iHOPE

Rachel Sayimani

  Rachel Sayimani passed away over the weekend. Her husband Wilbert, had just returned form his trip to the United Sates as part of the delegation from the Presbytery of Zimbabwe.  Some of you met him when he spoke at our Pastor's Book Club.  Within hours of his return to Zimbabwe, Rachel suffered a massive stroke and, after more than a week of treatments, passed away.

Besides Wilbert, Rachel leaves two children: Primrose and Wilbert Jr.  It was also during this time that Wilbert's sister also died. If you are wondering how one person could be afflicted with so much tragedy in such a short time, you are not alone.

  For those who wish to do so, I have included Wilbert's email address for people to pass on their own condolences. Electricity and phone service are very sporadic and it may take some time to connect with him. Also, there are fears that emails are being monitored, so please keep your remarks away from anything political. Whether you send an email or not, please keep Wilbert, his family and his congregation in your prayers.

  Wilbert's email:  wsayimani@gmail.com

Zimbabwe Update

  On Sunday I asked for prayers for Wilbert Sayimani and his wife Rachel. Hours after he arrived home from his trip to Denver, Rachel had what appears to be a stroke.  It took a long time to find a hospital that could adequately treat her.  Here is the latest update we have. It is from Judy Chigwida (who was here last year) via Julia Henderson;

I received an email from Judy Chigwida today with an update on Rachael.  She says "Of real concern is Rachel S.'s condition as she had a severe stroke last Thur after Wilbert's return home.  Her condition was improving slowly and then today she had another episode of very high blood pressure and her level of conciousness is not as good as it was yesterday. A neuro surgeon has been called in by her internist specialist and we have not yet had a report of his findings.  She shows signs of increased intracranial pressure.  We will so appreciate your prayers for all concerned."

  I hope you will continue to keep Wilbert, Rachel and their two children (Primrose and Wilbert Jr.) in your prayers.  Thanks.

  In the past, I have posted an article from Gentleman's Quarterly concerning the improbable  and inspiring story of Paul Neshangwe (he was just here, too) and Jim Steele. The current issue of GQ (July 2008) has a brief update and you can get a look at it here: Download gq_july_2008_update.pdf

  It should probably also be mentioned that the original article, The Other Side of Hate, won the National Magazine Award for 'Best Feature Article of 2007'.

Zimbabwe Friends Are Home

Our friends from Zimbabwe are home.  Below is a cut-and-paste from Julia Henderson email. She (as always) has much more information than we are able to find in regular media outlets:

Friends,

I received a message from  Stanley within the last hour indicating that everyone made it back safely to

Harare.  The bags of medical supplies they took with them for Lomagundi Clinic delayed them clearing customs by about an hour, but they eventually got through, only paying US$58 in customs. 

 What have they arrived home to find?  A few significant events within the last 24 hours; 200 Zimbabweans are seeking refuge at the US Embassy in Harare http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080703/ap_on_re_af/zimbabwe. The African Union produced a weak resolution stating their deep concern and requesting dialogue while many welcomed him with open arms at their recent summit http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080703.wwZimbabwe03/BNStory/International/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080703.wwZimbabwe03.

 But some African leaders are speaking out against the situation in Zimbabwe. The good news, as taken from today's Zimbabwe Situation:

Botswana President Ian Khama: " the Southern African Development Community, a subregional grouping, must become "proactive in the crisis, .... if SADC refused to take action I will move unilaterally."

Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf called on the African Union to pronounce the June 27th elections in Zimbabwe as not credible and declare the results unacceptable, if the Union is to maintain its credibility. "...all is not well in Zimbabwe' and that the request by SADC for a postponement of the June 27 Zimbabwean elections should be heeded."

Sierra Leonen President Ernest Bai Koroma said African leaders should not support Mugabe's undemocratic regime but should rather embrace a government of unity. "The people of Zimbabwe have been denied their democratic rights. We should, in no uncertain terms, condemn what has happened."

Nelson Mandela: "Nearer to home, we had seen the outbreak of violence against fellow Africans in our own country and the tragic failure of leadership in our neighboring Zimbabwe. Archbishop Desmond Tutu: "If you were to have a unanimous voice, saying quite clearly to Mr Mugabe... you are illegitimate and we will not recognise your administration in any shape or form - I think that would be a very, very powerful signal and would really strengthen the hand of the international community."

 
Southern African Catholic bishops: "We warn that the atrocities and barbarism of Zanu-PF are being documented. Mr Mugabe's actions and those of his generals, their wives, his thugs supporters and the so-called 'war veterans' are offensive in the eyes of God. Judgment awaits,"

I'll keep you posted.  Our prayers continue,

Julia

General Assembly 'Top 10'

  'So what are the big issues coming before General Assembly this year?'

  I have been asked that question a few times in the last week. People who know about General Assembly (and it isn't a large group), know that they tackle a wide array of issues, but that  a couple become the 'key'  issues that define that gathering.   I don't have a crystal ball for predicting which issues will have the greatest impact, but the Stated Clerk's Top 10 List is probably a good place to start. Every year it seems there is a surprise issue that catches everyone off guard and I have a suspicion it will have to do with a lingering issue over the denomination's relationship with the nation of Israel and the best way to support them as well as speak about the need for the rights of Palestinians.  This is one of those issues that is already generating some heat and is usually misrepresented in the press.  I hope i am wrong. More about that in the coming week.

General Assembly Begins

  Every two years, representatives are chosen from all our Presbyteries to be a part of our 'General Assembly'. This is one of those years, and our General Assembly will begin tomorrow (June 21) in San Jose, CA..

  A rough analogy for General Assembly would be our Congress in that it is the highest decision making body we have in our denomination. Their decisions affect everything from our Constitution (Book of Order) to general directions for the denomination to public statements. As an example, our own Denver Presbytery has sent an Overture for the General Assembly to consider that concerns the plight of Zimbabwe.

  Unlike Congress, it meets for a short period of time, has no political parties and the representatives are not chosen to represent a particular constituency as they are selected to go and do their best thinking, praying and discerning what God is up to in this world. Each time they meet, the representatives are different so each Assembly takes on its own personality and direction.

The scope of what they consider is vast and usually misinterpreted by the national media.  If you would like to get a clearer idea of what is being discussed and the decisions that are made, you can check this site: General Assembly 2008. From there you can get lots of great information.

  If I can figure out how to do it, I'll also include an RSS Feed that will link directly to this blog. If you understand what that means, you know more than me!

Zimbabwe Update

  The delegation from Zimbabwe has arrived and this evening was a chance for all four to be together and share a bit of what is going on in their country.  One of the members (Wilbert) emphasized that two things important things we can do to be helpful are:

1. Pray
2. Tell others what is happening. The government believes it can act with impunity because they suppress all the information. They are always surprised when information gets out about what they have been doing.

  In light of that, here is a letter from Julia Henderson (note: 'CIO' stands for Central Intelligence Organization). In light of the news today that four supporters of the opposition party were kidnapped and killed today, the information shared is chilling.

Friends,

While Paul, Rose, Thabi and Wilbert are safe here in the U.S. ,disturbing reports continue to come from Zimbabwe. The family of Edmund, the headmaster at the school on the Steele's property, have had great difficulty.  At his family's rural home, all of their cattle have been stolen and they have been visited twice in the night.  Please pray for their safety. 

Yesterday, Stanley sent the following:

“I don’t know why we have missed it all along! Netsai Zizhou was at the office asking after you. Walking her out, I then realized she had company. An uncle she claimed, only that I recognized him. Unmarked vehicle, clean black suit."  Paul said this woman is a member of their congregation and the description of the man is typical for a CIO agent. The CIO had first planted informants in congregations, but they were being detected.  Now they pay people who are already in a congregation to be informants.  Apparently this woman's role was to identify Paul, and leave, then the CIO would step in and take him away.  His response to me was he had been warned that the CIO would come to arrest him sometime before the election, but thankfully this time they just wasted their fuel. 

Many in Zimbabwe have received personal letters "inviting" them to attend political rallies for ZANU-PF. Included among those are many Presbytery of Zimbabwe friends like Wilbert, Lydia, Stanley and others. Some have attended and others have not. Please pray there are no ramifications for their absence. And pray for Wilbert's wife Rachael who worries they may come asking about his absence and she will have to deal with them alone.

Please pray for each of our friends visiting with us now and the families they have left behind. Both the real and implied threats are vary viable and concerning.

Julia

Aid for China Earthquake Victims

  I started a sermon series last week called:  "How to Be Spiritual Without Being Weird" and the first week emphasized a spirituality that seeks to engage the world rather than escape from it.  It is as we engage this messy  world and all its brokenness, that we encounter the living God and participate with the work of the Holy Spirit.

  There are few places in the world more broken and tragic right now than the area of China that was devastated by the earthquake. Click on the link below to find out how our denomination is engaged in the work of recovery. If you want to donate more, the same article will tell you how to do that, too.

China Earthquake Relief

Myanmar/Burma AID Updates

  The nature of this blog is going to change for the next week or so.  Between the crisis in Zimbabwe, the Hurricane in Myanmar and this morning's earthquake in China, it seems that there is lots of news that changes constantly.  This blog wasn't designed to be a clearing house for disaster relief, but I will continue to post updates and more info as I get it on these subjects. I will also include some of the regular information that would normally be here.

  The situation in Myanmar gets more and more dire everyday. The government's refusal to let aid in the country from Western countries has only recently been modified.  All those involved affirm that it is much too little and it is getting later and later.  The initial estimates of deaths (somewhere around 100,000) could multiply if the efforts to bring sanitary conditions and clean water aren't successful.
  I placed a link last week for those who want to contribute directly to disaster assistance (see below).  For an update on how our Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) is working within the situation you can click on the following link:  PDA-Myanmar

Myanmar/Burma Cyclone

  The news that keeps coming in from Myanmar gets worse by the hour.  As of this post, it is estimated that there may be 100,000 deaths from the cyclone.

  What can be done? Some have already asked if we will have a special offering to help with disaster assistance.  In some ways, we already have.  Monies from our annual One Great Hour of Sharing offering (usually taken on Palm Sunday) have already been targeted for Myanmar relief.  One of the reasons we take that offering is so that it is ready and available for times such as this. Since the organization is already in place, the money is able to move quickly and efficiently.

  If you would like to make a direct donation, or just find out more about what is being done, you can click here: PDA Myanmar Clicking on the 'Myanmar/Burma' link (upper right side) will take you where you want to go.

  Whether you make a donation or not, please keep the people of this country in your prayers. They are suffering from two disasters: The cyclone and a repressive government that is making things worse.

Zimbabwe Update- May 4, 2008

  Here are the emails we mentioned yesterday morning. These came through Julia Henderson, the chair of our Partnership of the Zimbabwe-Denver Presbyteries (PZDP).  I have not met Stanley, but Paul is  a friend and well-known in our Presbytery.

  There may be lots of unfamiliar sounding places and references (the 'Zanu PF', is Mugabe's ruling party and 'MDC' is the opposition party), but the message is clear. Please pray for these brothers and sisters and indeed, the entire country of Zimbabwe.

From Stanley:

  Paul is traveling to Mvurwi, 80 Km due east of where members of our church have been brutally assaulted and displaced. Some are living in mountains and forests as I write.  They can't risk going back home; it's suicidal. 

  Some have sought refuge at Tinashe's church, after traveling the entire distance on foot.  Paul shall update you upon his return, which we pray will be safe.  Be strong, his grace is sufficient for us all.

Love, Stanley

From Paul:

    I am sitting in my office with Andrew Makunda our Evangelist at Rhimbick near Mvurwi which is a congregation under the Mbare session. We have two Evangelists in the area and a number of preaching stations. The parliamentary seats were won by Zanu PF, but the area is also not spared of the ongoing operation to weed out support for the MDC.

  There are a couple of torture centers set-up by Zanu PF thugs. A number of people in our churches there have been beaten up quite badly. Andrew had to walk at night with his wife and two children to escape from the promised torture. He only managed to escape at night because they were watching for cars to come and pick him up so thank God that he was advised to walk to safety. They had told him that he would be the first person to be killed in the area by the Zanu PF leaders in the area.

  The crime: all the practical service and help that the church gives is believed to be from MDC disguised as church ministry. The other Evangelist is said to be moving around with these people identifying those that are to be tortured. If this is true one would not be surprised because the Easter story now makes sense.

  Please pray for the church in Rhimbick and pray for us as we will be going there tomorrow to meet with these people and reason with them. Tinashe, as minister of the congregation will be going as well as Wilbert who has agreed to be part of the team. I have asked Tinashe to invite any other minister who may be interested but otherwise they will all be praying for us.

  I have no choice but to follow God's call to that place tomorrow. We walk by faith and not by sight. Andrew has received some treatment at the clinic here and his blood pressure though not too bad got the nurse concerned. There are other people that need medical treatment who have been tortured so we will have some serious decisions to make. Already I believe we need to help Andrew and his family get a place to stay somewhere safer. He will be with us here in Chinhoyi tonight while his family is still in hiding with a friend of the family in an area called Mutorashanga.

  It is amazing to see the power of God transform a person from fear to faith as he tells his story and I just listen and point out some of the things that God says in His word. Andrew is not sure if his house is not yet destroyed and things stolen by these thugs. Please pray for him, it really breaks my heart that he is having to go through all this but then again blessed is he as he is persecuted for the name of Christ.

Thank you for being there right now. 

Paul