2015 Watchword

The watchword. One Bible passage chosen by George and Carolyn at the beginning of the year through rest and prayer. A passage to meditate on throughout the year as we continue drawing lines in the sand. Facing the uncomfortable truths. Knowing the names of the nameless. Loving those who do not know love.

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."

-Habakkuk 3:2

So I'm going to New York...

Just a quick note to let you all know that I'm going on a quick trip to New York in a few weeks! It was kindof last minute, but those trips can be the most fun! I'm very excited because not only have I never been to New York, but I get to see it with some of my favorite people!

What I know: George will be attending a conference in Toronto with a 'Footprinter' (Footprints was the name of Hands volunteer program several years ago) named Farzam. We've never met but I've heard his name often. Its exciting that George (and Prag too!) will have the opportunity to speak at this conference. Prior to that, George will be flying to Florida to meet a prospective new church partner (which is always exciting!) The Hands US board will also be meeting in Florida, right before George flies to Toronto. Time with George is always so precious and it's hard to make time to meet with everyone we would like him to. Since he was going to be on the east coast, it made sense that he would make a quick stop in New York to speak at Sara's church. Sara went to Africa with Hands in 2011 and has since sponsored team trips from her church. George was able to speak there in October of 2013, but did not make it on the North American tour last October. Suzette and Brooke will also be traveling with George. Suzette is from San Francisco. We actually met briefly at Kachele Farm when we were both in Luanshya, Zambia. She was in Zambia,  preparing to go to South Africa when I initially arrived in Zambia for my country stay. That was in March 2013. I haven't seen her since! I met Sara and Brooke both for the first time at the Hands Family Reunion in Wisconsin in October 2013. I haven't had the chance to see Sara in person since. I saw Brooke last October in Minnesota. This trip is so exciting to me 1) because the five of us(including George) have never all been in the same place at the same time and 2) because it's a ''bonus trip!

Since coming home from Africa in April 2013, I've relied on the fall tour as my time to break my normal routine and take a weekend to connect with other Hands volunteers and advocates. I honestly hadn't planned on taking any other trips prior to flying to Africa in May. When Sara invited me to come to New York last week, my initial gut response was 'no.' Oh believe me I wanted to go, but my rational brain was focused on the numbers. Cost of flights vs the fact that I'm already buying flights to Africa vs my budget. It's an easy trap. But, thankfully, I slept on it. Comments Brooke made at a lunch meeting prior to everyone arriving in Wisconsin over a year ago resounded in my heart AND my head. We may not live the typical missionary life but we are missionaries. Living in a relatively normal world while our thoughts/time/energy/hearts are half a world away. Do you know how many children I could feed with money I just spent on flights? Don't ask. That's my point. We are Christians who love and have committed ourselves to the vulnerable children in Africa. And that commitment comes with a price. Over the nearly two years I've been home - that's 643 days, I have spent 6 days in person with other Hands volunteers. That includes travel time, so it's actually a generous number. If you do that math (because of course I had to) that breaks down to less than 1%! Sure, we try to skype at least once a month. It's more depending on what you're involved with and what is going on at that time of the year. [It can be few and far between for some of us at certain times.] Suzette lives in California, Brooke lives in Minnesota, Sara lives in New York and I live in Pennsylvania. Thats why, even though we hate to spend the money, it is so important to make the sacrifice to be together when we get the chance. It makes such a difference! (I could list many Bible verses that reference the importance of fellowing, but I'm won't) It's a time we invest in each other, build each other up. We reflect with each other on the progress that has been made, give the glory to God, and challenge each other for the work that lies ahead. In our rational minds we hate to spend the money, but in our hearts we know we need to. Because we only have one life. Because people and relationships are what is important in life. We say we love them, but do we show it in action? We should value our friends and family more than our bank accounts!

So after my internal debate of head vs heart, my heart ultimately persevered. But then my next dilemma: I requested the Friday off with some anxiety because if you know me, you know I rarely use my vacation days. 2014 was actually the first year I used all of my vacation days within the calendar year. [It shouldn't really 'count' though because I used four of them to spend time with family the week following my father's death.] Anyway six years of not using all(if any - sad, but true) of my vacation days combined with the fact that I'm already planning to take off three weeks for my trip in May(which is more than my allotment of paid vacation to begin with) was messing with me. I submitted my request with great pause, not sure if it would be met with annoyance or indifference. But I told myself that 'its just one day' and 'May is three months from now.'

So after all that, here I sit. Flight tickets purchased and one night booked at the airport hotel. It's only January 15th and already I have been challenged on my perception of money and my job, and let's be honest my plan. (I'm a big planner!) I'm getting the feeling that 2015 is going to be a pivotal year. But I booked the flight I hadn't planned on taking, and that's the first step.

Housekeeping

I've made just a few more additions to the blog. (Hopefully you'll find them beneficial)

• At the very top of the page you will find my new pages bar. On the right-hand side, you will see a tab called 'Watchwords Past'. Clicking on this tab will provide a complete list of Watchwords going back to 1999. In case you are interested in what verses George and Carolyn have felt led to in the past, it's all there!
• On the top right of the page, right above the about me section, you can see the 2014 Watchword. I'll be updating this with the 2015 Watchword very soon. The Watchword is a verse that we focus on throughout the year to find strength and purpose. These verses are often a source of light and encouragement, especially when the work we do makes our hearts heavy.
• If you scroll down the page, right underneath the total pageviews graph, you will find a new contact form. Try it out! If you'd like send me a question you have about Africa, our work, buying groceries, whatever. I'll certainly try to answer! (Or I will get in touch with someone who can give you a better answer!)
• At the very bottom of the page, you will find a satellite map (the Powr Map). If you've ever been curious about where we do what we do, this is something to check out! But I must give you a disclaimer: there are still many areas that I personally know nothing about, except that we work there. I tried to highlight the main areas in each country to the best of my ability. I'll edit the map as I learn more specifics. If you're interested in what I will personally be doing be sure to check out: The HUB(our home-base and tentatively my first stop in May), Kachele Farm(It's becoming the 'Second HUB' where a lot of things go on and tentatively my second stop in May), The Kitwe Service Center(where I spent my time in Zambia during 2013, working with the staff and learning about Hands) and the Mwaiseni Community Based Organization(CBO)(where I had my community stay in Zambia and fell in love with Mwaiseni! This is the community I advocate for and will be working in: it's the main reason this trip came to be!) To use the map: You can scroll up and down on the left to see the places I have listed. Clicking on a location will show you that tag on the map (ie clicking on 'Kachele Farm' will show you the tag located in Luanshya, Zambia) If you stay zoomed in, which is the default of the gadget, you will only see individual tags. If you look at the map and see the + and - signs, underneath the yellow person, clicking the - sign will allow you to zoom out and see where tags are located in context. (ie in South Africa you will see the distance between the HUB and Service Centers) Feel free to play around with it!

***Disclaimer: at this point the blog is really changing. I will try to point out changes in the blog, but it's changing daily...so make sure you try to keep up! :-)

Another New Year

I have to admit, now that 2015 has arrived, my trip back to Mwaiseni seems so much closer! It's about four months away at this point. Today at the HUB in South Africa, everyone gathered for the announcement of the watchword for the year (more to come on this soon!) Some staff for Hands US has gathered in San Francisco to kick off our year as well. It's a very exciting time for us!

Things are busy, and will continue to be busy as my trip gets closer. I've begun to send out photo cards about my trip for anyone interested in what I'm doing. I mentioned supporting my trip through prayer so I've added a prayer requests section to my blog page. You can see them on by clicking the 'Prayer Requests' tab on my new pages bar underneath my header photo!. I'll update these throughout the year as needed, and I will try to keep you up to date by blogging specifically about new requests, and about how specific requests have been answered. Here's the first round:

Prayer Requests

• Renewed energy and focus in the new year for everyone partnering with Hands at Work:
  For international staff living in Africa: these individuals sacrifice time with their families and the comforts of home in order to care for the most vulnerable.
  For international staff living in their home countries: these individuals have often been to Africa, but always have a heart for Africa and it's people. They have the comforts of home, but constantly wish they could be on African soil. They often feel isolated from Africa, living in societies that often do not understand the calling.
• Continual support from current sponsors, and for new sponsors who want to help care for the most vulnerable:
  26,000 children die every day in Africa, and they do not need to. With sponsorships being $20/month, we pray people currently sponsoring one child may find it in their heart to promise additional sponsorships. We also pray for new partners for our cause to sponsor the most vulnerable.
• For the Hands US Staff, Advocates and Family as we work together while being far apart:
  For continued relationships and unity so we can remain strong for our cause when the world is telling to us to do anything and everything but care for the most vulnerable.
• For the 15 Short-term volunteer teams being sent by Hands US in the next year:
  Hands US is growing and our teams reflect that! FIFTEEN TEAMS!!! It's going to be an exciting year with more teams than we have sent previously and our continued partnership with Nurses for Africa teams! [Now don't worry: despite my excitement, it is NOT about the numbers. Quality is still more important than quantity, but it's hard to not be excited about these trips and the relationships that will be built!]
• That God would challenge my comforts and expectations:
  In many ways I've come so far, but in many other ways I'm stuck in a rut! This year will be my return to Africa, and renewed love for Hands. I also hope it will bring new discipline and perspective. It's definitely going to be a telling year of challenge and growth!
• That God would guide me to those who will partner in my journey through prayer or financial support:
  The last time I went to Africa, I did not push for financial support. While I did receive funding, and it was a blessing!, I also paid for most of the trip out of my personal savings. With different events over the last year, it doesn't look like that will be an option for this trip. Friends have encouraged me by saying "if it is His will, it is His bill" and that we should expect much from God. That is not to say that I feel worthy or entitled, and I certainly do not base God's goodness on funding. If I receive no funds God will still be good! But if my needs are met it is definitely all for His glory!

That's all I have for now. Thanks again for partnering with me on this journey!

Mwaiseni

Earlier this week Hands at Work posted a story featuring Mwaiseni in the newsroom.
You can read it here, and please do.
It's just one story, but it can help you understand why we fight for these children.
It might remind you just how blessed you are.