van and took their adult and childrens' choirs, plus the preacher and a group of elders, to Bulawayo, a city of about one million people, fifty miles away. There they evangelized in a township and attended a church service at a church that was dying. They sang, preached and encouraged and left that church with a new sense of hope and a desire to try harder to serve the Lord in the future. This, all by Christians, who by time standards, are still wet behind the ears; but, by spiritual standards, are giants of the faith. I never cease to be amazed by the growth of these Christians, but I should not be -- oh, I of little faith!!
The churches in Filibusi, by all accounts, are also doing very well. When the roads have dried out again, we are going to hold a big church planting service at a place called Pangani where the people are clambering for a church. Please pray with us that this church planting exercise is a success. There is a technical training school at Pangani and we want to involve the kids as well.
Binga is very wet and full of mosquitoes. I visited the churches there a couple of weeks ago and, I must admit, I was a bit worried about malaria. I remembered my pills this time and, so far, so good. Unfortunately, the situation in Binga is not so good. The people there have become such beggars that they are losing their self-respect and any desire to do something to help themselves, other than beg.
The Christians are also beginning to fall into the trap of depending on others to supply a free livelihood. I had a good meeting with some of the church leaders and tried to encourage them to speak to their congregations about the pitfalls of this problem. Most of the Christians understand the need to work hard for a living, but morale is so low in the whole area that it is quite hard to go against the grain. Please pray for these people who really want to stand on their own feet but are finding it increasingly difficult to do so.
Debbie is having some health problems. Her left knee and ankle are giving her a lot of pain, also some arthritis. Some nights she doesn't sleep. She finds flying in those small uncomfortable seats very difficult as it causes swelling in her feet. She may have to reconsider her trip to the US and leave me to go on my own. We will keep you posted.
Last, but not least, we want to thank each one of you for all the parcels of shoes you have sent. I took them up to Binga on my last trip and the people were very grateful for them. Any old shoes or clothing are always very welcome.
We love you all and thank you for your love, prayers, support and faithfulness to us and the work here in Zimbabwe.
The Lees: Richard, Debbie, and Gayle