Dear Cliristian Friends,

MARCIA KAY THOMSON

P. 0. Box 117Chiredzi, Rhodesia, Africa

Forwarding AgentsMr. & Mrs. Wilford E. LeasureRoute 1West Union, Illinois 62477

March, 1973

Last month I wrote to you from Joplin, Missouri, and thismonth I am in Chiredzi, Rhodesia, starting my 3rd term.

TRIP TO RHODESIAI left Joplin as planned February 6th and flew to Lisbon,

Portugal. After the overnight flight, I rested on the 7th.On the 8th I took a bus tour to see some of the country.We travelled about 200 miles and saw a typical fishingvillage, a 13th century Monastery, Fatima Shrine as wellas much of the country side. The evening of the 9th I wentto the airport, everyone boarded the plane and as we wereseated they said, "Due to technical difficulty there willbe a delay." We all went back to the terminal building towait. After a couple of time changes, they had us go to theplane, get our hand luggage, and board a different pl^e.We were 5 hours late in leaving Lisbon and arrived inSalisbury at 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening. The temperaturewhen we landed was 840F. Sunday I attended the church inSalisbuiry, met some new Christians and greeted some friends.

DEVALUATION OF THE U S DOLLAR

One of the first things I heard when I arrived in Salisburywas that the U S dollar had devalued again. If I was inthe States I do not think I would understand just whatthis means, so I will attempt to explain just how it effectsus. This is the second time recently that the U S has

devalued and Rhodesia has not devalued. From the time Icame to Rhodesia in 1963 until October, 1971, it took about

in Rhodesian money. From October,1973, it took about $1.55 and now

US $1.40 to make $1.001971, to mid-February,it takes $1.75.

In addition to this, the Rhodesian Herald stated in aFebruary 28th article jtfhat between December, 1969, andDecember, 1972, consumer prices increased 10.1 percent.This means that for eyery US $1.00 I received in 1969 Ineed US $1.37 to buy t^e same amount now in Rhodesia.From the news it sounds like it may continue to devalue.At the present rate it takes US $1.05 to buy a gallon ofgasoline. -

VBS MATERIAL

During the 2 weeks before MarjOyxLJtojQ^Js^t -1 spent quitea bit of time taking pictur^i-^ancf gat^ring information towrite the VBS material1 The plans are that there will be10 illustrated stories about young people in Rhodesia. Ihave gone to some of the teachers and preachers for helpin selecting these chi:;j.dren. We have quite a variety ofchildren in Rhodesia so I wanted to have a variety in thestories. It will be a while before I complete these butthey should be ready ia plenty of time for VBS. Pleaselet the Leasures know you want a copy to use. Do youwant printed stories with black and white pictures orcassette tape recordings with colored slides?

MARILYN WOOD

For the past year Mari^lyn Wood has been working in ChiredziThis has enabled me to take my furlough without the worksuffering for lack of 'personnel. March 7th she left forthe Statesy and after some time for speaking engagementsshe plans to go to ElBible College as well

CHIREDZI

It is good to see some new faces in the church services.The church building b^ing constructed across the streetfrom the house where vfe are living is now up to the top

Paso, Texas, to work in the news with Mexican evangelism.

of the windows all the way around and has evejrythingready for the floor of the balcony to be poured.

THSOVANI

The church building that was under construction when Ileft for the States has been completed and is in good use.From services held in a school classroom to the largebuilding they now have is a real treat.

The Stockil school in this area is also growing. Theyhave to hold doiable sessions in the school until the newclassrooms are con^leted. This means that several classesattend school in the afternoon. Chiredzi is so hot mostof the year that it is very difficult to try to go toschool in the afternoon. The educational department hastold us that if the new building is not completed thisyear we will have to close some of the classes ne:xt year.However, the building is making good progress.

VEHICLE

This countary is having difficulty in abtaining enoughvehicles to meet the demand. Besides the expense involvedyou have to put your name on a waiting list to get any newvehicle. In Salisbury the shortest list is 6 weeks, andfor Citroen cars it is about 3 years. I have checked withthe local garage and they have told me that I could have anew Peugeot truck in about 3 weeks. This is because theygive local people first chance and is answered prayer.

JUNIOR SECONDARY

Instead of different departments within a high school,here in Rhodesia they have some schools for academicstudents and some for trades. We have a secondary schoolat Mashoko for the academic students. The government hasgiven us the go ahead to open a junior secondary forteaching irrigation. We have a lease on 12 hectares andother land set aside for expansion. There is a largeoutlay of money needed to start such a school for bothbuildings and equipment. Irrigation is the only kind offarming that is on the move in this area. The Africanboys need to know as much about it as possible in order

to bring up the standardsof the country. For anythat would like to investin this educational venturethe money can be sent tomy forwarding agents andspecified for use inbuilding the JuniorSecondary school. Bibleinstruction will be giventhese students justlike it is to all of thestudents in our schools.

THANK YOU

Thank you for your lettersand your gifts for thework here in Rhodesia.

Please be praying for usi.We are having one of theworst droughts that the 'country has seen. Thelast year that it was thisbad was about 1914. Somelate rains could stillcome. The dams that aredepended upon for irrigationare extremely low. i

There is fighting on the'northeast boundary.

The Gospel is the need 'of the world today. |

In Christian lovej

Marcia Kay Th