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Pastor Sikiani: Doing great work in tough times
Taurai
Maduna, Kubatana.net
September 19, 2006
View photo essay on Pastor
Sikiyani and the orphans
View audio file details
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| Pastor
Diamond Sikiani from Great Harvest Disciple Ministry in Goromonzi
|
 "Each
man for himself and God for us all", is what Zimbabweans are
saying to each other as they struggle to make ends meet. With inflation
hovering at 1200%, unemployment at more than 70% and with hundreds
dying of HIV/AIDS every week, these are tough times.
However, Zimbabwe
has some good people, like Pastor Diamond Sikiani, that have devoted
their lives to assisting their fellow countrymen . In 1962 Pastor
Sikiani began working for the Lord, saying it was a calling. In
1980, the Lord urged him to take up Bible studies and in three years
he became a minister spreading the word of the Lord across Zimbabwe.
In 2000, the Lord called on Pastor Sikiani to assist orphans who
were struggling in the rural areas. He said he told the Lord that
he did not have the money to do this but the Lord said he would
provide him with money. listen
to audio file
Pastor Sikiani
finally settled in the Rusike area of Goromonzi, 20km from Harare.
Well known in his community, his homestead is referred to as the
"pink house", because the church he established is painted
bright pink. Great Harvest Disciple Ministry, is the name of the
church founded by the Pastor. He said most of the people that attend
the church are from the local community, many are orphans. In response
to what keeps him going despite all the challenges he faces, the
pastor replied, "If everything is led by God, nothing can fail".
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| Pastor
Sikiani in discussion with volunteers who include Caroline Lapham
(extreme right) |
The great work
that the Pastor Sikiani is doing has attracted support from well wishers,
the majority being in Harare. Caroline Lapham is a volunteer who has
worked with Pastor Sikiani for over a year. She said she got to know
Pastor Sikiani through her church. One of the ways that Caroline has
been assisting is setting up a database of the children that need
assistance in the Goromonzi area. listen to audio file
A total of 600
children have been entered into the database so far. Some of the
children are orphans and come from child headed households. Caroline
said she hopes to use this information to look for people who can
assist the children with school fees, uniforms and food. Caroline
said working on the database hasn't been an easy task.
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| Some
of the children that have come to seek assistance from Pastor
Sikiani |
She
has to interview over 600 children and take their photographs, but
her work has been made easier with the assistance of students at
Gateway High School in Harare. Before the interviews take place,
Pastor Sikiani informs his community about the dates in advance
and people come from far away places to take part in the exercise.
Whilst in Goromonzi they sleep at Pastor Sikiani's homestead where
they are also fed. On her recent visit to Pastor Sikiyani's church,
Caroline and her colleagues took three big traditional pots that
will be used for feeding children at the pre-school which is also
housed in the church .
Robert Kazunga
is another volunteer from Harare. He has been working with the local
community in the various committees that have been set up. He said
these committees co-ordinate the work done in the community. Robert
said the response from the community has been good. "The community
now realises that for development to take place they need to be
involved," he said. listen
to audio file
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| After
the interviews, the children are provided with lunch. To some,
this is the highlight of the day. |
Stanbic
Bank has also chipped in by providing funds to electrify the church
and the sinking of a borehole which provides pumped water. Pastor
Sikiyani also believes in the importance of self-sustainability and
has set up a vegetable garden in an effort to grow food for the church.
Pastor Sikiani
said that the church would be grateful to people who can assist
with clothes, uniforms and school fees.
Those interested
in assisting Pastor Sikiani can contact Pastor Kumbu Phiri at info@elshammah.co.zw
or Caroline Lapham on +263-4-885013.
Read more about
the Goromonzi Project which was set up by Janet Shaw http://aarghmag.com/goromonzi/goromonziindex.html
Visit the Kubatana.net fact
sheet
Audio File
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
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