Bill & Maria Humbane
Interim Newsletter
ISHE ANESU PROJECT
AFRICA UNIVERSITY
Newsletter, July 2005
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
It has been quite a while since you have heard from us. We are aware of your concerns about and constant prayers for our safety and wellbeing including the wellbeing of the children of Ishe Anesu. We wish to assure you that all is well with us through the protection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He would not assign us to a task without His assurance of protection as He said in His Great Commission, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt. 28:19-20 (NIV).
ISHE ANESU
After informing you about the end of the year's school results out of the four students who were completing their Form IV (Grade 12) studies, Leon Chinguruwe passed with distinction. We have decided to let him proceed to do Forms V and VI (Junior College). This is the student who came to Ishe Anesu with ill health and was thought to be wasting his time because he was too sick to survive. By the Grace of God and your prayers, Leon is now much healthier than when he came, although he often makes visits to the doctor when he is not feeling well.
Another student, Fungai Marimo, has passed with low grades, so low that most of the local high schools would not accept him to do Junior College studies. One private school, however, accepted him and he is doing Junior College at this point.
Unfortunately, the last two students, Stanley Chinyai and Tendai Marimo failed and they are repeating the year. Harsh as it may sound, Ishe Anesu's policy does not finance repeaters. However, there is a provision that if a student fails and can find a sponsor to pay for his/her education, Ishe Anesu will reimburse the sponsor's expenses provided the student has passed.
In November this year, 4 more students will be writing their final exams in Form IV. These are: Trish Takawarasha, Ngoni Ngonyamo, Adelaide Chivunze and Kudzai Muparutsa. The rest of the students are still coming from Third Grade to Form III. Ishe Anesu does not have students in Grades I and II because there were no new admissions during the past two years. This was due, in part, to low budget caused by high inflation, not only in school fees but also in all other expenses including transportation. There is no way of telling when this situation will improve.
MOTHERS' CLUB
The Ishe Anesu mothers' club continues to do well. The mothers have improved their sewing and knitting skills such that they have started making dresses for their younger children at home. Needless to say, this is a giant step in their life as they can now support their own families. It is hoped that soon they will be able to make dresses and sweaters for themselves.
We wish to remind you that that the Advance Special # for Ishe Anesu project at the General Board of Global Ministries is: 13071A. The Advance Special # for Maria's financial support is: 012912-0-HZ.
Please quote these code numbers in your financial support for either the Project or for Maria. Needless to say, your continued support is making a world of difference to keep us going even against all odds.
AFRICA UNIVERSITY
At the time of writing of this newsletter, Africa University students are on vacation. Only those students from other parts of Africa who cannot afford to travel to their home countries have remained on campus.
The latest major event at AU was the 11th graduation ceremony involving 395 students. This was the largest graduating class that AU has ever had. We are proud to say that our graduates are quite marketable when they return to their home countries. The new academic year 2005/06 will offer a degree in Computer Science. The computer service here at AU is now powered by Satellite that provides fantastic speed in browsing through the Internet and e-mailing. Undoubtedly this new addition of a degree in Computer Science will make AU even more attractive to students in the region.
One of the most pressing needs at AU is the construction of married students housing. Students with families are facing enormous difficulties securing houses to rent in town. The rentals are so prohibitive that our students can hardly afford to pay. Houses and apartments to let are extremely hard to find and because of this, the landlords who have a small place to rent out, take advantage of both the shortage and the high demand of houses and lease their homes at an exorbitant cost. Some landlords are allegedly demanding their rentals in US dollars.
Please continue to pray for the success of our mission. We have witnessed prayers that remove mountains of hardships. We have faith to believe that the winds of change will soon be felt.
In Christ,
Bill and Maria
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