This is just a quick note to let you know that we have safely arrived in South Africa and will be leaving tonight around 11:00 pm for Amsterdam. All of our luggage is also safely with us as of right now, so please continue to pray that it stays that way! A friend of David Jordaan’s, Darvie, picked us up from the Jo-burg airport and brought us to his home to help him celebrate Father’s Day. We are leaving in a few minutes to go to a lion park, Monte Casino shopping mall, and a few other classic South African sites. He is a true blessing to give up his day to spend with us! We are thrilled!!!! We are also eagerly looking forward to being home with you soon.
God bless!
~ Elizabeth
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Last Blog ~ From Dan
So this is it, the last blog of the trip. We leave this wonderful house and man (Dr. Thinus) at 6am for the airport. In some ways, it feels like we are leaving home for another home... its a strange feeling. But before I reflect on the trip as a whole, I want to catch everyone up on our last couple days here.
Our remaining time at Vineyard Christian School was a blessing. It continued to be clear that the Spirit of God is dwelling in that school. We spent Thursday ministering about "What if you've made a mistake" and it just seems like the situation that these students were struggling with did not have the heaviness of the other schools that we have worked in. I think a lot of our time this year has been a ministry of restoration rather than prevention, but it seemed that Vineyard was more prevention... so praise the Lord.
We spent Thursday afternoon at a massive rural high school called Butondo. The Zambians we have been working with (STSer's and Church Planters) pretty much ran the program. Our goal was to hand it over to them by the end of our time, and they did a wonderful job. One of the STS guys, named Terry, who is a very sweet and humble man, delivered the biology talk, which was amazing... I have never seen a group of students so quiet during a talk about the biology of HIV. Then one of the Church Planters named Chansa (the youngest and most shy of the group) talked about myths. He was so bold; we were all so proud of him. Then Joseph, a church planter, talked boldly about saving sex for marriage. It was an older crowd and there was a sense that many of them had already made a mistake. So Henry (the STS-Zambia coordinator) ended with one of the most poignant and engaging presentations of the gospel of grace that I have ever absorbed. You could feel it in the air... seriously. There is something about when the beauty of the gospel is really shared. The story of a God who sent his son to die for a world that didn't deserve it. The story of God's great love for his children. There was no condemnation, no guilt... only grace. It became clear that, for some of these, it was the first time they had heard the true gospel... not one heavy with judgment, not threatened with hell... but a gospel of love and restoration. There was a lightness in the room. He asked who would like to receive Christ and about half of the room raised their hands, and I really think they meant it. We prayed with them. Then we worshiped, we celebrated. We moved the tables back and just danced... African, American, we were all the same in that moment. We sang our lungs out. I have heard people say that music is a language in itself... I believe that now.
Friday morning was our last with Vineyard. The church planters took the lead and formulated their own skit and talk about stigma. It was encouraging like you couldn't believe; they did an amazing job! We ate our last traditional Zambian lunch and then took the Church Planters out for ice cream and said our sad goodbyes. We spent the rest of the afternoon sleeping. I always find it to be amazing how exhausted my body, mind, and spirit are at the end of our time. It is like the Spirit strengthens us, but when it is all over, we begin get a grasp of the real weight of what we have been doing.
On Friday evening we planned a bonfire (lovingly known as a Bushman's Television). As the Lord would have it, the water went out, and then the power shortly after. It was a classic African moment. So we enjoyed the fire under that massive African sky, next to the sprawling mango tree, breathing the brisk winter air, hearing the dogs howling in the distance, smelling the familiar scent of smoke, and sharing laughs and stories and sausages. It was as close to perfect as one could imagine.
Saturday morning was spent resting and enjoying one another. Max and I spent the afternoon taking pictures in the market... which blessed both of us greatly. Then we all met in town at this pizza place which is surprisingly delicious. And ended the evening in the living room worshipping, reflecting, sharing the Lord's Supper, and praying for one another... a family. Tomorrow we fly to Joburg early in the morning and one of Dr. T's friends is picking us up and taking us to his home to eat lunch with his family, and then to a lion park. We leave Joburg near midnight for Amsterdam, then to Washington, arriving in the early evening of Monday. Pray for us in transit, that we would enjoy our last days together and for safety. Pray for our reflection in the months to come, that the Lord would draw out the truths from our time in this wonderful place.
All in all, this has been an amazing month. The spiritual intensity has been more than ever before. God's presence has been evident. Much of that is due to each and every one of you. Your prayers have strengthened us when we were weary. They have given us joy when we carried sorrow. They bore our burdens and lifted our heads. They breathed spirit into our works. Thank you, each of you. Thank you for fighting with us. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for loving us and supporting us. Thank you.
With Love,
Dan
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Update from Casie
Hello Friends and Family!
Things are going well here in Zambia. We began our day at Vineyard Christian School where the kids are really sweet and humble. It’s really a joy to work with them because they have such sweet spirits. We talked about transmission and getting tested before we broke up into small groups. We have struggled with the small groups at this school because the kids are so quiet. We’ve had a hard time getting them to talk and open up but I have high hopes for the rest of the week. After Vineyard we headed over the church planting school for some YUMMY inshema! Oh how I LOVE inshema J Within about 30 minutes we all piled back into the van on our way to Chibote! We have been going there in the afternoons since last Monday so many of the team members have been able to build some good relationships with the girls there. We spent some time dancing, singing, and just having fun with them before Dan talked about relationships. We had several Zambians that are on our team get up and share from their heart with the kids as well. It’s really good to see the Zambians ministering to their own culture. They have an opportunity that us, Muzungus (white people), will never have. The heart of STS is to empower the Zambians that are here and know the culture to minister to the people around them. All in all, today was a good day. When we came back to town, Ida (the secretary for the Church Plant School… who is AWESOME) took the girls to get material to make Shetengays (African skirts). It was fun to walk around the market and look at all the different colored clothe. Max and I have discovered that we are an amazing team when it comes to making dinner! I can assure you that STS is eating WELL. Unfortunately, Jesse and Angie have not been feeling well today so I gave them some meds to help with fever and put them to bed early. Hopefully they will be able to sleep it off and begin feeling better in the morning. For some reason, illness has hit the team really hard this year.
As our time is coming to an end, I am sad to leave but looking forward to coming home. It will be really good to eat American food and sleep in my own room without four other roommates. It has been good to talk with different people about things that could happen in the future with STS.
So I must admit that I have learned A LOT of new things here in Zambia…. I learned the other day that if you try to catch a baby chicken… the mother chicken will attack you!! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?!?! I ALSO learned that momma chickens don’t actually bite you… Dr. T has THOROUGHLY informed me that momma chickens don’t bite! They WILL, however, impale you with their talons and flap their wings fanatically until they achieve what they want! I ALSO have to admit that I have tried… many a time… the catch the stupid roosters that wander around our yard. The other day I was sitting on the step watching this bird awkwardly cluck around the yard (there were several roosters in the vicinity) so I JUMPED UP and ran as fast as I could. For some reason I had decided that I wanted to catch the rooster… What I DIDN’T think about was WHY I would want to do that and what I was going to do with it when I did catch up to it. Well I got really close to the thing and realized that #1 I am insane, #2 I have no idea what this thing is going to do to be when I pick it up, and #3 I have two other angry roosters chasing me now that I pissed off their friend. Needless to say, I did not catch that rooster… I ran far far away… into the house where I was safe. :-)
Well I love you all and hope you are well. I wish I could write more but I must go to bed!
Casie
Things are going well here in Zambia. We began our day at Vineyard Christian School where the kids are really sweet and humble. It’s really a joy to work with them because they have such sweet spirits. We talked about transmission and getting tested before we broke up into small groups. We have struggled with the small groups at this school because the kids are so quiet. We’ve had a hard time getting them to talk and open up but I have high hopes for the rest of the week. After Vineyard we headed over the church planting school for some YUMMY inshema! Oh how I LOVE inshema J Within about 30 minutes we all piled back into the van on our way to Chibote! We have been going there in the afternoons since last Monday so many of the team members have been able to build some good relationships with the girls there. We spent some time dancing, singing, and just having fun with them before Dan talked about relationships. We had several Zambians that are on our team get up and share from their heart with the kids as well. It’s really good to see the Zambians ministering to their own culture. They have an opportunity that us, Muzungus (white people), will never have. The heart of STS is to empower the Zambians that are here and know the culture to minister to the people around them. All in all, today was a good day. When we came back to town, Ida (the secretary for the Church Plant School… who is AWESOME) took the girls to get material to make Shetengays (African skirts). It was fun to walk around the market and look at all the different colored clothe. Max and I have discovered that we are an amazing team when it comes to making dinner! I can assure you that STS is eating WELL. Unfortunately, Jesse and Angie have not been feeling well today so I gave them some meds to help with fever and put them to bed early. Hopefully they will be able to sleep it off and begin feeling better in the morning. For some reason, illness has hit the team really hard this year.
As our time is coming to an end, I am sad to leave but looking forward to coming home. It will be really good to eat American food and sleep in my own room without four other roommates. It has been good to talk with different people about things that could happen in the future with STS.
So I must admit that I have learned A LOT of new things here in Zambia…. I learned the other day that if you try to catch a baby chicken… the mother chicken will attack you!! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT?!?! I ALSO learned that momma chickens don’t actually bite you… Dr. T has THOROUGHLY informed me that momma chickens don’t bite! They WILL, however, impale you with their talons and flap their wings fanatically until they achieve what they want! I ALSO have to admit that I have tried… many a time… the catch the stupid roosters that wander around our yard. The other day I was sitting on the step watching this bird awkwardly cluck around the yard (there were several roosters in the vicinity) so I JUMPED UP and ran as fast as I could. For some reason I had decided that I wanted to catch the rooster… What I DIDN’T think about was WHY I would want to do that and what I was going to do with it when I did catch up to it. Well I got really close to the thing and realized that #1 I am insane, #2 I have no idea what this thing is going to do to be when I pick it up, and #3 I have two other angry roosters chasing me now that I pissed off their friend. Needless to say, I did not catch that rooster… I ran far far away… into the house where I was safe. :-)
Well I love you all and hope you are well. I wish I could write more but I must go to bed!
Casie
Monday, June 9, 2008
Monday Monday
We started off the week going to a new school called vineyard. There were around fifty kids—all of whom were suspiciously angelic. When we broke into small groups Elizabeth and mine’s group practically whispered the whole time; the girls were so quiet and shy. Hopefully tomorrow they’ll warm up.
After vineyard we surprised the girls at Chibote and returned for week two. It was wonderful to see familiar faces and be able to build on relationships that were started last week. We did a skit (or sketch as they say)—actress of the day award goes to Elizabeth. She played a fantastic crazy woman at the first school, and an even better disgusting slob (mud smeared face and all) in the afternoon.
We broke into small group, which was lovely. Most of the girls in my group were ones I had talked to at various points during last week and our conversation as a group was very organic—nothing about it felt forced. We sat in the sun and talked about getting tested (almost half of the girls in my group had already been tested which is exciting), whether kissing is a sin or not, and so on. Leaving the school was emotionally light compared to Friday; being able to say “I’ll see you tomorrow” definitely brought some comfort.
After vineyard we surprised the girls at Chibote and returned for week two. It was wonderful to see familiar faces and be able to build on relationships that were started last week. We did a skit (or sketch as they say)—actress of the day award goes to Elizabeth. She played a fantastic crazy woman at the first school, and an even better disgusting slob (mud smeared face and all) in the afternoon.
We broke into small group, which was lovely. Most of the girls in my group were ones I had talked to at various points during last week and our conversation as a group was very organic—nothing about it felt forced. We sat in the sun and talked about getting tested (almost half of the girls in my group had already been tested which is exciting), whether kissing is a sin or not, and so on. Leaving the school was emotionally light compared to Friday; being able to say “I’ll see you tomorrow” definitely brought some comfort.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Update from Elizabeth - Sunday Worship in Kitwe!
Good evening, family and friends!
It is finally the close of a restful weekend here in Zambia, and the team is gradually trickling off to their various rooms to journal, read and sleep. We are starting our final week tomorrow, and that realization brings a mixture of joy and sorrow.
This morning, Dr. Thinus was invited to preach at one of my favorite churches, The Showers of Blessing Church in Kitwe. We all loaded into the “Say Yes to Jesus” van and took off for a beautiful worship service. Dr. Thinus has been friends with Pastor Seafus and his wife Sarah since the early 90s, and their friendship makes this church feel like home to me. The entire congregation welcomes us annually with wide open arms and treats us with amazing hospitality. Our team joined enthusiastically in the singing and dancing that accompanies Zambian praise and worship, which was followed by a time of “blessing”. Our team wasn’t quite sure what was happening, until Dr. T. explained that it was a time in which the pastor led the church members to encourage each other and stop looking only unto their own needs. Jesse and Dan boldly stood up to give “blessing” speeches for the church body! :-) Dr. T. introduced our entire team and then finished the service with a wonderful sermon on the life of David, which stirred our hearts. We exited the church in typical Zambian fashion – forming a receiving line to shake the entire congregations’ hands as they one-by-one exited the building. Everyone continues singing and dancing right out into the church yard! I love it! The various team members stood around the church yard, conversing with the new friends we’d made at Chibote Girls’ School this past week (also in Kitwe). It was really neat to see many of the same girls that we had prayed for plugged into the church community this morning. All too soon, Sarah started herding the girls into her personal car and shooing the men towards Dr. T.’s van.
As soon as we were packed like sardines into her vehicle, she began to laugh and said she wanted to “bless” us with shatangai skirts (no idea if I spelled that right!). These are traditional Zambian wrap skirts made out of the brightly colored local fabrics. We were stunned, but grateful. She and her sister Maggie took us to a street vendor and let us pick out fabric that we liked for our skirts! When we got back to her house, Sarah spirited the fabric away to a tailor friend of hers, who cut the fabric into appropriate lengths for our skirts. By the time we left Kitwe, all the team females were decked in Zambian shatangai skirts!!!! In the meantime, several of the other women from church had started a wonderful lunch! How Pastor Seafus and Sarah love to bless us with good cooking. They prepared massive quantities of green beans, squash, carrots, potatoes, rice, chicken, sausage, cole slaw, and of course, nshima (maize-meal…almost like grits!). We ate, and ate, and ate, until we could eat no more!!! It was delicious, and I am always struck by their willingness to bestow such goodness on us. They live in a very small house in a little village on the outskirts of town – that meal is not indicative of their “normal” living, I’m sure. And yet, they go “all out” to bless us when we come! Angie and I escaped the after-lunch economics conversation in favor of playing in the street with some neighborhood children until it was time to go.
We returned to Mufulira for a “quiet” night at the house. Everyone putters around in a semi-normal routine of showers, snacking, email-checking, guitar-playing, reading, playing soccer with the boys from next door, etc. But tonight was different. Tonight was Austin’s last night with our team. We gathered in the living room to share lows and highs of the week, followed by our overall feelings about the trip. This beautiful time of true sharing was closed with worship, led by Austin himself. He has been a tremendous asset to our team, and he will be missed this week as we finish up the ministry work God has for us in Zambia. Thanks, Austin, for being a true servant and a blessing to STS! The Lord has used your humility, quiet strength and knowledge of the Word to uplift our entire team. May the things the Lord did in and through you during your time in Africa settle into your heart!
Highs and lows, joys and sorrows. From dancing in the church yard to saying goodbye to a team-mate, today has been packed full of emotions. And hovering beneath everything is the thought that soon it will be our turn to say farewell to Africa. Please continue praying for all of us – Austin as he travels to meet his family and those of us that remain here. God still has much in store for the team this week, and I are praying for the team to embrace each new day with excitement and joy! Please pray for our hearts, that the emotions bubbling up within us will not overshadow the work that is still to be done. And pray for our ability to process these emotions fully, with Christ’s help. We are physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. Yet, Jesus promises to bear our burdens and be our strength when we are weak! May He increase, even as we decrease, so that out of Him we can pour ourselves out to the students this week.
Thank you again for constantly joining with our team in prayer! We could not get through each day with your loving support and faithfulness. I also want to thank each one of you for your kind emails and phone calls. I hope you know how much each team member LOVES to hear from “home”! We miss you and appreciate you!!!
Elizabeth
It is finally the close of a restful weekend here in Zambia, and the team is gradually trickling off to their various rooms to journal, read and sleep. We are starting our final week tomorrow, and that realization brings a mixture of joy and sorrow.
This morning, Dr. Thinus was invited to preach at one of my favorite churches, The Showers of Blessing Church in Kitwe. We all loaded into the “Say Yes to Jesus” van and took off for a beautiful worship service. Dr. Thinus has been friends with Pastor Seafus and his wife Sarah since the early 90s, and their friendship makes this church feel like home to me. The entire congregation welcomes us annually with wide open arms and treats us with amazing hospitality. Our team joined enthusiastically in the singing and dancing that accompanies Zambian praise and worship, which was followed by a time of “blessing”. Our team wasn’t quite sure what was happening, until Dr. T. explained that it was a time in which the pastor led the church members to encourage each other and stop looking only unto their own needs. Jesse and Dan boldly stood up to give “blessing” speeches for the church body! :-) Dr. T. introduced our entire team and then finished the service with a wonderful sermon on the life of David, which stirred our hearts. We exited the church in typical Zambian fashion – forming a receiving line to shake the entire congregations’ hands as they one-by-one exited the building. Everyone continues singing and dancing right out into the church yard! I love it! The various team members stood around the church yard, conversing with the new friends we’d made at Chibote Girls’ School this past week (also in Kitwe). It was really neat to see many of the same girls that we had prayed for plugged into the church community this morning. All too soon, Sarah started herding the girls into her personal car and shooing the men towards Dr. T.’s van.
As soon as we were packed like sardines into her vehicle, she began to laugh and said she wanted to “bless” us with shatangai skirts (no idea if I spelled that right!). These are traditional Zambian wrap skirts made out of the brightly colored local fabrics. We were stunned, but grateful. She and her sister Maggie took us to a street vendor and let us pick out fabric that we liked for our skirts! When we got back to her house, Sarah spirited the fabric away to a tailor friend of hers, who cut the fabric into appropriate lengths for our skirts. By the time we left Kitwe, all the team females were decked in Zambian shatangai skirts!!!! In the meantime, several of the other women from church had started a wonderful lunch! How Pastor Seafus and Sarah love to bless us with good cooking. They prepared massive quantities of green beans, squash, carrots, potatoes, rice, chicken, sausage, cole slaw, and of course, nshima (maize-meal…almost like grits!). We ate, and ate, and ate, until we could eat no more!!! It was delicious, and I am always struck by their willingness to bestow such goodness on us. They live in a very small house in a little village on the outskirts of town – that meal is not indicative of their “normal” living, I’m sure. And yet, they go “all out” to bless us when we come! Angie and I escaped the after-lunch economics conversation in favor of playing in the street with some neighborhood children until it was time to go.
We returned to Mufulira for a “quiet” night at the house. Everyone putters around in a semi-normal routine of showers, snacking, email-checking, guitar-playing, reading, playing soccer with the boys from next door, etc. But tonight was different. Tonight was Austin’s last night with our team. We gathered in the living room to share lows and highs of the week, followed by our overall feelings about the trip. This beautiful time of true sharing was closed with worship, led by Austin himself. He has been a tremendous asset to our team, and he will be missed this week as we finish up the ministry work God has for us in Zambia. Thanks, Austin, for being a true servant and a blessing to STS! The Lord has used your humility, quiet strength and knowledge of the Word to uplift our entire team. May the things the Lord did in and through you during your time in Africa settle into your heart!
Highs and lows, joys and sorrows. From dancing in the church yard to saying goodbye to a team-mate, today has been packed full of emotions. And hovering beneath everything is the thought that soon it will be our turn to say farewell to Africa. Please continue praying for all of us – Austin as he travels to meet his family and those of us that remain here. God still has much in store for the team this week, and I are praying for the team to embrace each new day with excitement and joy! Please pray for our hearts, that the emotions bubbling up within us will not overshadow the work that is still to be done. And pray for our ability to process these emotions fully, with Christ’s help. We are physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. Yet, Jesus promises to bear our burdens and be our strength when we are weak! May He increase, even as we decrease, so that out of Him we can pour ourselves out to the students this week.
Thank you again for constantly joining with our team in prayer! We could not get through each day with your loving support and faithfulness. I also want to thank each one of you for your kind emails and phone calls. I hope you know how much each team member LOVES to hear from “home”! We miss you and appreciate you!!!
Elizabeth
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Update from Jami
A much needed day of rest was used today. The pace of the day was much slower and we all got to sleep in till at least 9:00 hours! Dr. Thinus was up and going at full steam around 5:00 hours trying to fix the water pipes to the bathroom with the shower. By 9:30 hours we went to Murundu to attend to various tasks. A few went to visit Pastor Joseph, who is working with the Orphans in Murundu, to continue assessing that project and STS’s potential involvement. A couple of us went to visit students from Murundu Basic School, students who we’ve met through our time spent at their school doing HIV/AIDS education. Others, including the Church Plant Students, went to visit a student to check on her well being.
I was escorted to the girl (Naomi) from the school whose home I was to visit. I ended up meeting her, her brothers and sisters, all younger, and peeling sweet potatoes with them for their breakfast/lunch, I guess that’d be brunch! It was an amazing time seeing where the students who we’ve been with all week, where they eat and sleep. It’s interesting that I’ve always imagined them in houses like the ones I’ve seen in Mufulira and just assumed they all live in homes that are similar to the ones in town. But that isn’t the case. I found that most of them live in huts that are quite small. I found them all outside playing, washing, and making food. It was such a simple way and day there. The girl who I visited, I had met last year when she was in grade 8. Her mother had just passed away then due to child birth. So now it’s a year later and much has changed for her. She’s doing well in school though and will be moving on to grade 10 with no problems. It was great to see her again this year!
Around 13:00 hours we were all picked up by Dr. Thinus and taken to Kitwe for some fine dinning and shopping, a definite change from a typical day. We had swarmas for lunch and pizza for dinner! It was all delicious and great. We probably consumed more calories today than the trip as a whole! It was especially great for me to get to sit and talk with everyone getting to know each of them even better. Since arriving on Sunday and starting at the schools on Monday, it’s been fast paced, and not a lot of down time to just get to sit and talk with everyone. As an added bonus, the French Open was being shown on one of the TV’s in the pizza restaurant! You can’t beat that!! Between consuming the swarmas and pizza we did a little souvenir shopping at the Kitwe market. Getting a good deal was a lot tougher this year but I think everyone managed to get a lot of great things for a pretty good price. I think all the sales guys were glad to see us go though. After a purchase I had made I thanked the sales guy by saying thank you in Bemba (Twa totella). He then turned to me and said, “Twa totella ponono”, which means thank you just a little. Which I thought was pretty funny.
Our day concludes with emails and watching all the great videos that were generated throughout the week. The dance competition videos are the best! All-in-all it was a beautiful Zambian day which allotted us time for rest and renewal.
Jami W. Ward
I was escorted to the girl (Naomi) from the school whose home I was to visit. I ended up meeting her, her brothers and sisters, all younger, and peeling sweet potatoes with them for their breakfast/lunch, I guess that’d be brunch! It was an amazing time seeing where the students who we’ve been with all week, where they eat and sleep. It’s interesting that I’ve always imagined them in houses like the ones I’ve seen in Mufulira and just assumed they all live in homes that are similar to the ones in town. But that isn’t the case. I found that most of them live in huts that are quite small. I found them all outside playing, washing, and making food. It was such a simple way and day there. The girl who I visited, I had met last year when she was in grade 8. Her mother had just passed away then due to child birth. So now it’s a year later and much has changed for her. She’s doing well in school though and will be moving on to grade 10 with no problems. It was great to see her again this year!
Around 13:00 hours we were all picked up by Dr. Thinus and taken to Kitwe for some fine dinning and shopping, a definite change from a typical day. We had swarmas for lunch and pizza for dinner! It was all delicious and great. We probably consumed more calories today than the trip as a whole! It was especially great for me to get to sit and talk with everyone getting to know each of them even better. Since arriving on Sunday and starting at the schools on Monday, it’s been fast paced, and not a lot of down time to just get to sit and talk with everyone. As an added bonus, the French Open was being shown on one of the TV’s in the pizza restaurant! You can’t beat that!! Between consuming the swarmas and pizza we did a little souvenir shopping at the Kitwe market. Getting a good deal was a lot tougher this year but I think everyone managed to get a lot of great things for a pretty good price. I think all the sales guys were glad to see us go though. After a purchase I had made I thanked the sales guy by saying thank you in Bemba (Twa totella). He then turned to me and said, “Twa totella ponono”, which means thank you just a little. Which I thought was pretty funny.
Our day concludes with emails and watching all the great videos that were generated throughout the week. The dance competition videos are the best! All-in-all it was a beautiful Zambian day which allotted us time for rest and renewal.
Jami W. Ward
Friday, June 6, 2008
From Dan
This week has been incredible; one I will never forget for the rest of my life. It has been a week so rich with experience. It has been a week of the presence of the Spirit of a Living God, a God that sheds light in the darkest of places. This world is one of unspeakable darkness, a darkness that should cause any sane man to despair. Story upon story flooded the ears of our team this week. We bear stories of immense abuse, of heartache, of hopelessness, of death. But we bear witness not only to darkness, but to light, a light that is sufficient, a light that refuses to let darkness overcome. I want to share a few stories with you…
She is beautiful and very strong. She is smaller than most, humble, and intelligent like you wouldn’t believe. Her father passed on when she was very young. But her mother remained to raise her and married another man. This man was not a good one. He did things to her as a child that no man should ever do to a child. Tears well up and fall on the desk before her as she shares, quietly. The abuse stopped as she grew older, but her memory still haunts her. Her mother passed away a handful of years ago, which allowed her an escape from this man, but a loss of both of her parents. The man still comes and visits her and her siblings at her grandmother’s house; he thinks she has forgotten. She says every time he visits, a deep pain wells up in her; forgiveness is not something that comes easy. These things will take a lifetime to heal. I thought that this was my first time to know of this girl. But the Lord has been at work. She told me the following day that this is the second time that she has spoken of this. The first was two years ago with a girl named Haley. Haley is an incredible person who came with us a couple summers ago. Haley and I became good friends in the time leading up to that trip. She was at Chibote Girls School for the two weeks while I was at another school. Oftentimes, we would come home and share the joys and the sorrows of our days. Haley shared with me about this incredible girl that she had met, she shared with me her story, she wept for her. She told me that she was taking that girl to get tested and shared with me that the girl was HIV negative. I was praying for this girl over two years ago. And I got to spend this whole week with her, loving on her and encouraging her The Lord knows all things; he ordains all things. He makes good out of all things, despite the darkness of their inception. I will continue to pray for this girl, two years later. The Lord sees all her tears and He promises that one day they will cease, and they will.
This story was shared with me by Max on Wednesday, well most of it. Her mother was raped and she was born. But her ‘father’ did not disappear. He hated her. He wanted to commit her soul to Satan, seriously. Then he tried to kill her. He cut off some of her fingers. She lived though. She has another Father now, one that loves her, one who knows what it is like to be hated for nothing, one that has scars on His hands too. Today we were getting ready to start. We were playing some music, singing and keyboard. It lets the girls know that we are about to start. Groups began to walk over as the worship pours out over the schoolyard, echoing through classrooms, over the schools walls and out into the surrounding fields. It breathes life into the crowd and our team. I looked back to see one of the schoolgirls playing the keyboard. I did not know who she was or why she was playing. But as she worshipped and played, I glanced down at the keys and noticed the girl’s hands. They were marred and disfigured, only thumbs and a couple fingers remained. But she played beautifully and gracefully, her hands danced across the keys. This is a girl whose hands will forever be mangled because of the work of Satan himself. Her hands will always be to her a constant reminder of the darkness that resides on this earth. And those very hands are being used to spill light out into the darkness, into the bondage that sex has in these girl’s lives, into a country devastated by poverty and disease. What a picture of redemption, of the grace of a God that will not stop making all things new, all things beautiful again. We are scarred, but we are whole. We are broken, but we are beautiful. Glory be to God!
Thank you for your prayers, they cast light in darkness, they proclaim freedom for the captives, they loose the chains of the oppressed. Your prayers accomplish more than you could ever know. Thank you and continue.
Dan
Team Stop the Spread
She is beautiful and very strong. She is smaller than most, humble, and intelligent like you wouldn’t believe. Her father passed on when she was very young. But her mother remained to raise her and married another man. This man was not a good one. He did things to her as a child that no man should ever do to a child. Tears well up and fall on the desk before her as she shares, quietly. The abuse stopped as she grew older, but her memory still haunts her. Her mother passed away a handful of years ago, which allowed her an escape from this man, but a loss of both of her parents. The man still comes and visits her and her siblings at her grandmother’s house; he thinks she has forgotten. She says every time he visits, a deep pain wells up in her; forgiveness is not something that comes easy. These things will take a lifetime to heal. I thought that this was my first time to know of this girl. But the Lord has been at work. She told me the following day that this is the second time that she has spoken of this. The first was two years ago with a girl named Haley. Haley is an incredible person who came with us a couple summers ago. Haley and I became good friends in the time leading up to that trip. She was at Chibote Girls School for the two weeks while I was at another school. Oftentimes, we would come home and share the joys and the sorrows of our days. Haley shared with me about this incredible girl that she had met, she shared with me her story, she wept for her. She told me that she was taking that girl to get tested and shared with me that the girl was HIV negative. I was praying for this girl over two years ago. And I got to spend this whole week with her, loving on her and encouraging her The Lord knows all things; he ordains all things. He makes good out of all things, despite the darkness of their inception. I will continue to pray for this girl, two years later. The Lord sees all her tears and He promises that one day they will cease, and they will.
This story was shared with me by Max on Wednesday, well most of it. Her mother was raped and she was born. But her ‘father’ did not disappear. He hated her. He wanted to commit her soul to Satan, seriously. Then he tried to kill her. He cut off some of her fingers. She lived though. She has another Father now, one that loves her, one who knows what it is like to be hated for nothing, one that has scars on His hands too. Today we were getting ready to start. We were playing some music, singing and keyboard. It lets the girls know that we are about to start. Groups began to walk over as the worship pours out over the schoolyard, echoing through classrooms, over the schools walls and out into the surrounding fields. It breathes life into the crowd and our team. I looked back to see one of the schoolgirls playing the keyboard. I did not know who she was or why she was playing. But as she worshipped and played, I glanced down at the keys and noticed the girl’s hands. They were marred and disfigured, only thumbs and a couple fingers remained. But she played beautifully and gracefully, her hands danced across the keys. This is a girl whose hands will forever be mangled because of the work of Satan himself. Her hands will always be to her a constant reminder of the darkness that resides on this earth. And those very hands are being used to spill light out into the darkness, into the bondage that sex has in these girl’s lives, into a country devastated by poverty and disease. What a picture of redemption, of the grace of a God that will not stop making all things new, all things beautiful again. We are scarred, but we are whole. We are broken, but we are beautiful. Glory be to God!
Thank you for your prayers, they cast light in darkness, they proclaim freedom for the captives, they loose the chains of the oppressed. Your prayers accomplish more than you could ever know. Thank you and continue.
Dan
Team Stop the Spread
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Update from Austin
What a day. You all will have to forgive me if this is short in length, because I am no exception to the general exhaustion that is present in the house. Simply put, we encountered a lot of spiritual warfare today. I was talking with Henry tonight and these were his words: "We are working to change Zambia's next generation, the youth; to encourage them to make better decisions than their parents, to surrender their lives and their choices to the Lord. The devil does not want this to happen, so we should expect there to be a war waging over these lives."
As I'm sure has been previously written, we are at the village school of Murundu in the mornings and then we are driving to Chibote Girls School in Kitwe for the afternoons. Yesterday was a tough day for a lot of us in the morning, just feeling like there were no connections made with the students. Today we decided to break into guys and girls for Dan and Casie's talks on "what if you've made a mistake." I, naturally, was with Dan and I must say that I think today was his best yet. He encouraged them to be men of God that respect and care for women instead of preying on them, doing a great job of emphasizing the grace of God that can make us a new creation regardless of our past decisions. The guys seemed really responsive. After our separate talks, we came back together for a time of prayer for whomever wanted to come forward. We were able to pray for the majority of the students and God really ministered in a mighty and visible way.
Then we were off to Chibote. Yesterday was already a pretty intense time of prayer and sharing there, I know that I personally had girls share with me about an abortion, HIV+ parents, divorce and abuse. Thus, we felt that there was a need today for us just to be available after Casie's talk for the girls to share with us as they felt led. So we did the usual dancing and singing and then went straight into the talk. Casie did such a great job, I was so blessed by the tender way that she spoke the grace, love and forgiveness of Christ into these girls lives. Read John 8:1-12. We all spent the next hour or so talking and praying with different girls about the things they are dealing with. It really is such a humbling and exhausting experience just to listen to their stories. I still feel as if I am in total sensory overload from the day, and I'm trusting that the Lord will give me the grace and faith to trust him with the things that I cannot change. There are so many seemingly impossible situations. There are so many conversations that all we can do is listen, hug and pray. I was continually impressed today that there is nothing of my own strength or merit that could give these girls any form of rescue. But greater is He that is in us than he who is in this world and we know that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation for the hurting and the broken. We are compelled to share the hope that can be found in a relationship with Christ because it does not disappoint or fail. My prayer has been that God will break my heart with the things that break His and I'm pretty sure that has been answered in a big way in the last two days. At least I hope it has been.
As we rode home, it seemed we all were feeling the weight of the world. We all had an intense day in many ways. Like I said, the spiritual warfare was unprecedented, some of us were seeing, hearing and experiencing some things for the first time. I'm sure some of you who are reading this will get many more details from your beloved team member upon your reunion with them. We desperately need your prayers: pray for the hearts of these students, pray that the Lord will keep and protect and teach us as a team, pray that we can be faithful ministers of truth, pray for lives to be changed and protected from destruction. Thank you.
For team STS Zambia,
Austin Crane
As I'm sure has been previously written, we are at the village school of Murundu in the mornings and then we are driving to Chibote Girls School in Kitwe for the afternoons. Yesterday was a tough day for a lot of us in the morning, just feeling like there were no connections made with the students. Today we decided to break into guys and girls for Dan and Casie's talks on "what if you've made a mistake." I, naturally, was with Dan and I must say that I think today was his best yet. He encouraged them to be men of God that respect and care for women instead of preying on them, doing a great job of emphasizing the grace of God that can make us a new creation regardless of our past decisions. The guys seemed really responsive. After our separate talks, we came back together for a time of prayer for whomever wanted to come forward. We were able to pray for the majority of the students and God really ministered in a mighty and visible way.
Then we were off to Chibote. Yesterday was already a pretty intense time of prayer and sharing there, I know that I personally had girls share with me about an abortion, HIV+ parents, divorce and abuse. Thus, we felt that there was a need today for us just to be available after Casie's talk for the girls to share with us as they felt led. So we did the usual dancing and singing and then went straight into the talk. Casie did such a great job, I was so blessed by the tender way that she spoke the grace, love and forgiveness of Christ into these girls lives. Read John 8:1-12. We all spent the next hour or so talking and praying with different girls about the things they are dealing with. It really is such a humbling and exhausting experience just to listen to their stories. I still feel as if I am in total sensory overload from the day, and I'm trusting that the Lord will give me the grace and faith to trust him with the things that I cannot change. There are so many seemingly impossible situations. There are so many conversations that all we can do is listen, hug and pray. I was continually impressed today that there is nothing of my own strength or merit that could give these girls any form of rescue. But greater is He that is in us than he who is in this world and we know that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation for the hurting and the broken. We are compelled to share the hope that can be found in a relationship with Christ because it does not disappoint or fail. My prayer has been that God will break my heart with the things that break His and I'm pretty sure that has been answered in a big way in the last two days. At least I hope it has been.
As we rode home, it seemed we all were feeling the weight of the world. We all had an intense day in many ways. Like I said, the spiritual warfare was unprecedented, some of us were seeing, hearing and experiencing some things for the first time. I'm sure some of you who are reading this will get many more details from your beloved team member upon your reunion with them. We desperately need your prayers: pray for the hearts of these students, pray that the Lord will keep and protect and teach us as a team, pray that we can be faithful ministers of truth, pray for lives to be changed and protected from destruction. Thank you.
For team STS Zambia,
Austin Crane
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Update from Angie
Murundu Basic School: We started it off with a dance party—which means we danced and the Zambian kids laughed/gaped in horror at our lack of rhythm. While Austin gave his “waiting for marriage” talk, Max and I took the fifty thousand 1st through 5th graders away to try and minimize distraction. The wee girls and I played some half hearted rounds of “sheep sheep come on,” but luckily Casey saved the day and tired them out with the most physically strenuous “follow the leader” I’ve ever witnessed. I told them about Jonah, and eventually about Jesus and how he reached out to the untouchables. When I asked them if it was okay to point and laugh at someone with HIV they answered “yes, unless they’re bleeding”—hopefully I changed their little minds about that.We (the illegally over full van of people) ate PB&J on the road and rested until we arrived at Chibote Girls High School…where the ever dreaded and shameful dance competition was to be held. Jesse made us proud though and brought the Mazungus up to second place. After Austin gave his talk again and as we were getting up to ship off the planned small group, Henry got up and gave a really powerful message. He invited the girls to prayer and relatively everyone came up to be prayed for. The requests ranged from “I need prayer for exams” to “I’m pregnant.” The girls were really open and trusting and I think everyone on the team was given the opportunity to hear a little bit of the reality these girls are struggling with. It just went really well.
THE END.
Angie.
PS from Dan ~ We are going to be spending a lot of tommorrow (Thursday) talking about sin and redemption and there will be a lot of ministry time in the schools. So please pray for the Spirit of G'd to be on the team to preach the GOOD news. And that the Lord would minister through prayer and reconciliation. Thank you for your prayers!
THE END.
Angie.
PS from Dan ~ We are going to be spending a lot of tommorrow (Thursday) talking about sin and redemption and there will be a lot of ministry time in the schools. So please pray for the Spirit of G'd to be on the team to preach the GOOD news. And that the Lord would minister through prayer and reconciliation. Thank you for your prayers!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Update from Miss Malaria (aka, Elizabeth, Lizzie, Mama Duck, etc.)
Dearest prayer warriors,
I am finally out of bed long enough to personally write you a HUGE THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! A few folks at home have been keeping me posted with your thoughts, prayers and encouraging words. I cannot thank you enough for standing alongside me, our team, and my family as I have battled malaria! Your words and prayers have been so supportive and uplifting, and the Lord has answered! I am feeling better today (Tuesday), although my body is still weak and tired. I am working hard to regain my strength through plenty of fluids, rest, good food, sleep, oh and did I mention rest! :) It is slow going and I am quite ready to feel 100% again!
What an adventure! Dr. T. says that I now need a t-shirt labeling me a "true African missionary". The sights, sounds, smells and experiences of this past weekend will certainly go down in history. But, through it all, the Lord has been so close. He has reminded me that His community not only means "doing" the active ministry part of why we are here, but also means surrounding each other when we are down. That has included YOU, His global community, through the amazing ways everyone immediately mobilized to pray. I was astounded to learn from my wonderful mother how people all over the world were praying within hours and days of learning about what we were suffering here! It is a vivid reminder that we are not meant to walk this life alone and that we desparately need each other, the community of believers God has given us.
Okay, so much for my sermonizing. Dr. T. has returned and we are off for the afternoon to Kitwe. Continue to pray strength and healing for all of us as we continue to minister!
Love you all!
Elizabeth
I am finally out of bed long enough to personally write you a HUGE THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! A few folks at home have been keeping me posted with your thoughts, prayers and encouraging words. I cannot thank you enough for standing alongside me, our team, and my family as I have battled malaria! Your words and prayers have been so supportive and uplifting, and the Lord has answered! I am feeling better today (Tuesday), although my body is still weak and tired. I am working hard to regain my strength through plenty of fluids, rest, good food, sleep, oh and did I mention rest! :) It is slow going and I am quite ready to feel 100% again!
What an adventure! Dr. T. says that I now need a t-shirt labeling me a "true African missionary". The sights, sounds, smells and experiences of this past weekend will certainly go down in history. But, through it all, the Lord has been so close. He has reminded me that His community not only means "doing" the active ministry part of why we are here, but also means surrounding each other when we are down. That has included YOU, His global community, through the amazing ways everyone immediately mobilized to pray. I was astounded to learn from my wonderful mother how people all over the world were praying within hours and days of learning about what we were suffering here! It is a vivid reminder that we are not meant to walk this life alone and that we desparately need each other, the community of believers God has given us.
Okay, so much for my sermonizing. Dr. T. has returned and we are off for the afternoon to Kitwe. Continue to pray strength and healing for all of us as we continue to minister!
Love you all!
Elizabeth
Update - Good News from Zambia
Hello,
Things are better here today. Everyone is slowly getting back on their feet. Max is back with the team... they are leaving soon for Murundu and Elizabeth and I are probably going to join them in the afternoon at Chibote. It will be really good to get out of the house. We have been taking all necessary precautions to make sure the bug that I had does not spread anymore around the house. Elizabeth is sleeping but I think she is doing better today. I talked to her for a few minutes earlier. I guess we'll have to wait and see what today brings. She has finished all of her malaria pills so things should continue to get better. The team has been amazing. They started waiting on all of the sick people as soon as they got home last night. They brought us sprite and food and meds.... I am so very thankful for their generosity. well, I am going to lay down for alittle while... but we love you all and thank you so much for all the prayers.
Casie
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Update from Casie
Hello Friends and Family,
I am not sure when the last blog went out because the power has been down. Here in Africa the water and power come and go... It's a really good day when you have both at the same time!
Friday night, shortly after I wrote the blog, my dear friend Elizabeth began feeling very ill. Before long she began a long night of throwing up and stomach cramps. By morning, she was not any better so Dr.T and I took her to the African Hospital and she was treated for malaria. We brought her home yesterday afternoon and she was able to rest. The throwing up and everything stopped last night and today she is feeling much better. I have no doubts that she will be back to her old self in a few days.
While in the Africa hospital Elizabeth and I decided that we were NEVER going to have children in Africa. I must say that the hospital here was QUITE an experience! I did pretty well with the throwing up and stuff all night. It didn't bother me at all, but friends, I must admit that I almost passed out while they were poking my poor little Elizabeth with needles. (Yes they were sterilized!) When we got there, they had just opened so we were able to go right in. We found a bed and laid Elizabeth down until the Dr. (or Nurse... we're not sure) came. Dr. T told them that it was malaria (He's had it 10 times and knows what he's talking about) so they began the testing and treatment for the malaria. They had to poke her to get some blood for the tests... this was alittle painful for her but not too bad. They brought in a very large needle and stuck her in the butt with it... they said this was to stop the vomitting. THEN they brought in an IV to help replenish the fuilds that she had lost during the night! For some reason they could not find her viens and proceeded to poke her painfully until they found blood. They kept saying 'you have no blood in your viens!'. She had to actually help them find the place where they could get it in! All the while, I am holding her hand and telling her not to look. After the second or third try with this massive needle, I started feeling VERY woosy but managed to just not look and keep my cool!... Poor Elizabeth. She was frustrated with their incompetancy but the meds DID help and she was able to regain some of her strength.
They wanted to keep her for observation, but Dr. T talked them into letting us take her home. Their 'observing' consisted of her laying on a bed with a blanket (who KNOWS where it's been) behind a curtain all day. It was a really good thing that Dr. T made them let us take her home.
We got home around 1pm and she was able to sleep all afternoon. The meds started working and she was also able to sleep through the night! which was AMAZING! Today she is feeling MUCH better. The fever is completely gone and she has the color back in her face. She should be back to normal in a few days when the parasite is completely out of her system! So keep praying that she will feel better. There is no need to be really concerned... She is doing much better!
The rest of the team has gone to Ndola for the day. Dr. T was preaching at a church and took the whole crew with him. They will be spending time with some friends of Dr. T's down there and then will pick up our final member of the team (Jami) from the airport. Max made it Friday night but his personal bag didn't. We're hoping that it will show up at the airport when they are there for Jami tonight! Poor guy... he's been wearing the same outfit since Wed morning! This morning was very humorous, however. Max asked Dr. T if he could borrow a shirt for church and instead of giving him a normal shirt, he gave him a bright orange African shirt. Elizabeth and I found this to be very enterntaining because we could hear the guys laughing about it in the next room when Dan returned with the shirt for Max. AWESOME. What a way to be introduced to Africa! They should all be returning around 9/9:30pm tonight. Elizabeth and I are enjoying our day of rest and quiet! Tomorrow we will start ministering to two new schools. One out in the bush, Murundu, and one in Kitwe, Chibote. Well, that is all for now. I hope everyone is doing well... We will update you soon!
Casie
I am not sure when the last blog went out because the power has been down. Here in Africa the water and power come and go... It's a really good day when you have both at the same time!
Friday night, shortly after I wrote the blog, my dear friend Elizabeth began feeling very ill. Before long she began a long night of throwing up and stomach cramps. By morning, she was not any better so Dr.T and I took her to the African Hospital and she was treated for malaria. We brought her home yesterday afternoon and she was able to rest. The throwing up and everything stopped last night and today she is feeling much better. I have no doubts that she will be back to her old self in a few days.
While in the Africa hospital Elizabeth and I decided that we were NEVER going to have children in Africa. I must say that the hospital here was QUITE an experience! I did pretty well with the throwing up and stuff all night. It didn't bother me at all, but friends, I must admit that I almost passed out while they were poking my poor little Elizabeth with needles. (Yes they were sterilized!) When we got there, they had just opened so we were able to go right in. We found a bed and laid Elizabeth down until the Dr. (or Nurse... we're not sure) came. Dr. T told them that it was malaria (He's had it 10 times and knows what he's talking about) so they began the testing and treatment for the malaria. They had to poke her to get some blood for the tests... this was alittle painful for her but not too bad. They brought in a very large needle and stuck her in the butt with it... they said this was to stop the vomitting. THEN they brought in an IV to help replenish the fuilds that she had lost during the night! For some reason they could not find her viens and proceeded to poke her painfully until they found blood. They kept saying 'you have no blood in your viens!'. She had to actually help them find the place where they could get it in! All the while, I am holding her hand and telling her not to look. After the second or third try with this massive needle, I started feeling VERY woosy but managed to just not look and keep my cool!... Poor Elizabeth. She was frustrated with their incompetancy but the meds DID help and she was able to regain some of her strength.
They wanted to keep her for observation, but Dr. T talked them into letting us take her home. Their 'observing' consisted of her laying on a bed with a blanket (who KNOWS where it's been) behind a curtain all day. It was a really good thing that Dr. T made them let us take her home.
We got home around 1pm and she was able to sleep all afternoon. The meds started working and she was also able to sleep through the night! which was AMAZING! Today she is feeling MUCH better. The fever is completely gone and she has the color back in her face. She should be back to normal in a few days when the parasite is completely out of her system! So keep praying that she will feel better. There is no need to be really concerned... She is doing much better!
The rest of the team has gone to Ndola for the day. Dr. T was preaching at a church and took the whole crew with him. They will be spending time with some friends of Dr. T's down there and then will pick up our final member of the team (Jami) from the airport. Max made it Friday night but his personal bag didn't. We're hoping that it will show up at the airport when they are there for Jami tonight! Poor guy... he's been wearing the same outfit since Wed morning! This morning was very humorous, however. Max asked Dr. T if he could borrow a shirt for church and instead of giving him a normal shirt, he gave him a bright orange African shirt. Elizabeth and I found this to be very enterntaining because we could hear the guys laughing about it in the next room when Dan returned with the shirt for Max. AWESOME. What a way to be introduced to Africa! They should all be returning around 9/9:30pm tonight. Elizabeth and I are enjoying our day of rest and quiet! Tomorrow we will start ministering to two new schools. One out in the bush, Murundu, and one in Kitwe, Chibote. Well, that is all for now. I hope everyone is doing well... We will update you soon!
Casie
Friday, May 30, 2008
Update from Casie
Hello Friends and Family! Muli-Shani! (Zambian Greeting)
Things are going well here in Mufilira. This morning we awoke to the sad departure of half of the team that has become a family. Duane, Beth, Adam, Megan, and Jim left us this morning to move onto their respective locations. Their departure was very bittersweet because we know that they need to go but we were not ready to see them leave. I must admit, many tears were shed by yours truly. :-)This weekend brings two new people to our team! Max should be arriving tonight and Jami will be here on Sunday. We are all very excited about our new additions!
Dr. T dropped us off for our last day at Kalanga. We started with addressing the issue of stigma with the 6th graders. I felt slightly awkward with this group of kids today because yesterday during my talk instead of being from team STS the translator told them that I had STD's. umm yeah. That was def a miscommunication! haha wow.
So anyways...after the 6th grade was the 8th grade. Now this is where things began to get interesting. Before I spoke, the weight of my responsibility really hit me. I have the words of life and I have been given the opportunity to say ANYTHING I want to these kids. I spent time searching scripture and just praying that God would give me the words to say but the responsibility still weighed heavily on my shoulders. I started my talk and just prayed the entire time that God would give me the words that HE wanted me to say. I spoke from heart and about what God has done in my life. I spoke from John 8 and explained to them how Jesus loved the woman who was caught in adultery. I told them that God loved them the same way that he loved that woman. Friends... I did not know that I could preach... haha but let me tell you.. I was preaching. At the end all of the girls crowded around us but didn't really say anything. I couldn't figure out what was going on... a few minutes later one of the girls wanted to know how to accept Jesus as her Savior.. I told her and asked if she wanted me to pray with her... She hesitated and then they were all like..."No, we want you to pray with ALL of us. We ALL want to accept Jesus as our Savior." I was floored. I led them all in a prayer and they all got on their knees and accepted Christ... right there.. in the middle of the school. Praise the Lord! Today heaven in rejoicing over about 100-150 new Zambian girls! Craziness.
So that was the highlight of my day. I was not expecting to lead ALL of the 8th grade girls to the Lord today but Praise God.We then did the stigma talk with the 9th graders and headed off to the Church planting school on foot since Dr. T was out of town picking up Max from the airport. The walk was long and hot but beautiful. After a while... we FINALLY made it to our lunch! It was AWESOME. We had chicken, nshema, and these greens called Rape (almost exactly like spinach). It hit the spot. We then went into town and got water, apples, and chocolate(!) from Shoprite and began our two mile walk home. Needless to say, we were all EXHAUSTED when we made it to our humble abode. When we got here a couple was waiting for us on the front step.. so Elizabeth and Dan couldn't rest. They visited with the couple.
I was very excited to lay down but just as I was falling asleep Dan came to my door and told me that three girls from Pamodzi were here to see me. Even though I was tired... I got up and spent some time with them.
Shortly after the couple and the girls left, we had more visitors show up and everyone is in the living room entertaining our guests. (I snuck away to shower... yay for being clean!)
I am afraid that I am going to smell bad when I get home and not realize it... haha because you get used to it and you don't smell it anymore. I figure that if I DO smell myself... then that means it must be PRETTY bad! I try to shower.... but there are alot of people with only one shower to share. Most of us are pretty grungy most of the time :-) So we should smell AWESOME when we get home! Henry and Pastor Terry did an amazing job teaching the teachers at Kalanga about getting tested. The word from Elizabeth is that they were phenomenal.
All in all we had a very long, good, eventful day! Tomorrow we have a sports competition from 9-12 somewhere.. they haven't told me where yet and then the afternoon is a mystery. No one has told me whether there is something planned for us tomorrow afternoon or not. Knowing this crew... there will be something... it will be a fun surprise!
Well... I love you all. Thank you so much for your prayers. Pray for the unity of our team and the two new members we are getting this weekend.
Nalikutemwa,
Casie
Things are going well here in Mufilira. This morning we awoke to the sad departure of half of the team that has become a family. Duane, Beth, Adam, Megan, and Jim left us this morning to move onto their respective locations. Their departure was very bittersweet because we know that they need to go but we were not ready to see them leave. I must admit, many tears were shed by yours truly. :-)This weekend brings two new people to our team! Max should be arriving tonight and Jami will be here on Sunday. We are all very excited about our new additions!
Dr. T dropped us off for our last day at Kalanga. We started with addressing the issue of stigma with the 6th graders. I felt slightly awkward with this group of kids today because yesterday during my talk instead of being from team STS the translator told them that I had STD's. umm yeah. That was def a miscommunication! haha wow.
So anyways...after the 6th grade was the 8th grade. Now this is where things began to get interesting. Before I spoke, the weight of my responsibility really hit me. I have the words of life and I have been given the opportunity to say ANYTHING I want to these kids. I spent time searching scripture and just praying that God would give me the words to say but the responsibility still weighed heavily on my shoulders. I started my talk and just prayed the entire time that God would give me the words that HE wanted me to say. I spoke from heart and about what God has done in my life. I spoke from John 8 and explained to them how Jesus loved the woman who was caught in adultery. I told them that God loved them the same way that he loved that woman. Friends... I did not know that I could preach... haha but let me tell you.. I was preaching. At the end all of the girls crowded around us but didn't really say anything. I couldn't figure out what was going on... a few minutes later one of the girls wanted to know how to accept Jesus as her Savior.. I told her and asked if she wanted me to pray with her... She hesitated and then they were all like..."No, we want you to pray with ALL of us. We ALL want to accept Jesus as our Savior." I was floored. I led them all in a prayer and they all got on their knees and accepted Christ... right there.. in the middle of the school. Praise the Lord! Today heaven in rejoicing over about 100-150 new Zambian girls! Craziness.
So that was the highlight of my day. I was not expecting to lead ALL of the 8th grade girls to the Lord today but Praise God.We then did the stigma talk with the 9th graders and headed off to the Church planting school on foot since Dr. T was out of town picking up Max from the airport. The walk was long and hot but beautiful. After a while... we FINALLY made it to our lunch! It was AWESOME. We had chicken, nshema, and these greens called Rape (almost exactly like spinach). It hit the spot. We then went into town and got water, apples, and chocolate(!) from Shoprite and began our two mile walk home. Needless to say, we were all EXHAUSTED when we made it to our humble abode. When we got here a couple was waiting for us on the front step.. so Elizabeth and Dan couldn't rest. They visited with the couple.
I was very excited to lay down but just as I was falling asleep Dan came to my door and told me that three girls from Pamodzi were here to see me. Even though I was tired... I got up and spent some time with them.
Shortly after the couple and the girls left, we had more visitors show up and everyone is in the living room entertaining our guests. (I snuck away to shower... yay for being clean!)
I am afraid that I am going to smell bad when I get home and not realize it... haha because you get used to it and you don't smell it anymore. I figure that if I DO smell myself... then that means it must be PRETTY bad! I try to shower.... but there are alot of people with only one shower to share. Most of us are pretty grungy most of the time :-) So we should smell AWESOME when we get home! Henry and Pastor Terry did an amazing job teaching the teachers at Kalanga about getting tested. The word from Elizabeth is that they were phenomenal.
All in all we had a very long, good, eventful day! Tomorrow we have a sports competition from 9-12 somewhere.. they haven't told me where yet and then the afternoon is a mystery. No one has told me whether there is something planned for us tomorrow afternoon or not. Knowing this crew... there will be something... it will be a fun surprise!
Well... I love you all. Thank you so much for your prayers. Pray for the unity of our team and the two new members we are getting this weekend.
Nalikutemwa,
Casie
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Update from Dan
Today was another whirlwind day with 4 different presentations between two schools. Our morning at Kalanga was a good one. We talked to three groups of kids, about saving sex for marriage and about what if we have made a mistake. We were able to share the grace of God that is new every morning. We shared some of our own stories and mistakes and sin in our own life and how God has redeemed us and continues to redeem us. Because we presented there three times, we didn't have small groups, which is the main means of reflection. So pray that the Word of God would take root in their hearts. Pray that they would know that we are available to talk with them and that they are not the only ones who are struggling with sex and temptation. We will be returning to Kalanga for our last day tomorrow. Please pray that we would end on the right note, one of empowerment and encouragement.
Today was our last day with the sweet girls from Pomodzi. We had the whole school, so we spent some time dancing and worshipping to start the day off. A couple of the girls from the STS club shared a song and Austin and Casie both played songs. They also both spoke from their hearts about saving sex for marriage and mistakes. Then Henry ended with an empowering message encouraging the girls to Be The Change. It felt like a rally... it was pretty cool. Then we had an impromptu time of dance and worship. Everyone was dancing and the girls were shouting the words to the songs and clapping their hands. It was like a celebration... we were all celebrating life, which I think is so crucial in a culture so marred by death. So pray for the girls at Pomodzi that they would believe they have worth and that they would choose life with the decisions they make.
After leaving Pomodzi we all went to get ice cream downtown. The sun was setting in the distance as we all sat under this lovely African veranda (an old gas station) enjoying our strawberry-vanilla swirls in pink cones. I really love moments like this, moments of stupid pictures, moments of laughter, moments of joy, moments of rest.
Finally, today was the last day with a handful of our team members and friends. Megan, Jim, Duane, Adam, and Beth are all leaving for various places: Megan for California, Jim for Florida, Duane for Kenya, and Adam and Beth for Kenya then Uganda. We had an amazing last evening of sharing in worship, confession, thankgiving, communion (Lord's Supper), and intercession for those departing. There were many tears shed. It is truly amazing how God has knit our group into a family in the short two weeks we had together. We ended our time together singing this hilarious song Doctor Thinus taught us in Bemba, which has an accompanying dance... awkward, yes, but it was a perfect end. Please pray for our co-laborers as they go to where God is leading them next.
To all of you back home, we love you so much and we miss you. Thank you for your prayers!
Twa Totella,
Dan
Team Stop the Spread
Today was our last day with the sweet girls from Pomodzi. We had the whole school, so we spent some time dancing and worshipping to start the day off. A couple of the girls from the STS club shared a song and Austin and Casie both played songs. They also both spoke from their hearts about saving sex for marriage and mistakes. Then Henry ended with an empowering message encouraging the girls to Be The Change. It felt like a rally... it was pretty cool. Then we had an impromptu time of dance and worship. Everyone was dancing and the girls were shouting the words to the songs and clapping their hands. It was like a celebration... we were all celebrating life, which I think is so crucial in a culture so marred by death. So pray for the girls at Pomodzi that they would believe they have worth and that they would choose life with the decisions they make.
After leaving Pomodzi we all went to get ice cream downtown. The sun was setting in the distance as we all sat under this lovely African veranda (an old gas station) enjoying our strawberry-vanilla swirls in pink cones. I really love moments like this, moments of stupid pictures, moments of laughter, moments of joy, moments of rest.
Finally, today was the last day with a handful of our team members and friends. Megan, Jim, Duane, Adam, and Beth are all leaving for various places: Megan for California, Jim for Florida, Duane for Kenya, and Adam and Beth for Kenya then Uganda. We had an amazing last evening of sharing in worship, confession, thankgiving, communion (Lord's Supper), and intercession for those departing. There were many tears shed. It is truly amazing how God has knit our group into a family in the short two weeks we had together. We ended our time together singing this hilarious song Doctor Thinus taught us in Bemba, which has an accompanying dance... awkward, yes, but it was a perfect end. Please pray for our co-laborers as they go to where God is leading them next.
To all of you back home, we love you so much and we miss you. Thank you for your prayers!
Twa Totella,
Dan
Team Stop the Spread
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Update from Elizabeth
Today was a great day! Our two teams (HIV education with the students and Teacher's Training with the adults) worked at Kalanga Basic School in the morning and Pamodzi Girls' School in the afternoon.
The morning sessions finally went exactly as planned. For Zambia, that was an absolute miracle!!!! I wasn't personally in the student sessions, but from the video footage I saw tonight, it seemed like the students absolutely loved it. The HIV education team sang, performed "sketches" (in which "Austina" was introduced!), shared testimonies, and broke into small groups. The afternoon did NOT go as planned, and the students kept getting switched around, so the team worked again with only the STS club girls. Hopefully, tomorrow, they will have the entire school for an assembly. Please pray for that! The teacher's training sessions were also great, and the teachers were very responsive to Duane's seminar! They participated and asked great questions.
After all of this, we crashed when we finally got home - literally. The house was full of sleeping bodies. Casie orchestrated an amazing dinner, and the team that helped definitely deserves honorable mention (Megan, Adam, Angie, Jesse, Dan). We had beef goulash of sorts, garlic-herb mashed potatoes and green beans! Pretty good for a two-burner hot plate, eh??? :) Good job, guys! We finished the night with an impromptu community worship session, singing tons of songs. It was a really neat time of just being together, praising the Lord. I find those times really refreshing to my soul, and I find that it serves to unite and bring our group even closer together after long days.
The morning sessions finally went exactly as planned. For Zambia, that was an absolute miracle!!!! I wasn't personally in the student sessions, but from the video footage I saw tonight, it seemed like the students absolutely loved it. The HIV education team sang, performed "sketches" (in which "Austina" was introduced!), shared testimonies, and broke into small groups. The afternoon did NOT go as planned, and the students kept getting switched around, so the team worked again with only the STS club girls. Hopefully, tomorrow, they will have the entire school for an assembly. Please pray for that! The teacher's training sessions were also great, and the teachers were very responsive to Duane's seminar! They participated and asked great questions.
After all of this, we crashed when we finally got home - literally. The house was full of sleeping bodies. Casie orchestrated an amazing dinner, and the team that helped definitely deserves honorable mention (Megan, Adam, Angie, Jesse, Dan). We had beef goulash of sorts, garlic-herb mashed potatoes and green beans! Pretty good for a two-burner hot plate, eh??? :) Good job, guys! We finished the night with an impromptu community worship session, singing tons of songs. It was a really neat time of just being together, praising the Lord. I find those times really refreshing to my soul, and I find that it serves to unite and bring our group even closer together after long days.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Trial by Fire - Update from Austin
Today’s blog is titled “Trial by Fire.” I’m not sure if it is common practice to title these entries, as this is my first, but I feel it is appropriate. This fire got particularly intense about 11:00. Since yesterday was African Freedom Day, a holiday for Zambian schools, today began our second week of ministry. We are going to be presenting at Kalanga Basic School (grades 1-9) in the mornings and then, after our daily ration of nshima, we will be heading to Pomodzi Girls High School to meet with the entire school body for the afternoon. I think we have all learned the meaning of the word flexible more every day. I mean, it’s one thing to be flexible, but it is an entirely different thing to be flexible in Africa.
Today this looked like us arriving at Kalanga around 9:00, thinking that we would start around 9:30 and thus, have approximately 2.5 hours with the students in grades 6-9. We were promptly ushered into the office of the headmaster who informed us that the school was “extremely overenrolled” with over 1000 students and that it would be best if we just spent an hour with grades 6 and 7 and then an hour with the 8th and 9th graders. No problem, we expect things to change. Now for what actually happened…
As we walked across the schoolyard it seemed as if the floodgates were unleashed; hundreds of screaming children came running across the yard after us to see what the white “Muzungo’s” were up to. So, we did our best to get the young one’s corralled to another part of the schoolyard. Angie and Casie were great about taking them off to play games so that we could present to the remaining 300 the skits, songs and talks on Biology, Transmission and Myths that we had prepared. I think it was a taxing time for all of us. Even when we broke into small groups, most of us were trying to have meaningful discussion with about 40-60 children which is not the easiest thing in the world to do. And yet, there are good reports; the Lord is always so faithful to both teach us and stretch us. Megan and Jessie did a great job with their talks and games and the kids seemed to have a really good time with them. Dan also reported an incredibly honest small group with the older guys of the group (including a 19 year-old ninth grader). Tomorrow we will be bringing with us some of the church planters from Dr. Thinus’s school to help with interpretation and crowd control, which should be a huge help because those men and women are incredible.
The afternoon at Pomodzi was a wonderful experience and that is God’s grace on us, because we were all pretty exhausted from the morning. As I’m sure has been said previously on here, we spent last week with the school’s Stop the Spread club, consisting of about 60 girls, trying to empower them to be leaders and women of God. Today we met with much of the student body, giving much more of a theatrical presentation that the week before. We sang some songs and danced and then did a skit called “Doctor’s Office.” Then Megan and Jessie gave their performances, again doing a stellar job. The girls were very responsive and I think we all left excited and encouraged about the rest of the week there.
I want to close this entry with a story, not my own story, but the life of a girl that decided to share with me as we were sitting around while waiting to be picked up. We were making small talk, I was asking her about her family, school, future plans, etc. She told me how much Stop the Spread has meant to her over the last 3 years and I asked her if she had any questions about the things we had covered. She said no at first, but then asked “how would you feel if someone you love very much died, and you didn’t find out until 2 years later that it was from HIV?” I told her that I would be hurt very much, that I couldn’t really imagine how hard that would be and then I asked her if that had happened in her life. She then told me about the death of her father. He moved away when she was 12 and she heard soon after that he had died. She couldn’t even go to the funeral. The hardest part about her story for me was that she found out at age 14 that he had died from AIDS from her younger sister and that aside from her sibling, this now 16 year old high school Junior had not told anyone. She told me that I was the first person she had talked with about his death since she heard. That really blew my mind. I asked her “so you have held this in for 2 years?” She nodded her head and then talked with me for a while about her emotions and the process of grieving. She told me right away that she was a Christian and that her faith had been a source of comfort for her. I felt like I was really able to encourage her in the Lord that she is a daughter of God and that nothing can take that away. I know there are so many more like her all around us. The disciple John says that “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Praise the Lord for that. May Christ be all of our hope and strength and life as we continue this week. Thank everyone that is reading this for your prayers, they are powerful, effective and much needed.
-Austin Crane, Team STS
Today this looked like us arriving at Kalanga around 9:00, thinking that we would start around 9:30 and thus, have approximately 2.5 hours with the students in grades 6-9. We were promptly ushered into the office of the headmaster who informed us that the school was “extremely overenrolled” with over 1000 students and that it would be best if we just spent an hour with grades 6 and 7 and then an hour with the 8th and 9th graders. No problem, we expect things to change. Now for what actually happened…
As we walked across the schoolyard it seemed as if the floodgates were unleashed; hundreds of screaming children came running across the yard after us to see what the white “Muzungo’s” were up to. So, we did our best to get the young one’s corralled to another part of the schoolyard. Angie and Casie were great about taking them off to play games so that we could present to the remaining 300 the skits, songs and talks on Biology, Transmission and Myths that we had prepared. I think it was a taxing time for all of us. Even when we broke into small groups, most of us were trying to have meaningful discussion with about 40-60 children which is not the easiest thing in the world to do. And yet, there are good reports; the Lord is always so faithful to both teach us and stretch us. Megan and Jessie did a great job with their talks and games and the kids seemed to have a really good time with them. Dan also reported an incredibly honest small group with the older guys of the group (including a 19 year-old ninth grader). Tomorrow we will be bringing with us some of the church planters from Dr. Thinus’s school to help with interpretation and crowd control, which should be a huge help because those men and women are incredible.
The afternoon at Pomodzi was a wonderful experience and that is God’s grace on us, because we were all pretty exhausted from the morning. As I’m sure has been said previously on here, we spent last week with the school’s Stop the Spread club, consisting of about 60 girls, trying to empower them to be leaders and women of God. Today we met with much of the student body, giving much more of a theatrical presentation that the week before. We sang some songs and danced and then did a skit called “Doctor’s Office.” Then Megan and Jessie gave their performances, again doing a stellar job. The girls were very responsive and I think we all left excited and encouraged about the rest of the week there.
I want to close this entry with a story, not my own story, but the life of a girl that decided to share with me as we were sitting around while waiting to be picked up. We were making small talk, I was asking her about her family, school, future plans, etc. She told me how much Stop the Spread has meant to her over the last 3 years and I asked her if she had any questions about the things we had covered. She said no at first, but then asked “how would you feel if someone you love very much died, and you didn’t find out until 2 years later that it was from HIV?” I told her that I would be hurt very much, that I couldn’t really imagine how hard that would be and then I asked her if that had happened in her life. She then told me about the death of her father. He moved away when she was 12 and she heard soon after that he had died. She couldn’t even go to the funeral. The hardest part about her story for me was that she found out at age 14 that he had died from AIDS from her younger sister and that aside from her sibling, this now 16 year old high school Junior had not told anyone. She told me that I was the first person she had talked with about his death since she heard. That really blew my mind. I asked her “so you have held this in for 2 years?” She nodded her head and then talked with me for a while about her emotions and the process of grieving. She told me right away that she was a Christian and that her faith had been a source of comfort for her. I felt like I was really able to encourage her in the Lord that she is a daughter of God and that nothing can take that away. I know there are so many more like her all around us. The disciple John says that “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Praise the Lord for that. May Christ be all of our hope and strength and life as we continue this week. Thank everyone that is reading this for your prayers, they are powerful, effective and much needed.
-Austin Crane, Team STS
Monday, May 26, 2008
Update from Casie
Dear Friends and Family,
This is Casie writing. It's about 11pm here and I am exhausted but I am excited to be able to share some of Africa with you before I head to bed! You probably heard about some of the happenings last week... We spent the mornings at the Church Planting school learning about HIV/AIDS underneath Duane Crumb who has been studying it for about 23 years. In the afternoons, we packed up all of our gear and headed over to the Pomadzi girls school where we worked with the student leaders who are in the STS club.
This week we will be going to Kalanga school where we will be working with primary and secondary school. This will be interesting because we are going to have a much wider range of ages as well as alot more kids. Instead of about 10 to a small group we will probably have about 40 each. We will go back to the Church Planting school for lunch and then go back over to Pamodzi in the afternoons to work with the entire school. Our goal is to involve and empower the student leaders we worked with last week by encouraging them to assist us in our program this week as we work with the entire student body.Church Sunday morning was my first African church experience. It was interesting... to say the least. It lasted four hours.... that is UNHEARD of in the US! I made it a good three hours before I became ready to walk around. I have found that Zambians really enjoying talking into microphones and being in front of large groups of people. They also feel the need to repeat things such as announcements or instructions about 15 times (no joke) in fifteen different ways before they can move onto another subject... This is where I become VERY American! I really enjoy being efficient with time :-)
Despite some frustrations, I love the people here. They are extremely loving, friendly, joyful, and hospitable. They are simply beautiful. I see a beauty in them, despite their trails or surroundings that is deep, real, and lasting. It breaks my heart to hear the stories of the horrendous things that happen every day here. After I spoke at Pamodzi last week I talked to several girls about their own lives and struggles. One girl pulled me aside and told me about her life long abuse and neglect. She sat there in tears telling me that no one loves her and she has no one to care. These things are real and it tears me apart. I put my arm around her, listened to her story, and cried with her. It's all I had to offer. I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported us in any way. What you are doing, the things you are praying for, and the things that are happening here in Africa are making a difference. So easily the worlds problems can overwhelming and we can feel defeated. It's so easy to assume that nothing we can do will actually make a difference in anyone's life. What I have learned is that it is not true. We can love people and that makes all the difference. We don't have to change the world, we just have to love the people in front of us wether that be in the US or in Africa. The world is not an ambigous blob of problems... it is made up of faces with names, stories, and hurts.
On a light note, I was sitting on my bed last night enjoying some quiet down time. Elizabeth was happily writing in her journal as I was looking through the pictures I had taken that day. As I am intently focused on my beautiful pictures.... this MASSIVE crazy noise sounded like it exploded next to my head near my ear!! I freaked out and fell on the floor... a few seconds later after I had composed myself I returned to my bed only to have it happen and again and startle me just as much! Elizabeth (who had her headphones in and only witnessed the occurance) thought that I was crazy. I told her that something BIG and SCARY had flown by my head. She told me it was probably just a moth and to stop freaking out. About fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth had emerged from her world of ipod and was dicussing the day with me when this MASSIVE locust flew past my head AGAIN and landed on my pillow. I proceed to scream due to the scare and yell for the boys. For some reason they did not believe us when we told them it was a BIG bug... :) It took about an hour of going back and forth between it appearing with us in the room alone and freaking out and then the boys coming to try to rescue us. They did eventually find and kill it... it was about 4-5 inches long! gross...AND eggs went everywhere when they killed it. OH the JOYS of Africa!A few days ago we were at the Church Planting School and shortly before lunch a car pulled up and a few guys got out. They went to the trunk and proceeded to take out about 10 live chickens.....Yum. Lunch. They butcher their own chickens here... I am definitely not in America anymore.
Ok well... I am heading to bed! We have a long day ahead of us.
God Bless,
Casie
P.S. If you have been trying to call and it hasn't been working we have figured out that some people did not get the right number... here it is 011-260212411517
G+G- I have been emailing you!! For some reason it must not be going through... I got your e-mail today and wrote you back. I'm sorry if you thought that I hadn't written. (I've written you every time I've written my mom) So know that I love you and I miss you! and that we will hopefully get the e-mail thing figured out soon!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Update from Jesse
We need your prayers. It is hard to communicate with the school girls sometimes. I am not sure of how much heart to give away. It hurts to look into their eyes. Today we were at church for about four hours. Mr. Duane gave a dynamic speech concerning HIV and the church. We then had lunch at a friend of Dr. Thinus's house. The group ate in the backyard. It was fully decorated for us. I did not feel as if I was on a mission. We were fed roasted chicken, potato salad, potatoes salad and rice with Fanta or orange juice to drink. It was so delicious; lunch was so good today.
Following lunch we left for an outreach for the rest of the afternoon. We went to an traditional village outside of town. There were huts made of adobe brick and roofs made of straw. Hard to imagine probably, but it was probably the neatest thing I have seen here so far. Not many people experience a true African village. The children flocked to us right as we pulled up. We all jumped out of a big hippie van with the letters "Say yes to Jesus" on the windshield. Our team is so bizarre, yet so unbelievably brilliant. I am in love. We walk over to school while kids are swarming around us. Most of the kids are about 5 to 13 years old and have nothing on their feet as they play on the hard red dirt. Dan asks me while to entertain the smaller children so the older Zambian youth, involved in the local STS club we were visiting, would be less distracted. I agreed and Johnny and I went to round up our troops. First we played Duck, Duck Goose. This did not turn out too well. We moved on to Red Rover. This lasted a good twenty minutes. The 70 kids we were working with had too much fun. They really enjoyed trying to break the bonds of the other team's hands. As this began to get old, we then tried the game London Bridge is Falling Down. This game passed about 10 minutes of time. Not too successful. We needed a simple game that can manage all of the kids, fast! We were losing them. The real time breaker was a game Johnny thought of. We held hands with one other person and instead of the kids running underneath our bridge, they would walk across our forearms. This was such a fun activity. I loved watching the kids try to succeed at walking all of the way down the line. All in all, it was a beautiful day.
After that we came back to the house, made PB and bitter marmalade sandwiches and played card games. About seven of us spent the night refilling our coffee/tea cups between neverending rounds of playing cards. It was a nice way to end Johnny's stay with us. Keep him on your prayers as he travels back to Botswana. Tomorrow is Africa Freedom Day, so we get the day off. A handful of us will stay at the house and rest. And the others will travel to Chimfunzi, the Chimpanzee orphanage... oh the blogs to come! Pray that our day off would be a chance for the Lord to minister and energize us. Thank you for each and every prayer!
Jesse Barnes
Team Stop the Spread
Following lunch we left for an outreach for the rest of the afternoon. We went to an traditional village outside of town. There were huts made of adobe brick and roofs made of straw. Hard to imagine probably, but it was probably the neatest thing I have seen here so far. Not many people experience a true African village. The children flocked to us right as we pulled up. We all jumped out of a big hippie van with the letters "Say yes to Jesus" on the windshield. Our team is so bizarre, yet so unbelievably brilliant. I am in love. We walk over to school while kids are swarming around us. Most of the kids are about 5 to 13 years old and have nothing on their feet as they play on the hard red dirt. Dan asks me while to entertain the smaller children so the older Zambian youth, involved in the local STS club we were visiting, would be less distracted. I agreed and Johnny and I went to round up our troops. First we played Duck, Duck Goose. This did not turn out too well. We moved on to Red Rover. This lasted a good twenty minutes. The 70 kids we were working with had too much fun. They really enjoyed trying to break the bonds of the other team's hands. As this began to get old, we then tried the game London Bridge is Falling Down. This game passed about 10 minutes of time. Not too successful. We needed a simple game that can manage all of the kids, fast! We were losing them. The real time breaker was a game Johnny thought of. We held hands with one other person and instead of the kids running underneath our bridge, they would walk across our forearms. This was such a fun activity. I loved watching the kids try to succeed at walking all of the way down the line. All in all, it was a beautiful day.
After that we came back to the house, made PB and bitter marmalade sandwiches and played card games. About seven of us spent the night refilling our coffee/tea cups between neverending rounds of playing cards. It was a nice way to end Johnny's stay with us. Keep him on your prayers as he travels back to Botswana. Tomorrow is Africa Freedom Day, so we get the day off. A handful of us will stay at the house and rest. And the others will travel to Chimfunzi, the Chimpanzee orphanage... oh the blogs to come! Pray that our day off would be a chance for the Lord to minister and energize us. Thank you for each and every prayer!
Jesse Barnes
Team Stop the Spread
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Update from Megan
Greetings all. Today’s news is brought to you by Megan (yes, I’m really here, despite Dan forgetting to mention me - I won’t hold it against him for too long). I am so happy that God brought me back to Zambia for a second year. The team is already such a tight family, and we’ve been called to support each other in so many ways that we never could have expected.
In Zambia, our plans never seem to turn out as we intend, and this morning was no exception. We had told the students at the Mufulira Teachers’ College that we would be playing sports with them for a few hours, but since Monday is a holiday (African Freedom Day, or so I’m told) all the students have left town for the three day weekend. Financial restrictions definitely don’t stop people from travelling all over the place. So we showed up to discover that there were no students to play with, but we remained undaunted and set up our volleyball net in one of the nearby fields, to see if anyone would join us. And it turned out really well – lots of local kids turned out to kick their homemade balls around, an official-looking girls’ soccer game started up, and we found plenty of people who wanted to play volleyball. Elizabeth and I also got some of the little kids to play Sheep Sheep Come On, which we learned last year in Murundu.
Then we all piled back in the Jesus van to go to the Zambian Crocodile Hunter’s home where we got to handle all kinds of snakes, including an absolutely enormous boa constrictor. Which started hissing. I stuck to the little ones, and made very good friends with a small albino constrictor. We also held some baby crocodiles and saw a very shy jackal, which looks rather like a large gray fox. The would-be Crocodile Hunter was not there himself, but we were led around by Ringo, one of the local farm workers, who was willing to humor our curiosity. I can’t imagine what we look like to the locals, 13 muzungus in matching t-shirts crammed into the trusty Say Yes To Jesus van, wanting to see snakes…
To crown the day, we went to the house of Dr T’s Italian friends for an authentic Itailian pasta dinner. Delicious food and fascinating conversation – Enrico has been in Zambia since 1951, and his wife Daniella, who is originally South African, pretty much grew up here, so they were in Zambia when the British withdrew and gave Zambians their independence.
We didn’t get back to the house in time for showers – the water still turns off every night at around 10pm. But at least we’re not getting electrocuted in the shower anymore, since the ingenuity of Jim solved that problem… After grounding everything he could find, we were still picking up an 8V potential every time we touched the shower handles, which REALLY stings when you’re standing in a pool of water. But as they say, if you can’t ground it, break the circuit (yeah, no, nobody says that, sorry for being a huge nerd). So our shower handles now have rubber protectors, affectionately named Shower Condoms…you’ll have to see the pictures.
So, life is good, a day of rest and play is always welcome, and we’re looking forward to Duane preaching tomorrow. I’m very curious to see how our Zambian friends respond to a sermon about HIV/AIDS. I think it’s going to blow some minds and cultural barriers. So prayers for a Spirit-filled message tomorrow morning would be appreciated, and just that the ears and hearts of the congregation would be opened to the challenges Duane is going to bring. Thanks for all your support!
Megan Sheridan
Stop the Spread Team
In Zambia, our plans never seem to turn out as we intend, and this morning was no exception. We had told the students at the Mufulira Teachers’ College that we would be playing sports with them for a few hours, but since Monday is a holiday (African Freedom Day, or so I’m told) all the students have left town for the three day weekend. Financial restrictions definitely don’t stop people from travelling all over the place. So we showed up to discover that there were no students to play with, but we remained undaunted and set up our volleyball net in one of the nearby fields, to see if anyone would join us. And it turned out really well – lots of local kids turned out to kick their homemade balls around, an official-looking girls’ soccer game started up, and we found plenty of people who wanted to play volleyball. Elizabeth and I also got some of the little kids to play Sheep Sheep Come On, which we learned last year in Murundu.
Then we all piled back in the Jesus van to go to the Zambian Crocodile Hunter’s home where we got to handle all kinds of snakes, including an absolutely enormous boa constrictor. Which started hissing. I stuck to the little ones, and made very good friends with a small albino constrictor. We also held some baby crocodiles and saw a very shy jackal, which looks rather like a large gray fox. The would-be Crocodile Hunter was not there himself, but we were led around by Ringo, one of the local farm workers, who was willing to humor our curiosity. I can’t imagine what we look like to the locals, 13 muzungus in matching t-shirts crammed into the trusty Say Yes To Jesus van, wanting to see snakes…
To crown the day, we went to the house of Dr T’s Italian friends for an authentic Itailian pasta dinner. Delicious food and fascinating conversation – Enrico has been in Zambia since 1951, and his wife Daniella, who is originally South African, pretty much grew up here, so they were in Zambia when the British withdrew and gave Zambians their independence.
We didn’t get back to the house in time for showers – the water still turns off every night at around 10pm. But at least we’re not getting electrocuted in the shower anymore, since the ingenuity of Jim solved that problem… After grounding everything he could find, we were still picking up an 8V potential every time we touched the shower handles, which REALLY stings when you’re standing in a pool of water. But as they say, if you can’t ground it, break the circuit (yeah, no, nobody says that, sorry for being a huge nerd). So our shower handles now have rubber protectors, affectionately named Shower Condoms…you’ll have to see the pictures.
So, life is good, a day of rest and play is always welcome, and we’re looking forward to Duane preaching tomorrow. I’m very curious to see how our Zambian friends respond to a sermon about HIV/AIDS. I think it’s going to blow some minds and cultural barriers. So prayers for a Spirit-filled message tomorrow morning would be appreciated, and just that the ears and hearts of the congregation would be opened to the challenges Duane is going to bring. Thanks for all your support!
Megan Sheridan
Stop the Spread Team
Friday, May 23, 2008
Update from Adam
This blog post is coming to you from Beth and Adam Hunt. We are joining the STS team for these two weeks as part of HIVHope. We are also the only married couple on the team and have been blessed with the "royal suite" in Dr. T's house, which happens to be a room with two single beds pushed together with a big gap in between the mattresses. We live in Fishers, IN and this is our second time in Africa. It has been an incredible week in Zambia; we have all truly been thrown into the fire together which has developed relationships that are going to last for many years. We feel especially blessed because these friendships are an outcome that we had not prepared for, nor expected. The two teams are one, and we are becoming in tune with each other's spirit.
Today, the Pamodzi Girls' School had another activity, and some of the team needed rest, so we did not visit with them. It was the final day of the Agape Church Plant School seminar, and all of the attendees presented their creative ideas for teaching others. We enjoyed watching several dramas which displayed things like: how to counsel a person who has discovered that they are HIV positive, how to encourage married couples when one is positive and one is negative, etc. Several others sang songs in Bemba, which were beautiful to listen to. I think everyone in attendance was blessed by what they saw and heard. To close, Duane explained that the students could leave and be like the Dead Sea, or like the Sea of Galilee. The Galilee has an outlet, and therefore the water that flows in, flows out the other side. The Dead Sea has no outlet, and therefore it takes in water which becomes still and cannot support life. We should be like the Sea of Galilee. This knowledge and training about HIV education and motivation should not be taken in and held, but it should flow out to others to give life and hope. The students were then presented with their HIVHope "graduation" certificates and they all agreed that they needed to begin sharing their new knowledge with the community right away.
The evening consisted of a few movies, some worship, prayer, and card games. Tomorrow begins our first weekend, and it is filled with several exciting things which you will hear about later.
Thank you for your prayers. God is moving here in ways that are big and new to me, and it is a privilege to be part of it.
Adam Hunt
Today, the Pamodzi Girls' School had another activity, and some of the team needed rest, so we did not visit with them. It was the final day of the Agape Church Plant School seminar, and all of the attendees presented their creative ideas for teaching others. We enjoyed watching several dramas which displayed things like: how to counsel a person who has discovered that they are HIV positive, how to encourage married couples when one is positive and one is negative, etc. Several others sang songs in Bemba, which were beautiful to listen to. I think everyone in attendance was blessed by what they saw and heard. To close, Duane explained that the students could leave and be like the Dead Sea, or like the Sea of Galilee. The Galilee has an outlet, and therefore the water that flows in, flows out the other side. The Dead Sea has no outlet, and therefore it takes in water which becomes still and cannot support life. We should be like the Sea of Galilee. This knowledge and training about HIV education and motivation should not be taken in and held, but it should flow out to others to give life and hope. The students were then presented with their HIVHope "graduation" certificates and they all agreed that they needed to begin sharing their new knowledge with the community right away.
The evening consisted of a few movies, some worship, prayer, and card games. Tomorrow begins our first weekend, and it is filled with several exciting things which you will hear about later.
Thank you for your prayers. God is moving here in ways that are big and new to me, and it is a privilege to be part of it.
Adam Hunt
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Update from John (aka, "the peace corp guy")
Hello everyone, today’s blog is brought to you by Johnny Payne, a new person you have not yet heard of but who is very excited to be a part of the STS-HIVHope program in Mufulira this week and is going to be working to bring it to Botswana. My name is Johnny Payne and I am a Peace Corps Volunteer working in Letlhakane, Botswana. The story of how I came to be involved in this week’s activities in Mufulira is a little complicated, but the short version is that God is working in Africa and has decided to include me in it. Working as a Peace Corps Volunteer means that I am definitely not a missionary but I do have opportunities to work with the faith-based organizations involved with HIV/AIDS in Botswana. Originally, I expected my role this week to be an observer, in order to learn lessons from HIVHope and STS staff on motivational methods for HIV prevention and to share some lessons from my work with a district AIDS coordinator in Botswana. I have been truly blessed and excited to have the opportunity to join STS in visits to Pamodzi Girls’ School. Apart from that, the spiritual encouragement and fellowship have been more than I could have hoped for.
Today was a break-through day both in the Agape Church’s morning seminar and our Abstinence session at Pamodzi. The participants at Agape were once again confronted with a host of questions through which Duane asked them to analyze the role of the church in dealing with abstinence, sexual behavior, condoms, stigma, and other issues which they will face in their efforts as HIV prevention motivators. A couple of questions which challenged participants the most were how to address sex in a church setting but in a culturally appropriate manner and how to relate to church members who are living with HIV/AIDS. Having lived in Botswana for over 1 year now I can tell you that this is a big issue in many cultures and countries in Southern Africa and it must be addressed head on if we are to seize the opportunity that we have to show the world who Jesus is through our response to HIV/AIDS. While most churches in America have learned to stay relevant to the culture by addressing current issues, African Christianity has taken another course in its evolution. Churches in Africa either face the problem of retaining cultural aspects which conflict with the Bible or else they become so far removed from the culture that they cease to be relevant to the people they are trying to reach. HIV/AIDS, with its complex social and ethical dimensions, has only exacerbated this trend. The participants have shown us this week a truly admirable passion both for their churches and for the lost people of their nation. God will use them in a powerful way as they learn more and put it into practice.
The talks given by Austin and Casey at Pamodzi today were life-altering for many of the girls lucky enough to fit in the small classroom that we were crammed into since the hall was being painted. Austin’s message brought many insights for the girls, who I am sure have not and will not hear many 20-year virgins as they grow up in their culture. Austin’s speaking ability, which was clearly supernaturally assisted if you ask me, allowed the girls to comprehend him as they would one of their own and I believe many of them will remember his example as they choose to testify to their school, family and friends in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. Casey’s message which focused on the ability of God to heal pain and restore his children spiritually also seemed to have received some extra unseen power. She spoke with courage, conviction, and compassion in a way that touched the girls deeply. Many girls probably believed God was speaking directly to them through her as many came forward at the end to ask for prayer, and Casey told me that one approached her asking to receive Christ as her Savior, something I don’t think Casey was expecting to result from her talk. I also received a surprise as my small group ballooned from 10 to about 25 girls who I was able to talk with about sex, abstinence, dating, and marriage. I really enjoy the give-and-take with this age group, and in fact, I am doing a similar program with young people in Botswana through a program called GLOW, Girls and Guys Leading Our World. All the things that have happened this week have been so inspiring and we are just getting started! I am sad to have to return to Botswana on Sunday but I wish the STS group the best as they continue on in Zambia and I think you can expect to hear more about me as plans to bring STS to Botswana will be developing before too long.
John Payne.
Today was a break-through day both in the Agape Church’s morning seminar and our Abstinence session at Pamodzi. The participants at Agape were once again confronted with a host of questions through which Duane asked them to analyze the role of the church in dealing with abstinence, sexual behavior, condoms, stigma, and other issues which they will face in their efforts as HIV prevention motivators. A couple of questions which challenged participants the most were how to address sex in a church setting but in a culturally appropriate manner and how to relate to church members who are living with HIV/AIDS. Having lived in Botswana for over 1 year now I can tell you that this is a big issue in many cultures and countries in Southern Africa and it must be addressed head on if we are to seize the opportunity that we have to show the world who Jesus is through our response to HIV/AIDS. While most churches in America have learned to stay relevant to the culture by addressing current issues, African Christianity has taken another course in its evolution. Churches in Africa either face the problem of retaining cultural aspects which conflict with the Bible or else they become so far removed from the culture that they cease to be relevant to the people they are trying to reach. HIV/AIDS, with its complex social and ethical dimensions, has only exacerbated this trend. The participants have shown us this week a truly admirable passion both for their churches and for the lost people of their nation. God will use them in a powerful way as they learn more and put it into practice.
The talks given by Austin and Casey at Pamodzi today were life-altering for many of the girls lucky enough to fit in the small classroom that we were crammed into since the hall was being painted. Austin’s message brought many insights for the girls, who I am sure have not and will not hear many 20-year virgins as they grow up in their culture. Austin’s speaking ability, which was clearly supernaturally assisted if you ask me, allowed the girls to comprehend him as they would one of their own and I believe many of them will remember his example as they choose to testify to their school, family and friends in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. Casey’s message which focused on the ability of God to heal pain and restore his children spiritually also seemed to have received some extra unseen power. She spoke with courage, conviction, and compassion in a way that touched the girls deeply. Many girls probably believed God was speaking directly to them through her as many came forward at the end to ask for prayer, and Casey told me that one approached her asking to receive Christ as her Savior, something I don’t think Casey was expecting to result from her talk. I also received a surprise as my small group ballooned from 10 to about 25 girls who I was able to talk with about sex, abstinence, dating, and marriage. I really enjoy the give-and-take with this age group, and in fact, I am doing a similar program with young people in Botswana through a program called GLOW, Girls and Guys Leading Our World. All the things that have happened this week have been so inspiring and we are just getting started! I am sad to have to return to Botswana on Sunday but I wish the STS group the best as they continue on in Zambia and I think you can expect to hear more about me as plans to bring STS to Botswana will be developing before too long.
John Payne.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Update from Dan - first blog from on the ground!
After days of traveling on planes, cars, minibuses, vans, and by foot, our whole team is now all here and our programs are well underway. The first wave (Jesse, Austin, Casie, Elizabeth, Angie, Megan, and Dan) arrived safely in Mufulira (our Zambian 'Base Camp') on Friday night after lovely stops at the Smith's in Washington and the Jordaan's in South Africa. The second wave (Duane, Adam, and Beth) arrived safely early Sunday morning after being picked up in Lusaka by Dr. Thinus and Jim (a week after their collision with a bull in Botswana). We spent Sunday getting over the post-travel grog and went to a lovely Italian couple's house in a neighoring city. That evening we picked up two other team members, Johnny Payne and Victor Thanke, who were last minute additions. Johnny Payne is an American in the Peace Corps who has been working in Botswana for the past year with the government to develop a HIV education program. He is a really dynamic and inspiring guy who has quickly become one of our team. By the way, he is hilarious! Victor is a Botswanan who works for the UN helping Botswana develop HIV education. He is a humble man who is extremely intelligent and has a real passion for his country and continent. Victor had to leave us on Tuesday for a job interview and Johnny leaves on Saturday. Please pray for their travel. There presence will be very missed! We have been blessed by their being with us.
On Monday we catipulted into our first day of ministry. Our time at Dr. T's Church Planting School in the mornings have been great. Duane has been working with 15 or so church planters and HIV educators. The 'mazungus,' Zambian word for white people, have been silent observers, taking notes and soaking up Duanes strategies and motivational information. He runs his workshop in a very conversational way, so we have been learning so much about Zambian culture as well as HIV and the stigma attached to it. In the mornings this week, all has gone as planned, for the most part.
In the afternoons... well... not so much. The Youth HIV Ed Team (Austin, Casie, Angie, Jesse, Dan, Megan) are at an all-girls' school called Pomodzi, which is our 4th time at that school, and has local Stop the Spread leaders who work with the students year round. We were planning on teaching a seminar to around 15-20 students, and around 75 showed up. Oh flexibility, a missionary's best friend! So we spent Monday and Tuesday with them, breaking them into small groups and getting to know them, while talking about What HIV Is, How Its Spread, and Myths and Truths of HIV. It has been a really good time of sharing with them and encouraging them. One thing that has really struck us is how well they have been taught about the aforementioned topics. It is proof that the STS-Zambia (the local Zambians who have taken ownership of the program) are doing an amazing job. That has been a continual theme in seeing how capable and motivated the local leaders (there names are Henry, Terry, Oswald, John, Jessie) are to stop the spread of HIV and share the good news of the Gospel. Zambians are going to be able to teach these things better than we can because they know the culture, language, motivations, etc. So one of our objectives of this trip in encouraging and empowering STS-Zambia. Praise the Lord! On Wednesday, the girls at Pomodzi had the afternoon off, but Thursday and Friday we are going to be tackling some of the more intimate subjects like Abstinence, What If You've Made a Mistake, Stigma, Getting Tested, and Abortion. Austin, Casie, and Angie are going to be talking. Please pray that the Lord would anoint them in their words, that the hearts of the girls would be open, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would take root and be strengthened among them.
Also, to fill you in on the Seminar Team (Duane, Elizabeth, Adam, Beth), they have spent the afternoons at a teacher's college. They were expecting nearly 50-60, and around 400 showed up. This has its benefits, but it is not what they had planned on. So they have continued to be bold and step out in faith and teach about HIV in the Spirit's leading. Today, the college informed us that they were having evaluator's coming in from the capitol to observe the students, so Thursday and Friday are cancelled for HIV Hope Team. So please pray that another door would be opened for them to serve!
Just a few parting reflections...
First of all, I have been overwhelmed with the amazing people who are on the team this year. Everyone has been so engaged and encouraging. I don't know if I have ever seen a group of people bond so fast. There is a sense of realness in this house, in these people. Pray that the Spirit would continue to work in this way, through our community with each other.
Secondly, there has been alot of laughter, which I think is absolutely neccesary. There are alot of harsh realities here with which we come face to face. It is devestating at times, and it should be. Life is devestating, at times. But The Lord has blessed us with humour and laughter and pray that the Lord would continue to minister to us in this way!
Lastly, thank you. Thank you for your phone calls. Thank you for your emails. Thank you for your concerns. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your faith in this mission. Thank you for your reliance on the Lord. Most of all, thank you for your prayers... they keep us afloat.
Glory be to God.
Dan
Team Stop the Spread
On Monday we catipulted into our first day of ministry. Our time at Dr. T's Church Planting School in the mornings have been great. Duane has been working with 15 or so church planters and HIV educators. The 'mazungus,' Zambian word for white people, have been silent observers, taking notes and soaking up Duanes strategies and motivational information. He runs his workshop in a very conversational way, so we have been learning so much about Zambian culture as well as HIV and the stigma attached to it. In the mornings this week, all has gone as planned, for the most part.
In the afternoons... well... not so much. The Youth HIV Ed Team (Austin, Casie, Angie, Jesse, Dan, Megan) are at an all-girls' school called Pomodzi, which is our 4th time at that school, and has local Stop the Spread leaders who work with the students year round. We were planning on teaching a seminar to around 15-20 students, and around 75 showed up. Oh flexibility, a missionary's best friend! So we spent Monday and Tuesday with them, breaking them into small groups and getting to know them, while talking about What HIV Is, How Its Spread, and Myths and Truths of HIV. It has been a really good time of sharing with them and encouraging them. One thing that has really struck us is how well they have been taught about the aforementioned topics. It is proof that the STS-Zambia (the local Zambians who have taken ownership of the program) are doing an amazing job. That has been a continual theme in seeing how capable and motivated the local leaders (there names are Henry, Terry, Oswald, John, Jessie) are to stop the spread of HIV and share the good news of the Gospel. Zambians are going to be able to teach these things better than we can because they know the culture, language, motivations, etc. So one of our objectives of this trip in encouraging and empowering STS-Zambia. Praise the Lord! On Wednesday, the girls at Pomodzi had the afternoon off, but Thursday and Friday we are going to be tackling some of the more intimate subjects like Abstinence, What If You've Made a Mistake, Stigma, Getting Tested, and Abortion. Austin, Casie, and Angie are going to be talking. Please pray that the Lord would anoint them in their words, that the hearts of the girls would be open, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ would take root and be strengthened among them.
Also, to fill you in on the Seminar Team (Duane, Elizabeth, Adam, Beth), they have spent the afternoons at a teacher's college. They were expecting nearly 50-60, and around 400 showed up. This has its benefits, but it is not what they had planned on. So they have continued to be bold and step out in faith and teach about HIV in the Spirit's leading. Today, the college informed us that they were having evaluator's coming in from the capitol to observe the students, so Thursday and Friday are cancelled for HIV Hope Team. So please pray that another door would be opened for them to serve!
Just a few parting reflections...
First of all, I have been overwhelmed with the amazing people who are on the team this year. Everyone has been so engaged and encouraging. I don't know if I have ever seen a group of people bond so fast. There is a sense of realness in this house, in these people. Pray that the Spirit would continue to work in this way, through our community with each other.
Secondly, there has been alot of laughter, which I think is absolutely neccesary. There are alot of harsh realities here with which we come face to face. It is devestating at times, and it should be. Life is devestating, at times. But The Lord has blessed us with humour and laughter and pray that the Lord would continue to minister to us in this way!
Lastly, thank you. Thank you for your phone calls. Thank you for your emails. Thank you for your concerns. Thank you for your trust. Thank you for your faith in this mission. Thank you for your reliance on the Lord. Most of all, thank you for your prayers... they keep us afloat.
Glory be to God.
Dan
Team Stop the Spread
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Update for Tues, May 20
The phone / internet was finally working tonight, but then the power went out before the team had a chance to send any updates. TIA, right? When I called they were eating PB&Js in the dark and discussing tomorrow program.
On the traveling side, the portion of the team coming up from SA had some action, but managed to come out unscathed. They avioded an elephant on the road in Botswana, dealt with the Zambia border patrol wanting to compound their trailer full of supplies, and skidded to a halt in time to miss a herd of 20 cows in the middle of the night in Zambia. They heard some rattling noises just before picking up Duane Crumb, Adam and Beth at the Lusaka airport...it turned out to be due to lots of missing or stripped lug nuts leaving rear wheels that were about to fall off. A borrowed lug wrench and some slow driving got them and the newcomers the rest of the way to the house in Mufulira by 5 am on Monday.
On their way to Muflira they stopped at an orphanage called Villages of Hope for about 6 hours. On the agriculture side, Jim V gave out pods with Moringa tree sprouts, explained about this "Miracle Tree", and distributed information. The people were very welcoming and seemed very excited about the tree and its amazing health benefits. The team members who were there also attended an evening concert run by Villages of Hope.
While part of the team was traveling up to Mufulira by road, the majority of the team had flown into Ndola, Zambia (the same province as Mufulira). Friends picked them up and took them to the house, so I think they had a little time to rest and re-group before the programs started bright and early Monday morning.
All of the programs appear to be running smoothly. Henry (our STS-Zambia Coordinator) has done a great job with the prep work in Zambia for the HIV Ed teams - both for the programs in the high schools as well as the logistics for training for the teachers and church planting students. There are two HIV Ed teams running programs simultaneously this year for these first two weeks. One team is focusing on one-week teaching/training programs and the other is primarily running 2-week programs at nearby high schools where there are STS clubs in operation year-round. This week, the teaching/training program is at Dr Thinus' Church Planting School in the morning (which everyone is attending) and at the Teacher's Training Institute in the afternoon. The other team is at Pamodzi high school in the afternoon, a school that we have worked with for the past 3 years. This week at Pamodzi is focusing on working with a small number of students who are more active in the club, and next week will be the main program with the entire high school.
Hopefully the power will turn back on soon and the team members will be able to update you first-hand, but until then I'll do my best to keep everyone in the loop.
Tannen
On the traveling side, the portion of the team coming up from SA had some action, but managed to come out unscathed. They avioded an elephant on the road in Botswana, dealt with the Zambia border patrol wanting to compound their trailer full of supplies, and skidded to a halt in time to miss a herd of 20 cows in the middle of the night in Zambia. They heard some rattling noises just before picking up Duane Crumb, Adam and Beth at the Lusaka airport...it turned out to be due to lots of missing or stripped lug nuts leaving rear wheels that were about to fall off. A borrowed lug wrench and some slow driving got them and the newcomers the rest of the way to the house in Mufulira by 5 am on Monday.
On their way to Muflira they stopped at an orphanage called Villages of Hope for about 6 hours. On the agriculture side, Jim V gave out pods with Moringa tree sprouts, explained about this "Miracle Tree", and distributed information. The people were very welcoming and seemed very excited about the tree and its amazing health benefits. The team members who were there also attended an evening concert run by Villages of Hope.
While part of the team was traveling up to Mufulira by road, the majority of the team had flown into Ndola, Zambia (the same province as Mufulira). Friends picked them up and took them to the house, so I think they had a little time to rest and re-group before the programs started bright and early Monday morning.
All of the programs appear to be running smoothly. Henry (our STS-Zambia Coordinator) has done a great job with the prep work in Zambia for the HIV Ed teams - both for the programs in the high schools as well as the logistics for training for the teachers and church planting students. There are two HIV Ed teams running programs simultaneously this year for these first two weeks. One team is focusing on one-week teaching/training programs and the other is primarily running 2-week programs at nearby high schools where there are STS clubs in operation year-round. This week, the teaching/training program is at Dr Thinus' Church Planting School in the morning (which everyone is attending) and at the Teacher's Training Institute in the afternoon. The other team is at Pamodzi high school in the afternoon, a school that we have worked with for the past 3 years. This week at Pamodzi is focusing on working with a small number of students who are more active in the club, and next week will be the main program with the entire high school.
Hopefully the power will turn back on soon and the team members will be able to update you first-hand, but until then I'll do my best to keep everyone in the loop.
Tannen
Sunday, May 18, 2008
from Elizabeth
Hi, family and friends!
We are safely in Zambia at long last! Actually, most of us (Dan,Elizabeth, Austin, Casie, Jesse, Megan, Angie) have been here for a few days, but we are having trouble with our phone lines, which is why we've been unable to communicate with you! Hopefully, we will be able to fix that problem tomorrow morning and be able to use both telephone and email at the house by tomorrow evening (Lord willing!). This is Africa! :)
Thankfully, everything else has been smooth and easy, as far as travel and luggage is concerned. Dr. T., Jim, Duane, Adam and Beth made it in this morning, and I am typing on behalf on the team from a friend's house in Kitwe. We will start our various programs bright and early tomorrow morning.
Please continue lifting us up in prayer and know that we are also praying for you! We cannot wait to share more in detail about the awesome things that the Lord is already doing in our team and in Zambia!
Happy and safe,
Elizabeth on behalf of the STS team
P.S. Thanks to all who have written...we cannot read your emails, because of our spotty internet connection. We promise to read and respond as soon as we are able!
We are safely in Zambia at long last! Actually, most of us (Dan,Elizabeth, Austin, Casie, Jesse, Megan, Angie) have been here for a few days, but we are having trouble with our phone lines, which is why we've been unable to communicate with you! Hopefully, we will be able to fix that problem tomorrow morning and be able to use both telephone and email at the house by tomorrow evening (Lord willing!). This is Africa! :)
Thankfully, everything else has been smooth and easy, as far as travel and luggage is concerned. Dr. T., Jim, Duane, Adam and Beth made it in this morning, and I am typing on behalf on the team from a friend's house in Kitwe. We will start our various programs bright and early tomorrow morning.
Please continue lifting us up in prayer and know that we are also praying for you! We cannot wait to share more in detail about the awesome things that the Lord is already doing in our team and in Zambia!
Happy and safe,
Elizabeth on behalf of the STS team
P.S. Thanks to all who have written...we cannot read your emails, because of our spotty internet connection. We promise to read and respond as soon as we are able!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
STS Team arrived safely in Zambia!
The STS Team that departed on May 14th has arrived safely in Zambia. I don't think that they have internet and phone access at the house yet, but they should have it soon.
Dr. Thinus, Jim (my dad) and Duane Crumb are on their way from Lusaka last I heard. They may have even arrived in Mufulira by now.
~Tannen
Dr. Thinus, Jim (my dad) and Duane Crumb are on their way from Lusaka last I heard. They may have even arrived in Mufulira by now.
~Tannen
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Update from South Africa
Just talked to my husband in South Africa. Joseph and Jim plan to have a mass Moringa Tree planting at Joseph's place. They have been discussing things at length and are both excited about their plans. They started 200 moringa seeds. Some are for Joseph and some are for the Village of Hope, an orphanage near Lusaka, Zambia. They scheduled a four hour workshop to teach about the Moringa Tree at the Village of Hope on Saturday morning. It is on the way to pick up Duane Crumb, so that will work out well.
Joseph and his wife have three children, pay for the education of 20 orphans and feed about 100 orphans that do not stay with him. Joseph has been studying Jim's Moringa Tree information during this time down time when they are stuck in SA. To obtain necessary funds for his projects, Joseph raises 600 chickens from two days old to 3 months and then takes them across the border to the Congo to sell. It is tougher now that the price of corn is heading up because mashed corn is the staple that the orphans and chickens eat every day. They will be adding the nutritious Moringa leaves to it. If a nice percent of the trees survive maybe Joseph can start selling Moringa!
Dr T has a friend who runs a Johannesburg airport shuttle service. He will take the larger STS team to Dawid Jordaan's house when they arrive in South Africa for the night. Some of the team knows Dawid and his wife. They are awesome.
The Chevy isn't fixed yet, but several solutions are in progress. Nothing to worry about for you all who will be arriving.
Karen VZ
Joseph and his wife have three children, pay for the education of 20 orphans and feed about 100 orphans that do not stay with him. Joseph has been studying Jim's Moringa Tree information during this time down time when they are stuck in SA. To obtain necessary funds for his projects, Joseph raises 600 chickens from two days old to 3 months and then takes them across the border to the Congo to sell. It is tougher now that the price of corn is heading up because mashed corn is the staple that the orphans and chickens eat every day. They will be adding the nutritious Moringa leaves to it. If a nice percent of the trees survive maybe Joseph can start selling Moringa!
Dr T has a friend who runs a Johannesburg airport shuttle service. He will take the larger STS team to Dawid Jordaan's house when they arrive in South Africa for the night. Some of the team knows Dawid and his wife. They are awesome.
The Chevy isn't fixed yet, but several solutions are in progress. Nothing to worry about for you all who will be arriving.
Karen VZ
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Cows in Botswana
Dr. Thinus, Joseph, and Jim (my dad) are back in Centurion, South Africa. Yes, they did leave on Friday morning and crossed over into Botswana by late Friday afternoon. It became dark and they were about 20 miles into Botswana when they hit a cow. The Land Rover is a wreck, but they walked away without a scratch. Dr Thinus hitch hiked back to South Africa to get help while Jim and Joseph stayed to guard the supplies. They used a flashlight to wave people around the injured cow.
Some of Dr T’s “spiritual sons” returned to Botswana with him to tow the Rover back across the border. It is now at a workshop in SA. Dr Thinus’ other vehicle is also at the workshop and they said that they hope to have it ready by Wednesday so that they can start driving again for Zambia in time to meet the rest of the team in Ndola on Friday.
Some of Dr T’s “spiritual sons” returned to Botswana with him to tow the Rover back across the border. It is now at a workshop in SA. Dr Thinus’ other vehicle is also at the workshop and they said that they hope to have it ready by Wednesday so that they can start driving again for Zambia in time to meet the rest of the team in Ndola on Friday.
Tannen
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