Thomson MarciaKay 1984 Zimbabwe

Marcia Kay Thomson ' -/fP.O. Box H 96HatfieldHarare .Zimbabwe, Africa 3^

Forwarding AgentsMr. & Mrs. Wilford LeasureRoute 1West Union, Illinois 62477

May 1984

Dear Christian Friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.HARARE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The Lord Is blessing the work In Harare. We continue to reach newpeople through the church here and the building is too small toaccommodate the congregation each Sunday. For many years specialmeetings such as Christmas programs and VBS closing programs havebeen held outside unless it rained.

We have applied to the town board for a building permit to build achurch building. The congregation and its friends have raised 59% ofthe cost of the first stage. The drawing on the reverse side of thisletter shows this stage. Excluding the platform it will give us threetimes the floor space we now have. Since the congregation doubled insize in 1983 we hope to need all of this space before long and thedesign of the building is so that it would be easy to add on to it.The other day I was telling Steve we were making progress on thebuilding and he asked, "Are you digging foundations?" 1 said, "No,we are contracting the roof. Everything seems to be backward here."Fort Concrete has given us a plan to put up an asbestos roof onprecast concrete columns and rafters. Then would come foundations, aconcrete floor and walls just 30 Inches high. On both sides of theplatform there would be storage rooms for chairs, pulpit, communiontable and piano. This will be alright in warm weather.When money is available then the rest of the walls, the windows,doors, baptistry, celling and lighting will be added.

ZIMBABWE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

We have some new students planning to join us In May. Since Decemberwe have been concentrating on the local congregations. Night classeshave been held for church members in Harare. Our students have beenout working In churches also. One of our students, Alvin Dube,baptized 64 people on Easter Sunday.SCRIPTURE CLASSES

--Since January I have been the only volunteer Scripture Class teacher -at WIddecombe School. The Roman Catholic priest quit coming near theend of 1983 and Kathy Eastwood Is in the USA this year. When I wentto talk to the Headmaster, I offered to teach all of the classes if Icould have them one class at a time. He agreed, so I have all theGrade 4, 5, 6, S 7 classes, about 335 students. I teach four classeson Tuesday and four on Wednesday. The largest classes have 46,which is easier than teaching 70 at one time like I did last year.CONTINUE TO PRAY PLEASE

Thank Cod for all the opportunities He gives us to serve Him and thestrength to fulfill our place of service. Thank Him for the safe arrivalof the Paul Pennington family who will be in Harare studying Shonauntil they go to Karol for a year. Pray that immigration will approvenew workers that want to come and help.

Thank you for your continued support that enables us to carry on thework here.

In Christian love,

Marcia Kay Thomson

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SEP 24 1984

Marcia Kay ThomsonP.O. Box H 96HatfieldHarareZimbabwe, Africa

31.

Forwarding AgentsMr. 6 Mrs. Wilford LeasureRoute 1West Union, Illinois 62^77

September 1984

Dear Christian Friends,

As I write to you I am at Heavenward Bound Christian Camp. We broughtthe children from Arcadia Children's Home in Harare here for this campIn two vehicles. Being at the camp brings back many memories of participating in other camps held here Including the very first camp at thiscampgrounds In August 1981.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Last week we had VBS every afternoon. The highest attendance was l85students and 'I of them were In my class of Middlers. We had about 25adults to handle the directing, teaching, crafts, refreshments, etc.To have adequate teachers we recruited from the other congregations Inthe city. About 25 of the young people also came from the other congregations but most of the children are in our area and walked. We hadmany new contacts and some families started attending our services evenbefore VBS. I passed out invitations for VBS in my scripture classes.The church attendance is down some for a few weeks because people areaway during the school vacation. When they return our space problemIs going to be acute. To have enough classrooms for VBS we had someclasses share a room and have handcraft in the courtyard while theother class used the room. The teenagers met in the living/diningroom of the college. Because some of the rooms were not large enoughto contain chairs for all the students, we removed the chairs and hadthe students sit on the floor. The closing program was held outsideon Friday night.

CHURCH BUILDING

It took several months to get approval to build our church building butwe recently got word that It was passed at their meeting the end ofJuly. They have not given final approval to the plans and can call forsome modifications but we hope to get started soon. The money has beenpaid to the company for the roof for several months and we have somemoney on hand for foundations and floor. We really thank those of youwho sent money to help build this building.

JUNIOR CHURCH

For a couple of months we have had a junior church. At the presenttime It Is just for the last half of the church service but if we haveso many come that we cannot crowd everyone into one room for the songservice we may be forced to have two separate services.

CECIL ROSS

We finally got immigration approval for Cecil Ross and he has arrivedto be our youth minister. He has learned rapidly to drive on the leftside of the road and Is finding his way around the city. He went withme to my scripture classes at the end of the school term. If he canhelp with part of the classes 1 will be able to catch up on some otherwork that has been suffering.

VISIT FROM MY MOTHER

Mom came to visit me for two months. She was a big help around thecollege. We were also able to visit some and took a six day trip tosee the country. She Is now back In Joplin, Missouri, and some of youmight want to contact her If you wonder how things are here.

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Dear Christian Friends,

May the grace and peace of God come to you this holiday season. His work here has beengrowing and I pray that you have seen His work grow In your area.

CHURCH BUILDING/BIBLE COLLEGE CHAPEL

On October 8 work started on the building. It is possible that it will be useable forthe Christmas Program December 2. Having a roof over our heads could be a real blessing as December is in the rainy season and outdoor meetings are a bit risky. For manyyears we have had too many people to fit Into the present building on special occasions.

Several alterations were made before the building plans were approved. The significantchange was that the old buildings we had hoped to renovate for toilets were notapproved so a new building near but not attached to the church building will have to bebuilt. This will Increase the amount of money needed to complete the first stage ofthe bu i1d i ng.

BAPTISMS

For a long time the swimming pool at the college has not had enough water in it to beused as a baptistry. Because of the drought, rationing has been enforced and swimmingpools cannot be filled. We have been meeting with the Arcadia Church 6 miles away Inthe evenings and using their baptistry. 27 people have been baptized in the pastthree and a half months. Most of these are from our community but some are fromArcadia.

In two families when young people have been baptized their mothers have come for thebaptisms and then have started attending church regularly.

APARTMENT

In my last letter I mentioned that a couple were needed as dorm parents for ZimbabweChristian College. At the present time we do not have anyone lined up for this job butI realize that when someone comes I will need another place to live. The apartmentnext door to Penningtons was for sale so I have purchased it. With the U.S. dollarbeing so strong right now I got a two bedroom apartment in good condition for US$7,750.At $100 per month it will just take six and a half yeqrs to pay off the principal.Since it Is somewhat difficult to rent places now I thought this was a wise course ofact ion.

MORE WORKERS

When I came to Harare Jack and Peggy Pennington, Midge Goldthwaite and Kathy Eastwood were here. There were some others here for short terms. Some church members

and students were doing some preaching. Midge has left for Mashoko Mission but rionand Joyce Morris, Steve and Linda Whitmer, Virginia Card and Cecil Ross have come towork. Shanda and Robin Delaney are expected to arrive in December. Paul Eastwoodgraduated from college in '83; he and Kathy have been in the U.S.A. during 198^4 butthey plan to return in January I985. Our workers are increasing but the work is alsogrowing. We are spread out in four congregations and a Bible college. There are^still many openings for workers here in Harare. The only University in Zimbabwe ishere and we have no work with the students there. Some of the leaders from our youthgroup will be entering the University in March.OPEN TO GOSPEL

A few years ago many people thought that politics was the answer to their problems.Since the change of government they still have problems and many are looking to theLord for an answer. Pray for us as we work here in Harare, Please.Have a wonderful Christmas and a Christ centered New Year.

In His Service^

Marcia Kay ThomsonaiOzl iLSd i

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