So much has happened since the last time one of us posted. If I ever have the privilege of coming back to Zambia, I will make sure to bring my own laptop! :P Anyway, I digress.
It is almost time for us to leave. I am sad because I may not ever see some of the amazing people I have met on this trip. The orphans and mamas have tugged on my heartstrings, and I pray that I will never forget my feelings for them. I will miss the EOH staff so much, and even my crazy fellow interns. (I mean "crazy" in a good way, btw.) I take comfort in the fact that God is in control, and He will watch over all of them.
Since my last post, we've met Kimberlee (an intern from years past), gone through the second Camp Hope in Lusaka with the short-term missionaries, our second Fellowship Day, said goodbye to Mama Harawa, the Lusaka MFH 1 and 2 orphans and mamas, stayed overnight in Chongwe and said goodbye to all of them, had a fantastic dinner and party with the EOH Zambian staff, and now we're preparing to say goodbye to the Lusaka MFH 3 and 4, and then dinner at Bob and Mary's house.
I never thought I'd cry because I felt sad about leaving someone. I've cried when someone has died, when I'm extremely frustrated, or teared up a bit at a sad movie. I think I've only cried a bit ONCE when I've missed someone, and even then I did not cry in public. After leaving the kids and mamas in Chongwe, I competely lost it and cried in public. I was already sad, but didn't start to feel the tears well up until I saw Maximillian (one of the boys in House 1) wiping away tears. Then I hugged little Doreen for the last time and told her that we loved her and will miss her very much. She looked at me, and seemed to frown the biggest frown I've ever seen on her face. She then waved goodbye to us, and I felt the first tear fall. As we drove away, I looked out the window to see another boy, Joshua, looking right at me then begin to cry. That broke my heart completely and the rest of my tears began to fall. More tears fell when I saw Megan and Kate crying as well. Needless to say, it was a very quiet ride back to Lusaka.
I began to pray to God quietly that I would never forget the feelings I felt at that moment. I never want to forget those precious children and mamas, nor forget how God took them away from horrible situations and placed them under the protection of Every Orphan's Hope. I began to think about the next time Brian and I could come back. Christmas time? We'll see how the Lord leads. :)
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
Friday, August 13, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Reflections
I am so very thankful that, despite my torn feelings from the previous day about being in the background, our first "Fellowship Day" went well! No doubt, I was tired by the end of the day from running around, giving directions, and making last-minute changes to the schedule, but I felt so blessed and encouraged.
My heart felt sincerly glad to see Teen Mania bond so well with their MFH partners. They were laughing together, encouraging each other throughout the games, and most everyone was smiling.
I pray now that the members of Teen Mania will bring the orphans' stories back to their home churches or fellowship groups and that people will be touched. I pray that these beautiful children will be sponsored so that they can continue growing and live their lives for Jesus.
Before I end this blog post, I would like to share something that really touched my heart. After all the Lusaka kids got back on the bus and left for home, I got a chance to spend some time with a few of the Chongwe kids. I was showing a few of the kids - Rebecca, Joshua, Kauya, Lister, Catherine, Samuel, and Justine ("e" is silent) - how to throw a frisbee. Kauya really got into it and was trying to improve his form every time he tossed the frisbee. Then Joshua got ahold of it and threw it quite hard to Justine, but it went way over his head and landed on Kauya's head. Kauya began to cry and he hid his face inside his sweatshirt. I walked over to him to make sure was ok, and held him as he sobbed quietly. I got a bit upset when Joshua just laughed and a few other boys seemed to be teasing Kauya for crying. I think that upset him more, so I guided him over to a log to sit.
I realize that Kauya's bump on the head wasn't serious at all, and it probably didn't hurt him that badly, but just knowing that he probably doesn't get comforted when he does get bumps or bruises or someone hurts his feelings made me so sad. I sat with him for about half an hour until I had to leave. He seemed to cheer up after a while, but it made me so sad to see him sad. He normally has such a sweet smile, and seeing the tears rolls down his cheeks made me want to take him in my arms and protect him there forever. I prayed quietly, as I sat with Kauya, and later Bianca, who came over looking quite sad herself. I prayed that these kids would know that Jesus does care about their hurts and sad feelings, and that they would cry out to him when they are in need of comfort. I began to sing "God is So Good" quietly, and Bianca joined in while Kauya leaned his head on me. It was such a precious moment that I will remember forever.
One other special moment happened right before we started playing frisbee. I was standing with Rebecca, watching some of the younger boys kick a soccerball around. I then noticed the clouds and I commented to Rebecca that it makes me think of heaven. Rebecca then began to sing a song about heaven. I don't know the name of the song, but right afterwards, I asked her what she thought heaven looks like. She thought a moment, smiled, and said, "BEAUTIFUL!!" The brightness in her eyes and her sincere smile just made my heart melt. I pray that these precious children will all sincerely find Jesus, so that we can all have a big ol' reunion in heaven one day.
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
My heart felt sincerly glad to see Teen Mania bond so well with their MFH partners. They were laughing together, encouraging each other throughout the games, and most everyone was smiling.
I pray now that the members of Teen Mania will bring the orphans' stories back to their home churches or fellowship groups and that people will be touched. I pray that these beautiful children will be sponsored so that they can continue growing and live their lives for Jesus.
Before I end this blog post, I would like to share something that really touched my heart. After all the Lusaka kids got back on the bus and left for home, I got a chance to spend some time with a few of the Chongwe kids. I was showing a few of the kids - Rebecca, Joshua, Kauya, Lister, Catherine, Samuel, and Justine ("e" is silent) - how to throw a frisbee. Kauya really got into it and was trying to improve his form every time he tossed the frisbee. Then Joshua got ahold of it and threw it quite hard to Justine, but it went way over his head and landed on Kauya's head. Kauya began to cry and he hid his face inside his sweatshirt. I walked over to him to make sure was ok, and held him as he sobbed quietly. I got a bit upset when Joshua just laughed and a few other boys seemed to be teasing Kauya for crying. I think that upset him more, so I guided him over to a log to sit.
I realize that Kauya's bump on the head wasn't serious at all, and it probably didn't hurt him that badly, but just knowing that he probably doesn't get comforted when he does get bumps or bruises or someone hurts his feelings made me so sad. I sat with him for about half an hour until I had to leave. He seemed to cheer up after a while, but it made me so sad to see him sad. He normally has such a sweet smile, and seeing the tears rolls down his cheeks made me want to take him in my arms and protect him there forever. I prayed quietly, as I sat with Kauya, and later Bianca, who came over looking quite sad herself. I prayed that these kids would know that Jesus does care about their hurts and sad feelings, and that they would cry out to him when they are in need of comfort. I began to sing "God is So Good" quietly, and Bianca joined in while Kauya leaned his head on me. It was such a precious moment that I will remember forever.
One other special moment happened right before we started playing frisbee. I was standing with Rebecca, watching some of the younger boys kick a soccerball around. I then noticed the clouds and I commented to Rebecca that it makes me think of heaven. Rebecca then began to sing a song about heaven. I don't know the name of the song, but right afterwards, I asked her what she thought heaven looks like. She thought a moment, smiled, and said, "BEAUTIFUL!!" The brightness in her eyes and her sincere smile just made my heart melt. I pray that these precious children will all sincerely find Jesus, so that we can all have a big ol' reunion in heaven one day.
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
Friday, July 30, 2010
Behind the Scenes
We interns have been working on the first "Fellowship Day" for the MFH kids and Teen Mania for the past few days. It has been interesting, as we have been doing ALL the work, but Teen Mania (and later the short term missionaries) will be getting to spend ALL the time with the MFH kids. It's been a bit of a struggle of me, as the serving part of me is glad to plan a time for these short-termers to get to know the orphans in hopes that they will sponsor them. The selfish part is envious, as I wish I had more structured time to spend with the kids and didn't have to do any grunt work.
It has been helping me to know that I am not the only one who is doing behind the scenes work, as we 5 interns have been doing it all together. It also helps when God reminds me that the more people who come to love these orphans and are burdened by their plight, the more help the orphans will receive. I am encouraged that so many people want to help by praying for the orphans and widows, donating clothes, toys, and Bibles, taking time to come all the way to Zambia to see how they could help, or even sponsoring a child.
Now a little bit about our "Fellowship Days":
We will be having two Fellowship Days - one tomorrow (Saturday) and one next week. These days are designed for the two short-term missionary groups (the 70 Teen Mania crew and the 21 short-termers) to get to spend time getting to know individual orphans. We will be bringing the Lusaka MFH kids to Chongwe, so that ALL the MFH kids from both locations are together. We will be grouping up 2 Teen Mania members with 2 MFH kids, so that the TM people will get to know at least 2 orphans very well and be able to go back home and help to find more sponsors for them. We have also organized games for them to play together in teams - tug of war, 3-legged race, relay race, and a trust walk. We're also bringing in some crafts for them to do together, and prepared a Bible study based on Phil. 2:1-2 for the groups to study together. The kids will also be getting special badges for participating in the events.
The entire day will be based on Philippians 2:1-2, which says : If you have any encouragement from being united with christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with his spirit, with any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded.
The idea is to use the different games as examples for the kids to understand the meaning of these verses. For example - tug of war is an example of being united as a team; relay race is an example of being like-minded as a team, etc.
We're excited for the Lusaka kids and the Chongwe kids to spend more time together, and also to see the Teen Mania kids fall in love with these precious, beautiful children.
Please pray for our two Fellowship Days and our second Camp Hope which is starting on Monday.
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
It has been helping me to know that I am not the only one who is doing behind the scenes work, as we 5 interns have been doing it all together. It also helps when God reminds me that the more people who come to love these orphans and are burdened by their plight, the more help the orphans will receive. I am encouraged that so many people want to help by praying for the orphans and widows, donating clothes, toys, and Bibles, taking time to come all the way to Zambia to see how they could help, or even sponsoring a child.
Now a little bit about our "Fellowship Days":
We will be having two Fellowship Days - one tomorrow (Saturday) and one next week. These days are designed for the two short-term missionary groups (the 70 Teen Mania crew and the 21 short-termers) to get to spend time getting to know individual orphans. We will be bringing the Lusaka MFH kids to Chongwe, so that ALL the MFH kids from both locations are together. We will be grouping up 2 Teen Mania members with 2 MFH kids, so that the TM people will get to know at least 2 orphans very well and be able to go back home and help to find more sponsors for them. We have also organized games for them to play together in teams - tug of war, 3-legged race, relay race, and a trust walk. We're also bringing in some crafts for them to do together, and prepared a Bible study based on Phil. 2:1-2 for the groups to study together. The kids will also be getting special badges for participating in the events.
The entire day will be based on Philippians 2:1-2, which says : If you have any encouragement from being united with christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with his spirit, with any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded.
The idea is to use the different games as examples for the kids to understand the meaning of these verses. For example - tug of war is an example of being united as a team; relay race is an example of being like-minded as a team, etc.
We're excited for the Lusaka kids and the Chongwe kids to spend more time together, and also to see the Teen Mania kids fall in love with these precious, beautiful children.
Please pray for our two Fellowship Days and our second Camp Hope which is starting on Monday.
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Stories from the Heart
I've been thinking a lot lately about some of the kids I've met both at Camp Hope, on the roads, and at the different My Father's Houses. Some of their stories have broken my heart and even seeing some of the faces of the kids who weren't able to attend Camp Hope, Chongwe are still haunting me.
I've met many children so far, but there are a few who have really made an impact on me for various reasons. God has been using these individuals to touch my heart and to teach me many lessons.
My Father's House, Chongwe -
Doreen - this darling little girl is 3 years old, but looks as though she were much younger. She is very new to the MFH in Chongwe. Before she came to the MFH, she was found sitting in a house all by herself. Apparently, she'd be left in the house all day while her guardians went off to do whatever it is that they did, and she would just sit. When I first met her, she didn't smile, talk, play much, and she was hesitant to go to certain people. She wanted to be carried around almost everywhere even though she could walk. (She's the little one that I am carrying on my back in my facebook profile picture.) All of us felt our hearts break for her, wanting her to feel loved and feel free enough to behave as a child should. We all took turns playing with her, talking to her, trying to make her feel safe and showering love upon her. Late last week, Doreen seemed like a completely different child - she was singing, laughing, smiling, dancing and insisting that she walk by herself. She finally feels free to be a 3 year old, and I am so happy that she is receiving the love of Jesus from everyone around her.
Jonah - he is Doreen's older brother, who is about 9 years old. He was brought in at the same time as Doreen. He wasn't able to stay at home with his little sister because he was out herding goats all day. When I heard this, it was hard for me to imagine this little boy out on the fields by himself, herding a bunch of goats around. He didn't get a chance to just be a kid. When I look at his adorable little face now, watching him smile his big smile, laughing and playing, it makes me so thankful that God brought him to a My Father's House. He is safe and is showered with Jesus' love every day.
Maximillian - Max is about 12 or 13 years old. I don't know his story, but he is one of the most smiley young men I've ever met. He's got the hugest smile, which helped me recognize him when we first met. Max also loves to draw - he draws everything from flags, cars, and people. He drew pictures for most of us interns. The pictures don't really look like us, but he always includes something that we are wearing or holding so we know it's us.
Andrew - he is also about 12 or 13, and is a very active guy. He loves to laugh and joke around, but also has a passionate heart for Jesus. He had a hard time remembering my name until I told him that my name is just like his name, but with an "a" at the end instead of a "w". I told him I'd test him the next time I saw him. The very next day, he came up to me and said very loudly, "Andrea with an A!" and smiled his handsome smile. That made me smile.
Lister - this little cutie is about 6 years old. I met her when I was holding Doreen, and I felt a wet trickle down the back of my arm. I looked over my shoulder to see what it was, and saw a little girl giving Doreen some milk. She seemed quite shy and didn't seem to know any English when I first met her, but she leaned on me and smiled. I got a chance to walk around with her and was talking to her slowly in English, when she suddenly broke her silence and began to ramble quickly in English. Guess she knew English after all. Anyway, we sang some songs together and kicked a ball back and forth with little Doreen toddling after us.
There's another little one who has touched my heart from MFH, Chongwe. This child is HIV positive, which is why I am not using any names. This dear one does not appear sick, but would have to be taken to a clinic every once in a while to get medicine. This child is doing well, but it made me so sad to know that this little one has a deadly disease. The poor child didn't do anything to deserve it, and it makes me so angry to know that this young one has HIV. I am thankful that this child was found and brought to a loving family at MFH. I often see this child smiling, playing, and just being a kid. I am thankful for that, and I pray that if it is God's plan for this child, that this dear one will be healed.
The Mamas - these mamas, who take care of the orphans, are not just your ordinary women; they are women who love God and who were hand-picked by the EOH staff and their individual pastors. Many of them are widows, although one of them is still married, and still have children of their own. I recently discovered that three of the mamas, either in Chongwe or Lusaka, have young children of their own. Two of the children in a MFH with their mother, and the other 2 mamas' children are cared for by a close relative. It's amazing me to that 1) the two biological children of one of the mamas are cheerfully sharing their mother with 6 other kids, and 2) these other mamas would give up their own lives to care for 8 to 9 children who are not even their own.
I've been told that the bond between mother and child doesn't seem to be as strong here in Zambia, and that it's not just the parents that raise their kids, but the whole village/community has a hand in caring for the child. It's also common for parents to give up their children, if they cannot care for them because of lack of money/food. It just goes to show that so many families in Zambia are impoverished or in extremely desperate situations.
"Street Kids" (refers to kids who are not living in a MFH) in Chongwe -
Not all of these kids are orphans, but many of them are. Some of them are living in a single-parent home, with guardians, but many of them are being abused, mistreated, or are living in other horribly unsafe situations. Again, I don't know all their stories, but there are a few kids I met during Camp Hope, Chongwe who have made an impression on me. Some of them were actually attending Camp Hope and some of them are kids who were just hanging around.
Jimmy - I mentioned both Jimmy, who is about 13 years old, and his Pink Floyd shirt in an earlier blog post, but I wanted to include him again. I first met him when he was hanging around during Camp Hope, wanting to join, but he either attended last year or didn't have permission from a teacher or a parent to attend. I was trying to talk with him and a few other boys who were hanging around the field, but they didn't seem to understand much English, so they just laughed whenever I talked. They'd say "yes" when I asked them certain questions, but mostly just laughed. The next morning, I saw Jimmy, in his Pink Floyd shirt of course, sneak into the breakfast line meant for the Camp Hope kids. This action of his touched my heart. I don't know if he was sneaking in because he was poor and hungry, or if he was just being a sneaky kid and trying to get free food. I will never know, but it touched me because it reminded me that many of these kids ARE poor and hungry and are struggling to survive. It also reminded me that no matter how much free food we give these kids, it means nothing if they don't know Christ.
Verile - this cutie is 4 years old. He came into Camp Hope on the third day, and when I saw him, I fell in love with his face. That may sound crazy, but he has the cutest smile EVER! He almost looks like a bull dog - a squished smile, but OH SO CUTE!! He also has a HUGE head, which I'm sure carries a HUGE brain.
Sara - this dear little girl attended Camp Hope in Chongwe. I don't know how old she is, but I am guessing she's around 9 years old. I met her when I was sitting on a log up on the field where all the Camp Hope groups were meeting. She walked up to me while her group was playing. She looked at me, and I smiled at her. She smiled back and promptly sat on my lap and snuggled her head into me. She grabbed my hand and wrapped my arm around her, holding on to my hand tightly, as though she was afraid I'd let go. When I found out what her name was, I told her it means "princess" and that she is a princess in God's eyes. I told her Jesus loves her so much, and she just smiled at me. I don't think she spoke much English, so I just prayed for her, as she sat on my lap.
I am so happy that even when everyone else may forget about these dear young ones, who can barely fend for themselves and have no voice, Jesus does not forget about them. I am reminded of Matthew 19 when the little children where brought to him and the disciples tried to send them away, thinking they were a nuisance. Jesus then said unto them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Jesus does indeed love the little children. :)
I'm sure this list will grow as my journey in Zambia continues. Stay tuned!
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
I've met many children so far, but there are a few who have really made an impact on me for various reasons. God has been using these individuals to touch my heart and to teach me many lessons.
My Father's House, Chongwe -
Doreen - this darling little girl is 3 years old, but looks as though she were much younger. She is very new to the MFH in Chongwe. Before she came to the MFH, she was found sitting in a house all by herself. Apparently, she'd be left in the house all day while her guardians went off to do whatever it is that they did, and she would just sit. When I first met her, she didn't smile, talk, play much, and she was hesitant to go to certain people. She wanted to be carried around almost everywhere even though she could walk. (She's the little one that I am carrying on my back in my facebook profile picture.) All of us felt our hearts break for her, wanting her to feel loved and feel free enough to behave as a child should. We all took turns playing with her, talking to her, trying to make her feel safe and showering love upon her. Late last week, Doreen seemed like a completely different child - she was singing, laughing, smiling, dancing and insisting that she walk by herself. She finally feels free to be a 3 year old, and I am so happy that she is receiving the love of Jesus from everyone around her.
Jonah - he is Doreen's older brother, who is about 9 years old. He was brought in at the same time as Doreen. He wasn't able to stay at home with his little sister because he was out herding goats all day. When I heard this, it was hard for me to imagine this little boy out on the fields by himself, herding a bunch of goats around. He didn't get a chance to just be a kid. When I look at his adorable little face now, watching him smile his big smile, laughing and playing, it makes me so thankful that God brought him to a My Father's House. He is safe and is showered with Jesus' love every day.
Maximillian - Max is about 12 or 13 years old. I don't know his story, but he is one of the most smiley young men I've ever met. He's got the hugest smile, which helped me recognize him when we first met. Max also loves to draw - he draws everything from flags, cars, and people. He drew pictures for most of us interns. The pictures don't really look like us, but he always includes something that we are wearing or holding so we know it's us.
Andrew - he is also about 12 or 13, and is a very active guy. He loves to laugh and joke around, but also has a passionate heart for Jesus. He had a hard time remembering my name until I told him that my name is just like his name, but with an "a" at the end instead of a "w". I told him I'd test him the next time I saw him. The very next day, he came up to me and said very loudly, "Andrea with an A!" and smiled his handsome smile. That made me smile.
Lister - this little cutie is about 6 years old. I met her when I was holding Doreen, and I felt a wet trickle down the back of my arm. I looked over my shoulder to see what it was, and saw a little girl giving Doreen some milk. She seemed quite shy and didn't seem to know any English when I first met her, but she leaned on me and smiled. I got a chance to walk around with her and was talking to her slowly in English, when she suddenly broke her silence and began to ramble quickly in English. Guess she knew English after all. Anyway, we sang some songs together and kicked a ball back and forth with little Doreen toddling after us.
There's another little one who has touched my heart from MFH, Chongwe. This child is HIV positive, which is why I am not using any names. This dear one does not appear sick, but would have to be taken to a clinic every once in a while to get medicine. This child is doing well, but it made me so sad to know that this little one has a deadly disease. The poor child didn't do anything to deserve it, and it makes me so angry to know that this young one has HIV. I am thankful that this child was found and brought to a loving family at MFH. I often see this child smiling, playing, and just being a kid. I am thankful for that, and I pray that if it is God's plan for this child, that this dear one will be healed.
The Mamas - these mamas, who take care of the orphans, are not just your ordinary women; they are women who love God and who were hand-picked by the EOH staff and their individual pastors. Many of them are widows, although one of them is still married, and still have children of their own. I recently discovered that three of the mamas, either in Chongwe or Lusaka, have young children of their own. Two of the children in a MFH with their mother, and the other 2 mamas' children are cared for by a close relative. It's amazing me to that 1) the two biological children of one of the mamas are cheerfully sharing their mother with 6 other kids, and 2) these other mamas would give up their own lives to care for 8 to 9 children who are not even their own.
I've been told that the bond between mother and child doesn't seem to be as strong here in Zambia, and that it's not just the parents that raise their kids, but the whole village/community has a hand in caring for the child. It's also common for parents to give up their children, if they cannot care for them because of lack of money/food. It just goes to show that so many families in Zambia are impoverished or in extremely desperate situations.
"Street Kids" (refers to kids who are not living in a MFH) in Chongwe -
Not all of these kids are orphans, but many of them are. Some of them are living in a single-parent home, with guardians, but many of them are being abused, mistreated, or are living in other horribly unsafe situations. Again, I don't know all their stories, but there are a few kids I met during Camp Hope, Chongwe who have made an impression on me. Some of them were actually attending Camp Hope and some of them are kids who were just hanging around.
Jimmy - I mentioned both Jimmy, who is about 13 years old, and his Pink Floyd shirt in an earlier blog post, but I wanted to include him again. I first met him when he was hanging around during Camp Hope, wanting to join, but he either attended last year or didn't have permission from a teacher or a parent to attend. I was trying to talk with him and a few other boys who were hanging around the field, but they didn't seem to understand much English, so they just laughed whenever I talked. They'd say "yes" when I asked them certain questions, but mostly just laughed. The next morning, I saw Jimmy, in his Pink Floyd shirt of course, sneak into the breakfast line meant for the Camp Hope kids. This action of his touched my heart. I don't know if he was sneaking in because he was poor and hungry, or if he was just being a sneaky kid and trying to get free food. I will never know, but it touched me because it reminded me that many of these kids ARE poor and hungry and are struggling to survive. It also reminded me that no matter how much free food we give these kids, it means nothing if they don't know Christ.
Verile - this cutie is 4 years old. He came into Camp Hope on the third day, and when I saw him, I fell in love with his face. That may sound crazy, but he has the cutest smile EVER! He almost looks like a bull dog - a squished smile, but OH SO CUTE!! He also has a HUGE head, which I'm sure carries a HUGE brain.
Sara - this dear little girl attended Camp Hope in Chongwe. I don't know how old she is, but I am guessing she's around 9 years old. I met her when I was sitting on a log up on the field where all the Camp Hope groups were meeting. She walked up to me while her group was playing. She looked at me, and I smiled at her. She smiled back and promptly sat on my lap and snuggled her head into me. She grabbed my hand and wrapped my arm around her, holding on to my hand tightly, as though she was afraid I'd let go. When I found out what her name was, I told her it means "princess" and that she is a princess in God's eyes. I told her Jesus loves her so much, and she just smiled at me. I don't think she spoke much English, so I just prayed for her, as she sat on my lap.
I am so happy that even when everyone else may forget about these dear young ones, who can barely fend for themselves and have no voice, Jesus does not forget about them. I am reminded of Matthew 19 when the little children where brought to him and the disciples tried to send them away, thinking they were a nuisance. Jesus then said unto them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Jesus does indeed love the little children. :)
I'm sure this list will grow as my journey in Zambia continues. Stay tuned!
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Camp Hope, Chongwe - Part 2
Whew! It's been a tiring week, but also a week full of blessings. Camp Hope, Chongwe has ended, and we interns are able to relax a bit today. Right now, we are all sitting in an internet cafe checking e-mail, updating our blogs, and later we're going to experience a Zambian movie theater and watch Toy Story 3! :)
Anyway, back to the subject of this blog. The week was tiring with getting up before sunrise every morning and getting back long after sunset. But our time in Chongwe was most excellent. I met so many different children and teenagers, got to talk with some of the Zambian interpreters and EOH staff members about their pasts and how they came to Christ. I've been so encouraged by them.
Camp Hope, Chongwe was set up as a one week long VBS/day camp, which is open to 300 or so kids and teenagers from around the Chongwe area. The ages ranged from 4 years to 16 years, and all of them are broken up into 25 age groups of about 10-15 kids. Teen Mania, a group of 70 teenagers from North America, were the main teachers for each group. Because many of the kids who came spoke little to no English, interpreters from around the area were gathered to translate what the English-speakers taught.
Camp Hope began each morning at around 8:40 am or so, and ended around 4:30 pm, but many of the kids would come much earlier and gather at the nearby field to wait. Some would often hang around at the end, as well. Here's what a normal schedule of the day would look like for Camp Hope:
7:00 - interns arrive with Humphray and bread for the kids' breakfast; volunteer mamas would start prepping food and get it ready to pass out to all the Camp Hope kids, plus random kids who would wander off the streets and into the food line
7:15-7:45 - kids begin to gather on the field and are entertained by interpreters / interns (us) while they wait for breakfast
7:45 - 8:15 - kids get in line to receive their breakfast of hot tea, 2 buns with peanut butter, and a hard-boiled egg.
** Side note about breakfast time - there were 2 kids in particular who stuck out to me at this time because they were not registered for Camp Hope. These two boys would often wander around the field where Camp Hope met, wanting to be a part of it, too. Unfortunately, we had to turn many kids away because they didn't receive permission from their teachers/guardians, or had already attended last year. Camp Hope is for kids who have never attended, so that all have a chance to hear the Gospel. Anyway, these 2 boys were named Jimmy and Gilbert. Jimmy stuck out to me because he would always wear a Pink Floyd shirt, and Gilbert had a pretty distinct look. I had met them the day before on the field, and knew they were not part of Camp Hope. But I still talked with them as best as I could (they spoke mostly Nyanja), and played with them. The next day, as I was passing out buns to the kids in the breakfast line, I noticed a Pink Floyd shirt. I looked up and noticed it was Jimmy. I smiled at him, and he sheepishly smiled back because he probably knew he was sneaking in. I let him in, though, because there was plenty extra, and he was probably hungry. Then I saw Gilbert sneak in. He had changed shirts, but I knew it was him because he looked a bit guilty, as well. We let him in, anyway. :)**
8:15-8:40 - chaos nearly erupts; the kids who were first in line finish their breakfast and begin to wander around the area. Keep in mind none of these events happen indoors, and all of the Teen Mania staff are still preparing for the day at this time, so it's basically us interns and whatever adult is around in charge of the 271+ kids. Little ones are beginning to cry, and we often have no idea why; rowdy boys are pushing and shoving because, well, they're boys. We all do our best to get them under control, which is often hard because sometimes they have no idea what we're saying to them. Thankfully, God is gracious, and nothing really bad ever happened during this time. We were always somehow able to entertain them with singing songs, playing with them, or trying to say things in Nyanja (one of the main tribal dialects), which tends to entertain them because we're a bunch of "Mazungos" (a person who is not Zambian).
8:40 or so - we bring the kids down the hill to join Team Mania in front of the makeshift dining hall. Here they sing more songs and wait for the translators, who are in a meeting at this time.
We interns pass out the groups' t-shirts, bandanas, and nametags, and for the first couple of days, Brian and I did registration.
**Side note about registration: like I mentioned in the first blog about Camp Hope, we were given a list of all the kids who registered for Camp Hope through their individual churches. The list was not very organized, and much of the information was not correct. Our job, as registrars, was to find each name on the unalphabatized list, ask them for their age, grade, guardians' name, school name, and village name. Most of the younger kids needed an interpreter, so it took quite a while. The first day of registration took almost 3 HOURS!! Then we had to deal with the kids who snuck in, or hadn't registered but had a note from their teachers. There were a few girls who had forged a note, and were sent away. That was difficult for me, as I would love to let them ALL attend, but I know we have to draw a line somewhere. **
9:00 or so - Teen Mania and the interpreters would take their groups up to the large field near one of the local schools and proceed with lesson and art time.
During this time, we interns would hang around to see if the groups needed anything, or in my case, to see if any more kids wandered in to register. Some came late, and some came with official notes from their teachers and were let in. (Most Zambian schools are year-round, so many of the kids who do attend school needed permission from their headmasters or teachers to attend Camp Hope.)
12:30 or so - kids would line up for lunch; pretty much the same deal as during breakfast time, except this time kids from the outside are not able to sneak in because all the Camp Hope kids are wearing their t-shirts.
**Another side note - Street kids would often wander by, wondering what all the singing and cheerful laughter is about, and they would just look so hopeful that it would break my heart. A few kids came up to me and asked in broken English, "I would like to attend, too." I was SO sad when I had to tell them that registration was closed. I tried to encourage them to sign up for next year's camp, but I'm not sure if they understood me. I didn't just want to ignore these kids, so I invited them to come sit with me on the field to talk. I learned most of their names, and I asked them if they attended church, if they knew about Jesus, and if they had ever read/seen a Bible. Apparently, most people go to church in Zambia, and know about Jesus, and because these particular kids didn't speak much English, it was hard for me to assess if they had accepted Christ into their hearts. I tried using hand motions and drawings on the dirt to explain the Gospel, but most of them just giggled. We ended up drawing in the sand together, and some of the girls came over to touch my long hair and snuggle up to me. They seemed happy until a group of Camp Hope walked by with their t-shirts and shiny crowns they had made during craft time, and then they all looked sad.
That incident just reminded me of how much these beautiful children in Zambia need to feel loved and cared for. Some of them are abused at home, are born into families who practice witch craft, are forced to care for themselves and younger siblings because their guardians are too drunk to care. It's devastating to think about and to look into their eyes and see all the hurt and pain behind them. All of us who came over from America poured love into them this past week, but we know they really need to know the love of Jesus, as he will be with them forever, even when we leave and go back to America.**
1:30 or so - second class session and play time in indivdual groups
4:00 - ending songs back near the dining hall; collection of t-shirts, crafts, bandanas so that they won't get robbed on the way home; and good-byes
The last day, the kids were able to bring their t-shirts, bandanas, and crafts home, and the good-byes were SO SAD!! A few of the kids refused to let go of their teachers, and some of them had tears in their eyes. It was heart-breaking. It hurt a bit to watch these kids leave, knowing that many of them were going back to devatation situations and that they may not ever receive love like the love they received during the week. All we can do now is pray for them. Pray that the seeds that were planted would grow; pray that the decisions to follow Christ would remain true; pray that these beautiful children would know that God is their heavenly Father and loves them SO much.
Thanks for reading and praying.
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
Anyway, back to the subject of this blog. The week was tiring with getting up before sunrise every morning and getting back long after sunset. But our time in Chongwe was most excellent. I met so many different children and teenagers, got to talk with some of the Zambian interpreters and EOH staff members about their pasts and how they came to Christ. I've been so encouraged by them.
Camp Hope, Chongwe was set up as a one week long VBS/day camp, which is open to 300 or so kids and teenagers from around the Chongwe area. The ages ranged from 4 years to 16 years, and all of them are broken up into 25 age groups of about 10-15 kids. Teen Mania, a group of 70 teenagers from North America, were the main teachers for each group. Because many of the kids who came spoke little to no English, interpreters from around the area were gathered to translate what the English-speakers taught.
Camp Hope began each morning at around 8:40 am or so, and ended around 4:30 pm, but many of the kids would come much earlier and gather at the nearby field to wait. Some would often hang around at the end, as well. Here's what a normal schedule of the day would look like for Camp Hope:
7:00 - interns arrive with Humphray and bread for the kids' breakfast; volunteer mamas would start prepping food and get it ready to pass out to all the Camp Hope kids, plus random kids who would wander off the streets and into the food line
7:15-7:45 - kids begin to gather on the field and are entertained by interpreters / interns (us) while they wait for breakfast
7:45 - 8:15 - kids get in line to receive their breakfast of hot tea, 2 buns with peanut butter, and a hard-boiled egg.
** Side note about breakfast time - there were 2 kids in particular who stuck out to me at this time because they were not registered for Camp Hope. These two boys would often wander around the field where Camp Hope met, wanting to be a part of it, too. Unfortunately, we had to turn many kids away because they didn't receive permission from their teachers/guardians, or had already attended last year. Camp Hope is for kids who have never attended, so that all have a chance to hear the Gospel. Anyway, these 2 boys were named Jimmy and Gilbert. Jimmy stuck out to me because he would always wear a Pink Floyd shirt, and Gilbert had a pretty distinct look. I had met them the day before on the field, and knew they were not part of Camp Hope. But I still talked with them as best as I could (they spoke mostly Nyanja), and played with them. The next day, as I was passing out buns to the kids in the breakfast line, I noticed a Pink Floyd shirt. I looked up and noticed it was Jimmy. I smiled at him, and he sheepishly smiled back because he probably knew he was sneaking in. I let him in, though, because there was plenty extra, and he was probably hungry. Then I saw Gilbert sneak in. He had changed shirts, but I knew it was him because he looked a bit guilty, as well. We let him in, anyway. :)**
8:15-8:40 - chaos nearly erupts; the kids who were first in line finish their breakfast and begin to wander around the area. Keep in mind none of these events happen indoors, and all of the Teen Mania staff are still preparing for the day at this time, so it's basically us interns and whatever adult is around in charge of the 271+ kids. Little ones are beginning to cry, and we often have no idea why; rowdy boys are pushing and shoving because, well, they're boys. We all do our best to get them under control, which is often hard because sometimes they have no idea what we're saying to them. Thankfully, God is gracious, and nothing really bad ever happened during this time. We were always somehow able to entertain them with singing songs, playing with them, or trying to say things in Nyanja (one of the main tribal dialects), which tends to entertain them because we're a bunch of "Mazungos" (a person who is not Zambian).
8:40 or so - we bring the kids down the hill to join Team Mania in front of the makeshift dining hall. Here they sing more songs and wait for the translators, who are in a meeting at this time.
We interns pass out the groups' t-shirts, bandanas, and nametags, and for the first couple of days, Brian and I did registration.
**Side note about registration: like I mentioned in the first blog about Camp Hope, we were given a list of all the kids who registered for Camp Hope through their individual churches. The list was not very organized, and much of the information was not correct. Our job, as registrars, was to find each name on the unalphabatized list, ask them for their age, grade, guardians' name, school name, and village name. Most of the younger kids needed an interpreter, so it took quite a while. The first day of registration took almost 3 HOURS!! Then we had to deal with the kids who snuck in, or hadn't registered but had a note from their teachers. There were a few girls who had forged a note, and were sent away. That was difficult for me, as I would love to let them ALL attend, but I know we have to draw a line somewhere. **
9:00 or so - Teen Mania and the interpreters would take their groups up to the large field near one of the local schools and proceed with lesson and art time.
During this time, we interns would hang around to see if the groups needed anything, or in my case, to see if any more kids wandered in to register. Some came late, and some came with official notes from their teachers and were let in. (Most Zambian schools are year-round, so many of the kids who do attend school needed permission from their headmasters or teachers to attend Camp Hope.)
12:30 or so - kids would line up for lunch; pretty much the same deal as during breakfast time, except this time kids from the outside are not able to sneak in because all the Camp Hope kids are wearing their t-shirts.
**Another side note - Street kids would often wander by, wondering what all the singing and cheerful laughter is about, and they would just look so hopeful that it would break my heart. A few kids came up to me and asked in broken English, "I would like to attend, too." I was SO sad when I had to tell them that registration was closed. I tried to encourage them to sign up for next year's camp, but I'm not sure if they understood me. I didn't just want to ignore these kids, so I invited them to come sit with me on the field to talk. I learned most of their names, and I asked them if they attended church, if they knew about Jesus, and if they had ever read/seen a Bible. Apparently, most people go to church in Zambia, and know about Jesus, and because these particular kids didn't speak much English, it was hard for me to assess if they had accepted Christ into their hearts. I tried using hand motions and drawings on the dirt to explain the Gospel, but most of them just giggled. We ended up drawing in the sand together, and some of the girls came over to touch my long hair and snuggle up to me. They seemed happy until a group of Camp Hope walked by with their t-shirts and shiny crowns they had made during craft time, and then they all looked sad.
That incident just reminded me of how much these beautiful children in Zambia need to feel loved and cared for. Some of them are abused at home, are born into families who practice witch craft, are forced to care for themselves and younger siblings because their guardians are too drunk to care. It's devastating to think about and to look into their eyes and see all the hurt and pain behind them. All of us who came over from America poured love into them this past week, but we know they really need to know the love of Jesus, as he will be with them forever, even when we leave and go back to America.**
1:30 or so - second class session and play time in indivdual groups
4:00 - ending songs back near the dining hall; collection of t-shirts, crafts, bandanas so that they won't get robbed on the way home; and good-byes
The last day, the kids were able to bring their t-shirts, bandanas, and crafts home, and the good-byes were SO SAD!! A few of the kids refused to let go of their teachers, and some of them had tears in their eyes. It was heart-breaking. It hurt a bit to watch these kids leave, knowing that many of them were going back to devatation situations and that they may not ever receive love like the love they received during the week. All we can do now is pray for them. Pray that the seeds that were planted would grow; pray that the decisions to follow Christ would remain true; pray that these beautiful children would know that God is their heavenly Father and loves them SO much.
Thanks for reading and praying.
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Camp Hope (Brian's Perspective)
From July 17- July 23rd the EOH interns have been helping out with running Camp Hope. Camp Hope is a 5 day camp where EOH partners up with another organization (Teen Mania) to teach about Jesus to the children in the Chongwe community.
Teen mania brings about 60 teenagers from all over the United States to live in tents and help to put this camp together. Its a pretty large operation and includes 275 children, 60 teenagers, 25 translators, 10 cooks, and everyone in EOH. All the cooks and translators are local volunteers who give up an entire week to work at the camp. I took a picture of all the cooks (we call them mamas) who helped to cook breakfast and lunch for 300 people with only a few big pots, firewood, coal, and water from the nearby well as their tools. It was pretty tiring just watching some of them get up at 6 or 7 in the morning to start breakfast and finish washing the last dish at 9 or 10 at night.
The children come from all over the community sometimes walking 20 km every day to arrive at camp each day. During camp, they get a free shirt, a bandanna, 2 big meals, get to do a variety of crafts, and, most importantly, they get loved by 60 teenager who all have a heart for children and who all want to tell them about the love of Jesus.
The children all arrive around 8 AM to eat breakfast. They then get in groups of 10-15 and together with 2-3 teenagers and a translator, they go out into a large field for bible stories, crafts, and fun. Even though English is the national language, most of the younger children speak the local dialect first (Nyanja) and don't understand English very well. That is the reason for the translators.
During this time, Andrea and I and the other interns are in the background making sure the teams have their supplies, helping to hand out and feed the children during lunch, and just making sure things are running smoothly. When we get some free time, we walk the field taking picture and praying for the camp in general.
Here are some pictures of the groups that were sitting around the field...
Honestly, sometimes it's hard for me to really get fully on board with these camps. It takes so much resources to put a camp on like this and I wonder if it would not be better to just use those resources elsewhere. I think its partly because I tend to just see the numbers and resources that gets put in and don't fully know the depths of the spiritual return and it makes me doubt . I know a lot people talk about the value of a single soul and I fully agree and understand that it is priceless, but when there are 70 people from teen mania who come out to Zambia for 2 weeks and they each have to raise ~4k dollars, I think about how the $280,000 dollars could have been used to build 6 or 7 more orphanages and I wonder if a 1 week camp makes sense.
Teen mania brings about 60 teenagers from all over the United States to live in tents and help to put this camp together. Its a pretty large operation and includes 275 children, 60 teenagers, 25 translators, 10 cooks, and everyone in EOH. All the cooks and translators are local volunteers who give up an entire week to work at the camp. I took a picture of all the cooks (we call them mamas) who helped to cook breakfast and lunch for 300 people with only a few big pots, firewood, coal, and water from the nearby well as their tools. It was pretty tiring just watching some of them get up at 6 or 7 in the morning to start breakfast and finish washing the last dish at 9 or 10 at night.
The children come from all over the community sometimes walking 20 km every day to arrive at camp each day. During camp, they get a free shirt, a bandanna, 2 big meals, get to do a variety of crafts, and, most importantly, they get loved by 60 teenager who all have a heart for children and who all want to tell them about the love of Jesus.
The children all arrive around 8 AM to eat breakfast. They then get in groups of 10-15 and together with 2-3 teenagers and a translator, they go out into a large field for bible stories, crafts, and fun. Even though English is the national language, most of the younger children speak the local dialect first (Nyanja) and don't understand English very well. That is the reason for the translators.
During this time, Andrea and I and the other interns are in the background making sure the teams have their supplies, helping to hand out and feed the children during lunch, and just making sure things are running smoothly. When we get some free time, we walk the field taking picture and praying for the camp in general.
Here are some pictures of the groups that were sitting around the field...
Honestly, sometimes it's hard for me to really get fully on board with these camps. It takes so much resources to put a camp on like this and I wonder if it would not be better to just use those resources elsewhere. I think its partly because I tend to just see the numbers and resources that gets put in and don't fully know the depths of the spiritual return and it makes me doubt . I know a lot people talk about the value of a single soul and I fully agree and understand that it is priceless, but when there are 70 people from teen mania who come out to Zambia for 2 weeks and they each have to raise ~4k dollars, I think about how the $280,000 dollars could have been used to build 6 or 7 more orphanages and I wonder if a 1 week camp makes sense.
It helps to know that EOH makes sure that anyone who has accepted Christ will be followed up with the local church and I honestly do hope and pray that those that accept Christ during this week will grow and that the seeds that we plant will fall on good soil (Mark 4:1-20).
I also know that a lot of the people who come to Zambia are changed and go back to their local church in the US and inspire people to get involved. It's one way to disciple the church and something I've realized is of utmost importance. I feel that the God of Zambia has so much to teach the American church and people who come here should go back to their local church to inspire the church and teach them all God is going in Zambia.
Sometimes it saddens me that the church body would gladly donate thousands of dollars for someone they know to come on a missions trip, but would not donate $50 a month to sponsor a child in Zambia to ensure that a child's spiritual and physical needs are met. I know there is a need for both types of funds though and I am happy that people are willing to give to God's Kingdom.
With all these doubts during the week, it was a struggle sometimes. In many ways, I am tainted and sometimes sceptical and cynical about how effective these camps may be. I wonder if I would be changed if someone spent a week with me. I don't know if my mind/heart works that way. But I know that I'm not like everyone and it's been a while since I was a little child. What encouraged me was that at the end of the camp, kids were hugging, crying and would not let go of their teachers. They felt so strongly towards these American teenager who could not even speak their language that they just wanted to hug them longer. And in that moment, I understand that maybe a week could change a child's life. Maybe not every child, but some and if just a handful of children were changed forever, then this camp was worth it.
Camp Hope, Chongwe
Camp Hope, Chongwe is about to end - tomorrow is the last day - and so much has happened! It's been pretty crazy and tiring, but exciting and full of blessings.
Most mornings we've been getting up around 5:15ish to get ready to leave by 6:00 am. Most of you who know me know this is EXTREMELY difficult for me, as I HATE waking up early, but by God's grace, I've been able to wake up with little difficulty. :)
It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get to Chongwe from Lusaka (depending on who's driving), so it's important for us to leave early. Humphray, the awesome dude from the EOH Zambian office, who has been driving us interns to Chongwe every morning, has to get all the breakfast rolls and other food in by 7:00 am. The volunteer cooks prepare breakfast and lunch for the 271 kids who have been attending Camp Hope, and many of the kids are already waiting when we arrive.
A group called Teen Mania has partenered with Every Orphan's Hope to teach 25 groups of Zambian kids who attend Camp Hope. The orphans from the My Father's Houses do not attend, as it is a ministry to reach the other kids of Chongwe who do not get a chance to hear about Jesus every day. Anyway, there are about 70 people in Teen Mania, and they are all camped out around the MFH houses. They also eat and shower around the area, so Bob, a missionary through EOH, has built a dining common for them to eat and hang out, as well as makeshift showers so they are able to bathe. It's quite a sight to behold. :)
Anyway, as interns, we are not in charge of any particular group of kids. We take care of registration, organizing and passing out t-shirts, bandanas, nametags, passing out food to the kids, and making sure the Teen Mania crew is ok. We also have chances to talk with "street kids" (kids who are not living in the My Father's Houses) and witness to them during our "spare" time. We have also had many chances to help the volunteer cooks with cooking and washing dishes. They tend to find us amusing, as we're not used to cutting vegetables without cutting boards. :P
Brian and I have been in charge of registration, which is pretty crazy. The first day we did registration was INSANE!! We were given a list of all the kids who signed up. The kids were already grouped into 25 groups based on their ages, but their names were not in alphabetical order. This made it very hard for us to locate names. I thought we could do it based on their ages, but it turns out that many of their ages were inputted incorrectly on the spreadsheet.
Needless to say, the registration process took a VERY long time. Each kid came up to us one at a time, stated their name, and had to help update the rest of the information - grade, age, who takes care of them at home, school name, and village name. Often, the kids would not be able to understand us, so we had to rely on our interpreter, who would again repeat the questions in Nyanja.
****
I have to go to bed now, as wake up time is going to be quite early. I will finish updating later.
Thanks!
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
Most mornings we've been getting up around 5:15ish to get ready to leave by 6:00 am. Most of you who know me know this is EXTREMELY difficult for me, as I HATE waking up early, but by God's grace, I've been able to wake up with little difficulty. :)
It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get to Chongwe from Lusaka (depending on who's driving), so it's important for us to leave early. Humphray, the awesome dude from the EOH Zambian office, who has been driving us interns to Chongwe every morning, has to get all the breakfast rolls and other food in by 7:00 am. The volunteer cooks prepare breakfast and lunch for the 271 kids who have been attending Camp Hope, and many of the kids are already waiting when we arrive.
A group called Teen Mania has partenered with Every Orphan's Hope to teach 25 groups of Zambian kids who attend Camp Hope. The orphans from the My Father's Houses do not attend, as it is a ministry to reach the other kids of Chongwe who do not get a chance to hear about Jesus every day. Anyway, there are about 70 people in Teen Mania, and they are all camped out around the MFH houses. They also eat and shower around the area, so Bob, a missionary through EOH, has built a dining common for them to eat and hang out, as well as makeshift showers so they are able to bathe. It's quite a sight to behold. :)
Anyway, as interns, we are not in charge of any particular group of kids. We take care of registration, organizing and passing out t-shirts, bandanas, nametags, passing out food to the kids, and making sure the Teen Mania crew is ok. We also have chances to talk with "street kids" (kids who are not living in the My Father's Houses) and witness to them during our "spare" time. We have also had many chances to help the volunteer cooks with cooking and washing dishes. They tend to find us amusing, as we're not used to cutting vegetables without cutting boards. :P
Brian and I have been in charge of registration, which is pretty crazy. The first day we did registration was INSANE!! We were given a list of all the kids who signed up. The kids were already grouped into 25 groups based on their ages, but their names were not in alphabetical order. This made it very hard for us to locate names. I thought we could do it based on their ages, but it turns out that many of their ages were inputted incorrectly on the spreadsheet.
Needless to say, the registration process took a VERY long time. Each kid came up to us one at a time, stated their name, and had to help update the rest of the information - grade, age, who takes care of them at home, school name, and village name. Often, the kids would not be able to understand us, so we had to rely on our interpreter, who would again repeat the questions in Nyanja.
****
I have to go to bed now, as wake up time is going to be quite early. I will finish updating later.
Thanks!
In Jesus' Love,
Andrea
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