“I had the privilege of sharing my testimony at Ebeneezer, and it was a blessing to hear three people say that they related to my story. What a gift from the Lord!” -Sofia Brotto
Team ZONE and I’s time in Zimbabwe has been flying by. Our team has grown closer to both the Lord and each other over the last couple weeks, and we’ve been incredibly lucky to watch God work in this country. In every moment of pause we’ve had, ZONE has reflected on God’s faithfulness and goodness.
This week, we have worked primarily with a ministry called Ebenezer. As I learn about Ebenezer, it reminds me a lot of the Impact 360. Ebenezer is a multi-pathway program that hosts students between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, which they refer to as Apprentices. During their time at the program, Apprentices learn agriculture alongside Biblical studies. Although that combination seems atypical to an American perspective, it is a perfect niche to fill in the Zimbabwe landscape.
Tragically, many young adults in Zimbabwe are only familiar with Jesus through cultural norms or His name alone. This, in tandem with the education crisis in southern Africa and the extremely low employment rate in-country, sets up an opportunity that Ebenezer takes—and my team and I have had the gift of witnessing their work.
In our time on Ebenezer’s grounds, we have heard Apprentices tell stories of life change, salvation, and finding purpose. Many people, including a man named Imano, have plans of starting their own farm upon graduating, a mindset that is radically different from the one that they had before Ebenezer. Most importantly, former Apprentices like Mike learned how to walk with the Lord during his years. Stories like Mike and Imano have encouraged ZONE to dive deeper into our opportunities on this trip, both with our partners and each other. 
As an example, intentionality is one of our team’s virtues, and we have been striving to embody it in our everyday life. One intentional way ZONE has been connecting is through a nightly activity we’ve deemed Zeads™. During Zeads, a team member will shout out another member’s character based on something they saw that day. The member will then hand a bead to the other as a physical token of appreciation.
It’s traditions like these alongside lovely personalities that have brought ZONE together. I’ve been extremely blessed to be a part of this team and to grow alongside every person in it. As we approach the end of this trip, I find myself already feeling nostalgic for the beautiful moments on this trip.
Noah Holmes
Fellows, Class XX