Great things coming out of Africa today!
Thank you for following along and thank you for having patience those of you that have been expecting this for a few days now. My goal with this post is to simply share the events that took place on Monday. I don’t know any way things could have gone better, and I’m very excited to tell! This is the ‘gist’ and I am excited to share in more detail when I return. Also, look for a post tomorrow that is more of my spiritual experience, observation, and encouragement about this leg of the trip.
Praise God because the day was truly divine.
I met Mathew in town at 7:30 on Monday morning. We first went to his house and sat down to go over finances. Bibi Monica was there to greet me.
First thing, we went through all of the finances of the school. They have kept DETAILED documents and I was extremely impressed and satisfied of how well they have tracked everything. I saw proof that every dollar given to the school went directly into their school bank account which is tracked by the Government and the Ministry of Education. Then he went through every single receipt of what they have used the money on and explained what it was for. There is documentation that all purchases went to true needs of the school; food, supplies, rent for the building, and teacher salaries. It was total transparency and I felt very confident with how they have handled things. Also important is that they have been saving a little each month, which was great to see.
After, we opened a long talk about sustainability. There is a good opportunity to have animals out at the new land and teach the kids to harvest eggs, raise chicken and goats, and sell for profits that would help the school. They went through a process with their government that also allows them to educate students that are not OVC’s (Orphan’s and Vulnerable Children). At the moment all students at Tuamkeni are OVC’s, but this is an important step to have this paperwork done as Mathew and I both agree it may be valuable in the future as part of the conversation of sustainability. The goal is to have the school fully support itself. One way that may happen down the road is allowing a handful of students that can afford school fees to pay their way, which will in turn support other students that can’t.
Next, Emmanuel showed up at the door and needed money for his school fees. A little background… In addition to the 37 students AT Tuamkeni, we support 37 MORE students (who used to be at Tuamkeni, and have outgrown the school). Monica and Mathew pay much of this out of their own pocket. All 74 children are identified as Tuamkeni students, and EVERY Saturday they ALL meet at the school and have lunch together to maintain community. We have hired a bible teacher that comes each Saturday to speak to the kids about Jesus.
So, when Emmanuel arrived he was the first of 3 students of the 37 being sponsored elsewhere which came THAT MORNING needing money for school fees, a field trip, or medicine. Mathew and monica paid for each of them out of their own pocket. During the 2 hours I was there at their home; Monica received 4 phone calls from schools where students are. I am convinced that Monica and Mathew are heroes to the community, and truly the amazing people in this world that are doing God’s work.
The last conversation at monica and mathews home was about construction. And it was a great one. Mathew had a detail breakdown of the cost to build from the fundi that built Glorious school (a nearby school ran by Monica and Mathews Daughter and son in law, and also directed by Hannah and others from the US).
The first document was a detailed budget for a standalone classroom, and then another was an analysis of adding a second classroom onto it. There is a diagram and plans included, total cost of the first classroom is $5,366 USD (with a row built in for margin of about $320). The add on classroom is a bit less than that but same ball park.
After the discussion we went to Glorious and met the fundi (construction manager) there. I also met 3 wazungus (white people) there that were other 'directors' along with Hannah. I saw the building they had built off the same plans, and it is 80-90% complete. They talked me through the process of building, and said that it happens fast and they had no hangups. The fundi confirmed that he is available for hire anytime.
I had about 45 minutes of discussion with the white people at Glorious and was super encouraged. Very clear evidence that what we are trying to do is feasible. They are going to come with me to Tuamkeni today and then we are going to have lunch together and talk through some things some more.
After Glorious we walked to Tuamkeni. I saw all the classrooms and was warmly greeted by the kids. There were only 3 students I recognized. Onesmo, Calvin Robert, and Zaituni.
It was just about lunchtime, but I interviewed Thomas, the new teacher, for about 15 minutes. He was very impressive; clearly loves the Lord and the kids. I wrote down some of the things he said about his teaching style and how we will incorporate scripture into the school. He made me a list of school supplies and books he needs and we fulfilled the list this morning. The desks we had built were still being used! and the uniforms still being worn although many of the students that are out in other schools kept their uniform, and a lot of the new students do not have uniforms (which you will see in the pictures)
Then it was lunchtime. We assembled the kids together and Thomas asked me to speak. So Mathew and I reminded the kids how much God loves them and cares for them, that we believe in them at that God's plan for their future is bright. We prayed together and then ate rice and beans with the kids.
Then...... visited the land in Kisongo! Kisongo is about 6 miles out of town. It's safe and it’s beautiful there. A lot of construction is happening and the land value has already gone up since it was purchased last year. The plot is much bigger than I imagined. It's perfectly flat and entirely cleared out, so no clearing of trees or anything before building. I took note of the wind direction and found true north, made a diagram of the size etc. Also cool, is that World Vision is doing a big water development project there. Literally, 100 feet from the land there is a brand new borehole drilled with a faucet for clean water. Mathew also said World Vision's project made it suitable for anyone in the area to pipe into the main supply and have running water. He said it is super easy to do because we are SO close to the source. We dreamed about where the school might go and prayed over the land. Pretty awesome view of Mt. Meru in the backdrop as well. On the drive home he gave me a stamped copy of the sale agreement, which DOES say it's sold to Tuamkeni, which we needed to make sure of.
Lastly, Mathew and I went back to a coffee shop to chat some more. The spirit was moving. At this point we took a close look at cost to build. We talked about logistics of hiring a dala dala (bus) to transport the kids out there (about a 20 minute drive) should we build. We simultaneously felt it was right to build one classroom first, and then eventually add on the second. So the Goal has become and is now a little over $5,000. I started to bring up fundraising and he stopped me.
He started quoting scripture, and explaining how there is a common theme in the bible about how it always starts with us surrendering what we have to God and then allowing Him to multiply it. We talked about Jesus feeding the 5,000 starting with a few fish and a loaf of bread. Ironically, we are raising $5,000. He also brought up the widow of Zarephath and how God multiplied flour and a jar of oil (1 Kings 17:7-16). He looked at me and said "We must start by surrendering what we have, and then God will multiply". And he says you and me, 50,000 each. We each took 50,000 tsh out of our pocket and put it on the table. we both put our hands on it and he prays this really long prayer in Swahili, and then I prayed asking God to multiply it to the $5,366 for the school.
I know I sometimes can over dramatize things, but I know God was there in the moment and that the spirit was flowing.
Talking it through… Mathew is able and agreeing to raise 10% locally for the school, and he outlined how, and has already had a business owner agree to donating truckfulls of sand and gravel. It came out to almost exactly $500 he will raise, and between us and other volunteers we will come up with the rest.
So, there it is! A pretty divine day and one giant step closer to the dream.
I’m out of time now but look for more to come.
In Him,
Andrew
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sat. November 20
All is well! It's now Saturday afternoon in the Congo. The past two days I feel I have really gotten into the thick of where I believe God has been leading me to for this trip. Yesterday, I preached a sermon in front of a full house of doctors, nurses, patients, and other staff of HEAL. I spoke on Romans 12. The joy that happens when all parts of the body are united. I was relieved when the room abrupted in laughter after one of my jokes!
At the end, I felt the Lord came through and that the message was very well received. I was so thankful for the CPC team here that was incredibly supportive before, during and after. I have since had many Congolese people at the hospital approach and encourage me for what the message meant to them. Praise God for this. (Bwana asi fiwe)
Yesterday, I took some time at HEALing arts. This is a building located at the compounds of the hospital where women who are ill, awaiting surgery, or recovering can sew clothes and make crafts. They sell the goods and earn a profit that they live off. I bought my first African shirt! and a few other knick knacks to bring home.
This morning I preached again at the church. This time it was a smaller crowd (Fri, Sun, and Tuesdays are their big services). I spoke on Mark 5, when Jesus heals a sick girl. The girl tried everything just to touch Jesus' clothes, knowing if she could just do that she would be healed. Jesus tells her that it was her faith that healed her. The message was that the doctors and spiritual counselors offer the tangible touch where healing takes place, but that the healing happens through faith.
After the service, I went around with the chaplain pastor to many of the different wards here at the hospital. There were broken legs, burn victims, those with AIDS. Chelsie translated get well cards written by our 4th and 5th graders at home and also brought a special treat for the kids. After the visit, we sang a song and then I was able to pray out loud in each room. It amazed me the joy everyone had when we sang a song together. And an honor to be able to pray for them.
We are heading to the market now, as the hospital works a half day on Saturdays (other than ER of course).
Pray for:
The kids, we are teaching Sunday school tomorrow
The people I visited today in each ward of the hospital
Team unity
Chelsie has she flies back to her home in Beni, Congo tomorrow
Thanks!
At the end, I felt the Lord came through and that the message was very well received. I was so thankful for the CPC team here that was incredibly supportive before, during and after. I have since had many Congolese people at the hospital approach and encourage me for what the message meant to them. Praise God for this. (Bwana asi fiwe)
Yesterday, I took some time at HEALing arts. This is a building located at the compounds of the hospital where women who are ill, awaiting surgery, or recovering can sew clothes and make crafts. They sell the goods and earn a profit that they live off. I bought my first African shirt! and a few other knick knacks to bring home.
This morning I preached again at the church. This time it was a smaller crowd (Fri, Sun, and Tuesdays are their big services). I spoke on Mark 5, when Jesus heals a sick girl. The girl tried everything just to touch Jesus' clothes, knowing if she could just do that she would be healed. Jesus tells her that it was her faith that healed her. The message was that the doctors and spiritual counselors offer the tangible touch where healing takes place, but that the healing happens through faith.
After the service, I went around with the chaplain pastor to many of the different wards here at the hospital. There were broken legs, burn victims, those with AIDS. Chelsie translated get well cards written by our 4th and 5th graders at home and also brought a special treat for the kids. After the visit, we sang a song and then I was able to pray out loud in each room. It amazed me the joy everyone had when we sang a song together. And an honor to be able to pray for them.
We are heading to the market now, as the hospital works a half day on Saturdays (other than ER of course).
Pray for:
The kids, we are teaching Sunday school tomorrow
The people I visited today in each ward of the hospital
Team unity
Chelsie has she flies back to her home in Beni, Congo tomorrow
Thanks!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Jambo from Congo!
After a long 30+ hours of traveling we arrived safely in Goma, DR Congo! It was difficult to imagine what things may be like here until arriving. Surprisingly, it seems to fit some of my imaginations despite being far different from Arusha. I am amazed by how a group of nine of us, with very unique and separate skill sets, can all arrive and immediately be plugged right into service. Our nurses have each jumped right into their respective specialties, and our doctors have already performed a number of surgeries. Yesterday, our general surgeon amputated a leg! Our IT specialist has already brought great joy to the hospital with basic accomplishments such as installing two printers. Steve has been busy filming interviews, and This morning Pastor Paul delivered a sermon in French. I have been preparing for two sermons (in English, thankfully) that I will give tomorrow morning (MN time = Thurs. @ 10:30 pm) and Saturday morning.
One of the neatest experiences so far has been reuniting with Chelsie Frank. Chelsie is a friend of mine from the Univ. of Minn. days. She has been on staff with CPC as our 'Congo liaison' for two years and is just starting her third year. She is fluent in Swahili and fully in her element and running in her area of ministry. We spent today, and will continue spending time with the kids here at Heal Africa. With Chelsie able to translate i feel i am able to communicate with the kids much more easily than before. Today the kids at the school within the hospital all received letter written by the 4th and 5th graders at CPC. They were so happy that they wrote back! We also gave them puzzles that were made by kids back home,which they absolutely loved.
Please be in prayer:
Thankful for a safe arrival, a wonderful experience so far, total health for everyone on the team so far, and thankful for a wonderfully warm welcome from the people at Heal.
Asking for continued strength, wisdom among our medical team, and for God's presence during the next two mornings that i will be speaking at the church.
Lots of love,
Andrew
One of the neatest experiences so far has been reuniting with Chelsie Frank. Chelsie is a friend of mine from the Univ. of Minn. days. She has been on staff with CPC as our 'Congo liaison' for two years and is just starting her third year. She is fluent in Swahili and fully in her element and running in her area of ministry. We spent today, and will continue spending time with the kids here at Heal Africa. With Chelsie able to translate i feel i am able to communicate with the kids much more easily than before. Today the kids at the school within the hospital all received letter written by the 4th and 5th graders at CPC. They were so happy that they wrote back! We also gave them puzzles that were made by kids back home,which they absolutely loved.
Please be in prayer:
Thankful for a safe arrival, a wonderful experience so far, total health for everyone on the team so far, and thankful for a wonderfully warm welcome from the people at Heal.
Asking for continued strength, wisdom among our medical team, and for God's presence during the next two mornings that i will be speaking at the church.
Lots of love,
Andrew
Monday, March 15, 2010
This is Africa
It’s unbelievable how you blink and the time has passed; you turn around and it’s time to say good bye. Today we closed our time in Tanzania. I’ll have another post shortly on that. However, as I reflect on my time here, I have a few observations about Africa for you.
As a team we were always quick to call out our ‘This is Africa’ moments. TIA…
- If you get on public transport and the words ‘maximum occupancy’ do not apply… then you’re in Africa.
- If you have no concept of margin when a car goes flying past and nearly takes your left arm along with it… then you’re in Africa
- If you have ever begun to ask your friend to pay you back the 250 shillings for their bus fare before remembering that it’s only 19 cents… then you’re in Africa
- If you don’t think twice about asking a complete stranger to give you a ride on their motorcycle… then you’re in Africa
- If you start to name the goats in your back yard based off the different noises they make… then you’re in Africa
- If you still aren’t sure if it’s a actually a goat or maybe a sheep… then you’re in Africa
- If the cost in bargaining starts at $70 and eventually gets settled for $5… then you’re in Africa
- If you have to reply to someone, “No I haven’t met Obama yet”… then you’re in Africa.
- If you didn’t have any idea that the cat was pregnant… then you’re in Africa
- If you’ve gone to bed at 8 PM because the power went out… then you’re in Africa
- If you ask someone where you can watch the Super Bowl and they respond “you want a bowl of soup?”… then you’re in Africa
- When you put duct tape on your feet at night to try to remove the dirt embedded within… then you’re in Africa
- If you’ve sang ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ at Karaoke and nobody else has heard it before… then you’re in Africa
- When you play a five hole mini golf course on poured concrete… then you’re in Africa
- If you’ll gladly buy a newspaper because ‘it’s only a few days old’… then you’re in Africa
- And if Minnesota is ‘about halfway between New York and Los Angeles’… then you’re in Africa
Just a peek at what life is like here, now you know that This is Africa: TIA. expect some deeper thoughts shortly!
As a team we were always quick to call out our ‘This is Africa’ moments. TIA…
- If you get on public transport and the words ‘maximum occupancy’ do not apply… then you’re in Africa.
- If you have no concept of margin when a car goes flying past and nearly takes your left arm along with it… then you’re in Africa
- If you have ever begun to ask your friend to pay you back the 250 shillings for their bus fare before remembering that it’s only 19 cents… then you’re in Africa
- If you don’t think twice about asking a complete stranger to give you a ride on their motorcycle… then you’re in Africa
- If you start to name the goats in your back yard based off the different noises they make… then you’re in Africa
- If you still aren’t sure if it’s a actually a goat or maybe a sheep… then you’re in Africa
- If the cost in bargaining starts at $70 and eventually gets settled for $5… then you’re in Africa
- If you have to reply to someone, “No I haven’t met Obama yet”… then you’re in Africa.
- If you didn’t have any idea that the cat was pregnant… then you’re in Africa
- If you’ve gone to bed at 8 PM because the power went out… then you’re in Africa
- If you ask someone where you can watch the Super Bowl and they respond “you want a bowl of soup?”… then you’re in Africa
- When you put duct tape on your feet at night to try to remove the dirt embedded within… then you’re in Africa
- If you’ve sang ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ at Karaoke and nobody else has heard it before… then you’re in Africa
- When you play a five hole mini golf course on poured concrete… then you’re in Africa
- If you’ll gladly buy a newspaper because ‘it’s only a few days old’… then you’re in Africa
- And if Minnesota is ‘about halfway between New York and Los Angeles’… then you’re in Africa
Just a peek at what life is like here, now you know that This is Africa: TIA. expect some deeper thoughts shortly!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Closing Time - March 8 Update
It’s hard to believe there is such a short amount of time left here in Arusha! There is a lot to report, and I am sure to leave things out but I wish to post the big events as of late so you can stay up to speed and if you are willing pray for the last bit of the trip.
We continue to spend a significant amount of time at the school as well as around town meeting with people and visiting other schools. The last week or so will be similar, loving the kids as much as we can but also trying to put as many pieces to the puzzle together as possible before we say our goodbyes.
We have had meetings as of late with an organization called Imara Ministries. Imara is Swahili for ‘strong and firm’, and we have been connected there through the Vineyard church we have been attending here in Arusha. They have 5 school projects around the greater Arusha area, none of which are close to town. Through them we have gotten tremendous insight as to the process for starting a Christ centered school in Tanzania and to talked them a great deal about the situation with the Tuamken children.
We visited one of the Imara projects out near Moshi, about an hour and a half East of Arusha. We plan to make a trip to Peace House Africa this weekend. All of these experiences visiting schools are great for so many reasons. It provides a deeper understanding of what well run schools look like in Tanzania. It gives us the opportunity to ask all kinds of questions and learn. It also helps us get the word out about our orphans and to try to open some doors as God leads.
The kids received their new uniforms last week! It was truly astounding. Most of them had never received anything before that was brand new. They danced around showing off their new clothes all morning. Each uniform was tailored specifically for them, and had their name on it. Everything fit perfectly and it was one of the most heartwarming moments of the trip. Can you imagine having virtually zero possessions, and then receiving something brand new with your name on it? It also made them all equal (many did not have a school uniform altogether), and gave the school a noticeable sense of pride. They were finally unified as the Tuamkeni School.
Last week we took one of our children to the hospital after she was complaining of a stomach ache and had a fever. One of the teachers feared in was Malaria, which it in fact was. After a lot of prayer and some medications, Irene has her energy back and is feeling much better. She has been in school the past few days.
If you read my last post you heard a little bit about Carlous and Bahati’s story. We were so moved by it we decided to take the two of them out for a fun afternoon. We took them mini golfing (a very interesting idea in Africa), and then out for lunch. The whole time they had the biggest two smiles on their faces. At lunch they gazed around the restaurant in awe most of the time they were there. We knew without asking they had never been out to eat before, and a malt from McMoody’s was a giant surprise! We ended the day by taking them to the market to get shoes and backpacks. I think we were as blessed by the day as they were.
We hope to meet with Young Life of Arusha this week to discuss as much as possible about the future of the school. They have had a bit of involvement in the past but it has been difficult to get in touch with them.
Our last day with the kids will be special. We are going to a field nearby for an ‘Olympics Day’ followed by ice cream!
Please continue to pray for the kids, and for some of the last meetings with these organizations and the administration of the school. Please pray for the family we are staying with, the Lima’s. Please pray for safety the rest of the time in Arusha as well as on the journey home!
Thanks for reading!
-Andrew
We continue to spend a significant amount of time at the school as well as around town meeting with people and visiting other schools. The last week or so will be similar, loving the kids as much as we can but also trying to put as many pieces to the puzzle together as possible before we say our goodbyes.
We have had meetings as of late with an organization called Imara Ministries. Imara is Swahili for ‘strong and firm’, and we have been connected there through the Vineyard church we have been attending here in Arusha. They have 5 school projects around the greater Arusha area, none of which are close to town. Through them we have gotten tremendous insight as to the process for starting a Christ centered school in Tanzania and to talked them a great deal about the situation with the Tuamken children.
We visited one of the Imara projects out near Moshi, about an hour and a half East of Arusha. We plan to make a trip to Peace House Africa this weekend. All of these experiences visiting schools are great for so many reasons. It provides a deeper understanding of what well run schools look like in Tanzania. It gives us the opportunity to ask all kinds of questions and learn. It also helps us get the word out about our orphans and to try to open some doors as God leads.
The kids received their new uniforms last week! It was truly astounding. Most of them had never received anything before that was brand new. They danced around showing off their new clothes all morning. Each uniform was tailored specifically for them, and had their name on it. Everything fit perfectly and it was one of the most heartwarming moments of the trip. Can you imagine having virtually zero possessions, and then receiving something brand new with your name on it? It also made them all equal (many did not have a school uniform altogether), and gave the school a noticeable sense of pride. They were finally unified as the Tuamkeni School.
Last week we took one of our children to the hospital after she was complaining of a stomach ache and had a fever. One of the teachers feared in was Malaria, which it in fact was. After a lot of prayer and some medications, Irene has her energy back and is feeling much better. She has been in school the past few days.
If you read my last post you heard a little bit about Carlous and Bahati’s story. We were so moved by it we decided to take the two of them out for a fun afternoon. We took them mini golfing (a very interesting idea in Africa), and then out for lunch. The whole time they had the biggest two smiles on their faces. At lunch they gazed around the restaurant in awe most of the time they were there. We knew without asking they had never been out to eat before, and a malt from McMoody’s was a giant surprise! We ended the day by taking them to the market to get shoes and backpacks. I think we were as blessed by the day as they were.
We hope to meet with Young Life of Arusha this week to discuss as much as possible about the future of the school. They have had a bit of involvement in the past but it has been difficult to get in touch with them.
Our last day with the kids will be special. We are going to a field nearby for an ‘Olympics Day’ followed by ice cream!
Please continue to pray for the kids, and for some of the last meetings with these organizations and the administration of the school. Please pray for the family we are staying with, the Lima’s. Please pray for safety the rest of the time in Arusha as well as on the journey home!
Thanks for reading!
-Andrew
Friday, February 26, 2010
Laugh Think and Cry
Jim Valvano is the guy you might be able to identify from old highlight reels as that basketball coach running around the court hysterically enthusiastic after a last second shot won his N.C. State team an improbable Final Four Championship. He has always been one of those people I’ve looked up to without ever actually meeting. Mr. Valvano strikes me as a guy who looked at a day and assumed anything could happen. Even after cancer took his life in the 1990’s ‘The Jimmy V Foundation” is still working to find a cure for the dreaded disease.
He had such a philosophy to him. In an acceptance speech at the ESPY awards shortly before his death he asked the question, “How do you get from where you are to where you want to be?”
His proposition: An enthusiasm for life.
In Ecclesiastes chapter 3 it talks about how ‘there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ If you’ve been to a memorial service you’ve heard it; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, etc.
Mr. Valvano knew that his days were numbered. “Time is very precious to me, I don’t have a lot of it left” he insisted during his speech. Perhaps the combination of ambition and urgency was why he believed that each and every day deserved changes of our emotional seasons in order to feel fully alive. He says...
“There are three things you should do every day of your life;
#1 Laugh – We should laugh everyday
#2 Think – We should spend some time in thought, everyday
#3 Cry – Let your emotions be moved to tears, they can be happiness or sorrow
Think about it, if you do all three of those in a day… that’s a heck of a day!” (See the whole speech here)
Laugh, Think, and Cry. This reminds me of a time years ago when I went with my family to visit my sick Granny in the nursing home for what was inevitably the final time. I remember saying goodbye to Granny and then tearing up as I watched my father say goodbye to his grandmother. In the midst of our mourning, another nursing home resident escaped her bed and nonchalantly (and now famously) walked past eating a slice of blueberry pie. This elderly woman, whom was easily pushing 90 years old, audibly broke wind for at least 10 seconds as she walked past us. Our tears of sorrow were instantly replaced by tears from an uncontrollable laughter. To this day I hold this event as proof that God thinks farts are funny, too.
Life’s a hypocrite if you can’t live the way it moves you.
Awhile back I made a list of things I wanted to always be true of me. It is part of an ongoing effort to be committed to the way life moves me; and to be congruent to who I believe I am. I often fall short of this, but I know I’ve at least given it some thought. After all, self knowledge provides the means for intentional living.
Laugh – One of my commitments is to not take myself too seriously. Our group has not been short of laughs on this trip. Mama, bless her heart, continues to lecture us before EVERY departure from her home “Andrew, I think I teach you once before but… If African man come, you run EXPRESS!!” I know it’s not funny to joke about safety, but if you can imagine a big African Mama doing an impression of ‘express running’ you will most likely laugh as well.
Think – How important it is to process what’s happening in our lives! I feel like I could pay off the national debt if I had a dollar for every time I ‘started journaling’. The problem is that we tend to look for ways to keep busy so that we can avoid thinking. So part of my commitment to being a lifelong learner is making sacrifices in order to spend some time in thought. I’m terrible at this. It always feels like such a chore at first, but once you get going then it’s always worth it. “The prudent give thought to their steps” (Proverbs 14:15).
The other part is a commitment to always having an opinion, but always being open to the fact that I might be wrong. The only way to have an opinion on something is to have given it some thought. You have to allot a time of pondering in order to determine that the Hokey Pokey isn’t actually what it’s all about. Just be open to others when they ultimately convince you that it is.
Cry – So I’ve been dubbed the sensitive one on the trip. Really? Even with girls here? I can surely thank BLo (my wonderful mother) for passing this attribute down. But if you think it’s not manly to cry then look up John 11:35, shortest verse in the Bible folks.
All things aside, there is an unmatched liberation in crying that makes you feel completely and fully alive. Our soul longs for it. Our soul’s very intention is for our heart to break for what breaks God’s. It’s why we are to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (Proverbs 126:5). Tears of sorrow AND tears of joy, a time to laugh AND a time to cry.
This week was a time to cry. This week we sat down with the overseers of the orphanage and one by one listened to the individual stories and circumstances of the Tuamken Orphans. They are sad and painful stories. Stories that you want to be aware of but at the same time wish to never hear. Over and over we lost the fight against tears as we wrote down the lives of the kids we love.
Bahati was born without one of his hands. When his father saw this he wanted nothing to do with him. Bahati is now 7 years old and hasn’t seen either of his parents since birth. He lives on his own in a shack with another Tuamken student, Carlous, who is 8 years old. A neighbor watches over them, but because she can only earn $35 per year by washing clothes she cannot afford to feed them. The meal Carlous and Bahati eat at school has to hold them over until the next school day. We’re uncertain what they eat on the weekends.
Maiko lives in neglect with his widowed mother who refuses to pay attention to him. Somewhat recently Maiko’s younger brother died from drowning in a pond. The brother’s death is attributed to the mother never watching or caring for them.
Witness and Happiness are twins. Their father worked as a security guard by night in an effort to make ends meet. He lost his life last year when thieves broke in on his watch and killed him.
Janet and her entire family are infected with HIV. Her father died from AIDS long ago leaving her mother widowed. We went to visit their home this week. Nobody came to the door. After neighbor boys let us in we found Janet’s mother and younger sister terribly ill and laying in bed. They were too frail to cook or eat, and asked us to pray. We knew God was listening.
Our kids, none older than 9 years, have experienced sickness, neglect, alcoholism, abandonment, drug addictions, prostitution, and murder. I’m convinced Jesus is the answer to all of these problems, and I’m awed by the joy and hope each of them has despite their circumstances.
Since the beginning James 1:27 has been our inspiration. “Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows in there distress and to keep from being polluted by the world.” After hearing the stories of our children it has become increasingly clear to me why God has us here.
“A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance” (Eccles. 3:4). There most definitely is a time for everything. This is to the God who laughs with us, to He who guides our thoughts, and to the same God who also cries with us.
This is to the God who is bigger than time itself, to Him be the glory!
I hope reading this has caused you laugh. I hope this caused you to think. And I hope this caused you to cry. Even more so, I hope that your life causes you these three everyday…
…to laugh uncontrollably,
…to think without borders,
… and to cry in sorrow and in joy.
I truly hope when your head hits the pillow at the end of each day you’ll say, ‘this was a heck of a day’.
He had such a philosophy to him. In an acceptance speech at the ESPY awards shortly before his death he asked the question, “How do you get from where you are to where you want to be?”
His proposition: An enthusiasm for life.
In Ecclesiastes chapter 3 it talks about how ‘there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.’ If you’ve been to a memorial service you’ve heard it; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, etc.
Mr. Valvano knew that his days were numbered. “Time is very precious to me, I don’t have a lot of it left” he insisted during his speech. Perhaps the combination of ambition and urgency was why he believed that each and every day deserved changes of our emotional seasons in order to feel fully alive. He says...
“There are three things you should do every day of your life;
#1 Laugh – We should laugh everyday
#2 Think – We should spend some time in thought, everyday
#3 Cry – Let your emotions be moved to tears, they can be happiness or sorrow
Think about it, if you do all three of those in a day… that’s a heck of a day!” (See the whole speech here)
Laugh, Think, and Cry. This reminds me of a time years ago when I went with my family to visit my sick Granny in the nursing home for what was inevitably the final time. I remember saying goodbye to Granny and then tearing up as I watched my father say goodbye to his grandmother. In the midst of our mourning, another nursing home resident escaped her bed and nonchalantly (and now famously) walked past eating a slice of blueberry pie. This elderly woman, whom was easily pushing 90 years old, audibly broke wind for at least 10 seconds as she walked past us. Our tears of sorrow were instantly replaced by tears from an uncontrollable laughter. To this day I hold this event as proof that God thinks farts are funny, too.
Life’s a hypocrite if you can’t live the way it moves you.
Awhile back I made a list of things I wanted to always be true of me. It is part of an ongoing effort to be committed to the way life moves me; and to be congruent to who I believe I am. I often fall short of this, but I know I’ve at least given it some thought. After all, self knowledge provides the means for intentional living.
Laugh – One of my commitments is to not take myself too seriously. Our group has not been short of laughs on this trip. Mama, bless her heart, continues to lecture us before EVERY departure from her home “Andrew, I think I teach you once before but… If African man come, you run EXPRESS!!” I know it’s not funny to joke about safety, but if you can imagine a big African Mama doing an impression of ‘express running’ you will most likely laugh as well.
Think – How important it is to process what’s happening in our lives! I feel like I could pay off the national debt if I had a dollar for every time I ‘started journaling’. The problem is that we tend to look for ways to keep busy so that we can avoid thinking. So part of my commitment to being a lifelong learner is making sacrifices in order to spend some time in thought. I’m terrible at this. It always feels like such a chore at first, but once you get going then it’s always worth it. “The prudent give thought to their steps” (Proverbs 14:15).
The other part is a commitment to always having an opinion, but always being open to the fact that I might be wrong. The only way to have an opinion on something is to have given it some thought. You have to allot a time of pondering in order to determine that the Hokey Pokey isn’t actually what it’s all about. Just be open to others when they ultimately convince you that it is.
Cry – So I’ve been dubbed the sensitive one on the trip. Really? Even with girls here? I can surely thank BLo (my wonderful mother) for passing this attribute down. But if you think it’s not manly to cry then look up John 11:35, shortest verse in the Bible folks.
All things aside, there is an unmatched liberation in crying that makes you feel completely and fully alive. Our soul longs for it. Our soul’s very intention is for our heart to break for what breaks God’s. It’s why we are to mourn with those who mourn and rejoice with those who rejoice. “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy” (Proverbs 126:5). Tears of sorrow AND tears of joy, a time to laugh AND a time to cry.
This week was a time to cry. This week we sat down with the overseers of the orphanage and one by one listened to the individual stories and circumstances of the Tuamken Orphans. They are sad and painful stories. Stories that you want to be aware of but at the same time wish to never hear. Over and over we lost the fight against tears as we wrote down the lives of the kids we love.
Bahati was born without one of his hands. When his father saw this he wanted nothing to do with him. Bahati is now 7 years old and hasn’t seen either of his parents since birth. He lives on his own in a shack with another Tuamken student, Carlous, who is 8 years old. A neighbor watches over them, but because she can only earn $35 per year by washing clothes she cannot afford to feed them. The meal Carlous and Bahati eat at school has to hold them over until the next school day. We’re uncertain what they eat on the weekends.
Maiko lives in neglect with his widowed mother who refuses to pay attention to him. Somewhat recently Maiko’s younger brother died from drowning in a pond. The brother’s death is attributed to the mother never watching or caring for them.
Witness and Happiness are twins. Their father worked as a security guard by night in an effort to make ends meet. He lost his life last year when thieves broke in on his watch and killed him.
Janet and her entire family are infected with HIV. Her father died from AIDS long ago leaving her mother widowed. We went to visit their home this week. Nobody came to the door. After neighbor boys let us in we found Janet’s mother and younger sister terribly ill and laying in bed. They were too frail to cook or eat, and asked us to pray. We knew God was listening.
Our kids, none older than 9 years, have experienced sickness, neglect, alcoholism, abandonment, drug addictions, prostitution, and murder. I’m convinced Jesus is the answer to all of these problems, and I’m awed by the joy and hope each of them has despite their circumstances.
Since the beginning James 1:27 has been our inspiration. “Religion that God the Father accepts as pure and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows in there distress and to keep from being polluted by the world.” After hearing the stories of our children it has become increasingly clear to me why God has us here.
“A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance” (Eccles. 3:4). There most definitely is a time for everything. This is to the God who laughs with us, to He who guides our thoughts, and to the same God who also cries with us.
This is to the God who is bigger than time itself, to Him be the glory!
I hope reading this has caused you laugh. I hope this caused you to think. And I hope this caused you to cry. Even more so, I hope that your life causes you these three everyday…
…to laugh uncontrollably,
…to think without borders,
… and to cry in sorrow and in joy.
I truly hope when your head hits the pillow at the end of each day you’ll say, ‘this was a heck of a day’.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Feb. 23 - A Day Worth Writing About
Well, we continue to defy the laws of Africa by managing to stay extremely busy in such a relaxed and calm culture. We continue to uncover more of the story of the orphans and the deeper we dig the deeper we see how desperate this community is to be loved and supported.
At the front end of the trip we had been mainly focusing on the immediate needs of the school (food, supplies, clothes, furnishings etc). Last Wednesday the new desks arrived, and what a joy to see them in their brand new individual seats! The uniforms are scheduled to be finished by the end of the week and MAN it will be good to get them new clothes. Our only remaining task is to tie up some loose ends with getting the sweaters. We have found a few shops that carry the Tuamken colors and are just negotiating price.
This week has seemingly marked an unofficial transition of focus. We are now very much consumed in working out the future of the orphan’s school. We are excited as we can already sense God is presenting some of the puzzle pieces and showing us how to put them together. However, in the midst of planning for the future, a scary situation began to surface as the calendar continues to approach April 9th. The 9th is the day our rent for the building is finished. This week the owner of the building, Mr. Sonyari, made clear that we would not be able to extend our rent. Now, a little history:
The orphans are currently occupying a small home in the village that has been turned into the school. The rooms are not sufficient size for classrooms, but, it works. Perhaps the biggest drawback is the complete lack of space to run and play. After a history of being bounced around for not being able to afford rent, this is the Orphan’s School’s 4th building. The building is currently up for sale and has been for awhile now. Mr. Sonyari does not like renting the building as he believes it makes it harder to sell. Before meeting him the owner was described to me as a very angry man who will always put up a fight. One of the other volunteers was in a huge argument with this man in the past. Every time they try to negotiate for rent it was an ugly scene. It seemed as though all odds pointed against being able to rent this building any longer past April 9th. This would mean they would have to move AGAIN, which is a much bigger problem than it seems. When the school moves, not all the kids tend to move with it. It’s also very hard on the kids and also VERY difficult to find a place that is even remotely safe. You also run the risk of not finding a new facility and losing the kids entirely.
On Monday , the overseers of the orphanage called a meeting and frantically tried to make a plan for April 9th and beyond. We all agreed the next day Jenna and I would go with the overseers of the orphans to beg for more time. We all went to bed concerned and eager, and asked our church here and others to pray for generosity and compassion in the owner.
Tuesday came, and we called the owner to let him know we were coming. He was very angry on the phone. Mathew, the head overseer of the school, told Jenna and I to prepare for an ugly argument. We got in a taxi and prayed to God. Upon arriving the owner did not look us in the eyes and as Mathew began to translate through us to Swahili, Mr. Sonyari just drew in the sand. As Mathew spoke to him Jenna and I continued to pray. Slowly but steadily you could see goodness enter his face. After only a short time and without the slightest argument we had an agreement to pay rent through July! Not only that but so long as the building remains unsold the kids may continue to occupy for the foreseeable future! The craziest was that by the end we were all laughing together, and high fiving. High fives are probably not culturally correct after signing an agreement but we were excited. After that Mathew turned to Jenna and I and with the straightest most convinced face said “God heard your prayers”.
What a difference this victory was for the school. Everyone’s mood and spirits were brighter for the rest of the school day. When we returned to the school, the other volunteers were astonished at the news. Even the most reserved volunteer was running around singing when he heard. Praise God.
Outside of staying busy with the school we are trying to balance with a share of fun too. This week we saw Invictus. The movie was only OK but we had the pretty unique opportunity of going to a movie theatre in Africa, and seeing the movie with the Tanzanian Rugby Team! Really a cool experience. This weekend is the Kilimanjaro Marathon in Moshi. We are planning to head out there as a last Hurrah for Adam before he leaves for the Congo. He will be doing the half marathon whereas the 5K fun run seems more up my alley.
I’ll make one last promise to get better at posting more consistently. Hopefully this one I can fulfill.
I would love to hear from you, so feel free to contact me at Andrew@lavego.org
-Andrew
At the front end of the trip we had been mainly focusing on the immediate needs of the school (food, supplies, clothes, furnishings etc). Last Wednesday the new desks arrived, and what a joy to see them in their brand new individual seats! The uniforms are scheduled to be finished by the end of the week and MAN it will be good to get them new clothes. Our only remaining task is to tie up some loose ends with getting the sweaters. We have found a few shops that carry the Tuamken colors and are just negotiating price.
This week has seemingly marked an unofficial transition of focus. We are now very much consumed in working out the future of the orphan’s school. We are excited as we can already sense God is presenting some of the puzzle pieces and showing us how to put them together. However, in the midst of planning for the future, a scary situation began to surface as the calendar continues to approach April 9th. The 9th is the day our rent for the building is finished. This week the owner of the building, Mr. Sonyari, made clear that we would not be able to extend our rent. Now, a little history:
The orphans are currently occupying a small home in the village that has been turned into the school. The rooms are not sufficient size for classrooms, but, it works. Perhaps the biggest drawback is the complete lack of space to run and play. After a history of being bounced around for not being able to afford rent, this is the Orphan’s School’s 4th building. The building is currently up for sale and has been for awhile now. Mr. Sonyari does not like renting the building as he believes it makes it harder to sell. Before meeting him the owner was described to me as a very angry man who will always put up a fight. One of the other volunteers was in a huge argument with this man in the past. Every time they try to negotiate for rent it was an ugly scene. It seemed as though all odds pointed against being able to rent this building any longer past April 9th. This would mean they would have to move AGAIN, which is a much bigger problem than it seems. When the school moves, not all the kids tend to move with it. It’s also very hard on the kids and also VERY difficult to find a place that is even remotely safe. You also run the risk of not finding a new facility and losing the kids entirely.
On Monday , the overseers of the orphanage called a meeting and frantically tried to make a plan for April 9th and beyond. We all agreed the next day Jenna and I would go with the overseers of the orphans to beg for more time. We all went to bed concerned and eager, and asked our church here and others to pray for generosity and compassion in the owner.
Tuesday came, and we called the owner to let him know we were coming. He was very angry on the phone. Mathew, the head overseer of the school, told Jenna and I to prepare for an ugly argument. We got in a taxi and prayed to God. Upon arriving the owner did not look us in the eyes and as Mathew began to translate through us to Swahili, Mr. Sonyari just drew in the sand. As Mathew spoke to him Jenna and I continued to pray. Slowly but steadily you could see goodness enter his face. After only a short time and without the slightest argument we had an agreement to pay rent through July! Not only that but so long as the building remains unsold the kids may continue to occupy for the foreseeable future! The craziest was that by the end we were all laughing together, and high fiving. High fives are probably not culturally correct after signing an agreement but we were excited. After that Mathew turned to Jenna and I and with the straightest most convinced face said “God heard your prayers”.
What a difference this victory was for the school. Everyone’s mood and spirits were brighter for the rest of the school day. When we returned to the school, the other volunteers were astonished at the news. Even the most reserved volunteer was running around singing when he heard. Praise God.
Outside of staying busy with the school we are trying to balance with a share of fun too. This week we saw Invictus. The movie was only OK but we had the pretty unique opportunity of going to a movie theatre in Africa, and seeing the movie with the Tanzanian Rugby Team! Really a cool experience. This weekend is the Kilimanjaro Marathon in Moshi. We are planning to head out there as a last Hurrah for Adam before he leaves for the Congo. He will be doing the half marathon whereas the 5K fun run seems more up my alley.
I’ll make one last promise to get better at posting more consistently. Hopefully this one I can fulfill.
I would love to hear from you, so feel free to contact me at Andrew@lavego.org
-Andrew
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