CHE Explained...somewhat

I have received a lot of emails lately asking what in the world CHE is. I can't blame you really, its been months since I appeared at your churches and small groups sharing the vision for ministry here in Tanzania.

CHE is an acronym for Community Health Evangelism a method of wholistic ministry being used around the world by countless organizations as a method to assist those living in poverty and spread the Gospel.

This is where I cheat. Someone else has written it so eloquently, that I thought I would take the words straight from the Lifewind website, (formerly Medical Ambassadors) the developers of the CHE model.

Community Health Evangelism (CHE) empowers communities to overcome poverty, disease, and hopelessness by mobilizing their God-given potential and available resources. In a CHE program, local volunteers are equipped and empowered to:

• evangelize their community, making new followers of Jesus
• nurture disciples, strengthening the church
• improve sanitation, preventing diseases
• enhance agriculture, increasing food production
• create new enterprises, overcoming poverty
• utilize appropriate technologies, creating sustainability

How does it work? Yet again I will take the words of the creators...

CHE is initiated in a community by a two- or three-person CHE training team — dedicated Christians who speak the language of the community and live close enough to visit frequently.

CHE trainers may be trained, mentored and supervised by LifeWind, a local church, or another organization. (ie. CMF Tanzania) The training team builds relationships with local residents. As they spend time in the community, they assess needs and assets through observation, and develop trust. In due time, they provide information about CHE to members and leaders of the community. The trainers assure that community leaders understand CHE as a way they can address their physical, social and spiritual needs themselves, not a program that offers them money. The key to CHE is the community's willingness to take responsibility for addressing its own problems.Through a series of open meetings, the community decides whether or not to do CHE as a community.

If the training team has done its initial work well, most communities decide to do CHE. The community then selects people to serve as their local leadership committee, which is prepared for its work by the training team. Then the CHE program is officially launched by the community. The leadership committee selects other community members to be trained as volunteer CHEs (chays) — community health educators/evangelists. The work of these dedicated volunteers is crucial to achieving results. Through frequent trainings, the CHEs are equipped to implement health-improving steps in their own homes, and they learn how to pass along what they are learning in home visits with other families. The CHEs become health educators and personal evangelists to their community. The combined influence of the training team, the leadership committee, and the volunteer CHEs creates a dynamic process of learning and change in the community. Physical and social health improves, projects are accomplished, and spiritual growth occurs as people come to faith in Christ. The community changes from the inside-out. CHE works because it is the community's own program, with CHE trainers serving as catalysts for change.

So what does that all mean for us? For me? For Unga? For Arusha? For Tanzania?

It is common knowledge that people in Africa are suffering. It is also common knowledge that a lot of money and resources are being poured into this continent every day. But people are still dying of preventable diseases, people are still suffering under poverty, people are still unaware of Jesus even though missionaries have been coming here for countless years. I am reminded of this each time I walk out my front door.

When I first encountered CHE I was impressed that there was a model for ministry, that incorporated the physical, emotional, spiritual and social aspects of an individual, cause lets face it, each area of our lives affects the others. If we are physically ill, it can affect our emotions, which can effect our spiritual well-being, which can also affect our neighbors. We are a complex being, who live with other complex beings, and by addressing just one area, we can only have a small impact...but in equipping nationals to address all of these areas of life, with their own skills resources and abilities, we can have a much larger impact. Instead of me changing the physical life of one person, we want to train neighbors to change the whole person of their whole community.

The idea is fairly simple. The process is not too complicated. The results are astounding.

If you have followed either of the blogs, A glorious adventure or the Unga Limited Blog you will see that our strategy is similar to the strategy laid out by LifeWind, cause really, they have used it and many other organizations have used it all around the world.

We started with learning the language. We then started spending some time in the community. They thought we were just hanging out, but to be honest, we were doing a lot of praying too! We have observed the many struggles in the area, the oppression, the illness, the lack of education, the sanitation issues, and yes, the many spiritual struggles facing those living in these communities. We then share the idea of CHE, and hope they will want to learn more. We cast the vision, train trainers, and contine training them to train each other in areas of physical, emotional, spiritual and community health.

Then it gets a little different, our own little CMF Tanzania twist. We have noticed that a lot of people here are struggling with (now I know this is far out there for some of you, you may just have to see it yourself one day) demons, and bondages from the occult, witchcraft and witchdoctors. We can see how these are not just a symptom of their physical poverty, but possibly a cause, so our goal is to also walk them into not just knowing Jesus, but teach them how to walk in the freedom of Christ, the Hope of Eternal life, the Joy of our great Savior, and the Promise of the King.

The lessons. They are many. They are simple lessons using the resources found in their community, that are affordable. This is important, as this program is meant to be theirs, and the idea is that they could replicate it without us missionaries. Sure we could buy a bunch of Katadyn water filters from the US and have a mass distribution to decrease the prevalence of water bourne illnesses, but lets face it, they aren't cheap, if one breaks a Tanzanian will have to find an expatriate, and then somehow find the money or a sponsor to buy one, and then they will have to somehow get it here...and so on and so on...and then you have to also teach them how to use the filter, and keep it up and clean and lets just say...there are other options. In fact, there is a filter, that is fairly easy to make, that can be made with materials found right in their community, which, if they make it correctly, can decrease the prevalence of water bourne illness. The national is trained. He trains his neighbor who trains their neighbor, who trains theirs etc. They all have clean water, and where did it come from? Literally their own back yard. The only role of the missionary was to train the initial national. It not only cuts out the reliance on the missionary, but it also helps to restore the dignity of the people in that they are no longer reliant on someone else. They can do it themselves!

This is also true in lessons on church planting, discipleship, lessons on freedom in Christ. Our goal, is that as we train the trainers, they would learn the lesson so well, that they can train each other, and multiply throughout Arusha, Tanzania and East Africa. The hope is that in time, Hope would be restored as people recognize they have a loving Father who cares for them, that they would also see a physical change in their community as a result of the physical lessons they are brought, which also impacts their emotional and community relationships! WOW!

And I can't fail to mention teaching them how to meet their own needs through gardens, training in agriculture, small business development etc! Seriously folks, its exciting stuff, there is so much in this little acronym!

So this is a long post, and really you can't get all of CHE in one blog post. Even now I am thinking of a specific track of home based care designed to help those suffering with HIV and AIDS! Just think about it, a community of people suffering with this dreadful disease, on top of the already prevalent diseases that can be prevented, toss in not knowing the love of their Creator, who weeps and sings over them at the same time, mix in the dire physical conditions and you get a recipe for hopelessness. They just wait to die.

But imagine a different story. A community of people who have HIV/AIDS who know how it is spread, and also know how to maintain and LIVE with this disease. Who have discovered a Savior and the promise of Eternal Life beyond what they are already experiencing, toss in education on ways to care for each other, provide for each other through small businesses, and home based care...and you have a much brighter picture! Hope is restored. They have Life.

So back to CHE. It is simple and it is complex. There is so much to it, that like I said, one post won't suffice. In Unga we are looking at the HIV/AIDS curriculum and also looking at helping them start small businesses that will help them provide for their families, and teaching them how to have healthy churches, and discipleship programs. It's insane. It's fun. It's full of Jesus and I am excited.

So I don't know if this post has helped you to better understand CHE, or if it caused more questions and confusion. I hit lightly on a lot of things. If you have more questions, comment or use the envelope to send me an email.

8 going on 16

After walking with Jenelle I returned to Unga for an already scheduled walk with Mama Diwani to visit some people suffering with HIV/AIDS.

I was under the impression I was going to see some mamas today, but when I walked into the first house I was surprised to find the body of a little girl laying curled up on the couch. She couldn't have weighed any more than 65 pounds, her skin hanging on her bones, lacking in color, and peeling. She tried to greet us, but you could just tell by her voice that it hurt to do so. We talked with her aunt, and learned that she is on ARV's and is doing better on them. She has been taking them since February. All the while I am thinking that this poor little girl has had such a rough life. I eventually work up the courage to ask this little girl how old she was, and I know my expression was filled with shock as she replied that she was 16! 16! I was floored. How could this frail, shockingly small creature be 16! Easily, she is battling TB and AIDS. Pray for Elizabeth. Pray she would find comfort in Jesus. Her parents both have died in the last couple of years of AIDS as well, and she is living with her aunt. Pray that her aunt would find stamina and perseverance as she cares for an extra child.

Our second stop was to visit a grandma. Grandma had TB and HIV as well. She poured her heart out to us and her struggles. Her main struggle was the infant she was caring for. Or at least he resembled an infant. He was 3. He also had TB and HIV and a terrible cold. Grandma was caring for him, and herself, because his parents took off a few weeks ago and haven't come back. Grandma is also taking care of his 3 siblings. Pray for Grandma. Pray for people to step in and help her. Pray for strength, encouragement and healing.

Pray for us. I know that the home health care modules of CHE can dramatically improve the lifes of these patients. Pray for those relationshpis to be built and for lives to be transformed.

Tea, Mandazi and Golf Courses

Today I met Jenelle in town for tea and mandazi, and then we headed for some prayer walking in Unga. Today was actually the first day in a really long time that I was able to pray and walk, as most of the walks we have taken lately have led to someones home and us visiting with them, which isn't a bad thing, but today it was quite refreshing to do a little walking.

And, shockingly, we found more new terratory! I literally thought that I had walked every road, path, alley, ditch in this particular part of Unga, but today it was fun to say Jenelle, I have no idea where we are, but I know how to get back to where we came from! Lets keep exploring!

We encountered mamas who were as always gracious and smiling and shocked to see us white girls trampsing through their village. We played an new version of Red-light Green-light as kids would run up behind us as long as we weren't looking but then if we turned around, stopped in shock not sure if they should run away or smile! It was precious.

Our walk was amazing, the new sights and the new sounds, and yes there were new smells too, were invigorating as I thought and prayed over the vision of Unga. We identified many possibilies, including an area that I thought looked like an old golf course, Jenelle wasn't so quick to agree, but was willing to oblige my randomness!

A full tour of Unga

Today Kendra and I went back to Unga for a lunch we had been invited to, and to catch up with some other ladies.

Our lunch was with Mama Ibram who says we never eat lunch at her house because we are always too full...which is the truth, we are always given snacks along the way (the africans are so generous!) and there isn't possibly any room left by the time we get to her house. So we made arrangements when I went by last tuesday to eat at her house today.

I was frustrated, I have to admit. But I am getting ahead of myself. Mama Ibram has got it pretty good. Her husband makes good money, so even though they live in the slum they have cable television! I don't even have cable TV! Anyhow, she sat us on her couch, turned on the tv so we could watch some indian soap operas, and disappeared for about an hour. Kendra and I kept looking at each other and laughing not sure what we should do. That and the volume was so incredibly high it was piercing the ear drums.

She came back with lunch, and for the first time ever in all the meals I have eaten in Unga I was nauseated. Ugali, not so bad, I like the stuff, but todays was different, local fish (I don't even want to describe them too you...but I will anyhow)...they are about 4 inches long, and come whole, heads and tails, and you pick it apart by yourself, but really there isn't anything left to the fish so you are eating the skin, and well for some reason, even though I survived the dagaa experience today was exceptionally hard for me to swallow (literally and figuratively!) We ate, and I nearly gagged the whole time, but it didn't really matter cause after she brought us the food she left again! I thought we were having lunch TOGETHER! She did finally return for a bit, but we were running late and had a few more people to see, so we bid our farewells and headed towards where mama Omari sells her green bananas.

I met mama Omari several months ago when Katie and I were walking. She is in the middle of the slum and she and her friends would always greet us warmly. 2 weeks ago I passed by and they stopped me, asked where Katie was, and then asked if I wanted to buy green bananas. I told them Katie was at home but surely says hello, and declined cause I don't know how to cook green bananas. They all laughed I laughed, and then said, "mama, if you teach me how to cook green bananas I will come back and buy them!" That really got them going, so we made plans to have a cooking lesson last thursday.

Well, you know all about last week, and obviously because I was in court the cooking lesson did not happen, I couldn't even get there to tell them I wasn't coming, because I can't go where she is without someone. It is too dangerous for me to go alone.

So today I finally made it by to say hi to Mama Omari. I begged for forgiveness, and yes, retold the story again for the millionth time about court, the accident, the police etc and she said she forgave me and still wanted to give me a lesson. I told her I was game but needed to find someone to come with me, got her phone number and told her to would let her know when I could come. She seemed pleased.

We headed on our way, and picked up a few kiddos as well. I saw a woman selling some traditional bites so bought the bites for the kiddos when Mama Omari's friend came running up to us telling us Mama Omari needed to talk to us. We went back, and found out we have friends everywhere in Unga now. Two boys had just walked by and Mama Omari heard them talking about the two white girls (us) who had walked past, and their plan to mess with us and steal from us. She called us back to give us an escort. We were escorted to safer ground. I felt priviledged to know that someone would go to those lengths to protect me. I have friends in good places.

Then we stopped by Mama Diwani's place. Like I said, we had a lot of people to check in with. She too asked where we had been and wondered if I was ok. I filled her in and heard about their family and their week. I was then asked, "Pam, I talked with all of the group leaders of the HIV/AIDS group and they want to go to the next level of CHE training!" (at this point all readers rejoice, do a dance, and sing a song and celebrate!) The next step is a week long seminar where they are given the basic tools for starting a CHE program! I was floored by this, and I must say I am impressed by what God can do when I am kept out of the slum.

Pray for the leaders of the HIV/AIDS groups. Pray that they would stay focused, as they are reaching some 600 women who have HIV/AIDS who desperately need to hear the gospel and who could benefit from the physical and spiritual benefits of CHE! This is so cool. I don't know how to tell you how cool this is!

Mama Diwani also mentioned their desire to start another set of HIV/AIDS groups, one of them in the neighborhood where Mama Jackson used to live! HA! I wanted to say I told you so to satan, he kicked mama jackson out, but Jesus is still coming in!

Pray. Pray hard. The enemy is trying to keep us from spreading the gospel!

Return to Unga

Today I went back to Unga for the first time since the car accident. It was nice to be able to get back into the swing of things, and honestly it was really nice to visit some old friends!



I went back and found that I was not the only one who dealt with troubles last week. Mama Jackson was kicked out of her home. Her landlord is muslim and Mama Jackson says her landlord was kicking her out because she had brought praying people to the neighborhood. I knew about this because a friend of mine had spoken with her the day before, so I made sure to catch up with her before I went to the old neighborhood. She is doing ok. Staying with a friend and searching for a new home. We prayed with her, and honestly I broke one of my rules and knowing that any new landlord would want 3 months rent and she wouldn't have it gave her a little financial gift, some help to get her and her two kids back under a more permanent roof.



I was at first feeling really defeated. I was feeling like her being kicked out was our being kicked out, and I realized, no, it wasn't...it was an open door for opportunity. She is a friendly lady, makes friends wherever she lives, so her moving across the river to the other slum we have already talked about targeting is also a blessing. Unfortunately for her it brings some upheaval, but even she is praising God for her new ministry opportunities, without me mentioning my thoughts on the whole ordeal.



So after visiting Mama Jackson and coming to realize that I had not yet been kicked out, I went and visited my other friends in Unga. I was greeted with cheers! It was so fun to enter into their homes, they had been worried, after all for the last two months I stop by 2 or 3 times a week and they hadn't seen me in over a week. I relayed the story of the previous week and it was then that I realized, that my treatment, was just what I had asked for. In one of my blog posts I mentioned just wanting to be treated like a tanzanian, and I was, any tanzanian in my shoes would have been treated poorly, yes the treatment may have been different, but they too would have been harassed. The whole ordeal with the accident honestly ignites a fervor in me to stand taller and love deeper, and get Jesus into the hearts of the people of this city.



All in all, it was a good day in Unga. It was good to be home.