Being a servant who leads isn’t easy, especially when serving a community fiercely lacking in basic needs. For Reuben Nyamukayiwa, age 60, life is all about fulfilling God’s mission and that means serving the poor by whatever means possible.

Reuben Nyamukayiwa is a pastor for the Vabvuvi Vetemberi Apostolic Faith Church in Hurungwe ADP and also a trained Channel of Hope home based caregiver who has made a difference within his community in Zimbabwe.

“I am a home based caregiver and I love what I do. I believe this is what God wants me to do,” said Pastor Nyamukayiwa.

Nyamukayiwa – who resides in the church premises together with his wife Thannia and children Thabeth (11 years old), Etrace (8 years old) and Amina (5 years old) – has gone the extra mile by constructing a separate homestead for the sick, which provides home based care.

“I accommodate all kinds of people. Some stay here waiting for the doctors’ review at Chidyamoyo Hospital because their homes are too far away while others lose their way and end up here. Most of them are ill because of HIV/AIDS and other ailments,” said Pastor Nyamukayiwa.

For Pastor Nyamukayiwa, home based caring is a daily routine since there are more than 5 patients in the “ward for the sick” at anytime within the homestead.

His day starts with a visit to the “ward for the sick” every morning to give them physical and spiritual support, including prayers. He provides counselling services and has found that this helps greatly in the recovery of the sick.

Those residing in the homestead of the sick contribute any food they have. If they aren’t able to, the Pastor and the church provide for their meals.

“After visiting the patients in the morning, around 10am, I return home and attend to other people who need my help on different issues. I even visit the sick in their different homesteads as a home based caregiver,” added Pastor Nyamukayiwa.

He said most of the challenges faced during home visits are caused by shortages of food shortages, soap for washing and bathing, clothes, medication and gloves. As he does his home visits he sometimes provides food and cooking oil to those in need. There is always great joy derived when the sick recovers.

“I have been asthmatic for most of my life and love helping people. In a vision I received in 1987, God wanted me to build a church and help the sick. I believe that God has enabled me to live this far to fulfil the agreement that I made during that dream.”

For Pastor Nyamukayiwa, serving the community is a daily affair and not just a job – it’s a calling to fulfil a vision.

“As a home based care giver and pastor, I take care of the orphans, and aged and destitute people in this area, and God has blessed me.”

Pastor Nyamukayiwa has received an oil-pressing machine from World Vision, which he uses to press oil from sunflower seeds. He shares his produce with orphans and vulnerable members of his community. World Vision Zimbabwe has also helped his community start a garden project that produces vegetables for the sick and orphaned.