Patrick Machaya: This month saw the passing into glory of our senior minister, Bro Patrick Machaya. He was 79 years of age when taken by cancer. We worked together in the Lord’s work for over 50 years. Among the many good things he will be remembered for are: His teaching and encouragement in our congregations working towards the appointment of qualified Elders; His leadership and teaching in the Bible Camps which we began in 1984. He will be sorely missed in many hearts.
Breakdown: In our last newsletter I told of the breakdown we experienced about 500 miles from home and how we had to be towed back home.
After a major engine overhaul my pickup, thankfully, is now back on the road and running well, but the transmission is beginning o give trouble as it wants to jump out of fifth gear, so that means another expense shortly.
But that is not the end of our vehicle woes. We have two 4-Ton trucks with Cummings diesel engines. (One is an open truck we use for hauling and the other is our bus which has been essential for our Camp work). Unfortunately, although the basic engine is good, most of the ancillary parts were the worst kind of Chinese rubbish and failed at an early age thus doing damage to the engine itself. Last year our bus/truck had taken about 40 women up to Binga for a women’s camp meeting. On the return journey it broke down with overheating about 300 miles from home. We had to organise the small pickup to make several journeys to ferry the women home, before we could tow the empty monster back to Ruwa.
Appeal For Funds:
Readers of this newsletter know that I rarely make an appeal for funds. Through you, the Lord has richly supplied our every need over the past 52 years.
This month we removed the engine from the vehicle and dismantled it. I wont go into all the greasy details but the head and the block must be pressure tested to see if there are any cracks. Those tests are not always foolproof because some cracks only open up when the engine reaches operating temperature. Overhauling this engine will run from $3,000 to $5,000. and we need another $2,000 just for tires.
Girl’s Dorm: The roof trusses are up and ready for the roof sheeting. Our bricklayers are busy this week doing the beam filling and raising some of the inside walls which must go right up to the roof sheeting (there is no ceiling) Next week, Lord willing, we will should lay the asbestos/cement roof sheeting.
To this point I have spent $25,000 on the
Girls Dorm.
- Next is the glazing for the windows;
- Doors to be purchased and hung;
- Toilet pans and hand basins to be purchased and fitted in the bathrooms;
- Plastering and painting in the bathrooms and other inside rooms.
- Cement floor to be laid. (I do not have an estimate for the cost of all these things.)
I have exhausted all the Building Fund moneys and general mission fund moneys, which is why I am making this appeal.
Famine Relief: At this time I am NOT asking for funds for this. I have on hands enough for us to take a 4-ton truck load to Binga and Lusulu and also some to WuyuWuyu. Several of our Harare churches have contributed food items and cash to add to the funds that I have on hands. We hope to do the distribution this month, but the truck needs new tires before we can make the 1,200 mile round trip to the Binga/Lusulu area.
December 4: I only have a few weeks left before my scheduled return to the States December 4, and there is so much to do. Your prayers for my physical strength and spiritual wisdom are much needed.
May The Lord Richly Bless Each Of You!
Robert Garrett