Why is Coalition for Courage honoring Lucretia?

Lucretia's story

Dear Friends of Lucretia,

I met Lucretia at Camp Mystic when were in elementary school, our friendship grew deeper in HIgh School when my parents moved to New Braunfels her hometown.

When I lived and worked at an orphan care center in Zimbabwe from 2001 to 2003, Liz and I sent out email updates to close friends and family, we shared wins, losses and stories about amazing children. We never thought those emails would grow into a non profit or a sponsorship program. It was people like Lucretia that spurred us to do so and to set up a individual sponsorship program.

In 2001, I sent an email talking about a young boy named Regis. Regis was an earnest boy with a quick smile and a painful story. He was born with a spinal disability, but even as a child he persevered, as the oldest of four children he did all he could to care for the younger siblings, forgoing school in Grade 2 and 3 to care for his mother and his two youngest siblings, all of whom were HIV positive. They all died within months of each other and the two oldest, Regis and Knowbert were moved to live with a relative and supported by Tsungirirai Orphan Care Center.

Despite his hard life, Regis was a ray of sunshine. His smile was contagious and his faith was the strongest I had seen in a child. Despite being older than other kids and unable to run due to his spine, he was determined to return to school and land a private school scholarship. Lucretia reached out asking more about him and telling me she felt a calling to help him.

Lucretia began sponsoring Regis in 2002 and continued to support him for almost two decades. Their connection began with letters, then emails, and then moved to What's App where she would call him and they would pray together. Their connection was deeper than financial support. She became a mentor, a guide, and a mother to him. Her care naturally extended to his brother, Knowbert.

Though Regis had potential, he struggled. His disability limited his ability to work and he faced challenges with mental health. He pursued different paths, including training to be a pastor. Lucretia was always there to offer advice, even when his generous heart led him to give away all his support funds to someone in need. Over the years, their bond deepened through letters, phone calls, and mutual understanding of their shared faith and kindness.

Regis's life has been a constant struggle, partly due to Zimbabwe’s economic challenges, his disability, and his own internal battles. Despite attempts, he had been unable to secure stable employment.

When I visited Zimbabwe in March 2022, Lucretia and I discussed a plan to provide Regis with stability—possibly by helping him and his new wife secure land and a home, which is critical in Zimbabwe, as land provides not just a home, but a sense of identity and livelihood.

After hearing of Lucretia’s passing, I immediately thought of Regis. He was devastated by the news, and I reached out to my director in Zimbabwe to tell him personally. Lucretia’s desire to ensure Regis had a place to call home never wavered, and I wanted to help fulfill that wish. After Lucretia's memorial service and with a generous donation by her family, we were able to raise funds to buy a piece of land and build a small home for Regis and his wife.

Lucretia's other great love was Camp Mystic. The land Regis acquired has a hill and when he stood on the top of the hill the first time,  he stated "This will be a place of peace and worship."  Lucretia had spoken to Regis of the importance to have  a place to worship and tend to your soul.  He was called to make it a for himself and to open it to his new community.

Upon hearing about this area on his land, Suzanne agreed it would be the perfect place to establish a place of peace modeled after Chapel Hill at Camp Mystic, a place that held a special place in Lucretia's heart.

One ongoing project Is the gradual development of this land to honor Lucretia, with fruit trees, benches, and a cross—a place for reflection and remembrance.