Receiving Suitcases at Zimbabwe Mission Office

Below are pictures of missionaries receiving our suitcases at the Zimbabwe Mission Office.  Be sure to scroll through all of the pictures to read the beautiful expressions of gratitude at the bottom.

THANK-YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS & LOVE!!

Soon to be Serving Zimbabwean Missionaries receiving your VERY KINDLY donated pre-packed Missionary cases at the ‘Zimbabwe Mission Office’ last Friday…

ABSOLUTE JOY & GRATITUDE!!!

TONDERAI VALENTINE CHATITIAYI

Dear Members of the Church,

Thank you very much for the things that you give to us, we appreciation. Thank-you God will Bless you.

Tonderai Chatitiayi

ELDER DANMORE CHABOOKA

Dear Members,

I am so much grateful of the package that I just received, I really appreciate your efforts and the love you have for us Missionaries. I just hope and pray to Heavenly Father that He continue to Bless you and your Beloveth Families. My Testimony has been strengthened because of the love and care you have for us Missionaries in Zimbabwe. I really Thank-You for everything and may Our Heavenly Father Bless you. I just hope that you will pray for us to succeed in our mission.

Yours faithfully,

Elder Danmore Chabooka

TAWANDA KANJANDA

Dear Members,

I hereby write this letter to Thank-You for your support. WE appreciate what you have done for me. It is my prayer that the Marvelous work you have done for me, it will not only end with me but also to others.

I have chosen to go on Mission after receiving a Devine witness from The Holy Ghost that the Church which Jesus Christ build was brought back in this Latter Days. I have always promised the Lord that I would go where He wants me to go, to say what He wants me to say and to be what He wants me to be.

Yours faithful Brethren in Christ, Our Savior and Redeemer,

Kanjanda

ELDER JONATHAN GUMBODETE

Dear Members,

I would like to thank-you for the package you sent to me, May God Bless you all. Right now I don’t know how to express my feelings, thank-you so much.

Continue with your love of your fellow beings, for the Scriptures says ‘If you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are in service of your God’. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth. Pray for me and the people who are waiting to hear my Testimony, I know that this Gospel is true. I will strive to be a humble and obedient Missionary.

Thank-you once again, in Jesus name.

Your faithful Brethren in Christ,

Jonathan Gumbodete

jonathangumbodete@gmail.com

ELDER LUCIAS MBALUME

Dear Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,

I just want to thank you for the love that you have shown us with clothes for my Mission preparation. May The Lord help you and Bless you with all the things that you desire for. I really appreciate your love and everything that you have done.

May The good Lord Bless you.

Yours faithfully,

Lucias Mbalume

ELDER JAKOPO

Hello,

I am Owen Simbarashe Jakopo, I just put in my Mission papers and I am waiting for the Mission call. I want to thank you all people in America for the things that you donated… I am so glad and grateful for this… May God Bless you with all that you need. I am so grateful and happy to be part of the only true church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. ‘God Bless you’

With love,

From Owen Simbarashe Jakopo

Soon to be Elder Jakopo

I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH…

GOD BLESS YOU…

Chitungwiza, Harare, Zimbabwe

ELDER MCJIFE GOBVU

Dear members,

I would like to thank you so much for the nice suitcase that I received from you here in Zimbabwe. I do really appreciate your gift and I wish the Lord help you for your willingness in helping all those who are preparing to go and serve their Missions.

My Testimony

With full strength of my soul I know that Missionary work is the work of Our Father in Heaven, and we all children of Our Heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ is the Savior. The gospel has been restored to its fullness by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

PEACE, LOVE & LIGHT FOR YOU

Yours Elder Mcjife Gobvu

SISTER FLORENCE MALUNGA

Dear Sisters,

Thank-you very much for the suitcase and everything that you have given me. I really do appreciate that. I love you very much and God will continue to Bless you for what you have done for me. I am still waiting for my Mission call. Hope I will be leaving soon.  I am looking forward to begin the work.

Thank care. I love you and I will never forget you.

Your loving Sister,

Florence Malunga

SISTER LINIRE SUPERO

Dear Sisters,

ON receiving my suitcase I was very happy, and this happiness was because of you. I am indeed grateful for it. Thank-you very much for it and May God Bless you. Through this example you have set for me and all that love it has got me wondering what I am doing myself. On my Mission I’ll try to be the best I can and you have helped me.

I love you very much and I want you to know that you have strengthened my Testimony on Service.

Thank-you again.

Your loving Sister,

Sister Linire Supero

SISTER CHYLEEN KUMUNDA

Der Sisters,

Thank U very much for your gifts we really appreciate them. May God Bless, we love you so, so much.

I received my call and am starting on the 28 of November 2013 I can’t wait because of these gifts I am over-excited. You are loving sisters and thank-you once more May God Bless you.

Sister Chyleen Kumunda

MARSHAL BOMBA

Dear Members of the Church,

I am so much grateful with every thing that you have given unto me. I do appreciated form deep inside of my heart May The Lord Bless you with so much.

You have so much to offer and The Lord is aware of every thing that you need. I pray The Lord’s choicest Blessings to be with you.

Yours,

Marshal Bomba

ELDER VALENTINE MANYASI

Dear Members,

Thank-you so much for your love really appreciate it. Right now I am very happy with what you have done for me, it really means a lot to me.

May The Lord greatly Bless you as you continue doing what you have done for me. Don’t do it for me only but to others.

Thank-you very much for your love. I know that charity which is the pure love of God be with you always and The Lord will Bless you and you stand blameless before God at the last day.

Yours faithfully,

Elder Valentine Manyasi

ELDER CHRISTOPHER MUROPA

Dear Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,

I am so glad and appreciative for the efforts and a generous heart in assisting me to prepare for my Mission.

God Bless you with your Families so that you will be a successful Families and prosperous.

God will continue to Bless you I know.

Yours faithfully,

Elder Christopher Muropa

‘Harare Stake Young Women' - Mission Possible Video Project

Harare Stake Young Women - Mission Possible Video Project
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhebKPWjtUU&feature=youtu.be)



I thought you might enjoy reading these previously written exerts from…
‘HARARE STAKE YOUNG WOMEN’S PRESIDENCY’

“These kids don’t need to learn how to make a fire to cook with, or how to sleep on the floor, how to grow their own food or how to go without water, they do those things in their everyday lives! They need to have the opportunity to have a blanket, have scriptures to read and to go to bed with a full stomach!! “

-  Rachel

Sister Rachel Nield-Geranios – “Once when doing a soup kitchen in winter for the ‘street Kids’ in the middle of town, there was a little, little guy sitting on the curb – maybe 4 years old – he just sat and watched me as I dished up soup and bread for the kids in the line.  He didn’t ask for anything, he didn’t even seem to have the strength to jostle with the others for a place in the line.  He just watched me.  When things had calmed down and most of the children had been fed, I poured some soup into a cup and offered it to him with some bread.  I was still in a focused and rather busy state of mind – just trying to get everything sorted.  Then he taught me one of the greatest lessons of my life – he did not reach greedily for the soup and bread as I thought he might, instead he quietly said to me – “ndirikutonorwa” (“I am SO cold”).  I had presumed his need and was so busy being magnanimous and handing out food and doing good things and helping, that I actually forgot the most important aspect of service – the humanity!  I got something warm out of the car and wrapped it around him and then I sat with him and talked – that little man had so much to say – I realized that these abandoned and orphaned Children need more than anything else, someone to ‘see’ them, to really see them, and to care about what they see.”

Sister Hillary Mazura – After the ‘Young Women’s Camp’ we wanted the Young Women to give something back to say thank-you, however they themselves are destitute and mostly living way below the poverty line. However we were able to use donated material/fabric scraps, batting and thread and they along with their Leaders sewed over 200 quilts!! We were unsure to whom we could distribute them that would be poorer than our Young Women…So we went to the City Dump where over 300 People live, trying desperately to provide for their Families from the trash of others (95% unemployment will create this). When our Young Women gave them these hand-made quilts, the People at the dump were astonished and asked who they were? When they shared that they were the Young Women’s group from ‘The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’, the one Lady said that she had heard of that Church. The next Sunday 23 People including Men, Women, Youth and Children walked ALL the way from the dump to attend Church…MANY of them still come every Sunday! We feel blessed to have the resources for People to be able to help others and themselves.

Sister Ranga – “As we were preparing for our youth camp, 'For the Strength of You', ‘Young Men’ and ‘Young Women’ August camp - we as the ‘Stake Young Women Presidency’ leaders invited some of the Relief Society, Sisters from the ‘Mabvuku’ and ‘Tafara’ Wards to help with preparations of the packing of bedding, blankets, shirts, ties, school kits, hygiene supplies etc.  One of the Relief Society Sisters was so amazed to see these things, she started telling her story of her husband leaving their Family, she said she had to take care of her two Boys and three Girls as well as her younger Brothers two Children who are also HIV positive.  She felt so grateful because she felt some of her biggest problems would be solved when the Children would receive their new bedding.  She said they used to share one blanket between 3 people.  As this camp was held during the cold weather, most of the children were so excited to get a pair of sheets, a blanket and warm clothes.  Some of the young men had never owned a white shirt to wear to Church and they could hardly believe that they were getting all these items just for free - when they normally have to make great sacrifices as a Family to try and obtain just one!  Most of the people within our community, were so astonished to hear from the Youth sharing the story with them how much food they had to eat and every other blessing they experienced by being at camp.  Most of the single Mothers and some Grandmothers who are taking care of Children felt so blessed by their burdens being lifted by the gifts received!

BBC News
Photo journal: Zimbabwe's Aids Orphans
Photos: Giacomo Pirozz & text: James Elder

'Harder every day'
Mrs Chamutsa says: “I am old and I have many children to support.
"There are many grandparents who are looking after children because of Aids. Many cannot keep their children in school.
"Or in good health.
"Many just don’t cope. And things get harder every day.”

'So much death'
Ephraim Musandawi, 34, makes five coffins every day and sells an average of 50 each month. Nearly 400 adults die from HIV-related deaths every day in Zimbabwe.
“People here are dying, there is just so much death,” says Ephraim.
“It is very sad. At one time we had four funerals in our small village in one day. You feel sorry for the parents who are burying their children, and for the grandparents looking after the young ones.
“But for us it is good business and we have to survive.”

Immense hardships
Despite immense hardships, Zimbabweans continue to support one another.
Thirteen-year-old Likun Chiwata lost his mother earlier this year; his father died in 2001. His community helps him with school fees and food.
Per capita, Zimbabwe has more orphans than any country in the world, and school enrolment is falling.

Support
Zimbabwean grandparents care for huge numbers of the country’s 1.6m orphans. They need the world’s support, says Unicef.
Mrs Mwaimbodei Chamutsa, 74, cares for her five grandchildren: Gladys, 16; Tabitha, 14; Peacemaker, 13; Nhamo, 13 and three-year-old Busi.
Donors, like the European Commission and the UK’s DfID, help provide school fees, food, shelter, immunisation, and psychological support for tens of thousands of orphans in the country, including the Chamutsa family.

Doing her best
More than 70 children are orphaned every day in Zimbabwe.
Despite difficult living conditions, 90% of the country’s orphans are cared for by their extended family.
Mrs Chamutsa says she does her best but that “motherhood should be for younger women”.

Worries
Like many grandparents in rural Zimbabwe, Mrs Chamutsa worries for her grandchildren’s future.
A recent survey found that orphaned girls are three times more likely to become infected with HIV than girls whose parents are alive.
Orphaned girls are more susceptible to abuse and more likely to be forced into early marriages.

'Harder every day'
Mrs Chamutsa says: “I am old and I have many children to support.
"There are many grandparents who are looking after children because of Aids. Many cannot keep their children in school.
"Or in good health.
"Many just don’t cope. And things get harder every day.”

Hope
"Life is a constant struggle," says orphan Gladys who is writing her GCSE-equivalent exams.
“I have to work before and after school, but I am just grateful me and my siblings are in school - this way tomorrow may be better than today.”

Eyes 4 Zimbabwe 2013 - Morgenster Mission Hospital with Dr. Joseph