ASYM END OF YEAR PRAYER PARTNERS NEWSLETTER-2018

Dear Our Valued Partners!

Greetings to you all in Jesus’ Name!

Firstly, may I make a very sincere apology for not sending any updates on what has been

going on in the ASYM Family. The silence didn’t mean nothing was happening. In fact, for

the whole 2017 and 2018 we have been experiencing a lot of both exciting and challenging

times due to some new Pastoral responsibilities assigned to us by our church. Beginning of

2017 we were asked by the church leadership to pastor a small Elim congregation 70km

away from our capital Harare where we live. Since then it has been our commitment to

commute every week end and also during the week for service and mid-week Cell Life

Group. It meant reorganising our priorities. Pray for us! Therefore, this report is a summary

of 2017 and 2018 activities.

A New Young man-Panashe

At the end of December, we met a young desperate young man from the streets of Harare.

After giving his life to Jesus Christ in our office, we felt he needed our help for a little bit

longer although he had passed our age range. He needed some discipleship or mentorship.

His name is Tinashe. So, we took him in at our Full Life Park where he was being instructed

in the way of the Lord by Godfrey Chitofu, Pastor Phillip Chibisa and our General Overseer

for a period of two months from December 2016 until end of February 2017. We saw the

transforming power of God during his stay with us. Also, we learnt a lot about the spiritual

world. One of the things is that there is so much deception going on in the church and

people are being deceived! However, besides all the nerve-wrecking things that are

happening in the spiritual world, Jesus is still Lord. Now, he is back to his home and happily

attending one of the local Pentecostal churches and participates in one of the ministries. He

is doing piggery project at his home. Recently he came to our office smartly dressed and told

us that he wants to marry! From the streets to marriage! This can only be the Finger of God!

All Glory goes to Him! May he continue to experience Full Life as declared by Jesus in John

10 v 10b. ‘But I came that they may have Life and have it to the Full’

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Godfrey (ASYM Staff) with Panashe

Kudzai Nyamupingidza

We started staying with him when he was doing Form 2. Early this year after he had finished

his A-Level and passed well with 9 points, ASYM went to his relatives and surrendered him

to them. He is now doing Culinary Arts at a college in Chitungwiza. Currently, he left home

and they are not sure where he is.

Kudzi, the day we left him at his relatives.

David Musendo (One of our keen supporters) & Kudzi

Ngoni

He is now in Form 2 at a local school in the capital. Last year he was at our Elim boarding

school, Emmanuel High. After some negotiations with his relatives for the whole of last year,

persuading them to take back their son from ASYM, they finally agreed and he is now

staying with his aunt. She is now fully responsible for all his school fees. ASYM only helped

during the first term of this year. I am told by his aunt that he is doing well at school. She is

pleased with him. All glory be to God!

Below are Ngoni and his Aunt who he is staying with.

Ngoni, his aunt & us.

Tatenda

Tatenda joined ASYM family last year when he was doing Grade 7. He is now doing Form 1

at a local school in Mutare. His parents have shown some reluctance in supporting him with

school fees. However, we thank God that he is now with them. We feel very much

encouraged that we are fulfilling our mandate of reuniting Street Children with their parents

after providing Family Setting Model accommodation during their stay with ASYM.

Advance and Elvis

Advance and Elvis joined ASYM family from Simukai Child Protection Programme in June this

year. They are doing Form 2 at a school in Mutare. We are told they are doing well and have

shown great change to the extent that the Head of the school has chosen them to be part of

her wedding team members in December this year. I am pleased they managed to go home

for the holiday and came back for the 3rd Term. Our ultimate desire is that they get reunited

with his family. We are pleased has managed to join his family and going to school.

Simukai has included the boys on their income generating projects under ZOE programme.

They are going to receive some financial assistance to start a project of their own choice.

Elvis and Advance with Simukai staff.

John Duri

The young man joined our big family in January 2018. His school attendance is very erratic.

We are thinking of finding something more practical for him to do.

Blessing Masowe

Blessing joined us last month, October 2018, from Simukai Child protection Programme. He

is very interested in going to school. So we immediately looked for a place for him to do

form 1. His teachers said he is clever and keen to learn. He is a singer and composer of

gospel music. He is a double orphan.

So here are our current three boys below: All of them were referred to ASYM by Simukai.

We have experienced very meaningful and strategic partnership with this organisation since

2011 when we opened our first home. God bless them.

From Left: Blessing, John & Advance

Full Life Park

There hasn’t been much going on during the dry season because of lake of water. That is our

biggest challenge as we are not able to grow anything until rainy season comes. With the

availability of water all year round, we will be able to do horticulture, resulting into self-

sustaining projects for the Ministry. We are believing God for USD$3500.00 for borehole

drilling project at the farm. Electricity is available.

SOME VERY IMPORTANT SURPRISE VISITORS (Mr Paul & Mrs Lynn Bower)

Paul & Lynn after they had just arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe

In January this year, God blessed us with very important visitors in our family. They were our

elders at church during our stay in the UK. So, they thought of us in a very special and came

over to Zimbabwe for 3 weeks. Many thanks go to Elim Pentecostal Church in Zimbabwe and

Elim Missions International who gave them the blessing to visit the church projects in the

country. We couldn’t believe it, but however, it was real! Their mission was just to be with

us and see how we are doing. Period! The three week period was hectic but a blessing to us

as we tried to engage them into different activities that surround our life here in Zimbabwe.

These included family, ASYM and church. We will share their visit through pictures.

THANK YOU

May I say thank you our valued prayer partners for standing with us at different levels. It

would have been a very difficult year for our children and staff without your prayers,

support and financial help. I am aware of the other people who do not want to be

mentioned, but allow me to mention the following for playing significant roles in our work

this year:

Elim Northern Ireland

Elim International Missions, UK

New Life Community Church, UK

Nantwich Elim Church, UK

KidCare International, UK

Elim Church, Zimbabwe

Simukai Child Protection Programme

Background individuals who have supported the ministry

ASYM-UK Board

ASYM-Zim Board

SOME 2017/18 HIGHLIGHTS

I’m not going to give detailed accounts as this was done during the yearly updates. We

managed to do the following:

Accepted two boys in our Family

One has finished Form 6 with 9 points.

Rehabilitation of our Full Life Park House. Not yet completed though.

Reunited 3 boys with their relatives

CHALLENGES IN MINISTRY

Our children’s behaviour, such as stealing, smoking weed, refusing to go to

school etc

Some relatives and parents of our children perceive ASYM as rich and

therefore unwilling to help with anything.

Scarcity of cash in the country

OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

We are a growing organisation which desires to make a holistic impact on Street and

Former Street Children and their families. Whilst we will continue with our

accommodation and education activities, ASYM would like to expand by embarking on

three of its other approaches in Street Children Ministry namely:

Evangelism

Discipleship

Employment Creation for Street and Former Street Children and their Families

Engaging a Project Coordinator on a part time basis

SUPPORT NEEDED AND HOW YOU CAN HELP

We are seeking support for our current education and development programmes as

listed below.

Borehole Drilling for irrigation at the Farm

Piggery and Poultry projects at the Farm

Street Evangelism

Street Discipleship programme

School fees for next year

3 Staff allowances

And Finally

The ministry still goes on despite the economic meltdown in the country. Children are on

the increase on the streets as they struggle to survive in their families. My conversations

with my street friends indicate that they remain very vulnerable to all forms of abuse; drug,

sexual, physical, emotional, psychological etc. It is my conviction that ASYM carries the

solution for this perennial challenge in Africa, through its Family Setting Model Approach.

Availability of resources is the only impediment.

Our hearts remain forever grateful to all who have set their minds to offer support to the

ministry. May our God continue to reward you with peace and good health in your families

and personal lives.

Every Blessing

Farai & Grace Katiro

International Directors Africa Street Youth Ministries (ASYM)

FOOD STUFFS & CLOTHES FOR 2018 CHRISTMAS

Mealie Meal

Rice

Meat

Bathing Soap

Toothpaste

Body lotion

Toothbrushes

And anything else

Clothes sizes, Ages 17-20 years

www.asym.org

ASYM IN PICTURES

ASYM @ 2018. Harare Streets

ASYM @ 2018. On Harare Streets

Paul & Lynn visited the mass grave of 13 Elim Missionaries to Zimbabwe who were murdered in 1978

Paul, preaching at our local Full Life Assembly, Elim church, in Marondera where we are pastoring

Lynn, in class at Elim, Manjanja Primary School, enjoying an English lesson

Paul addressing Churchill Boys High School Form Ones on the importance of Planning using the 5Ps (Proper

Planning Prevents Poor Performance)during their orientation camp.

Farai with the two boys

Tamari and Godfrey with the two boys in January 2018.

Paul & Lynn chatting with our boys at our ASYM home in Mutare

Pastor Erica Saunders and Grace Katiro demonstrating Servant Leadership during a joint Emerald Hill

and Full Life Assemblies Church Leadership Training

And lastly, at our rural home with my mum (85) and dad (90).They brought a time of

refreshing to the folkes.

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