One Good Hot Meal

Recently we visited the Rugare Children's Home and Feeding Station.  It is one of the many Hands of Hope projects in Zimbabwe.  Today's entry are the thoughts of Dave Nelson from East Troy Bible Church who experienced the joy and the difficulties of this amazing place.

On Tuesday, March 22nd we went to the Rugare Children’s home. Rugare is in a high density population area. The Children’s home shared the grounds of the Hope Valley Assembly Church. Pastor Henry Zihove ministers to the congregation and lives on the grounds with his own children and about 6 others. Rugare is also a feeding station where local children come to get a hot meal every day. For some it might be there only meal of the day.

When we arrived, I would guess there were about 25 to 30 children who had just finished eating, and were rinsing their dishes. Most of them were wearing school uniforms. One of the care givers explained to me, the children not wearing uniforms did not go to school, probably because they could not afford it.

Two things struck me within minutes of arriving at the home. One was the level of poverty. There was no grass yard or swing. It was dirt and weeds. The one room house that the pastor and his family share with the orphans, at one time housed 15 people. The second thing that struck me was the children. Though they were dirty and their clothes worn, their faces were full of life. Their eyes lit up when they smiled, which was often. The ladies in our group had the children singing and dancing within minutes of our arrival. If you closed your eyes and didn’t notice the African accent, it was easy to imagine yourself at VBS in the States.

Though the level of poverty and the condition of the grounds were disturbing to me, the smiles on their faces and the sounds of their singing reassured me of God’s presence. I will continue to pray for Pastor Henry and his wife as they bring Hope and the Word of God to these precious children.

Please pray for the children of Rugare Church, home and feeding station.  Maybe you could be part of the blessing in Rugare!

Dave Nelson