Letters from George

Love Bled to Death

2013-04-15T17:52:33Z

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Greetings to friends and family and to all the people that believe so much in what Hands at Work in Africa is doing. It’s such a privilege for me to speak to you shortly after our Easter celebrations, and I’m sure as you’ve spent quality time with those that you love, that you appreciated these moments as you saw people that you love dearly. There’s nothing like that. It’s just one of those deep things in life that we can’t buy and we can’t hold on to them because it doesn’t belong to us. Coming out of Easter celebrations, we’ve been with loved ones and also we’ve been reminded of what love did for us. Maybe to summarize it in the shortest possible verse, when we look at Easter we say “Love bled to death”. What an incredible story that is for us all.

The Wall of Nehemiah and History of Hands

2012-09-25T07:53:25Z

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There is an amazing thing about the book of Nehemiah – we’ve been studying it in Hands for years, and still every time we talk about it and draw the comparisons, it becomes scary, it’s so close to what we do.

Here’s how it started, when Carolyn and I graduated bible school this is the verse they gave us: “the God of Heaven will give us success, therefore, we His servants will arise and build.”

When we got this verse I had no clue about orphans or caring for them, it wasn’t on my map. What did it mean? That’s the amazing thing about God, He gives you the promises long before. We got that promise years before Hands at Work started.

Nehemiah was a cupbearer. Nehemiah was not a missionary, a priest, or some weird religious guy, he was a cupbearer. In language today, he was a young professional guy; he was connected in high places; he had a good job. Nehemiah heard what was happening—and I just want us to catch one thing—he heard, he asked about the people that were not doing well and this is the verse that came out: “they are in great distress and reproach, and the walls of Jerusalem are broken down and it’s gates are burned with fire.” Guys, you cannot get a better description of what we talk about when we look at communities where we work that are ‘off the ladder’ their walls have been destroyed, parents, schools, anything that have brought safety and security have been ripped away. The gate has been burnt down – the gate is the entrance to the child. The children have got no protection, nothing. Now Nehemiah sat, very far away from that. He was in Australia, and this was happening in Nigeria. And he heard about it, that’s all. He wasn’t asked anything, he wasn’t connected to those people, he just heard about it. And this is what he did: “When I heard those words I sat down and wept and mourned for days before I went to God in heaven.” That’s our story, each one of us known by name; each one of us, through a team or walking through Africa or through living in a community, all of us experience that moment where we see and it cuts through bone and marrow. And can you remember how you wept? Can you remember that initial reaction? Going through that and then questioning God, asking God, “What is this?” Exactly the same thing happened to Nehemiah.

Diamonds in the Dust

2012-06-11T08:36:04Z

“Diamonds in the dust.” It’s a beautiful phrase that we have been using in Hands at Work right from the beginning of our history. It started off when I stood at the rubbish dump, just staring at children scrounging for food. God gave me a beautiful promise - “you will find diamonds in the dust.” Now after a decade of Hands at Work history, we look back and we see just how that word got fulfilled.

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KONY 2012

2012-03-14T15:04:56Z

Last week we saw an amazing video going viral within days across the globe. Of course I am referring to the “Kony2012” video. Though I don’t know Invisible Children and can’t comment on them as an organisation, I want to use the opportunity to communicate something that excited us about the video.

Hands at Work’s message has always been a simple one directed at everyone who came to visit us in Africa and who met the children, grannies and care workers. Like these grannies and care workers, you can make a difference! You have a unique fingerprint and circle of influence. All you have to do is to use what is placed in your hands already. When I watched this video I was struck by this truth and the simplicity of it.

An apparently ordinary man from the US visited Uganda, and he met a specific child whose message challenged him to the core. When he heard the message he had no solution, and all he could say was, “I will not leave it. I will do something.” He made a decision that it is not ok to just continue with his life as before. Each of us has experienced a similar moment of meeting children in Africa. We all know names and stories which have the power to change our lives and others around us.. The size of the impact you make is not the issue here, but rather the fact that you do something which what you’ve been given. If you watch the Kony video you will also see that he used ordinary things that were available to everyone. We were so encouraged by this video and want to encourage you also. We live in an age where communication is possible on many levels and we have amazing tools. The key tool you have is you know children by name!

The very first video we ever made at Hands at Work said this: “We want to reach 100 000 orphaned and vulnerable children and we want to reach them one by one.” Keeping that in mind, let this Kony2012 video be an encouragement to use our influence wherever we can. Thank you for standing together with us!

George Snyman

The House is on Fire - 10th Anniversary Thoughts from George

2012-01-26T12:49:36Z

January 2012; yet another year with more challenges and more opportunities. It’s been a huge year for Hands at Work, and while it’s been an exciting year, we are realistic in understanding that 2012 will be tough and bring challenges.

We are celebrating our tenth anniversary this year. It’s just incredible when we look back over the past decade and reflect on what took place. Where can we start to describe this wonderful journey? How can we describe the story of different people from all over the world, from all walks of life from different cultures with different expectations all coming together and walking with the people of Africa? As we went into the poorest, most isolated places, our hearts changed.

Goma According to George, an Extract (DRC)

2011-09-26T10:12:28Z

In August 2011 George Snyman, Hands at Work founder, broke new ground in Goma, a war-torn area bordering Rwanda in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He planted the seeds of the first Hands at Work-supported community-based organisation in an area where there is no help and no hope.

George had written whilst away that the locals had told him: In a corrupt deal the land belonging to internally displaced people (IDP) was sold by the government whilst the rightful owners were seeking refuge. They now returned to their properties only to be notified that they were to move off their land. George reported that 517 families were left with only 24 hectares of land to share. There was not enough room to live, let alone farm. Subsistence farming is the only hope for survival in the destitute area.

George kept a diary whilst in Goma. We'd like to share an extract with you:

Monday, 1 August

George between the potatoes with gogo OmbeniSome people are still moving off the land that was sold. They carry their belongings on their backs. They don't receive a warm welcome: There is no space for newcomers.

I met gogo Ombeni Helena: She is one of the people forced to relocate here from her former farm, sold before her very eyes. She sat in front of her hut made out of grass and there next to her were her African potatoes that she had pulled out the soil on her land. She was a wreck as she shared her story with me: “I have no place to plant my potatoes. How will I survive?” In my face! She was so vulnerable. This is the reality of a life without hope.

She has about four square metres of 'land' at the front of and behind her hut. “Bring me four hoes!” I cried. What an opportunity this was! Within minutes I had a hoe in hand and people watched as I started ripping up the ground around gogo Ombeni’s hut. People laughed at first, but they soon became quiet and stared at this visitor changing gogo Ombeni’s circumstances. A turning point came when a strong young lady joined me and started helping with a hoe. Soon, another young man jumped in. All of a sudden people had advice to give and others planted the potato plants in the ground that we'd prepared. What a glorious time!

When we finished everyone, including the spectators, came together. I took the opportunity to share: We don’t need to be strong as individuals, but we must each other. Today I might help you and tomorrow you might help me. After the story we sang a song. We all held hands. It changed the atmosphere.

After we helped gogo Ombeni Helena something very significant happened. She had a bucket with water ready for us to wash our hands. There was a small bar of soap lying on a piece of plastic. I didn't think much of it, but afterward I was told the bar of soap was her most precious possession: She would only use it on Sundays and even then as little as possible. But today she saw 'beautiful feet' and it did not only rip her ground open, but it ripped her heart open. She wanted to give! She experienced generosity and it was so attractive to her that she also wanted to be generous. As we tilled the ground at gogo Ombeni, I believe God opened the ground at Luhonga village for the good news of Jesus!

How beautiful on the mountains,

are the feet of the messenger bringing good news,

Breaking the news that all's well,

proclaiming good times, announcing salvation,

telling Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Isaiah 52:7 (The Message)

Pick up your spade and dig!

2011-02-21T14:18:41Z

George talks about self-giving love and the people who emulate it

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Here is a sneak preview of the seven-minute sound byte:

2011 celebrates 400 years of the King James translation of the Bible. It took a man named King James I a great deal of courage to make the Word of God available to the man on the street and specifically to the most vulnerable: those who couldn’t read and write.

The Bible is a book that contributed more to the English language than any other book. There are so many verses that brought so much depth. Just one of them is 1 Corinthians 13:1

Tough I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

In today’s language, ‘charity’, has lost its original meaning.

Recently, I was in Zimbabwe where the word charity became very real to me. I met with Agnes, a blind grandmother whom had looked after 16 orphans in one room. With one bed. I spent a Sat afternoon with Agnes, just sitting on the bare floor with her. I was absolutely overwhelmed by the love and the joy shining out of Agnes. Agnes had only two things to say to me: The first was thanking me for what Hands at Work had done for her grandchildren, the orphans. The second was a request, to me, to make sure that there would be enough food for the children this year.

As I prayed over Agnes, I had the distinct feeling that she would be able to see again, very soon. And I shared this with her. Agnes died about three hours later. She saw. I realised that Agnes may have been blind, but she could see better than any other: She could see the King and she could see real life. And life to her was self-giving love.

…

Our Watchword for 2011 is from Ephesians 1: "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for." There is no cheap way, no easy road to finding out who we are and what we are living for. We know the message: it is about dying to self and living for others. This year we trust that, through people like Agnes, God will help us to know what it means to live for one another.

This year we want to dig deep. Dig deep in the children that we care for. Dig deep in our relationships with each other. Dig deep in our relationships with our partners who so generously support us. Dig deep in our relationship with Christ.

Pick up your spade! Let's dig deep in 2011.

Bringing Hope

2010-07-15T08:19:30Z

Carolyn and I had supper with one of the orphans from Masoyi last week. She is busy studying in university at the moment. I asked her about the youth in the communities. She told me, “More girls are getting pregnant than ever before.” Although I heard it from other people I found myself gobsmacked when I heard it from her. “Why!” I cried to her, hoping she would give me some kind of answer that I could understand. She just starred to the ground seemingly thinking how to answer me. I was impatient and again shot another question at my guest, “Don’t they know about HIV?”

I am sure I’ve asked that question a million times in the last year, and I felt stupid asking it to my friend! She looked at me and said, “George of course they know about HIV, but they have no hope!” She said it softly to me as if she was trying to help me to hear with different ears. She continued, “I remember when I was in school. I had no ambition to finish school, left alone to do well. I knew once I was finished I will just join all the other young people sitting on the corner of the street doing nothing.” There was silence in my house while all of us there saw the picture in our minds we saw in so many villages through the years… young people sitting on the corners the street doing nothing. “What changed your mindset?” I asked. She sat up straight and her voice become strong as she spoke, “Someone took me out of the village and showed me the bigger world. I realised there was hope.” I realised there was hope. Is that all it took?

The next day I sat with Brooke, Samantha and Robyn trying to wrestle through ideas how to reach the poorest, most vulnerable children in Swaziland. Their voices fainted away in my head as I thought of what I saw in Swaziland and the overwhelming need of so many children. Swaziland is much worse off than Masoyi in many ways, and if Masoyi ‘s youth have no hope, where do we start in Swaziland? I was looking for someone to accuse: “It is those in power who abuse the weak and they are too powerful; no one can stop them.” But Gary Haugen corrects that thought by saying “Most injustice isn't driven by the overwhelming power of the perpetrators; it's driven by the weakness of the victims.” Just as Jesus did for us, bringing power on our side by His life, death and resurrection, so we too are called to bring power to the side of the oppressed, of the weak, through our humble obedience and faith. Just how much do I do to bring hope and encouragement to the youth in Africa?

Ordinary People Making The Difference.

2010-04-07T09:47:36Z

It is just after midnight and I am in Melbourne. I arrived here this afternoon after a week in Sydney, and as you know, the week before I was in Perth. I want to share a short testimony to encourage you.

At the start of the year, I said I believe that the miracles this year will be done by ordinary people like each one of us. God wants to do great things through each one of us. Here are four stories that not only encouraged me but humbled me so much. The four stories are of ordinary people who believe in our dream and who said, “I can make a difference.”

The first story is of a lady from Perth. I met her the Monday after I spoke in her Church. She came to see me at the pastor’s house where I was staying.

She emigrated from Angola to Australia with her husband and eight children many years ago. Soon after they arrived her husband died. She could not even speak English and as a single mother, she struggled on day by day. She told me she wanted to give me something for the children in Africa. In her hand she held $160. It was all she had and she had probably saved that for a rainy day

2010 Watchword

2010-01-08T11:53:37Z

Dear Hands family!

It is just after six in the morning and I cannot sleep anymore as I am so filled with God’s Word for us for 2010. For the first time in many years I not only received one verse as a watchword but two :} Well let me rephrase that; I believe God gave us a verse on how He saw us in the end of 2009 and then He gave us a verse for 2010. The verse He gave me on Hands ending 2009 is in Isaiah 57:10, “You were tired out by the length of your road, Yet you did not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewed strength, Therefore you did not faint.” What a description of 2009! Not just for us as Hands family but surely even more for those we were called to serve. We think of the families we met in Zimbabwe like Prince and Bismarck; the children like Illary and Felsh in Bushbuck Ridge; the woman in Likasi whose house burned down and it killed some of her children; Pastor Chris and the women he works with in Lagos… and we could add many more to this list. It was a tough year for many but somehow we managed to keep one thing alive: HOPE!!