Donna Stroop's journey

I’ve been reflecting on the trip after my long flight home. I praise God for covering me and my team with his tender mercies and helping us to accomplish what he called us to do.

2024 Zimbabwe Team

If I were to have a check list, pretty much everything was accomplished that we set out to do.

1. Participated in an inspiring national youth conference.

2. Handshake deal with Mashoko Christian Hospital to take on the full oversight of the Maranda Clinic. I just need to follow up with the next steps to make it happen.

3. Cracks in the clinic fixed. Future infrastructure projects identified and planned for at Maranda Mission including a much needed overhaul to the church building. Miscellaneous repairs and painting.

4. Another great revival at the Dine Church with area lowveld churches and preachers participating, culminating in 21 baptisms.

5. Important meeting with Chief Maranda as we continue to receive his blessing to work on his tribal land.

6. New Church site and borehole scouted for Mlelezi Church. Bonding and sister church relationships built with Highline Christian Church.

7. Blessing Service over the new Waiting Mother’s Village currently under construction at the Maranda Clinic.

8. Time spent loving on some beautiful orphans.

9. An exciting and adventure filled day safari at Gonarezhou National Park.

10. Encouraged three area churches in Harare as well as time with the Bible College students at Central Africa Christian College.

But more than the checklist, there is something not so easily measured yet profoundly important - relationships built and lives impacted.

When I told the team, “we are going off grid, out into a rural area, you are going to have a deep dive cultural experience” they said it still didn’t quite prepare them for our trip. They were all great troopers, didn’t complain at the hardships, the heat, or the near exhaustion on occasion. Ate the food offered and joined in with African style worship. They mingled with the people and were a great witness for the Lord Jesus Christ in Zimbabwe.

Shout out to Bruce and Sherry Thacker who prepped for our coming and were such a vital part of helping lead this team. Bob and Sue Thatcher and Roger and Patti Pedersen who brought expertise and funds for some much needed infrastructure needs. Anne Fairbairn and Elaine Reinsmith who trooped around the country with me on all my travels, some planned and some not planned. Took care of me when I got sick and contributed to each of our ministry efforts in their own unique ways. My dear niece, Jenn Burris, who led our children’s outreach. And the group from Highline Christian Church, Tim Knight, Steve and Lyla Moreland, Dave Rogge and Gregg Louvier who caught the vision, saw the needs and stepped up in a big way to answer God’s call in Zimbabwe. Also our adopted team members, Bill and Julia McDonald - thanks for all the airport runs and errands on behalf of the team. And thanks and love to so many of our African brothers and sisters who really are our partners in this ministry of the gospel. We had a lot of moving parts with this team as we all together only overlapped one day, but God was in the middle and moving all of the parts separately and together.

I could never go on these trips without the support and love from my dear husband, Steve Stroop who does so much behind the scenes as well as truly being the wind beneath my wings.

I think that I can speak for my whole team to also say that not far in the back of our minds and evidenced in so many tangible ways is the legacy of my dear missionary parents, Dan and Esther Burris. The fruit of their years of service is still echoing today.

So that is a roundup of our trip to Zimbabwe. I was reflecting with Tim Knight, the Pastor at Highline Christian Church, about God’s timing. The team from Highline had to postpone coming to Zimbabwe with me twice before. The last time we postponed, I just picked out a future date because I knew I could work some other things in around it… but April, 2024 was always God’s perfect timing, evidenced in so many special ways.

Continue to pray for Zimbabwe. They are facing a severe drought that will surely result in food insecurity this coming winter. Pray for fruit to continue to be borne for the kingdom out of our investment of time in Zimbabwe, and also for relationships to continue to bless clear into eternity. Pray for next steps to ensure the sustainability of the work we have been doing in Zimbabwe as well as the raising up of future leaders and partners who catch the vision of what God is doing.

Blessings, Donna