(November 3-27, 2025)

In early summer, I was invited by Bro. Dale Garrett of Winchester, KY to accompany him on a mission trip to Zimbabwe. This trip would be later in the year, probably in late October or in November. As you will recall, I accompanied Dale To Zimbabwe in November of 2022 where we spent almost a month.

As it turned out Dale left for Zimbabwe about 10 days prior to my departure, arriving in Harare on October 24, 2025. He left there for Atlanta about a week before I did.

We were invited to stay in the church parsonage at Glen Norah Church of Christ in Harare. We stayed with Trust and Elisa Mabandi. Bro. Trust is the preacher at Glen Norah. We had visited the congregation in November of 2022 with Dale preaching and myself giving the Bible Lesson.

This year Dale and I did not spend a lot of time together as he was busy conducting his seminars on Creationism at 4 different venues. (Note: he will have an article in the January Word and Work on his travels in Zimbabwe.)

I want to thank all the congregations and individuals who contributed to my mission trip. Gifts were received from 5 states. The states were: Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Louisiana and Illinois. Also, I received 2 gifts designated for Bibles, one from a congregation in Illinois, and one from an individual in Jeffersonville, IN. I sent $1,000.00 via Western Union to Bro. Trust Mbandi. He purchased the Bibles in Harare, half in English and half in Shona.

A few days before I left, I visited with Bro. Robert Garrett at his home in Louisville. He had a suitcase full for me to deliver to Bro. Daniel Kubvaruno at Rockwood Bible Camp in Ruwa, Zimbabwe. Included in the suitcase were the following items: 2 communion sets from the old Portland Avenue Church, 1 box of communion cups, songbooks and some medicine for Bro. Daniels’s cancer, provided by Dr. Tom Schreiner, Bro. Robert’s son-in-law. We delivered the suitcase on Wednesday.

I left Louisville, KY on Monday, November 3, 2025 on Delta Airlines. The first flight was about 2 hours. Then I changed planes in Atlanta, GA for the long flight (15 hrs.) to Johannesburg, South Africa, then a 2hr flight to Harare, Zimbabwe, arriving at 9:55 p.m. on Tuesday night, November 4, 2025. Dale Garrett was there with Trust and Elisa Mabandi to meet me at the airport.

Bro. Dale Garrett had been in Zimbabwe since October 24^th and had conducted 2 of his seminars on Creationism and Jesus as the Logos Creator. One was in Kadoma, Zimbabwe and the other at the Mbare Church of Christ to a group of Church of Christ Youth.

The first Saturday we were in Zimbabwe we attended the National Bible Study at Mbare Church of Christ. Bro. Dale and I both spoke. During the week, we visited with individuals in the churches to encourage them in the Lord Jesus. We spent our days with Trust and Elisa, enjoying their hospitality and discussing the work in Zimbabwe.

The first Sunday we were in Harare, we attended the National Church of Christ Prison Ministry Sunday at the Hatfield Church of Christ building. This is held at different congregations each year. The service lasted about 5 hours. There was preaching, singing and prayers and the Lord’s Supper. We are informed that there was about 300 in attendance. After lunch, there were testimonies by the Men and Women prisoners in attendance who were involved in the prison ministries. There was special singing, both in English and Shona. Also, a combined choir from Mbare and Waterfalls Church of Christ sang.

I was invited to speak in Chapel at Central African Christian College. In 2022, Dale and I stayed at the college in their guesthouse. This school is associated with the Independent Christian Churches. I soke to about 40 students. We reacquainted ourselves with some of the staff.

On Wednesday evening I was blessed to present the Bible class lesson at Glen Norah Church of Christ. Bro. Trust Mabandi, our host, translated for me.

The 2^nd Sunday I was there I had the privilege to speak at the Waterfalls Church of Christ, where Bro. Philimon Mabuwire is the preacher. I presented the morning sermon and the Bible lesson. One of the elders interpreted for me.

On Tuesday, November 18^th, I flew down to Victoria Falls for a couple of days. In addition to sightseeing, I was honored to speak at the Flame of Fire Ministries. This was the congregation of my host, my travel agent, Alice Chingombe. I took a boat ride on the Zambezi River, saw many views of Victoria Falls, and visited the Crocodile Park. I returned to Harare on Thursday, November 20^th. Bro. Dale was returning to Atlanta that day and we met at the Harare airport. Then Bro. Trust drive me back to his home at Glen Norah.

While we stayed with Trust and Elisa, we helped them with petrol for their vehicles and bout groceries for them, as well as took them out to eat.

The last Friday I was in Harare, there was an all-night prayer, singing and Bible study (8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.) service at the Mbare congregation. I was scheduled to speak at 11:00 p.m. I did not preach like Paul at Troas and go past midnight though, quitting about 11:45 p.m.

The last Sunday I was in Harare, I spoke at the Budiriro Church of Christ. I had previously preached there in 2022, giving the dedication sermon for the opening of the building. This year, Bro. Isaiah Mabuwire came and picked me up and I gave both the sermon and the Bible lesson, with Bro. Isaiah interpreting for me.

Later on, that afternoon, I, along with Trust and Elisa, went to the home of Isaiah and Philimon’s sister, Patricia, for bible study/service to take her the Lord’s Supper, as she cannot get out. We had visited with her about 3 time during our time in Harare to encourage her and her family.

On Wednesday, November 26^th, I left for Louisville. The first flight was Harare-Johannesburg, South Africa. I changed there and then boarded the 16-hour flight to Atlanta, GA, arriving the next morning. After about a 3-hour layover, I arrived in Louisville, KY.

It was a very enjoyable and profitable mission trip. We were able to visit many churches. I preached 9 times. We were glad that we could encourage our brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus.