October 2025 Mission Report from Simbarshe Gondo

Grace mercy and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

The sun was exceptionally hot from the beginning until the end of the month. The maximum temperatures were 40-45°C (104-114° F), no rain was recorded. The first week I had an opportunity to speak and invite the newcomers in Bazel to church. The second week we bought the cement and gathered the pit sand and bricks to the church site. Together with my wife we were invited to attend a farewell of one of the respected Reverend in the UMC. The third week we received a backsliding family to church; I was doing personal evangelism. I lost my identity card and replaced it. The fourth week we received a sad note we lost a village head's Bro. The final week we had a visitor from Dangamvura church of Christ and one baptism. I harvested wheat. I want to thank you Brethren for the support you sent the last quarter of the year and the assistance towards the church building. 

I first saw Mhlanga family in the beginning of September in Bazel, they bought a stand and built it now they are permanent residency who stays 300m away from my house. I invited Winnie a girl aged 16 to church, the first attendance to church the family stood up and promises to be part of the church members. The whole multitude rejoiced. I am studying with them they're not yet baptized. We give them time to decide to be part of us and be baptized. Our daughter Laura went to school trip in Gweru as they pass through the farm of the president in Kwekwe, it was their advantage to learn more in the Agricultural sector. They travelled safely to and from. 

I went to town to purchase 30 bags of cement. The whole church agreed to keep them near the church site at Mr. Mwandiambira a son of the village head about 200m away. I kept 10 bags of cement at my house which is 800m away. The two loads of a ten tonne pit sand is now at the church site and 3000 bricks. So far there's a delay on the 114mm by six meters timber to be used on the scaffolding. It was not budgeted for we thought the builders would foot that expense but we are forced to buy them as they costs $15 each and the builders need 6 of them. The builders will start the work in the second week of November. The  church will do something to make sure the work starts. 

Mrs. Pauline Nyamudzura, a District Superintendent at United Methodist church invited us to witness her farewell in Marange District she served for 8 years. She stayed in Bazel in a parsonage house and her office was 50m away to our house. On the 11th together with my wife we paid a homage of attending the celebration because she influenced her Bro, a District Superintendent inspector in the education sector who worked in Buhera District to influence the DSI in Mutare to open a vacancy for my wife to transfer from Mashonaland West. She played a pivotal role towards this movement it was not easy but the Lord used her to help us. The farewell was held at Marange Mission school 35km West of Bazel, together with my wife we agreed to give her a gift of $20 USD and 2 Broiler chickens ,the gathering was 200 people. She's the honor of Sunrise preschool where Lester our son is going. 

The Nhongo family abstained from church 5 years back. The family decided to start their own church, the father called himself a prophet. People followed them. When the father got employed to Green Fuel  company in Chipinge he dropped his first wife and married another one and the old one was left alone. That marked the end of their church. The old wife felt disgusted and discouraged and each time we met she blamed herself for what they decided. I encouraged her and the abandoned family. Finally they made a good decision of coming back to the Lord's church, she contributed her $2 towards the church building. 

I followed sister Chadzingwa the 15th to her home after we communicated on the phone as she sent some pictures of her serious illness.  We spent the day together as she expressed her feelings, we ate lunch together. Now she has recovered fully. I passed through sister Masere's home, she was in much pain of her daughter's husband who had a fatal accident. I prayed with her. She is no longer coming to church since her legs are not fit to move, she's disabled but we see her through her granddaughter Nokutenda Moyana. She comes to church every Sunday. I went to see sister Kanyimo who was away for quite some time she lost her relatives we prayed together, she was happy to inform me about her travel in Nov to see her granddaughter, sister Kudzi our youth who is working in South Africa Capetown. She wants her to fly. That will be her first time. Me, I didn't see any aeroplane nearby or even to climb it, I see them passing in the air but my kids saw them during their school trips. 

After we attended a Civil court on  Agripah's case I lost my identity card, I reported the matter to the police to be aware since the robbers used my IDs in a wrong way and left it to  the places they robbed, if failure to report you be in for it but I do all the procedures to clear my name. Together with my wife we went to town to process Lester's birth certificate. Unfortunately, I had no identity card. They advised me to reapply and I replaced it this month. 

On the 26th we received visitors Bro and sister Gwazaza, a former principal of Mutare school of preaching, an elder at Dangamvura church of Christ, we gave him a platform to preach as he gave us words of wisdom. Sister Matanda is married to Mr. Fungai Chambara she played an important role of bringing him to church I studied with him each time we met, he decided on his own to be baptized, Bro Chadzingwa getting into water with him and baptized him. The church rejoiced to see him. 

I harvested about 200kgs of wheat. I planted 50 kgs I noted a number of challenges: birds, water and late farming. If I solve this challenge I will produce 300-400 kgs per 50kgs seeds. I don't complain. The family will eat bread. My little garden is helping me a lot, I need to plant maize and I am still working on the fence to avoid cattle and fire I bought another 30m roll of fence so far I have 2 rolls. If I managed another 4 maybe next year I will protect it. I used the cheaper fence about 2mm, 95mm in diameter and 1.5m tall. At the church site it is 1,8m tall ,2,5mm and 75mm in diameter and barbed wire at the bottom. Mine at the garden is simple and durable. Again, the pump is helping me a lot. The river is perennial we are happy the government is allowing us to utilize this water. 

I want to offer my sincere gratitude to you brethren for the support you sent and the help you did towards the church building may the Almighty God bless you all. 

Yours in Christ, 
Simbarashe Gondo