2011 - We have heard from Chegutu Church that they would like to start up some money making projects – the first of these is to buy chickens, and breed and rear the chicks which can be given to families, or sold at market. At the moment they are buying young poulets to rear, but this is more expensive than breeding your own. Also as times get even tougher in Zimbabwe it is getting harder to find good chickens at any price. We have sent £300 towards this project thanks to our Bring and Buy Sale and part of a £100 donation from someone who wanted to remain anonymous. Thanks to him five elderly people are also having cataract operations.
Selling the surplus chickens at market helps the church fund all its projects.
Another ongoing project is to buy bolts of material to use to sew clothes such as aprons, school or church uniforms. All the ladies are very proud of the sashes that denote their office or their matching colour skirts. At giant united services it is possible to find others belonging to your denomination very easily !
These items will be sold to raise money for church funds and to fund the new pastorr. In a country where there is so little to buy in the supermarkets the pastor is currently being paid in chickens, vegetables and other groceries. Some of the money is being used to build him a home. Currently this is just a growing pile of building materials – sand, wood and bricks etc. Let us know if you would like to get involved in their building project.
Chegutu church is helping many people during these difficult times and are really grateful to now have a pastor to help them to help all of those coming to church with many different problems, difficulites and hardships.
History
Usebia is a church member originally from Zimbabwe. In 2006 Steve Fisher, the then minister, visited Zimbabwe to open a new church building in Chegutu, to which Christ Church had significantly contributed. The church there has been growing in numbers, but because of the difficulties with the regime there have been more and more demands on the church for help. Up until now they have had a part time pastor only. As the church has more members it needed a full-time pastor and they were they could have one IF they built a house for him to live in.
As a church and as individuals we need to think and pray about how we might help them in this task. As of 2010 the members had just started to collect up some of the basic building materials. Fortunately for them a pastor has been found part time.
Another church building project would be a big commitment for our church, but we have learned through our partnership with Kabushi Church in Zambia that God is bigger than we could ever imagine. He made us bigger and bolder than we thought we could ever be.
Every long journey begins with a small step. If you have any ideas for how to help with this building project , then speak to the minister, or one of the church elders.
In the meantime Usebia is busy collecting new and secondhand clothes which she sends in a big barrel by sea. This takes 3 months to arrive but is cheaper and safer than the postal system. Even so it costs £240 every time one is sent! This is a big jump in postal prices and due to the cost of fuel. Again if you can help with a fundraising idea to help with the cost of postage then speak to Usebia.
Because of the situation in Zimbabwe it has been really hard getting any money out to Chegutu church and we often have to rely on Bodias, Usebia’s husband, or oftentimes people we do not know, to carry the money into Zimbabwe for us. This is not without risk and we cannot send too much at any time. Customs officials are often over rigorous in checking what comes in and in levying fines or confiscating good. So we have been blessed in that all of the money we have sent has reached its destination and so you can be sure that any gift that you have purchased via the A.G.A.P.E catalogue has made its way to the neediest families at Chegutu.
So far they have recieved shoes, goats, peanut bushes, blankets, bibles, mosquito nets and the very popular cataract operations necessary to restore someone’s sight. There is a mobile clinic that comes nearby but people did not have the £10 the needed to pay. This gift of sight makes able to look after themselves again, to work, cook & collect firewood or care for children.
Please take a look at the catalogue – online or by collecting a brochure from the church Foyer, or even requesting one by email. Ask your family to buy you some AGAPE gifts – or buy some for them. An A4 certificate is sent in an appropriate card for the recepient to to keep. Some people have had gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and to celebrate major events such as weddings or 25th Anniversary parties. The gifts sent overseas make more difference than you can ever know.