Brandon & Julianna Jones

LoveZimDay

Today is loveZim day. Zim, of course, stands for Zimbabwe and the purpose of this day is to unite as the body of Christ, across denominational and cultural lines, and lift this nation up in prayer.

It is a desperate nation, where people are crying out to know something of justice and peace amidst a world of corruption. And, so it seems, as its people long for this, something is beginning to happen. There are glimmers in stories coming out of Zimbabwe. We see glimmers of this in the lives of those we meet in Masi.

It seems that every person we meet from Zimbabwe is hungry for something more in life. Not just physical needs and things such as that — they are important but it’s not the type of hunger we see most often. They are hungry for real and lasting change in their own lives and those around them. It’s led us to firmly believe that God is doing something in their nation.

In America right now it’s pretty commonplace to live in fear — we felt this in many of the areas we visited. It almost seems grossly fashionable. But we don’t really know what it’s like to live in terror day in and day out. Our friends from Zimbabwe, on the other hand, do. To give a quick snapshot of recent Zimbabwean history-

Zimbabwe no longer has an official currency. Inflation ran rampant due to failed economic policy. At it’s height, before the dissolution of the currency, people would have to take a wheelbarrow full of money to the store to buy a small bag of flour or sugar. My wife and I have a 10,000,000,000 Zim note that, during this time, was a small piece of that wheelbarrow.
The last “election” was in 2008. After the opposition party won the majority of the parliamentary seats, the president, Robert Mugabe, initiated a campaign entitled CIBD — Coercion—Intimidation—Beating—Displacement — run by a ruthless military which delivered what the campaign promised. Widespread, and brutal, violence caused the opposition party to pull out.
Many of the economic problems can be traced to Mugabe’s “land reformation” programs, whereby he seizes (often violently) commercial farming land. Outwardly, it’s portrayed as an attempt to put land back into the hands of the poor of Zimbabwe. In reality it’s been shown that the land is primarily given to the elite of Zimbabwe.

So today is a day to come together and lift this nation up. The church of Zimbabwe is joining hearts and hands today to do this and we should as well, with them.

Specific Requests

One side effect of current life in Zimbabwe is that many people have no other choice than seek asylum elsewhere. The best option from those that can’t afford plane tickets off of the continent is South Africa. Many of our friends in Masi come here because of this. The government of South Africa has generally been gracious in welcoming them in, regardless of status (many come illegally due to grave conditions at home and the impossibility of getting official papers). The government here though, from what we are hearing, are starting to revamp their asylum position. Everyone with asylum papers are being given a (sometimes very) brief window of time — generally two weeks to three months — to get official papers in order to apply for work permits. Official papers (a passport and Zimbabwean national ID) are things that many have no access to. Pray for grace with officials locally. Pray for safety if forced to return to Zimbabwe. Election season is coming up and gross violence is likely to return. Pray that our friends especially would be light where ever God takes them, whether that’s remaining here in Masi or going back to their home in Zim.
Pray for the nation of Zimbabwe, that hearts would change. Pray that God would convict of the violence and coercion and that the will of the people would be heard in upcoming elections, free from manipulative and propaganda filled voices.
Pray that a might move of the Kingdom of God would occur in Zimbabwe. Pray as Jesus does in the Lord’s Prayer: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Reposted from Brandon's Blog

We got the house!

So, here's a super praise-the-Lord for the day: We got the house we wanted!

It was actually the very first home that we looked at here. The very first! So like the Lord, to give us the perfect place right away. We applied for it on Tuesday and just found out today that our application was accepted. I believe we'll be moving in Oct. 1, but the exact day hasn't been established for sure yet. I just wanted to thank all of you who have been praying for us to find the right place to live. This one has all the things we've been asking for: it's roomy enough to have groups over, to host guests. It's fairly close to the All Nations base (about 15 minute drive), and is on a lovely property on the side of a mountain. It's a long-term lease, so we may be able to stay here for the next several years. I'm quite excited about it — the next step is to get furniture and get it ready for people like YOU to come and visit!

Also, I will post pictures after we move in, but you can view the gumtree ad as long as it's available: http://capetown.gumtree.co.za/c-Flat-House-Real-Estate-houses-flats-for-rent-Welcome-Glen-Large-family-home-W0QQAdIdZ227258293 (I imagine they'll take it offline soon, since we're taking it).

It's good to be back!

Brandon and I are really enjoying being back in Cape Town. We're staying at the All Nations property, Africa House, which enables us to see AN staff members throughout the day. It's been great catching up with our friends here, especially those in Masi.

I want to update you about one of my friends here, Hope. You may remember her from our e-mail updates earlier this year, or I may have told you about her in person. She's a Zimbabwean believer in Masi who I have been privileged to spend time with. I met with her for a few months during CPx outreach, studying the Bible and encouraging her to reach out to those around her. She started a Bible study at that time, and she's kept it going for the past two months while I've been gone. The Lord has used her in the lives of many people around her, but I'll tell you one story in particular about her.

Her friend's sister, Nanette, has been sleeping around in Masi, and Hope tried to talk to her about the danger her lifestyle. Her words didn't seem to make an impact, but then something happened last week to change that.

Nanette was injured (I'm not sure how) and couldn't speak or move at all. Nanette's sister went and got Hope and asked her to pray for Nanette. Hope called in our friend Sbu as well to come and pray. Sbu said when he entered the shack, he got scared because he could feel the spiritual oppression in the room. Hope, Sbu and Hope's friends prayed and worshipped God in the shack for quite some time. All of a sudden, Nanette sat up straight and let out a big gasp of air. Then she was able to speak for the first time and move as well. She was reaching out and calling for her mother, who she said she could see, all dressed in white and reaching out for her. The people in the shack continued to pray and eventually Nanette returned to her right mind.

Later, Nanette told Hope that she wanted to learn more about Jesus. She asked Hope to come to her house every week and have a Bible study. They started this past Sunday, and Brandon and I are going to it this next Sunday. We can't wait!

We've arrived!

Just wanted to let everyone know we've arrived safe and sound in Cape Town last night! Feeling very jet lagged at the moment, but thankful to be here. Our flights were uneventful (although not filled with much sleeping) and our luggage made it here alright. We did have to pay for one more bag than we expected (didn't know South African Airways weighs our carryons, and one was 50 pounds), but they gave us a freebee bag as well, so we felt the favor of God on us. And we didn't have to pay the government anything upon entry! Today we have appointments to view three rentals, and we're excited about the possibilities.

The packing blues

Brandon and I have progressed to a new level of oneness. I'm surprised it took us a year and a half of marriage to come this far. For the first time, we didn't pack Juli Bags and Brandon Bags. It was just Our Bags. That's because I just packed all of them this time, and it went swimmingly.

"I think it went better this time without me in your way," Brandon told me this evening.

I have all our bags preliminarily packed. There are small spaces and a few pounds of allowed weight left in each bag, just enough room for our toiletries and today's clothes. Tightly packed suitcases have become a specialty of mine, what with all the flights we've taken in the past two years. Now I know just where to find little nooks and crevices in my duffel bags. We have to pack this way because it's way to expensive to ship things to South Africa. We have to take it with us.

We leave tomorrow for Cape Town, and Brandon and I are thrilled. We feel so ready to go home! If you think of us, pray that we have safe flights and that our efficiently-packed luggage gets there with us.

"Will the land ever flow of milk and honey?"

During my stay in the U.S., I have been able to spend time with others who love Africa. One such encouraging encounter was with my friend Elizabeth Kuhlman. She visited Zambia in 2005, and had Africa indelibly pressed upon her heart. Our meeting with her and her husband included one of our most uplifting prayer times as she prayed for me from this place of knowing. Knowing what it's like there. Knowing some of the very struggles that I am having because she experienced them herself. And also knowing how much God loves Africa. After we spent time with her, she e-mailed me an excerpt from her journal that she wrote fresh from her experience in Africa in 2005.

I was moved and I wanted to share it with you because it may give you better insight into the continent than I've been able to myself. So here it is, in her own words:

"My heart is yearning to be back with the people, yet I am so glad to be away from the food. Sitting at Chili’s, I’m thankful to live in a country where I’m not afraid to eat produce from street vendors—thankful that my immune system does not break down from brushing my teeth through the faucet in my hotel room—thankful I can wash my clothes and dry them at the turn of a knob. My dirtiest room is their cleanest.

Even so, there is something about my love for their eyes—I long to find the treasure in their hearts. It is more than compassion for the people; it’s a will to free them from their situation. The fall they took from Adam is much harder than my fall and has had more time to develop than western culture. A woman’s pain in childbearing is more often and more painful—her desire for a husband is magnified because he has spread himself to many other women and then come home to give his wife the deadly disease as well. The man is bound to the ground where he lives, but has no opportunity to earn money from his toil. Instead, he spends his time (if he has an employer) being paid once a month. The people are slaves to so much—poverty, AIDS/HIV, unemployment, disrespect, government corruption, generational curses, oppression of women—they feel like they cannot escape it as a nation. The burden of the people, the cry of the people is so loud—the burning grass, the dust, the dry bones clank together and the orphan children tug at the skirts of the women walking the streets with their supply balanced on their heads. They are walking into destruction, not into destiny.

Will the land ever flow of milk and honey? Will the people recover from the disobedience of an entire nation? Can you have faith without hope? “For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith—Faith is a substance of things hoped for” But what are you hoping for? Do you believe you can be saved from the bondage by faith?

Without hope, NO! To learn what to hope listen to the word of God. Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God. Their praise beats throughout the city, but still no hope. “Jehova Jireh, the provider” rolls off their lips, but still no heart, no faith. In their praise they worship God because they don’t have anything else to worship, but they don’t know the power of HIM--or am I too ignorant to see their hope? They put American worship to shame as they belt out and stomp their feet—do they really know the power of the God they worship? Do they believe his promises are their own?

The Lord says, “I have plans for you, plans to prosper and not to harm you.” But they see no prosperity—the sun rises with the Big 5 and sets with the street kids. Children sniff gasoline to keep warm. BUT the leaders will rise! People get word of God, but not the full Word. Bits and pieces of the Word will come together to set them free if they will receive it for themselves! Some are covered with a rigid shell of religiosity because they have not persevered. They remain together, but stab each other in the back because they are so close.

America will not save them; money would only feed the perversity--so they exist dry and dying. Only One person can pull individuals out of the drought—only One person can quench their thirst and heal their diseases! Innocent blood is shed over the land and people don’t look to clean it. Who can convince people that they are sick? Who will diagnose their disease? Their churchgoing is paralyzing them because they have not reached inside to see their uniqueness and the battered women weep. Their husbands are abroad sleeping with exotic women, lying to their wives with perverse speech through a phone—emails are not returned. Her heart aches, but she is bound to this man and believes the lies he is feeding her.

Change—motivation—hunger for knowledge—hunger for truth—humility—visions filled—dreams initiated—families united—diseases cured—economy building—people confessing—people repenting—rain watering the land—the thundering waterfall hidden in a pocket of the land yelling to be released, spitting from under the rocks—a promise land—light and rainbows reflect the power and beauty of God, waiting to erupt out of the land—but the people do not give the firstfruits of their wealth—they are disobedient and withhold their earnings. They eagerly hoard not knowing that their hoarding pushes the water and power further away. We must get a taste of the water hiding in the heart of the land!

How do we open their hearts and quench their thirsty souls? It is done by choice. Choices are made by people with a decision. Each decision is life or death—Help the people choose life!!!!"

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