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Year End Report for 2004
David Hobbs - Chief Executive
Last year we said that we had no idea what God had in store for us in 2004,
but that we believed that what ever it was, it would be faith stretching,
mountain moving, WAY out of comfort zone … and only God possible…
And God said “OK, let’s do it !”
At the beginning of the year, we embarked on building a daycare centre at
Chikurubi Prison and had planned to finish in time to open the centre in early
May. After successfully cutting through the phone lines to the women’s
prison, we then encountered a rock shelf when trying to build Blair toilets.
After much digging, and praying, and Nhlanganiso tearing out his hair, and
more digging in the hope that God would move the rock, Jehovah Jireh instead
provided us with two E-Loos from South Africa, which are far superior to anything
we had planned. By September we were close to opening the centre, and realised
that God really does have a sense of humour when 12 metres of our fencing
was stolen …. in a maximum security prison !! Despite this, and only
because God made it possible, the Chikurubi Daycare Centre opened on 13th
October, and now 20 children are cared for each day by Monica, Susan and Tsitsi,
receive a daily meal, laugh, play and learn about Jesus. It truly is a little
oasis in an otherwise dark and sad place. The prison also built a thatched
meeting shelter next to the centre, and gave us permission to meet with, and
counsel the mothers of the children twice a month, which Danielle and Christine
have enthusiastically taken on. Our God is an awesome God!
Mid year the Lord led us back to Binga, and laid the children at risk in this
area on our heart. After receiving what we believed to be permission to proceed
from the authorities, we transported 1 ton of maize meal to Binga in August
to distribute to the children of Back Harbour, after a week long holiday club
of fun and games. Apparently we did not have permission, were severely reprimanded,
but allowed to give the food anyway. All of our activities were then stopped,
and we entered into a never ending circle of negotiations to gain the required
permission. In September, the Lord brought Joyce Mbiba to work with us to
head up the Binga work, (or lack of work), and in faith, we rented a house
as a base. We prayed that the DA would change his mind, or be changed, and
in early December, God moved him elsewhere. The new DA said go ahead, and
we were given written permission for our programme 3 days before Christmas.
Proof that God does move mountains ! Joyce, who has vast experience working
with orphaned and vulnerable children, has developed an exciting programme
for 2005 working with the local churches addressing HIV/AIDS, life skills
and malnutrition among others.
By the end of November, we were winding down and looking forward to the Christmas
parties at Wingate and Chikurubi, when God felt we needed more excitement.
A huge gum tree uprooted and fell on the Wingate Pre-school, destroying the
roof and front wall. After the initial shock, we realised that this seeming
disaster was God’s radical (faith stretching !) way of bringing the
community in Wingate together, and for us to correct the many mistakes we
had previously made on this project. Junic, Sheila, Letwina and Esther have
continued to enthusiastically work with the children, and plans are underway
to rebuild the pre-school with the help of the community, and we know that
God will use this to bring revival to Wingate.
It has been incredible to see the Lord touch the lives of the children He
has brought to The Michael Project .. their joyful singing of ‘Jesu
Number One’, their pleasure when the Playchute is brought out, or their
thankfulness for a sadza meal. We WERE taken way out of our comfort zone this
year, and there were times when, had God not come through for us, we would
have sunk. BUT we have seen His provision, His love and His awesome power
… and it has been worth every moment.
What has God got in store for us in 2005 ? Well …..God is the same yesterday,
today and tomorrow !
