Hands Newsroom

A step of obedience. (Zim)

2010-03-15T09:12:13Z

(Emily is the country representative for Zimbabwe and is always overjoyed by the growth of people as they take responsible for the orphans and the widows. This is a story of how one of pastors who we partner with, took a step of obedience in taking two orphans and caring for them without much to give except love.)

At the beginning of the year it was once again my privilege to travel to Zimbabwe, where I have been the contact person for the work that is happening in Zimbabwe for Hands at Work,

As I was driving up with a colleague, a lot was going through my mind as I remember the experiences I had the last time I was in Zimbabwe, and where I was challenged by the ladies I worked with.

There were a group of 23 women and 2 men all going to do Home Visits training. We had all left the slum area of Sakubva where Hands is partnering with CBO [community based organization] called Tafara Christian care and led by Stuart.

The shared rooms were designed to accommodation single men that were working for the railways from neighbouring Mozambique and Malawi. A curtain was used to divide the rooms for some privacy.

These rooms have now become home for many in Sakubva who are being trained for Home Visits training and shared with their families which include the men and women

40 Days of Prayer

2010-03-08T13:16:54Z

Hands at Work in Africa is asking you to join with us in 40 days of prayer for orphans. This is only a suggested guide. This time of prayer will coincide with our multiple Hands at Work Regional conferences that are happening all over Africa. If some faithful members can meet daily, so much the better, but if not, do not let that discourage you. Pray alone if necessary and meet whenever possible. Know that many across the globe are joining you daily, together in agreement in prayer. Gather 2 or 3 (or more) people in a home or a church or anywhere and the Lord will be with you and hear your prayers. Matthew 18:20, "For wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I am with them, in their midst."

The most important part is to commit to praying daily!

Thank you for choosing to join us on this 40 day journey in prayer starting Monday, 15 March, 2010. Please keep in mind our conference theme, NOW IS THE TIME, LIVE IT OUT, "So that the poor have hope and injustice shuts its mouth." Job 5:16

Download the Prayer guide here >>>

Partnering with The Forge Church, Listen to George's Message.

2010-03-03T09:28:57Z

Hands at Work in Africa has little hubs of activity popping up around the world, one of them is in the UK where an office was birthed to be able to support existing church partners and foster new ones. An example of this is The Forge Church, near Ipswich, UK which was introduced to Hands at Work through another church partner. Since being introduced to Hands at Work two years ago, the Forge has sent two couples to work long term in Africa. Through an introduction from a trusted friend grew a quick and deep relationship between this church and Hands at Work. Although small, The Forge Church was able to quickly open its doors to the Hands message and as a result is having a huge impact in Africa.

Recently George had the chance to go and speak at The Forge Church, we invite you to listen to his message: http://www.forgechurch.com/sundaynotes.php

George in Australia| March 4th to the 22nd

2010-03-02T07:14:38Z

March 4^th – 8th| Perth| Freedom Church| contact Tim Haley 61449893941

March 9^th - 15^th| Sydney| contact Carly| carly@au.handsatwork.org

March 16^th – 22^nd|Melbourne|contact Shane| shane@au.handsatwork.org

|Ballarat| contact Ben Reeve| ben@au.handsatwork.org

From a Small Church (UK)

2010-02-24T12:37:44Z

George and Sheila Green came to visit Hands at Work in Swaziland in 2007. An organic relationship of prayer and support has grown from there with their church, Hands at Work and a small community of women and men caring in Swaziland. Recently George Snyman from Hands at Work was able to visit and encourage their rural church: St John’s in Heath Hayes, Staffordshire, UK.

Below is George Green’s account of their story.

For two years now, our small church in Staffordshire, UK, St John’s Heath Hayes, has supported Hands at Work in Africa, with a particular interest in one community based organisation in Swaziland: Asondle Sive Bomake (ASB). This relationship developed when my wife, Sheila and I visited their community and worked briefly with their coordinator, Nomsa Lukhele.

Let it Rain (Zam)

2010-02-24T08:14:02Z

A cool rainy morning is not uncommon in Kabwe, Zambia during amayinsa (rain season). Yet the gloomy sky does not affect the excitement of the hard-working care workers of Shalom HBC from preparing for the activities of the day. The anticipation of this project is great; today 50 children being cared for would be receiving a meal for the first time from the new feeding program. Morning finds eager care workers cleaning the church that will be used to facilitate the program. The work continues even though the rain drizzles down. Everyone knows the grim conditions that many of the innocent orphans face every day. This one meal a day, most likely the only one given, will provide these young vulnerable ones with their daily bread. With this understanding so vividly imprinted on their hearts, the workers together share the load of the day.

Listen to George Speak in Pretoria

2010-02-15T09:52:45Z

Join us at Missions Fest (SA)

Listen to George
Thurs., FEB 18^th (19:00-20:45): Compassion and Proclamation
Sat., FEB 20^th (10:00-11:30): Compelled by Compassion
Where: Central Baptist Church 827 Schoeman Str., Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa
Who: everyone is invited

Missions Fest is a catalyst to enable people to catch a vision of the Great Commission spoken by Jesus (Matthew 28:19). This locally driven missions festival helps people find a place where their interests and abilities can best be put to use. Missions Fest’s three-fold purpose is to inform, celebrate and challenge people of all ages to get involved in missions by sending, praying, giving and going.

And listen to other motivational speakers, Jackie Pullinger and T.A Ralekholela

Zambikes Testimonial- Mary Banda (Zam)

2010-02-09T09:59:03Z

Mary Banda is a 16 year-old orphan living in Magandanyama shanty compound on the outskirts of Kabwe. Her mother, Tililienji Mbewe Banda, was a patient of Makululu Home Based Care until she died on the 23^rd of November 2003. At the young age of 11, Mary was left to look after her 2 little sisters and 3 brothers. Although forced to drop out of school to find work in order to survive, the earning was not enough to buy food and other needs.

In January 2007, Mary began selling her body on the street and became deeply involved with friends who were a bad influence on her. But when she became bedridden by TB in 2008, the team of childcare workers from Makululu HBC were there to support her with visits, helping her with things such as buying charcoal,

Meditation. ~ Ka Phunga. (Swaz)

2010-01-28T07:14:42Z

You are a middle-aged woman living in Ka Phunga, Swaziland, _ older than most; Life expectancy is less than 40 years. You have seen many deaths in your community from HIV/AIDS, leaving hundreds of orphans. There are still many sick people. You hear of a death almost every day.

How do you feel? ~ Ashamed at the stigma that goes with this pandemic?
A strong feeling that something must be done?
Distressed or angry that the rest of the world seems unaware?
That it looks as if you are the one who must do something, when you were looking forward to a more restful life as a grandmother.

You remember from your childhood, how the land produced all that people needed. The community lived simply, but there were fields full of maize, and no-one went hungry. Now, much of the land is uncultivated. So many people of working age have died, and orphans cannot work the land and attend school.

How do you feel about the problem of trying to feed all of the orphans? ~ Can the food be grown locally or must it be bought?
Where will the money come from to feed all of the orphans, or to buy seed, fertilizer and tools?
How can the orphans be helped to begin to produce their own food?

Ka Phunga is up in the mountains, far from tarmac roads. Orphans and sick people are in scattered homes spread over a large area. You and your volunteers travel on foot. Sick people get treatment too late, or not at all. Many suffer chronic or fatal illness for which we would quickly and easily obtain treatment. It is hard to get supplies of food to many of the orphans. For a few days each year, visitors from other countries come to work with you, and for a short time you have the benefit of a vehicle.

How do you feel about your isolation from the modern world?
Do you feel supported, _ by your king, _ by your government, _ by people from other countries?
What would you like the visitors to do when they return to their homes?

The young people of your country are giving up hope. Many would leave, if they could, to make a living in another country. You were brought up to be proud of your country, its king, and its traditions. It is a beautiful country, which could feed itself. You are a Christian.

What do you hope and pray for, for the future of the children growing up in Ka Phunga now?

Barriers (Zam)

2010-01-22T09:56:04Z

Jessie Monarch is from Kentucky in the US and volunteered with Hands at Work for the last year, serving in South Africa and Zambia. The following is her account of her first trip to see the work being done in Mulenga, a poor community in Kitwe, Zambia; a work led by James and Sukai Tembo since 2004.

“How many children do you have?” I asked him as we passed through the solid metal gate guarding the entrance to his “mansion.” I knew he called it that, always following the reference with a carefree laugh, to warn us of the simplicity of his lodgings.

“You will see,” he said with a grin. In the brief stint of our acquaintance he had used this phrase to answer almost every question I had concerning his work, as if believing to revive the sense of mystery and anticipation so often lost with age and life.

When we exited the car, he immediately pointed across the yard and a large field to Mulenga. As he enthusiastically pointed out the house from which the twenty orphans are fed daily amongst the mass and spread of huts far in the distance, we pretended to know exactly which hut he was pointing to. It didn’t really matter; we knew the beautiful work he was doing there, we knew the beacon of light that house was in the sea of darkness surrounding it and in the lives of the children