After several years with no teams in Zambia because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a team from North America was able to visit. It was a blessing to have the team come and be willing to serve with and learn from the Care Workers and Hands at Work volunteers. They walked with the Care Workers on Holy Home Visits, played with the children and gained a deeper understanding of the vulnerability faced by thousands across Africa.
Keristan Bonin, Team Member
“If I could describe what happened to me while I was there in a few words it would be, ‘He changed me'. I had no idea how much this trip would affect me. I was blessed beyond measure by being there. On my first day in community, I did my first holy home visit. We went to see 3 young boys aged 7, 5 and 3. We met them sitting outside their dirt home the size of a small bathroom. Emeldah, who is a part of the local Hands at Work team in Kitwe told us that they found these boys 6 months ago severely malnourished. Their mother struggles with many things and the boys are often alone. As I sat in the dirt beside the oldest boy he drew pictures of a car in the ground and I had to hold back tears. I have never witnessed this kind of neglect and despair before. Having 3 children of my own, this cut deep into my heart. That night I couldn’t sleep as I kept thinking about those boys. Were they cold? Were they hungry? Yes, they received one meal each day because of Hands at Work but what about other neglected children? In that moment God was breaking my heart, but he was also bringing me back to life. He showed me the deeper calling to love and serve the least of these.
How could someone see this and then just walk away? Like the Samaritan who saw the beaten man as an invitation to love. In Luke 10 we are called to, “Love the Lord our God with all your heart, soul and strength and to love your neighbour as yourself.” How can we expect these children to know and accept the love of Jesus unless we make that love tangible by feeding, clothing, and inviting them in?
What I had witnessed was unimaginable to me but a friend reminded me that these boys are not alone. God sees them, God knows them, He created them and deeply loves them. That is the truth, that these children are seen, they are valuable and God has a plan and a future for them.
Once the children have experienced the love of God through these Care Workers, through a meal and regular visits, then they are ready to hear and understand about a God who loves them and cares about them. A saviour who loves them even more, who died for them, and who will fight for them.”
Corrie Ferch, Team Member
“In a word, our trip to Zambia was perspective-shifting. Being a new Disciple of Jesus, I have had no other experience that has drawn me so closely to him. Through holding the hand of a child as we walked, cradling another at a Holy Home Visit, having my hair played with, participating in the spiritual rhythms that are the heartbeat of the Kachele family, and eating meals with our team, God showed me that he moves no matter my ability to participate with Him, and that slow efficiency is the Way of the Kingdom. I began to understand the barriers preventing people from escaping their materially poor situations and the ways that my own spiritual poverty impacts my view of the poor and vulnerable. Our God is Lord and King over all these, he is in control, and is kind to reveal himself in the eyes and circumstances and stories of those in Zambia. Through these, He has changed the way that I pursue relationship with others by fostering a spirit of curiosity and quiet urgency within me. I anticipate these lessons will continue to draw me closer to Him and others.”
Crystal Letkeman, Team Member and Hands at Work International Office Volunteer
“Recently my husband Frank and I led a team to Zambia; the first one there since 2019. How special it was to be amongst friends at Kachele. I think this trip meant so much: We spoke on behalf of church partners back home in Canada who have been missing visiting their partner communities in Africa. We realised once again the importance of bringing stories from Africa back home; stories to once again ignite the faith and action of our Hands at Work advocates living outside Canada. God again showed us His heart for the most vulnerable.
We were able to see how well the national and international volunteers of Hands serve; how well they have continued to care, love and advocate for the children and gogos. From the Hands leaders, to the Service Centre teams, to the Care Workers; they truly are carrying on the work of being the hands and feet of Jesus. We loved seeing Hands Africa through the eyes of some team members who were visiting for the first time; what a joy to watch. We pressed into the partnership we have, and were overjoyed to see most of the Care Workers still there who have been serving since the beginning.
To Frank and I, seeing God in the faces of the vulnerable brings us close to our heavenly Father each time we visit. We are beyond grateful God has allowed us to be part of His heart in this ministry.”