Church builds house for abandoned widow

Sunday News Reporters
A 79-YEAR-OLD woman from Esiphezini in Esigodini, who had been abandoned by her children who left her in a dilapidated one-roomed hut, yesterday got the gift of her life when a Bulawayo-based church handed her a three-roomed house with brand new furniture. Mrs Roda Mpala-Ndebele, a widow who is also visually impaired, has been living with her 15-year-old grandson for two years and will never forget the day she was visited by a stranger whom she thought was one of her long lost children, only to discover that it was Pastor Decide Chauke, the founder of Anchor of Christ International Ministry.

“When I looked at that homestead, as I had been instructed by God, I found that there was an old woman living with her 15-year-old grandchild. I saw her condition and where she was staying, and then it became clear to me that God wanted me to do something for her,” Pastor Chauke said.

“The following day I sent some people with foodstuffs and blankets; from there we started helping this woman. Then I made a promise to her that I was going to build her a suitable house. We realised that she had no toilet, and she was walking about 200 metres to a nearby community toilet.”
He said they started by building her a toilet, then later on the house which they handed over yesterday.

According to Pastor Chauke, Anchor of Christ International Ministry was founded in 2012 and is a prophetic, healing and deliverance church.
“As children of God our mandate is not only to make the people to be delivered but we have to feed them also and we will have to support them where they need help. So we empower people both spiritually and physically,” he said.

Mrs Mpala-Ndebele was still in shock and said she has four children but they all went to South Africa and had never returned.
“Sometimes when I call them they just hang up their phones. I do not know how to thank you Pastor Chauke and his people for this thing they did for me. I cannot believe that I now have a proper house to stay in, not my previous hut where sometimes I could not even sleep because of fear that it may fall anytime,” she said.

The village head, Mrs Buhle Sithole, said it was a positive development to have the elderly recognised by the churches.
Chief Sigola of Esigodini district thanked the church for the gesture.