What’s in it for me?

On one hand, when we are presented with an idea, whether it is ours or belongs to another , our natural tendency is to think first why would I do this or rather "What's in it for me?" On the other hand, as Christians we are often presented with opportunities to give our time or our money or both to a cause and we are conditioned to think don't be selfish, help your fellow man. I am here to suggest that you may be able to put yourself in a position to have it both ways.

I was fortunate enough to be one of eleven CPC members to travel to Zambia last month. Our goal was to touch, feel, and begin to understand the two Zambian communities where we will partner with two different organizations to form a meaningful bond of friendship and trust in God.

The first area we visited was the George Compound, an underdeveloped suburb of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. Here CPC will work with an African group, The Jubilee Center headed by their very dynamic leader, Lawrence Temfwe. We separated into groups of three or four during the day so we could observe more and then in the evening we would get together to share our experiences and better comprehend where God was leading us. Pastor Paul Tshihamba along with Tim Clark and David Schwandt from our group were given the opportunity to preach to the congregations in three different churches explaining the hope, joy, and thankfulness we all felt in being a part of this Zambian partnership with them and the Lord. Barbara Harmon, Sharon Sampson, and I joined Tim when he spoke at the Faith Bible Church in George. We arrived early and I was able to watch as the church filled. The happiness and excitement was everywhere. They had visitors but I felt their real joy was in the singing, dancing, giving and praying together in worshiping God. It was really thrilling to see these people that have very little material wealth had truly been empowered. It made me stop and reconsider the importance of things in my life. The "what's in it for me?" question had a whole new meaning.

Our next visit was to Moyo, a rural community of about 31,000 people several hundred kilometers southwest of Lusaka where we will again partner with World Vision and the people of Moyo. In this community for every ten children that are born, one is dead before the age of one and another dies before the age of five. The vast majority of these deaths could be prevented simply by providing clean drinking water and nets to protect the children from Malaria infested mosquitoes while they sleep.

In both communities we were able to really dig in and begin to understand how you can actually become the hands and feet of Christ. I would suggest that you may want to read or possibly reread some of the earlier posts on this blog in order to begin to get a really true understanding of our experience in each area.

Now back to my original thought. What's in it for me?(see above picture) or better "What's in it for you?" You could sponsor a child for a few dollars a month and that would be great. The money could keep that child and others alive and well. You may also want to take a further step and really make this Zambian experience your experience. Touch it, feel it and make it your own. I would encourage anyone to get involved. The more you take ownership the more you will benefit. In order to better understand the possibilities and opportunities available in our Zambian partnership I would encourage you to contact our missions office or seek out a member of the Zambian Task Force and see what your missing.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Settling In?

The CPC Zambia Task Force (ZTF) returned from Zambia a little more than one month ago.  But, I don't think the words "settling in" would truly be applicable to any one of us.  Of course, life--and its attendant responsibilities--goes on, but the images in our minds, the experiences we shared, and the unity we felt are not easily dismissed.  Nor should they be.  The challenge before us now is effectively communicating to our CPC family how essential it is they participate in the unique opportunities God has placed before us to serve the wonderful people of Zambia.  How can we help CPCers become enthusiastic participants in this vital endeavor?

Our prayer is that CPC members will wholeheartedly embrace the work of Jubilee Centre and World Vision Zambia.

A great start would be sponsoring a child in Moyo through World Vision.  Someone once said, "Money is a means for making our time and energy portable."  Going to Zambia and witnessing firsthand what ZTF members experienced would be wonderful.  But, if that isn't a possibility for you, the next best thing would be giving your time and energy via child sponsorship.  The monthly sum you contribute helps not only your child but all the children in the particular area of Moyo to which we are committed.  This World Vision Area Development Project (ADP) is one of the finest examples of providing a "hand up" rather than a "hand out" I've ever seen.  Helping indigenous leaders and volunteers develop infrastructure such as water and sanitation facilities, schools, nutrition resources, medical facilities, and access to entrepreneurial opportunities will enable the community of Moyo to move toward self sufficiency.  And, we have the privilege of participating with them from the very beginning!

It's an exciting time to be part of a church that challenges its members to "live missionally."  May we do so with God's help and God's guidance.

Moyo

Day 5 - Moyo

Today we went to a different “community” in Moyo. Once again we were joyfully greeted with singing and dancing and even a drama presentation on Malaria by one of the local women’s clubs. The drama included one scenario where the patient went to the clinic soon after developing Malaria symptoms. This patient recovered due to early treatment. The second patient went to a witch doctor instead of the clinic. The treatment given by the witch doctor included a tattoo. As a result of the tattoo, the patient bled, became anemic and then died. The moral of the drama was the need for early treatment in a clinic. Certainly we all learned something!

 Shortly after the drama we saw first hand the result of a young boy, about the age of 4 or 5, who had waited too long to get the necessary medicine for his Malaria. His high fever had caused paralysis in his lower extremities. We were able to witness World Vision presenting this boy with a wheelchair. Until then he had to be carried by his mother or crawl on the ground. It was a true blessing to witness the giving of this gift. This wheelchair brought dignity as well as providing for some of his physical needs.

We also met Catherine, one of three nurses who worked in the government clinic. She was dressed in traditional white with a yellow apron. She proudly took us on a tour through her clinic. The clinic is divided into a male room (4 beds) and an adjacent female room (8 beds). The beds are about 2 feet apart and a bit like the beds you might see at an overnight camp…the spring kind. The linens are scarce and most patients have to bring a blanket from home. Nurse Catherine shared with us about the supply vs. demand of medicines. We were especially curious as Malaria is a huge, huge problem in Moyo. There is 10 % infant mortality rate. This past month one child had died per day……eeek! The government does a fair job supplying the needs but due to the high prevalence it is difficult to keep up. Nets for over their beds are practically a basic need.

We met one man who was in the staying in the clinic who was being treated for TB and was nearly done with his antibiotic. Unfortunately, he was too weak from lack of food to return home.  The clinic is not able to supply food, so food becomes the responsibility of the family.  This man’s wife had died and he had no children or other family to bring him any food. He was rail thin and we all were extremely sobered.

There is still such a stigma attached to HIV/Aids. We were able to meet about 10 women and one man who had recently found out they were positive. They were doing well on their ARV (anti-retro-viral) medication. We were blessed to encourage them, tell them how courageous they were, and to pray for them.

Being a nurse, this was all near and dear to my heart. There is no comparison to how blessed we are with our health care in the USA and how much these people suffer. But the one common theme I have witnessed both in George and in Moyo is that “the joy of the Lord is their strength.” They are “trusting in the Lord with all their heart, with all their soul and with all their mind.” I have learned much from them and realize that it is not always about what we DO, but that someone from so far away is earnestly praying for them and cares for them and has traveled so far to encourage them, shake their hand, and call them by name. Please join me in praying for them!

(Barb Harmon)

Day 4 & 5 -- Choma

I'm writing from an awkward lobby computer with limited connection


speed. We are in Choma tonight. It is the closest "big" town to Moyo,

and it took us a good 2.5 hours on primitive dirt roads to make it to

Moyo today-- 2.5 hours each way. That gives you a sense of just how

rural Moyo is and the extent of challenges -- and opportunities -- we

shall face there over the course of the 15 years CPC expects to

partner with Moyo via World Vision. We made two primary stops in Moyo

today, and at both places, we were greeted with vibrant song and dance

performances. The residents formed a receiving line to shake our hands

and welcome us each personally. The World Vision staff told us that we

were the first white people many of these children had ever seen. A

few times they rubbed our skin, as if our color might rub off. At the

first stop, one of our group (Karen) met her sponsored son, Written,

who has a disability that renders his legs useless. Through this

partnership, Written has now received his first ever wheelchair;

previously he had to pull himself around on the ground using only his

arms. "The wheelchair now gives him so much more dignity," a World

Vision staff member whispered in my ear. Written's grandmother

presented gourds and a handwoven basket to Karen as a thank you for

her help; she grasped Karen's hands tightly and repeated her gratitude

over and over. The grandmother also said that Written is now able to

go to school because of the wheelchair.



Before we left Written, the residents asked to sing one last song they

had prepared especially for us. With a tattered hymnal in hand, they

began singing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" in their Tonga

language. To hear a familiar hymn -- a hymn that has always meant a

great deal to me personally -- sung by these new friends, in their

native tongue, to our one and same God, was a profoundly moving

experience for me.



We then traveled to the center of Moyo, where a crowd of several

hundred awaited us. Chief Moyo greeted us warmly, along with his

Council of Headsmen. More singing and dancing ensued, this time with

our team joining the Moyo people in dance. Obviously, their dance

skills put ours to shame -- but they loved that we tried! They asked

each of us to introduce ourselves individually by name. As we said our

names, they repeated each back to us. When Pastor Paul Tshihamba made

remarks on our behalf of our team, he said our group had come to visit

from America; America was subsequently translated as "the land of

Obama," and all the Moyo people cheered at his name.



We spent time in one of the Moyo schools, spending more time getting

to know Chief Moyo and his hopes for his community. He had specific,

big dreams for this partnership, and is eager to be a full participant

in it. He asked us to tell our congregation at home "to keep Moyo in

[our] hearts, and pray for Moyo." We promised him we would. On the

walls of the schoolhouse was a hand-drawn diagram of the digestive

tract, with each organ name written out in English: intenstine,

stomach, etc. The nurse in our group noticed that the liver was

missing from the diagram. There were other hand-written posters with

English words written on the wall: of the days of the week, of the

rights of Zambian citizenship, of the names of a full dinner

place-setting. It was an eclectic mix of information, but great to see

evidence of education in action.



We spent more time meeting the residents, particularly five of the

children individually sponsored by members of our team. Each involved

the exchange of gifts from the Moyo family to the American sponsor,

and then the American sponsor extending gifts of mosquito nets, Bibles

(both in English and Tonga) and pictures of their own family to the

Moyo child. Each meeting marked the beginning of a friendship that

shall continue through prayer and letters for many years to come.



On the way out of town, we saw the Moyo high school that is newly

under construction. Pastor Paul told us to take pictures and remember

how it looked now; a year from now it will be finished and, for the

first time, education will be available in Moyo beyond Grade 7.



It was a day of new beginnings and eye-opening experiences. Mostly, we

remember the kind, bright-eyed faces that greeted us. And especially

the children -- for Moyo is made up mostly of children. The infant

mortality rate is 10%; the HIV infection rate is 16%; malaria is

rampant. There is much work to be done indeed, and it's exciting to

work with this able World Vision staff in Moyo. We look forward to

returning to Moyo tomorrow. And we look forward to the next 15 years

in friendship and growth with this community.

Day 3 in Lusaka

This day has been so full – we just prayed over Laurence, Martha and Agnes and said goodbye to them as we prepare to move to Choma in the morning.

Often this week we’d heard the phrase “It Takes Courage”: this is the name of a curriculum aimed at “youth,” ages 10-35! Several young people and their parents had expressed their thanks for this program that focuses on character development and HIV-AIDS education. We wanted to know more so we signed on for a meeting with those who work with youth.

My husband David and I met Edgar, a young man who directs SHHAYC (pronounced “shack”), the Spring Harvest HIV-Aids Youth Action Club – Edgar stressed “youth action.” He and his co-leaders took us to a block building. I wondered if we would be joining a meeting in there – I could see that a light was on through the low door. As we approached I realized I was looking at the cleanest chicken coop I’d ever seen! Truly cleaner than any other structure we’d been in, these 100 or so teenaged chicks were housed under warming lights with proper food/water/nutrients. Edgar told us that selling the chickens at 7 weeks would bring a profit to provide scholarship money for aspiring high school students who were members in the network of George churches ($80+/year). He plans to train other youth and hopes soon that more chicken coops can provide funds.

I was startled! This was the first I’d heard of chickens or fundraising. The Shack has been very busy. Edgar told us about the thousand or so young people who’d graduated from “It Takes Courage” after the 16 weeks course. They receive a bracelet with that phrase on it – see them on our team’s wrists. He told us about rallies where hundreds of youth gather to worship and to hear the truth of Christ, lock-ins where the young people praise God all night (and you should hear them praise!), sponsored soccer games, and his hope that they can encourage young people to appreciate and to hold to Zambian culture. Even though a small percentage of youth in George have funding for higher education he told us that the group sponsors career counseling, including meetings with a variety of professionals. We talked with him about HIV-AIDS – he said he’d lost many friends to the disease. He preaches abstinence and hopes that even in an environment where kids are in so much poverty and have so much time on their hands that they will walk with Christ. I had tears in my eyes as I listened to this most earnest of young men who, so clearly, has God’s hand on his life.

The challenges to the program? There is no youth center and no building large enough for the young people to gather. He says they need a sound system so that the overflow crowd can hear the message. Music, Instruments, Bibles...other things necessary to Western ministries. But you’ve got to see this place – there’s the challenge: block homes covered in random metal and plastic, dirt and trash on the ground, sewage running beside the pocked roads, shacks selling alcohol in little sleeve packages for cheap. Four out of five people unemployed, hanging out all day. Every single family touched by HIV-AIDS whether they’ve lost family, taken in an orphan, or living with the virus. High School too expensive for most families. Hunger, boredom, sadness.

But here was a light - a young man and his co-workers who had a vision of a new world for the young people of George, a strong untouchable belief that Christ can and will fill the void in the spirits of these young people, to elevate them to a new hope and possible new life. Edgar is one of the many people we’ve met who seem impossible to find in a place of such despair. While he has nothing, he has everything and he’s brimming with excitement over how to share it. It does take courage -- please pray for Edgar and SHHAYC, he says he’ll be praying for us.

Day 2 in Lusaka, Zambia

Day 2 in Lusaka, by Elizabeth Mansfield

It will be hard to describe today’s experience with mere words. It was a day I will never forget. Thank God for this team and their welcome of me into this group so that I could have the honor to participate in such a time as this.

Today we split into groups and some of us, including me, had the privilege of visiting the homes of Enoch and Abraham. Two child heads of households (CHH) in the George Community. A CHH is a family that has been orphaned since both parents have passed away.

Enock is 17 and has been raising his family of four since the age of 10. He builds tables to support his family and he learned his craft from his father at a very young age.
The Jubilee Center has helped his family by adding and extra room to his house and fixing the roof so the family has two bedrooms. The volunteers come on a weekly basis and give him hope and guidance. He attends church and ITC training (It Takes Courage) regularly. He is a very shy and handsome boy that sends little time with friends due to his responsibilities at home.

Enoch has asked us to pray for his business so that he can continue to support the family.

Abraham is19. He attends school and is currently maintaining the household for he and his 26-year-old brother who does piece work within the George Community. Their family was separated with the recent passing of his Grandmother at which time his two sisters went to live with his Aunt. Abraham has a wonderful smile and personality. He likes math and he wishes to join the military one day.

Abraham has asked us to pray for his sisters as well as his continued learning and ambition in support of his family.

It is hard to describe the experience without engaging all ones senses. It was such a privilege to be a guest within their homes, homes far from what we’d call inhabitable. But while praying upon Enoch, it was the sense of touch that made the experience so memorable. The four of laid our hands upon Enoch and prayed for his family, his continued health and his ability to support his family thorough his business. Gathered in a circle around Enock with all our eyes closed, I felt shy Enock’s hand hold tightly to my thumb as we all prayed together. It is moments like these when you see how interconnected we are as children of God no matter how far apart our worlds may seem.

Please join us in keeping the families of Enoch and Abraham in your prayers.

We have arrived!

Our hosts from Jubilee Centre and World Vision met us at the airport Saturday night, greeting us with warm hugs and joyful welcomes. “You are most welcome” is a phrase we’ve heard many times in the hours since we arrived.

This morning (Sunday), we split into three groups to worship at local churches in the George Compound, and the pastors and congregations alike greeted us with eager handshakes, hugs, broad smiles, and assurances that we were “most welcome.” During the services, we heard many prayers of thanksgiving for our presence. One leader said to the congregation: “Most of you never thought you’d sit in a room with brothers and sisters who traveled thousands of kilometers from the other side of the world just to worship the Lord alongside you.” The congregation stood and cheered, shouting “Amen” and smiling warmly at us. Another pastor prayed for our families. “Bless the families they left behind, Lord, and meet all of the needs of their families, accordingly to your great riches.”

The whole worship experience was one of unabashed joy. Songs, harmony, dancing, whooping, raised arms, syncopated moves. People danced as they came forward with their offerings, and danced in lines through the aisles afterwards. They also pulled us forward to the center of the building in order to dance with them, not content to let us be mere bystanders on the margins. They were there to share worship with us, to partner and engage with us, their “dear brothers and sisters,” they said.

Three of our own gave sermons: Paul Tshihamba, Tim Clark, and Dave Schwandt each spoke, aided by translators standing next to them. It was a powerful reminder of our unity in Christ as I watched people follow the sermon Scripture in their own Bibles, take notes in the margins, nod in the agreement to the same truths that touched my heart.

Several times, the pastor encouraged the congregation with this prayer: “May God meet you in your greatest need today.” He was always answered with shouts of “Hallelujah” and “Amen.” As we left, the final prayer I heard was one of thanksgiving: “We praise you, that you are the God that does not fail.”

Hallelujah and Amen!