Marcia Kay ThomsonP. O. Box 240Fort VictoriaZimbabwe, Africa

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Forwarding AgentsMr. & Mrs. Wilford E. LeasureRoute 1West Union, Illinois 62477

February, 1980

Dear Christian Friends,

Each year we have a feeling of a fresh start. This year in Rhodesiave know is going to he different "but we do not know just how things aregoing to change.

During 1979 the country was known as Zimhabwe Rhodesia hut when theBritish governor arrived to take over it became Rhodesia. When thenew election is held and the new constitution goes into effect it willbe Zimbabwe, so I will use that for my address since it is so soon.

The months that the talks were going on in London everything was at abit of a standstill here. People were listening for the latest newsand many Christians spent hours in prayer. As I write, agreement hasbeen reached but we are all wondering if it will really be properlyput into effect.

The monitoring force has arrived and although they have had experiencein other countries they were given information on snakes, elephant andlion as they arrived here. One of them was seen in Fort Victoria whenthe temperature was in the 90's wearing long dark corduroy pants. Theydo not know the country, the languages or the people. Their job willnot be an easy one.

But we cannot place our trust in man. God is in control and we mustlook to Him. During the last election I know many people were praying.I had expected it to be one of the worst times. Those that were heresay that it was amazing. There was much less violence than wasexpected during the election. After the election was over, then the

violence increased again. This "fcime as you hear of "the election,which we think will "be February 27-29, we need your prayers; but afterthe election we need your continued prayers that everyone will abideby the results of the election. Above all we know that the importantthing is to keep the Gospel in the country. Bibles have been sellingrapidly. The Shona Bible has been out of print many times. Then a^new translation came out. Many people objected to the new translation.In the I9U9 Bible several words such as prophet and altar had beentransliterated into Shona as Shona had no word with the same meaning.The new translators have decided to use Shona words so they end upwith the same word for prophet and for spirit medium. The word chosenfor altar is the one used for the place where a family worships theirancestors; it is always inside the house. There are several moreerrors but you can see that they are worth making a fuss about.Because of this new translation the Bible Society had quit printingthe old Bible which has made the demand excede the supply. Catchingup with the demand will not be easy now that they have agreed toreprint. Please also pray for the committee that is working to correctthe new translation.

SCRIPTURE CLASSES

We hear that some changes will be made to the school scripture classes.It seems this will come about gradually. They are starting someexperimental classes with new lesson material in I6 high schools thisyear. Other schools will probably start in 198I.

CHURCHES

Our churches in town are meeting and some in the rural areas are alsoable to meet but we do pray for a peace that will enable those thathave been intimidated to feel free to worship openly. We realizethough that it could get much worse and the churches that are presentlymeeting could be persecuted.

WEDNESDAY MORNING WOMEN'S IffiETIWG

During the school vacation these meetings are being held at my house.We had a pot luck supper for Christmas which was at my house. The_other women brought their husbands and we had 19 people. With a bitof rearranging we were all able to be seated at a table for the meal.After eating we enjoyed singing some Christmas carols. Some of thewomen have moved away or started working but we have some new onesattending. For some time we have been doing a verse by verse studyof the book of Matthew.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON WOMEN'S MEETING

Recently I have started meeting with this afternoon group. They havea smaller numher of women than we have on Wednesday mornings, most ofwhom have been out of town during the school vacation so we have not"been meeting. The leader of this group and in whose house it met,moved away at the end of December. As the other members return wewill try to get these meetings started again.

ESTHER GROUP

During the war some women have started prayer groups all over thecountry. We have 10-12 of these groups in Fort Victoria. Several ofthe women from our church go to the Pioneer Lodge (retirement home)and pray with the women of the lodge that are interested in prayingfor others. We have a specific area of the country for which we pray.It is divided so that each area of the country is to have a group thatprays for them.

Datsun and Renault

CAR

The Renault I had been driving is a 197^ and was requiring quite a bitof repair and was too slow for convoys. Before I bought it it had beendriven a lot on "bush" roads. The Ben Penningtons left for furloughand I took over their car. It is a 19T8 Datsun and is in goodcondition; it gets good milage; it is faster and less apt to break downon the road. The Renault was a station wagon and easy to haul thingsin. To make up for that I have a rack on the top of the Datsun.

HOUSE

Because of the generosity of many of you I was able to make the down

payment on the house and it wasput into my name while I was inthe States. Since I got back Ihad the trim oh the housepainted, which had needed doingfor several years. This wasaccomplished before the rainsstarted. The Johnsons did someelectrical work and plumbingand also installed some burglarbars and screens on the windowswhile they lived in the house.They have now been paid forthese things. Prices havealready increased on houses inthis area. Several people thathave seen the house remark thatI certainly got a good buy.

PRAY

The events of the next coupleof months will be most importantin the life of this country.We have a wonderful God who isable and willing to help us ineverything if we but ask Him.Please join us in praying forthose that are in places ofauthority that they may havewisdom to handle the problemsas they arise. Also for thegeneral public as they go tocast their votes that they willvote for the men that will bestadminister the country. Prg.yfor those that teach God'sword. '

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Because of Christ.,

Marcia Kay Thomson'.

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Marcia Kay ThomsonP.O. Box 240

!) Fort Vi ctor i aZimbabwe, Africa

7 ;'' ; Forwarding Agents

- Mr. & Mrs. Wilford E. LeasureRoute 1West Union, Illinois 62^77

April, 1980

Dear Christian Friends,

This country is to get Its Independence at midnight on April 17.The next two days are to be holidays but the post office will beopen for a couple of hours to seH the first Zimbabwe stamps. !Intend to mail this letter at that time so it will be postmarkedon the first day. For stamp collectors that will make this stampmore valuable.

The government that was elected the last few days of February willtake over and the British Governor will leave. A very impressIvelist of visitors are expected for the Independence celebrations.

What will independence mean?

Peace? Since the elections the war has stopped. There are stillsome people roaming around the country with guns but some of themare being tracked dcwn. In a few areas convoys still run but people are free to travel places they have not been for years. Duringthe Easter week-end many Africans travelled to their homes In the'bush' and the resorts were full. The news was about 20 peoplebeing killed In traffic accidents but not the war deaths we havehad for so long.

Economic development? For many years we have had economic sanctions against the country. These have been lifted and offers oftrade agreements have come from all areas of the world.

Education? The African people have always been eager to havetheir children educated. The urban schools are Integrated nowand with the war stopping many rural schools are opening again.I hear that Africans who have been In other countries for manyyears are returning. Some of them wi11 be wel1 qualified toteach. It will take many years to get schools for all the children even If this Is high on the government priority list.

Christianity? Of course, this Is the most important of all.During the war some Christian leaders have lost their lives butothers have stood fast In the face of persecution and are stronger than they were. The government has indicated that they willlet the mission reopen their schools and hospitals.

This sounds like all of our problems are over but 1 do not thinkthat Is true. How long will the church be free? Mr. RobertMugabe was educated In a Roman Catholic school. His wife Isfrom Ghana. March 7 the "Herald" ran an Interview with SallyMugabe. One paragraph I quote.

A Roman Catholic convert, Mrs. Mugabe last wentto church In Mozambique in 1975, "I really don'tsee the need for it these days," she says with frankness.

On March 26 In an article entitled, 'Co-existence policy withSouth AfricaMugabe,' we find this paragraph:

Mr. Mugabe said he would apply marxist, Christian andtraditional African principles when Rhodesia becomesIndependent Zimbabwe on April 18.

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BY AIR MAILPAR AVION

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Sender's name and address:

From readiMany peop]elect ionsresu]ts wement for Zmy prayerWe do notholds thethe gospel

Marcia Kay Thomson

P.O. Box 2^0

Fort Victoria

Zimbabwe, Africa

An Aif-Lelter should not contain any enclosure..If it does, it will be surcharged or sent by ordinary mail.

ISHId 39d3 SlHi ONGIVinO N3dO 01'HKbl f-ULU

ng the newspapers one cannot tell what the future holdse were praying for this country at the time of theand the days following. Even though the electionre a surprise we accept that God has given this govern-imbabwe. When I was with you last year and even now,is the same, 'May this country be open to the Gospel.'know what the future holds but as we look to God whofuture would you join us in prayer for the spread of

in the new Zimbabwe?

For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against theprincipalities, against the powers, against the world rulers ofthis present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickednessin the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.

Because of Christ,

Marcia Kay Thomson

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AugMarcia Kay Thomson

P.O. Box 240Ft. VictoriaZimbabwe Rhodesia, Africa

Forwarding AgentsMr. & Mrs. Wilford E. LeasureRoute 1West Union, Illinois 62477

July, 1980

? 19sq

Greetings from Zimbabwe,

Our new country Is launched now. The holidays are over and the newparliament has been passing laws. The first day they made almosteveryone happy when they did away with fuel rationing. They havealso lowered sales tax from 15% to ]0%. They announced the amountsthey plan to pass for the minimum wage. There is one amount fordomestic workers and more than twice that amount for industry. Someof the people say things are not changing fast enough and othersthink they are changing too fast.

JUNIOR SCHOOL

The government passed legislation last year to change t+ie schoolscripture classes. No change was made immediately as the newmaterial was not ready. They have now completed the Grade 3 materialIt Is designed for the class teacher to teach her students. Theheadmaster is free to assign others to teach if he desires to do so.At the junior school I have been given one of the Grade 3 classes toteach. Up until now I have had a small class with students fromthird to seventh grades. With 28 all at the same level I am findingit easier to reach all the students. The material is well preparedand as they complete more of the books the other students will alsobe taught with their regular class.

HELEN MCGHIE SCHOOL

A minister that has been teaching at Helen McGhie Is moving out oftown. He called me and asked if I wanted to assume responsibility

for his class as well. I have put the two classes together for partof the lesson and then we diyiide. A woman from the church is goingwith me to take the youngeris gaining experiance in thiare being taught by their cl

FORT VICTORIA CHRISTIAN CHUR^

This year we have had some m^ichurches in the country. Thof the congregation down. LkNow with younger people comikeep them during the sermonfrom the service.

MISSION MEETING

May 15 and 16 Fort VictoriaWe had nearly 100^ attendancevisitors from Zambia, Southover a hotel on the shores ogood place for fellowship asHayden, the chairman of theHe stayed in Fort Victoriahimself with our work. He gwhen we were in Mt. Vernon,

Ifoup while I take the older ones. Sheway. At that school the third graders

5S teacher.

inbers move to Fort Victoria from other5 has helped to bring the average age5t year I was one of the younger members~ we also have several children and I

me so that their parents can gain more'ig

CENTRAL AFRICA STORY

The June issue of the Storyto see a copy. It is a larg^over the country. At the Mayannual Story, so my job as e^DEWURE MISSION

On April 15 I was able to gohelped count broken window p^make an estimate of the coststate.

DAY BY DAY

It has been amusing to watchnormality in certain areas,without convoys. Others dorationing unit.

osted the Central Africa Mission meeting,of our mission family and then had

Frica and the USA. We were able to takeLake Kyle for this meeting. This was a

well as the meeting itself. Dr. MarshallHoard, came from the USA for the meeting,

for 3 days after the meeting to acquaint^ts great delight in telling people that

llinois, I used to baby sit with him.

ips been sent out and I hope you are ableissue this time with messages from allmeeting we discussed putting out an

itor may not be over after all.

to Dewure Mission with the Johnsons. Iles as this information was needed toDf restoring the mission to its original

people's reactions to the return toSome say they must learn to drive again

not know how to buy fuel except by the

Robberies are on the increase; especially hard hit are the elderlypeople. Some have been tricked into letting someone into theirhomes; others have left a door or window open and had things takenwithout even hearing the thief.

Things are going along in a rather normal way but it is interestingto notice the changes in our news coverage. Just after the electionsthe news broadcasters started calling the Prime Minister, ComradeMugabe. Then about the next day they changed to Mr. Mugabe. Sincethe Independance celebrations on April 18 they have called him andmany others comrade. We also get lots of news from communist countries, often refe.rred to as progressive countries. In an article inthe newspaper they spelled out some of their new policies.

Rules for the newsSanday Mall Reporter

NEWS staff at the ZBC bave biiinstructed that tbe Soiifli AfricanGovernment should be referred to a*the "Pretoria regime" and that wifereverpossible the adjective "apartheid" ehouklbe Dsed bt describing It.

A notice headed "Attention all staffat news desk" says: "In follow-up ofoDf people - orientated Government'swelt-deflned policy towards the repressive regime in South Africa," tbe editorof news and current affairs

fai r percentage to equal th

December, 1980,

Dear Christian Friends,

Greetings during the Holidays when we think of the birth of ourKing here on this earth in fulfillment of prophesy. May you havea pleasant and profitable time of witnessing for Him whereeveryou may be.

Thank you to many of you who sent cards and gifts for my birthday.Because our school year ends December 12 and many people leave onvacation we had the Victoria Singers' Christmas program November26 and 27. Then several Americans here got together on the 28thand had a Thanksgiving meal and celebrated my birthday.

That was all very wonderful but two more things happened on the 28th,The early morning news told of fuel prices going up and the papersaid that electricity would go up about 10%. Several months ago

Hrhey introduced ]5% Ethonol into our petrol (gasoline). At thetime the stations switched over gradually and there was no changein price. They said there would have been an increase if we hadn'tswitched to blend. Now we get a tax imposed on blend. According tomy figures this increases the price from $3.11 to $3.52 a gallon.

Our church has been growing in its outreach. Some have come andsome have gone but our average attendance for October-November I98OIs 9 above the same months last year. Two of our men were killedin an airplane crash October 7- John Fay had been stationed inFort Victoria since December 1979. He flew a government plane totransport government employees into the rural areas to do theirwork. He had met the Lord while in Salisbury and he witnessed toa great number of people in Fort Victoria. The Clark family hadonly started attending our services a short while before theaccident. They had been in the Church of Christ when they livedin Gwelo. We are thankful that these men knew the Lord and wepray that people who have been awakened by their sudden deathsmight be brought to the Lord. We have some evidence that this ishappen Ing.

The church bought a house in which to hold services. Besides thelivingroom to use for services there was plenty of room in whichto live. It is not a good idea to have unoccupied property thesedays so I am living in the house and taking care of it. I havefurnished a room for the children. They can use this duringSunday services and during the women's meetings. I have madeanother bedroom into my livingroom. The Johnsons are living inmy house.

The women's meetings on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morningare both going well. Some that attend have grown toward the Lordand others have grown in the Lord.

Please pray concerning the Scripture Classes in the schools. Manythings are being changed these days but we believe that it willbe best if they continue to let us teach in the schools.

BY AIR MAILPAR AVION

19130 -9 OF'"

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SECOND FOLD

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Sender's name and address:

Mareia Kay Thomson

P. 0. Box IkO

Fort Victoria

Zimbabwe, Africa

,1 O!Q

An Air-Lettei; shourd not con^in any enclosure,%.4'If itdoes, it will be Surcharged or sent by ordjnayy^raail.

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iSaid 3008 SIHl DN01V ino N3dO 01

several charismatic meetings have been held in Fort Victoria inthe last six months. They have brought up many questions. Whenpeople start talking sbout the Lord it gives an opportunity toteach His Word more fully. The most recent meeting was held in atent that would hold 10,000. People tell me that some nights thetent was overflowing. These services were both In English andShona, Pray that people will continue to be Interested and willbe open to teaching.

IEven though there are problems in some areas, travel Is freerthan it has been for years. African evangelists are back in therural areas. There is a' big push by the government to get schoolsreopened and also many new schools. Please pray for those of usthat are here to be able to work to maximum capacity and alsopray for more laborers for the harvest field. Thank you for yoursupport and prayers th^t make it possible to carry on the workhere.

Because of Christ,

Marcia Kay Thomson.

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