After several days of training in Texas under Paul, Kim, and Gary, we are even more eager to get over to Zambia!! We've already been so blessed and encouraged by just hearing the stories each of them (and also Cypheen) had to share. Their hearts are so full of love for these orphans and Mamas and the people of Zambia. We are so excited to meet all of them!
Just another day, and we'll be in Zambia with our teammates, Ben, Kate, and Megan!! (BTW, all of your blogs have been so encouraging! We can't wait to join you!!)
A brief summary of the past few days:
Monday - we arrived in Dallas, Texas with our 6 pieces of luggage (most of them filled with heavy computer equipment) plus a backpack each, trying to figure out how to lug it all around. We were greeted by Paul and Kim, who took us back to our posh hotel. Thanks for putting us up with such great accomodations!! We then had dinner at a TexMex restaurant, and were blessed by the story of how God worked in the hearts of Paul and Kim to go into full time ministry and serve with Every Orphan's Hope.
Tuesday - had breakfast at the EOH office and met Gary and Debbie Schneider. Gary shared about how the Lord put it upon his heart to start Every Orphan's Hope, and all the struggles and blessings that have happened since then. Both of us were quite enthralled by his great story-telling ability that we almost forgot to talk! :)
We then went off to lunch and then went on to do our team-building activities - laser-tagging and bowling. (Side note: paint balling was an option, but after hearing about the different bruises people received, I chickened out and opted for laser-tagging, which was still quite fun, even though I wasted 5 minutes because I thought my gun wasn't working, and we got creamed by a bunch of kids.) Also, Kim was quite happy that she ended up beating Brian (and everyone else) at bowling since apparently Ben shot her in the head when they had gone paintballing.
Dinner was with Gary and Debbie at California Pizza Kitchen (ahh...a little piece of home), where we talked about travelling overseas, guns, and getting sea-sick. :)
Wednesday - back to the EOH office for breakfast. Paul went over some of the logisitics of our stay in Zambia, and then we met Cypheen, a Zambian man who had worked at the EOH office until he met and married an American woman whom he met while she was on a short-term missions trip. Pretty cool, huh? Cypheen talked about the Zambian culture and answered our questions.
Then we met Addis, a crazy-cool guy who knows all different sorts of fighting techniques. He showed us how get out of a strong grip, what to do if someone tried to rob us, and taught us what OODA-loop means (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act). We practiced on each other, and at least I know that I can get out of Brian and Kim's arm-holds. :) I think I will just pray extra hard for safety. :)
Dinner was at a BBQ place (I forget the name already) and then we went with Paul, Kim, and Kim's mom to church to worship and be blessed by the teaching of God's word in Ezekial 16.
Now we are at our hotel, re-packing and getting ready for our flight tomorrow.
We will post next when we are in Zambia! :) Please pray for a safe flight and that we won't forget to take our Malaria pills!!
Goodnight!!
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea and Brian Tsang
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
A Few Facts about Zambia
- Zambia is a landlocked country in Southern Africa (see map below); its capital is Lusaka (where we will be)
- English is the official language; in rural areas tribal languages are spoken; the main vernacular languages are Bemba, Lozi, Luanda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and Tumbuka
THE CULTURE:
- population: 11,862,740
- median age is 17 years (the median age in America is 37)
- the infant mortality rate is 101.2 deaths / 1,000 live births (in America it's 6.22 deaths / 1,000 live births)
- life expectancy at birth is 39 years (in America it's 78 years))
THE ECONOMY:
- about 2/3 of Zambians live in poverty
- the average annual income is $1500, making Zambia among the poorest countries in the world
- Zambia is ranked 197 out of 228 countries (America average income is $46,400 ranking America #11 in the world)
- unemployment rate in Zambia is 50%, as of the year 2000. This number has been impacted by the overall decline in the world economy.
THE FLAG:
- the green background symbolizes Zambia's natural beauty
- the red stripe is symbolic of the country's struggle for freedom
- the black stripe represents the racial makeup of the majority population
- the orange stripe symbolizes the country's copper riches and other mineral wealth
- the eage symbolizes Zambia's ability to rise above its problems
IMPACT OF AIDS ON ZAMBIA:
- more than 1 in every 7 adults is living with HIV, and life expectancy at birth has fallen to just 39 years
- the AIDS rate in Zambia is 15.2% (in 2007), placing Zambia at #7 in the world
- although the HIV epidemic has spread throughout Zambia and to all parts of its society, some groups are especially vulnerable - most notably young women and girls. Among young women aged 15-24, HIV prevelance is nearly 4x that of men in this age category
- children have been much affected by teh AIDs epidemic. In 2007, there were 600,000 AIDS orphans in Zambia.
- it is said that Zambia's youth offer the nation a "window of hope" - the hope of an AIDs-free future. Nearly half of all Zambians are between 0 and 14 years old; relatively few of these young people have HIV, and they are all eager to learn.
For more information about Zambia, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambia
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea and Brian Tsang
- English is the official language; in rural areas tribal languages are spoken; the main vernacular languages are Bemba, Lozi, Luanda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and Tumbuka
THE CULTURE:
- population: 11,862,740
- median age is 17 years (the median age in America is 37)
- the infant mortality rate is 101.2 deaths / 1,000 live births (in America it's 6.22 deaths / 1,000 live births)
- life expectancy at birth is 39 years (in America it's 78 years))
THE ECONOMY:
- about 2/3 of Zambians live in poverty
- the average annual income is $1500, making Zambia among the poorest countries in the world
- Zambia is ranked 197 out of 228 countries (America average income is $46,400 ranking America #11 in the world)
- unemployment rate in Zambia is 50%, as of the year 2000. This number has been impacted by the overall decline in the world economy.
THE FLAG:
- the green background symbolizes Zambia's natural beauty
- the red stripe is symbolic of the country's struggle for freedom
- the black stripe represents the racial makeup of the majority population
- the orange stripe symbolizes the country's copper riches and other mineral wealth
- the eage symbolizes Zambia's ability to rise above its problems
IMPACT OF AIDS ON ZAMBIA:
- more than 1 in every 7 adults is living with HIV, and life expectancy at birth has fallen to just 39 years
- the AIDS rate in Zambia is 15.2% (in 2007), placing Zambia at #7 in the world
- although the HIV epidemic has spread throughout Zambia and to all parts of its society, some groups are especially vulnerable - most notably young women and girls. Among young women aged 15-24, HIV prevelance is nearly 4x that of men in this age category
- children have been much affected by teh AIDs epidemic. In 2007, there were 600,000 AIDS orphans in Zambia.
- it is said that Zambia's youth offer the nation a "window of hope" - the hope of an AIDs-free future. Nearly half of all Zambians are between 0 and 14 years old; relatively few of these young people have HIV, and they are all eager to learn.
For more information about Zambia, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambia
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea and Brian Tsang
Sunday, June 20, 2010
A Father to the fatherless
Today is Father's Day. We are both so thankful for our fathers and how much they have done for our families throughout the years. They are both incredible examples to us, and we are thankful that they were around to help us grow up and that they are still here to give us advice and show their love for us.
We were reminded in church today about how much influence a father can have on his sons or daughters. I began to think about the orphans in Africa, and how they do not have earthly fathers to influence them or to love them. It hurt my heart to know that these precious children will never have an earthly father to give them a hug, to teach them different skills, or to give an encouraging word.
I am so thankful for our Heavenly Father. "He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows." (Psalm 68:5) To know that God is watching over us at all times is extremely comforting, and I hope to be able to remind these dear children of this so that they can rejoice in everything.
Both Brian and I have a lot to do before we go, but we're so excited and are eager to go. Just one more week to go!
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea and Brian Tsang
We were reminded in church today about how much influence a father can have on his sons or daughters. I began to think about the orphans in Africa, and how they do not have earthly fathers to influence them or to love them. It hurt my heart to know that these precious children will never have an earthly father to give them a hug, to teach them different skills, or to give an encouraging word.
I am so thankful for our Heavenly Father. "He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows." (Psalm 68:5) To know that God is watching over us at all times is extremely comforting, and I hope to be able to remind these dear children of this so that they can rejoice in everything.
Both Brian and I have a lot to do before we go, but we're so excited and are eager to go. Just one more week to go!
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea and Brian Tsang
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
It's Crunch Time!
Last Friday, I completed my third year of teaching. Whenever I finish saying goodbye to my students and their parents, turn in report cards, clean up the classroom, and close the door for the final time that school year, I feel a bit lost. From the end of August until the middle of the following June I have a purpose - to educate my students; to support them in the learning; to teach them how to get along; to be their advocate. When the school year ends, I feel as if I don't have any purpose for the next 2 1/2 months. Sure, I can hang out with friends and family, volunteer for a week or two at a summer camp, try out new recipes, clean my house, go on a vacation, but I never really feel completely satisfied. This summer both Brian and I will have a purpose - a mission for God.
We are still about a week and a half away from heading off to join our team in Lusaka, Zambia, and there is much to do. We are excited to meet our team members, the orphans and the widows. I am sure God has much to teach us and areas for us to grow. Please pray that we will be focused on the mission even before we get on the plane to Texas for training. Distractions are many, and time is short.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us, encouraging us, and even donating computers/computer parts! We thank God for each and every one of you.
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea and Brian Tsang
We are still about a week and a half away from heading off to join our team in Lusaka, Zambia, and there is much to do. We are excited to meet our team members, the orphans and the widows. I am sure God has much to teach us and areas for us to grow. Please pray that we will be focused on the mission even before we get on the plane to Texas for training. Distractions are many, and time is short.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying for us, encouraging us, and even donating computers/computer parts! We thank God for each and every one of you.
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea and Brian Tsang
P.S. For those of you who don't already know, we will be leaving California for Texas on Monday, June 28th. We'll be there for three days for training, and then head out to Lusaka, Zambia on July 1st. We will return on August 15th.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
We're Going to Zambia!!
Hello, everyone!! We never thought we'd actually be posting blogs together (actually, I'm guessing it's me, Andrea, that will be doing most of the blogging), but here we are!
As many of you already know, we are going to be heading off to Zambia for about 6 weeks this summer. We're going with a group of interns through an organization called Every Orphan's Hope. EOH is an organization that is dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus to orphaned children in Africa (http://www.everyorphan.org/).
About 6 years ago, while Brian was in graduate school, the Lord laid it upon his heart to go on a missions trip to minister to the poor. He was excited to go somewhere, but didn't really have a focus of who, when or where. When we started dating, he told me about his desire to serve as a missionary. I thought it was a wonderful thing, and thought maybe it would be MORE wonderful if I could go with him. After much discussion, prayer, and advice from our pastor, it was decided that we would go after we got married.
Because I am a teacher and Brian has a sabbatical, it turns out that summer time would be the perfect time to go on a missions trip. So now we had a "when" all ready to go. We were still lacking the "who" and "where".
A few years ago, at our church's missions conference, a video was shown about orphans in Russia. This video brought tears to my eyes and an ache in my heart for those precious children. Brian and I talked about it and realized that God was showing us who our focus should be - orphans.
We began looking at Russia as our "where". It turns out that God closed that door, so we were back to square one in terms of finding a place.
Late last year, our friend, Justin Louie, told us he was going to Urbana for the huge missions conference. He offered to pick up some catalogs for us so we could get more information. After he returned, we (mostly Brian) began researching different organizations. After many dead-ends, we found Every Orphan's Hope.
We absolutely loved everything about EOH - their ministry, their focus on orphans and widows, their time-frame for us as interns, the fact that the people in Zambia speak English, and the love they have for Jesus Christ.
Our goal in using this blog, is that we will be able to share our experiences and enlighten you all about the plight of the orphans in Zambia - many of them are orphans because of HIV/AIDS. These kids have next to nothing. We are praying to be used by God to help bring the love of Jesus to them and to give them hope.
Please partner with us in prayer and keep reading our blog!
Thanks for reading.
In Jesus' Love,
Brian and Andrea Tsang (aka Briandrea)
As many of you already know, we are going to be heading off to Zambia for about 6 weeks this summer. We're going with a group of interns through an organization called Every Orphan's Hope. EOH is an organization that is dedicated to sharing the love of Jesus to orphaned children in Africa (http://www.everyorphan.org/).
About 6 years ago, while Brian was in graduate school, the Lord laid it upon his heart to go on a missions trip to minister to the poor. He was excited to go somewhere, but didn't really have a focus of who, when or where. When we started dating, he told me about his desire to serve as a missionary. I thought it was a wonderful thing, and thought maybe it would be MORE wonderful if I could go with him. After much discussion, prayer, and advice from our pastor, it was decided that we would go after we got married.
Because I am a teacher and Brian has a sabbatical, it turns out that summer time would be the perfect time to go on a missions trip. So now we had a "when" all ready to go. We were still lacking the "who" and "where".
A few years ago, at our church's missions conference, a video was shown about orphans in Russia. This video brought tears to my eyes and an ache in my heart for those precious children. Brian and I talked about it and realized that God was showing us who our focus should be - orphans.
We began looking at Russia as our "where". It turns out that God closed that door, so we were back to square one in terms of finding a place.
Late last year, our friend, Justin Louie, told us he was going to Urbana for the huge missions conference. He offered to pick up some catalogs for us so we could get more information. After he returned, we (mostly Brian) began researching different organizations. After many dead-ends, we found Every Orphan's Hope.
We absolutely loved everything about EOH - their ministry, their focus on orphans and widows, their time-frame for us as interns, the fact that the people in Zambia speak English, and the love they have for Jesus Christ.
Our goal in using this blog, is that we will be able to share our experiences and enlighten you all about the plight of the orphans in Zambia - many of them are orphans because of HIV/AIDS. These kids have next to nothing. We are praying to be used by God to help bring the love of Jesus to them and to give them hope.
Please partner with us in prayer and keep reading our blog!
Thanks for reading.
In Jesus' Love,
Brian and Andrea Tsang (aka Briandrea)
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