Seymour United Methodist Church sponsored a missionary trip to the city of Mutaka in Zimbabwe. Associate pastor Jason Roe led the mission. On August 4, six members of the church went to Zimbabwe and spent eighteen days ministering the gospel and hosting vacation bible school in this small South African city.
The pastor of the Methodist Church in Mutaka, Reverend Thomas Muhomba, and the American missionaries taught vacation Bible school for many of the local orphans. The attendance reflected the success of the mission by the increasing numbers who came to pray and hear the words of the Lord.
Reverend Roe said, “We had an attendance of about 85 the first night but the last night we hosted the school, there were about 315 children.” The orphaned children eagerly attended the schools and were thrilled to receive gifts from the Americans such as clothing, school supplies and candy.
They also made charitable donations to the churches and helped some of the impoverished people build a new home. Jason and his crew of missionaries purchased a kit and helped build a house that would give a fatherless family of nine a place to live. The mother and grandmother and their seven children now have a place to sleep at night thanks to the hard work and contributions of these ambassadors of goodwill from Seymour. The two-bedroom shanty only cost $428,500. That is in Zimbabwe dollars. In American dollars that would be around $120 (one million “Zim” dollars is equal to about $280 in U.S. funds). They were also able to build a handicapped man a one-bedroom shanty for a little less than $100 US.
Some of the pastors that live in Zimbabwe have not been paid a salary in several months. Jason and his group were responsible for some of these dedicated ministers finally receiving a payday so they could continue their work. There was about $2,500 U.S. dollars donated for salaries. That would be about nine million “Zim” dollars.
Unemployment is high in Mutaka. Reverend Roe said it is around 40%. Most of the people who have a job are employed in factories, as construction workers or as farmers. There are also many people who sell handmade crafts or produce in roadside stands. “Most of the people there are more concerned with what they will eat the next day rather than saving for retirement or making long term plans.” Reverend Roe said. They have nothing left to save after they spend the little they have on food and other necessities. He also said, “It puts things in perspective to see what these people have to do to survive daily.”
The mission made a difference in the lives of a few of the people in Zimbabwe, South Africa. It also made a difference in the lives of a few in Seymour, Tennessee.

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