Drought Crisis in Africa

My heart is heavy. I've been writing stories of the most vulnerable children in Africa the past few weeks - some stories of kids I know, others of ones I know of. I love writing them - being given the privilege of communicating these stories with people across the world. But it's difficult - and I find this reporting quarter the most difficult so far. Almost every story I've written or edited, the overpowering drought has put so many kids and families in an even greater downward spiral of poverty. Crops failed, rivers and streams have dried up, and families have nothing to fall back on. The earliest crops can be harvested in next May - in over a year from now. I really do not have the words to describe how huge this drought and food crisis is, but I encourage you to read and educate yourself about it.

Here is a link to the Drought Relief page on Hands at Work's website. Please read through the stories, this reflection, and watch the videos to learn more about the severity of what is happening in communities across Southern Africa. There also are tons of news articles from New York Times, BBC, Globe and Mail, and others who have been picking up on this crisis, and are very informative and educational.


I suppose this is a bleak post to write as I'm ending my time in Africa. I usually have used my blog to post my own personal reflections - but I have no words right now. I want nothing more than to see the Church come together to bring relief into the situations so many families are facing.

I'll see all you Canadians in just a few weeks :)

-heather

This Is Africa

If you have ever been to Africa, you'll exactly what this means: you look at each other, tilt your head, shrug your shoulders, and say "TIA." This is Africa.

Let me give you a few examples.

Charlotte and I drove to town a few evenings ago, and upon pulling out of our parking space, the wheel on our truck fell off. We looked at each other, I tilted my head, shrugged my shoulders, and said "TIA." We called for help, proceeded to PicknPay (the very original name for the grocery store), and bought some fried chicken and greasy chips to eat while we waited for our help to come.

A few of us went away for the weekend and stayed in a thatched cabin. We had a little bush baby who decided to stay with us for the night. They squeak and drive you slightly insane. Someone grabbed a broom, another a fry pan, and someone else some bug spray - the only kinds of weapons we could find in an attempt to chase our little furbaby out of the cabin. It didn't go so well, so we all looked at each other, tilted our heads, shrugged our shoulders, and said "TIA." We also took some Melatonin before going to sleep so he wouldn't keep us up all night.

This morning, driving down a dirt road, we had to wait for a herd to cattle to cross the road - they have the right of way. The power is out up to 8 hours a day. The internet only works in the evenings, when there is power. Passing a car on the left and right hand side of the road are both acceptable. Packing the back of a pick-up full of people is allowed by law; however seatbelts are required for all passengers in the vehicle. You can buy the yummiest avocados for only a few cents each - or just pick one off the tree and eat it for lunch. Killing black mambas is pretty normal, as is befriending spiders the size of your hand. I seriously could go on for hours. I'm half expecting to drive to town this week and find a safari truck with a giraffe sticking his neck out the roof. I do wonder how they transport them to game parks.

As crazy and nonsensical as many things are here, Zambia has indescribable beauty and peace that does one's soul wonders. Here, you greet your neighbours. You converse with the cashier in the grocery store. You share life with people by sitting in the dirt in front of their homes. You play with children. You dance, sing, laugh daily. You live in the moment, and don't rush time. You feel joy, love, grace, patience in such a tangible way. You see people truly caring for one another, serving each other, reaching out, praying together. You walk in untouched nature and know our Creator.

With these things, I am challenged. When I return to Canada in a few weeks, how will I tell people around me what God has taught and shown me? How can I bring these amazing parts of Zambia to Canada and show others how real and tangible God is?

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. - Psalm 23:2-3

January to January

For me, January is a month where I always reflect on the previous year and wonder how the coming year will look. It's no different this year. The past few days I've been relaxing, not doing much really, and I had time to reflect on 2015. January 2015 I was still working, had no idea what I was getting myself into by coming to Africa, and hadn't even thought about packing up my life into two suitcases! When February rolled around, I packed up and traveled overseas to a new continent where I'd be living with no one I knew for the rest of the year.

2015 didn't look at all as I had imagined. I am a different person because of the things I saw, the people I've met, and the way God has worked in me.

I experienced sadness and hopelessness in a way I never imagined possible.

I felt the power of faith and hope in a new and alive way.

I learned unexplainable joy upon leaning on Christ for my daily strength.

I met men and women who have made me change things in my life simply by the way they walk out their faith and deal with immense challenges.

I am continually learning in deeper ways the act of surrender for the plans in my life.

I now know the importance of serving the most vulnerable wherever you are in the world.

If I hadn't obeyed God's still, soft voice telling me to follow Him wherever He led me, I would have missed out on a wealth of knowledge, a multitude of blessings, and a perspective on the world of injustice. God led me to places where He broke my heart, where He healed me, where He challenged me, and above all, showed me the power of His love. I would not have changed a bit of the past year - I could not have imagined myself to be where I am a year ago.

And that's why I'm so excited for 2016. Because I know when I take the time to hear God's voice, He will tell me what's next and what He wants to teach me. And all I have to do - or rather, what I get to do - is follow His lead and praise Him.

Oh news travels faster than light - but I should mention my year started off with a proposal from my man, Daniel - who I now get to call my fiancé (it sounds so grown up!)

I know my year will be busy and a bit crazy - the first four months I'll be living in Africa, the second four months in Canada, and the last four in Australia - and I'll be in a minimum of five countries across the world. I will serve with my Hands family in Africa, say goodbye to them in April, see my family in Canada, say goodbye to them in August, meet an entirely new family in Australia, get married a week after stepping foot on the continent, and create a new home there. I'm really excited because I know God is going to teach me a heap more in 2016.

To go through this year, I'll need to surrender each day to Christ. I'll need to trust Him in deeper ways than ever before. I'll have to rely on God for strength when I'm overwhelmed. And I'll get to praise Him through each day no matter what challenges come my way. In each season I'm in this year, my desire is to glorify God and obey His voice each step of the way.

Daniel

He's everything I said I would not fall in love with.

From the other side of the world.
A year and a half younger than me.
Barely taller than me.
Meet in Africa - become a classic missionary love story.

But he's everything I did fall in love with. He continually reminds me it's his charm and good looks I couldn't resist. I'll let him think what he wants.

After hearing about Daniel for months, and really not thinking anything other than "Cool, he's just as accident prone as myself," I met him. Little did I know, our 'accident-prone-ness' was the first of many things we shared in common. For one, he loves dropjes - and he's not even Dutch! We love life chats over a pot of tea. Our ideal way to spend an evening is studying God's Word and sharing what God has been doing in our lives. We both come from big families - and see the value of our families. We found common ground by our interest in Francis Chan's teachings. Most importantly, we understand each other, and share a passion for living for Christ.

I love him because he's an ordinary guy who let God into his heart and daily lives to honor God. I love him because he challenges me to do the same, every single day. He's not afraid to gently correct me, challenge me, and encourage me on my walk with God. I love him because he makes me laugh - whether it's because of the ridiculousness of the situation he's got himself into, or something he says. He just told me today, "I'm gonna start riding a horse around town." And he actually will. I love him because he is willing to join me on this journey of surrendering to God all our plans for our future.

We got to spend 3.5 months together in Zambia. Three and a half months doesn't seem long, but when you live with someone, eat meals together, work in the same office, do the same things on the weekends, you get to know someone pretty well in that short time frame! We were rarely apart. We spent hours together - talking (which he does a lot of!), laughing, praying, learning, going on adventures, figuring out what a relationship looks like within our multi-cultural community - but we always had the thought of Daniel going back to Australia in the back of our minds. We spent his last weekend at a lake with a few others from Kachele. Those few days were so bittersweet - wanting to make the most of our time left, and facing the reality of him leaving and us being separated for an unknown amount of time.

God showed us a lot over the time we had together. God taught us about seasons - and the importance of the season we were entering. God was calling us in two different directions - but just like God protected, loved, and prepared Moses for 40 years in the wilderness the next season of his life, that's what God was calling us to. A time for both of us to intently seek God, knowing this time separate from each other is precious and being used to draw us closer to Him. It's also a preparation time - for God to grow and mold each of us to be more Christ-like.

And we're in that season. I know that being apart, God is teaching us both great things we wouldn't have otherwise learned if we were together. For me, I have learned, and continually am re-learning, to surrender to God's will. I don't know when I'll see Daniel next. I don't have 'surrender' down pat, and I don't think I ever will perfectly, but I'm learning. I'm learning because God is teaching me gently and lovingly, and with a LOT of grace. He told me,

"Look what I gave you.
Let go of it.
Stop making plans.
Wait for me."

He gave me this amazing guy, and is teaching me to let go - to let go of planning my life and fitting Daniel into it. I trust we have a future together; I have to constantly let go of trying to figure out what that looks like. Because in God's perfect timing, I will know, and so will Daniel. And until then, I will try to master surrender, as difficult as it is. Because I know it's what God wants me to learn, and I don't want to waste this season pining for something I can't have until this season is over. And the season I'm in is truly beautiful.

Matthew 6:33-34 | "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Don't mind the sleepy eyes - here we are the day before he left Zambia :)

-heather

The People I've Met

This past week has been one of those weeks where I am forced to take a step back and see how God perfectly orchestrates His world, and the plan for each of our lives. Hands at Work held a gathering here at Kachele in Zambia with both African and international Hands leaders, about 65 in total. The week was a time of reflecting on the past year and looking forward to next year. We were greatly challenged and deeply encouraged as communities, as teams, and as individuals. Throughout the week, I had some of the greatest opportunities of my life - I drank tea, ate meals, sat under trees, and shared a room with the most amazing African leaders. I was overwhelmed with realization that God raised each of these diamonds out of the dust of Africa, and brought each one on such a unique journey to reveal their calling to serve the most vulnerable children in Africa.

I met Toyin. A courageous Nigerian woman who spends her life fiercely defending and fighting for children in the most desperate situations in her home country. Children are alive because of her. I sat with her over lunch one day while she poured out her story and left me speechless. Nothing in the world will stop this woman from fighting and persevering - because she knows it's what God called her to do. I sat with her as she reflected on God's faithfulness. When she was finished all I could do was thank God for creating her.

I met Angel. Sweet, beautiful Angel who went against every cultural norm and gave up her government-paid teaching position to voluntarily serve the most vulnerable families in the Congo. She is not only the mother of many poor communities in the DRC, but a mother to five of her own children. She didn't know English a few years ago, and sitting with her the other day, I would have never known. She's a fighter, and she lives out her calling daily, despite countless mountains she must climb working in the DRC.

I met Florence. A fierce, determined single mother who has a passion to care for the people of Mozambique. She spent months this year sleeping in countless homes, visiting hundreds of children - all of whom she knows by name. She sits on top of piles of firewood and charcoal on the back of a straight truck to get from one community to another. Children wouldn't survive without her.

There are many more I could write about.

These three women go against every single cultural norm, have to fight for children every single day - yet do it with a deep conviction of knowing that God placed them and they will live out their callings with perseverance, knowing that their treasure lies in heaven, and they will keep placing one foot in front of the other until they get there.

God placed me in the middle of them this week. I don't know why, because I certainly don't deserve this privilege. I prayed for words to encourage each of them, but words simply didn't do justice.

They have challenged me and encouraged me in ways too great to put into words, and I will forever treasure the moments I spent with each of them.

-heather

{untitled} - October 5

Yes it's been a while since my last post. Sorry dad and everyone else who has been asking for an update! I have no excuse - I could say there are power outages 8 hours a day, I dropped my computer and broke it, I write all day long already as a part of the Communications team - but that's all irrelevant. So today I'm locking myself in my room until this is posted. It's really not that bad. I'm just being lazy.

The past week and a half I have been supporting Morgan as the Hands host of a Nurses for Africa team in Kabwe (about three hours from here). Being with the team and with Morgan, I had opportunities to visit some of our communities every day, which is such a huge privilege! Between my roles on the Communications team and Project Support team for Kabwe Service Centre, I am in the office every day, working from my computer, attending meetings, and talking on the phone. So being able to take a break from the office to visit and revisit some communities Kabwe Service Centre supports was amazing.

Two clinic days were held - one in Malakota and the other in Miswa; both of which were in desperate need of medical attention. Altogether, 1000 patients were served - about 700 in Malakota and 300 in Miswa. The rest of the week was spent in Malakota with the kids and Care Workers, going on home visits, spending time at the Care Point, and building relationships. It was a truly amazing week.

This week, I was once again floored by the selflessness of our incredible Care Workers. They are the men and women who give their lives every single day, cooking for, loving, and visiting children voluntarily. They themselves struggle with family hardships and food challenges - yet still give. And give. And give. With so much joy. These people teach me things no one else ever could. They live their lives with the joy of the Lord as their strength. I honestly don't have words to describe how much of an impact they made on me this week. They know every child's story, struggles, families - simply because they are being obedient to God's voice to love and care for the most vulnerable children around them. I feel so inadequate compared to them. How can I be more servant-hearted? More loving? More encouraging? More selfless? Do I depend on the joy of the Lord as my strength when I have a tough day?

---

I don't have many photos from the week, but here are the few I do have.

So much joy is found on this land and in these shelters in Malakota, as 70 kids gather each day to be served by cooks and Care Workers. I don't have a photo but to the left of these buildings is a three class room school which was the first school in this community, and where the clinic was set up. Malakota is an hour from the next town which is where the nearest hospital and clinic would be.

The two beautiful women on the right are cooks who make a hot meal every day for 70 children. They are amazing. There are two Care Points in Malakota - this one serves 70 children, the other 30.

The kids here are eating their meal - it was a special meal as a part of kid's/Care Worker appreciation day - chicken, rice, and vegetables. Sooo yummy!

Because I don't have the first clue about nursing, I gave each person deworming medication - it was quite a privilege meeting so many people and talking to each one over the course of the week!

Our bus we travelled in every day - I sat on a bus for over 30 hours in the past 10 days. Needless to say, my back and bum are seriously regretting that.

Gahhh!! He was my favourite. His little face makes me smile.

That's all for now!

I also want to say thank you to so many of you who so often send me encouraging messages and those who are praying for me - it means so much to me, and I am constantly amazed by how big God's family is.

-heather

You'll Lead Me

Today marks the day I've been in Africa for six months.

I miss mom's homemade pizza. And dropjes. None of which one can come by on this side of the world. Too bad, so sad,

Teleportation would be nice - I've given it more thought recently. I wouldn't mind an afternoon cup of tea with mom, or a Tim Hortons run with Jess. I'd get my few hours fill of Ontario, and be right back in Zambia. Sounds perfect to me.

I'm not sure if it's rude to say I don't miss home. Well, I said it, and it is the truth. Home for me is wherever God calls me - and honestly I don't know if home for me will ever be a permanent house. Right now, my home is Africa, not Fenwick. Maybe next year it will be Fenwick, maybe Zambia, maybe somewhere completely different. I have no idea.

But I find it exciting.

There's this song by Michael W. Smith - really well known song - and God often uses songs to speak to me. This song is entitled "Step by Step."

I will seek You in the morning

And I will learn to walk in Your ways

And step by step You'll lead me

And I will follow You all of my days.

To me, there is no better way to live my life. In complete surrender to God's plans, living moment by moment in His will, and waiting on Him to guide my next steps. I find it exciting, knowing I don't have to guide my own life - because I know how well that backfires on me. But there is someone bigger, who knows all things, who loves me more than life itself - in fact, gave His own life for me, and all I have to do is trust Him to do what He wants with it. Who knows where He will take me next? He will show me in His timing. Until then, I wait. And until then, I won't know any answers, and I find so much peace in that.

For now, I so enjoy the work I'm doing in Zambia. I get to be a part of an amazing community, united in living out our lives with Christ at the centre of all we do. I live in the Church - the body of Christ. It is incredible - living with people from so many backgrounds and countries, coming together to live in Kingdom culture. It's a constant learning process, and often is challenging, but the results only bind us closer together as a family in Christ.

I also never thought I'd live with so many brothers and sisters from all over the world - it is a privilege. Meet the newest member of the family: 'Semba' - which in English means 'Rejoice.' Needless to say, she's wiggled her way into my heart. She's perfection.

-heather