19 May 2001
Edited E:Mail from Steve & Becky Overlin (Zimbabwe)
Situation in Zimbabwe describes why we need to keep Richard and Debbie Lee in our constant prayers!
God is so good -- we brought Mr. & Mrs. Gwengwe and two children into Harare last night. We left after dark -- we had heard rumors that the ruling party was coming for him last night. Mr. Gwengwe is one of our nurses, our neighbor and a church leader at our church. Plus he is very active in our community. He is being accused of being a leader in the opposition party.
We left Chidamoyo at 7:00 PM, we travel a back road but eventually was on the main road again. We came upon a group of 20-30 ruling party supporters with their clubs and homemade weapons. They surrounded the car, Steve rolled his widow down a little and they wanted Steve to make the ruling party slogan -- Steve told him we were not able to be involved as we were not citizens, Steve also told them we were from Chidamoyo. They knew Chidamoyo well and told us to pass thru.
The Gwengwes were in the back seat, I was holding their 1 year old on my lap, in the front seat -- she was sleeping. We truly witnessed a miracle -- it was if their eyes were blinded. They did not see the Gwengwes. We left their praising God. Tuesday we closed the hospital -- our nursing staff was frightened. We discharged about 50 patients and kept only those who were really sick. We closed out the patient clinic. Our staff and the teachers are being accused of supporting the opposition party.
We reopened the hospital on Wednesday but it was quiet as I am sure people still think we are closed. We are praying that we can be a stabilizing factor for the staff and those in the community. Kathy (McCarty), Steve and I believe we will not be harmed -- we have let everyone know the US Embassy is well aware of what is going on at Chidamoyo. We are spending a lot of time in prayer. We probably won't be back in Harare until after the elections, the end of June. Thank you for your prayers, we feel God's presence surrounding us.
[Note:
Richard and Debbie Lee do not have the same protection from the US Embassy as do the Overlins because they are from Botswana. Richard and Debbie Lee would also like to appear neutral, but the line they must walk is considerably narrower and more hazardous.]
Field Address Forwarding Agent Richard & Debbie Lee Vivian M. Ottinger Box 144 708 Blossom Hill Road, #233 Filabusi, Zimbabwe, Africa Los Gatos, CA 95032