AN OKEHAMPTON pastor has this month learned more about the challenges and dangers faced by those who help transport grain and food supplies into poverty stricken areas of Zimbabwe. Mike Davies, the senior pastor at Inspiration Church of the Nations International in Okehampton, was in Johannesburg, South Africa as an official observer for the Apostolic Church Council. During his visit, Mr Davies heard representatives from Zimbabwe expressing their appreciation to churches in neighbouring South Africa who had raised funds to transport supplies into the country. In some parts of the country, unemployment has now reached 90% and rocketing inflation means shops have no supplies and people have no means with which to pay. Mr Davies said: ?A promotional DVD had been produced to show how the food was distributed. Very challenging and very dangerous for those involved.? Mr Davies also heard reports of various other international church projects, including those taking place in Cambodia, at the site of the Killing Fields, and in the Japanese city of Hiroshima, and more amazing works besides. Mr Davies was invited to speak at four schools, close to the Muldersdrift area, including a pre-school, primary school and two combined schools. He said he was pleased to see how the pre-school had been supported with charity funding from around the world and how this had really benefitted the children by providing them with play equipment and new resources. But he was disappointed and upset to see the other township schools were receiving little or no support. He said two schools he visited had computer departments ? with no computers! He said teaching was simply on a blackboard. One school of 1,300 pupils had no sports facilities at all, and due to lack of funding some children just sat in classrooms with no teachers. Mr Davies said: ?It was exciting to see, with overseas funding, how the pre-school had taken children off the streets, provided a basic introduction to education, provided food, good quality play equipment and how this had changed the lives of so many children ? all costing the school only £13 per month per child. ?However, it is devastating to visit the larger schools and see how much more support and funding is required.? Mr Davies said he was currently in contact with various charities looking to build support for various projects in Africa. He has been a regular visitor to Kenya, and is hoping to travel to Zambia next to help establish some children?s play facilities, and to look at how the church in Okehampton could support some medical training through a local hospital.
