7/4  New Photos with Stories & Descriptions (2003-2004)
 

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These are some of the children whom we serve in Zimbabwe.  We now have children aged 18 months through 18 years old within our program.  Some of the children live within their own communities (ie with an aunt or grandmother) and some of the children have no relatives to live with so they reside at the LPTCC.  The program includes a sound educational program, good nutritious food, health services, recreational activities and church life.  We try to do special activities during the school holidays such as field trips or parties at the centre.
Mercy and Ronald enjoying a banana
Molleen Mavhuto (living @ LPTCC)
Anna Mafusa (living @ LPTCC)
LPTCC Children enjoying an outing to hotel and zoo
LPTCC Children enjoying an outing to hotel and zoo

In 2003 several individuals and churches in the state of CT became involved in shipping a 20 foot container full of goods for the children's home to Zimbabwe.  While it was a lengthy process, it was well worth while as we rec'd donations of food, clothing, toys, baby equipment, books and many other necessities of running a home.
The Container : Unloading
John Smallbones
The Container : Loading Goods
The Container : Loading Goods
The Container : The Convoy

Many people play a role in making the work of AGC possible.  In Zimbabwe, we have need for both full time paid employees and volunteers.  Areas of employment include staff to run the children's home and a pastor to lead the church work.  We sometimes hire temporary assistance for office work or overseeing the mission whilest we are away on furlough.  We are very grateful to receive donations from Zimbabweans too, such as our cows (Toff-Choc and Moo-Pie) which will provide dairy for the home!
Visitors to the AGC Chapel in Chinyudze
Pastor Cuthbert Makoni, Trustee of LPTCC
AGC Pastor Garikayi Chanduru with wife Effie
The Veljacic's
Visitors Bill, Bob and Mark from Indiana
Sheila Foulis, Assistant in AGC Office
High School Sunday School
Junior Sunday School
Toddler Sunday School
Sunday School Classes at AGC Chapel
Pastor Chanduru with his family
Oscar and Pet Rateyiwa, personal employees of Hayes Family
Local Zimbabwean Farmer, The Ziehl Family (donated cows to AGC) Left : Mr. Baines, Lucy and Jade

We also count on many people from the USA to assist us in the work in Zimbabwe. The work of AGC would not be possible with the support of advisors and supporters in the USA working on that end.
Jack and Penny Tanner (Jack on Advisory Board)
The Hayes at the Eastern Christian Convention in Hershey, PA
The Hayes w/friend and supporter Cheryl at the National Missionary Convention
Roland and Annalee Croft, interns to Zimbabwe at the NMC booth
Advisory Board Member, Chris Kiley with wife Kathy and children

At the end of February we were blessed to have a large group of volunteers come from the nearby farming community of Marondera to assist in the unpacking of the container of goods from CT.  It was a fun-filled day and much was accomplished.  This group also included some local Zimbabweans and friends of Lucy Hayes.
Roa de Bruijn assisting with settting up computers
Lucy Hayes and Grace Nyashanu cleaning donated toys
Volunteers unpacking container from CT
Volunteers putting infant furniture together
Mrs. de Bruijn sorting through donated toys
Volunteers sorting through donated clothing
Rose (our supervisor) in her pantry
Volunteers taking a break for lunch
Volunteers taking a break for lunch
Jade Celliers assisting with the work
Lucy Hayes cleaning toys
Pet Rateyiwa doing her share of the work
Volunteers assembling the cribs at the baby unit
Young Panashe enjoying a ride in the walker!
The young volunteers taking a breather
Rose sorting through donated clothing
Robbie Veljacic examining a pair of shoes!
The group photo of our volunteers who came to help unpack the 20 foot container from CT
The group photo of our volunteers who came to help unpack the 20 foot container from CT

In April 2003, Denise and Lucy Hayes packed up and camped at Chinyudze during the Easter week-end holidays. Jim was still in the USA on furlough. The time was spent doing many fun activities, including decorating Easter eggs, an egg hunt, watching fun video's and eating ice-cream, watching "The Jesus Film" at the AGC Chapel (a video about the life of Jesus), picnicing at the dam, the Easter sunrise service and a breakfast afterwards.  Many of the western traditions were new to the children and community, but they all agreed they want to do it next year!
AGC Chapel watching "The Jesus Film" on Easter Saturday morning
AGC Chapel watching "The Jesus Film" on Easter Saturday morning
The LPTCC children coloring Easter eggs in anticipation of the upcoming egg hunt!
The LPTCC children coloring Easter eggs in anticipation of the upcoming egg hunt!
The LPTCC children coloring Easter eggs in anticipation of the upcoming egg hunt!
The LPTCC children coloring Easter eggs in anticipation of the upcoming egg hunt!
The LPTCC children coloring Easter eggs in anticipation of the upcoming egg hunt!
The LPTCC children coloring Easter eggs in anticipation of the upcoming egg hunt!
The LPTCC children coloring Easter eggs in anticipation of the upcoming egg hunt!
The LPTCC children coloring Easter eggs in anticipation of the upcoming egg hunt!
Our children watching "Big Bird" and enjoying some ice-cream
Our children watching "Big Bird" and enjoying some ice-cream
The Easter egg hunt at the LPTCC
The Easter egg hunt at the LPTCC
Rudolf and Lucy at the egg hunt (last photo taken of Rudolf alive)
Easter gang after the hunt!
Easter gang after the hunt!
The LPTCC kids having a picnic at the local dam
The LPTCC kids having a picnic at the local dam
Rose at the picnic
Walking on the dam wall
Kids at the Dam
Kids at the Dam
Tawanda looking through the binoculars
Mercy in awe of the water
Mercy looking through the binoculars
The Chinyudze dam, a ten minute walk from our land at the LPTCC!
Rose with new freezer purchased with funds from Church in CT
Easter Sunrise Service Group
Easter Sunrise Service Group
Easter Sunrise breakfast served after the service
Easter Sunrise breakfast served after the service

Our daughter Lucy Hayes, dressed in her school uniform the day she left for boarding school, a tradition many missionaries have to follow.  Lucy is a weekly boarder, meaning she can come home on the week-ends.  She is doing very well in school.
Our daughter Lucy Hayes, dressed in her school uniform the day she left for boarding school.
Our daughter Lucy Hayes, dressed in her school uniform the day she left for boarding school.

The Zimbabwe Flag. At the suggestion of one of our employees, Pet Rateyiwa, we decided to put a flag on our property.  That set off a search for both a flag and a pole.  The flag was easy to find, but the pole became a two month quest!  Finally, the Veljacic family came to our rescue as Robbie Veljacic (our former employee) and his sister Michelle, who was visiting from the UK, decided to donate two flag poles to the LPTCC and had them custom made!  We have since ordered a LPTCC flag to fly beside the Zimbabwe flag at the entrance to our property.  The National Song of this beautiful country is as follows:

 "Oh lift high the banner, the flag of Zimbabwe.
The symbol of freedom, proclaiming victory.
We praise our hero's sacrifice, and vow to keep our land from foes.
And may the Almighty, protect and bless our land."

We want our children to be raised to be proud of their country and flag!
The Zimbabwe Flag
The Zimbabwe Flag
Close up of the flags flying.
Our two new flags flying in the Zim breeze!

The following are just unrelated photo's with short explanations of each:
Zvikomborero ('Blessing') one of our new little girls who came our way. She had been abandoned in Harare.
"Welcome Home to Daddy Hayes" The children made this little banner to welcome Jim home from the USA in May.
The newest addition, our little aviary, where we hope to put a variety of beautiful birds, rabbits and turtles. This was funded by a children's sunday school group at a supporting church in Connecticut.
The newest addition, our little aviary, where we hope to put a variety of beautiful birds, rabbits and turtles. This was funded by a children's sunday school group at a supporting church in Connecticut.
Our donated cows, Toff-Choc and Moo-Pie. We are looking forward to the fresh milk which will come our way soon!
Our newest member of the LPTCC home, Blessing. He is 18 months old and was brought to us by his grandmother who could no longer cope with caring for him. His mother died of Hepatitis and he is currently under medical treatment.
On the 25th of June we were blessed with a visitor from the USA, Dan Brown.
What a 'dust devil' can do to your roofing here...it is southern Africa's version of a mini tornado.  Jim was out repairing it...