About a year ago, we posted our 2021 Outreach schedule – six events serving scattered Jewish communities in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. Our hope was to navigate the many hurdles that come with traveling internationally and holding large events that operate within COVID-19 guidelines. Truthfully, the plan was written in pencil, and we prepared ourselves for postponements, reschedules, and cancellations.
Twelve months later, I can report that the Lord cleared a path for us to meet the needs of over 37,000 people! That number reflects people who experienced the love of Yeshua (Jesus) through opportunities to receive prayer, free medical care, and LifeStraw® water filters. Thanks to your support and prayers, along with many hours of our own prayer and listening to God, we ended this year full of thanksgiving, faith, and renewed enthusiasm for 2022. Before I get too far ahead of myself, let’s look at the five Outreaches we were able to complete in 2021.
2021 Global Outreach Recap
We held four Medical Outreaches and one humanitarian aid distribution. 2021 began and ended with “firsts.” In February we held our first Outreach in Fiche, Ethiopia. In November, our last Medical Outreach of 2021 was our first in Zimbabwe in over 24 months and our first in the town of Garamwera.
In all, three of the year’s four Medical Outreaches were held in new locations. The only repeat location was Dawro, Ethiopia. The Dawro Outreach included the Zehra Children’s program. This was only the second time Zehra was offered in Ethiopia. In October, during the Wolkite Medical Outreach in Ethiopia, our team witnessed the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit as many people received healing without ever seeing a doctor. The deaf hear, the blind see, and the mute can speak!
The most unique Outreach of 2021 was in May. We held a humanitarian and LifeStraw® distribution in Zimbabwe. JVMI partnered with the Messianic Lemba congregation network and distributed rice, cooking oil, and family LifeStraw® units to 3,136 households throughout Zimbabwe. Each family received these essential items and, most importantly, heard a Gospel presentation. In total, over 4,000 people heard about Yeshua, and 979 made the decision to make Him their personal Lord and Savior in 2021. We are rejoicing along with heaven as their names were added to the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Thankful
Our staff is so thankful for you, our precious partners, and for our Outreach Partners, dedicated prayer warriors, local teams, medical professionals, and the many ministers that made all this possible. Also, we continue to thank the Lord for families that release loved ones to serve in the field.
What’s Next?
So, what’s next? The Lord has set our ministry on a mission to reach all the “Lost Tribes of Israel” with the Gospel over the next 10 years or so. This mandate will take our team to new countries that are bursting with new ministry opportunities. We have a full schedule of Outreaches planned for 2022. That includes Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, and we also have left room to say “yes” to new opportunities as the Lord leads. This is both exciting and frightening as we approach a flexible year.. I invite you to join us in prayer. For each possibility, we are asking the Lord to show us the right location, arrange His perfect timing to visit the Jewish community in that location, and send the right men and women to serve alongside. If 2021 was a year of navigating, 2022 will be a year of discovery.
See you in the field.
– Eric
