Purity

Purity’s mother was a prostitute.  In the first seven years of Purity’s life, she owned nothing but the ragged clothes she wore.  While many children in the US can feel disadvantaged if they don’t have their own room, Purity never even had her own bed, her own sleeping mat, not even her own blanket!  She was always a problem, just dropped off from home to home.  She always simply shared the blanket of another child.  Purity never had anything of her own. Since Purity could not pay school fees, she attended very little school.  Her grade average at school was 35 out of 100. Today, Purity’s life is much, much different.  She has nice clothes & even school uniforms, her school fees are paid AND she is doing well in school.  She has been relocated into the loving home of relative and she is doing very well.  Purity’s entire life has changed!

Eric

Eric had severe mental and emotional problems.  He did not speak and had a severe learning disability.  Eric’s mother was a prostitute in an area where over one-third of all adults were infected with HIV/AIDS.  Because Eric’s mother was isolated and ashamed, she would not accept food or allow him to come eat at the mission feeding program.  Eric was literally starving to death.  ROCK of Africa Mission’s, Child Relief Director, Tiwone Zvikonyaukwa was determined to save Eric.  She began visiting Eric’s home every morning.  Even though his mother had no interest in any company Tiwone brought tea & bread and sat outside Eric’s home day after day, trying to make conversation and friendship with Eric’s mother.  His mother finally softened to the point that she accepted the food and allowed Eric to come eat with the other children.  Eric began eating day after day.  He gained strength, began to speak and we were shocked to realize his learning disability was simply very severe malnourishment.   Sadly, the prostitution in Zimbabwe is a deadly business and HIV/AIDS took the life of Eric’s mother and his father also died.  Eric was orphaned – but he was alive!  Eric would have likely been the first of his family to die, but Tiwone’s love broke through his mother’s hard emotional shell and now Eric is alive and has a future.

Tiwone

Jasper & Tiwone Zvikonyaukwa and their son Jefta, were a wonderful family from ROCK of Africa Mission, Zimbabwe.  Tiwone saved lives and led many to faith, but died a tragic early death at just 29 years old due to the simple lack of antibiotics in Zimbabwe. She had been hospitalized for weeks with a stomach infection and medicine was expected to be delivered to the hospital day after day, but it never arrived. She was getting weaker and weaker, finally lapsing in and out of a coma. At the time there was virtually no fuel in the country and delivery of medicine was nearly impossible.  In desperation, husband Jasper hitchhiked to Zambia to get medicine for his dear wife. After receiving the medicine, Tiwone began to rebound.  She slowly began to speak and then insisted Jasper leave her bedside at the hospital to go tend to the needs of the village's children.  She insisted she would be fine. She spent a restful night but the next day took a turn for the worse.  The hospital frantically tried to reach Jasper, but he was out of cell phone coverage.   Tiwone sensed she was dying and there was no way to reach her husband.  She asked for a paper and pencil and scratched a brief note to her husband, "My dearest Jasper, do not be afraid.  I am in the hands of the Lord.  My way has been prepared.  We will meet again in the Heaven." ...and she died. Her death left a large hole in the heart of her family, but it also left a hole in the heart of ROCK of Africa Mission.  This little young woman was really a giant.  A giant in faith, in courage and in accomplishment.  What an enormous privilege to have been impacted by her life. Tiwone's spirit, her passion, and her enormous love for children lives on today at ROCK of Africa Mission. Tiwone’s husband Jasper continues as Operations Manager for ROCK of Africa Mission, Zimbabwe.