Richard & Debbie Lee Newsletter October 2006
Richard & Debbie Lee Newsletter October 2006
Despite all our efforts and all the assurances from the local Zanu PF officials, last week we were issued a 90- day eviction order. The local Member of Parliament wants our home and come what may he is going to get it. He already has homes and a farm but he wants ours. Greed is a terrible thing.
We will be paid nothing for our home or for our land, we just get off in 90 days or the local police will arrest me. IDES has given us money to grow crops and feed the local populace, our corn and tomatoes will ripen and be reaped within the 90 days, but the potatoes require 5 months so we will have to abandon them.
It is hard to believe that we can just be evicted from our home and land with no payment, no appeal and no recourse to justice at all. Someone just pitches up with a piece of paper saying you have 90 days to be gone. They even got my name wrong on the eviction paper and the final indignity was a threat that I would be arrested if I was still there after the final date.
The local pastor from the Victory Fellowship telephoned us the day before and warned us that it was coming but even so it was quite a shock to us. It was most upsetting that others, not even connected to the event, knew we were to be evicted before we were told.
We are trying to keep a brave face and we certainly pray about it every day. We know the Lord has something in mind for us, we must just wait on Him.
We have found a small house in Bulawayo, about one hour away, to rent
and people have offered to help us move. We will have to sell a lot of our belongings, as the house is quite small and will not hold very much. We are going to have to rethink our futures and try and work out just what and where the Lord wants us to be and work. Over the years we have had such an impact with the Gospel on hundreds of people. Perhaps the Lord wants us to move on and share the Gospel else where? Please pray for and with us that this will be made clear.
I am 63 and Debbie is 60 so we don’t think we should be too adventurous, but who knows, only the Lord sees the future and our place in it and He gives us the health, strength and ability that we need to accomplish His work and will.
This is a very difficult newsletter to write. Debbie and I were convinced that our plans to work among the AIDS orphans was the way to go for BZCM and ourselves. Now we are unsure again. Living in Bulawayo will make us an hour to an hour and a half from Filabusi, which does not sound like much but fuel in Zimbabwe is very scarce, in fact unavailable, at gas stations, and only available on the black market at extortionate rates. Another problem for us is that the ClO is watching us and marking all kinds of nonsensical accusations against us, which is very disconcerting. We certainly don’t want to be arrested on some trumped- up charge and end up in their vicious hands.
Please pray for us and our Christian witness in this community and wherever the Lord may direct us in the future. We certainly haven’t given up on Zimbabwe, but we cannot oppose the Lord and if He wants us to move on then we must obey. We just want to be sure and do the right thing. We will continue to visit the churches in Binga as often as fuel will allow, at least once a month. Fortunately the Binga churches have remained strong through all the turmoil in this country and we are certain that with the Holy Spirit’s guidance they will continue so. We actually leave tomorrow for Binga and will be visiting with the churches for 4 days.
In our weekly Bible study we did Chapter 2 of I Timothy and in verse I Paul says “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for everyone.” Paul is saying that praying takes primacy in Christian worship, we must pray and never stop, and prayer is perhaps the most neglected form of worship. To have a meaningful relationship with anyone there has to be communication and prayer is our means of communication with our Lord. Paul urges us to pray. Debbie and I urge you to pray for and on our behalf that God will reveal His will for us clearly and unequivocally and that He gives us the strength and will to obey and do.
We love you all and appreciate your love, prayers and support and faithfulness. Without you we cannot continue our work.
We love you all, God bless,
The Lee’s, Richard and Debbie
We are still desperate for someone to take over from Don Hart as our forwarding agent. Don cannot continue once he retires and we need someone to take over this very important part of BZCM. We love you all, please pray for us and communicate with us, we ask for your continued support for us and the work in Zimbabwe.
Our Board of Directors Don Hart (Chairman) San Jose, California Deanna Kietzke San Jose, California Jeff Bigelow El Dorado Hills, California Larry Stilgebouer Rio Rancho, New Mexico Our Forwarding Agent Temporarily: Donald Hart 5545 Laura Drive San Jose, CA 95124