Iris Zimbabwe We exist to extend the love of Jesus to the least, the last
and the lost. Because the country of Zimbabwe has experienced such economic
downfall, all areas of life have been affected. The fabric of this beautiful
country has become threadbarren and must be rewoven one person at a time. We have a mandate to love back to life those Jesus brings to
us; the widow, the orphan, the homeless, jobless and most vulnerable of
society. Currently we have four farms in Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare
and Rusape where orphans and widows reside. We are in partnership with several other ministries to care
for the needs of the physical needs of these who are without. We are in the process of shipping 100 tons of food, seeds,
clothing, shoes, and medical aid to Harare to be dispersed among 50,000
people. In the next year, we are looking to: Start a 24-7 House of Prayer. Many in Zimbabwe are crying
out to God for relief and revival of our nation. Many churches go without a
facility to hold services. We want to create a place where all can come
together and find solidarity in the cry to heaven, a place where churches can
have a decent facility to hold their services, a place where anyone is welcome
to come and have their needs met and find love. The feeding and care of orphans. Our goal is to love every
orphan that God sends our way. We do not one to be abandoned or unloved. We
want to create a home where Employ teachers to start informal schools. We have lost over
160,000 teachers (L.A. Times 2008), which is now a largely underestimated
figure, and most children have not attended school since last September.
Teachers have turned to commerce as way to support themselves, while the
children go uneducated. It would cost $50 US to teach 30-40 children for one
month. We hope to pass out 50,000 packets of seeds, a hard
commodity to come by anywhere in Zimbabwe. Many of the poorest have turned to boiling leaves and roots
to eat. Whatever is available. We will enable families to be self-sufficient
and raise their own crops. Some
can be sold for profit, and the rest to sustain the family. This will also give
the widows and orphans a means to feed and support themselves. Older youths have no skills and many of them are eager to
learn and excel in different trades. We are currently working with the informal
trade unions of Zimbabwe (ZICEA) to train up young people in different trade
skills. On our four farms and in
the city of Harare, it will be one of our focuses to continue to work with
ZICEA to enable youth to be functioning members of society. One of the job
training tracks will be in building projects. We will create work opportunities
for workers in training on the farms that will in turn provide housing for the
growing number of orphans, homeless and widows. Other projects currently begin
worked on by youth in Harare are jewelry making, petroleum jelly production,
peanut butter production, and crafting. Down the Road... Zimbabwe's future pastors and Christian leaders need a
school! Our sites are set on starting a Bible School in the capital city open
to those who will church plant, pastor and lead in other industries. Outreach. We desire to take the gospel to those in great
darkness to see the light of God and know His love. Our goal is to reach every
village and city with the gospel of Jesus and to plant a Christian witness
among the new Christians among those who believe. Formal schools and training centres. As we grow and mature
in our commitment to the people of Zimbabwe, we will lay out more formal
schools and training centre’s in different communities, with a long term
commitment to the education and social advancement of tomorrow's Zimbabwe. 2009 Opportunities Short Term: Mid July 2009-Mid August 2009 We will take a team into Harare this summer to preach the
good news, minister to physical needs of the impoverished, praying for the sick
and holding crusades in different villages. If you are called to spend yourself
on behalf of the poor of Zimbabwe, please get in touch with us. Long Term December 2009/January 2010 We will officially be planting a long-term base in Zimbabwe
from December/January. We are looking fore those with a call from God and a
heart to love. (See our current projects to know what we are doing).
Specifically, we need people who will love the orphans, teachers, those with
construction experience, those with strong administration skills and those who
can teach a trade, although we will consider all whom God sends our way. All Iris graduates are welcome.