This past summer, a group of eight volunteers from Metro Community Church, one Zimele's supporting organization went for two weeks to Kwazulu Natal, South Africa to serve the Zimele communities.

The following is the transcript from my closing speech from Our Trip Report to Metro on Sunday, August 10, 2008.

As we close this time, we want to say three simple words that I know will fall far short of how we feel.

Thank you Metro.

Thank you from the people of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.  Thank you from Rosetta and her Zimele South Africa staff.  Thank you from the Summer Missions Team.  And thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I’m not sure how I came to head up Zimele USA.  I remember year and a half ago, having lunch with Rosetta, Pastor Peter Ahn, Peter Kang, and Sean at Palisadeum.  And the next thing I know I was heading up Zimele USA on a volunteer basis.

And for the past year and half we have been the primary funding source for our programs in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.  Programs that are today transforming the lives of over 500 families… approximately three to four thousand mothers and children by freeing them from the grips of poverty and HIV AIDS through the implementation of savings groups and craft groups.

I’ll often meet with Pastor Peter to talk about Zimele, and we find it amazing and even incredulous that our small church of about 200 members is supporting the incredible things that are happening in South Africa.

But I’ll be honest with you, there have been many a night where I had trouble sleeping, wondering if we are going to be able to fund our operational expenses for that month or the following month.  And I would ask God to show himself.

And he would… through you.

God would show himself through a friend that would quietly give a check for a $1,000 after talking about Zimele over coffee, or an unexpected check that would show up when we need it the most.

God would show himself through the countless number of people faithfully contributing $25, $50, or $100 a month every month.

God would show himself through the entire church pulling together to make our Summer Yard Sale Fundraiser a success.

I remember getting an email this summer from a member of our church, about how he felt God was asking him to donate his beloved autographed photo of Micky Mantle, a collectors item which he had for 20 years for us to auction off for Zimele.  I cried when I read that email.

God would show himself through Evan and Jeannie Joo who heard about how the women in the crafts program needed reading classes, and donated over a 100 pair of glasses for us to bring.

I could go on and on… It is through each of your actions of love and selflessness that I am learning to never underestimate God’s heart and faithfulness, and never to underestimate your heart.

After two visits to South Africa in the last six months, I can tell you that what we are doing is working.  That families and entire communities are being lifted up out of poverty… I hope what we shared today encourages you to know that your gifts of treasured belongings, time, and money are not in vain, but are being used by God and the staff of Zimele to make an everlasting difference to the lives of 4,000 women and children in Kwazulu Natal South Africa, and counting. 

Mother Teresa would constantly remind those who worked with her that the Bible clearly teaches that whatever we do for the least of these, we do for Jesus.  So in a very real sense, our involvement with Zimele is a chance to meet the person of Jesus in "the guise of human suffering." It is an invitation from the heart of God to know him and to experience his love.  Thank you for responding to that invitation.