Many of you know our church is supporting Giuseppe and Anna Rita Longo, a missionary couple who decided to livein Zimbabwe with their three children to work with the local churches and help with the children in the area of Bulawayo.This is what Giuseppe and Annarita wrote to us in their latest letter:
"Hi to everybody from our Africa.
August revealed many blessings and was a month of very intense and demanding activities. The group was quite numerous. We had Bernardino, Fabio, Linda and Stefania from Italy. With them we evangelized the various areas of Bulawayo with our puppets, the new theater, mimes and singing.
It was beautiful and exciting to work with the orphans and poor of the city at the orphanages. Every day we tried to make our contribution putting our skills and talents to good use.
We also visited some African churches where we presented our program, which was much appreciated, especially when we sang in Italian and Ndebele.
Fabio went back to Italy at the end of August and today Linda and Stefania are leaving us. Bernardino, however, will remain with us until October 2, helping with his talents and gifts.
We started to pay school fees for the "Project Abantwana," but we were not able to cover the fees for all the children. As for the new project "Adopt a teacher" we received only one gift, but it will not be enough to pay for two teachers.
We are confident that our Father will supply every need. With Bernardino, in faith, we still want to start the room that will be used as a nursery school. We hope to start the program on September 11, when school will start again for everyone. Anyone wishing to donate can still use our bank account or post office occount here below.
What more can we say? We will be more than happy to accommodate anyone who is interested in cominh and visiting us, and we will spend our time together serving the Lord. This group was happy to work with us and we were overjoyed to be a tool in providing an opportunity for service.
You are welcome. For those who want more information, a new group will be here in December. Please contact us as soon as possible.
We greet you with love in the Lord, Giuseppe, Annarita, Emmanuele, Desirée and David. "
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Since the beginning of August my colleague Elder Bernardino Balzi is there to serve together with Giuseppe and Annarita.
Berni sent us some photos from the region around Bulawayo. The task is heavy, but the joy of the faces of those who receive help is priceless, and it's worth all the effort.
Berni is acting as our church's hands, feet and eyes there and we bless the Lord that through him, just as though Giuseppe and Annarita, our small church can do something for "the least". Berni wrote the following to us yesterday:
"Hi Marco, on Tuesday school starts again and some of the children supported by the "Abwantana Project" risk not being able to go back to school because we haven't received enough funds to pay for them. We still need about $400. Next week the Longos and I will be going to work on a room in a local Baptist church on the outskirts of town, which will be used as a school room for children in that area. We'll be painting the walls, laying a concrete floor... but funds are tight here, too, and with just another $50 we could fix the leaking roof and maybe replace some of the broken windows. Greet everyone for me, see you soon, and Strength in Christ"
On Monday, we'll send the amount Berni mentioned (plus an extra 30%)...
I am proud of every member of the church I lead, because though small, it has a great heart for those in need, giving faithfully and more generously than that which would be expected in this period of recession! And I am also blessed that as pastor, I can transform that money into a roof, a floor, windows and instalments to pay for food, cothing and EDUCATION! for many childen. I love my church, because my church loves with practical action, not with words.
Yes, I'm very blessed as a pastor!
PS: if anyone else would like to contribute to Giuseppe and Annarita's work (and Berni's) in Zimbabwe, they can find out how to do so by reading the information here.
"Hi Marco, on Tuesday school starts again and some of the children supported by the "Abwantana Project" risk not being able to go back to school because we haven't received enough funds to pay for them. We still need about $400. Next week the Longos and I will be going to work on a room in a local Baptist church on the outskirts of town, which will be used as a school room for children in that area. We'll be painting the walls, laying a concrete floor... but funds are tight here, too, and with just another $50 we could fix the leaking roof and maybe replace some of the broken windows. Greet everyone for me, see you soon, and Strength in Christ"
On Monday, we'll send the amount Berni mentioned (plus an extra 30%)...
I am proud of every member of the church I lead, because though small, it has a great heart for those in need, giving faithfully and more generously than that which would be expected in this period of recession! And I am also blessed that as pastor, I can transform that money into a roof, a floor, windows and instalments to pay for food, cothing and EDUCATION! for many childen. I love my church, because my church loves with practical action, not with words.
Yes, I'm very blessed as a pastor!
Marco
PS: if anyone else would like to contribute to Giuseppe and Annarita's work (and Berni's) in Zimbabwe, they can find out how to do so by reading the information here.
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