The founder of Hands at Work in Africa will be travelling to Australia in May and June 2013. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear first hand what God is doing in the poorest of the poor communities of Africa. If you are a friend of Hands at Work, or wanting to know more, we invite you to come and be a part of these events.
 

Last month, 2 Australians, Melissa Warren and Leyton Wood, travelled to Hands at Work in Africa to participate in the Orientation program for long-term volunteers. Leyton just completed Year 12 and chose to defer his university program to spend the year serving in Africa.  Melissa, with a background in the IT industry, gave up her full-time employment to commit the next 2 years to serving with Hands in Africa.  Two ordinary Australians, living out extraordinary lives!

How do we deal with some of the challenges we face when we return home from a short-term mission trip?  Three months ago, a team from Melbourne and Sydney returned from visiting Hands at Work in South Africa on a short-term trip.   

2012 has certainly been a year of growth and change for Hands at Work, as an organization, and one that presented Busie and I with new opportunities and challenges as individuals and as a married couple.
 

We are excited to announce that this coming Sunday night, Leigh Hatcher, one of Australia's most experienced broadcast journalists, will be interviewing George Snyman, founder of Hands at Work in Africa.

On Saturday 11th of August, a Café Event was held at Kingsway Community Church for Hands at Work in Africa.  This was an opportunity for people in Sydney to hear first-hand from George Snyman, who was visiting Sydney for the week.

It's been more than a year since MLC visited Hands at Work in South Africa, where 8 girls, accompanied by Ms Argy Asimakoula and Ms Sarah Tynan, experienced firsthand, the true value of life and happiness.

Hello or Sabonani (siSwati – South Africa) or Mulishuni (Bemba – Zambia). Time for my next update as I am sitting here in Zambia and have been in Africa with Hands at Work for over 3 months. “What have I been up to,” I hear you ask… 

Take a look at the dates below to see where you can join us to hear from George about Hands at Work. We look forward to seeing you there!
 

We recently hosted a Summer Café event in Sydney, NSW, and invited friends of Hands at Work to come and enjoy a night out. This was an opportunity to re-connect with our friends as well as update them with what Hands at Work is busy doing in Africa. We had an incredible night together and appreciated the efforts of so many people who helped to make it a huge success!

Each year from Australia, a team of Victorians travel across to Zambia to spend a few weeks with the communities they have partnered with for many years. Headed up by New Horizons Church in Whittlesea, these teams have formed personal relationships with community volunteers and children who are receiving care and support through Hands at Work in Africa.

What an incredible opportunity to come together and celebrate all that God is doing through Hands at Work in Africa.  This is also an essential time for planning the year ahead and ensuring we have a shared common vision.

I first heard about South Africa and specifically Hands at Work when my father and two sisters went over and did a short 10 day trip with my church. I remember them coming back and trying to explain the experience, however the one constant phrase I heard from them was ‘We can try to explain it to you, but you won’t understand unless you go yourself’. 

Lynn Chotowetz travelled to Ago Okota in October 2011. He wrote: “As we walked Ago Okota’s streets in the morning, we passed a woman frying fish in a pot of oil over a wood fire. There was a young girl (about 13) working with the woman; the girl had a baby tied onto her back. 

It is with a heart of thanksgiving and joy that I have the opportunity to write this report about “Reaching for Change” which has been the main purpose of this South Africa tour. I feel honored to have shared my passion for making a difference in the world with these dedicated young ladies from MLC and to work alongside these African communities.