pickett judith 1980 rhodesia
TRANSCRIPT
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8/18/2019 Pickett Judith 1980 Rhodesia
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FES
1
o
THE
RHODESIA
RHODESIAN
JODITH L,
PICKETT,
Secretary
Central Africa Mission
Box 92- inoia
Zimbabwe
/
hodesia
Africa
FORWARDING AGENTS:
Mrs.
Fay Bockhahn
Financial
Agent
P.O. Box 2746
Napa, CA 94558
Mr. & Mrs. A1 Lyons
Public
Relations Agents
P.O. Box 2746
Napa, CA
94558
PICKETT
LINE
/
w
v - \
,
\
J A N U A R Y
W E W S L E T T E R
J^VO
Dear
Christian
Friends:
The New Tear is here and I
wish
yon all
a
belated Happy New
Tear
with God's
richest
blessings*
I
did not send
a
December newsletter*
as
things were
so up
in the air that
I
really
had
nothing
to report.
Now
I
can
tell you
a
bit more
about conditions
in
Rhodesia
at
this
time.
The old
year
closed with Rhodesia
haying seen three different goyemments
in
power and haying been called
by
three different
names.
We began the
year
under
Prime
Minister
Ian Smith
as
Rhodesia*
then changed to Zimbabwe Rhodesia
under
Bishop Muzowera
as
Prime Minister, and now with a British Goyemor, Lord
Soames
in the Goyomment House
in Salisbury,
I
understand that we are
once
again officially Southern Rhodesia. However,
most
people
are so tired of
name changing that
most everyone just says
Rhodesia,
as
this
is
the most familiar to us. By March of this
year
we will
yet
have
a
new leader and most
probably be known as just Zimbabwe.
Our
prayers
are,
and we covet your prayers as
well,
that
the^new government is
one
that
will be
favorable
to
the Lord's work continuing
here.
As
you
know, an
agreement was finally reached after 15
weeks of talks in
London be
tween the
different factions
and
a British
Government
was installed
for an interim
period,
until new elections can be
held the
27th, 28th and
29th
of February. A cease-fire was
declared to
take
place
at midnight
on
December
28th, but
many breaches
of that
action
have been committed since
then,
in fact this action
has
esculated more than anytime during
the war. The
Terrorist
factions were to have some
17*CXX)
men they claim
to
have
hich
most feel
is
understiaated) into I6 different monitoring points by midnight
January
f t h .
As of
yesterday only some 5iCXX) had
reported
to
their
stations. The British have
not
taken
very strong
action
against the breaches
of
cease-fire,
but
we were relieved when Lord
Soa mes stood firm and would not grant an extension to
the time
they
were
to
report
to the
monitoring
stations* as he was asked to do. This states that
those
who have
reported will
be
tmder the
law, but
those that
refuse
to come in wi ll
be
unlawful
and
not under protection
of the
government.
This, then, will only mean
more bloodshed.
We here
in
Rhodesia
desperately cov et
your
prayers for the coming elections,
i f f the
party gets
in office
that is favorable to the
Lord's
work, then we
can
see things beginning
to settle
down
in a year to I8 months. Due to
the
sanctions being
lifted,
the equipment
and
men can be obtained
to
withold
the enemy, with
the
Lord's help. If
the communist
backed
parties
should get into control, then
it
could be
disastrous for the
country and for the
Lord's work
here. There are so many
Christians in
this
beautiful land, people who
are
stronger for the long trial
of
war that they have been through and they are looking to God
to bring the
right party into power. Please
pray
with us that
this
might be so.
--
A s you can imagine, the
African Church work
is
suffering
terribly, as it
is impossible
to travel and
visit
the
congregations,
imder the present
security
situation. Even with the
cease-fire, there is much intimidation going on
in
the tribal trust lands. And
in
the
cities, the African
locations are infested with
the rival
parties
and much qu arreling
and threatening is taking place*
ver
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7IKST
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
'•THE PICKETT LINE
2659 TTBffC STREET
NAPA, CALIFORNU 9^ 5 5 8
Non-Profit
Organia.
U.S.
OSTAGE
PAH)
PERMIT NO. 28
Napa, Calif.
9^558
Mission
Services
Box
177
Kemnton, Ind. U60li9
Meanwhile, life goes on. We did
manage
to
enjoy
a beautiful
Christaas
and New
Tear
period
at
the
Hillside
Chapel
(European
Church)
with several
very
spiritually
uplifting
programs.
On
December 9th our children
and
youth departments of
the Sunday School
pre
sented a Christmas program at the Homing Service. We
were deeply
touched when l80
people
attended,
this was more
than triple
our
regular attendance.
On
the
evening of
December
l6th,
our
young
people presented
"A Carols
by
Candlelight" program with 80
people in
the audience,
x . i . i i < ) s t
three times our usual attendance
on
Sunday night. Christmas Day
here
in
Rhodesi:i
vs a
traditional
time for a
church service,
and we
again
were surprised
with
a
gathering of 84 people. New Tear's Eve was observed with
a
lovely Fellowship
dinner , ollowed by
a
movie
on
Family
Life
and then closing out the
old
year with
a
prayer service
at
midnight.
In
the past year our attendance
at
Hillside Chapel
has
doubled
and we
surpassed our financial
goal for
the year.
So the Lord's
work is very
much
in
evidence
in
the lives
of
the people. Also
I
would mention that until
just
this
past month
when all the
intimidation
began, the African
township
churches
were baptizing
an average of
30 people each
month.
I
want to now take the time
to
give
a great
big THANK TOU to
all of
you at home,
who
have
so
beautifully held me and
the work
in Rhodesia up in prayer."Also
for the
beautiful way
you
made
my Christmas a
very
memorable on. Many of you have taken on
my
little
Asian Sunday School class as
a
project
and sent supplies for then. My,
what
a
beautiful
treasure
chest of supplies I
now have at
my
finger
tips to use
for them.
M y
personal Christmas
was lovely,
with so many
of
you including
gifts for me and for my
little family (The Kwacheneras),
and
we
all
want to
say
THANK TOU a nd we love you very
o i u c h .
Most
of
the things arrived
just
before ChriBtmas or immediately
s i f t e r
(although
I
understand that
1 r 2 oxes are still
on their way).
I continue
to that
you
pray daily for
the situation in
this country and
please
pray particularly for the upcoming election in February. We
face
a very
critical
time in
the history
of this land a nd
only
God's
Everlasting
Anas
can uphold
us.
God
bless you,
each
one.
Love,
MISS JUDT
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J9DXSB L. PICECRt
Africa lHaaioa
Box 92- laaia
ZiabalBva/
hodaai#.
Africa
FORWARDING AGENTS:
Mrs, Fay Bockhabn
Financial Agent
P,0,
Box 2746
Napa, CA
94556
HODESIA
Mr, £ Mrs, A1 Lyons
Public
Relations Agents
P.O.
Box 2746
Napa,
CA 94558
RHODESIAN
PICKET LINE
MABCH
NEVSTSTTKR
Demr Christian
Friends:
AU.
ILL
BE
cma
k0i not the question "Why?**
For
soseday
up abOTe
Ve*ll
see the reason
uhy
And say
that
Ood
is
lore*
Ask
not
the question "Wky?"
For
after life's
brief
spell
We'll be
with
Sod and
kncv
That
He does all thin^ well*
Atk. not the question "Why?"
But trust Ood
like
a child
And all
will be
sade
clear
In Just
a ittle
^diile*
The Election is
o r e r .
For
weeks
befera Christians all
orer Hhodesia set together
daily to for peace
and
for the right nan to be
elected.
First reactions to the
re
s u l t s in i i a n y B h o d e s l a n s
w e r e
of c o n s t e r n a t i o n
and
f e a r *
But w h o are we
to say
this
is
not
the best way Ood has chosen to bring peace.
Kany
hsTe said that if
the
election had
gone any other way the war would hSTO escalated* But
because
of the landslide rictory of
the winner, nuoh violence
has
ceased. So far the Priae
Minister
elect has ooapronised
with those
now
in the goremaent and a ^ i o w a a real effort to try and keep the
country fron
falling
to
pieces. Of course he
has
not yet assuaed the full power of
the
office, but
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TTsast
aenmcE
W3HB PICmS
OME"
2659 FIBST
STESET
lUPA, CAmOBHXA 9 ^ 5 5 8
::::::: :
s
Hon-Frofit
Organis*
:
V,
S* FOSTAOE
PAH)
;
PERMIT NO,
28
:
ftipa, Calif.
9 ^ 5 5 8:
:: : I t:
Mission Services
Box 177 , «
Kemnton,
Ind. u60u9
The
country will
now,
most
probably,
be
called
Just
Zimbabwe,
so
I
would advise
that
all
l
udl be
addressed
much.
A b i t of p e r s o n a l news....
a m
n o w the o w n e r of a
V o l k s w e i g o n ^ Be t t l e * l .
For s o m e
time I
hare
felt the
need for
my own rehiele, as
the
Mission
truck
is
often
needed
elss-
where. For the months
Dr. Cobb
has
been
home on
furlough,
X have
been
driving her car,
but
when she
returns
I ould be without transportation.
The
opportunity presented itself for me
to
purchase
a good
used Tslkswagon, which
will
be
very economical to run in regards to ov etrol rationing. And so yesterday I
became
the
owner
of * * T h e Blue Battle'*.
Everyone approves even
ay dog, Saber,
as
he can
once again go for
a
ride. Of course he is almost as big as the
car.
Hal
As
always,
I hank everyone
for
their prayers
and
eoncern during these anxious times.
May God continue to bless
as
we work
together for
Him
in
Zimbabwe.
In Christ,
MISS JODT
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J U N 30 980
3?:^-
JTOITH
L«
PICEETT, Secretary
Cmtrml Africa Miesioa
Box 92
-
inoia
ZdLababw«, Africa
ZIK6ABVS
FORWARDJtIG AGENTS:
Mrs. Fay Bockhahn
Financial Agent
P.O. Box 2746
Napa, CA 94558
Mr. & Mrs.
Al
Lyons
Public Relations Agents
P.O.
Box
2746
Napa, CA 94558
MAT- tniE MEWSISTTEB
1980
ZIHBABVE IS B OSNI APRII,
idTB
BIG BAT IM
HISTOSI
OF
Z I M B A B W E .
BOBERT NUQABE SWOBN IN AS
PRIME
MDflSTER.
"SEFERAHB**
BAHAMA
SWOBM IN
AS PSESIDEirF* ZIMBABWE
FUO
RAISED FOB FISST
TIME.
A
NEW OSDES OF
'^COMRADES**
INSTALLED
Daar
Chrlstiatt Friends:
If
I
had
been writing newspaper
headlines for t he
past
aonth, they light hare sonnded
soiethiBg like the above* As you can see, April and Hay hare been exciting nonths here in
Ziababwe* Many changes have
been
aade and
saay
acre
anticipated* M i i c h
unrest
has
erupted
aaoag
the
working class* Dissidents still refuse
to
give theaselves
up.
Leaders froa
aany
countries, who before would not come near Bhod esia, hare suddenly decided
to
be staunch
supporters
of
Zlababwe*
The few
old Bhodesian
holidays
abolished and aany
new Ziababweaa
holidays created. The ezshange rate has goneup, which neans S^tOO.OO D* S. aoney is
barely
worth 1200*00 Ziababwe* Priae Minister claias to be Socialist
and
not
Coaaunist*
Much
uncertainty and disappointment still plague the
people*..aany
whites
are
feeling that their
future is
not
here
but in another country.
But through
it
all
reaains the
fact that one of
our aost
urgent
prayers
has been
answered**«*PEAC^ not
WAS
and DEAT^
now
preTSlent throughout the
country. We aissionaries
are aost
thankful
that
our religious
sustivities
have
not
been
curtailed*
We are again,
cautiously,
beginning
to
aove around* Plans for reopening work which had been slowed down
or
discontinued
in
aany areas are
now being aade* As
yet,
no
plans have been aade for
missionaries
to
move back on the
stations*
Capable African leaders will be installed in
the various stations
and
we will
continue
to
oversee
the
work
froa the cities. Praise
Ood froa whoa
all
blessings flow
Chidaaoyo
has no
iaaediate
plans for
reopening
the Hospital,
although Dr*
Cobb
is
investigating all possibilities. Workers have been eaployed to clean
up
the Missioa
groimds and one Evangelist
has
just this
week
(May 1 ? ) moved back to the Mission* Others
are
anticipating
the move back to their home areas* I cannot give
you
any
other
Infos-
nation at this tine* Since my furlough will be due in another
year
and returning to
Chidaaoyo is uncertain, I have resigned as Hospital Secretary and plan
to
continue with
ay
present
cc^Bmitaents
in
Sinoia*
I
will continue to do the Hospital book wox^ until
they
move to Chidaaoyo and require
a
full
tine
secretary.
I
eel that the
Lord has
opened several doors
of
opportunity and witness for ae
here
in Sinoia. As secretary for Bro. Dale
Marshall,.
. am quite involved in the wox^ of the
Sinoia Christian Mission.
If
the Lord wills,
I plan to start
traveling with one of the
African Ev angelists to the European farms i^ere the Mission supervises 19 Af rican schools*
I
ill teach Scripture through
the
mediua
of
ay
flannelgraidi
to
the children of these aany
schools* I
joyfully
look forward
to
this challenging task* •
I will
be
continuing
ay
"little Sunday
School"
at
the
Loaagundi Priaary School,
whwa
it
is
expected
that
African children will now be attending in
a
greater number, as all
soalag
boundaries
have
been
removed. If the Lord wills, I
will
also be able
to
do soae
voluntary
teaching
of
needlework
and crafts at this same school*
- VER-
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FIBST CHRISTIAH CHDBCH
THE PICKETT LINE"
26^9 FIB ST STHKKT
NAPA,
CAUFOBRIA
9 ^ ^ 5 5 8
Through
my
fellovfiMp with
the
European
(Congregation
at
Hillside
Chapel,
where Mr*
Marshall
preaches,
I ave had great
opportunities
of
working
and
witnessing
with the
w h i t e y o u n g p e o p l e , t e a c h i n g a c l a s s o n V e d n d ^ d a y e v e n i n g a n d s i t t i n g i n o n t h e y o u t h
meetings
on
Sunday evenings.
D u r i n g t h e m o n t h of A p r i l and p a r t of M ^ 7 « Mr.
M a r s h a l l
and
f a m i l y l e f t
o n
t h e i r
vacation. After tying up
loose
ends the
f i i p i i t week of his
absence, I was
able to
get
away f r o m r o u t i n e , b u t
not
e n t i r e l y f r o m w o i ^ > The s e c o n d w e e k I r a v e l e d to S a l i s b u r y ,
w h e r e
I
w a s
p r i v i l e d g e d
t o
w o r k wi t h t h e
S a l ^ i s b u r y
M i s s i o n a r i e s i n
a
w e e k
l o n g m u l t i
racial Holiday Bible S chool
(VBS).
What a
and
a blessing
to have
a total enrollsMit
of
1 3 3
when we only e s q ^ e c t e d
60
or
70.
Total
30
of
these
a class of
Junior
boys and girls diich I au^t. At the end of the week, we
were a tired group of faculty, but a tremend^isly
blessed
group.
A f t e r
M r .
M a r s h a l l r e t u r n e d
t h e 9 t h o f
i j l i y ,
w e
h a d
t o
a t t e n d t h e
Q u a r t e r l y M i s s i o n
M e e t i n g
at Ft.
V i c t o r i a .
Mr.
M a r s h a l l
H a y d e i | L ,
C h a i r m a n
of o u r
S t a t e S i d e C e n t r a l
A f r i c a
Mission
Board, was present.
After
the
business meeting,
we all
enjoyed
a
tremendous
time
of fellowship.
The Ft.
Victoria Missionaries
reserved a
private
hotel out in the country
overlooking the lake and the Kyle Dam, which mfas
a
eautiful
and
restfu l place.
It was
a
b l e s s i n g t o b e
a b l e t o
t r a v e l
i n
s a f e t y t o j
i n d
f r a a
F t .
V i c t o r i a , w i t h
s o m e o f
t h e
missionasries
even traveling at ni^t.
:on-Profit Qrganiz.
t U.S.
OSTAGE PAID
PERMIT
NO.
28
Napa, Calif. 9^^5S
Mission Services
Box 177 I n
Kemnton, Ind, U60a9
I
rish
to thank
all
of
you
who
have
been
these past months of strife and unrest. AndM fe ask that you continue to pray for this
c o u n t r y a n d
i t s
p e o p l e . W e o d s s i o n a r i e s a r e j
j b r u l y i n n e e d
o f
u p l i f t i n g
t o Q o d d u r i n g
t h e s e
adjusting times,
our Lord.
Please pray that we may still have the
freedom
to
preach
and teach for
Now, a
personal
note of thanks
to
all
o
my birthday in
April.
The Lord
blessed
me in
brothers and sisters in Christ. I m ever
from being a part of the Family of God.
a ^ s u r
so concerned for
us
here in Zimbabwe, during
you who sent
cards, greeting
and
gifts for
wonderful ways, throu^ you my wonderful
'e of the tremendous blessings that cose
God bless
each
and every one,
MISSJDDI
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AUG
2 7
980
3
X
ZIM VE
JUDITH L. PICKETT, Secretary
Central Africa Mission
Box 92
Zinoia
Zimbabwe, Africa
FORWARDĥ G AGENTS:
Mrs. Fay Bockhahn
Financial
Agent
P.O.
Box
2746
Mapa, CA 94556
Mr. Mrs.
Al
Lyons
Public Relations Agents
P.O. Box 2746
Napa,
CA 94558
JULY
NEWSLETTES
Dear
Christian
Friends:
Greetings
in
the Wonderful Name
of Jesus,
Let
me
start the month
off
right
by
get
ting a newsletter
to
you
on
time,
July
been a
busy
month for me
and I
want
to share
some
of the
m i u i y activities
with you.
The last week of June
X
began my trips out
to
the Farm schools
for
the African
children with
Mr. Vanga
Sixpence, one
of
our
African
Evangelists,
and r i t h Mr. Hugh
Fender,
We were able to
visit
two schools
each
morning,
but
at
each
school there
were
approximately
60 students, I
aught
the
Creation
Story in flannelgraph and the
children
sat
with
their
eyes
glued
to the board,
as
many of them had
never
seen
anything
like the
flannelgrai^
before. Our first stop w e i s the
Acton
Farm about 11 miles
from
Sinoia,
Here
we drove up to a
hugh tobacco b£um
and around to
one side
was a
bare little room about
1 2
by 1 6 feet, in which the 60 hildren have their classes. You in America would shudder to
see such a
school
room, but to these d e e i r children it
is
a heaven where they can leam to
read and write. The children were seated on rou^ wooden benches and on
the
floor in
front
of each
child was
a
pile
of
small
white
stones.
These
served
as their mathematical
instruments. Their blackboard was
the
side of a hugh wooden box,
on
which
the
teacher
had
written
with
black chalk. The farmer leases this farm but is trying to buy
his own
place
and then
he wishes
to build a proper
school for the
children of
his
workers. But
no
matter
how humble the
room,
these children were there for
only
one reason
and
that
was
to
leam.
As we entered the room
they
immediately rose
and,
as
one voic e, said
very
clearly in
English
Good Morning, Sir , (I am often addressed as Sir , as the childran have male teachers and
this
is the greeting they
have l e e o T i e d , ) They delighted in
singing some
of their
favorite
songs for
us
before I egan
the
lesson. We then moved
outside
in the
sunlight
for the
lesson and
were immediately joined by
several mothers and fathers
who were
supposed to be
working
the
nearby cotton
field, as they, too,
were
curious to
see
the
picture
lesson .
The children
at
this
school
were from grade 1 through grade
Our
second
stop the
first
morning was at the Steel
Farm
about
20 miles
on the
opposite
side of Sinoia. Here the
farmer owns
his own farm and the school was a brick building
of
one room, with two tecu:hers and
60
pupils, with
grades
1
hrough ?•
As we eirrived, one of
the teachers was
meeting
outside with
his class and we
were greeted most
enthusiastically.
Inside there were desks for the older students and benches for the younger ones,
and
also
a proper blackboard on the wall. It never fails to amaze me at the complete attentiveness
of these
children.
Not one
sound is
uttered
during the
teaching of
the lesson unless
they
are celled on, and
when you
ask
a uestion almost-every
hand goes up and fingers
begin
snapping
for you to
notice them
first.
They are all
so eager to
answer the question,
and
if they give
the wrong answer
they are
the
first to laugh at them selves. The discipline
is tremendous and the children
have
no time for foolishness, for, to them, it is
a
real
privilege
to have the
opportunity
to leam. This
is
not
to
say
that
they
do
not
have
any
fun, for they
really
enjoy singing their favorite songs and playing their fav orite
games
at break time, I ertainly give honor to the teachers
who
teach under such primitive
conditions. They, too, have
one
purpose and that is to teach the children to the very
best of their abilities. I am so thankful that I have been given
the privilege
of travel-,
ing to
the
various schools and telling these
children
about our Saviour,
And
I believe
that I
eceiv e the greater blessing,
as
it
is
such
a
joy
to work with
them.
over
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8/18/2019 Pickett Judith 1980 Rhodesia
8/12
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
THE PICKETT LINE
2659 FIRST STREET
NAPA,
CALIFORNIA 9 ^ ^ 5 5 8
Missxtj)
Box
Kemnib
n ervices
77
m
I am happy to
announce
that I have began.
School, and
this
ie where I also teach
a
m a l .
Our
first Sunday back we
had
27
and
have
had
pupils laii Sunday.
For this we
are
thankful,
t h e s c h o o l w o u l d b e o p e n
to us
t h i s y e a r .
SiU
ones are so excited about
attending
the class
groux^e^
at 2:30.
m
And it is through this school that I ayd
of
L o m a g u n d i
c o n t a c t e d me
and
asked
t h a t
I l i
wife have
taken the
1^
year
old
brother. T h e e 5
situation. After
much
prayer
I
greed
to
f o s i ;
upbringi ng, they
are sadly
lacking in educatio:
grades at
Lomagundi.
I
esitated
to
take the
girls
as
I will
year, but the Headmaster insisted
that
even a
them for a better way of
life.
I could go
:
I do request your prayers on my behalf
enormous
undertaking. I
find
becoming a motl
to
say
the
least.
b
-^6
Non-Profit Organiz.
U.
S.POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT
NO.
28
Napa, Calif. 9^55 8
n,
Ind.
H60U9
y
litt le Sunday
School at
Lomagundi Primary
c l c L S s of girls
needlecraft
each Wednesday,
increase each
Sunday
with
a record of 55
as for
a
time
we
did not know whether or not
day School
begins
at 3 50
p.m., but the little
that many of them arrive
at
the school
now become a
foster mother. The Headmaster
e two
teenage
girls, if
possible.
He and his
e
children
have
been living
in a deplorable
er Kina (I6)
and Irene
(15)• Due to their
n
and
have
been placed
in the 6th
and
7th
e
returning
to
the
States
on furlough next
year in a Christian
home will help
prepare
detail, but will save that for later.
d on
behalf of the girls
for
this most
of
teenagers,
at
my
age,
a
bit
taxing,
August
will see a school
holiday
until the middle of September. Again,
I
have been
r e q u e s t e d to t e a c h at
a
Holiday Bible School
to witness
to
children of
all
races and I ool
Please pray
for the
teachers of this school
and their parents through
this
medium.
A
high
school youth camp is also
planned
Kariba on an
i s l a n d
out in
the
lake. The o n l ^
a b u n d a n c e o f £ l e | d i a n t .
L i o n
a n d o t h e r
w i l d
l i j j
time as
well
as a piritual time for the yoi
decided
yet,
but
I would
like to be one
of
h i e
young
people in
the
telling
of
the
story of
secretary to Mr. Marshall,
plus
evangelistic
they
usk
me.
God
blesd you, each
one.
Salisbury. This
is another opportunity
forward
to
being a part of
this
program,
i t we might
be able to
contact
many
children
diu ing
this
holiday.
It is
to be held
at
access is
by
boat. The
island
has an
e,
so it
should
prove to be an interesting
people. The teacher schedule has not been
appointed ones, as
I
love
to
work
with
the
i s t t s Christ. But with my regular work as
ork,
I may not be able to make it,
even
if
Tours
in
Christ,
MISS JUDY
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8/18/2019 Pickett Judith 1980 Rhodesia
9/12
ZIM WE
\
JUBini
L.
PICKETT
Secretary
Central
Africa
Miseion
Box
92 Sinoia
Zimbabwe Africa
Forwarding
Agents:
Mrs.
Fay Bockhahn
Finaincial Agent
P. 0.
Box 27^6
Napa, Calif. 9^55^
Mr. c Mrs.
A1 Lyons
Public
Relations
Agent
P. 0. Box 2746
Napa,
California
9455^
OCTOBER 1980
NEWSLETTER
Dear
Christian Friends:
Greetings in the name of
Christ
from Zimbabwe. Time has certainly flown past and I
just realized that
it has
been almost
three
months since my last newsletter. So I will
try to bring
you
up to
date
on
the
main events that have
taken
place since July.
The political
situation
seems not to
be making
too much progress in reconciling the
many factions here in Zimbabwe. November
is
election time for t he local councils
and
there has been
a
lot of intimidation among the
African
people
with most
of the trouble
centered near the
more populated
areas. Right here
in
Sinoia, two weeks
ago,
we had
a
young
white policeman killed and several people
injured in
a
hand
grenade explosion.
Also an African man was abducted from his Zanu PF office right down town Sinoia
and
beaten, his
throat
cut and an attempt to burn him alive. They left him for dead, but he
managed
to stagger to
the
police station and later
died
in the hospital. The newspapers
are full of reports
of
violence and
even
though the war has stopped,
there
are still
threatenings of a civil war to come
that
will
make
the former
war
look
like child s
play.
Crime is running rampant, but that
is
not just in Zimbabwe as there is violence all over
the world.
We have sent a team
of
architects out
to
the Hospital at Chidamoyo to survey the
damage
and see how
much it will cost to rebuild,
so
that we can submit the estimated
cost
to
the
Government.
But,
as you
know,
the wheels
of
government
move
slowly. Dr.
Gloria Cobb
is
trying to got things
organized
to
open
a
clinic there with African
staff,
but this takes
time,
too. ^e
have great
hopes to
reopen
the
Hospital, but the
future of
Chidamoyo is
still
uncertain
at this
time.
August was a
school
holiday and this was a time
for
me
to
prepare my work for the
next term. September
saw the opening of schools again and my
little
S x i n d a y School at
Lomagundi Primary School, too.
I
am having 30 or more children each Sunday and these
dear little
ones are a joy
to
work with.
At Hillside Chapel we have been holding Friday night Youth meetings for Prim ary
age children
and
most of those who attend my little
Sunday School
are now attending
the Friday
n i g h t
sessions
as
well. The f i r s t n i g h t
we
h a d 65 y o u n g p e o p l e in
a t t e n d a n c e
with 68 the
next
meeting
and
in
the
low
60*6 last night.
We
are running a
VBS program
on
these
Friday
evenings for 10
weeks and the children are really
enjoying it.
They
meet f o r lessons, games, crafts and refreshments f r o m 6:30 to 8:30 e a c h week. I give the
mission story each week just before closing time.
We
are overjoyed that we are able to
feed the Hillside Chapel
Sunday
School with the Good News and also have the children
from my little Sunday School share in this with the Hillside Chapel group.
This
is our
ultimate
goal that
we reach all these children
and
their parents and have an interracial
congregation.
S e p t e m b e r
was
t i m e
f o r
o u r C e n t r a l A f r i c a M i s s i o n m e e t i n g a n d
i t
w a s h e l d a t C h i r e d z i
The
missionaries
met for
the quarterly
meeting at a
motel
on a private
game
ranch.
This
also
gave
me a few
days
rest away from
t h e
routine.
Our next meeting
will
be in December
and will be
held
in
Salisbury,
so it won t
b e
so far to travel for those of
us
here in
the high veld (moimtain area) of Zimbabwe.
Our
African
Evangelist have
been
able to
make
survey trips into
each
of
the
areas
where
we
once
had churches and now are going
back
for Evangelistic
meetings is
some of
the areas. In some places they have been very encouraged that many of the Christians
have already started worshipping again on their own initiative, however, in
other
places
they have been disappointed to
find
the churches
disbanded because
of the deep intimi
dation the
p e o p l e w e r e
u n d e r
d u r i n g
the
w a r
p e r i o d (Over)
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8/18/2019 Pickett Judith 1980 Rhodesia
10/12
FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH
THE
PICKETT
LINE
2659
FIRST
STREET
NAPA,
CALIFORNIA 9^558
Non-Profit Organiz.
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Permit No 28
Napa, C alif. 9^558
Mission Services
Box 177
Kemnton> Ind.
U60U9
Mr. Hugh Pender
and
one of the Evangelists had a trip planned to the Sipililo area,
but
just before
they
were to
go
a Christian
man
arrived
from
that area and told
them not
to
make the trip as
it was
unsafe. Jmslt a week later
we
learned that
a Christian
from
that
church had been killed and o v t r evangelist is sxire that it
was
the same
man
that
b r o T i g h t
t h e
w a r n i n g
a n d t h a t
h e w a s k i l l e d
f o r
t h a t
r e a s o n . S o t h e
A f r i c a n C h r i s t i a n s
are still suffering,
but fortxmately there
are
very
few
areas
still under this type of
persecution
I have
again started
traveling with one
of
the African
Evangelist
and with
Mr.
Hugh
Pender
to the
African f e i r m schools.
This
past week
we
visited
two
schools
and
I taught
the
Creation
Story
with
the f l a n n e l g r a p h .
The
f i r s t school had two teachers
and 80
pupils
from kindergarten to the 5th grade. They were very enthusiastic and performed a musical
concert for our benefit. The second school we visited has 120 pupils from grade 1 to
grade 6, and
only
one teacher. Both schools had fairly
good
buildings to meet in
s i n d
at
least
had
proper
benches
and
blackboards for the students
use.
During our visit at
the
second school, we
had several
parents come in to see the Bible Story told by Ambuya
(Grandmother) Pickett,
as the
evangelist,
Mr.
Sixpence, introduces me.
So, now, where-
ever I
o
there is
some child
that
recognizes
meand
says
Moroii Ambuya .
I ontinue to covet
your
prayers
that
this work will
be
able to continue, as these
children are
so
anxious
to
learn
and it
is a joy
to
tell the
Gospel
story to them. Not
a sound
can be heard
from
them
as I
tell the story, but
immediately after the lesson I
have Mr.
Sixpence ask questions
about
the lesson and their little
hands
just
fly up
to
be first with the amswer
T o
g e t
b a c k
t o o u r w o r k a t H i l l s i d e ^ h a p e l , t h e F r i d a y
n i g h t
T o u t h M e e t i n g s a r e
j u s t for Primary children, b u t I
have
t h e High
School T o u t h on
W e d n e s d a y
and
I
am
teach
ing
they the same V BS lessons.
The
theme
is
Jesus, God's
Wonderful
Gift and
t h e
lessons
a r e r e a l l y
p e r t i n e n t f o r
t h i s a g e .
A t t e n d a n c e
i n t h i s g r o u p r u n s
f r o m
8 t o
10 e a c h
w e e k .
So with all these activities
and
my regular office
work for Mr. Marshall, I manage
to keep q u i t e busy. But I still have
t i m e
for my lovely little f a m i l y
of
two daughters
who continue to
give
me great joy. They are
looking
forward to entering High School in
January.
Time
to close and
I ask each
and every one of
you
to continue to
pray for our work
here for the Lord and especially for the Christians
as
they
still
struggle
against
many
odds
I would like to thank you,
too,
for your love to
me
expressed through your prayers
and faithful support.
Toxirs, In
Christ,
MISS
JUDY
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8/18/2019 Pickett Judith 1980 Rhodesia
11/12
ZIM WE
JAM 1
JUDITH
I t
PICKETT, Secretary
Central Africa Hiseion
Box 92-
Sinoia
Zimbabwe, Africa
Forwarding Agents:
Hra. Fay
Bockhahn
Financial
Agent
P-
0,
Box 27^6
Napa,
Calif. 9'f558
Mr. 8 t Mrs. A1 Lyona
Pub lic P elat ions Agent
P. 0. Box 2746
Napa,
California 94 5 5 8
NOVEMBES/DECEHBER I98O
NEWSLETTER
Dear
Chrietian
Friends:
As I write
this
letter it is the middle of Norember
and
with Dec ember j nst around
the
comer, I would like t o make this my
final
letter
for
this year,
and
extend to each
one
of
you
my
Christmas Gree tings.
First,
1 would
like t o
report
on the
actiTities of the
work.
At the present
time,
the
Africa n Eva ngelist
a r e
very busy visiting
the a r e as
where
churches have
been
r e
established or new ones begun during th e ti m e
since
th e w a r . A Land
Rover
vdhicle
has
been
purchased and the E vangelists a r e
going
out in teams for sever al day s a t a
time to encourage the C hristians and t o further evangelise
in
the are as. Our own
evangelist formerly from Chidamoyo, a young man X have known since he wa s my house
worker
during my first
t e r m , has
m a d e
severa l trips
in
the
Chidamoyo a r e a
and
outlying
a r e as wher e w e formerly had churches and medical clinics. H e baw been encouraged
with the activity
in
some
of
the
chiirches, but
disappointed
in
others.
He
had b e en
established as minister t o a church in Eariba during the
w a r , but
he is considering
moving
back
into the i r e of his home village and working
from
the r e ,
as many
of t he
people from Chidamoyo
who
had fled t o the city for safety a r e now re tur ning t o t he
bush .
As
yet,
no
decision
has
been made on
Chidamoyo, by
the government.
This
is
dis
heartening to us,
but
we cannot make
a
move until
they
cooperate with us. Mashoko
Mission
and
Maranda Mission, in the
low
veld,
a r e
reopening
and
oper at ing on
a limited
scale, but the officials
they deal
wit seem to
be
a
bit
easier to
work
wit than these
in our
end
of the
country.
Daily the
newspapers
give forth an account of violence breaking out b e t w e e n the two
factions of government,
particiilarly among the repatriated former terrorists. Just this
morning a n a c c o t m t
of
a gun ba t tle in one of th e Bullawayo African townships relate d the
d e a th of some 55
Africa ns and t he
injury of ^X)
ore.
This is an a r e a wh e r e
many
of t he
former terrorists are
living
until further housing can be provided.
Yesterday another battle in
the
same
city killed
one
m an and
injured 20
more. We
wonder
just
how
long
the peace
will last.
Along with
reports
of
the
fighting, we
hear
re port s of
disagreement
and plans to change the colonial
system m a d e
by the
former
regime
(which are talked
about as if
they wer e the downfall
of
the
nation). Oae just
can't
feel that
all is
well
at
this time.
Many whites are getting discouraged with changes being made
in
the education
system and medical care system, which could bring forth
a d r a s t i c
lowering
of
standards
and
affect
their children and
families.
It
is
expected that
if
these changes are
carried
out,
then
a
mass exodus
of
whites will soon
come.
As
of this writing, four
of
our African Evangelists are out in the LandRover and
a r e
in
the
Chidamoyo
and Sinyati a r e as.
As
their previous re port s stat e that they find
c^iplete
poverty and
star vation among
the
bush people,
w e
have ac quired
15 tons of Mealie
Mea l, supplies of salt , t e a , dried fish. Then as the
men
go out to preac h, they distribute
these to the
destitute
to help
tide them over
until the end of the harvest.
We have a lso
r equested
and a r e
receiving
lots of used
clothing
t o be distributed t o
some
of
the people w ho are going
naked ,
because they have
no
clothing
and no
money
t o
buy
any.
-OVER-
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8/18/2019 Pickett Judith 1980 Rhodesia
12/12
FIBST CHRISTIAH CHDBCH
THE PICKETT
LmE
2639 FIBST STREET
NAPA,
CALIFORNIA 9 ^ ^ 3 5 8
So far our rainy season is promising to
harvest. Then much of the starvation will be
exBBjj^ of most^of^ the countries
in
this part
starvation
and
proverty
seems to
be the p a t t e j
will be wiser in its handling of the situati
As
we get reports from many areas we he
a
day who have
died
of
measles
and
of
adults
to pray for t he poor people here in Zimbabwe,
disheartening, too, as
we are
willing
to
reo]
help they need, but th e wheels of government
Our men
continue
to feel that is is not
into some
of
the areas. There are still
6ev<
roving
about
and both
seem
to
be
intent
on
Non-Profit
Organiz.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 28
Napa, Calif.
Mission
Services
Box 177
,/ 1«
Kemnton,
Ind. I 4 6 O U 9
e
a
good one and
we are
praying for
a
good
staved off, but if this country follows the
|of^I^C
brld
who have
gone
independent,
then'
We can only pray that this government
that they are burying up to three children
of malaria.
We ask
that
you
continue
These reports make us so sad,
and
is
the hospital and give them the medical
;ill grind slowly.
> for the missionaries to travel with them
groups of
the two
factions of
the war
Reading discontent
and
WioliBea
In
the
meantime, life
in
the cities
continues
to
move on. With the
Christmas season
u p o n us w e a r e i n v o l v e d in so
m a n y
a c t i v i t i e s J E s p e c i a l l y
n o w t h a t
I
m
a p a r e n t I
i n d
that it really keeps me hopping to keep up with school activities, church activities,
my
work
and
home responsibilities.
I
am again singing
in
the Coimunity Ch oir for
a
Carols by
Candleli^t
to be held
in conjunction
with t he Junior School program.
Hy
girls
are the two
main
characters
in
the
term-end
play
at Lomagundi
School and are also in the
C h r i s t m a s p l a y a t H i l l s i d e C h a p e l .
S o
f o r m ^ j l i f e is q u i t e
a
f a s t p a c e a t w o r k , h o m e ,
Lomagundi school and our own church family:
I
would take this opportunity to thank
lor
your
faltSffflrsupport dnring~tHe~pa8t
am
so
grateful for all the
support,
both f
missionaries
here
feel the
need for prayer n
the war.
But it is such a blessing to know t
still faithful to the
work
here in Zimbabwe.
N a y
G o d
g r a n t y o u
a l l
a
v e r y b l e s s e d C h r i s t m a s
a n d
a
N e w Y e a r f i l l e d w i t h
t h e j o y
o f
His Presence in your
lives.
$h
and every one
of
you so v ery sincerely
ŷears':
Times have
nor oeraT asy and I
dally and prayerfully. I hink all of
we
even more than throu^out
all the
years
of
i t you
at
home have
not given up and
are
IN
CHRISTIAN
LOVE,
NISSJDDr»
O n . a n i i t
p m c e .
e ^ o o i u n J i .
LUKE
2:14
i i n o a n c L
nvun..