January 12, 2003

Dear Family and Friends,

As we reflect on this past year it is filled with many memories. It was a year of building bridges, establishing friendships, experiencing cultures, learning language and feeling more settled in our new environment.

Highlights of the year

Lovemore Home for boys survived the crisis of losing their director. The hiring of a new social worker, Helen Tanyanyiwa, has been an answer to prayer. She has provided direction, motherly care, and efficient running of the home. We continue to meet with the staff once a week for Bible study and prayer. We have also enjoyed being friends to the 11 boys at the Home. Four boys have been reunited with extended family members this past year, for which we are very grateful.

Justo Mwale Theological College, located on the outskirts of Lusaka, Zambia, is an excellent training institution for pastors and one of our passions. PC(USA) and the Outreach Foundation sponsor 13 students. It has been a joy to meet and get to know these students and the wonderful faculty family at JMTC.

We have been building relationships with the pastors and elders of the Uniting Presbyterian Churches and the Churches of Central Africa Presbyterian here in Zimbabwe. Bob has been guest preacher in many of the churches and Bobbi is working with the Presbyterian Women's Guild in establishing income-generating projects.

In addition, our travels have taken us to Mozambique and Madagascar to encourage the work of evangelism and church growth with our partners there.

Family news

We loved having Bryan, Kristin, and Steven visit with us last January. It was the first time for our family to be together in Africa since we left Kenya in 1992. It was fun seeing Zimbabwe through their eyes. Bryan returned to Stanford University to complete his engineering master's degree in June and has returned to his job with General Motors in Detroit. Kristin graduated from University of Chicago Medical School with a master's in critical care and health care management and is working for Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Her husband, Steven just completed his engineering master's at Manhattan College and continues to work for the city of New York.

Current news

We are planning to return to the States the end of January for Bobbi to have back surgery in Winston-Salem, NC. We will be home approximately six weeks. After Bobbi's recovery, we will be meeting with staff at PC(USA) in Louisville and the Outreach Foundation in Tennessee just prior to returning to Zimbabwe.

Mr. and Mrs. Pat Nasrallah have offered their home as our base and place of recuperation. Their address is: 4348 Witherow Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106. Telephone: (336) 722-1806. We covet your prayers for Bobbi and our time in the States.

In His Service,

Bob and Bobbi

The 2003 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, page 51