Home of Hope in Zimbabwe Update April 2025
When the Rain Didn’t Come: God’s Provision in Drought and Despair
Last year, Zimbabwe experienced its worst drought in over 40 years. The skies stayed silent, the crops withered, rivers dried up, and cattle died in alarming numbers. It was a year of scarcity, sorrow, and struggle.
At Home of Hope, we witnessed the effects firsthand. Our feeding program, which typically serves 70 to 120 people per day, began to swell—first to 150, then 200, and at times, even more. Hungry men, women, and children came three times a week, not just for food, but for hope. And even when our funds ran thin, God made a way. We never had to turn anyone away. We never set a limit. If they came, we served.
Bread, peanut butter, eggs, biscuits, mahewu (a local nutritional drink), tea, sugar, and powdered milk became sacred provisions. Alongside food, we gave soap and medicine: pain relievers, cough syrup, heartburn tablets, eye drops, and more. Many needed help reaching the clinic or buying prescribed medication. And in every interaction, we offered something deeper than sustenance—we offered the Good News of Jesus Christ.
In the middle of this overwhelming need, I had a personal moment of awakening. I looked at my own life and began to thank God for things I’d often taken for granted: toothpaste, clean water, a toilet, a light switch, a fridge, a warm bed, the simple dignity of being seen and treated with respect. I realized I am rich, not in money but in blessings I never counted before.
I don’t have to dig through bins for food. I don’t sleep in fear on the streets. I have shelter, safety, and people who care. How can I say life is bad when my Heavenly Father has been so good?
Even in the worst drought in decades, He was with us. Even when power outages swept across the country, when our main hydro dam, Kariba, dropped to dangerously low levels, He sustained us. Even as pollution poisoned our water sources and wildlife died around Lake Chivero, God’s hand never left us.
And now, in His mercy, we’re seeing signs of restoration. The rains have come. January and February brought hope to our fields. Crops are rising. Dams are filling. Even Kariba’s levels are improving. We are praying this continues.
We’re currently navigating leadership changes since the retirement of our dear administrator, Dave Rock. Though Jane, one of Mom’s nurses, was to step in, plans have shifted. We trust that the Lord will guide the next steps and raise the right person in His time.
So today, we pause—not just to update you—but to thank you. Thank you for standing with us through the storm, the drought, and the unknown. Thank you for being part of the miracle. Your support brought food, healing, and dignity to those who had none.
May God richly bless you this year. May His peace surround you, His light guide you, and His love sustain you.
With hearts full of gratitude,
Craig, Lucy and Ongai
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” – Numbers 6:24–26
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of Home of Hope in Zimbabwe. All gifts of any size are welcomed to help minister to those in need. You may make a gift by sending a check to The Outreach Foundation or by clicking on the give button below.