Firstly our apologies for the lack of updates over the last few months, however with the Christmas season and our ‘Night to Remember’ in early January, closely followed by our latest container shipment, it has made the last few months extremely busy. It has been an extremely busy time for Caroline and myself and we thank God for his support and strength through this and for faithful friends to help with all the hard work. We hope you will be encouraged by this update

Container Shipment

We sent our latest container to Zimbabwe just last Saturday (20th Feb) and were once again overwhelmed by the exceeding generosity of friends and supporters from local churches, too many to mention. This shipment contained many necessities not available in Harare including food, clothes, furniture, prams and toys for the babies and children. Thanks to the team who came to load and pack the goods. We anticipate this will be our last shipment for some time as shipping costs have escalated so we are going to source via other routes. We want to thank everyone for their giving to this ministry over the last 2 years.

Merchandise

Our ZOC merchandise continues to sell well and we have only a limited number of hoodie’s (sweatshirts) for the 2009/10 season left. If you would like one please do contact me ASAP. We also now have large quantities of T-shirts and Golf (Polo) Shirts available. Pictures of these are on the website. Please do contact me if you would like to purchase any of these items.

Accounts

As we mentioned at our ‘Night to Remember’, we are about the publish our first set of annual accounts which will be available on the website once they have been audited. Our thanks to David Watson and Ruth for their great help in getting these completed and their work on our gift aid reclaim as well.

Update direct from Alan & Dorothy in Zimbabwe

Dear Friends, we greet you from a very hot summer here in Harare, the temps are up in the 90f range all day and night, its very tiring and sticky but we are not complaining.

These past few weeks have seen lots of work and development around Jabulani and we want to bring you up to date and see how God is answering your prayers! The new family units are progressing very well and we hope to have the buildings finished by Easter. The latest pictures of these can be viewed on www.zimorphancare.org. The houses are great, roomy and spacious and the bedrooms will be wonderful for the children, we hope to have 2 ladies living on the premises full time and then children in the other 2 bedrooms, Praise God the workmanship is very good and the builders are enjoying getting the units ready for the children yet to be born! Please pray we will be able to source all the necessary beds, suites and all the associated stuff we need to make these units HOMES! We want as you know to provide a hope, a home and a future for these precious children and desire to give them a home for life, to live in peace and safety in Jabulani and enjoy family life in all its fulness.

We have employed another staff member, a young lady called Mel, she is 20 years old and is actually one of Dorothy’s girls who she helped through school years with fees etc, she and Shelter another of our carers are a real blessing to the children and us, we met these girls 10 years ago and its wonderful to have them serving the children with us at Jabulani. Bibianna and Florence along with Shelter are our senior key workers and have great love and ability with the children, we also have Violet, Naomi, Kuda and Summery , Tellmore and Itai who has just had a baby girl herself! who do a wonderful job. We are blessed to have Christine our friend from Rotherham, England here as the Jabulani manager, she is highly qualified and has tremendous ability and love for the children and staff, she has been training the staff in all areas of childcare and development and equipping them for the next batch of children we hope to get this year. Pray for unity and the blessing and love of God to fill all their hearts, they are great servants.

We have been continually visiting Social Welfare re our registration and Private Voluntary Organisation status, this process takes forever with millions of forms and meetings to attend, fingerprints taken for all the board members and a multitude of other things which are very wearying BUT we press on! We believe God has called us to do this great venture of faith and know He will go before us and make the way straight, pray for favour with all the relevant authorities and that they will grant us more children, there are many other people waiting on these certificates and registration also, so it is not only us waiting, pray God will open the door for us in Jesus name. We are ready and equipped for more children to come and in Gods time they will.

Now to update you on the babies…the reason for all of the above!

Kuda is now 2 years and 3 months, is gaining weight and has grown hugely these past few months, as you know she has cerebral palsy and has lots of health issues but is a very happy and contented young lady, she loves to hear music and singing and is always smiling and laughing out loud, what a joy and privelage to have Kuda with us.

Grace is now 19 months old she is walking and talking, she is extremely clever and has a ready smile for everyone, she thinks a lot and is just a treasure to have around, she loves to sing and dance… a real wee groover!

Hope is 15 months old and is also walkng and talking, she is a happy little girl but has got very clingy and gets upset when outsiders and visitors come to Jabulani, she screams very loudly! we have been praying very much for Hope and she is settling down, please pray for her that she will enjoy the company and be an open and friendly child, once she knows you all is well but at the start she is very dubious!! She has a great appetite and eats well.

Blessing is a miracle, almost dead when we found her she had her 1st birthday party in January and has gained lots of weight, she is crawling, standing and trying to walk although she is still unsteady and a little weak, she calls dada all day long and is a light to everyone she meets, what a Blessing God has given us with her!

Daniel continues to get bigger by the day, he is 8 months now and a big boy! A great eater he is never happier than when his mouth is filled! He is crawling everywhere and is not adverse to pushing the girls away to get what he wants, he has a lovely smile and a welcome for everyone.

Joseph is 6 months now and a little treasure, he can sit up and loves to shout to everyone, a gentle spirit he is a little charmer, he also is a good eater and loves yoghurt!

So we praise and thank God for all he has done and is doing in the lives of these dear children and all at Jabulani, you have also been a real blessing to us, we thank God for your financial gifts and prayers for us all here, we do not take you for granted, you are a great joy and encouragement to us all. Please keep praying, keep giving, the cost of living is rising here every month but we are trusting the God who started this venture to help us and provide all we need, you are part of this great work, we pray you have been encouraged and blessed as you have read this update, God bless you in every way.

Your Servants for the Children,

The JABULANI TEAM and all at Zimbabwe Orphan Care

Help Us To Help You

We are always keen to help when people want to run events for fund raising – please let us know if we can help your event in any way, or publish it on the website.

Best Regards,

Alan Lowry
Chairman
Zimbabwe Orphan Care
+44 (0) 7711 771 563
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.zimorphancare.org