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The Michael Project Newsletter
January 2003
Contents
A new year starts at the Wingate Playcentre
There
was great excitement at the Wingate Playcentre, on the last day of term in
December, as parents and guardians were invited to see the work that the pupils
had completed during the year. The children were then presented with their
certificates of attendance, which were received with great pride and delight.
We happily said farewell to eleven of the children, who all started primary
school in January, with shoes and uniforms provided by The Michael Project.
During the last term, a second jungle gym in the shape
of an aeroplane, as well as a swing were donated for the playground. These
were very well received, and had barely been offloaded from the truck before
they were swamped with smiling and very enthusiastic children. Now that the
rainy season has arrived, we have also managed to plant grass in the playground
which is now spreading rapidly, and will hopefully keep the dust to a minimum.
The play centre re-opened on 14th January 2003, when the three shona teachers
were joined by Katrina Morris from Bristol, England. Katrina is a qualified
Reception teacher who joins The Michael Project for 3 months on an Oasis Professional
Placement. Her role is to further train Sheila, Monica and Regina, as well
as to develop resources for the play centre.
At the end of January, Latwina joined the team as a trainee teacher and will
learn on the job, as well as spending additional time with Katrina in the
afternoons. Latwina lives close to Wingate, and has also enthusiastically
been attending the sewing classes since their inception.
The Wingate community, like many others in Zimbabwe, has suffered greatly
as a result of the severe food shortage currently being experienced in the
country. Many of the basic foodstuffs, such as maize meal, sugar and bread
are scarce, and those fortunate to get, usually have to queue for many hours.
As a result, we are now giving the children the mahewu (high protein) drink,
twice a day in order to supplement their diet.
TOP
Other Wingate News
News of the three children whose mother died in
May 2002, is good. The baby, who was on formula provided by The Michael Project,
for 3 months, is now eating solids and is clearly thriving. His grandmother,
who looks after him and his brother and sister, continues to work at the nearby
golf club. The oldest child, who is now 6, is among the children starting
school in January, and we pray that he is encouraged in both his studies and
his attendance. The little girl, who is 4, was such a blessing to the teachers
in the playcentre last term as she responded to the teaching, as well as the
love and encouragement. She has, however, withdrawn this term causing us concern,
and we are praying into this situation.
Val Morran continues to lead the ladies sewing group with tremendous commitment.
Alongside the sewing, Val endeavours to disciple the women, with Christian
teaching tapes being played as the women work. Prayer for each other is common
during the afternoon. The classes broke in December for the Christmas holidays,
and Margaret Stewart who was visiting from All Saints in Orpington, UK, was
invited to see the ladies handy work, and to present prizes.
The Michael Project is also assisting the local church to evangelise the men
and women in the Wingate community, as we desire to see the community become
a shining light, and a place where the children can grow up in love and security.
Ebby Mahupete, from Greystone Park Christian Fellowship, has started to visit
the men in Wingate, to share the gospel with them, to disciple them and to
fellowship with them. Within a week, two new men had joined the church.
In an endeavour to teach the community to grow higher yield crops, we were
fortunate to have Brian Oldreive and his team visit the community to demonstrate
their highly successful Well Watered Garden concept for growing maize with
minimum tilage. The demonstration plot is growing wonderfully, and our prayer
is that men and women of the community teach others what they have learnt.
We have also, with the assistance of Viva Network Zimbabwe, been able to build
four more toilets in the community. This will improve the sanitation, as well
as the living conditions for the people.
TOP
Plans for more Playcentres
underway
Due to the success of the Wingate Playcentre, and its impact on that community,
we plan to broaden our work into other communities in Zimbabwe. Our intention
is to follow the Oasis Pre-School Education (PEPE) Program, which has successfully
established pre-schools and planted churches in Brazil.
The Michael Project has been assisting children in the Chihota area for a
number of years, and we have now been offered a site in this community to
build a playcentre. We are currently in the process of gaining permission
from the local authorities to proceed, as well as planning a training program
for new teachers. We have already identified a local Christian woman to be
the teacher in the future Chihota Playcentre.
Greystone Park Fellowship have been visiting the Siabuwa area, in North Western
Zimbabwe for some months now, training pastors in the area and establishing
links with the community. There are many children in need in this area, and
we have been offered the opportunity to develop a playcentre in Siabuwa, alongside
a clinic which is being run by Operation Mobilisation. We shall be visiting
the area shortly to further assess the situation.
We are very excited about these developments, and believe that God is opening
new doors and opportunities for us. We also plan to work with orphans in these
communities, by identifying and assisting suitable guardians to take the orphaned
children into their homes, and raise them in a Christian family.
Please Pray for
The children in the playcentre, as well as those who
have now started school. That they all settle and progress well.
The severe food shortage in Zimbabwe. That God would provide in a miraculous
way.
The Wingate Church, and that it would reflect the truth of the Gospel. Please
pray especially for Ebby as he works with the men.
The 4 year old girl who is distant and not eating well. That the teachers
would know how to help her, and that she would interact with the other children.
Our future plans in Chihota and Siabuwa. That God would direct us in all that
we do.
