February 2024
Hello dear friends,
We are back in the saddle at Karanda. Thanks so much for your support with finances and prayer. Since coming back we have struggled with various physical ailments - it seems we are healthy today! The Karanda Mission Primary School has added another grade to the program. This year there are students attending from Early Childhood Development A (ECD A) up through 6th grade. Kathy is continuing to fill the role of Teacher mentor and general substitute.
There are still 5 on-going building projects that Jon must oversee, plus 2 or 3 projects that Karanda is gearing up for. There is plenty to do. One of the projects we hope to get to this year is a re-build of the hospital Chapel. It was first constructed around 1964, without much done to it over the years except the application of fresh paint. The Karanda Evangelical Church uses the facility on Sundays for their service. We had about 140 children attending AWANA and the church space was full for the morning service. We would like to use as much of the old building as possible, expanding it to accommodate twice as many people and include some outdoor sheltering for crowd expansion and two indoor toilets in a new lobby area. Karanda is seeking partners to help with this effort.
We are continuing to work with 2 Bible studies, a monthly teaching event at a church in another community and with children's ministry and activity. Kathy is also tutoring. We need your prayer, and desire to see the Lord strengthen His people through these efforts.
We finally got our vehicle back this past week. It is running well. It seems like the big expense focused on it is over for awhile. Thanks for each that have helped with projects we requested finances for. We are in this together!
Hello dear friends,
We are back in the saddle at Karanda. Thanks so much for your support with finances and prayer. Since coming back we have struggled with various physical ailments - it seems we are healthy today! The Karanda Mission Primary School has added another grade to the program. This year there are students attending from Early Childhood Development A (ECD A) up through 6th grade. Kathy is continuing to fill the role of Teacher mentor and general substitute.
There are still 5 on-going building projects that Jon must oversee, plus 2 or 3 projects that Karanda is gearing up for. There is plenty to do. One of the projects we hope to get to this year is a re-build of the hospital Chapel. It was first constructed around 1964, without much done to it over the years except the application of fresh paint. The Karanda Evangelical Church uses the facility on Sundays for their service. We had about 140 children attending AWANA and the church space was full for the morning service. We would like to use as much of the old building as possible, expanding it to accommodate twice as many people and include some outdoor sheltering for crowd expansion and two indoor toilets in a new lobby area. Karanda is seeking partners to help with this effort.
We are continuing to work with 2 Bible studies, a monthly teaching event at a church in another community and with children's ministry and activity. Kathy is also tutoring. We need your prayer, and desire to see the Lord strengthen His people through these efforts.
We finally got our vehicle back this past week. It is running well. It seems like the big expense focused on it is over for awhile. Thanks for each that have helped with projects we requested finances for. We are in this together!
This 1993 75 Series LandCruiser has been a real work horse and ministry tool since 2006.
Phil Christiansen took this picture of Karanda's Chapel sometime in the 1960s. It remains unchanged until today.
The plan above shows the building expansion for the chapel at Karanda Mission Hospital.
The rains have come again, but we need more! Pray with us for additional moisture from the Lord. Pray that people recognize that He has been the one to supply this blessing.
We recently had important mission meetings. Our missionary work staff are getting older and most are getting ready to retire. We do not see any new missionary recruits coming to join the work at Karanda. This is a great opportunity. Please consider a possible role for you or someone you know here at the hospital.
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From Zimbabwe, with Love!
Jon & Kathy Christiansen |