GOOD NEWS  (and the rest)

First of all, let me begin by saying thank you to all those who have come to the aid of Christians and their families in Zimbabwe. If you are receiving this email bulletin YOU are a contributor, your funds have been received, and we want to keep you in the loop. Your sacrificial donations are having an effect. There are not words to say thanks for such efforts.

IS THE CRISIS OVER?

Several have asked this question because of the good news that has been leaking out of Zimbabwe over the past 60 days. The government’s change of policy, for example, in allowing the use of foreign currency has loosened up things somewhat in the economy so that some of those empty store shelves we have been seeing have now been having a few food items reappearing on them. This will be helpful for those living in the cities that have some money to spend.

Additionally the seasonal rains came and crops were planted and are up and growing. As we understand it, there was never enough seed for a full supply of garden food, even with the great work that brother Les Maydell and others were doing to import shipments of seed. But what the brethren did get was planted and is growing. Even though it is not ready for harvest, we’re hearing of green maize being used to supplement the food shipments and therefore easing the burden just a little for now. Home gardens will help somewhat.

To answer the question directly however, no, the crisis is not over. There has been some relief because of the rain and the growing season that we pray will help, and we’re hearing it IS helping. But this rainy season is going to pass and the country is still in political upheaval and economic crisis. We pray for “spiritual Israel crying out in Egypt” that relief will become more permanent and that the season of our Fall, in ‘09, when food supplies become scarce again, will not be as drastic as it was in ’08.

In the meantime, thank you for your partnership and continued concern.

PAYPAL DONATIONS

With this email newsletter we can finally announce that all the hoops that PayPal.com had us jumping through while they froze our money have been completed. We use www.PayPal.com here at OH3 to make it easier and safer for folks to send funds, as well as giving you a tax deductible receipt for your gift.

However, the requirements to be recognized as a non-profit organization are pretty stringent for PayPal so we have been sending in IRS forms, bank statements, and voided checks and waiting for several months for them to lift the “hold” on our account. That was done and accepted, and at just the right time for a large relief shipment on behalf of our brethren. Two shipments were scheduled to relieve saints in the city of Bulawayo, at the Queen’s Park congregation and 10 tons of food was purchased and delivered to over 200 Christian families (possibly over 1,000 souls altogether) in the large T’cholotsho region.

As we state above, there are simply not words to describe our thanks for all those who have sent funds through PayPal and helped to relieve the needy saints in that area.

OTHER NEEDS?    

From time to time we pass on other needs of the saints in that part of the kingdom and brethren have been so kind as to pick those up when possible. Some are medical needs, some schooling for the children, some songbooks and Bibles, and some are transportation needs in preaching the gospel like a bicycle for a preacher. We do not mention every request we hear because that would just be overwhelming, but when extra special needs are presented to us concerning men and women of proven reputation and character we do pass those along. We have one of these to share in this bulletin and you can find it also listed on the OTHER NEEDS page of our website, www.OpenHeartsHelpingHands.com.

The concern is over one of our main contacts, drivers, and a gospel preacher of many years, Mountbatten Brewer. Last month Brewer had to take his niece (an orphan whom he and his wife have taken as their own) back to South Africa for emergency medical aid which was not available in Zimbabwe. World Vision has thus far picked up her medical bills and the Dr. has graciously written off his costs, but Brewer still has to pay to get her there and stay in S. Africa for weeks at a time. He stays with saints while he is there, but just the food and diesel fuel for travel is draining on his limited support. Knowing Brewer, and considering this an emergency, OH3 was not willing to sit with money in its coffers while the child needed care so $1000 was wired from our operations fund (we did not touch the money given and committed for food) to assist him. We will need to replace that money in “operations” and if you see this as a worthy need your help would be appreciated.

WANT TO ADVERTISE?

Some have asked about posting an advertisement for OH3 on your church bulletin board or having a flyer for handouts. There is now a PDF flyer on the website that you can download, print out,  hand out, or post up to your heart’s desire. Thanks for the great idea.  Click here to download the PDF flyer.

IN CONCLUSION…

That’s the way things are standing for now. We may try to send out shorter flash notices more often than these quarterly emails, but you are always encouraged to check out our different pages at www.OpenHeartsHelpingHands.com and communicate suggestions or ideas to Mike Divis at MikyyyD@aol.com or myself, Carl McMurray at mcmurray@Spiritbuilding.com.

Thank you again for partnering in this important work.