Dear Friends and Supporters,

It’s COLD here in Zimbabwe and is the middle of the winter season. Steve arrived a week ago, and to keep warm at night, he slept under 4 blankets with a hot water bottle and a beanie on his head. He also missed Jane, who only arrived recently from the States. Unfortunately for her, when she was waiting for her baggage to appear in the claim area, she and the other passengers on the flight from Johannesburg were informed that the luggage compartment door was jammed shut. The plane would have to fly back to Johannesburg to have it repaired. The bags of the passengers are now due to be flown to Bulawayo in the next day or two. Welcome to Africa! 

Steve has had a good week. He had the privilege of leading a young man to faith and has mentored a group of young men in bible study. He also taught at the Richard Morris Eye Hospital in surgery and gave lectures and consulted on ward rounds. Steve also gave lectures to the medical students at NUST medical school, and saw patients at the Mater Dei Hospital. One patient, a lady, had been a high school student when Steve’s father was teaching bible knowledge in the schools in the 1970’s. She had come to faith through his invitation, had gone to youth camps with him, and even remembered that he was the man ‘who played the squeeze-box’ (accordion). Now his son, over 40 years later, was taking care of her eye problems. 

We will be welcoming a team from Columbus, Georgia in four days who will be ministering in schools and orphanages. We will also all partake in serving the community here in Bulawayo in an eye camp where glasses, medications and Christ’s love will be showered upon so many who are in great need and who have lost hope. We pray that we will be examples of God’s Kingdom. 

Steve experienced “Christmas in Zimbabwe” today. Our first shipment containing so many needed pieces of equipment, surgical supplies, glasses, and other sundry items landed at the hospital. He and a friend unpacked everything and will be placing these supplies and equipment at the hospital to be used in bringing eyesight to many in the southern part of this country.

Thank you for continuing to uplift us in your prayers and thoughts as we continue the work and ministry here.

Steve and Jane Beaty