Monday, May 29, 2017

That's a Wrap

That's a Wrap

Tuesday:
Jesus is our Savior and Light
Fun in the dark with glowsticks and battery candles
This little light of mine
Nightly recap done by campers
Teams showed what they had learned and demonstrated lesson in their own langauage


Wednesday:
Jesus is our Servant King
Washing of the feet
Each camper made a crown
They are loved by a Servant King who calls them to serve
"My God is so Big, So strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do"
              Song spoke to the campers and was sang at every moment
Nightly recap and songs lead by campers
Campers took the songs that had been taught to them and translated them into their own language and performed them


Thursday:
Jesus is our Honor and Glory
Final day of Camp
Armor of God
Suited up for Armor of God relay
Campers demonstrated memorization of 10 verses learned throughout the past few days



Friday:
Campers left
Emotional goodbyes, evident proof of the personal connections made through out the week by campers and staff
Beyond impressed by the leadership of staff and skills developed by the campers
Team took off for Vic Falls for debriefing and rest and recovery


Saturday:
In awe of God's glory and the power of Victoria Falls


Sunday:
What a special time of worshipping Him with our brothers and sisters in Christ!


Monday:
Taking off for home

We have experienced answered prayers in mutiple areas; all things lost were found, timely executions, success of the camp, our team relationships withstood the trials of the trip, lasting relationships were formed and God has been honored and glorified.


Thank you for joining us on this journey. 

Monday, May 22, 2017

We're Not in North Carolina Anymore

We're Not in North Carolina Anymore

Friday:
                  Hands of Hope Home- Greeted by lots of love
                  Habitation of Hope
                  Foundation of Farming- greenhouses and crops
                  Tom and Lois Jackson 
Saturday:
                  Steve and Anthea Loves- Anthea is healing well from her hip surgery
                  Made a pound cake with the Aunties
                  Fly to Hwange
                  Settled in
                  Home Sweet Home
Sunday:
                  Nekabandama Church- Sunday worship
                  Lots of preparation
                  Campers arrived- 50 young adults to participate and to learn to plan a VBS
                  Teams formed
                  Introductions
Monday:
                  1st Day of Camp!!!!!!
                   Camp Allelu
                   Bible lessons
                   Games
                   Crafts
                   Lots of fun!
                   Making new friends

We are very: Humbled, Welcomed, Served, and Overjoyed 

Monday, May 15, 2017

Ready for Take Off

Ready to Take Off

It's the last day in North Carolina, as we said good bye's to our families and loved ones. After a lovely dinner with the families, we were dropped off at the hotel that was so wonderfully donated to us so we can spend the night in comfort knowing we are near the airport. Early to bed, early to rise, is the motto for the night as our journey begins at 4:30am. Below are some pictures of us being dropped off at the hotel. Soon to be attached is our prayer calendar if you would like to pray for us daily.




Friday, April 28, 2017

The 2017 Team | Prayer Calendar

L to R: Britt P., Cyndi B., Sally G., and Angie Y.

Please pray for us as we continue to prepare for our trip: May 16-29



Psalm 139:9-10If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Tuesday, May 16 - Leaving out of Raleigh. Safe travels, easy and timely connections between flights.

Wednesday, May 17 - Arrive in Harare/ Habitation of Hope Camp. All luggage arrives intact, rest & recovery from the flight, adjustment to time change, hearts knitted together to glorify God in personal relationship and purpose.

Thursday, May 18 - Cultural orientation/Visit HOH Harare Children’s homes/Meet the Harare Camp. Leaders who will travel to Hwange by road. Building up of the body of Christ as our two teams meet and begin work together. Clear communication of Camp Allelu Training Manual/Flexible to changes.

Friday, May 19 - Visit Rugare Transformation Centre/4:15 fly to Vic Falls/5:15 drive to Hwange. United in purpose and plans for Camp Allelu. Last minute details and changes made to Camp Allelu Program.  Safe travels by land and air.

Saturday, May 20 - Setting up, go over the VBS material, Set up gaming area. Flexibility and energy to accomplish everything the Lord plans for Camp Allelu.

Sunday, May 21 - Attend Church at Nekabandama/50 Campers arrive.  Day of rest and fellowship worshipping the Lord together. Bonding with the campers as they arrive.  Hearts prepared for all the Lord has in store for Camp Allelu.

Monday, May 22 - Camp starts. Biblically clear and culturally sensitive presentation of Jesus as our Creator and that His creation was full of honor and glory. Christ would be magnified!

Tuesday, May 23 - Camp Day 1: Biblically clear and culturally sensitive presentation of our sin and shame and salvation offered through Jesus’ death and resurrection. That those who do not know Jesus would believe on Him for salvation and those who do know Him would grow deeper in their love for Him.

Wednesday, May 24 - Camp Day 2: Biblically clear and culturally sensitive presentation of our life in Christ.

Thursday, May 25 - Camp Day 3: Biblically clear and culturally sensitive presentation of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords who holds all authority and power over all creation.  Campers would leave encouraged in the Lord, equipped to lead a Camp Allelu in their own village, and excited to follow Jesus.

Friday, May 26: Camp ends/Team leaves for Victoria Falls for Debriefing. Encouraging farewells and honest, yet tender hearted debriefing.

Saturday May 27 - Full day in Victoria Falls. Enjoying the Lord’s creation and each other.  Safe travels for Hands of Hope Team to Harare.

Sunday, May 28 - Fly back to Harare. Safe travels. Sweet and encouraging last night of fellowship.

Monday, May 29 - Team departs for US. Safe flights home. Tender hearts towards the Lord and each other.


Team Members Verses:
Cyndi: Ephesians 5:1 - “That I would be an imitator of God as a dear child.  That I would walk in love, as Christ has also loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”

Sally: Philippians 4:6-7 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Britt: Colossians 3:23 - “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men”

Angie: Numbers 6:24-26 - “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Pray for the logistics of getting all the supplies for VBS to our location, safety and good health before, after and during the trip, protection for all our families in our absence and that those we meet will have ears to hear God’s word and desire in their hearts to know Him.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Our 7 Days in Mushumbi Pools


I am sorry this post is so delayed!  We did not have internet for quite some time!  But here is an update on our time spent in Mushumbi Pools, Zimbabwe.

Day 1:
We went grocery shopping in Harare before we left to prepare for the long week ahead.  We set off on our way to Mushumbi Pools.  Along the way, Tom found a nice little picnic spot overlooking the mountains.  Tom and Lois mentioned buying Mu Zambias, which is a piece of cloth that the women either wear over their skirt or they lay it down to sit on.  When in Mushumbi Pools, do as the people of Mushumbi Pools do!  So, we too, bought a Mu Zambia.



Today was the day where we started building lifelong relationships.  Florence and Blessing were our translators for the week.  They were a a life saver for us as they helped us not only understand the language but the culture as well.  We also met Pastor David and his wife, Blessing as well as their two children (Anono and Tine).  It was finally time to check into our lodges and get a good night's rest for the following day.



Day 2:
Today were were able to meet the Headmaster of Mushumbi Pools Primary School and gave him the 27 basketballs in various sizes for the different age groups.  The look on his face and the reactions of other staff members was priceless.  This was just the beginning of a lasting partnership with the school.


We were also able to meet the ladies of the Ruwadzano District Ladies Retreat.  We introduced ourselves in Shona (the primary language of Mushumbi Pools), sang songs in Shona for the ladies, and had the opportunity to fellowship.






Day 3:
Tom left early this morning to begin the process of putting up the backboards for the basketball goals.



 As many of you know, Westover holds AWANA on Wednesday nights and has been wanting to take it international.  Mushumbi Pools started AWANA not too long ago and there are usually only approximately 60 kids show up for AWANA time but we had a whopping 216 kids participate!!!
During this time we:
-sang songs in Shona with the kids.  They were so engaged!
-game time (relay race).  We had to improvise with our use of materials which made this time even more beautiful and humbling.
-crafts (bracelets which included the meaning of each bead that they were able to take home)







Cyndi also led a Bible study for the Ruwadzano District Ladies Retreat.  She did an EXCELLENT job leading and gave some great insight on how to properly pull important points from a passage of scripture in order to truly understand what you read and study.



Day 4:
It was a Sunday morning in Mushumbi Pools and a very important day at that.  The Bishop and the Chairman of the Zimbabwe Evangelical Church were coming into town and the Ruwadzano District Ladies were so ecstatic to have them there!


 After church, we had a more relaxed day full of soccer games, walking to the market, buying soda to feel more at home, and ordering take-out (BIG portions of sadza and beef, $1 for each box so $9 total to feel everyone!)





Day 5:
We were able to visit homes in the villages today.  This was such a turning point in our time there because we got to know the people of Mushumbi Pools on a personal level and saw the struggle that they face every day.  However, they still have a beautiful faith in God that He has His hand over their situation.  Each of us were separated among homes, which also put each of us outside of our comfort zones.  It was awesome!  Below is everybody's experiences:
Brandi- Home visit with the pastor and his wife.  She was able to make sadza for the family, helped their son with his fractions homework, and caught a chicken and cooked it!
Cyndi- Family lived on a farm so she could automatically relate!  They relaxed, sat on a mat, and just talked.  The family showed her their cows and two dogs.  She was given a wine glass and was told "Drink and remember me."  She will always have a symbol of their appreciation for her visiting their home.
Shawnee- Shawnee visited the home of one of the teachers, Tutirari, whom we all got to know very well.  She was introduced to the whole neighborhood, shown their garden, went into the chicken coop, plucked and cooked the chicken, helped cook and cut the vegetables, and had a special bonding time with the children of the family while they drew and colored with the colored pencils and paper that she brought to the house.
Olivia- Olivia visited a family where the couple did not have a job yet they welcomed her with open arms and a nice meal of sadza and vegetables.  Meat is a delicacy in this area, especially for the ones who do not have an income.  They had no furniture, but the one chair that they did have, they allowed Olivia to sit in it as the guest of honor.  The family grows maize and beans in the fields but the fields were too far to walk to.
Lauren- Lauren visited Museka and her children.  The husband was not present because he worked long hours at the market.  One of the neighbors, who could speak very good English, walked up and decided that he wanted to give her a tour of the village!  They showed her the fields and introduced her to the surrounding homesteads.  She was asked to pray before dinner and they were so honored when she offered to help clean.  Then the night ended with a dance party with the kids of the surrounding homesteads.

Day 6 and 7:
The Educational Officer thankfully allowed us to observe in the classrooms and gave us the go ahead when we met with him yesterday.  We were able to observe today (day 6) and saw many similarities in the teaching techniques.  One thing that we noticed is valued in the culture is the great respect that the students have for their teachers.
We also held two days of basketball camp.  We practiced dribbling, passing, shooting, and defense.  We played against the teachers of the school and they beat us 2-0 the first day and 4-0 the second day.  Needless to say, they caught on to the game pretty quick!






Our last night spent in Mushumbi Pools was spent with Pastor David and his wife and children.  This last little bit of time spent with them was such a blessing in itself.  They are an amazing family and we are interested to see how this relationship continues to grow between Tom & Lois, Westover, and the Mushumbi Pools Evangelical Church.



Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Our first full day!!

We finally made it to Zimbabwe after approximately 30 hours of traveling!  Tom, Lois, and Donya were so very welcoming!! Yesterday, we were very tired so our night was mainly spent touring the guest house and getting ready for bed ;)


Today was our first full day in Harare, Zimbabwe. I want to start off with a Bible verse that will definitely help us understand and remain strong in our purpose for serving here.  Colossians 2:1-9 uses a comparison of roots and buildings to our relationship with God.  "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (Colossians 2:6-7)  In the culture of Zimbabwe, the people accept Christ as a spirit, some faraway mystical creator who brings or withholds the rain.  They are typically more concerned about making God happy so that He can bring the rain.

Rafiki Girls Center: A registered independent Christian organization that seeks to empower disadvantaged and vulnerable girls with life skills for self-reliance.


This morning, we participated in TEAM orientation with Tom.  We focused on learning more about the Zimbabwe culture as well as how the schools are operated.  Afterwards, we took a tour of the guest house property seeing as it was actually light outside!  Foundations for Farming (click on the link to learn more) is held on the grounds of the TEAM guesthouse.  "Foundations for Farming is an initiative aimed at bringing transformation to individuals, communities and nations through faithful and productive use of land. God has revealed a very simple conservation farming method with an implementation management teaching, which when applied help people to apply the Gospel to their lives." Later, we visited Hands for Hope with Steve Love (a missionary supported by Westover).  Through Hands for Hope, men and women learn farming techniques, Aquaponics, assembling materials, renovation, and so much more.  On Mondays, Steve Love and his apprentices start the week off at the top of the hill (WHAT A HIKE!!) with a devotion and pray over the week to come.  At the end of the week, they meet at the bottom and give God all the glory for everything He has blessed them with that week.  The neat thing is, discussing and meditating over the gospel and working are not two separate entities.  "Gospel Talk" occurs at all hours of the day and is integrated into their work.  We ended the day off right with a Braai, or cookout, with the Loves and Jacksons.  We had such a feast and were able to try a new food as well, called Boerworst (a mix between beef and pork, otherwise known as Farmer's Sausage).

The team at Hands for Hope

A panoramic view of the Hands for Hope property

At the Braai with the missionaries and their families.

It is now bedtime for us and we will be headed out to Mushumbi Pools in the morning!  We will be in a very rural area and will be with limited to no access to internet.  We will definitely update you once we have access to internet again!  Until next time :)

Monday, June 20, 2016

Today's the Day!!!

We are so excited! Today is the day that we leave for Zimbabwe!  We would like to thank each and every one of our friends and family members that have prayed for us and supported us.  We would especially like to thank those of you who woke up bright and early to meet us at the airport to pray for and with us!  See you all again in fourteen days!!!

Getting ready to go through security!

Group picture with Poky and Gumby!!