Marcia Kay Thomson ' -/f

P.O. Box H 96
Hatfield

Harare

Zimbabwe, Africa

3^

Forwarding Agents
Mr. & Mrs. Wilford Leasure
Route 1

West Union, Illinois 62477

May 1984
Dear Christian Friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

HARARE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

The Lord Is blessing the work In Harare. We continue to reach new

people through the church here and the building is too small to
accommodate the congregation each Sunday. For many years special
meetings such as Christmas programs and VBS closing programs have
been held outside unless it rained.

We have applied to the town board for a building permit to build a

church building. The congregation and its friends have raised 59% of
the cost of the first stage. The drawing on the reverse side of this
letter shows this stage. Excluding the platform it will give us three
times the floor space we now have. Since the congregation doubled in
size in 1983 we hope to need all of this space before long and the
design of the building is so that it would be easy to add on to it.
The other day I was telling Steve we were making progress on the
building and he asked, "Are you digging foundations?" 1 said, "No,
we are contracting the roof. Everything seems to be backward here."
Fort Concrete has given us a plan to put up an asbestos roof on
precast concrete columns and rafters. Then would come foundations, a
concrete floor and walls just 30 Inches high. On both sides of the

platform there would be storage rooms for chairs, pulpit, communion

table and piano. This will be alright in warm weather.
When money is available then the rest of the walls,
doors, baptistry, celling and lighting will be added.

the windows,

ZIMBABWE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

We have some new students planning to join us In May. Since December

we have been concentrating on the local congregations. Night classes
have been held for church members in Harare. Our students have been

out working In churches also. One of our students,

baptized 64 people on Easter Sunday.

Alvin

Dube,

SCRIPTURE CLASSES

--Since January I have been the only volunteer Scripture Class teacher at WIddecombe School. The Roman Catholic priest quit coming near the
end of 1983 and Kathy Eastwood Is in the USA this year. When I went
to talk to the Headmaster, I offered to teach all of the classes if I
could have them one class at a time. He agreed, so I have all the
Grade 4, 5, 6, S 7 classes, about 335 students. I teach four classes

on Tuesday and four on Wednesday. The largest classes have 46,

which is easier than teaching 70 at one time like I did last year.
CONTINUE TO PRAY PLEASE

Thank Cod for all the opportunities He gives us to serve Him and the

strength to fulfill our place of service. Thank Him for the safe arrival
of the Paul Pennington family who will be in Harare studying Shona
until they go to Karol for a year. Pray that immigration will approve
new workers that want to come and help.

Thank you for your continued support that enables us to carry on the
work here.

In Christian love,

Marcia Kay Thomson

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Marcia Kay Thomson

P.O. Box H 96

SEP 24 1984

31.

Hatfield
Harare

Zimbabwe, Africa
Forwarding Agents
Mr. 6 Mrs. Wilford Leasure
Route 1

West Union, Illinois 62^77

September 1984

Dear Christian Friends,

As I write to you
the children from
In two vehicles.
cipating in other

I am at Heavenward Bound Christian Camp. We brought

Arcadia Children's Home in Harare here for this camp
Being at the camp brings back many memories of parti

camps held here Including the very first camp at this

campgrounds In August 1981.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Last week we had VBS every afternoon. The highest attendance was l85
students and 'I of them were In my class of Middlers. We had about 25
adults to handle the directing, teaching, crafts, refreshments, etc.
To have adequate teachers we recruited from the other congregations In

the city. About 25 of the young people also came from the other congre
gations but most of the children are in our area and walked. We had
many new contacts and some families started attending our services even
before VBS. I passed out invitations for VBS in my scripture classes.
The church attendance is down some for a few weeks because people are

away during the school vacation. When they return our space problem
Is going to be acute. To have enough classrooms for VBS we had some
classes share a room and have handcraft in the courtyard while the
other class used the room. The teenagers met in the living/dining

room of the college.

Because some of the rooms were not large enough

to contain chairs for all the students, we removed the chairs and had
the students sit on the floor. The closing program was held outside
on Friday night.
CHURCH BUILDING

It took several months to get approval to build our church building but
we recently got word that It was passed at their meeting the end of
July. They have not given final approval to the plans and can call for

some modifications but we hope to get started soon. The money has been
paid to the company for the roof for several months and we have some
money on hand for foundations and floor. We really thank those of you
who sent money to help build this building.
JUNIOR CHURCH

For a couple of months we have had a junior church. At the present

time It Is just for the last half of the church service but if we have
so many come that we cannot crowd everyone into one room for the song
service we may be forced to have two separate services.
CECIL ROSS

We finally got immigration approval for Cecil Ross and he has arrived
to be our youth minister. He has learned rapidly to drive on the left
side of the road and Is finding his way around the city. He went with
me to my scripture classes at the end of the school term. If he can

help with part of the classes 1 will be able to catch up on some other
work that has been suffering.
VISIT FROM MY MOTHER

Mom came to visit me for two months.

She was a big help around the

college. We were also able to visit some and took a six day trip to
see the country. She Is now back In Joplin, Missouri, and some of you
might want to contact her If you wonder how things are here.

REST HAVEN

The third annual retreat for missionaries from southern Africa was held

at Rest Haven, a few miles from Harare, the week before our VBS.

In charge of housing again this year.

I was

We had 65 that attended but 12

more were registered who did not come.

PLEASE PRAY FOR US

There is a possibility that our student body at Zimbabwe Christian

College will Increase by 10 or 12. If this Is the case we will
need a couple to be dorm parents. I said I would come to the college
for one year. In December it will be two years. I am planning to

stay in Harare to work, but with the Increase of the work more people

are needed.

Thank you for your help In His work here In Zimbabwe.

Because of Christ,

Hare la Kay Thomson

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December 198^
Dear Christian Friends,

May the grace and peace of God come to you this holiday season. His work here has been
growing and I pray that you have seen His work grow In your area.
CHURCH BUILDING/BIBLE COLLEGE CHAPEL

On October 8 work started on the building.

the Christmas Program December 2.

It is possible that it will be useable for

Having a roof over our heads could be a real bless

ing as December is in the rainy season and outdoor meetings are a bit risky. For many
years we have had too many people to fit Into the present building on special occasions.
Several alterations were made before the building plans were approved.

The significant

change was that the old buildings we had hoped to renovate for toilets were not
approved so a new building near but not attached to the church building will have to be

built.

This will Increase the amount of money needed to complete the first stage of

the bu i1d i ng.

BAPTISMS

For a long time the swimming pool at the college has not had enough water in it to be
used as a baptistry. Because of the drought, rationing has been enforced and swimming
pools cannot be filled. We have been meeting with the Arcadia Church 6 miles away In
the evenings and using their baptistry. 27 people have been baptized in the past
three and a half months. Most of these are from our community but some are from
Arcadia.

In two families when young people have been baptized their mothers have come for the

baptisms and then have started attending church regularly.

APARTMENT

In my last letter I mentioned that a couple were needed as dorm parents for Zimbabwe

Christian College.

At the present time we do not have anyone lined up for this job but

I realize that when someone comes I will need another place to live. The apartment
next door to Penningtons was for sale so I have purchased it. With the U.S. dollar
being so strong right now I got a two bedroom apartment in good condition for US$7,750.

At $100 per month it will just take six and a half yeqrs to pay off the principal.
Since it Is somewhat difficult to rent places now I thought this was a wise course of
act ion.

MORE WORKERS

When I came to Harare Jack and Peggy Pennington, Midge Goldthwaite and Kathy East
wood were here.

There were some others here for short terms.

Some church members

and students were doing some preaching. Midge has left for Mashoko Mission but rion

and Joyce Morris, Steve and Linda Whitmer, Virginia Card and Cecil Ross have come to
work.

Shanda and Robin Delaney are expected to arrive in December.

Paul Eastwood

graduated from college in '83; he and Kathy have been in the U.S.A. during 198^4 but
they plan to return in January I985. Our workers are increasing but the work is also
growing. We are spread out in four congregations and a Bible college. There are^
still many openings for workers here in Harare. The only University in Zimbabwe is
here and we have no work with the students there.

Some of the leaders from our youth

group will be entering the University in March.

OPEN TO GOSPEL

A few years ago many people thought that politics was the answer to their problems.
Since the change of government they still have problems and many are looking to the
Lord for an answer.

Pray for us as we work here in Harare, Please.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a Christ centered New Year.

In His Service^
Marcia Kay Thomson
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