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Celia Lange in Zimbabwe
 Zimbabwe gained her independence from the United Kingdom in 1980, and was released from the tyranny of the UDI government led by Ian Smith. Robert Mugabe won the first democratic elections by a landslide, and for the first few years, his government served their people well. But then greed, corruption and political mismanagement set in. The country suffered under an ethnic cleansing called "gurkuri hundi". From 2002 - 2009 inflation ran rampant until the Zimbabwean dollar was abandoned - now the US dollar is the legal tender; unemployment is at 95%; drought stalks the farmlands and corruption is everywhere. Even the Government of National Unity is in crisis because the ZANU-PF members refuse the relinquish powers they have held since 1980. When I was there in 2008 the local Shell garage had no fuel, the local Spar supermarket had empty shelves and we had to smuggle the meat in from South Africa for our evening Brai, because the Zimbabwean butchers had none.
Here, on the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa squats a town called Beit Bridge. Celia Lange has lived there since the 1980s. Her sons fled the country and live in London. We met her in 2005, when a member of our team was given a word of prophecy for "someone" who would attend the Sunday service. The team member was told "You will know who to give this word to because they will come and stand right in front of you in the service when they call people forward for prayer." Sure enough - Celia came and stood right in front of her. The Lord said to Celia, "You feel like you have lost everything, but God says I will restore to you purpose and vision and protect you ..." That was enough.
Celia's business had been taken away from her by the ZANU-PF government two days before, and she was in crisis. Since that day Celia has done everything possible to help us whenever we visit Zimbabwe.
The day we spent with her in 2008 was a welcome respite from the sorrow outside. We shared meals in her apartment, above an old garage converted years ago into offices. Celia owns the caravan park we always stay in, and rents property to the Reserve Bank, and the Dept of Immigration at the border. She is quite an influential woman, who has actively supported Morgan Tsvangarai and the MDM for years.
Celia told us of her years of serving the Lord in this country. In the years since Mugabe took charge she has had land, a house and a profitable business taken from her. At one time, ZANU-PF forced her to rent accommodation at the caravan park at prices that were totally uneconomic, and she nearly had to close the business. Struggling with inflation of over 11 million percent per year, banks were useless, and money had to be spent almost before it was received - otherwise it was worthless. She has been car-jacked three times in the last few years. In each case she was unharmed, but was unable to recover her vehicle - and of course there is no insurance on vehicles in Zimbabwe.
Celia has helped one congregation build their church - she gave them the finance. She has provided housing for others who were destitute. She has helped those who were dying on numerous occasions, but if you ask her what she is doing she shrugs and says, "We do what we can, but it is not enough."
Celia has vowed to stay in Zimbabwe - despite everything that has happened. She is committed to being involved in the reconstruction of the nation, helping people to get back to productive work and be self sufficient. She is taking the gospel wherever she can. She is a real Zimbabwean - one who will help the people of Zimbabwe to a better life than they have now. Not that she criticizes those who have fled, or those whose farms have been taken from her. She’s too gracious for that.
Celia's only regret? She could not hire more people! She lamented, "I guess I am doing some good, I employ about seventy people, I just wish I could help more. It's not enough." I was amazed. Here is a humble, servant hearted champion for the things of God, and all they are asking for is the chance to make a difference for a few more.
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