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The CTMI team visit to the Zimbabwe churches composed of two Mauritian brothers, Roland La Hausse and Guito Quevauvilliers. Both had been in Malawi as part of a larger team for 4 weeks. This visit was a timely one as the people of God, weary of the political and economic uncertainty, needed a fresh revelation of the goodness and faithfulness of God.
Unlike in Malawi, one could feel the tension in the air as we landed in Harare airport. Pastor Richard Langworthy picked us up there. He and Anania Ncube were the two elders from Zimbabwe, who had been with us in Malawi as part of the follow-up team, along Andrew Dzimbiri who had travelled back in a pick-up truck. We made the four and a half hour journey to Bulawayo and were saddened to see most of the commercial farms en route laid bare…
Richard and Ingrid Langworthy hosted us. Ingrid has learned to live with the present situation by making her own produce such as bread, butter, jam and home-made biscuits. The finished products are simply unavailable or, outrageously expensive.
Nine different churches around Bulawayo gathered together at Selborne Park Christian Church for their monthly regional Sunday assembly. This was the start of a series of three meetings where Roland shared on faith. We realise that on this difficult road of the cross, God shows that he is with us all the way – as long as we are steadfast in our faith in him. Joseph’s life experience is an example. The worship celebration was in Ndebele, Shona and English with marimba (African xylophone) accompaniment. Several groups of people expressed their faith in typical African choruses.
Roland La Hausse then met with the leaders of the Bulawayo church and was encouraged to hear their testimonies. We could feel the growth of maturity in their lives and a determination to serve the Lord in difficult circumstances. He encouraged them to work as a team, leading the people of God by example.
We made the four-hour journey back to Harare. A party of about 20 people from Bulawayo accompanied us to attend meetings in Harare. These took place in the building that houses the church office and provides a home upstairs for Pastor Eugene Nyathi, his wife Nadine, and baby Jesse. The three evening meetings were unfortunately held in darkness, due to power cuts. Roland preached by the light of two fluorescent lights powered by a car battery! He shared about the resurrection life that can be experienced as we identify with the death of Jesus. On the second day he took the example of Jacob, who had a devious heart, explaining how God had to deal with Jacob so that he was broken and able to carry the heart of the Lord. The church in Harare has matured.
On our return to Mauritius, we stopped in Johannesburg for an evening. During this time we visited a couple who very kindly welcomed us to their home. The wife had previously been a member of the Harare church, but her husband was not saved. The husband was profoundly affected as Roland shared the gospel and he gave his life to the Lord. They were filled with joy and expressed their desire to open their home to any member of CTMI travelling through. This was yet another example of the Lord directing us to do works that He had already prepared in advance. Praise Him!
Guito, for the CTMI Team
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