My Mom just turned 92 on November 8th! One of my fondest memories of my mother was the time that daddy got the tractor stuck in the nuanetsi river. The brown muddy water was rolling up around the chassis. These situations always made my mom terribly nervous, but she only had two choices, to be the tow-er or the tow-ee. The bank of the river was steep and slippery for the Land Rover, the tow-er. So she opted to get on the tractor and be the tow-ee. I will never forget in my mind‘s eye the picture of my mom crawling down the nose of that old tractor in her dress, so as not to get in the rushing muddy water of the river. Whenever my dad got her into situations like this, she would refer to him as “Daniel“ instead of just “Dan.” Her stock phrase was “Daniel, I’m getting too old for this!“ Well, today my mom is 92 years old! She survived that and many other adventures! At 92, you’re still not too old Mom!

The Lion at Odzi

We arrived after a long, hot, bumpy, dusty journey to a little community northeast of Mashoko called Odzi. I had two distinct first impressions of Odzi, the beautiful young people and the story of the lion.

Let me start with the young people... To be honest, we didn’t know what to expect in our planning for this weekend meeting. We had decided to spend the first morning going over general Bible knowledge and assessing their exposure and spiritual maturity, then adapt our later sessions accordingly. You see, Odzi is a rural church tucked away off of any main roads, removed from the bustle of any town as well as its resources and distractions. 

Much to our delight, we found a couple of grounded Christian adults who had been pouring into the youth of their area church. When Darel took a poll, they only had two Bibles among them, yet these young people delighted in sharing Bible verses from memory, giving their testimony, and expounding on God’s Word. I kept thinking to myself, there are some really good potential preachers here. 

If you ever wondered if your mission’s dollars were well spent, let me tell you, Odzi is a beautiful example of fruit that has grown from seeds planted two generations ago. Darel would be humble to tell you, but the impact of his father, Dr. Denny Pruitt, is strongly felt to this day in many places in the world, in Zimbabwe, and at Odzi.

The second story coming out of our weekend at Odzi was about a lion. There is a stray lion roaming the hills of Odzi. It is probably an old male who has been kicked out of his pride by a younger more dominant male from the game reserve that borders that region of Zimbabwe. The preacher at Odzi had an oxen killed by the lion the night before we got there. There was a palpable fear among the people and much discussion about this lion.

I couldn’t help but think about the spiritual application when Peter warns us, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Saturday afternoon, we divided the children under fourteen into their group for a lesson and crafts with Mary, the Johnsons and my sister, Martha. Darel and I split the young people over fourteen into two separate groups. Darel talked to the young men and I talked to the young women about Christian living.

They were receptive and challenged at the same time to lead a life that pleases God. Pray for these dear young people at Odzi. Truly, there is a lion that does prowl around seeking to devour them, both literally and spiritually!

As a result of the weekend at Odzi, seventeen young people signed up to go to the national Christian Youth Conference in Zimbabwe over Easter Weekend. There were multiple confessions of faith and rededication of lives, both young and old on Sunday. And all were greatly encouraged in their faith, both us as American visitors, as well as the sweet and kind Christians, our brothers and sisters, at Odzi.

By Donna Burris Stroop

Dine’ Trip Report

I haven’t known where to begin to bring a report on the Clinic Dedication and Revival Weekend at Dine’. I have felt like Mary when Luke describes her as treasuring up all of these things in her heart and pondering them.

Sometimes we build up expectations in our minds and then the actual event can be a little disappointing, but in regards to the Clinic Dedication for which I have been dreaming and working for two years, it was an event that absolutely exceeded my expectations! Imagine a sea of faces, 1,000 school children around the periferey and at least 500 under the big top white tent. The stage was set with curtains draped lovingly by the local church women, VIP seating to host the numbers of dignitaries from government and health sectors, Kraal heads and sub chiefs and chiefs, American visitors, and many elderly people worn from hard years in the African sun, a ribbon to be cut and a plaque to be unveiled, and speech after speech of gratefulness until I thought I couldn’t handle any more and wanted to jump up and shout, all glory to God! Also the deep, deep appreciation and honor shown to my parents and the Isom family whose names now show brightly from two shiny bronze plaques... and to us, their children. Oh, but you can’t get the full impact till you understand, it was swelteringly hot! The music was loud and the dancing was jubilant and dusty, it went on for a long time and I loved every minute!

To everyone who encouraged us along the way and donated what they could to the project, I wish you could feel just a small portion of what it means to the people of Maranda to have a new clinic. I heard how people have had to stand in long lines in the hot sun because of the limited room to be able to process people through efficiently. Now they will have a cool airflow waiting room, with multiple treatment rooms as well as maternity and male and female wards, not to mention bathrooms, to accommodate and process people in need of medical attention in a much more timely and efficient manner. I believe lives will be saved and souls will be reached because of this new facility.

The Revival kicked off Friday night following an already full and exhausting day with much joy and singing and dancing like only our African brothers and sisters can do! But it was on Saturday morning that we could all point to later that we recognized, God showed up! It was when Steve Isom felt moved to go off script and focus on Joshua’s charge: “Choose today whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” The break out discussion groups had some profound sharing and the great preaching just kept on through the whole weekend with Bruce and Dave and Dave. 

My dear niece, Jenn Burris, led a fantastic children’s program simultaneously as the adults were meeting. Every time I looked out the window toward the field or went out to check on her and her team, the numbers had doubled! What’s more, Africa and the dear people of Zimbabwe, have totally captured her heart. My whole team were so terrific, the small group leaders, the children’s helpers, and also the nine Bible College students that came with us from Zimbabwe Christian College to help with the Revival Weekend.

One tragedy- we found out later that while we were in sessions on Saturday, a young girl was taken by a crocodile down at the river not a half a mile from where we were meeting. Oh, how I wish she had been in the children’s program that day. 

As Steve and I lay down exhausted in our tent at night with the rain fly removed to try to get some air flow, I would look up at the brilliant African sky and thank the Lord for the day. For those who came and heard the good news that Jesus had come to seek and save the lost. (Our theme) But then I would hear the drumbeats, that distinctive sound that I remembered so well from childhood, of a beer party going long into the night. I had naively been thinking to myself, yay, we accomplished the task in getting the clinic built and dedicated, I can rest now, but then I realized, our work is not done! Our work is never done as long as our dear Lord tarries and there are souls that need to be won to Christ!

With a grateful heart, Donna