For The Almanac

writer@thealmanac.net

In terms of geography, the Nyadire United Methodist Mission in Zimbabwe is half a world away, but for some area residents, the mission's hospital, nursing school, orphanage, primary school and school for teachers are very close to their hearts.

Music will be provided by the Christian contemporary groups, Suzie Ackerman and the 11:01 Band and Psalter. Suzie Ackerman and the 11:01 Band lead the Sunday morning contemporary service at Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park and Psalter regularly performs in worship ministries at several South Hills churches.

Kimberly Greway, associate pastor at Mt. Lebanon United Methodist Church and TNC member, was in Zimbabwe as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1999 through 2002. She returned in 2006 as part of an 18-member mission trip that was organized through Christ United Methodist Church and four other churches. The missionaries were so touched by the people and situations they encountered that they committed to doing more after they returned home. And so TNC came to life.

Greway said that basic necessities in Zimbabwe, such as a reliable power supply and clean water, are often in short supply.

"The inflation in Zimbabwe is something like over one million percent. It's just tearing the economic system of the country apart," said Greway. "The mission is in a very rural area and so the people the mission serves are really in desperate need. The hospital sees over 150,000 patients a year and they are responsible for about a half a million in that area. They have one doctor. How they keep things running, it's very hard to say."

Greway explained that TNC sponsors help in many ways for the Mission, but an outreach program for orphans and a program to stabilize the mission's water supply are a main focus currently. She explained that the mission's orphanage, called the Home of Hope, houses about 25 orphans.

However, TNC's Home of Hope Outreach Program seeks to help several thousand orphans who live in the area. Through the program, an orphaned child can be matched with an adult caregiver in their community and a US sponsor, who pays $60 a year to cover the costs of schooling, a school uniform and some of the cost of need. The sponsor also buys a backpack and sends it along with school supplies. Currently, TNC has secured sponsors for about 200 children.

Greway explained that the water supply at the mission has one working well as a water source for many.

"That well is the source of water for 1,000 boarding students at the high school, another 1000 children at the primary school, about 200 students at the teaching college, another 50 nursing students as well as the hospital patients and everyone who works at the mission," Greway explained.

"There are times when people are simply without water. We're working with a Zimbabwean water engineer, who has come up with a plan to build a new reservoir and refurbish one that they already have. The mission is really a beacon of light and hope. It is in a place that is struggling so hard. People there do good work with so little, yet they have so much faith and strength."

Mark La Rosa, Peters Township resident, TNC member, and head of the Zim Jam 2008 Committee, was also in Nyadire in 2006. He described being touched by the kindness of the Zimbabweans he met and feeling the need to support the mission when he returned.

"The inflation is unbelievable and the unemployment rate is 85 percent, so people are living off the land, farming, bartering or trading to survive," said La Rosa. "Despite these hardships, the literacy rate is about 90 percent because education is so highly valued, but they must pay for schooling. That's part of what's important with the TNC."

La Rosa went on to say that Zim Jam 2008 concert proceeds will go directly to support the mission.

"Bethel Park School District has been very supportive to us. The bands, Susie Ackerman and the 11:01 Band and Psalter, have volunteered their time to support our cause," said La Rosa. "We will use these funds for medical equipment, hospital supplies and much more. People who come to this concert will really enjoy great, uplifting music. The main thing is that people are going to come away from the concert knowing that they have helped a great cause.

It is a win-win situation really," said La Rosa. "I know the people at Nyadire greatly appreciate the benefits. When we tell the people in Nyadire what we're doing to help them, they're just overjoyed."

Tickets for the Nov. 8 Zim Jam 2008 benefit concert at Independence Middle School in Bethel Park can be obtained by calling Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park at 412-835-6621.

For information on The Nyadire Connection, call 412-531-7131 or visit www.nyadire .org on the Internet.