News from Geoff and Erica Saunders, Zimbabwe - October 2023

UK Visit

Unusually long (five weeks) holidays at the end of the first term enabled us to spend a whole month in the UK. We stayed with Joseph and Joanna for much of the time but also spent time with Geoff’s brother and family in Swindon and his sister and family in Lockerbie. We also had a great time at the Elim Missionaries conference in Malvern. We were blessed by the great speakers and great fellowship missionaries from all over the world.

Busy Fingers

Erica has been busy as ever with the Busy Fingers ministry to widows and single mothers. They held a successful Open Field day at Mbiriyadi, Katerere in April. Mbiriyadi is near Elim Mission, the women celebrated the good harvest they obtained with the inputs provided by Busy Fingers.

On Friday 19 May BF hosted a joyful All-Night meeting starting with a braai, feeding 81 ladies mainly widows at our home in the carport. The women had a great time of Relate and Share and group Counselling.

30 June there was BF Conference in Nyamudeza Nyanga Katerere, Teaching and Training women on starting and managing small and fast money generating projects. Group counselling and Preaching the word of God to a group of 215 women.

On 4 August Busy Fingers was had its first event in the Mutare Temple BF, an All-Night prayer with 52 women. Erica is looking forward to a 2-day Workshop in Rusape starting Friday 20th October. She is also awaiting the results of a CT scan to identify the cause of the chronic cough she has been suffering from.

Grace Katiro

Grace Katiro is the widow of the late Dr Farai Katiro who died of Covid in 2020. Since then life has been very challenging for her and her family. To assist her Erica worked with the women in the Busy Fingers group, other women in the church and Grace’s relatives to refresh her kitchen. The project received so much support that her bedroom and the lounge were also provided with new furniture. The group is now supporting her to pass her driving test and then aims to buy her car. We thank God for the generous love of all who contributed.

Annual Conference

Our annual conference was postponed due to the elections so it took place during the school term and when there was a function at school. Consequently, Geoff did not go but Erica did go and had responsibility for offerings during the conference and promoting support for the construction of the Crofton School. Prof Mabitsela and the newly elected General Overseer and 2 more executive members were special guests who preached. About 350 people attended, 20 people came from Mozambique, and 5 new pastors graduated from the Elim Theological Seminary.

ACSI Conference

At the end of September Geoff was the MC at the annual Christian Educators’ Conference held for the first time at Gateway High School. The conference attracted over 400 delegates from schools within Zimbabwe and from Mozambique and Botswana

Big Sunday

Geoff had the privilege of preaching at the Harare District Big Sunday in September reflecting on God’s declaration “But now Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Elizabeth

It was lovely to have Elizabeth with us for a few months while she was looking for another job.

As stop-gap she filled in as an Art teacher at Gateway which she enjoyed very much and was delighted that two of her students earned honours at the national visual arts festival. She has now returned to Germany and started a new job in Munich at the start of October but is yet to find permanent accommodation. Please pray for her to settle into the job and quickly find a suitable place to stay.

Joseph and Joanna

We had a hectic and enjoyable two weeks with Joseph and Joanna at the start of September. Joseph is making progress with his studies for an accounting qualification.

Geoff will carry on his work as deputy headmaster at Gateway High and continue a Sunday preaching series on Isaiah at our Prospect Church.

Roy and Tim

As Joseph and Joanna were about to leave Roy Johnson and Tim Cobham arrived for a one week visit. Before they set off on a tour of the work in Zimbabwe they joined us for a Big Sunday service in Harare. Tim gave a powerful message challenging us all to share the gospel with those around us.

Incidentally, the lady at the extreme right in the photograph is Grace Katiro

Coming Events

Christmas is approaching fast and we are busy preparing our programmes for that time. But before that, Erica has Busy Fingers Workshop in Rusape, we have our pastors’s retreat, our annual general conference and a baptismal service at Prospect.

Thanksgiving

• Elizabeth has a good job in Munich
• Generosity for Grace Katiro
• Good harvest for the Busy Fingers widows and single mums.
• Peaceful elections in Zimbabwe

Prayer focus and coming events

• Elizabeth to quickly find suitable accommodation.
• Good health for Joanna throughout this pregnancy.
• Erica’s health
• Busy Fingers Workshop in Rusape (20-21 October)
• Pastor’s Retreat (Vumba 27-29 October)
• Baptismal Service (Prospect)
• Annual General Conference (Mutare, 4 November)
• Christmas Festivities

 more about the Saunders