Christmas Love

There are a few things, like lights and snow and fancy trees, that may have hinted to you that Christmas is coming soon. Why not spread some Christmas love to some wonderful people who don't have lights or snow or fancy trees? Peniel Centre has been struggling financially lately, and I would love to be able to bless them with a little extra to be able to have a little Christmas celebration for the kids. Would you help make that possible for them? 

First, I would love to send a lil' envelope of happiness. Cards, notes, kids' drawings, confetti...happiness! It has to be quick because mail time to Zimbabwe is reallllllllllllly slow. If anyone in close proximity would like to contribute, I'll send it on Wednesday. Let me know!

Secondly, if you would be willing to give to Peniel Centre for Christmas, here are the instructions. Whatever you can give would be gladly received! Even $5 goes a long way, and all donations will be sent on the 20th.

1) Go to egive-usa.com 

2) Sign up for an account 

3) Choose Westwoods Community Church

 4) Fill out your information and put something to the effect of "Christmas donation for Peniel Centre" in the comments box  

Thank you so much for being such a blessing to my life and to these kids' lives!

Lights, snow, AND a fancy tree!

 

Wellington

Wellington Sibanda, age unknown

This kid is such a joy. Wellie is pretty shy at first, but once he gets comfortable with you, he's a riot! He does not have a birth certificate, so they are unsure of his age, but he is probably between 9 and 11 years old. Wellie has a smile that brightens even the worst of days - his joy is contagious. He is an excellent soccer player, and has no problem playing with the older boys. Wellie wants to be a solider when he grows up.

Wellington is a child born of incest, but he certainly does not allow that to define him. Because of the conditions of his conception, Wellie was immediately an unwanted child. His parents couldn't handle the stigma and shame that would come if they were to raise him. Wellie did not have a home when Peniel staff found him, and his father is believed to be in prison, while no one knows where his mother is. Not having a birth certificate will present Wellington with a lot of difficulties in life, so Peniel staff are working very hard at obtaining one for him. If he doesn't have a birth certificate, he cannot participate in school sports and may have difficulties with signing up for school and for the exams that are necessary to move on in school - and these problems are only the ones that would come up in his childhood. 

Pray that a birth certificate would be obtained for Wellington. Pray that he remains joyful always. Pray that he grows into a man of character and strength. Pray that he never gives up on his goals.

Kudzi

Kudzanai Mundicha, age 10

Oh, Kudzi. This boy has so much joy. (That rhymed. Fancy.) To read about where he's coming from, you can scroll down and read my post about his brother, Future. Or click here. 


Because Kudzi spent so much time being a cattle herder, he is very behind in school. He's in a class with kids his own age (he is 10), but he can't even write his name. It's impossible to know for sure after spending just three weeks with him, but I am pretty sure that he is dyslexic. While dyslexia is relatively easily dealt with in America, there are not many resources for it in rural Zimbabwe. Right now, Rejoice does all of Kudzi's homework for him. His school has a student:teacher ratio of about 40:1, which means that he doesn't get any specialized help there. Siam (a lovely lady who went to Zim with me in May) was Kudzi's unofficial tutor while we were there, and trying to work with him was so frustrating for her. It seems that he simply cannot process things the way that the other kids do. I intend to educate myself about different learning disabilities before heading back to Peniel Centre so that I can help him progress in school. The wonderful staff at Peniel are also hoping to get him into a better school - pray that this happens! Also, if you have any book recommendations or have worked with kids with learning disabilities, please let me know!


Moving on. I wish you all could know Kudzi. He has such a beautiful heart, filled with joy and gratefulness. He is always smiling and dancing. He lights up the room. Here's a little video of him dancing! :) He's the smallest one, not wearing red.

Pray for Kudzi. Pray that his joy would bring joy to others. Pray that someone would take the time to figure out how he learns. Pray that his learning disability wouldn't run his life. Pray that he feels the arms of God wrapped around him. Pray that he knows he is loved.

Future

Future Mundicha, age 13

Future's dad died when he and his brother Kudzanai were still young. Their mother remarried a man who didn't want to care for children who were not his, so they were sent to live with their neighbor, since they had no family able to care for them. However, the neighbor didn't send them to school, but turned them into cattle herders. Eventually, their paternal grandmother heard about their situation and wanted to do something, but she was just a maid in Bulawayo and didn't have a home of her own to take them in to. The grandmother did the only thing she could think of - talked to her employer about it. He happened to have heard of Peniel Centre, and they set up a meeting right away. Future and Kudzi moved in to Peniel Centre in June 2009 and have excelled ever since.

Future is funny, timid, and brilliant. Last year, he was the smartest kid in his class, and he wants to be a doctor when he grows up. Instead of writing about who Future is, I'll just post this fabulous video that the kids recorded one day when they stole my camera...he is such a ham. A bunch of the kids made little music videos, and in most of them they are wearing Rick's sunglasses. :)

Pray for Future. Pray that he feels at home at Peniel Centre. Pray that he and Kudzi stay close. Pray that he will know what he can achieve. Pray that he keeps his joy. Pray for his heart.

Smart Shopping

It's almost practically nearly Christmas! Don't just buy ugly sweaters, unneeded electronics, and toys that will be shoved to the back of the closet by Valentine's Day. Make your gifts count for more than one person! Here are a few websites with products that benefit those in need. I love all of these organizations - they are truly helping to end the cycle of poverty. Check them out!

Sseko Designs: www.ssekodesigns.com
Sseko employs women right out of high school in Uganda. Making these sandals provides money for them to go to university. And the sandals are adorable too!

Krochet Kids International: www.krochetkids.org
Also hailing from Uganda, these guys have hats, tshirts, and scarves. The shirts are the ones that say "LOVE" with the 'O" being the shape of Africa. 

Ten Thousand Villages: www.tenthousandvillages.com
This place is fantastic. You can shop online, or they have stores all over the country. Their products come from a gazillion different countries, and best of all, it's ALL fair trade.

Yobel Market: www.yobelmarket.com
Another store much like Ten Thousand Villages...but with a lot of different products!

Sak Saum: www.ihsionline.org/ssblog
Cutest. Purses. Ever! Made in Southeast Asia by women who have been or are at risk for sex trafficking. They also have hats and wallets and scarves. (Including gifts for guys!)

Freedom Fashionistas: www.freedomfashionistas.com
Pajama pants! They are so cute and made by women who are rescued from or at risk for slavery. Also made of sustainable fabrics...big plus!

Better World Books: www.betterworldbooks.com
For all the book lovers! Much like amazon or half.com, but these guys help bring literacy and libraries to the world. Not to mention, when you order a book, you get an email...from the book. So fantastic. ;)

Or, if you are into gift cards, think about supporting me! Through my little business, I'm selling Ribbon Gift Cards. They are pretty sweet - they come in tons of categories, with cards specifically for guys, kids, weddings, jewelry, babies, etc. Prices range from $30 all the way up to $1,000. I see them as a lovely little in-between...more personal than a Target or Amazon gift card, but perfect for those people who are difficult to buy for or are far away! You can check them out on my website or ask me about them if you're interested.

Let's make a difference in somebody's life this Christmas season!

Sisa

Sisasenkosi Sibanda, age 12

I have been dreading writing Sisa's story. This girl is so strong, and yet, every time I look into her eyes, I can't help but think of what they have seen and it makes my heart hurt.

Sisa's dad left her and her mother in 2007, when Sisa was eight years old, and fled to South Africa. No one knows if he is dead or alive. Soon after that, Sisa's mother decided she couldn't take the burden of raising a child by herself, and so she killed herself. Sisa was the one who found her mother hanging in their hut, dead. The only person who could take care of her now was her homeless aunt who lives in Bulawayo. She had to drop out of school and was moved around from place to place until someone approached Gideon and Jennifer about her, and she was moved in to Peniel Centre quickly. 


Sisa is bright, spirited, and giggly. She has the dream of becoming a school teacher. She and Shantel are best friends and have their own room in the main building of Peniel Centre - pretty special! :) She was one of the girls who would attack us with hugs when we came back from the feeding program or town. Sisa also needs counseling to help her work through her past. No child should ever have to see what this beautiful girl has seen. I am so grateful that she has Peniel Centre and the love and support of so many wonderful people!


Pray for Sisa. Pray that she will never lose her joy. Pray that she will be able to acknowledge her past. Pray that she will do well in school and achieve her goals. Pray that she will never, ever doubt how loved she is. Pray that she will feel the arms of God wrapped around her at every moment.

Shantel and Sisa, being ridiculous :)

Rebuke

I really don't mean for this to be a "let's-learn-about-the-Bible-because-Rachel-does-in-class" sort of blog. But I recently did a presentation in my Synoptic Gospels class on Mark 8:27-33 and it blew my mind. Not really, but it gave a new light to this passage that I previously would have just read over like it was totally normal. Go ahead and read it. I'll even attach a nice little link for it here righhhht about HERE.


Okay. This passage is crazy. We start out with Peter being the genius spokesman for the disciples. He gets it right. They state who others think that Jesus is, but then reveal that they know he is the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. In the Matthew version of this story, after Peter answers, Jesus goes into the whole "you are the rock on which I will build my church" business. He praises Peter, commends him. (The most likely reason the praising isn't included in the Mark version is because Peter is the one who gave Mark his information, so it was out of modesty and humility.)


But THEN. Jesus tell his disciples a little about how he will die. They don't believe him. So, naturally, Peter pulls Jesus aside to gently tell him that, well, he is wrong. He rebukes Jesus in the same way that you would rebuke a demon that's hanging out in someone. I mean, if I were Jesus, I probably would have laughed in his face or sent his soul into a pig or something. But Jesus is nicer than that, so instead, he turns the rebuke onto Peter and the rest of the disciples. "Get behind me, Satan!" Whoa, Jesus, simmer down. But really, Peter's rebuke was completely absurd and presumptuous. He was telling Jesus that, no, he is wrong, he doesn't really need to die in order to fulfill his Messianic role. Pish posh. Granted, the Jews were expecting a politic Messiah who would overtake the world, and Jesus wasn't doing that in their way. But still...Peter the Presumptuous. That's what we should call him.

And then I got to thinking. We are SO Peter. All of us. Especially me. We love to preach about and talk about and sing about how we love Jesus and how we know that he is our Savior and how great he is. But then we get to the nitty gritty, and we basically deny it. We want to be like the Jesus who helps people and prays a lot and says really quotable things, but when we are forced to think about how he saved us and why he came, we shy away. We don't want to be like Jesus in his suffering. We don't know to know him like that. We love love when it is in the form of hugs and encouraging words, but when it begins to threaten us, we run. We rebuke Jesus, saying that this can't possibly be the right thing, the right way. We assume that our way is better than his. And it is so frustrating. 

Why in the world would I ever think that my plans are better than his? What compels me to believe that suffering isn't of God? Sigh.

Rejoice

Rejoice Maseko, age 12

Tinashe and Rejoice, because I cannot find a picture of Rejoice alone. Fail.

So that I'm not repeating myself too much, read about Rejoice's life before Peniel Centre HERE.

Rejoice is gentle, quiet, genuine, and loving. She is also HIV positive. Honestly, this girl is such an encouragement. She gives of herself freely without asking for anything in return. Though she is more reserved, she is not afraid to be who she is, not holding back. She exemplifies 1 Peter 3:4, "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." On the practical side of things, Rejoice needs continual care to manage HIV. It requires monthly checkups, and she really needs to be eating a better diet (not just carbs) in order to keep her immune system healthy. A sponsor for Rejoice would be incredibly helpful to Peniel Centre to help cover these costs along with school fees and daily costs.

Pray for Rejoice. Pray that she never loses her gentle and quiet spirit. Pray that she knows she is beautiful. Pray for her health. Pray that she will live a long and God-honoring life. Pray that she will know the immense love of her Savior. Pray that she continues to do well in school and works to achieve her goals - her real goals, not just what society tells her they should be. Pray that God would bring people into her life to help her continue on the path to freedom from her past.  

58:

Wow. I got the film screening kit for "58: The Film" in the mail today, and it was incredible. It takes you around the world, from Ethiopia to Kenya to Brazil to India to New York, exploring what different types of poverty look like. You'll "meet" beautiful people from all walks of life who have one thing in common: Jesus Christ. The film resolves with a plea; a challenge - for the church to jump-start ending extreme poverty once and for all. 

Is it possible? I'm a believer. Within 30 years, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty has gone from 52% to 26%. What will it take to get that number to 0%? 

Check out http://www.live58.org/ to learn about what they are doing to address all aspects of poverty. You can also search for showing in your area!

(For all you Colorado folk, I will hopefully be organizing a showing of 58: at CCU soon. Pray that everything comes together for that, and keep your ears open for when it'll be happening!)

Family

I know that these kids are just faces on a computer screen to you. I realize it is difficult to remember that they are real. Real people. Real stories. Real hearts. On the other side of the world, yes, but not so different from you and me. I even forget this sometimes. It's easy to write about their stories, but when I reach the second paragraph of my kid blogs, I am forced to remember. To recall their faces, their smiles, their laughs, and their tears. I wish so badly that you could know them. Maybe someday you will.


I've been researching African theology (I know, this is a very broad topic...) for a term paper in my lovely Contemporary Approaches to Theology class. I have been reading over and over again about a key aspect of African theology: Community. Family. Togetherness. Mbiti, a popular African theologian, described this with the statement: 

"I am because we are, and since we are, therefore I am."

This community is not contained with walls or borders or last names or skin color or oceans. Even in the short time I was in Zimbabwe, I was considered a sister and daughter. I am valued as a family member. And you are too. These kids pray for you. They pray for America, for each of us who went to Zimbabwe in May, for our families and friends. They grasp the fact that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, but I don't think that we do.

Everyone on the last night. Family.

This is so foreign to us as individualistic, independent Americans. And this is not meant to be a let's-bash-America session. Rather, let's hold onto the good parts of western ideology but not be bound by the bad. What if we started valuing everyone around us as family? What if we valued our FAMILY as family? How would our interactions change? How would we treat people? Let's be honest. We are horrible at this. I am the worst. Let's change it, eh?


"I am because we are, and since we are, therefore I am."


And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25.

Patricia

Patricia Sibanda, age 14

After Patricia's parents died when she was very young, she was moved to live with her grandfather, who was very abusive. She was subjected to physical, emotional, and economical abuse until the school started realizing that she was no longer "normal." The school head reported this to the police, who then reported it to Childline. After Childline had investigated the situation, they decided that it would be best for Patricia to be moved to a more healthy environment before she became severely mentally retarded. Peniel Centre took her in and has been working on helping her heal from her past. They acknowledge that she needs professional counseling, but are unable to accommodate or afford it. She is especially afraid of men.

Despite the horrible things she has gone through, Patricia is a resilient, loving, and light-hearted girl. She loved to give all of us girls a huge hug every day - usually multiple times per day! She is silly but reserved. It took her a while to open up to us, and once she did, we were so blessed by her big smile and positive attitude. 

Pray for Patricia. Pray that the right person will come along to help her through her past. Pray that she will eventually develop a proper trust of men; that she will know that not every man is going to abuse her. Pray that she will keep smiling. Pray that she learn what she is passionate about and pursue that with all her heart. Pray that she will know how loved she is.

Sponsorship

Would you like the change the course of poverty? Duh. Here's a great opportunity. 

When we were in Zimbabwe, we had many discussions about how we could help - truly help, not just provide a crutch - the kids at Peniel Centre. Paying school fees at all, much less on time, is very difficult when the few sources of income they have are limited. They do everything they can to keep these kids in school because they believe that it is the key to their success. But sometimes, the money just does not come in and the kids are asked not to come back to school. And so the idea of sponsorship was born! We do not plan on doing these sponsorships forever. Peniel Centre is well on its way to being self-sustaining, we are just helping them get there and keeping the kids in school in the meantime.

How can you help?

Your tax-deductible donation of just $50 per month paves the way to the future for these vulnerable children (and future leaders of Zimbabwe!) by providing all they need for their education. Providing the parents at the Peniel Center with the resources necessary to sent your child to school by paying school fees, providing uniforms, shoes, school supplies, and transportation as well as providing them with the means to take care of medical expenses as they arise.

Your next step...

Choosing to be a childʼs sponsor connects you directly with the child on the opposite side of this information. You will be supporting them directly, not just financially, they welcome your correspondence and their lives are filled with hope with the encouragement that comes from knowing that someone really does care for them. If you would like to sponsor this child simply go to egive-usa.com, sign-up for an account, choose Westwoods Community Church, set-up a monthly donation of $50 per month to be automatically withdrawn on the 16th of every month. Please type out your childʼs name, your physical address as well as your email address in the special instructions box. Within 2 weeks, you will receive a child sponsorship packet via email, and the course of a childʼs future will be altered forever.
www.egive-usa.com


15 of the kids at Peniel Centre still need a sponsor! Please consider investing in a life on the other side of the world. You can also check us out on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Zim-Kids/263598040339890.

Arnold

Arnold Mugumigwa, age 16

Arnold's dad died when Arnold was very young. His mother soon remarried, but his new step-father didn't want anything to do with a child that wasn't his. So Arnold was sent to live with his homeless grandmother. She worked on a farm, but this was not enough money to send Arnold to school, much less buy food for an extra mouth. Fountain of Hope found out about Arnold and was able to pay for his school fees through grade 7, but then his granny informed him that he would not be able to go to high school because there wasn't one nearby and the fees increase dramatically. He had to drop out of school and began working. Luckily, Arnold was able to move to Peniel Centre, have a home, and attend a nearby high school. This kid has a bright future now, thanks to Fountain of Hope.


Arnold is so funny. Honestly...even this picture. So great. The little girl in the picture is Lindsey, the daughter of Kaiysz and Lydia, the "parents" at Peniel Centre. She absolutely loves Arnold and can quite often be found in his arms. Arnold can also often be found in the kitchen, wearing an oh-so-fashionable apron. :) He is spirited, hilarious, caring, and kind. Arnold wants to be a doctor, and I think he would be the best doctor Zimbabwe has ever seen.


Pray for Arnold. Pray that he would never be afraid to be Arnold. Pray that he will have a strong desire to know God more and more each day. Pray that he will realize his potential and achieve his goals. Pray that he will never lose his joy. 

School Fees: URGENT!

[Update: All three kids' school fees have been paid, thanks to the most fantastic people on the face of the planet! :) Please don't hesitate to give, though!]

Money is tight at Peniel Centre, and a new term recently started for the kids. Nkosi has been told not to come back to school this week since his fees haven't been paid.


Pelagia and Shantel have until the middle of the week to pay or they will also be asked not to return.


Please, if you are able, donate to help these kids stay in school! They are all brilliant and have such a desire to learn...not being able to attend school is very demoralizing to them.

DONATION INSTRUCTIONS 
Go to egive-usa.com, sign-up for an account, choose Westwoods Community Church. Designate the amount you would like to give, and type out "Emergency school fees donation" in the special instructions box. 

Thank you so much!

 P.S. - I believe that Nkosi's school fees are $105 per term and Shantel and Pelagia's are $80 per term.

Mandla

Mandlaenkosi Ndlovu, age 15

Mandla doesn't remember his parents. He was raised by his older sister, and she was able to keep him in school until 3rd grade. After that, she couldn't afford both school and food (and was having trouble providing food), so Mandla sought employment. He ended up working in a garden. During this time, a Peniel Centre staff person found him and began the process of rescuing him from this lifestyle. He moved to Peniel in June 2009 and took several months to adjust back to schooling. He is now in 7th grade and is doing well. However, Mandla doesn't have a birth certificate, and will therefore be unable to take the grade 7 exams, which allow admittance to high school. Because of not having a birth certificate, he also hasn't been able to participate in school sports, which has been really discouraging to him. 

Mandla was very quiet with us. I don't blame him - we were a little crazy, not to mention white. And weird. But that's beside the point. It is pretty obvious, however, that the younger kids really look up to Mandla. He is a quiet strength for them. 


Pray for Mandla. Pray that he wouldn't be afraid to speak his mind. Pray that they would be able to get him a birth certificate so that he can continue his education with high school and college. Pray that no matter what happens with the birth certificate situation, he would know that his value isn't found in a legal document.  Pray that he would have a strong relationship with the Lord. Pray that he will know he is loved.

Proverbs 31:8-9

Open your mouth for the mute,
   for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open you mouth, judge righteously,
   defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Steadfast Love

I am a whore, I do confess. (Listen.)

Hosea is a beautiful book. In the first chapter, it goes through God's calling of Hosea to "take a wife of whoredom" and details the children that she has. What I didn't know was this: Jezreel, Gomer's first son, is Hosea's. "She bore him a son." It would then be assumed that the next two children, oh-so-lovingly named No Mercy and Not My People, were also the offspring of Hosea and Gomer. BUT the verses that introduce these children simply say, "she bore a daughter" and "she bore a son." These likely were not Hosea's children. 

Ouch.

Even after marrying Hosea, Gomer was still unfaithful.

Chapter two goes on to describe the punishment that Israel (who Gomer represents) received because of her unfaithfulness. Rightly deserved punishment. But then, in verse fourteen, the mood changes. We tend to read the Bible by section. We assume that there has always been a break where there is a subtitle. But when you read this straight through, it says...

"And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals
   when she burned offerings to them
and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry,
   and went after her lovers
   and forgot me, declares the LORD.
Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
   and bring her into the wilderness,
   and speak tenderly to her."

THEREFORE. What?! "Therefore" would make it seem as if she deserves it. No stipulations. No conditions. Israel completely deserted Yahweh. She left the great I Am in the dust to pursue other things - pursue other lovers. And yet God speaks tenderly to her? Brings her back to the wilderness - to the passion that existed when their love was still new. 

"And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness."

The bride price. The things that God will give Israel - the attributes that only come from Him. The things that she doesn't merit in any way. God then tells Hosea to do the same for his wife.

Recently, I've been seeing more and more what a horrible, unloving, judgmental, hurtful person I am. I've abandoned God for the things that I think satisfy - academic knowledge, helping someone, finding my place on my own. None of these things are bad, but when I pursue them without Yahweh, how the heck do I think they are going to succeed? I forget the reason behind my life. I neglect the One who brought me this far. I put it all on my shoulders. And yet...yet, God wants me. To allure me. Bring me into the wilderness. Speak tenderly to me. Help me return to my first love (Revelation 2:4). How freaking unworthy am I?! And not just of receiving God's love, but also to be used to bring His love to others. Blows my mind.  



Wedding Dress by Derek Webb

If you could love me as a wife
and for my wedding gift, your life
Should that be all I'd ever need
or is there more I'm looking for

and should I read between the lines
and look for blessings in disguise
To make me handsome, rich, and wise
Is that really what you want

I am a whore I do confess
But I put you on just like a wedding dress
and I run down the aisle
and I run down the aisle
I'm a prodigal with no way home
but I put you on just like a ring of gold
and I run down the aisle to you

So could you love this bastard child
Though I don't trust you to provide
With one hand in a pot of gold
and with the other in your side

I am so easily satisfied
by the call of lovers so less wild
That I would take a little cash
Over your very flesh and blood

Because money cannot buy
a husband's jealous eye
When you have knowingly deceived his wife 

Rodney

Rodney Kayandu, age 15

So that I'm not repeating myself, you can read about Rodney and Shantel's younger years on Shantel's post. 

After Gideon and Jennifer miraculously found them, Rodney had a pretty difficult time adapting back to "normal" life. Now, he is a bright, quiet, and insightful young man. He is especially gifted in English, math, and computers. Rodney is definitely a "wallflower" (that sounds funny when it's referring to a male...). He is never first to answer a question or volunteer to translate or lead a song. He is SUPER camera-shy...this is the only picture anyone on the team has of him from our trip. He would literally run away if you were taking pictures around him! He is also an incredible protector, especially of Shantel. He was embarrassed to admit that she is his sister, but you could tell that there is a special bond between them. While we found his shyness and embarrassement about everything to be endearing, I fear that there is more going on than meets the eye - the remnants of a lot of trauma, fear, and heartache. 

Pray for Rodney. Pray that he will always be true to who he is. Pray that he will continue to be close with Shantel. Pray that he will do very well in school and go on to further education, if he wants to. Pray that he will know his Maker intimately and never feel forsaken. Pray that the right people will be placed in his life to help him be healed of his past.

The Great Debate

Seven overseas short-term mission trips under my belt, adding up to 5 months. I'm still not quite sure how I feel about that. I've heard both sides of the argument. Some I agree with, some I don't. Here we go...

Short-term trips are pointless: just a bunch of white kids raising tens of thousands of dollars to go overseas...we should just send that money to the organization, and it would go to better use. 

Guatemala 2004

They are an excellent investment because they truly change the person who goes - seeing poverty gives perspective and makes us more grateful for what we have.

Guatemala 2005 (or 2004?)

They are a horrible idea because they often hurt the ministry they go to help. Sending unprepared, ignorant, idealistic teenagers (or adults) to a country where they don't know the language is just a bad idea.

Zambia 2006 (Sooooo filthy...)

 Good really can come of short-term trips. They encourage the community and the ministry, especially with the knowledge that people would save and raise so much money just to come visit them.

Swaziland 2007

Short-term trips are just a way for rich people to show off their wealth. These people don't need to know the great circumstances that we all live in, what they need is help to get more money.

Swaziland 2007

Many short-term trips go to orphanages, which is incredibly valuable. Those kids need to know that they are loved, and just having someone come and hold them or hug them or say "Jesus loves you" can positively impact them. 

Mexico 2008

Construction-oriented trips are a terrible idea. It would be much better for everyone if the money was sent to the ministry so they could hire local workers to build the church or home or chicken coop. It would bring work to people who need it and benefit the ministry at the same time.

Uganda 2010

Short-term trips bring awareness that leads to action. Most missionaries wouldn't be where they are today if they hadn't been exposed to the needs of the world on a short-term trip.

Zimbabwe 2011

They are just a way for Western Christians to check "Do Something For The World" off their good-works list. Why not help people in your own city?

Zimbabwe 2011

Obviously, I am not entirely opposed to short-term mission trips. I don't think that I would be where I am today without them, and I have seen incredible things come out of them, both for myself, my teammates, and the communities we've been in. But I do struggle with the whole concept. What do you think? 

Muzi

Muziwandile Mangena, age 17

Muzi lost his father in June 2003, when he was nine years old. His mother then passed away in February 2006. However, his mother had been sick for a while, so he and his younger brother had already been staying with an uncle - a war veteran who lives in a resettlement camp outside of Bulawayo. Since his uncle realized that these boys' future was bleak without attending school or having a home, he forced them into child labor. They were subjected to physical abuse on a daily basis as they herded cattle without any pay. Thankfully, Muzi's sister found out about Peniel Centre and started working on a plan to get Muzi and his brother there. She was able to steal Muzi away from the abusive uncle in the night, but sadly wasn't able to get their younger brother. Muzi arrived at Peniel in January, 2009. He was immediately re-enrolled in school, but unfortunately he failed his exams last year and is repeating Form 3 (much like junior year of high school) this year. 

Muzi is a quiet leader. He is caring, strong, and smart. A protector. He would translate for us, but only if we asked. One of my favorite times with Muzi was doing Sunday School at the church on our last Sunday. He had come out to translate for us, and I was about to begin the Bible story. The kids were, of course, talking loudly and not paying attention. I said something to the effect of, "Okay, we're going to begin! Let's be quiet," and Muzi translated, "SHUT UP!" Oh dear. Showing the love of Jesus, right? :)

Pray for Muzi. Pray that he wouldn't doubt his leadership at Peniel Centre. Pray that he will do well in school. Pray that he won't find his worth in school. Pray that he will know just how valuable he is. Pray that he will listen to the Lord in all aspects of life.

Righteousness shall go before you.

My heart hurts today. It is hard to imagine all the kids going on with their normal lives without my being there. I know, ridiculous. But I so badly want to be there. 

To hear what they learned in school. 

To clean up their scraped knee. 

To wipe their tears and give big bear hugs. 

To explore and play and be silly. 

To be the person they feel comfortable enough with to fall asleep on. 

To encourage them to pursue their dreams.

To have dance parties featuring Shakira. 

Sighhhh...

I really don't have anything informative or insightful today. Just a few requests.

1) Pray for them. For each of the kids: Alleck, Arnold, Ayanda, Future, Kudzi, Mandla, Muzi, Nkosie, Patricia, Pelagia, Rejoice, Rodney, Shantel, Sisa, Tinashe, and Wellington. For the staff: Gideon, Jennifer, Sanie, Xesha, Kaisyz, Lydia, and Auntie Liza. 

2) Consider supporting me? (I hate asking for money...)

3) If you have any resources that may help me, let me know! I am specifically looking for good books about counseling traumatized kids in a cross-cultural setting...if they exist... 


 Isaiah 58:8-12

Nkosi

Nkosiphile Lusinga, age 16

Nkosi's parents both died when he was young, so he and his younger brother were left in the care of an aunt. However, this aunt had no desire to raise these boys, and so Nkosi escaped and ran away to another aunt in Bulawayo - but this aunt was homeless and therefore unable to support him. So Nkosi set out to find a job in the farming industry, and along his path he met a friend of Gideon and Jennifer, who then told them about Nkosi. He was then taken to Peniel Centre in June of 2009 and has since begun attending school again.

This kid is full of spirit, intellect, leadership skills, and joy. He often translated for us with hardly any help from the staff. His leadership amongst the kids is so obvious...in the profile that Gideon wrote up for each kid, he says about Nkosi, "We are already seeing a leader in Nkosi and we do not doubt that one day he will be one of the leaders of this nation." Being a doctor is what he really wants to do, but he's not sure if he can actually achieve it because of school requirements.

Pray for Nkosi. Pray that he will believe in his potential. Pray that he will begin to see his impact. Pray that he knows that he is loved for who he is, not for who he can come across as. Pray that he will use all of his positive attributes for the glory of God. Pray that he continues to seek knowledge in every area of life, learning not only from books and school, but also from the people around him. Pray he keeps seeking God's plan for his life. 

Why Zimbabwe?

"Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman

I found that.

I love looking back on how this all came about. Until May, these past three years just felt like a dead end...like I would graduate with a ridiculous degree (Global Studies major, Psychology and Theology minors) and have nothing to do with it, having wasted way too much money on some knowledge and a good time. But Zim happened, and it actually all started making sense. 


One thing that really drew me to CCU was the CCU2theWorld program, which enables students to lead missions teams. Add in a bit of Dr. Watson's enthusiasm, and I was sold. Freshman year went by, and I didn't even apply for a missions trip. I had the lofty idea of starting or working with a holistic organization - my ideal would have been an orphanage that also reached out into the community with a church, school, and clinic. To meet physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. I essentially gave that up by the end of my first year of college, because I didn't think that existed or was possible for me to accomplish. 

Then sophomore year came, and I decided I would talk to David Bosworth, the Director of Student Missions, about leading a team. Plans to go to Ethiopia with Food for the Hungry came about, then changed to Uganda, then somehow happened. Meanwhile, I was in Dr. Watson's Africa class spring semester of 2010. We began discussing Robert Mugabe and Zimbabwe, and for some reason, my interest was peaked. But in the midst of insane preparations for Uganda, thoughts of Zimbabwe were put on the back burner. My experience in Uganda wasn't the best in the leading-the-trip realm, and I was really turned off to the idea of leading another CCU2theWorld trip. But then, it just snuck back in to my brain...Zimbabwe.


Trust me, I'm not one of those people who puts a lot of weight on random thoughts. I am so scatter brained that I disregard just about everything. I don't proclaim to the world that God has spoken to me because I am so unsure all the time. But it just kept coming back.


And so I stepped out in faith, I suppose. I posted a facebook status asking if anyone has connections in Zimbabwe - this was after googling non-profits in Zimbabwe for hours and finding absolutely nothing due to the economic and political situation. Two lovely ladies from Fergus Falls recommended that I talk to a girl they know, Ashleigh, who was an MK in Zimbabwe and now lives in Colorado. She emailed me back with contact information for a few organizations, one of which was Fountain of Hope. To make a long process short, I found out that Fountain of Hope was the EXACT organization that I had dreamed of freshman year. It was one of those sends-shivers-up-your-spine moments. They have the orphanage and church and are currently making plans and raising money to start a clinic and a school.


The planning process began, and I would see more little things that revealed God's hand in my life. For instance: I thought that Uganda, for me personally, was just a growing experience. One that taught me patience, trust, and a little bit more about myself. BUT, if I hadn't led the Uganda trip in 2010, there is no way that David would have allowed me to lead the Zimbabwe trip in 2011 because it was SO disorganized right up until the day we left. If I hadn't developed that trust, the trip wouldn't have gone. I never would have found my place. I never would have met Tinashe. I wouldn't have plans that exhilarate me!

My apologies for the length of this. I just hope that other people can find their place too - the place where they come alive. Thank you for supporting me on this journey. I am so excited to continue sharing with you. Let me know your story too!

Shantel

Shantel Kanyandu, age 14(ish)

Shantel is loving, passionate about life, and a little crazy! :) She does not remember her mother or father, as they both died when she was a toddler. She and her brother Rodney, who also lives at Peniel Centre, were taken in by their grandmother, but she died soon after Shantel and Rodney moved in with her. They were then sent to their uncle's home. He was extremely abusive and took advantage of his niece and nephew, prompting them to escape into the bush. At this time they were about 9 and 11, living on their own with no shelter, food, clean water, or money. Often they only had locusts to eat. Luckily, Fountain of Hope heard about them and went out searching for them. They had no idea where in the bush they might be, especially since they were attempting to hide from their uncle. But God's hand led them along and they found them within an hour! So awesome. 


After adapting to life at Peniel Centre and going to school again, Shantel "blossomed," as cheesy as that sounds. She is at the top of her class in athletics and attends one of the best girls' high schools in Bulawayo. She gave us all giant hugs every day and, as you can tell from the picture, is very excited about everything! She and Sisa (blog about her coming soon) are the best of friends and spend every waking moment together. It is so encouraging to see Shantel's hope and joy. She wants to be a nurse, and she would be great at that. This girl has passion and will achieve her goals if she is given the chance. 


Pray for Shantel. Pray that she will channel her passion to the right areas. Pray that she will listen for the still, small voice of God. Pray that her enthusiasm for God and his Word will never cease. Pray that she would be given opportunities to do the things that she loves. Pray that she would know, without doubt, how many people love her and support her.

Pelagia

Pelagia Memory Mafudza, age 14

 Pelagia's mother died in 2005, when she was 8, and her father died in 2009, when she was 12. After their deaths, she was placed in the custody of her older sister. Her sister soon got married and moved away, leaving Pelagia to fend for herself. Thankfully, the school learned about her predicament and told Gideon and Jennifer, and she was quickly moved to Peniel Centre. She attends one of the best girls' high schools in Bulawayo, the "big city." 

Pelagia is intelligent, aggressive, and joyful. She acts as a mother figure to the younger kids - a beautiful thing to witness! She can also be very bossy. I believe that is a combination of being one of the older girls and the need for the attention she hasn't received much of in her life, especially in the years between her mother dying and coming to Peniel. Her aggressiveness is one thing that the staff at Peniel are working on with her.

The picture above was taken by Pelagia herself. It was Africa Day, so the kids didn't have school. Jeremy organized a little soccer tournament; but in Zimbabwe, girls don't play soccer, so clearly the best option for activity was taking pictures! I think that day was a bit of a "breakthrough" day for Pelagia. She really opened up with us...which makes it significantly more difficult to leave. 

Pray for Pelagia. Pray that the staff would have wisdom and discernment in dealing with her aggressiveness and that Pelagia would be receptive and willing to alter any negative behaviors. Pray that she continues to do very well in school and has the opportunity to go on to university some day. Pray that she will learn to look for attention in the right places; that she will know her worth.

Tinashe

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat." -Mother Teresa

Today, the kids at Peniel Centre are heavy on my heart. I'd like you to get to know them, one child at a time. I will start with the girl who changed my life.

Tinashe Maseko, age 8

Tinashe is beautiful, rambunctious, spirited, and passionate. Her mom and dad both died of AIDS when she was very young. Her brother Victor also passed away of AIDS. This left Tinashe and her sister Rejoice, who is now 13 years old. The girls were taken in by their maternal grandmother, but two years later Rejoice became sick with AIDS. Their grandmother was afraid that Rejoice would die in her home, so she brought them to their paternal uncle and his wife, who were also ill. This meant that the girls were essentially forgotten and Rejoice was not brought to a hospital because they were convinced she would die and didn't want to incur the extra costs of bringing a corpse back to the village to be buried. Fountain of Hope found out about these girls at just the right time and was able to get Rejoice to a hospital and Tinashe to Peniel Centre. Rejoice soon became healthy and is now also living at Peniel, and they are both able to go to school.

In our three weeks at Peniel, Tinashe become "my" kid. If you've ever been on a mission trip involving children, you know how that goes. As you can see in the picture, she was constantly jumping into my arms and climbing all over me. If another kid hit her or hurt her feelings, I was the one to comfort her. She would sit in my lap whenever she could. I was her tutor, but most of our tutoring time was spent with her writing, "Tinashe, Rachel, Tinashe, Rachel, Tinashe, Rachel..." over and over again. At times I would become frustrated with her. She was clingy, needy, and not too friendly to my back with all of her leaping. But then I would think of her past. She has been pushed aside her entire life. Deserted by the people she loved, whether by death or convenient choice. Looked down upon because she is young, one of the youngest at Peniel Centre. She reverts to toddler behavior to get attention. I would also think of my Father. He wants us to depend on Him, to cry to Him, to fall asleep in his lap. I only hope that I was a small picture of Jesus to her.

Tinashe is also a tough little girl. One day, she came home from school with blood all over her head and school uniform. The medical gurus in training on my team helped her get it all cleaned up, and then I took her to the bathroom to attempt to clean her and her uniform. I am pretty sure she had a concussion, because she just sat on the little bench by the sink and stared while I washed her uniform. I would ask her questions (questions that I asked her on a daily basis, in English that she understood), and either got no response or a timid "yes," which was often not the appropriate answer. My heart broke for that little girl. She has been so conditioned to believe that her emotions don't matter, and that was incredibly apparent through that afternoon. 

Okay. This next part I have only shared with a couple people, so appreciate this little piece of my heart. Here we go. Deep breath.

It was our last night with the kids, and they threw this big party for us. We "grilled" and drank pop (a luxury) and danced and we shared our gratitude. Tinashe knew that it was our last night, though, and just sat in my lap, completely wrapped around me like she would never let go. She was crying. I tried to stay upbeat, but those of you who know me well know that I am always, without fail, one of those "cry-when-you-see-anyone-else-cry" people. So I was crying. I tried to get some of the older girls explain to Tinashe that I would see her in the morning and that I love her very much. Eventually it was decided that she should be pried from my lap so that both of us could attempt to enjoy the party. But my heart would break a little more every time I would see her siting in a corner with tears in her eyes, staring at me. I was supposed to suck it up and be strong for her, but I am the weakest person I know.


In the morning, we got up early to see the kids off to school and say our goodbyes. Tinashe is one of the last to leave for school, so luckily I was able to get all the other goodbyes out of the way before falling apart. We were told to do our best not to cry, that crying would just make it harder on us and the kids. So when Tinashe came up to me for hugs before walking to school, I told her to hug everyone else first, to save me for last. She went around and hugged everyone else, and then left without saying goodbye to me. I ran down the road after her, calling her name, but she didn't turn around. I caught up to her, and she looked so angry. So, so angry and hurt that I was leaving. I picked her up, hoping that she would do her typical octopus cling, but she was as stiff as a board and didn't hug me back. I told her I love her, both in English and Ndebele...no response. I kissed her on the cheek. Nothing. I had to just give her one last squeeze and let her walk to school.


Pray for Tinashe. She needs to know that she is loved. Desired. Remembered. Important. She needs help with school - she is in third grade and barely knows the alphabet. She needs counseling. She needs consistency. I pray that I will be able to help with a few of those things when I go back, but it's not up to me.

 

Bible Project

I am a female. Therefore, I can multitask. Just wanted to get that out there before beginning this.

So, the other day in class (I was listening too! Was the Lord's Prayer in Matthew or Luke closer to Jesus' actual words?), the wonderful Jessica Richie and I were brainstorming ideas of things to bring to Zimbabwe. (Westwoods Church, whose pastor was my staff leader for the Zim trip in May, is considering sending a team in January. And then I will obviously be going back as well.) We were trying to think of items that are needed, wanted, or both. We compiled quite the list, but our biggest idea was to buy a Bible for each of the staff and kids with their names engraved in it. Very few of them have their own Bible, and none have an engraved Bible. I think it would be very, very special for them - especially the kids who have never had their own anything.

This would be an expensive project - Bibles aren't very cheap, especially when you need thirty-one of them. If you would like to help with this cause, please make a donation and specify that it is for the Bible Project. Also, if you have any connections in the Christian book store realm, please let me know!

Side note: If you have a working iPod that you don't use anymore and would like to donate, we would love to load it with music and send it to Zimbabwe. Children's books, books about psychological problems that traumatized kids can go through, or any theological books would be great as well!

Beginnings

This is where it all started...

June 2011

Dear Friends,

I tend to be quite late in writing these letters. I think this is probably due to the fact that summing up a trip in a page is a rather daunting task, but I will do my best! I cannot thank you enough for praying and giving. It was so evident that God’s hand was in every bit of the preparations, the three weeks in Zimbabwe, and after we returned. As I mentioned in my support letter, we worked with an organization called Fountain of Hope in Mthombothemba, Zimbabwe. We stayed at the Peniel Centre, which is an orphanage that presently houses 17 beautiful kids between the ages of 7 and 18. The majority of our time was spent with these kids, doing day camps, tutoring, one-on-one time, soccer tournaments, and dance parties! We were also able to assist with the feeding program at the church, be involved in the beginning of a program for young women aimed at teaching self-worth and breaking sexual beliefs and stigmas, and attend and teach at many small Bible studies. At Peniel Centre, one little girl especially captured my heart.

Tinashe will be eight years old in August, and her twelve-year-old sister Rejoice also lives at Peniel. They were orphaned at a very young age and sent to live with their maternal grandmother. Soon after, Rejoice became very sick with AIDS. The grandmother was fearful that she would die in her home, so she sent Rejoice and Tinashe to live with their paternal uncle, but their uncle and aunt were already sick with AIDS, so they were not able to properly care for these little girls. They did not want to take Rejoice to a hospital because of the cost of bringing a dead body back to the village, as they were sure she would die. It was at this point that Gideon and Jennifer, the founders of Fountain of Hope, discovered the girls and were able to bring them to Peniel Centre, where they now have a stable, loving home, food on the table, and are able to attend school again. However, Tinashe still has a long way to go until she is healed of her past. Developmentally, she is probably about four years old. This often caused frustrations for us, as she constantly wants to be held and throws tantrums – and it was in those times that I heard God whispering, reminding me that everyone deserves to be loved. It is so easy for us to say the right answer, that we love everyone as Christ loves us, but how often do we really, truly love the least of these? How often do we hold and carry those who need love? I am nowhere near achieving a perfect love, but my time in Zimbabwe certainly taught me what that might look like.

Stepping off my soapbox now. This letter will also serve as another request. (Just what you want to hear, right?!) I am hoping to return to Zimbabwe after graduation for 4-6 months to explore where I could fit into the staffing at Fountain of Hope, begin learning Ndebele, and further develop my relationships with the kids. If that all works out, I would then come back to the States to work for a few years to pay off school loans, and then head to Zimbabwe full time, God willing. So, right now I simply covet your prayers. As straightforward as these plans may seem in my head, I know that there will be huge trials and doubts to come, so please pray for clarity and direction in these decisions. Thank you for supporting me in every way; I don’t know where I would be without you!

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Rachel

This is what came next:

August 2011

Good day. I have just talked with others about your interest to come back next year, and everyone is so much excited about it. I can now officially let you know that you are welcome to come back to Peniel centre for as much time as you want. You can go ahead and start preparing to come to Zim again. It will really be a blessing and an honor for us to have you for such  a long time and this time you are not coming as a visitor but one of us, you are family to us. Thank you sister for  heeding the voice of God to be a blessing to the disadvantaged children of Zimbabwe.
We love you
Hope to see you again
Gideon

And now, I am in the budgeting/working/finishing school/planning/going crazy with excitement stage! So the tentative plan is to head over either in May, soon after graduation, or in August so that I could have a summer job and finish out with the lease on my apartment. It'll all just depend on how things play out! I would stay until mid-November, as that is when I have to start paying on my school loans. My three main goals for my time in Zim are 1) to get to know the kids and staff better - to truly know both their hearts and their needs, 2) to work on learning Ndebele, the language spoken in that area, and 3) to discuss where I could fit in the future. 


This school year, I am going to work with one of the psychology professors at my school to gain resources and training on counseling traumatized children and dealing with the issues that arise from these kids' past. With learning the language, not only will it help me have a deeper connection with everyone, but I will also be able to talk to the younger kids and older people who don't know English very well. I don't want to just be the rich white person who comes in everyone once in a while and takes a bunch of pictures, but to really become a member of this beautiful little community at Peniel Centre. I'm not sure of the exact role I would play in the future, but I am hoping and praying that these 4-6 months over there would help clarify exactly where God wants me. Once mid-November rolls around, I would head back to the states to work off my loans as quickly as possible, while also getting more training in something (whatever it is decided would be most practical and helpful to Peniel Centre). So. That is the gist of things - please be praying for me as I work this all out!