We would like to take this opportunity to THANK each and every person who has supported NNMSII through your giving, your prayers and your support in 2008. It has been an unbelievable year and as we come to the close of 2008, we are amazed at the doors that have opened to help more and more people.

The story of what was accomplished in Zimbabwe within the last 45 days through NNMSII could take up pages, but we want to at least share some of the reports. First of all, we were able (through your giving) to put more than $20,000 directly into the hands of our team who immediately went to work to meet life-threatening needs. These efforts came immediately after already providing over 3,500 blankets for children!

We have already told you the story of how supplies of maize, flour and oil arrived at the Rose of Sharon orphanage just as the Director was on her knees praying for provision (they had run out of food the day before). More details to this story. Our contact, Sandy, was able to arrange through a vendor a discounted rate on the maize, flour and oil. Then a contact of Sandy’s offered chicken at a discounted rate! The savings on the essentials provided chicken for Christmas – a delicacy that these children had not had in months! From what we hear, incredible excitement from the children.

We must tell you that the funds we were able to supply for emergency medical supplies and doctors SAVED lives! There is no better way to tell the story than to quote the reports from our Team on the ground in Zimbabwe:

“An absolutely desperate situation in Chegutu where there was a severe outbreak of cholera. The team arrived to see horrendous conditions – people lying in tents in the mud in their own vomit and feces. One room was filled with bodies not even in body bags. The team used 1000L of IV fluid in the first six hours and worked straight through the night. Before their arrival 36 people had died the evening before. After their arrival, only one person died and NONE have died since then.”

“Karoi medical outreach (where NNMSII purchased medicines and food for the team): over 2000 people were treated in 1.5 days. People came from afar when they heard a medical team was coming – a 97 year old blind man walked a distance of 20km. More than 600 desperate people were given numbers to wait in the queue; doctors worked until 11 at night to perform 20 operations. Crusades were held in the evenings and more than 900 people gave their lives to the Lord! A church has now begun in Karoi!”

“Meals provided for the Champions for Life Camp (147 HIV teenagers): An amazing camp –  lives were transformed! The teenagers were so touched by God’s love they did not want to return home.”

There is so much more to tell…so many incredible stories of provision. And yet, there are more stories of NEED. In Karoi, the medical team reported of scissors that wouldn’t cut the skin and forceps that kept getting stuck…old and outdated equipment in desperate need of replacement. So many more communities need medical teams like the one sent to Chegutu to save lives from cholera. There are opportunities to train team members to teach communities about basic health care and to distribute water sterilizing tablets to prevent cholera. Our teachers and doctors need provision for their own needs so they can continue to save lives. The orphanages will need more food. 

It is a year of opportunity that lies before us. A year that we will choose to show our faith by continuing to do good deeds. We will not become corrupted by this world – a mentality of doom & gloom – we will do good deeds. Thank you for joining with us in 2008 to do these good deeds. We will need your help in 2009 – join us in doing good deeds.