ZIMBABWE FEEDING - Feb Update

ZIMBABWE FEEDING PROJECT
A ministry of the Highlands Presbyterian Church


“Whatever you do for the least of these, you do it for Me.”

February 2009 - update

We praise God for good rains in Zimbabwe this past month. Even though little has been
planted, at least the crop that is in will produce reasonable yields in some areas. Another praise to God is that the cholera situation has been brought under control in many areas.
Giving to this project has decreased dramatically in February. We have received just over $500 locally and a further $4,500 through the external account. However, we still have sufficient funds for the next 2 months.

TONGA
A local mining company once again provided transport for food up to Siabuwa so that 6 tons of mealie meal plus 1.2 tons of sugar beans were delivered mid-February. This was distributed through 7 of the pastors that we work with in the area. Distribution was not done as we had planned (30kg mealie meal plus 6kg beans per family) because the need is so great that the churches felt it was better to give everyone a little rather than a few people a larger amount of food. We were able to sit with each of the pastors in turn and discuss how they are distributing. Although another aid organization is also distributing food in the area, their distribution is erratic and unreliable. This has made it impossible for us to ensure that the food we give out only goes to those not receiving from them. However, we are satisfied that the pastors are doing the best that they can under the circumstances. We are once again struggling to find transport to the area for this month.

MUTOKO
Transport was eventually secured to take food to Mutoko. Six tons of mealie meal and 1.2 tons of beans were also delivered there last week, which covers 2 months supply for each of 100 families. Distribution has been done by the elders of the church in Mutoko to 7 of the poorest villages in the area.

DESTITUTE FEEDING AT HIGHLANDS
A lot of work has gone into developing new systems to control potential abuse by the beneficiaries. The entire system has been computerized and each person has been issued with special HPC Feeding Scheme registration cards. We average 420 people a week.

Once again we thank you and God our Father, for continued support and partnership.

In His service,

Cathy Stokes