A better day in Zimbabwe

Dear family members of missionaries serving in the Zimbabwe Bulawayo and Harare missions,

We are pleased to report that today was again a fairly calm day in both Bulawayo and Harare. There were very limited protests. The mission presidents have been in communication with every missionary again today and all are safe and have adequate food and water. The internet has been restored, however social media is still shutdown as it has been the vehicle to organize the protests so we cannot post any updates on the mission Facebook pages. A few, very few, stores were open today in both cities, and some missionaries in Harare were able to purchase food and other supplies. In Bulawayo, the mission president was able to purchase additional food in bulk. Both missions report there is sufficient food and water. Public transportation has not been restored and internet café’s have not reopened so for the most part missionaries cannot send emails home yet. In Bulawayo, the mission president has been able to have some missionaries come to the mission home and email their families. If you have heard from your son or daughter you are one of the “chosen few.” Tomorrow the plan in Bulawayo is to shuttle more missionaries to the mission home so they can email home. In Harare, missionaries will email home as soon as internet café’s or other sources become available. The Harare mission president is hopeful this will happen by Monday. In Harare the mission president feels he will keep missionaries indoors again tomorrow (Friday) and possibly Saturday. In Bulawayo, some missionaries will be invited to leave their apartments tomorrow to visit members and progressing investigators. There are still some areas where our missionaries will still remain indoors based on reports from police officers (members) that there may still be some localized protests. We are being very cautious as we slowly allow missionaries to resume their daily activities. In both missions the hope is that things will back to normal by Monday.

Once again we thank you for your prayers and tremendous faith. Lucifer may slow the work, but he will not stop it. Observing the Lord’s hand in all of this turmoil has been a testament to the importance of this work. The Savior is very involved, in a personal way.

God bless you faithful parents.

Warm regards,

Elder Mark O Lords

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Missionary Department: In-Field Representative

Africa Southeast Area and Africa West Area