Unga Limited

Change is hard...

2008-01-29T01:09:00.000-08:00

I went back to Unga today, honestly a little heavy hearted. I was on a mission, to find Mama Diwani and Mama D. Mama D (Mary, the wife of the pastor of the church) still eludes me, but I did get to spend a good hour talking with Mama Diwani in her beauty salon. Fortunately for me I was also able to catch up with several of the ladies who attended the CHE training in November as they just happened to stop by.

Then the talk, my purpose today was to share with Mama Diwani and Mama D some changes that are going to take place pretty quickly. I learned, that as I wrestle with these changes, they do too as Mama Diwani and her daughter asked question upon question upon question of how these changes will affect CHE in Unga. I tried to reassure her that CHE in Unga will go on, that God is doing something miraculous in Unga and that CMF is thrilled about the future of this project. My heart grieves as I am not so sure she believed me.

Then my heart grieved some more as I learned life in Unga has gotten more difficult. water is only coming into the slum 2 days a week now, because apparently there is an extreme water shortage, which is odd since it has been raining. Mama Diwani also eventually worked up the courage to let me know that my friend Elizabeth had passed while I was gone. I was speechless.

I will try again tomorrow to meet up with Mama D. Pray this meeting can take place.

Return to Unga

2008-01-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

A lot has happened in the last month since my travels to the USA. It was refreshing to go back to Unga today.

I was jet-lagged, exhausted, and for a variety of reasons a little stressed, but it amazed me how just walking onto the church compound and being greeted by my old friends just restored my soul.

I tried to contact Mama Diwani and Mama D, both were not around, but the lovely ladies of the compassion project were there, and of course I had to explain my long absence. I realized I don't know the words for riot, war, etc as I was trying to explain my re-route and being in the USA longer than expected.

Standing Amazed

2007-11-30T10:43:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday Kendra and I returned to Unga to prayer walk and talk to some of those who attended the TOT last week.

We arrived at the church and there was a different seminar taking place, so we parked and talked to the pastor a bit. He raved and raved and shared that he had only heard good things about the TOT. That made me excited, to hear that people are sharing stories about what they have learned!

We then went and talked to Mama Diwani and she told us that they had selected a committee! This is the first step for them starting their own CHE program! It was exciting. She also mentioned they were gonna meet this coming monday to talk strategy and let us know what they want to do! You know what this means folks? It means that they get it. It means they realize this is theirs and that we are tools. This is totally cool.

On Thursday Tami and I went back for another walk. This time we went to a different part of Unga and visited some of the mama's that I had known months ago. Mama Jackson has still moved away but that doesn't mean I can't stay connected to those I met through her. We visited Mama Zumra and she insisted we eat. She through together some Ugali and some fish and we ate. I wrestle with this part of the culture. Regardless of who visits, they will cook, and well, knowing that I have just eaten lunch I hate for her to make a meal, as I am full, and i know there are days, many days that people in this community wonder what "to feel full" seems like.

On our walks this week we learned of a health concern for the kiddos. It appears that Chicken Pox is working its way through the schools. A few of the classes in the schools in Unga are just not meeting, because SO MANY kids have Chicken pox. Pray that they heal quickly, and that they can keep from spreading it. Pray for those kids who are HIV positive who are battling Chicken Pox, pray for those who aren't. I know this is a normal childhood illness in the USA, but any illness here is more dangerous because of the lack of healthcare.

Its only just begun...

2007-11-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the final day of our week long Training of Trainers for a new Urban Poor CHE project in Unga Limited. It was another good day with a lot of discussion, ideas, and inspiration as a group of people who have nothing want to use what they have to minister to others. I am floored by this group of women, and encouraged by the two men that also attended the entire week.

We ended our day asking them to develop a plan of action. We challenged them that if they want to start a ministry they need to be strategic and think it through. We gave them a few ideas and sent them off into small groups. I filled with excitement as those groups buzzed with energy about what they can do. We cam back together, and they shared, and they said they wanted to do CHE, and that they were ready to develop a committee and select trainers. We encouraged them to do so and told them we would help them in any way.

We then proceeded to close out the day, bless them, give our thanks and receive theirs. There was singing, dancing, gifts and prayer. It was precious. As we were closing out, I was encouraged as one of the key women in the group asked the others to stay late so they could select a committee and a group of trainers. I smiled huge.

A marathon day...but yet another good one!

2007-11-22T04:13:00.000-08:00

No pictures today folks, but then again, today was more of the same...small groups...short drama's, and discovery. I begged our other teachers to allow me to leave early today for a gathering of Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving...I got my wish, but that meant I did the opening, and taught both morning sessions, back to back. It was loads of fun to share with them the importance of prayer and how many people had already been praying for them, and to encourage them to do the same in their future ministry. Then we talked about mapping and discovering all there is to discover about their community. Ultimately we would like to know everything that we can know, what schools are there, how many, are they good, where are the drugs, where are the street kids hanging, which areas are most affected by crime, are their clinics? witchdoctors? you know...everything.

It was a fun, and like I said marathon day. I can't believe that tomorrow is our last day, and honestly, that I am done "teaching." for the week! My job tomorrow is not to teach but to spur on, and to develop a plan of action with the group. It too should be fun!

More pics from today

2007-11-21T06:25:00.000-08:00

What beautiful feet!

2007-11-21T06:07:00.000-08:00

I know, I know it is so cliche' but really, these are beautiful feet! They are feet that desire nothing more than to know Jesus and follow Him, to bring Him to their community. These particular feet walked easily a couple miles today, just to get to the training...

Today was another incredible day! We had a guest teacher, for the whole day, which was good, as I was still tired from the last two days! I was amazed as I watched Dr. Declare share from his heart and with all of his being about how God has equipped them to change their lives, and how God views people with HIV/AIDS and about how they should. It was fun to watch their minds and thinking be transformed a bit...as well as to watch them continue to share and learn and grow together. Today we had more skits, more small groups, more lessons, and well just more of everything! It was another jam packed day of learning, and growing, and yes, it was so very fun! Who would have thought that sitting in a week long seminar could be so fun!

Can it get any better?

2007-11-20T05:55:00.000-08:00

Today was an AMAZING day!

We started relatively on-time, and I admit, that culturally, I was the only one who cared! I was excited as those who attended yesterday all came back eager to learn, eager to get started.

I love watching Lorivi teach! Lorivi is a Tanzanian who honestly knows more about CHE than I do, and he has an amazing way of reaching his own people. It is so refreshing to watch him teach and challenge and joke and celebrate with other Tanzanians. Lorivi is a key part of our ministries using CHE, such a key part that we are realizing we need another Lorivi as ministries expand and grow there isn't enough of him to go around!

It is also thrilling to watch the trainees break off into small groups and learn from each other, coming up with solutions on their own, without us having to feed them the information. It gives them great confidence in their own abilities when we pose a strange question to them and they come up with solutions...yes folks...multiple solutions!

It is also loads of fun to watch those being trained teach each other through skits, and sharing of what they have discovered in their small groups. This is fun because in their mind, learning is done with pen and paper, and the teacher just spoon feeds them, to have them encounter and embrace a new style of learning is fun.

I had the last teaching of the day, and I have to tell you I got goose-bumps as I noticed their eyes begin to light up. The lesson I was doing was a lesson of how to go about starting this ministry in their area, and they immediately sat upright in their chairs, and their faces woke up (it was after lunch, we were all looking a little tired up to this point) and as I shared I could feel the energy in the room increase. It was fun. Really fun. It was also really fun to see them understanding and asking, "so when do we start?"

Can tomorrow really be any better? Surely it will be, the entire day we will share with them how CHE can help them reach out to those with HIV and AIDS. It is a day of sharing how they can help transform the lives of those living with this dreadful disease, as well as those who are living with them. Pray for tomorrow, that they continue to get excited, that the momentum would continue to build, and that as we address a sensitive topic, that they would not shy away from the reality of many people suffering around them.

TOT Day 1...

2007-11-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

Today I experienced a little African Culture...rather a LOT of it!

First, we were set to start at 10:30 this morning. The attendees showed up at 11:30. Yep, an hour late, and yes, we waited, because that is what you do. People will get there when they can.

This of course presented a dilemma, as we are still expected to get them out on time, but we had an hours worth of info for the hour they were late. We hustled. We cut and chopped and we still managed to cast the vision. It was incredible.

It was a fun day, it was fun to hear them interacting with each other, and fun to hear their insight. I learned a lot about Unga today as we discussed from their perspective the problems that affect their community, and it was fun to hear them discuss, and disagree on why those problems existed and how they could be eradicated. I learned of new struggles, and other hardships that I assumed were there, but hadn't been able to confirm as of yet...

And, I learned how difficult it is to work with a translator. Yes, I can speak swahili, and yes I could probably communicate most of what I am teaching...but...I would get tired faster, and there would be some mistakes...so it is better this way. It wasn't so bad, really, it is just that so much gets lots in translation, the emotion, the tone of voice...SO MUCH! It made me want to master this language even more-so.

A few pics, and then I need to finish getting ready for tomorrow:

TOT week!

2007-11-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

In 2005 I met with many of you sharing the vision of reaching the lost of the slums of Arusha. I talked about poverty, without having seen it firsthand, and talked about the needs and the opportunities.

In December 2005 God provided the last of my support.

In January 2006 I spent a month in CO getting the last bit of my training that was needed before I left for Tanzania.

February and March I said my goodbyes and on March 22 I boarded that plane.

Thus started hours and days and months of preparation for this week. Weeks and months of courses to learn the language, the culture, and the ways of this foreign land. I saw the poverty first hand, I smelled it and in some cases...I tasted it. Countless hours have gone into building relationships and praying over this community...we have shared bit by bit and had the vision seminar and last week took the women to a rural community.

And here it is. The moment. The week long seminar that is the springboard for ongoing training. If all goes well this week, a committee of nationals will develop. This committee will be the heart behind this project, and in addition to a committee hopefully people will step forward to be the actual trainers of their neighbors. And lives will be transformed.

My life has been transformed in the last 20 months. Pray that lives will continue to be transformed, that those living in poverty will know the richness of Christ, and they will see how He can transform their community.

Unga goes Rural

2007-11-16T09:57:00.001-08:00

Today we took a group of women from the urban slum called Unga, to a rural project so they could "see" for themselves how CHE has changed a community. SO many things happened today that I can't even begin to put the stories down. A few things, I noticed:

A group of women was teaching another group of women about their ministry...not me.
A group of rural women (sometimes considered as less intelligent or less educated culturally) was teaching a group of urban women who were eagerly listening and asking questions...this in itself was amazing...I cannot put into words what kind of landmark it is.
I got to watch, learn, take photos and share, but it wasn't "my thing" it was theirs and they were proud to share it...that is what CHE is all about.
The women in Unga were dreaming of transforming their own community as we learned and shared experiences...and this...this is VERY exciting.

More stories to come, and more thoughts later...but for now, just enjoy the view through my camera lens...it gives a glimpse of what occurred today.

Excitement welling up...

2007-11-12T09:23:00.000-08:00

WOW FOLKS! A week from now we will have finished our first day of a week long training educating leaders in Unga about transforming their community with CHE! I have to be honest, I am a little bit overwhelmed, but at the same time so incredibly excited! YIKES!

Here's a sneak peak of what we are cramming into the week:

the great commandment and the great commission
Urban CHE concepts (how CHE fits in an urban setting)
Roles of the training team
Roles of a CHE (a person who is using CHE to teach their neighbors)
Entering the Community
Finding out what their community needs
How God views the city
Urban CHE approach
Reaching out in ministry to people with AIDS
How does HIV affect our community
what God says about AIDS and what the church can do
Empowering the Urban poor, poverty and community organization
Paralytic and Development
Mapping your community
Praying for our target area
LePSAS learning techniques
Leadership
Understanding community car for the terminally ill
Counseling the AIDS patient

Again, I am psyched, but starting to feel the pressure, as I haven't looked at these lessons...well lets just say a really long time! I have some brushing up to do!

Pray for us as we prepare for next week. Pray for those who are attending, that they would not have things come up and get in the way of being there. Pray that those who need to be there, make it.

Wow. this is exciting.

A new view

2007-11-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

Every time I take someone new into Unga with me I see a new Unga. I remember the first time Katie and I went, and the Unga we saw, and the experiences we had, they were incredibly different from the Unga I saw with each of the REACH interns (those were all different experiences from each other even.) Taking Kendra brought out a new experience, as did taking Tami and even today as Scott and I walked and visited and prayed we saw a different Unga. It is the same place, but our encounters, the way we are treated, as well as how we walk out of there is different. All different...all beautiful and unforgettable.

Today I met some new mama's. After the harassment we received with Tami the pastor's wife of one of the churches is taking it upon herself to find us an escort everytime we walk. I don't complain, and actually I appreciate it, as we learn more and more and get to go a little deeper with these escorts. It was fun to take Scott Price (our TZ Team Leader) with me as I had never walked through Unga with him before. He had driven through and little did I know he knew some people who lived there. It was fun to share today with him, and to even hear his observations and questions.

Today I got a bigger glimpse of the problems in the local school. The guy who walked with us informed us that a classroom can have in excess of 100 students! And in typical East African public school systems there aren't enough textbooks to go around, as well as teachers. No wonder the students aren't learning! The Government is allocating A LOT of money to building schools, but I have to ask, is education improving just by having more school buildings? If there aren't enough teachers and materials (including desks) then how are these kids gonna learn anymore? I am walking a fine line here, I realize it.

In our walk we also got to meet a few more pastors, and a few more teachers, and I encountered another Compassion Project, the third in this slum area alone! I can see how Compassion is making a difference, and how our ministries are both changing this community and if we work together then we really can change this community.

We have set the final details for a CHE Field Trip on Friday Nov 16! A handful of people interested in learning about how to start a CHE project in Unga will go with me to one of our rural projects. They will see CHE firsthand, and also get to talk with those who took a leap of faith and are transforming their rural community with CHE! Pray for this field trip! Pray that questions are answered and people are challenged.

And things are taking shape for the TOT to be held the week of Nov 19! We have about 15 people who want to start a CHE project in their community and we are gonna show them how and get it rolling! I am thrilled and nervous at the same time! Thrilled as this was the goal in me coming in the first place, to help people transform their own community using CHE, and nervous as it is finally happening! AGH!

Its my last physical walk through Unga for the week, but in my mind and my spirit I walk through those slums every day. Pray for Unga, pray for us as we keep stepping out!

It's broken.

2007-11-06T07:13:00.000-08:00

Today I had some new experiences in Unga. I took teammate Tami Carter for a visit. It was so incredibly fun to introduce her to my friends and also incredibly fun to meet some new people with her! By nature Tami is a lover of people, and eagerly desires to bless those she meets, and she brought that with her today. It was so incredibly fun and eye opening for me.

We met several ladies I had not yet met, and it was fun to walk her around some of the old familiar places that Katie and I walked so many times. But even in all of this fun, there were reminders that we were in a broken place. For the first time ever, people were rude in their shouts and hollers after us. One man actually crossed the line with inappropriate gestures that I had never encountered in Unga before. Some of the women were demanding money from us, while others just hollered insults. It was disheartening, and honestly I still am not sure why today of all days. I remembered though, that we were there because people there don't know Jesus, they can't be expected to act like him! This is part of our task of transforming the community, that people would respect each other, as well as themselves. That people would have enough Hope in the Living God that they would not resort to demanding (way more aggressive than begging) money from passers by.

She's Back!

2007-11-05T18:29:00.000-08:00

And it feels good!

I went back to Unga today and met with Mama Diwani, Mary and the ladies who work in the local Compassion Project office! There were squeals, hugs, questions and laughter as I told them about the last couple months, explained why I hadn't been there but also shared with them that I was back...that's where the squeals came in...from all of us!

It felt so good to be back, to walk around Unga, and to see those kiddos and mama's that I have been getting to know the last several months. It was good to embrace them, to hear about life since my last visit and yet, it was even good to get my feet dirty.

After a short walk through the neighborhood I met with Mama Diwani and Mary and talked about the next few weeks. After the vision seminar a few of those who attended wanted more info. They wanted to see "CHE" in action, so we decided to plan a field trip of sorts, to one of our Rural CHE sites that is about 1/2 hour from town. So pray, as on Nov 16 we will take a small group out, to see CHE as well as hear from those who took the leap themselves and are ministering in their community! Pray that they get a picture of the impact they can have in Unga, and also embrace the idea of sharing Christ with their neighbors using this tool!

We also set a date for our first TOT! A TOT is a week long seminar, the acronym stands for Training for Trainers. This is HUGE! Several have already said they want the training necessary to do CHE in their neighborhood, so the week of Nov 19 we will meet with about 10-15 of them each day to give them the skills necessary to start a CHE project. I think this calls for a celebration dance! Pray as we prepare for this week of training, it will be my first time as officially training as well! Its a bit overwhelming, but very very exciting!

It was a good visit to Unga, and I must admit, that I am very tired but very excited. I am thankful for what God has done in my time away from there, but also very thankful that I still get to minister in the community! I also am very psyched that I get to go to Unga Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week! YAHOOOO!

Neglected

2007-11-04T08:47:00.001-08:00

Wow. It's been over a month since my last Unga update. I don't think I have left a blog sitting so long before! AGH!

Just because I haven't blogged doesn't mean nothing is going on. I haven't been into Unga very often as we were still trying to straighten life out since the accident, court, etc...you know the story.

In the last month, my life in Unga has changed dramatically...for the BETTER! We had our bi-annual team meeting where we review our goals, and talk strategy as well as share needs, dream, brainstorm etc... At this meeting I was able to share with my team the weight I was carrying for Unga. We are a unique team, in that we have two ministry focuses, and well, most of the people on my team are part of the focus that I don't have much to do with, and well, I felt like I was flying solo..in action, in dreaming, in decision making etc. I have such an AWESOME team that we made some changes, and now I have a committee of teammates who are coming along side me to reach Unga. I am thrilled. This committee will help steer the ministry, help me dream, go into Unga with me, challenge me, and well all around be co-ministers with me! I am so excited about this new change! I know that Jesus is the ultimate burden carrier for this ministry...but I was taking a lot of weight on as well...now we get to share it!

I have been in contact with Mama Jackson and Mama Diwani, and this week, with our new committee I will be able to start going into Unga regularly again, as my teammates have stepped up to a whole new level and are committing time in their week to go with me! Again, my team ROCKS!

Exciting news...we are looking at having our first TOT (week long training) where we will equip the leaders of the HIV/AIDS small groups to start their very own CHE project!!! THIS IS EXCITING! The group leaders caught the vision at our Vision Seminar a few months back, and have been begging for more! The accident and incidences surrounding slowed us down a bit, but we have it scheduled for the week of Nov 19! PRAY PRAY PRAY!

Also, some of those who attending the Vision Seminar had some unanswered questions, so we are going to take them to visit a CHE site just outside of Arusha on Nov 16! Pray for this day as well! I picture a beautiful sight as I envision Tanzanians sharing their ministry with others and encouraging them in the same path! BEAUTIFUL!

Thanks for praying, and thanks for your patience!

She walks!

2007-10-02T22:14:00.000-07:00

Today I was given permission to visit Unga. Permission is required as I am not working these days, until the team and I agree that I have recovered and been restored after all the events of the last month. I appreciate the care my team provides, that they would allow me to rather tell me I am not to minister until I myself am whole again, however, I have missed Unga! I have missed my friends!

But, Patrick and Joe were sent by CMF to get some pictures and video of what's going on here in East Africa. The poor guys have had a world-wind but I am sure life changing trip! They have visited nearly every ministry in Kenya and Tanzania! I can't communicate how much driving, early mornings, walking, and working they did!

Well today was my day, and although I am "not doing ministry" right now, I was allowed the exception to take them into Unga, visit my friends and share with them my heart, and they will hopefully be able to communicate that with you over the next several months! You will see some fruit of their work in upcoming newsletters and on the CMF Website and publications I am sure.

It was fun having them, but I have to be honest, it was even more fun to go see my friends! I was able to visit Elizabeth who shocked me! She was walking! Last time I saw her I thought it would be my last! She was so sick and well, she was dying. She couldn't lift her head off her pillow and she could barely speak, but today, she was radiant! Still skin and bones, and still living with AIDS, she is gaining strength. We joked and laughed and rejoiced on the sofa as she shared with me how she can now help sweep around the house, and do chores for her aunt (she lives with her aunt as her parents died of AIDS a little over a year ago.) It was a fantastic visit. She hopes to gain enough strength and find the money to return to school!

We went from there to visit another lovely friend of mine who is muslim, but attended our CHE vision seminar, who also has HIV. She had been sick too, but mentioned getting better and planning to return to work in the next week. It was a joy to greet her!

The last home we visited was the home of Mary, a little girl I have written about before. She is 11. She has HIV. She is an orphan who is trying so hard to live! She too lives with her aunt, who is caring for mary and her own daughter on her own after the death of her husband to AIDS a few months ago. Mary wasn't feeling well today, she not only has HIV, but Malaria as well. We made sure she got her malaria medication before we took off towards the church.

After our home visits we visited Mary Msuya, the pastors wife of the church we have been using to spread news of CHE. We also got to see all my friends at the local Compassion International office for that area of Unga. It was like a homecoming. I shared with them the challenges of the last few months, and explained to them my absence in the last few weeks and then made plans to contact them when all is well again, letting them know that even this hurdle is not too big for God to do BIG things!

It was a fun day. I thanked Patrick and Joe at the end for giving me and my team a reason to allow me to go visit Unga. I look forward to being fully restored, and being able to fight the poverty that grips Unga in the future!

CHE Explained...somewhat

2007-09-15T04:50:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-10T11:35:00.001-07:00

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

2007-09-10T11:28:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-06T07:17:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Sunburns, exhaustion, and new experiences

2007-08-24T06:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I think it is safe to say that winter is ending and summer is quickly approaching. I failed to put on sunscreen today, and after 6 solid hours in Unga (which is way too many by the way) I am burnt. Not terribly, just a little pink. I will say I am proud to say that this is my first sunburn since arriving in Africa. I usually wear sunscreen everyday, however it has been cold lately and I got out of the habit.

6 hours in Unga. Has many results, one of which is exhaustion. Even as I write this I am having a hard time thinking straight. It doesn't sound so bad, until you think of 6 hours of swahili, 6 hours of taking in the smells, the sights, the poverty, the looks in the eyes of those who are suffering, the hollaring of "mzungu" and the hollaring of many other things that are better not written here. The first half of the day was walking and praying. It was good, but it is still hard. I don't know that I will ever get used to the feeling that comes upon me as I walk into Unga. I am thankful for it, as it reminds me of the necessity of what we are doing, however it leaves me so tired. And to think, I don't live there. Those who live there have to experience it day in and day out. It isn't a wonder to me that they don't move forward.

During our walk I stopped to talk with some of the ladies who came to the vision seminar. They loved it! However, they want to know more! This is good. We are arranging to take them to a nearby village where CHE is being used first hand, so they can talk more with those who are doing CHE and hear how lives have been changed. Pray as we arrange this time.

The second half of today was introducing Peter Russell to mama Jackson. It was a lovely visit, which included a new meal to add to my list of Tanzanian foods I have eaten that I wish I had not! Dagaa is a tiny little fish. I used to alternate these fish with meat when I fed my dogs, Dagaa one night, meat the next, but I discovered my dogs would rather eat every other day than eat those little fish! I stopped giving them fish and now they eat meat every day.

Now those of you who know me well, know that I like seafood, and fish, I love sushi and will eat most any fish, but something about eating fish the size of goldfish I kept as a kid, whole, just grosses me out! So of course, I have never willfully planned to eat some. Mama Jackson knew we were coming and cooked us lunch. And yep, she cooked us dagaa. Mixed with some cooked veggies and of course partnered with Ugali.

We all ate it, and we all survived, and we can say we had a new experience, although I will say it challenged each of us. All of us have lived in Africa for more than a year, and had managed to avoid it, not so today!

Bibi wengi (grandma many)

2007-08-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

Last friday I took a few girls into Unga the first time. They had never been in or around Unga but had heard about it. They asked if they could join me on a walk. I hadn't planned on walking, but instead had planned on visiting the homes of those who attended the vision seminar, so instead I invited them on the home visits.

We stopped at the first house, and I am shocked by the welcome, and the greeting we received. yet again our visit to Unga was like a progressive dinner. This is always joyous, as I know that it is how they share their joy of your presence, but at the same time, I hate that I am eating food that they work so hard for, and know that even though it is ok to bring gifts, it is offensive for me to do it every time. We visited each home, talked with the ladies and got feedback from wednesday. The overall impression, it was a great seminar, but they all had questions and wanted to talk some more, but not in front of the visitors. They wanted to visit instead.

After visiting all the homes, Mama Jackson asks if we are heading home, I tell her of my plans to walk around with the girls for a little bit. She then invites us to visit Bibi.

What a treasure! We walk in and Bibi immediately starts praying! It was unlike anything I have ever seen in my life, the Spirit of the Lord was definately present, and I couldn't understand everything she said because it was a mix of Kimaa and Kiswahili, but I knew she was covering us with blessing. Here we are, three women and a little girl, who have everything we need, walking into a home of an elderly woman who has nothing, and she jumps to praise and bless. Wow. It is no wonder, when you hear about her life, that she is a prayer warrior.

She discovered Jesus when she was around 40. She is now 87. She has 7 kids, and each of her children has multiple children. Her first, has 10, the second had 5 the third 7 and I honestly lost count after that. She also has about 20 great grandchildren. She also boasts, that all of them know the Lord. She continually states that God saved her, and then saved her family. What a joy. I like surprises like these!

Now we wait.

2007-08-15T07:26:00.000-07:00

Well folks, its all over. Our first Urban Poor Arusha Vision Seminar finished about 4 hours ago, and I must say I am rather amazed. In traditional African fashion, we started about an hour later than we planned, because people weren't ready yet.

My role today, was that of connector, everyone invited knows me, but since I had not yet done a vision seminar in Africa, Annelle and Lorivi were the actual facilitators. As I watched and observed, I was amazed at how this group of people were so enraptured by the material, by how they participated, and by their willingness to learn more and ask more questions. Lorivi is an amazing CHE instructor, he truly is a gift to our ministry, and does an amazing job of explaining CHE to the audience, regardless of who the audience is, he adapts, and does so rather well.

So now we wait. They know the vision of CHE, they know the ideas, the main concepts and the philosophy. They know that if they want to take it further, and want to form a CHE team we are willing to help them use CHE to transform their community. Now we wait. We wait and we pray for hearts to be called to use this tool. Waiting is hard. I am hoping I don't have to wait too long!

Pray that the men and women who attended todays seminar would hear the voice of God in the coming weeks. Pray that those who need to use this tool would step forward, and those who need to be supporters would support them. Pray that God would be glorified and that Unga would begin to be transformed.

Vision Seminar Update

2007-08-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the day! Our First Urban Poor Arusha Vision Seminar! The list is in, the attendees have committed, the facilitators are getting ready, and yes, I am a little nervous!

Pray for the following:
The vision of CHE to be cast effectively.
For God to raise up people who would catch the vision and wanna run with it.
For any barriers that might keep attendees from coming to be removed!

Those Facilitating:
Lorivi, Annelle, Pam and Kendra

Those Attending:
Mama Jackson
Mama Ibram
Mama Fatuma
Mama Diwani
Diwani
Mary
Mama Miriamu
Mama Mbona
Neema Michael
Flora Mkiwa
Monika Ndomondo
Robat Lekisinga
Prosista Benadi
Agustino Avenanc

Cooking lessons.

2007-08-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

I brought them much laughter. That is the best way to summarize the day. Last week I had mentioned to Mama Jackson that I had never really cooked Ugali and Mboga (the green veggies). She was horrified and insisted on teaching me, saying she couldn't allow me to live in Tanzania and me not know how to cook such a staple meal! We planned for today to be my cooking lesson.

I arrived a few minutes late, to find that I was going to have an audience. I brought the incredients I was to provide, through the door and found 3 other women who were interested in watching this white girl cook Tanzanian style! It was hysterical really. They do everything differently, from cleaning the lettuce like veggie we would cook, to cutting the tomatoes, to cutting the onion. They of course wanted to see if this girl could hack it, and honestly having an audience made me incredibly nervous! I thought I could mess up in front of Mama Jackson, but these ladies, I only knew one of them, and well, it would be rather embarassing if I failed miserably.

They laughed and I laughed at each step. I was like a 3 year old helping her mama. She literally showed me how they shred lettuce without a cutting board, and how to mince onion with nothing but your hands and a dull, mind you, very dull knife. It was loads of fun.

Afterwards, we ate, and man did we eat! And all of them women came to try my meal. Glad to say I have passed the test. They invited me back to cook anytime!

I was also able to visit the women attending tomorrows Vision Seminar, it was fun to greet them and them ask me if we were still on for tomorrow before I even had a chance to remind them!

Small Groups

2007-08-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

Today Lorivi and I cast away the idea that Saturdays were for resting and went to Unga. We had been invited to visit some of the small groups of women with HIV/AIDS that have been meeting in Unga Limited for the last year. We were invited to visit, but we also were given the platform to share a little bit about CHE.

We showed up at Mama Diwani's home at the agreed upon time. 9am. We were told the small groups started at 9, and that we would meet her and she would take us to a few groups. I somehow forgot, that this is Africa. I started to get frustrated around 10, when we were still at Mama Diwani's house waiting for her to get ready.

Around 10:30 we headed out to the first group meeting. On our way there we passed some women on the road and discovered that the first group we were heading too had already finished, and we were too late. AGH! I was so frustrated, but hid my frustration as we made plans to come back next weekend.

We headed to the second group, and my attitude changed. It was under a barn-like structure where we encountered some 20-30 women who are suffering from HIV/AIDS. I somehow forgot swahili as they invited me forward to address the women. I stumbled through and recovered nicely. It was exciting to share the vision, to hear the women laugh, and to feel the excitement in the room.

The vision seminar is this week. So far we have 15 men and women, mostly women, from two sections of Unga Limited planning on attending. Pray for these men and women, that they can catch the vision for CHE. Pray for us to adequately share the vision.

The progressive breakfast

2007-08-10T01:49:00.000-07:00

As promised, Kendra and I returned to Unga today. Specifically to spent time having chai with Mama Jackson. We arrived on time (Mama Jackson values timeliness) and she greeted us warmly. We talked about the weather (it has been freezing here) and talked about a passage she shared with us on Tuesday (yes, she is teaching me about Jesus too) and then she brought out chai, and sweet potatoes. We ate, we fellowshipped, we chatted, it was a joy! We had so much fun shooting the breeze and sharing life. She told us about a child who has been really sick the last two weeks. We decided to go visit the mama and pray for the almost 2 year old. We headed out, but discovered the mama had left to take the child to the hospital.

Next stop Mama Ibram's home. Who had also punished us on Tuesday for being in a hurry. More chai. More laughter. More food. We were already full, but you can't refuse, it is rude, and we were earning our forgiveness! It again felt like old friends at a tea party.

Next stop Mama Fatuma's home. Where we again, laugh, and talk about life. This time, an alternative to chai, Sprite. Kendra and I are both beyond full, from multiple cups of chai in the last 1.5 hours and fried sweet potatoes, fried cassava (another potato like snack) so we convince her to let us share a soda. Her daughters come in and enjoy some time with us, her oldest (about 5) sings us a song in english, absolutely precious! The youngest (1.5 yrs) does her tasks of interupting her big sister and stealing attention.

Each stop was a blessing, an encouragement, and a challenge. All these ladies mentioned that things have been taking place in Unga these last few weeks. Witch Doctors are everywhere, and people are going to them often, and that they themselves, are feeling the attack of the enemy, but trusting Jesus to keep them. They are all thrilled about next weeks vision seminar!

Pray for Unga. Pray for the women we have been sharing time and space with. Pray for their families, pray against the witch doctors, pray for the light of Christ to shine brightly in this area. Pray Isaiah 58 and Ezekiel 36 for this community. PRAY!

Catching Up.

2007-08-08T22:00:00.000-07:00

Every month or so (as things happen) Scott, Annelle and I gather together to review what has been accomplished in Unga, what steps I need to take, what things I still need to discover from research, etc. Some might call it strategic planning, we like to call it a lunch meeting.

Today God gave us a special gift, my new teammate Kendra could finally attend one of these meetings! The urban portion of our team doubled in size over the last week! In celebration of Kendra being there, and because she has little clue of what has taken place over the last several months, Scott pulled out all the notes, hung them on the wall (they are on butcher paper) and I got to walk Kendra down the Unga path, the path that doesn't get your feet all muddy.

As I walked her down the road this journey has taken Me, Katie, Delia, Elsa, Jackie, Hillary, Amber, Scott, Annelle, Todd, Tami, and so many others on, I stood amazed. In March of 2007 I met with Scott and Annelle alone, as we brainstormed how to enter Unga. Since that time, God has done so much, SO MUCH, he has brought people in to walk and pray with me, He has provided entry points, He has answered questions.... See for yourself:

Early March 2007
We created a list of all the things we could think of pertaining to urban poor, poverty, Unga, Ministry, CHE...you name it. The list was overwhelming. We came out of it with a vision from Isaiah 58 and Ezekiel 36 to allow God to reveal His glory and holyness through rebuilding, repairing and restoring the community of Unga Limited. But we didn't know how. We didn't know who, we didn't know where to begin. We left with more questions than answers, and as I left, Scott in his most encouraging voice said, "Pam you do know this might take 6-9 months to accomplish." I wasn't so encouraged. Katie and I started praying the truths of the passages as we walked through Unga. And God started showing us some pretty cool stuff. Would you pray these passages for Unga?

May 7, 2007 (Monthy meetings eh?) Life happens.
We pulled out the old list. WOW! Katie and I were both surprised! We added to the last list, but also took note of things we had seen since March, gardens that were flourishing, as well as the porn shops right across the way. We took note of the oppression, of the lack of men working, the number of children running around in the streets, and we also took note of the mud, the poor sanitation, and just the general feeling of hopelessness and despair. We left the meeting, a little encouraged, as well with some more definate direction for our walks and our research. Would you keep praying as the vision unfolds?

August 8, 2007
My oh MY! The discoveries! Some demographics have been gathered, although the survey we keep trying to put out there goes unfilled. We know that in Sokoke I there are about 55,000 people trying to live. We have met Mama Diwani and discovered the 600 women already meeting in small groups who are an excellent possibility for CHE. We met Mama Jackson, you know all about Mama Jackson! We have continued to meet Mary and Msuya the local pastors. We have developed stronger relationships with the Compassion Project based at Mary and Msuyas church. We have been blown away by what God has done! He helped us to be patient, he lead us beside still waters (did I mention that there is a river running right by Mama Jacksons place...fun little tidbit there). He has proven Himself faithful (as if he really needed to). We have met many other mamas who want to hear about CHE and we have a Vision Seminar to share with the hope of CHE next week!

Vision Seminar Details:
August 15, 2007
9 AM-1PMish

Attendees:
Mama Jackson
Mama Ibram
Mama Fatuma
Mama Mbona
Mama Miriamu (a landlord who owns much property in the area)
Mary (pastors wife)
Mama Diwani (Counselor's Wife)
Diwani (Counselor himself)
7 women from the HIV/AIDS small groups.

WOW! Look at that! Amazing! We have women passionate for the gospel as well as small group leaders and not only that, but powerful community players as well!

WOW! I stand amazed.

Will you consider praying, or even fasting for this upcoming vision seminar?

Our Cultures Collide!

2007-08-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

We messed up huge today. I was needing to go visit Mama Jackson, and Kendra was needing to meet Mama Jackson, so we went, however, we had a time crunch. There are many things that needed to be accomplished outside of Unga this week, as part of getting Kendra settled, and also catching up on stuff that didn't get done over the last few months with the REACH interns.

So we had a time limit. We went straight to Mama Jacksons home, and I introduced her to Kendra. We were only planning on visiting her, and I just wanted to check in. Not only did we have a time crunch, but we stopped by unannounced, which in African culture, usually isn't a problem. Mama Jackson welcomed us warmly, and then gave me a stern talking to, "Pam, you should have told me you were coming, I haven't any chai (tea) or bites (snacks) to offer our guest!" Oops! I told her it was ok, Kendra wasn't expecting any chai or bites, but that she was just wanting to meet Mama Jackson.

On our way out, after being scolded for being in such a hurry, we saw several other Mama's who have become friends who also scolded us for not stopping for chai and said we must come back later in the week to share chai and bites so they can really get to know Kendra. We committed to come back on Thursday.

Something interesting that happened while visiting Mama Jackson, is that we got into a converstation about Spiritual Warfare. She mentioned that things have been bothering her in the night, (remember my nights last week, fighting) and she quickly said, "But we know that if anything comes to bother us sent by Satan, it has no power, so I just wake up and Pray and Jesus takes care of them. There seems to be an increase in this, which leads me to believe that the spiritual realm is beginning to get a little disturbed with God's unfolding plan. I mention this, as I know our battle is not against flesh and blood and our weapons are not the typical weapons of war, (2 Corinthians 10:1-8, Ephesians 6:10-20)and I encourage you guys to be praying earnestly for the battle that we are up against, that you would be praying the truth of Christ for this community and that people would find freedom in Him, and Life, abundant life.

Mama Diwani

2007-08-06T22:00:00.001-07:00

Our second stop, was to introduce Kendra to Mama Diwani. Mama Diwani is married to the counselor (much like the mayor) of Sokone I, a subsection of Unga. Mama Diwani is a dynamic woman.

A few weeks back I shared of my day visiting women with HIV/AIDS with Mama Diwani. She currently has about 600 women in Sokone I alone, who are meeting in small groups to provide each other with support and encouragement as they live with this deadly virus. Many of these women are single mothers, many of them unemployed, and many of them seeing life as a death sentence, but together, they realize they can go farther. I can see how CHE can transform these groups from just being groups of words of encouragement to groups that give LIFE! I have shared CHE with many of the ladies, and many of them eagerly asked, where do we sign up!

In talking with Lorivi, we decided that Mama Diwani and a few of the group leaders should also attend this upcoming Vision Seminar. So Kendra and I went to visit her, one so Kendra could meet her, and two, so we could invite some of the ladies to the vision seminar. Without hesitation, she committed, and also said, I think Michael (the counselor) should come too. I will see if he is free!

It has been fun for me, to see God unfold His plan here. None of this has been on my strength or my power, but just Him, leading, opening doors, inviting conversations and bringing it to fruition. He is so good isn't He?

Kendra's Second Visit.

2007-08-06T22:00:00.000-07:00

Last October, Kendra was with me prayer walking in Unga. It was that day that we both felt the Lord leading us to Mary and Msuya, local pastors who are doing a lot, A LOT in their community! Today was Kendra's first time back.

We stopped by to visit the church, mostly because I was running errands and needed to pick up some things, and drop some things off. And of course, the quick stop, turned into a longer visit! It was a joy to talk to Mary, to catch up on their life (she has been in school so every time I have stopped by I saw only the kids.) I re-introduced her to Kendra, and we talked about the upcoming Vision Seminar. I invited her, and asked if we could use the church as a facility for the day. She willingly agreed. On our way out, Msuya came in, and I can honestly say I don't think I have ever seen someone so tired and ragged. He is on a break from school himself, but that doesn't mean he isn't working, if anything, he is working harder. Crusades. Prayer meetings. Visits to his congregation, it never stops for Msuya.

Pray for Mary and Msuya. Pray for us as we continue to build relationship with them. Pray for the many things going on in their community, and in their church.

She challenges me..

2007-08-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

That Mama Jackson...she is something else!

She blesses me, encourages me, and challenges me! You gotta stay on your toes around her. I was supposed to stop by tuesday, but failed to as the car situation caused havoc on my day and prepping the interns to head home. I called an apologized, and she jokingly said, "Pam you gotta keep your committments!" I love that she feels comfortable enough to joke with me! I told her I would stop by on Thursday.

Thursday we had our budget meeting, it started 45 minutes late, and ran way over, so I reluctantly sent her a message that I yet again, wasn't gonna make it, but committed that I would be there Friday morning.

So this morning I arrive and she tells me that I missed out on a feast the other day when my car broke down. She had prepared a meal and she and the kids and I were gonna celebrate what God is doing in Unga. Celebrate? Wow! She is catching a vision! I apologized profusely, and was filled with deep regret over missing the celebration! We talked about the meeting on Thursday and why it was late to get started and why I couldn't come by. She voiced her frustation with late people (I took mental note) and I wondered, is she African? Cause really, it is normal here for people to show up when they can, not the time agreed upon. We had a really nice chat, and then she said she prepared some chai and sweet potatoes.

This right here, this conversation over tea like we were old friends blessed me. We talked about everything under the sun. My mom, my dad, my brother (I really should bring pictures to share), we talked about my wheat problem (this was brought up last time too, which she pointed out that she intentionally made the sweet potatoes cause she remembered I couldn't eat the bread that is usually served with tea.), we talked about CHE, about Katie, about the interns, about safari companies, everything we could think of. It was great fun. Another thing I really appreciate, is she has no qualms what so ever correcting my swahili, and not only did she correct my swahili, she told me that from today on out, when I am with her, I am gonna pray in swahili (we pray before tea, its customary) because she knows that if I just try I can do it! HA!

Starting today. She informed me of all this, and took the posture of prayer. Waiting. On me. To pray in swahili. HA!

I will spare you the details, but I immediately felt like a 3 year old whose mama says, "Ok honey, now its your turn to tell Jesus thank you." I am sure I sounded like one too. It was a riot.

Things in Unga are progessing. There are 3 ladies coming to the vision seminar with Mama Jackson, and we have a group from the HIV/AIDS project I visited last week. It is exciting and a bit overwhelming to think about it all finally coming together! Be praying for these ladies, that nothing would get in the way of their physically attending, and nothing would get in the way of their hearts catching the vision!

Have I reached that place?

2007-07-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

What a day in Unga! Of course I was running late, I have adapted rather well to some parts of African Culture! As I pulled into the church parking lot, I noticed that Pastor Msuya was there! I hadn't seen him in about 2 months, he has been away at school and I hadn't been able to come around when he was there. I greeted him and we talked about life for a few, and he mentioned that his wife was around too, which was another blessing, as I hadn't seen her since she started a course over a month ago. I went in to greet her, and she was cleaning up around the house, I surely broke a boundary and started helping her, and we talked as we tidied up together. She didn't seem bothered by my help, in fact, she encouraged it! Have I reached that place where they don't elevate me? YEAH!

Then I stopped in the Compassion International Office that is located on the church property. It was like I had been gone weeks, mind you I was just there at the beginning of the week! We laughed, hugged, joked around and just enjoyed each other! It was so fun, like meeting old friends! Have I reached a place of dear friendship with these people? FINALLY!

Then I was off, and even more late, for the meeting that I had orginally headed to Unga to attend. I was to go with Mama Diwani to "shadow" her as she visited the HIV/AIDS patients she works with. "Shadowing" turned out to be an afternoon of visiting women in her program, and sharing the vision for CHE! Have I reached that level of trust where I can speak into the lives of others? ITS ABOUT TIME!

The first home, I was energetic and alert. I was on the ball with swahili and had a slightly awkward conversation with the woman there, whose name I can't pronounce or spell. She invited us in and told me how her husband had died years ago, that she has two grown children and that she is jobless, and moneyless, but God is helping her to survive. We talked a lot about life, about hardship and about God's helping us. She then challenged me, "Pam, you have seen our hardship, what are you going to do about it?" I took that as my opportunity to share the vision of CHE, even though that was not at all what I had planned to do today. I was shadowing!

The second home, was across the walkway. Mama Mary was there. I was slightly less energetic and slightly less alert, but the swahili was still going strong. Again we shared life, and talked about the hardships she was facing. We also talked about how God blesses us. There were two other women with Mama Diwani and myself visiting, they nodded their heads in agreement and got a little bit more interested as we talked about CHE.

The third home, no one was there.

The fourth home was the home of one of the girls who had been walking with us the whole time. I was tired. I had been speaking swahili and explaining new concepts to women I did not know for 2 hours straight. I was spent so as we entered the mud and stick room and sat on the only piece of furniture, her bed, I asked her to share her story, and she did. I just needed a few minutes of not talking. My brain was tired. She then said, "Pam, what are you going to do about it?" I then learned that she is muslim, and has been listening to me all day talk about Jesus transforming Unga Ltd. I like when I share the gospel on accident, less pressure that way. She then bluntly asked, "when are you going to teach us all these things you have been telling us about all day? " I got to explain the need for the nationals to request a vision seminar so we can share the big picture with them and a few of their friends. She requested we do one next week. I know next week won't happen, but we can definately manage to get one going in the next few weeks!

The fifth home was a home of a mom and her two little ones. She was the first person with HIV that I had met that day that had little ones at home, and this woman, she just radiated Jesus, and lit up the little dark room with her expression! She is a contagious person! We talked about life and again, she asked, "Pam what are you gonna do?" I had to apologize and ask for help from Mama Diwani, I had lost all swahili, well not all, but what was necessary to explain CHE! We all laughed as I tried to explain to them how it wasn't the walking of the day that made me tired, but the constant use of another language. They laughed, I laughed, and then I yawned again.

The sixth home, a little different scenario. I was exhausted. I didn't have a single swahili word left in me, and so I had to confess my inability to function. This time though, we met Mary, who is 11, whose dad died 3 weeks ago from AIDS. Her mom died a long time ago. She was living with her aunt. She was precious. I was beat. We tried to talk a little but it just wasn't working. She too asked, "Pam what are you gonna do?"

I find myself amazed. Today, I had a different agenda. I didn't plan on sharing the vision of CHE with anyone, I just wanted to see what Mama Diwani was doing with the people with HIV/AIDS that she works with. I was shocked to hear that in this sub-section of Unga Ltd. alone there are 600 people enrolled in her program, which is not funded or provided for by anyone. She out of her own will, encourages the women to keep living and helps them out whenever possible. CHE could transform and multiply her ministry. She is coming to the vision seminar on August 15. Pray that she gets the vision.

Part of me can't help but think, that today I met some strong women, who are strong, alive, and ready to lead their community. I didn't plan it to be that way, God just did it. I like when He does things His way.