Primrose has not only endured the loss of her husband and children but has also taken on the immense responsibility of raising her grandchildren. Every day, she bravely faces the challenge of securing food and water for them, a task that many of us can hardly fathom.

Adding to her challenge, Primrose and her grandchildren live in Gwayi River, Zimbabwe, where poverty, lack of infrastructure, and oppressive ancestral worship have long been part of daily life. Primrose’s story is just one of many in Gwayi River.

And this year, a drought has made things much more difficult.

“From late January through mid-March, parts of Southern Africa received half or less of their typical rainfall… February 2024 was especially dry.” In fact, “February 2024 was the driest February in the 40-year data record for an area spanning much of Zambia, Zimbabwe, southeastern Angola, and northern Botswana.” (Earth Observatory.)

ITMI’s Johan Leach, whose ministry location falls right in the middle of this area, estimates that instead of the usual 144-216 inches, this rainy season brought only about 36 inches of rainfall in his corner of Zambia.

Our partner, Charl van Wyk, paints a grim picture, “Zimbabwe is currently in the grip of one of the most severe droughts in the past four decades. Rainfall is alarmingly scarce, leading to widespread water shortages and devastating impacts on agriculture.”

Many Zimbabweans don’t participate in the cash economy. Instead, they grow the food they eat, relying on seasonal rain.

“More than 60% of Zimbabwe’s 15 million people live in rural areas, growing the food they eat, and sometimes small surpluses that can be sold to cover expenses such as school fees. With relatively little participation in the cash economy, many of those won’t be able to buy food even when it’s available in markets.” (PBS)

Those who live hand-to-mouth are the ones whose outlook for the future is most stark. Charl continues, “The drought has also triggered a water crisis of unprecedented proportions. With reservoirs running dry and groundwater levels plummeting, access to clean, safe drinking water has become increasingly scarce.

Communities are forced to rely on contaminated sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. The lack of adequate sanitation facilities further compounds these health concerns, posing a grave threat to public health.”

In April, Zimbabwe’s president declared a state of disaster following a similar announcement from neighboring Zambia and Malawi.

In the remote north corner of Zambia, between the Zambezi River and the border with Angola where Johan Leach ministers, most people reside in villages and live off the land - relying on seasonal rain. Johan said, “The drought has hit us badly. It’s going to cause massive starvation and death.”

The seasonal rainy season between November and February in this area causes the Zambezi River to break its banks, spilling water onto the Luvale floodplains. This water remains in marsh-like conditions for a good portion of the year. The Luvale villagers living on the floodplains procure small tilapia from these marshes - one of their only protein sources. But they can also use the small fish to trade with.

This year, the 36 inches of rain wasn’t enough for the river to break its banks, so last year’s marshlands are already drying up, and the water table is alarmingly low.

The Luvale villagers position their villages near various water sources. Many dig holes where they try to scoop water out for daily needs. Soon, they won’t even be able to do that, Johan predicts.

The loose soil on the floodplains doesn’t hold moisture, so even the maize harvest has hardly yielded anything.

However, there are two pieces of good news in the middle of this dire situation.

They are both due to the gracious provision of our all-knowing Lord and your willingness to join Him in his work to rescue His people, both from physical and spiritual calamity.

Your support in recent years has allowed our partner Charl and his project leader in Zimbabwe, Cozmore, to be prepared for ministry at such a time as this.

Cozmore’s mission base, Gwayi River Mission Base is equipped with a solar powered system for pumping and storing water. Not only has this been crucial for community members in need of water, but it has allowed the crops planted at the mission base to survive thus far!

Local widows with able bodies help cultivate crops and care for the mission base projects. In return, they are provided with food parcels that help them survive. (Widows who are elderly or unable to help at the mission can receive food parcels, too.)

This is all possible through your investment in the Kingdom.

Charl writes,

“Even as all the above combine to imperil Zimbabwe’s ecosystems, we must remember we have brothers and sisters in Christ who still stand firm in the Gospel, work the land, and drill wells and pump water from underground to irrigate crops. They serve Christ in their endeavors and feed the orphans and widows. Enter Cozmore and his team, ministering in Gwayi River.

Our small-scale farming is making a difference! We are growing crops and feeding the most vulnerable. We’re grateful as we couldn’t do this without you—our faithful ministry partners.If you’d like to help us upscale our efforts. The opportunities to serve in Gospel outreaches—such as feeding the widows and orphans—are literally limitless.

Immediate relief requirements include support to those affected by the drought, such as food aid, clean water supplies, and medical help.”

If you’d like to show compassion, solidarity and generosity to our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe, Cozmore can put any gifted resources to good Kingdom use amid what is both a tragic disaster and an opportunity for the Gospel to be spread.

To date, ITMI has partnered with ITMI’s Johan Leach to install 30 boreholes in villages on the Luvale floodplains in Zambia where Johan and his team determined that a borehole could aid the spread of the Gospel or the activities of a village church.

A large village might consist of a population of around 2,000 people, while other villages might be smaller in number or residents.

The existence of these boreholes is now crucial to the survival of villagers on the plains. Villagers are walking long distances from other villages to visit them, creating long queues for water, then carry 5 gallon jugs back to their village.

Right now, ITMI is working with Johan to organize the installation of another batch of boreholes in strategic locations on the plains.

A drilling company must be negotiated with and contracted. They must organize the transport of all of the drilling equipment to remote Chavuma, cross the Zambezi on a barge, then traverse through the deep sand to the villages on the floodplains.

We currently have the funds to install 20 boreholes. Each borehole and its accompanying message of the Gospel will be welcomed with deep gratitude and open arms, but the need is greater now than ever for access to clean, safe water.

It isn’t too late to add to the number of boreholes that will be drilled on this excursion. There are plenty more villages that don’t have access to clean, safe water and many who haven’t heard of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for them.

“Our plan is to support the church during this crisis as much as we can with whatever resources we are able,” Johan says.

The writing is on the wall. Many will starve over the next few months. Our aim is to ensure that as many as possible have the chance to respond to the Gospel before then.  A borehole in a village could accomplish saving lives from physical starvation and eternal separation from Jesus. It could also buy more time for villagers to respond to the Lord. Either way, it demonstrates the Lord’s attention to the Luvale people and shows them His compassion and generosity.

As we prepare to seize whatever ministry opportunities the Lord sends our way, we remain steadfast in our mission to make disciples that make disciples. But we can't do it alone. Your involvement—whether as a donor, volunteer, advocate, or supporter—makes all the difference.

Together, let’s continue to work alongside His Spirit to redeem and restore God’s people to Himself and rejoice as we recognize His work among the nations.