Macintosh's Story

Exactly a year ago day I shared a post about one of the greatest people I have ever met (seriously, Macintosh is amazing). Next month Macintosh has a wonderful opportunity to travel to the United States to share his story. He was abducted at age 11 to be a child soldier in a horrific war but what makes his story so amazing is what he made of his life after the war. I cannot even begin to imagine what he will think of this place and what it will look like through his eyes. I am so excited for him to experience this because he gives so much back to the community of West Point and truly lives a life with great purpose. This will be such a treat for him.

More Then Me has put out a video about Macintosh and his story. Please check it out below.




If you want to invite Macintosh to share at your school, church, or home party in November or December please Email Emily at emilyb@morethanme.org to set something up.

A Letter

I love notes, letters, cards- the good ol' snail mail. There is something about writing out what you want to say, I mean really writing it. It is wonderful to send these things to others and equally wonderful to receive them. A few weeks ago the founder of the organization I worked with in Zambia told me she was bringing back to the states with her a letter from one of the women to me. I immediately got excited. My expectation was something along the lines of "I had a great time with you and now miss you." Honestly, I did not expect too much.  

Last week I received the letter. Wow. Talk about exceeding my expectations.

Before I left Zambia my friend asked me how she could pray for me. This caught me a bit off guard. This women who had faced more hardships in her life then I could imagine was asking me how she could pray for me?! I said the first thing that came to my mind- a job. I have been searching for a while and haven't found that career job yet. She said "okay, I will begin praying for it this weekend on my church retreat." Just like that. Simple. 

I asked her the same question in return. She said she wanted to save enough money this year to buy her own sewing machine. I have thought of this woman often and have remembered her story, her struggle, and her joy but have I specifically prayed for this one thing she asked me to pray for? I am ashamed to say, no. I have not taken a few moments to bring this pray to our Lord on her behalf. Why? Have I been facing such awfulness in my own life to prevent me from thinking of her? No. Have I been so busy that I have not had a moment to pray for her? No. I have no reason;I just merely haven't. 

So what was in her letter? A prayer. A beautifully written page long prayer to our Lord about my life. She shared encouraging words as well as Bible verses. I was blown away. 

We never know how the Lord will use the relationships we make in life nor do we know how He will speak to us. On my last day with her when she shared her story with me I was impressed by her strength, by her persistence, and by her undying faith. All of those feeling flooded back and she showed all of that again. What am amazing person she is. I am so thankful to call this woman not only a friend but a sister in Christ. 

Walk to Educate a Child

Unfortunately, many children grow up wondering where their next meal is coming from, dreaming of going to school, and wanting someone to care for them. Outside of Nairobi, Kenya in a town called Roysambu there is an organization meeting these needs for abandoned babies. This wonderful place is Happy Life Children's Home.  
 

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with HLCH for four months back in 2009 and have since been back for a short visit. I fell in love with the children and grew close to the women who work with them. It is such an amazing place for children and a place that gives them a second chance at a life that didn't start off well for them. Most of the children come to the home as babies, often right from the hospital where their mothers walked out. The moms that work with these children are so caring, loving, and devoted to the children. 

Happy Life started in 2002 and has grown from small house to the addition of a four story building and now a second campus with a school and group homes. I love that HLCH is growing with the children they care for so that that do not get adopted will not have to leave the home but will continue to grow up with the only family they know.   

Every year HLCH puts on a fundraising walk to support the children. I was blessed to be a part of the walk in 2009 and we aren't talking a 5K stroll but a 12K walk with local communities to build awareness. One of ways this happens is by everyone sporting the same Happy Life shirt.  

This year the walk is happening this Saturday, September 21 with the theme Walk With Us To Educate A Childas as they are raising funds for their new campus and school. For those of us who won't be in Roysambu this weekend (dang it!) we can partner with them and sponsor a Kenyan who would like to participate but may be jobless or facing hardship and cannot afford the entry of $20. You can donate online at www.happylifechildrenshome.com or by sending a check to the co-director, Rev. Jim, at 140 Airport Road, Newcastle, DE 19720.

Thank you in advance for supporting these wonderful children and helping to bring them a brighter future.

Goodbye Zambia

A few days before we left Zambia the women of Clothed in Hope set up a shop for us to purchase some of the  items they have made. You can purchase their products and support the women at their on-line shop.

 

The scarf and clutch I bought both happened to be made by my friend Bridget. Now whenever I use these I will think of her, see her face, and laugh at our fun times together- how cool!

 

Our last day at the center was filled with singing and dancing... 

 

...and many goodbyes and pictures.

 

 

I will miss these women. I so enjoyed getting to hear about their lives, sharing in many moments of laughter, and learning about the Lord through them. I was honored to be a part of their lives for just a little while and to teach them just a little bit of what I know.

 

It has been a week and a half since I left Zambia. I have adjusted to home and life back in the states, but I daily think of the people I met and the experiences I had. I am so blessed to have gotten to serve the Lord this way and am forever thankful for the many people who made this trip possible. Each of you who contributed monetarily and prayed for myself and the team- you made this whole thing possible!

Seminars

Everyone has a specific area of interest, knowledge, career expertise, etc. Each of us on the trip took these areas and turned them into seminars for the women. This was a great opportunity to share something we are passionate about and teach the women something new.

 



I taught on group cohesion.

 

 

 



The women did a modified trust wall with each other.

They started off unsure and quickly got into it.

 

Beth taught on biblical beauty.

 

 



Ian taught on marketing and business cards as the women will soon be developing their own.

 

 

 

The women took notes and listened intently at each lesson.

 

Muchochoma Village

One of the awesome things about Clothed in Hope is that the women have started a partnership with a group of women in a village about 1.5 hours outside of town. We had the great pleasure of visiting them on Monday.

We sang and danced together. One of the visiting women shared some encouragement with a biblical message. The hosting women put on skits teaching about tithing and loving your neighbors. A member of our team taught about HIV/AIDS. We shared in lunch together (very American- PB& J sandwiches). And we took lots of pictures! I have shared a few of them below.

We were packed 19 deep riding out on a dirt road to the village in a mini-bus (van).

I loved singing and dancing with the women of Muchochoma.

 

Some of the women from Ng'ombe hanging out during lunch.

 

 This 64-year-old woman is so beautiful (and funny)! I was so happy to chat with her for a little bit thanks to someone voluntarily coming over and translating for us.

This is Emma, one of the women in CiH in Ng'ombe.

 

Chikondi means love in Nyanja and is a term that goes hand in hand with CiH.

 

Chaos with Kids

Aside from working with the women of Clothed in Hope we were asked to put on a children's program. Kelly, Ian, and I were assigned this job while the other three team members did a biblical study with the women. We were totally unsure of what this was going to look like. Kelly offered up her knowledge of vacation bible school and wrote out a lesson for each day with plans for songs, games, crafts, memory verses, a bible story, and a time to share. We were ready to take on this task even though we still were unclear on how many children we would have, what the age they would be, where it would take place, etc. etc. 
 
Then we got to day one.
 
We had hoped the women's children would come but we were unsure on who attended morning school and who attended afternoon school. Well... only one showed up. We looked at each other and then went for the gate to the center and literally called in children from outside asking if they wanted to come play. Now we were rolling. We had 20+ kids and we were ready to go. It wasn't long before we found out the women's class inside couldn't hear anything over us, and we were asked to move outside the center's gate. We began to play in a small area in the pathway and a small area beside the building. This had quickly become a street ministry. 
 
It wasn't but a few minutes in that we realized our "schedule" would become completely disregarded. That first day was absolute chaos. The children couldn't understand what we were trying to do, we didn't know what games they were trying to play (one looked like dodgeball yet only two people could throw, the other was netball with no nets). We pushed through. Our fearless leader, Kelly, never backed down when there was clear anxiety on Ian and my faces. We rallied them in from games, sang a few songs, talked about Job, and taught them a memory verse- Romans 8:39 (that we went over at least 12 times so something had to have stuck... right?). Have I mentioned the language/accent barrier? We have no idea how much of what we said they really understood!
 
We had made it through a grueling hour and a half.
 
Today was day two. As we walked out of the center and onto the path to see what children wanted to come hang out with the three crazy mzungu we decided to ditch most of the plans we had made and more of less see where the afternoon took us. We decided to start off with bubbles we had brought because all kids will love bubbles... right? Yes! It was a hit. They loved getting a turn blowing the bubbles; they loved chasing after and popping the bubbles others had blown. Today was going to be a better day.
 
And it was! The children were taking in everything we gave them. We organized some relay races, sang more songs, reviewed our verse, learned a new one (1 John 4:11), and shared another bible story. It was a success!
 
The best part is that older youth came today asking if we had something for them... most of them being males, We are talking teenage-to-early-twenties males asking for someone to pour into them... What an opportunity! Tomorrow Ian will be hanging out with them, sharing God's love with them, and talking to them about being Godly men toward women. This is a heavy load but an opportunity that must be taken.

It is so wonderful to see God working in this group, in these women, and in their families. We pray for more opportunities to serve and for the relationships we have begun to build all in hope of sharing the Lord's love as it is so abundantly amazing.