Dear Friends and Supporters,

Once again, we write to you from Zimbabwe where we continue the Lord’s work and ministry here. Firstly, the COVID pandemic is still foremost in the daily aspects of life here. We must wear masks when leaving the house, social distancing is mandated, and the curfew here is in place with police roadblocks around the city to enforce the rules. In fact, the police have sent out trucks to pick up those who are not wearing masks, haul them downtown to the central police station, book them and fine them. As you can imagine, the rules here are strictly enforced with no flexibility. Since we have been here, we have had five friends who have died from complications of the virus infection.

Steve is still mentoring doctors at the regional eye hospital in Bulawayo, and the new eye unit at the Catholic hospital that we established in March is running fairly smoothly. Patients are now able to receive first rate eye care here in Bulawayo, and have been coming from as far away as Botswana, a neighboring country. Our challenge now is to have these programs transition into self-sustaining entities that will continue the much needed healthcare into the future. The cataract surgical machines that we have placed are now becoming obsolete and will need to be replaced within the next year.

Zimbabwe is suffering in many aspects from the COVID fallout as the rest of Africa. But, because of its small size and fragile economy, the citizens feel the effects of lockdown, curfews, shortened working hours and layoffs much more acutely. We have seen so much suffering as we have interacted and worked with the people here, but we pray that God will have mercy upon this beautiful land and will bring relief and healing.

Thank you for your continued prayers for us. We have been divinely protected and blessed in our work, using talents and gifts to bring blessing to as many as we are able to help.

Sincerely,

Steve and Jane Beaty