 December 1, 2020 Hello Friends and Family,Recently, I have read or heard people say, “I guess there’s not going to be a Christmas this year”, or something similar. I was in London Drugs recently when the customer behind me said that. I responded, “There will always be Christmas” and was about to say more when the counter clerk said, “You need to go home and watch the Grinch that Stole Christmas.” Before I could say anything further, the woman replied, “Why of course we have to think like the “Who people in the village. They proved that Christmas was in the heart.” I was able to chip in a bit about Christ being the reason for the season and we should look to find Him. We all left being reminded that Christmas is about Christ Who is in our hearts, minds, and spirit… our Saviour who came to earth just for us.Thank you to all who supported our last little fundraiser coming out to take part and also purchasing the food orders. I have had no reports on food poisoning but quite a few requests for more orders. So all is well. 😊I am pleased to say the piggery is now finished and 5 pregnant sows are in place. We have already started to build another sty. Photos will be available soon, when the piglets are born.The Children’s school and the Early Childhood Development are completed except for skimming the outside walls and painting. Children are now attending the school and loving it. They are immensely proud of their “like-new” desks and chairs, etc. All children receive two meals per day–morning porridge and a lunch of maize meal and vegetablesWe do need to continue to build housing for teachers. We need housing because we are so far from the main road. The more housing we have, the more grades we can accomadate. Up to now we have ECD 1 and 2 and Grades 1 and 2. With additional housing we can expand to Grade 6. We would then need to build more classrooms for grades 7 and 8.The tailor continues to do a wonderful job of making all the school uniforms and masks and selling them to those who can afford it. We are supporting those who can’t. The uniforms are sold in the shop which is also doing well. See picture.Chickens are now providing a good income, and this enables people to plant crops for pig food and to make maize meal. See photo attached. Because there is no rain, the women are watering the plants one at a time and hoping the rains will come soon. All these projects need workers and the people are so happy to have jobs. And there is still some profit for other projects.Other projects: We have just been given 4 hairdressing chairs by CRW. I passed on the news and there is great excitement that a hairdresser will be available.DO YOU HAVE ANY SPARE HAIRDRESSING EQUIPMENT? Dryers? (including ones you sit under?) Steamers? Perhaps they mean tongs that steam for hair straightening. Also, brushes, combs, nail products, etc. SHOEMAKING EQUIPMENT? SOAP MAKING EQUIPMENT?IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONTACT ME SOONEST AS THE CONTAINER WILL LEAVE EARLY DECEMBERThe gardens are flourishing and making money to buy more seed and prepare more land. We have started a garden program for the school kids called Elva’s garden after a friend who really wanted the children to learn all skills. See Picture. The more the Government witnesses this style of work, the more land the people are being given, and others are coming to learn from us. A farming course was held recently. The community are now watching and wanting to take the course. The Church led by Pastor Darlington is growing weekly. It is an exceedingly difficult area to see converts in this area but he is leading by showing love and kindness as well as sitting in groups and studying. The last report I received was that we had grown from a start-up of 7 people to about 70 Adults and 80 teens and children.We have had a generous donor who specifically wanted the people to have a Christmas lunch/party Pastor Darlington and team will manage it. What a glorious day it will be! If you would like to provide a drink and sweets please let me know.We are almost ready to send a container through Community Resource Warehouse – Dell has been dealing with many difficulties due to new regulations but the container should be leaving in early December. Many thanks to a very generous donor who is paying for the shipping, and to the hundreds of volunteers who give daily one way or the other.MEMO led by Dr Jerome Harvey, Karen Parker and Tom Baxter have recently sent another container bringing the containers sent this year by them to 4 plus the four that arrived from 2029 shipping bringing it to 8. Yes… EIGHT! Many items go to the hospitals and clinics and have been a real godsend.Between the two organizations we have equipped many schools, hospitals, clinics, homes, gardens, computer labs, sewing centers, carpentry centers , and given people mobility with wheel chairs, walkers, walking sticks etc.Dried food has been provided to the starving through CRW which was added to the maize you donated for I could take up a full page if I wrote of every help that has been made possible by these hard working and generous folk.The 4 containers due to arrive early January will need $1500 each for clearance, duty, cranes and trucks. I so readily say yes to each container and trust that the charges will be donated.Ostomy bags are included in the container and now many who need them can use a proper clean bag designed for ostomy rather than shopping bags which promote infection. I receive many letters of thanks. Kim my niece has been overseeing this project and many have praised and thanked her for all she has done to set up monthly collections.I am incredibly grateful to those who gave this year and made a huge difference to so many people’s lives. We are working to put a little video together which won’t be done until January as we are waiting to include the piglets in the movie. 😊 This video will show how you changed lives as they share their stories.Thank you so very much for your support. This newsletter provides only a glimpse into the work we do all over Zimbabwe.Thank you for your kindness and prayers for Frank and myself.We wish you a very Merry Christmas and whether we celebrate at home alone or with family we can always retain Christmas in our hearts.God bless you all,Sue and FrankFounders, Zimbabwe Gecko Society     DONATE TODAY |
| VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.Copyright © *ZIMBABWE GECKO SOCIETY, All rights reserved. |