WOW, Look at all they are doing!

Below is another letter from Josh, he does so well with the updates that I am once again posting his letter as is:

Hi Friends,

Thanks so much for your support and prayers. We have really been feeling them. Things are going very well even though they seem to move slow at times. It is just the way it is here, but we are definitely making progress. I can't wait to update you with photos and more detail when I get back!

I am still building stronger relationships with the close knit community I have been a part of. Zach, Caleb, & I have been able to think very clearly about our organization and goals as well. It has been a blessing to be so close in a place like this and to always be learning.

As far as the project of "Friends of Zimbabwe" (FOZ) we continue to press on. We worked out all of the legal issues for the house. We now are renting it and have paid 2 months in advance including utilities. Its a really great place with a good location and it will be nice when I can show you pictures to give you a visual. It has: 3 bedrooms, big kitchen and big living room, a patio, a bathroom, and a great yard with lots of space including veggies and guava trees. Yesterday, we started cleaning the house such as sweeping, mopping, and polishing. Our next steps are to landscape the place on our own and to furnish the place. We have already looked around and got price quotes for beds, blankets, tables couches, etc. This weekend we will be in the process of moving into the house! It will be nice to have some electricity too because we havn't had any where we have been staying, but we will certainly miss living with the lovely family we have been with. Of course we will also try to be housing orphans as well.

Another big thing we did was starting our "Education Empowerment Program." We made a large banner that said "Friends of Zimbabwe" in an arch shape and underneath it said "Education Empowerment Program." It had the Christ's Initiative logo in the bottom right hand corner. We bought a bunch of educational school supplies and went to the rural areas and passed them out to the children. These children and families have a tough time getting simple supplies like books, notebooks, pens, etc. It was so rewarding to visit them and here them sing and have so much joy before and after we gave them supplies. We hope this is a start to change their mindset and really help them become educated. After this wonderful time and being at a church service in a 8x8 yard brick room with only a couple chairs, we checked out some land that we may be able to own in the future to farm and build on so that we don't have to rent. We have already sent the paper work in this last week for something like it, but it could take 6 months to here about it, but it is a future goal, so its okay for now.

We went back into town to a church to hand out a few more educational supplies to kids in the church and also orphans that are being looked after. We hope to continue to do this kind of thing, as well as educate the children at the orphanage house.

Other than those main things, the feeding program as been continued every Tuesday. However, we will be moving it soon to the orphanage house and also be bringing food to people that can't get there. The reason is, this organization FOZ which we created with the locals needs to be legally separated from any church. Yes even here in small churches and organizations there are politics!

Our plan of empowering locals to take care of their community in need seems to be working well. We know great people that are really stepping up and helping in large ways. They put others before themselves. I am glad we are here just to help facilitate this.

Tomorrow, we are taking a day off to visit "Great Zimbabwe" for some "sight seeing". It is apparently one of the great wonders of the world. We are looking forward to this. I will tell you about it in the next update. I can't believe I have been here only two weeks. It feels like so much longer. I only have about two weeks left!

Hope this catches you up even know it doesn't have nearly enough detail and no photos.

P.S. My digital camera has a body malfunction error and won't take anymore photos. I am looking around for ways or places to fix it! I am trying to get a hold of canon as well. Hopefully soon I can find a solution. If not I will just keep shooting with my film camera and hope for the best. Wish me the best and please pray that I still capture this trip to the best of my ability.

Love you all,

Josh