40 Days of Prayer
Hands at Work
Meet Mwete

Raising a large family isn’t easy but Mama Safi isn’t alone in caring for Mwete. He has a bigger family of support at the Care Point, with the Care Workers and the other children.

Meet Mwete

Hands at Work in Africa

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Join us in a devoted time of prayer

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“In worship, God imparts himself to us.” - C.S. Lewis

The Hands Family, South Africa, invites you to join us in a time of prayer and fasting, of petitioning, meditating and listening.

On Friday, 19 November at 18:00 SAST (South Africa Standard Time) or GMT +2, the Hands Family will enter into 24-hours of praying and fasting. We will set up a schedule of 1-hour prayer slots, forming a strong chain. At 18:00 on Saturday, 20 November, with a breaking of the fast, we'll enjoy a meal together and share what God has imparted to each of us.

Though you might not be at the Hub in South Africa, we would love to band together with you in prayer. Please consider committing to an hour slot – and letting us know which slot you've taken – to worship, to intercede and to seek His wisdom. Email us any thoughts, words or pictures you might receive, then check back next week for prayer reports from the Hub. (Email margie@handsatwork.org)

During this week leading up to Friday evening, we will be meditating on various topics and scriptures. Check back, daily, for updates here.

“There has never been a spiritual awakening in any country or locality that did not begin in united prayer.” - D.A.T. Pierson

No longer shall the poor be nameless (ZAM)

Danny and Kim reunited

Kim Burgess, a Forge Church (UK) volunteer, recently wrote to Hands at Work: In 2008 she had an unforgettable experience in Luanshya, Zambia. We'd like to share her story with you here.

In 2008 I met a 14-year-old boy who changed me.

Danny Longwani.

He came to the week-long camp in just the clothes he was wearing. He was quiet, guarded and unsure. He was the oldest in the group of children I was working with and whilst he helped with the younger ones, I could see real pain in his eyes. It was haunting.

One evening he came to me with a broken, plastic flip-flop in his hand. He had no other shoes. I tried at first to mend it with string, but then got angry: Danny deserved shoes! Fortunately, I was able to get him a pair that fitted from one of our team members. He was so happy about his 'new' shoes, you would have thought I'd given him the world, not a hand-me-down!

He began to trust me and told me his story. He was going to Ebenezar Community School set up by Hands. He was living with his uncle who didn't have the means to feed him, so his grades were dropping as he had to spend his time trying to find food. His story broke my heart. He was a young boy who, through no fault of his own, had no shoes on his feet and no food to eat. That's just not right!

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George in Toronto (CA)

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Toronto, save the date!

 

Hands at Work founder, George Snyman, will be speaking at a couple of venues during his stay in Toronto. His visit forms part of a six-week tour spanning 3 countries. If you've not had the privilege of hearing George 'live', don't miss this opportunity to be inspired, encouraged and challenged!

 

Hearing God Speak through the the Global Church
Six Themes of Lausanne 2010
Date: Tuesday November 30th
Time: 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Location: Tyndale University, College & Seminary, Room 1002
To register contact: Robert Cousins at tim@tyndale.ca or (416) 226-6380 x 2708
See flyer

iCrave Justice for a Generation of Orphans
Date: Tuesday November 30th
Time: 4:45pm
Location: Multi-Faith Centre, located in Koffler House, 569 Spadina Ave., Main Activity Room, Second Floor
See flyer

Team up!

The Nurses for Africa team was touched by the community as much as it appreciated their visitHands at Work is privileged to see a number of teams step over our communities' thresholds every year.

2010 has been no different: This year alone Zambia has been blessed by two partner churches (Rock Church from Halifax, Canada and Grace Church from Racine, USA), and two Nurses for Africa teams with nurses from all over Illinois.

Luanshya, also in Zambia, hosted a team from Perth, Australia.

The Forge Church from Suffolk in the UK sent a building team and a team to run a kids camp in Luanshya, and Zion Christian Centre from West Midlands, UK sent a team to explore new communities in Kitwe and beyond with a view to setting up new partnerships.

Click here to view pictures from the Australian and Nurses for Africa teams and a team from Saskatoon (Canada) on our Flickr page.

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Where will their hope come from? (DRC)

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John is a 27-year-old, single man whose dream is simply to work so that he can provide for a family. Something, he feels, he can only do with good education under his belt. After he lost his parents, when John was only ten years old, his older brother took care of him and taught him how to work. John finished his secondary schooling, but hasn't been able to afford a tertiary education.

For John, from Goma in the war-torn eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), life is very difficult. The entire North Kivu province is marked with hardship and suffering. Life is about surviving another day.

It wasn't always like this. Locals say tourists visited the region, famous as home to the Great Lakes, as recent as 2002. Today - though endowed with vast reserves of gold, copper, cobalt and diamonds - volcano eruptions and increasingly violent rebel attacks have effectively strangled the area.

The eight-year, bloody war has been over for seven years, but the fighting continues. Despite this, the government which is celebrating its 50th year of independence, has closed most of the refugee camps scattered across the eastern provinces of the DRC leaving millions of people homeless. Zambia – impoverished and without much to offer Congolese refugees – has, too, closed two of its camps.

A young family fighting for survivalLeft with little choice, refugees are returning to their burned-down, vandalised towns often without family members. Stunned, groups of people - unrelated other than sharing the same adversity - congregate to from huddles of make-do communities.

Last month Hands at Work founder, George Snyman, visited eastern DRC.

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George Snyman in Saskatoon (CA)

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Hands founder, George Snyman, will be speaking at two venues in Saskatoon next month. Have a look below for more details. Scroll down a bit further if you're based in Calgary, the USA or the UK for details on his speaking engagements there.

Looking forward to seeing you!

 

Date Thursday, 18 November

Venue University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences B6

Time 12:30 - 01:30pm

 

Date Thursday, 18 November

Venue Hosted by Lakeview Church - open to the public. Click here for directions.

Time 07:00pm

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Hands founder, George, to take a tour of 'duty' in the USA

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George Snyman's six-week tour is underway. He will spending time in the UK and Canada before visiting the USA. Spending nearly three weeks in the country, he will be speaking in Wisconsin, Illinois and Minneapolis from 3 to 23 November.

George is known for being an encouraging and challenging speaker. He will not only be talking about Hands at Work, but also about our mandate as Christians to respond to poverty. Not to be missed!

Date Wednesday, 3 November
Venue University of Wisconsin-Madison
Time 08:00pm 

"This is not OK"
AIDS is the greatest orphan maker of our time. If we really do want justice we must wake up... Individuals can change the world! Join K Love and live worship by The Spark as George Snyman speaks about his life's work. Download the flyer.
Date Thursday, 4 November
Venue Grace in Racine, 3626 Hwy 31, Racine, WI
Time 07:00pm

Also see George at Grace in Racine on Sunday!

"This is not OK"
Come, listen to The Spark and hear George Snyman speak about his life's work caring and advocating for the most vulnerable, destitute and orphaned victims of AIDS in Africa. Download the flyer.
Date Friday, 5 November
Venue Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm Street, Glenview, IL
Time 07:00pm

Date Sunday, 7 November
Venue Grace in Racine, 3626 Highway 31, Racine, WI
Time 8:30am and 10:15

 

Church Services
Date Sunday, 21 November
Venue Cornerstone Community Church, Orange County
Time Sunday services 09:00am and 11:00am

Love God, Love Your Neighbor
Date Tuesday, 23 November
Venue Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, MN
Time 06:30pm - 09:00pm

George will also be interviewed on radio! Tune in:

Date Monday, 1 November
Time 1:15pm
Radio station George will be interviewed by Frank Carmichael on Happenings Radio AM1050 WLIP

Date Tuesday, 2 November
Time 6:00pm 
Radio station Milwaukee Public Radio 

Date Wednesday, 3 November
Time 10:00 – 11:00am
Radio station Live interview via telephone with Nancy Turner from Moody Bible Radio
Heard on 90.1 FM Chicago and AM 1110 Chicago

Date Friday, 5 November
Time 3:00pm
Radio station Interviewed by Jerome McDonald, Worldview on Chicago Public Radio

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Calgary, you're next up! (CA)

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Calgary, get your diaries out and make a note of the dates below.

As part of his six-week tour of the UK, Canada and the USA, George will be speaking at four gatherings in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Don't miss it!

 

Date Friday, 12 November

Venue Westside King's Church, West Hall, 3939 - 69 Street SW, Calgary

Time 07:30pm

Tickets $60

 

Date Sunday, 14 November

Venue Freedom House, Calgary Dream Centre Campus, 4510 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary

Time 09:30am coffee and conversation and 10:00am service

 

Date Sunday, 14 November

Venue Westside Kings Church, 3939 69 Street SW, Calgary

Time Unedited Service at 07:00pm

 

Date Monday, 15 November

Venue Downtown Public Library, The Central Library, Meeting Room 1, 616 Macleod Trail SE, Calgary

Time 07:00pm (Doors open to public at 06:30pm)

 

Date Tuesday, 16 November

Venue La Vita Belle, 401 12th Avenue SE, Calgary

Time 09:00 - 11:00am

Everyone welcome!

 

Date Tuesday, 16 November  

Venue Fish Creek Public Library, 11161 Bonaventure Drive SE, Calgary (SE corner of South Centre Shopping Centre, across the street from the Family Leisure Centre)

Time 6:00pm

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George soon to hit the UK

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Hands at Work founder, George Snyman, has kicked off his six-week tour of the UK, Canada and the USA. He will be speaking at a number of churches during his visit. Not to be missed!

Have a look below for the dates and venues of the UK leg of the tour. Canada and USA tour details soon to follow.

 

George and his wife, Carolyn, on the airwaves!

George and Carolyn will be interviewed on Premier Christian Radio on Saturday, 23 October.

Time 08.25am

You can listen in London on Medium Wave 1305, 1332 and 1413, nationally on Sky Digital 0123, Freeview 725 and DAB. You can also listen online.

 

George's other speaking engagements:

Date Saturday, 23 October

Venue St Luke’s Church, Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans AL1 5QJ

Time Afternoon service

 

Date Sunday, 24 October

Venue The Forge Community Church, The Old Chapel, Forward Green, Stowmarket, Suffolk IP14 5HP

Time 09.30am and 11.30am services

 

Date Monday, 25 October

Venue Greenfinch Church, Greenfinch Avenue, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0SQ

Time 07:30pm

 

Date Sunday, 31 October

Venue Zion Church, Little Cornbow, Halesowen, West Midlands B63 3AJ

Time 09:00am and 11:00pm

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Aiding 4000 in desperate need in Bushbuckridge, SA

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Bushbuckridge in South Africa is known for being one of the poorest areas in South Africa. With the majority of its inhabitants being refugees from Mozambique who moved to the area during the time of war. For this reason, many of them were left vulnerable without homes to live in, and identity documentation that could grant them government help. Bushbuckridge was one of the first places Hands at Work moved into to begin a service centre and now hosts the majority of the children to whom we offer service in South Africa.

Things have not always been easy, as many of the kids were not able to receive grants because they lacked South African identification documents (IDs) and birth certificates. At the beginning of July Hands at Work held a USAID sponsored grant jamboree in Bushbuckridge. The jamboree gathered government workers, social workers, home affairs officials and community shop owners in one place to help about 4000 community members, most of whom were orphans and the elderly in desperate need of obtain ID documents, birth certificates and government grants. Of the 4000 community members, 29 received grants (26 of whom are orphans) and almost 200 ID documents and birth certificates were issued.

The jamboree was a great success and has created many new opportunities for children and families.

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Celebration across Africa a Huge Success! (SA) (ZAM) (MOZ) (NIG)

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In early April this year we began celebrating with our communities and family across Africa: First in South Africa, then Zambia, on to Mozambique and finally in Nigeria in late May, covering all the regions in which we work.

This involved a large representation of our care workers and office staff coming together for a time to be refreshed, to build relationships, and to re-establish the vision, core values and the roles which each of us play. Now is the Time was the theme of the celebration and a strong Word shared throughout the conference was, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."

Here is some feedback from those who attended our celebrations:

From our South Africa Region with Swaziland Celebration

“[I realised] that we all have beautiful feet. We just need to keep walking in the name of Jesus.”

“[I realised] children are an important part of the future.”

“[I realised] starting with money is not as important as starting with the vision. Then God will provide as long as you serve Him faithfully.”

“I realised the extent of compassion which exists within the community-based organisations, and Hands at Work in the field, is sacrificial, Biblical, humbling and spurs me into action.”

“[I realised] I’m a voice to the voiceless and I should speak and do things on their behalf.”

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Carpentry Workshop Expansions (SA)

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Weston and Liz Muronzi, together with their three children moved from Zimbabwe to South Africa in 1997. After serving for several years in other missions work they found and joined Hands at Work in 2008, quickly slotting themselves in to a place that both served Hands and that utilised their skills. Weston, a carpenter, began using his skills to train some of the young orphaned men and Liz started using her hospitality skills to host and cater to visiting teams and the larger Hands family. While their youngest son Act is still in school, their son Adonis is working with Hands in the marketing department and their oldest daughter Prudence is working outside of Hands.

2009 was a busy year for Weston as Hands Village was being developed. He supplied all the homes with cupboards and kitchen fittings. This proved to be good for the guys he had been training to test out their new skills and to gain experience. And in 2010 a new opportunity came about for the carpentry team: it happened that a local carpenter was moving and offered to sell his carpentry tools and supplies at half price to Hands. With the help of friends in UK and Netherlands, they managed to buy the tools. This not only gave the carpentry team an opportunity to expand and train more guys from the community but also opened a door to start a small income generating project to support the work of Hands at Work.

Weston’s dream to impart life skills while generating funds for the work of Hands is reachable. Now we are only praying that God will send more volunteers with carpentry skills and the same heart to train young men while sharing the love of Christ. If you have carpentry skills or are interested in supporting the carpentry skills development program. Contact Weston: weston@handsatwork.org

Read more about this and other specific opportunities to serve.

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Facing Reality

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"Shelly VanBinsbergen is from Saskatoon Canada, She is a Friend of Hands at Work and occasionally comes and visits and gets involved with the work. Last year Shelly VanBinsbergen took a team from her church to Mulenga, Zambia; she became friends with some of the Care Workers there and continues to have a close relationship with them. This is her reflection, after hearing news from her friends in Zambia”

This week I have been thinking about Zambia, a lot. I spent last week with some very good friends and it reminded me how there are places in one's life that can't be filled with anything but deep relationships.

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The Woman of Courage (NIG)

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Name changed to protect identity

Susan is a small woman with a very shy smile and a gentle demeanor. She speaks softly. Susan is 24 years old and has 3 children – ages 2, 4 and 6. She is HIV positive.

Her story is one of hardship and survival. In 2007, Susan was living happily with her husband and children. She never considered herself at risk for HIV until she began to notice the health of her youngest child, still an infant at the time, quickly deteriorating. While receiving medical treatment, she decided to have both herself and her youngest child tested. Needless to say, Susan was shocked to learn that both she and her baby had tested positive for HIV.

Shortly after discovering that their baby was sick, Susan’s husband abandoned her and has not returned since. It was during this time that she experienced the greatest of hardships. She could not afford to pay rent, water, or electricity bills. She decided to take her children and go and live with her mother, who herself is struggling to survive in

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The Blood of Christ Covers Me (ZAM)

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The ‘Jesus is Lord’ stenciled in green letters across the wall of his house indicates the attitude with which Daniel approaches life.  The 64-year-old, HIV-positive man doesn’t hesitate when asked about himself.  In strained but clear English, he concisely tells of his life.  He tells of the strong reaction he had to the ARVs he began taking two years prior, of the hard lesson that it is necessary to take food with the drug or your body will react negatively, even when there is little food to be found.  He tells of the difficulty of his experience with stigma, the devastation of being cast aside by family, friends and church, and the widespread misconceptions of the illness.  But the undeniable truth of the situation: “we have watched our friends die.”

A long journey has led to a profound clarity for this elderly man: that people need to share about their experiences with AIDS, to tell others how to care for themselves, because no one else will.  Daniel expresses the need and his desire to start support groups for people with HIV, so they can honestly share their knowledge about how to take care of themselves with one another.

In other areas of his life, it is clear that

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A Deep Wound (SA)

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Marcus, a young man of 17, grew up in circumstances that left him wondering if life was worth living. He nearly ended his life once but was rescued just in time. He has deep wounds and carries much sorrow, hatred and anger. Nobody knows what happened to his parents, nor does he speak of them; he spends most of his time alone and struggles to enjoy the company of his peers at school.

Marcus experiences constant mistreatment living with his relatives. They take advantage of him, knowing he has no one else to turn to. He has no certificate or form of identification. Many times they don’t give him food or care for him properly. Marcus feels angry, hurt and isolated.

A schoolteacher was the first to take notice of the reality of his situation when Marcus became a danger to himself. He was hurting inside. The teacher being friends with some of the trained care workers who were involved in the Care Center supported by Hands at Work quickly sort out help for Marcus.

Since February 2009, Marcus has received emotional counseling and food at the care center. Although he is still a long way from being healed, he is slowly recovering and finding meaning in this life. One can only hope that the sorrow and anger deep within him will one day be replaced with peace and enable him to live a full life.

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Kikula (DRC)

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The community of Kikula is located on the outskirts of the city of Likasi in the DRC. It is one of the poorest communities in the city and is composed of makeshift shantytowns and brick huts.

The streets in any part of Kikula are lined with mothers and babies, storefronts, buckets of maize and bundles of charcoal for sale. There are countless children wandering around; as far as the eye can see. The roads of the community are damaged beyond belief and only the bravest of drivers venture out into the sometimes impassable terrain.

Kashama sits on a rock in front of his house. He has a sandal with a broken strap in his hands and he appears to be mending the dusty and worn leather. Beside him is a pile of footwear that tells a similar story of misfortune. This is Kashama’s “business” and his source of income. As Kashama stands up to greet the care workers, the limp in his step and deformity in his appearance becomes apparent. He moves slowly and with care as he greets

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The story of Busiku (ZAM)

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In the vast rural village of Baraka we meet Busiku, a small ten year old girl. She is quiet, shy and very beautiful. She wears the same ragged dress every day to school; it is brown from dirt and is full of holes. It is the only dress she owns. She has lived with her grandparents since the age of seven when her parents abandoned her; she thinks they may be working in another province. Busiku cannot remember the last time she saw them. 

Busiku walks 3 miles to attend the local community school where she is in grade four, but when it rains she is not able to attend because the water level of the river makes it too dangerous. Absenteeism is a problem at the local community school which caters for 75 orphans and 45 vulnerable children; some children are too weary from hunger

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The story of Mujinga (DRC)

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In this modern world, education is one of the most important things in life. The simplest jobs such as being a maid or a waiter require a matriculation certificate.  So, what about those children who have no access to education, or who cannot afford education, what possible life could they lead and what work could they do that does not leave them vulnerable.

Mujinga a 17 year old girl was one of those girls who grew up with no education. Her parents could not afford to send her to school as they could hardly afford a good daily meal. Her mother is blind and spends her day sitting in the streets begging. Her father is disabled and cannot walk and has to spend his day sitting in the house mending shoes which is not profitable.  If, Mujinga was the only child, it would have been easier for her parents; she could have found something to do as well, but Mujinga is one of nine children and she is the oldest. Most of the responsibilities are put on her young shoulders. The family

Someone To Rely On (ZAM)

“I love the children.  I have a passionate heart for them,” says Priscilla.  This is why she continues, after five years, to voluntarily teach the children of Roan community in Luanshya, Zambia.  Priscilla is the head teacher at Shalom Community School, where 120 orphaned and vulnerable children receive a free education.  Priscilla, along with seven other teachers, conducts grades 1 to 6, using the Zambian government school curriculum. 

Most of the students at Shalom are orphans living with family members who have taken them in after the deaths of their parents, usually grandmothers, sometimes aunts and uncles.  In cases such as this, when family members take in the children after their parents have passed, the strain added to the family is felt.  Many people in Roan are unemployed, and so gain income by piece work and small-scale business, such as gathering and selling firewood.  This form of income is inconsistent, to say the least.  Often not enough to purchase food regularly, much less pay for government school fees.