The Team visiting Zambia had a whirlwind visit, visiting 6 care points across Zambia. It was an impacting time for all on the team and some of the team reflect on their time at Hands at Work:
Kerrie was impacted by watching the Service Centre staff, Care Workers and long-term volunteers who went above and beyond in serving the community with great joy. From returning to water the garden of a sick caregiver, to a Care worker taking in a hungry child whose family had no food, they demonstrated selfless, sacrificial love.
“God’s here. God works here”. Sarah heard these powerful words spoken by a Care Worker who had begun working at a new challenging care point. Sarah felt the presence of God in a tangible way through the prayer times and through the children themselves in the midst of her own struggles.
Melissa was deeply impacted by praying and worshipping with the Care Workers. Despite facing significant challenges, their songs reflected trust in God in every situation and recognising Him as the giver of all good things.
Melissa said: “I saw these words lived out by a Care Worker who shared her story during a Holy Home Visit with a woman whose husband had left her and her 4 young children. The mother was struggling with the burden of trying to find enough work to support the family, and they were vulnerable living in a dangerous area. The Care Worker told of God's faithfulness after her husband abandoned her and her young children. Despite feelings of hopelessness, fear and rejection, God protected, provided and cared for her and her family, and brought her to a place where she could help others facing similar challenges. It was a beautiful example of providing practical care and support, but at the same time pointing someone to Jesus, the one who could ultimately meet her deepest need”.
Jared was deeply impacted by a Care Worker who sang a song about being set free in Christ. She is now able to serve the community with joy, as Hands is caring for some of her children. Her burden has been lifted and she is part of a caring community. Service Centre Staff and Care Workers revealed their total dependence on God in extremely difficult situations and this challenged Jared’s own faith.
Clinton Wood mentioned that the Zambian team had an incredible opportunity to dig deep into six communities. “It was a beautiful time of new and old relationships, and what struck me deeply was the primacy of relationship in the Hands Model. We had times of beautiful sharing of God’s Word, and applying it to African communities, and we did beautiful things – Care Worker appreciation, Holy Home Visits, and participating at the life centres. But all those things are subservient to relationships, in that they literally ‘serve’ our relationship with God, and with each other.