March 2026 Newsletter
Bringing Hope,
One Life at a Time
From the Desk of Murray Parr
~
My dear friends of Our Neighbours,
I arrived back in Australia on Friday night, 27 February, after three and a half weeks in Zimbabwe. Seeing Angela and Bonnie waiting for me at Ballina airport was a sweet moment. But I’ll be honest, part of my heart is still in Bulawayo.
This recent visit was the most challenging and the most rewarding of my 16 years with Our Neighbours. Stepping into the Director role six months ago has stretched me more than I anticipated. When I first sensed God nudging me off the missionary reserve bench (after 34 years of praying for the opportunity!), I questioned whether I could do it while living in Australia. Angela and I prayed and talked it through carefully. Wise friends and Marty reassured me it was possible, provided I committed to being on the ground in Zimbabwe at least twice a year.
So, I stepped out in faith, and what I witnessed on this visit has only strengthened my conviction that this work matters deeply.
But the real heroes are not me. They are our 23 staff members who faithfully care for 18 little ones aged 0–4, 24 hours a day, and 30 school-aged children, under difficult economic conditions. Their commitment humbles me.
Let me tell you about Baby M. She was abandoned near a tollgate, wrapped in a blue plastic bag and left among rocks. She was born with gastroschisis, her intestines outside her body. A passerby heard her cry. She was rushed to the hospital, survived surgery, and even anaphylactic shock. After nearly three months in the hospital, she was released into our care at Isaiah’s Babies Home. She is now nearly six months old. She is alive because someone stopped. She is thriving because you give.
Right now, we have 18 children in our baby home. After Easter, two older children will transition into family placements identified by the Department of Social Services — freeing space for new infants in crisis. We are also expecting three-week-old twins from Filabusi very soon.
The need does not slow down.
And neither can we.
Many of you appreciate transparency, so here it is plainly:
The current cost per child per month is USD 355.99, including staff wages. Our home is intentionally labour-intensive because babies require 24-hour care. There is no shortcut for love, safety, and consistency.
Each month, we must raise what is necessary to:
Feed every child
Pay every caregiver
Cover medical needs
Maintain facilities
Keep the doors open
This is where I want to speak candidly.
Your faithful giving has sustained this ministry for years. But the pressure on costs is increasing. Economic conditions in Zimbabwe remain fragile. Staff wages must remain fair. Medical expenses are unpredictable. And when a baby like M arrives, we cannot say, “We don’t have the funds.” We simply say yes.
So, I am asking you, prayerfully and personally, to consider one of three things:
If you are not currently giving monthly, would you consider becoming a regular monthly partner?
Predictable income allows us to plan responsibly and respond quickly.If you already give monthly, would you consider increasing your gift, even modestly?
An additional $10, $25, or $50 per month, multiplied across faithful supporters, changes everything.If God has blessed you with capacity, would you consider sponsoring the full monthly cost of one child — USD 355.99?
That is life, safety, nourishment, and care for one precious child.
I don’t make this appeal lightly. I make it because I have held these babies. I have looked into the eyes of our caregivers. I have seen the reality on the ground.
We are also developing a volunteer support network to assist with daily tasks like washing, cooking, and cleaning. If successful, this will help us manage staffing costs, but it does not replace the need for consistent financial support.
I have also started a small “Wish List” for those who prefer project-based giving.
Currently, we need:
A new printer for the school
An industrial washing machine
These are not luxuries. They are daily-use necessities.
Friends, without your prayers and financial support, this work would not exist. And yes! I’m using dramatic language; it’s a fact. I returned home energised, yes, but also aware that leadership means inviting others to stand with us.
So, I am inviting you to,….
Continue this good work together.
Ensure that when the next Baby M arrives, we are ready.
Keep the doors open, not just this year, but for years to come.
If you would like to talk personally, ask questions, or discuss how you or your church might partner more deeply, I would welcome that conversation.
In my next newsletter, I’ll share about the successful drilling of a 70-metre borehole on our seven-acre property, one of the projects you made possible through your generosity.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us.
“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
1 John 3:18
With heaps of heartfelt gratitude and faith,
Murray Parr
Director, Our Neighbours
+61 414 399 658
heal@murrayparr.com.au
ourneighbourszim@gmail.com
www.ourneighbours.org