Fenders Report

The Pend^rs

African Ev

ifrn'TTe^'^f^SO

Dear Christian Friends:

2.

Greetings again from, Rhodesia or Zimbabvfe,. Betty and I arrived back "hone" Dec. Our flight back was about ?,s usual. In Brussells vie had a 15 hr, lay over in

placed on the DC 10 v;e vrere to take to Johannesburg, South Africa. Hoviever v;e still
arrived in Salisbury on,schedule.

stead of a scheduled 7 hr, one. They said one of the engines v/as navinj, to be re

Since our return F.uch has happened. How much of it has made the paper over there v/e don't know. At the time I vn^ite, the country is under the autnority of a British

governor. It is once again a colony of Great Britain^ but v/ill receive it's in
dependence after an election to be held Feb. 27>28 and 29.

The v;ar vjhich has been going on for many years has supposedly stopped, \-hen a^

ceasefire went into effect at midnight Dec, 28. Hov/ever vje nave been v;arned on the radio'to take all the precautions normally taken v/hen there was no ceasefire. In Sinoia, there are many refugees, that is African people who have fled from
their home in the bush and have come to the town for protecti.on. Perhaps before

long they will be able to return to their homes. I have been advised by the African
ministers I vrork vdth to be .careful vjhere I go,. They believe this will last only a

short time, but right nov/ they are not inviting me to go out vrith them, Th^ say
that .t the moment they can't ,guarantee I vrouldn' t
be soon.

be, killed, of course they

have never been able to actually do that-so they would much rather I spend thiS^ time preparing material for them to .use when things calm dov/n, v/hich" they feel, vri.ll
I have called some in the African part of Sinoia, including the refugee section,

I had prayer with a family v/hose baby granddaughter had died and vjhen the tnck they' had arranged for to take the body from the hospr.tal to the cemetery diQ not arrive, one of our minsters called and asked if I vroTild help tnem out, I dr:> to the home in our pick'ip and then to the hospitril, Bu^. then v/hen I tried to
start the truck it v;ouldn.'t start. Several-pushed it and although it startoi at least tvrice it wouldn't continue .to run. Anotb.er truck ca.Tie and tne people took

the body to the cemetery, I wentto a garage n^ar by and thoy puJlcd the tru:-k in.
It had a cracked ccil. I'han cold it vrauld start,, vmon hot it v/culdn't. The coil
vjas replaced and it is nov; fine.-

Cne oC our .'Uinisters asked, "Do you knovf v/hat sone of the people v/o'-L?-d have saiu if the t.r">-.-::k had started easily after they left it?" Yes I knew. They vrould

attributed'it to the spiritf^I I :mist add that most of that family are not Cnrxstian," A week or so ago an Africar hoy vre knov; asked if I wanted to cee a py':hcr.. It
tvtrned out to be 6 or 7 ft. i'li'sg^.-had -s'/jallowed a Jicn in a pen .jast,
sHc.ke, _ .

t.ie

fence around qvjt yaixii By the b:!me I sav/ it they had.kiJ-ted ,thR snake -ind c"^t the^
hen-fipce,: .Of. course' she v;as veiy dead but I feel sure someone ate her oxjslde ^ tne

VelttT^ "so" mu'ch for x.he"HiId "storie~s of Africal If you thirJc \ie make' them up or
even eJaborate a bit forget it. This becomes the accepted things

To cill of you.v:e vjish a belated happy & prc^sperous Kew Tear in the Lord. VFe tha.nlc vJiose of you i-jh.o su'^'Dort u^ v/ith prayer and finances. Continue to pray foT

the people rind u? a,s we r.t::,uve to load people to Christ, kay Go<i continue to blssp^ you ac you^farve-Hijn. Ilay that, v;hich we all..dD and say_ bring.honor., a n d . "
God the Fatiner and His Son. ou3> Saviour,

In His Service, Hugh. .and--I^*''^ty--Per.ider. - -

Forwarding Agents:
Mr. & Mrs. John Gilliland

Publicity Directors: Mr. & Mrs. Archie Gustafson

R. R. 1

207 MulberriJ Georgetown, Illinois 61846

Georgetown, Illinois 61846

Fenders Report

TheFenders
Dear Fellow Christians:

African Evangelism
March-Apr. 19S0

Prime Ilinister. This government has not yet taken office, but will at midnight Apr, 17jat which time Britian v;ill grant the country of Zimbabwe independence. V^hether

Since we last v/rote a new govt, has been elected. All major political parties took part in the election. The Z.A..N.U.PF party headed by Mr. Robert Kugabe is the new

The period of change did not get off to a very peaceful start. On Dec. 28, 1979 a cease-fire went into effect. There was or seemed to be as much fighting as ever. In fact part of Sinoia came under attack 2 different nights^ something which had not happened before. No one was killed or injured and there was little or no property damage. Both times the firing seemed to come from a large hill near the edge of town

the nev; govt, vd.ll affect us in any way we don^t know yet, but it seems it will noti

from us. (No damage.) It sounded to Betty and I like one shot hit our house., but if
be able to travel wherever we want to in safety,

and the first time was directed away from where we live. The second time rifle fire was directed our way, One bullet went in a bedroom windov/ of a house down the street

so we haven't seen any damage, though we haven^t really looked. This happened the first part of Jan,. Since then things have gradually quited down and since the elec tions the war has, for all practical purposes, stopped. It seems that soon we will

We have been making plans for an increase in evangelism among the African people. Soon we expect to go where none of our preachers have been for several yrs. &even
Mow ti^t it appears the whole country is going to open up for evangelism for the first time since back in the 60's, there are not nearly as many missionaries here to take advantage of the opportunity as there once was. Perhaps some will return, also, there may be new pepple who will respond to the need. If you are interested contact Betty and I or any others v;ho are still here or on furlough. Our v;ork with the African people often takes surprising turns. A short time ago one of the European (white) ladies of our church here in Sinoia asked me to try and find out about an African man that had worked several yrs, at the local primary school. He v/as kind and thus i^rell liked and she had heard he was very ill. She only knew his first name but was concerned about his physical and spiritual welfare, I spoke to one ^of our African preachers and he found the man. He belonged to the Salvation Arn^y so had not been scripturally baptized. This lady made an appointment with a local Dr. &
pray with the fellow daily. They showed him the scriptures on baptism and he wanted to^ be scripturally baptized^ v/hich was done. Now, less than a wk. after I took him to the Dr. he is feeling much better. The Dr, made no charge for the examination, so yne^money went for food for he and His family. He isn't well &may not get well but ne is at peace. He told the preacher who found him that he could hardly believe peo ple not related to him would do so Mch~"m6r^'foF"SinPEhan''his^lder brother, who,. aCs^oraing to African custom, should have looked after him and his family when he be
into areas we have never been,

it v-ra.E^cancer and nothing could be done. But some of our African preachers began to

pve me the money to pay for the visit and more. I took the man to the Dr. who said

y^us belief may bring healing. If this is not Gods will, the man will die in Ghrist-iad his family vdll know that some people care, all because of Christ.
govt,, and for us.

^Genuine concern brought action to fill a need. The result is a man baptized into Cnrist according to scripture and his immediate physical needs taken care of. Prayer
Hay God continue to bless you,. Please continue to pi-ay for the. people, and the new
In His Love, Hugh and Betty

came i l l .

Forwarding Agents:
Mr. & Mrs. John CilWand

207 Mu/berry Georgetown, Illinois 61846

4r/2 -jMobei'iA

Fenders Report

The Fenders

African Evangelism

May 1980
Dear Christian Friends:

Rhodesia is now Zimbabwe! The new Govt., headed by Prime lanister Kugabe and Pres ident Banana has taken office. There is no war, but considerable unrest, especially
in the African sections of Salisbury. People are beginning to drive between-.towns or cities at night and all convoys have been discontinued. Thus the country is be

ginning to get back to normal. , Unemployment is very high for many-thousands they say- have returned from Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana and other countries. Although aid has been promised the new

Govt,,(according to the newspaper here) there has not been time for factoris to get
into full production or new ones to be built. Many people have returned to their

homes in rural areas but this harvest time there. Some planted a crop, tended it for a while, then came back to the tovms. Others v/ere afraid to go out and plant a crop, so they have nothing to return to. The situation we have now is better than war> but
certainly not good for many people. Crops as a v/hole are poor this yr, because of drought, as they were last yr.. There will be hungry people before another .crop can
be planted and mature.

For African preachers the country is vdde open. Me have written to llr. Mlambo, .

preacher at Chidamoyo when we evacuated it, to come from his home area, where he kas
been preaching as he could, to go back to the mission. Some preachers went out to the mission in Mar. and found things better, but not good enough. This month they
went out again and found things much better. If all continues as it has been some of us missionaries will probably go out to the mission in a week or so. Much wDrk needs

to be done, before families can move back. The water system must be partially re stored and all the houses need some repairs such as doors and windows replaced> and
some roofing replaced. That vdll take time and money. The hospital is another matter. Most of the roof was burnt off and there i s one

v/all to repair v/here a rocket blev: a hole in it. In one part, with the roof still on, a clinic could be started. Doctoring is not our line of work, but if we are out there we will help as we can on the hospital. As the country opens up for evangelism we have many options;. V/e could stay here in Sinoia and have more work than we could possibly get done^ IJe could soon go back
to Chidamoyo to revive or re-establish the twenty some churches that were in that area two yrs, ago^ and Start many new ones where they are needed. Or v;e could go in

to areas where we have hever had a mission family before. The North East part of the country has never had a mission family and most of the western part, except at the very north and south. Other areas not so vast but larger than any one femily could cover, are all open. Pray v.dth us that we will allow the Lord to lead. Hope fully He vdll do it quickly as both Betty and I like bush evangelism^
J-^m soTx-y Lo"~r^6rt^aat the A'fidcan~felldv/- I wrote about last time who had cancer is dead. Our preachers told me about a wk. after I vrrote that he would like

for me to drive him to the school v;here he had worked, to a store, then to t he bus
stop as he wanted to go to Salisbury. I had to help him walk and told those contjerned about him that I doubted if we would see him again on this earth. He died 2

or 3 days later. Praise God he lived long enough to be told what he needed to do tc'
saved and he did it.

..'e have received notes and lettei's irom somfi of you which we appi-ooiate
contjjiue vri.th youi prayers*
In-ChriatdAn Love^ Hugh and Betty

Please

Forwarding Agents:
Mr. & Mrs. John Gilliland

207 Mu/berry

Georgetown, Illinois 61846

Fenders Report

mi
African Evangelism June-July t9S0

The Fenders

Dear Friends in Christ:

Greetings to you in the name of Jesus. Not only from Betty and I,but frcm many christiai s who have either personally told us to greet you or through their minister
have made this request.

Just one day short of 2 yrs. after we evacuated Chidamoyo Mission, I along with 3 other missionaries (2 were there when we evacuated) vrent back, we have had many re ports from people from that area and some of our African preachers. Vfe knew things wouldn't look the same, but we are still not quite prepared for v/hat v/e saw. As I reported v/hile on furlough the hospital was hardest hit, including the Chapel,which

was as much a part of the building as anything else, at least 3/4

the building

vas burned. That is, it has no roof on it and anything that was in it, including beds, operating table, sterilizing equipment, pews in the Chapel, etc.> were also burned. It is a messi However the outpatient part revieved little damage and could
be used as a clinic without much v/ork done on it if it is decided to start one.

Of all the houses, those we lived in, those for hospital vrorkers, the one for a

preacher, only 2 are occupied^ one by the headmaster of the school, (he just moved
in as no one vras there) and Mr. Mlambo> one of our preachers. I didn't go in the

house occupied by the headmaster, but the rest are without doors (taken to be used
some where else) most windows are broken, the roofs are gone from some of the small

er buildings, grass has grown head tall in many areas and would have been all over, but over a month ago we sent v;ord to 2 former workers that we would pay them to cut the grass from around the houses, All in all more than a bit depressing. The Dist
rict Commissioner gave us an armed escort, but I don't think it \^ras necessary. On the bright side the churches in a large area out from the mission have begun to meet again, Mr, Hlambo returned to the mission the last of May, and June 1, there

were only 6-8 people who came to worship. The last Sunday of Juen there were 42,
including 4 men,

Mr, Mlambo has planned for a 3 day meeting at Chidamoyo July 11-13. This v/ill be
a boost to the Christians in the area who v/ere afraid to meet even in small groups,

during the last 2 yrs. of the war, also there a number of untrained preachers in
the area who have carried on doing v/hat they could through the war. They vdll great ly appreciate such a meeting,

June 22 I began preaching at Karoi, about 50 miles from Sinoia, for a European congregation whose regular minister. Bill Del^aughter, is on furlough. V/e expect to help out there about 2 months, I continue to have a class on Monday morning with some of the African preachers. Also one on Tues, night with 3 couples, and the
church at Karoi v/ants to have a Bible study on V/ed. night. Fortunately this only for 2 months and petrol rationing has been lifted for the present.

I have been going to farms in this area which have their own schools* The teachers are happy to let us toach a soripture dossto all the nhilriri^n. do nn excellent job *under very poor conditions. The children are very polite and attentive. Dale Marshall and I, who make up Sinoir. Christiv-^.n Mission at the moment, along with the 7 African preachers who work with us continue to make preparation for ex tending our evangelistic outreach, V.e have gone back into areas vie had stopped go
ing to. It is exciting to make plans for enuring new territory.

Please continue to pray for the people here and that the Lord's kingdom will go
forth mightily here in Ziinbabwe as v/e are used of him,
Tours in Christ, Hugh and Betty

Forwarding Agents:
Mr. & Mrs. John Gilliland

207 Mulberri> Georgetown, Illinois 61846

Fenders Report

The Fenders

African Evangelism

Dear Co-VJorkers for Christ:

Aug. Sept. 1930

am our preacners had told me they were in need of clothing, so we took some to them.

tney naven't been able to put in a crop for the past 2 yrs.. They have many children
oiotmng nas gone out in all directions to many people who haven't been able to

were killed on_their farms, A son will till the land this yr.. He was badly beaten about the time his father was killed and fled. The mother and all but rone of tne cnildrenthat one was in school someplace-stayed on the farm all the time but

DeLaughters have returned to Zimbabwe. In Aug. I and one of our preachers, Ilr. Six pence went out into the /.owa purchase area, 90 kilometers west of Sinoia, to visit a family, the husband and father of which was killed during the war* He andaneigh-

are either meeting or are planning to begin. It has been encouraging. The 24th of Aug. was our last Sunday to minister to the church at Karoi, as the

The expansion of the work v/hich I have v/ritten about has begun. Ife have hai teams of 2 preachers out in almost all directions, mostly east, west & north. In most cases this was into areas where v/e once had congregations meeting, but had not met for up to 5 yrs.. In every area at least some of the congregations have survived &

is^ over and that you and the crops have not suffered too much.

Greetings to all of you in the name of Jesus! ^e hope the veiy hot summer wefitther

still tney are amazed, for the war which lasted so long has caused the hearts of mny of tnfeir relatives-many, perhaps most, not Christians-to become cold &hard so

farm or find work, and they are most thankful. Some of the men have wept on receivclotn^g for tneir family, because they had no money to buy vjith. More than one n ve asked, ,ny would people who do not know us, are not even of our people care enough to nelp in this way?" The majority of these people are Christians and deep Qown know why other Christians from another country are willing to help them. But

ney marvel tnat you in America vrould do for them what even their own relatiie s have not done. PLEASE, PLEASE SEND BOXES OF CLOTHING! I have not received any for wks. &
nave only a few pieces of womens clothing left, plus a suit or 2 I held back for

preacners.

prt of Aug. He was unable to raise enough support to live on and have some to use m the work so ne has been looking for a job, as has his wife, who was born iere.
They are living in Ft. Victoriai ibly to tne east around Mt. Darwin.

Our son David, who,graduated from Lincoln Christian College last yr. came the 1st.

This month I plan to go up in the Zambizi VaUey, also out around Chidamoyo &poss

Two preachers who went west of Chidamoyo by bus this month hoped to visit 3 cong regations Arrived in the area of one about 7pm , spent the night in the bus. rne next day tney called in many viUages telling people there would be a meeting for prayer &a snort message at the home of some people who had agreed to have it. 50 people.^ c^ &i^aen -confessed &-wer-e- j-eady^-^e-baptriaed,- -but- it night i a walk to the nearest water deep anough to baptize in. (They are going back next mo. lor 2 wks.; The following morning they had to start early for the other 2 places for II iA am f people said you wait unt^l about 10 to start or you will run into the elephants. Then "no by 3 pmmust you must reach to catch tne bus. They called in more villages &the response was good. V/e now have < trips eacn mo. involving 4 preachers scheduled for Sept., Oct., &Nov., Into areas eitner not evangelized for a long time or not at all.. Pray for those v/ho take the gospel and for all those who will hear.
In His Service, Hugh and Betty Fender
iddress: Forwarding Agents: Publicify Directors:

wnere you are going for then the lions are out!" They decided not to go for they neea-

ed to start ^rly for the places and leave early the next day to come back in order

Mrs. Hugh Fender

30, Sinoia

Mr. & Mrs. John Gilliland

207 Mu/faerry

Mr. & Mrs. Archie Gustafsor

R. R. 1

3Ue, Rhodesia

Georgetown, Illinois 61846

Georgetown, Illinois 61846

Fenders Report

The Fenders

African Evangelism
Oct. Nov. 1980

Dear Co-V'orkers:

Over here some authors refer to Oct. as the month of madness. It is because of-the

heat, lack of water in mp.ny areas &nd often lack of food, especially for the peof.C;'.e
solely dependent on the land for a living. In several parts of the countiy the peoplecare having an extremely hard time this yr.

During Oct. we sent out 2 groups of African preachers. One group of 3 went NiE, to the Kt. "Darwin area. The other group of 4 went NiW, into an area 30-45 miles V'. of Chi'iajiDyo liission. In both areas they found poverty and sickness. In the N,E; water is veiy scarce. The People are getting most of their drinking water out of ponds The livestock of the area, cows, goats, donkeys, even hogs go to these ponds to drir'.. The cattle have been dying around the ponds. Around the bank of the ponds from whi.':r drinking water is taken are the bones and decaying carcasses of aniioals. Also te cause of the food shortage the people are eating the flesh of cows that die. They
don't know what caused them to die. Probably from lack of pasture but also they har'c

not been dipping them for several yrs. because of the war. Two of the 3 preacher^; S.-. came sick while out there but have recovered. Vrnile there they baptized 7. They plrra
to retiLrn th first wk. of Dec, and feel sure there will be an even greater rsspons:

The other group did not encounter polluted water but it was scarce. The older
people s -jera to be in a bit better condition, although food is very low and iLarjy' are eating rocts of certain plants which they only eat when there is nothing else. It is

the young that are suffering the most there, for th(?re seems to be an out break of measles. Mack people are affected much more by measles than white people. Each day in that area our preachers said several young people died. Just in one small area there wo-sU/I be 3-6 or more deaths eveiy day. Not enough food plus measles and prob
ably DBlaria brings death. Some of these children would have been brought to tho

hospital at Chid^moyo if it was open. There is no hospital or clinic within at leas-^ 80-100 miij.es of themo Yet in the very area with the most deaths, they baptized 1 7 They plaa to go back the last of Nov. We have found that some of the congregations we once had, but hadn^t visited for up to several yrsr because of the war, no longer exist. Usually, if not always, it is because :Xiny of the members have moved avay from that area. But the majority of congregations are still there and have either already begun to meet each Sun, or
are begi't-^L-^, In the area around Mt, Darwin some of the denominations have so far done nothing

and a muohsr of members are beginning to meet vdth our congregations. If CJod's plan of salvation is presented to them lovingly and clearly a good number will respond. The same thing is true to a lesser degree in the other area also. In the Kt. Darl\^ln area, where none of our preachers have been since 1975, some of the people said they
know the irissioraries love them because we sent them preachers. Of course we don't,

love them anj*- morecor less, than people in other areas. It is just in^Dossible to
cover all of the vast areas whei^we have no preachers-.

for- bho-prach3w-jtfvjrforii-wiiu-and^foi'-us. There still many problems. Pray that God \-rill give us vdsdom, good health and the determination ta never allow problems tc keep us from proclaiming Christ, Your response to the plea for used clothing has been good. Don't forget that ther^are multitudes who need clothing & it wears out. God bless you all.
In Christian Love,
Hugh and Betty

Pray~ror"all. "the people, for their spiritual v;elfare, their physical well being,

P.S, Forv-mrding Agents. John & Jackie Gilliland, ask that you do not send clothinf^

to their house, wyite to them and th^

to Africa.

sisnd jj^formation on hnw to_send boxes

Forwarding Agents:
Mr. & Mrs. John Gilliland

Publicity; Directors: Mr. & Mrs. Archie Gustafson

R. R. 1

207 Mulberry

Georgetown, Illinois 61846

Georgetown, Illinois 61846