Registered charity 1120944
The December newsletter is now available with more stories from the Home.
There is a gentle reminder to pay for your Christmas card packs if you haven’t already done so. We are well on our way to raising another fantastic total but there are payments outstanding.
My name is Peter
Life can be a difficult puzzle whose pieces one can struggle to put together especially without a proper knowledge of one’s background. This is true to my humble life which was spent trying to join these pieces together, but many thanks to Matthew Rusike Children’s Home (MRCH) which has stood with me, not only as a mother and father but as an all-weather friend so that my life can be meaningful and one day reflect a glorious future as I write a short story of my life.
I was born twenty four years ago. I suffered abuse in the hands of my father and stepmother. I was too young to run away from home so I had nothing to do but to endure all affliction, to the extent it was no longer a secret in my small community in Epworth. With the support of the local clinic, the Department of Social Services placed me in MRCH after learning of my living conditions.
I went to MRCH at a very young age. I can vividly remember how I struggled to say my name properly. I attended pre-school in the crèche where I started to adjust to the new environment and get used to spending my life around many people, most of who were my age. The new home offered me a different perspective of life, life began to make sense, I felt I had every reason to live now and everything was just pleasant. One thing that kept puzzling me was how could I be taken to an orphanage when my parents were both alive but as I grew up I began to understand what Matthew Rusike Children’s Home was all about. Though I was still very young, I grew to enjoy life.
I went to Epworth Primary School nearby. The home nurtured my God-given academic skills as the home had a library where a certain time was marked for studies. All the years at primary I was awarded academic prizes and my last two years there I managed to get the smartness prize. Being at the home was an inspiration to make me work extra hard and achieve excellence in everything I did. At the home we were taught to work and to take care of ourselves. We were trained to deal with any situation that might arise.
I finished my primary education well and was offered an opportunity to go to boarding school, an opportunity that is offered to any child who passes well in his/her primary education. My academic life continued at a Methodist school where I did my form one up to form six. I passed well again in my O’Levels and A’levels and the home again offered me the opportunity to proceed to tertiary education. In 2010 I started my tertiary studies at Midlands State University where I am currently doing my Honours degree in History and International Studies, I am now in my final year.
With this entire journey the Home has been with me, paying my school fees since grade one and is even prepared to see me through to PhD level. The home has been a faithful parent to me.
In 2002 the home also offered me an opportunity to look at life from a different perspective as it introduced me to some foster parents who have welcomed me into their family and made me part of them up to this very day. The home did not stop, but has continued and is still continuing to take care of me. Life in a small, real family was at first a challenge but I have successfully adjusted and now I am well prepared to face any challenge any normally raised person will face.
Today I stand in no shadow of doubt that without MRCH, I would not have been anywhere. I am proud to say that I am what I am and have what I have because of the home. Now that my future is clear and certain, I have every reason to thank the Almighty for He has made rivers in the desert and has stood as Jehovah Jireh; the Lord my provider for He has also provided manna in the desert. Where a gap was left by my parents, the home has been there to fill the gap. I feel my life owes a lot to the home now. As I look forward to finishing my first degree this year, I pray that God will continue with me so that I use the foundation already laid by MRCH to build a great future that will be a celebration of my life. I am looking forward to completely re-uniting with my real family and maybe move on with them in life despite any past failures and hurts.
Now that God has clearly spoken to me, I have to revisit the work that has been started by my hero and founder of MRCH, the late Reverend Matthew Jacha Rusike so that I will have to do the same and save souls just as I was saved.
Matthew Rusike Children’s Home, the most wonderful place in the world, I will always be part of it. The love I have received and still am receiving is beyond any words to describe. My life is now on track, I have grown to become a lovely young man, everything in my life today is a reflection of the beauties of the home. I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been and is still part of Matthew Rusike Children’s Home, may God continue to bless you abundantly. Thank you.
The 2013 christmas cards are now available. The flyer contains all the information you need regarding those designs from previous years that are still available to order. Please note members-you will continue to receive 5 packs of the 2 new designs unless you alter your order.
If you have never had cards from us before you will need to send me your order using the style numbers on each card or asking for mixed packs.
Selling cards has raised a profit each year of around £3,000 which goes directly to the MRCH Organisation, so your support is greatly appreciated. A huge thank you to all of you who buy cards every year.
Please contact the Chairman with your order as soon as possible, particularly if you want something different from the standard order of 5 packs of the 2 new designs.
The September newsletter is now available.
There are wonderful stories from some of the young people at the Home. Do take a look when you get a moment. It is wonderful to see what a difference you are making in the lives of these children and young people. Please also take note of the lovely feedback from Rev Margaret Mawire…
“We are grateful to FoMRCH for making our life easier. You may be interested to know that you are our only consistent partner. May you all be blessed abundantly for the wonderful work you are doing for the children of Zimbabwe.”
My name is Tapiwa S born in Epworth in 1992, I came from a small impoverished family which was surviving under difficult conditions. I stayed with my single mom who passed away when I was 6. I never knew my father. When my mother died, my 7 siblings and myself had to look after ourselves. My 18 year old brother strived to take care of all of us. It was difficult. MRCH came to our rescue and gave us relief from the hardships that we were facing. Through their support, I managed to attend school, have food in my stomach, clothing and my ailing health was taken care of. I did very well in my primary education and MRCH continued to pay for my secondary education. I passed my GCE ‘’O’’ level examinations and because my results were outstanding MRCH enrolled me in boarding school for my Advanced level. Again I excelled. Today, I am studying an Honours degree in Marketing Management. This is all as a result of the support of MRCH. I thank them and all the supporters of MRCH for they have enabled hopeless situations to turn into testimonies. Today, I can look forward to a great future. I thank God for His grace and my life because I have been abundantly blessed.
My name is Lucky M, youngest in a family of three. I am 19. I am currently doing Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Geography in form 6 at Moleli High School. I want to be a doctor.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Matthew Rusike Children’s Home for being a home full of love and care exhibited by its staff. I moved into the Home in the year 2005 as a result of being homeless after my mother had failed to take care of the family. We lived in extreme poverty and the environment was not conducive for our social well being. However, my story changed when I started in the caring arms of MRCH.
Currently, due to the exposure I gained because of the Home, I am honoured to be the incoming National Youth President of the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe. I am also a member of the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe as an Hon. Minister of Information, Media and Publicity. My school life is coloured by high stars of endeavours. In the year 2007 I attained 4 units at Grade 7 and in 2011 I attained 8 As, 3Bs at ‘’O’’ level. I am a senior prefect at my school. My hobbies are interacting with people from various walks of life.
Today, where I am, I count it all grace and only grace answereth for all the excellency in me. My vision is to impart and influence a mindset of greatness to the young in the world who are under threat of moral decadence.
The June newsletter is now available. This quarter you can read a progress report from Rev Margaret Mawire and a visit report from Jamie Craig, who visited the Home in November 2012.
The Friends are also asking for anyone to get in touch with Paddy Coles if they are interested in taking on the role of Treasurer when he retires at the end of the year.
Barry Barnes retired in June 2012. The FoMRCH executive committee greatly appreciated his regular reports and personal contact with the home. His guidance was invaluable over the years and we miss his presence and support in our continued work for the home.
While working for Action for Children he helped set up a regional forum in South Africa, supporting it for 8 years, so that heads of residential children’s homes could meet regularly 3-4 times a year and share advice and good working practice in childcare. Rev Margaret Mawire, present head of MRCH and Zimbabwe National Director attends these and catches up at the same time with Astonishment Mapurisa now doing similar work in Johannesburg.
In Barry’s own words:
“After almost thirteen years of involvement with MRCH, it is hard to believe that, after my June visit, I won’t be making those regular trips to Zimbabwe, braving the occasional vagaries of the airport and anxiously hoping that either my cousin or Astonishment will be on the other side of the sliding door at the Arrivals point! It has always been with a sense of anticipation that I have alighted in Harare and, depending on the season, found the bougainvillea or the various trees to be in bloom – bliss! And then dodging the potholes on the way to MRCH, occasionally having to find fuel on the way.
It has been such an extraordinary experience to journey with MRCH over this time, and I have so many memories: my early acquaintance with Munamato Mangobe, who provided such stability in the 1990’s and who had such an ambition to move the Home forward; meetings with the various Presiding Bishops [at least five, over the years!] and Conference Secretaries; Astonishment starting at MRCH on the first day of one of my visits; our subsequent friendship and partnership as a vision was put into practice to move MRCH into 21st Century; and the discussions and decisions about development funding from [then] NCH and the MC [Britain] to enable this. Then the huge changes to the MRCH campus – and on other sites as well, and so many more over the years.
At an early stage of my involvement it was good to meet and discuss with John and Mary Bromley their experience andsignificant contribution at MRCH And, of course, the earlier involvement of Joe Withington, who continues to remind us how far we have all travelled in our partnership with the Home. I have also benefited tremendously from the wisdom, experience and enthusiasm of the Friends of MRCH over the past decade and more. It has been a privilege to have had your support and friendship during what have sometimes been very challenging times: your commitment has been, and continues to be, inspirational.
We have all seen such changes at MRCH over the past decade. Undoubtedly these changes have benefited so many children and a dedicated staff group have played such a big part in this process. They too have grown professionally and have, in the most difficult times, never ceased to be anything other than committed to their calling. The service has reached more children and families across the country and they have come to know the support and enabling nature of the – now – national organisation.
It is a service of which the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe can be proud and I hope it will continue to develop over the next 50 years. The international partnerships, which have been nurtured over the years, are vital to the ongoing work of MRCH and I can only hope that those responsible for the stewardship of the service will ensure the continuing quality of these relationships. Certainly there are many challenges to be faced by a new generation of managers: the existing work at the home, the outreach projects and the ambition to provide new services in other Districts of the MC in Zimbabwe. All these will depend on both local and international input and it will require patience and trust to continue to move the vision forward.
But, to quote Robert Browning, “…..Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?”
Thank you to all of you who have walked alongside me over the past years – it has been such an amazing time – and I wish you all so well as you continue the journey. Barry Barnes
Rev Will Morrey, of Action for Children, is very pleased to report that Rev Mawire has successfully negotiated with the School of Social Work at the University in Harare for in service training to MRCH staff.
A programme leading to qualifications from the university will be commenced this year. Action for Children has provided the funding for this year and will look to continue the support for professional child care training into next year.
We provide a substantial part of the income for day to day living at the Home in Epworth, Hatfield, Harare. We also support orphaned, ill treated and abandoned children throughout Zimbabwe through outreach childcare projects in other communities, reaching over 7,000 children. In excess of 95% of our donations go for the benefit of the children.