Hello, Friends!
Recently, a challenging and exciting opportunity was presented to me, and I’d like to share it with you. The Christian college program I am part of is organizing a mission’s trip to Zimbabwe, Africa. The ‘Unbound’ student program is partnering with Global Encounters. I feel called by the Lord to go to and this will take place from October 9-24 this year.
Zimbabwe is one of the most economically depressed countries in the world and AIDS has ravaged the adult population, leaving many orphans without training, parenting, or provision. I will be a part of teaching the kids of Zimbabwe and showing them Jesus and His love through a camp-style ministry.
Why does Zimbabwe need missions?
Zimbabwe was once the “breadbasket of Africa,” the most prosperous sub-saharan African country. Now it is deeply mired in poverty, since their economic collapse in 2007. Hyperinflation and corruption cripple the economy. In addition, Zimbabwe has one of the highest AIDS infection rates in the world and very little medical care, which has resulted in millions of orphans and tens of thousands of child-led households. These children desperately need practical help to meet their basic needs and people who will love them and show them the love of their Heavenly Father.
Global Encounters partners with Hands of Hope, a ministry that has established feeding stations for orphans all over Zimbabwe. These feeding stations keep the kids alive physically, but also provide community, mentoring, and discipleship. Each feeding station is run in connection with a local church that helps take on the responsibility for caring for the orphaned kids.
Hands of Hope also owns a camp facility. Global Encounters teams have been going each year to run summer camps for the kids at the feeding station. We bring them to camp in groups of fifty at a time to be loved, trained, and fed (physically and spiritually). Because the kids at each camp come from the same feeding station and village, we get to see the real life relationships. We help the older ones learn to be protectors rather than bullies and teach all the kids to work together rather than fighting. I’m excited to build deeper relationships with them. Global Encounters teams have been working in Zimbabwe now for five years and every year we are able to have a deeper impact in the lives of the kids as they trust us more.
Do you want to partner with me?
The total cost of the trip is about $2,700 per person. Each team member is responsible for raising the trip’s cost.
I am also seeking prayer partners to pray for our group, the ministries, safety, the people of Zimbabwe, and throughout the trip. If it is your heart to be a prayer partner for us, I would feel overwhelmingly blessed; it takes all of us as the body of Christ.
If you feel God calling you to support me financially, please know that your gifts will be received as grace and will be used to serve those who are in need. You can use the link below to donate. Thank you for helping me serve the children in Zimbabwe!
In Christ, Andres
