He Will Give You the Desires of Your Heart (SA)

Anna “Oumie” Snyman is a true blessing from God to the Hands at Work Family.  She is the mother of our Founder and CEO, George Snyman, and now lives at the Hands at Work HUB in South Africa where her gift of intercession calls God into the lives of all volunteers, Care Workers, and vulnerable children.  Though Oumie prays for all our countries from South Africa, the entire Hands family rejoiced when she recently had the opportunity to travel to Zambia.  We knew it would be special for the Hands Family there to be blessed with her presence, and as she describes her journey, we see God used her as a great encouragement.

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart - Psalm 37:4

“I couldn’t believe I was going.  I mentioned it and three days later, I was going!” Oumie said God gave her one of the greatest desires of her heart when he made a way for her to go to Zambia recently.  Psalm 37 had always been her favourite and she felt so blessed to see the Lord’s word in action.

Having never been to Zambia before, the whole journey was an unexpected adventure.  Describing the ferry she took to cross the Zambezi River she said, “As far as I’m concerned, a ‘ferry’ is a small boat.  This ferry had trucks right on it! I seriously considered hitchhiking”.  She saw beautiful sunsets and was blessed with her first visit to Victoria Falls where she was amazed by the size and sounds of the incredible waterfall.

In Zambia, James Tembo, Zambia RST Coordinator, walked with Oumie in the community of Zimba.  She was touched by a group of local people who were building a house all on their own.  She was also blessed by two people she knew only through her son George, and on this trip got to meet: Hilda and Charity. 

Ten years ago, as George walked across Africa, he came across a lady who took him in to her church where the congregation prayed for him and prayed that he would go out and tell others about Africa.  This lady’s name was Hilda.  George never saw her again until a few years ago when he was in Zambia for the Hands at Work celebration.  George was in Zimba, walking through the village, when he saw Hilda!  He brought her to celebrations and she has since been a Care Worker at Zimba CBO. 

One year ago, George came home from Zambia with a photo of a three year old girl named Charity.  She looked like she was only one years old and George knew she was close to death.  She was neglected by her family and her Gogo could not care for her properly.  As a family, the Snyman’s began giving extra to her; Oumie sent clothes and sweets with others travelling to Zambia, just for Charity.  And Oumie prayed for Charity.

On this trip, Oumie met Hilda when she went on Home Visits with James.  When they arrived at the Community School, Oumie met Charity.  “She was healthier, she was laughing.  Now she looks four years old!” Oumie said, “Hilda is a lady of God who has adopted her and cares for her so much.” Charity immediately connected with Oumie and made sure everyone knew Oumie was her friend.  When Charity’s brother came to meet Oumie, Charity became jealous and sent him away!  Oumie was so thankful that Charity looked so well, that their family had been blessed to be involved in this young girl’s life.  Oumie saw the transformation Zimba CBO is making in the lives of vulnerable children.  She saw how wonderful the Community School is and how the children have a safe place to go each day and be fed and be filled with joy. 

As the Gogo of the Hands at Work family, it was special for everyone to know Oumie was going to Zambia.  The HUB in South Africa felt connected to our Zambian family knowing she was going to be with them and encourage them.  While visiting, Levy took Oumie to see where he was born and where he met George – events in God’s perfect plan that shaped Hands at Work.  After this inspiring trip, Oumie said she fully trusts God with her next desire, “Next trip – Nigeria? Who knows!”

Christmas Cards for You

Our gift to you!

5 greeting cards to choose from! Standard size 5x7 inch greeting cards for you to download and print.

• Australia Cards 
• Canada Cards   
• United Kingdom Cards    
• United States Cards

I Was a Stranger (SA)

Assa and her brother Gabito at the Care Centre in Welverdiend, Bushbuck RidgeAssa and her cousin Gabito were born twelve years ago in Mozam­bique. They travelled together with their mothers (who were sisters) from Mozambique in 2010. When they first arrived in Welverdiend, Assa, Gabito and their mothers stayed with their eldest aunt. After only a short time, this aunt chased them away because her husband was complaining that he did not have the resources to feed them and look after them. At this same difficult time, Gabito’s mother passed away leaving Assa’s mother to look after both of them. With no home or money (being from Mozambique and not having a South African ID and Assa’s mother not being able to get consistent work) the family desperately searched for a place to live. Thankfully, someone from the community offered them a temporary house built by the government and to this day, Assa, her mother and Gabito continue to live in this house. But with temporary housing comes the continual fear that the original owner of the house will return and kick them out, leaving them homeless—a very likely event in a poor and despairing com­munity such as theirs.

But things are not all hopeless for this precious family. Last year, Nomsa a Care Worker for the local Hands at Work partnered Community Based Organisation, Pfunani, heard about their situation and began to visit them at their home every week. She encouraged them to go to school and helped them with their house chores, especially when Assa’s mom was away working at the local orange farm. She also took time to encourage Assa’s mom and urge her not give up even though life is very hard.

In order to lighten the burden even more for their family and other families like theirs in Welverdiend community, Pfu­nani Care Workers cook five nutritious meals per week for the most vulnerable children at the Care Point. Assa and Gabito enjoy playing with the other chil­dren in similar situations as them at the Care Point. Pfunani Community Based Organisation has also helped the family by providing them with blankets and a mattress during the cold winter months. This was a huge blessing because their home lacked these basic items.

“For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.”   Matthew 25:35

Small Things, with Great Love (UK)

‘What are we doing here?!’ This is the question my husband and I wondered as we arrived at the Hands village in South Africa, back in September 2011.  God had made it clear we were to leave the UK and be part of the Hands family for a year or more but, we had no clue what that looked like in practice.  As it turns out, there are a hundred reasons why God has us in Africa volunteering with Hands at Work, some we are still yet to discover. 

Most importantly, we’veBeth & Ali with David and Judith CBO co-ordinator in Balaka. had the chance to meet the unsung heroes of our world, the ones who really deserve to be acknowledged and their stories spread across the globe.  We’ve been so blessed to spend time walking with care workers in South African communities and living for over nine months in Zambia, working with a local team serving ten communities.  It has been incredible to learn about these places – to see their beauty, experience their struggles and watch how places are slowly being transforming through the work of community based organisations.

Being part of Hands has also given us the chance to learn about other cultures. We’ve spent time living together with people from many different nations and backgrounds. It’s been a real opportunity to shape our own characters and build into other people as well. While living with others we’ve witnessed what it means to truly share and give freely of what you have. In all this we’ve tried to encourage, be a listening ear and serve those around us.

It would be fair to say it’s been a roller coaster of a year which has tested our faith in God and our relationship as a couple. There have been frustrations and struggles – power cuts, seemingly pointless hours of waiting and difficulties with learning a new language to name a few. However, it’s been a joy to become part of the Hands family, knowing that all we do is for the body of Christ and to play a small role in caring for the most vulnerable children in Africa. We’ve certainly had a glimpse of what Paul meant when he said in the book of Philippians, ^“I have learned the secret of being happy at any time in everything that happens, when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have more than I need and when I do not have enough. I can do all things through Christ, because he gives me strength.”  We have learnt life changing lessons which will make a difference to our future relationships, jobs and to the whole way we live.

I could give numerous ways how God uses volunteers in Hands at Work; to encourage a care worker to keep going, to pray for the sick, to teach people computer skills, to share stories of those whose lives have been changed, to sweep the floor of a grandmother’s home, to be a brother or sister to those around you, to cook for those who have less...the list goes on.  Most importantly, you have to start every day being humble and open to do the simplest, smallest acts of kindness. By doing this, you play a valuable role in Hands at Work.  As Mother Teresa said, “What I do you cannot do; but what you do, I can not do. The needs are great, and none of us, including me, ever do great things. But we can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.”

Going back to live in the UK again will take some adjustment but we now know we have a family all over the world; standing with us through anything, striving together to bring heaven a little closer to Earth.

 Beth with children in Susu

Beth and Ali with the Kabwe team when Zambia won the Africa cup!

Dance with Me (UK)

"We have the opportunity to give, to bless and be like Jesus."

On October 7th, 2012 George spoke to The Forge Community Church in Suffolk, UK.

Listen to his full sermon 

 

Teams in Action

Hands at Work in Africa believes something powerful happens when people in a comfortable and conveient society choose to discomfort themselves in order to serve the poor in another part of the world. Friends and family from across the globe visited Hands at Work in Africa this year to learn, serve, encourage and participate in God’s transformation of Africa.

Check out these teams in action!

George in the UK October 2012

Read this post in UK office newsroom to see how you can meet up with George Synman in the UK in October 2012...

UK Newsroom

Imaging God (UK)

Becky Green is Head of Missions at The Forge Community Church, Debenham, Suffolk, which has been partnering with Hands in Zambia for several years. Here, Becky writes about her experiences during her recent visit with a team from the church:

Christina and Douglas are brother and sister.
 
They live in the community of Maposa, Zambia and attend the school there. Christina is 7 years old at a guess, and her younger brother is just 12 months. They are inseparable.
 
We visited Maposa on a Thursday. Earlier in the week, as a team we were looking at what it means to be made in the image of God, and how this has to shape our response to the poor. On the Thursday I saw the image of God played out, right there in Christina and Douglas.
 
The school at Maposa is large, with about 350 children in total. The day was manic with us deworming the children, doing eye tests and playing games with them. All the children were so keen to join in and were running around in the persistent sun just excited to be with the Muzungu’s (white folk).

 However Christina couldn’t play with us or the other children. She was busy. Every attempt she made to separate herself from Douglas was met with screams and tantrums. The poor lad just didn’t want to be apart from his loving and caring older sister. But she didn’t make a fuss. She dutifully hung on to him and comforted him.
 
It made me angry to start with that a 7 year old girl had this responsibility, literally strapped to her back. That she had to care for her brother and missed out on playing. I don’t know her family situation, I don’t know if she lives with parents, grandparents or others. But it was pretty clear that she does a lot of the caring for Douglas.
 
The remarkable thing is that no one taught her that. No one sat her down and said this is how you look after your brother. Remember she’s 7. There’s this inbuilt compassion and nurturing ability in her very being. Something that makes her love, care and look out for Douglas. There’s God inside her.
 
If I ever needed a picture of being made in the image of God, it was right there in Christina. With our heavenly father’s compassion and grace she was imaging God.

Ever considered having your next family get-together in Africa? (AUS)

This team, who recently travelled to South Africa, was made up of extended family members from VIC and NSW. Keen to impact their entire family, the team was made up of adults and children alike.  Their aim: To be changed, and to understand more about the work of Hands at Work in Africa…

On the 26^th June 2012 our team of 17 headed off to South Africa via Perth.  After 16 hours of flying and almost 5 hours of driving we arrived safely at the ‘Hands’ village in White River.  Once orientation was over we headed straight to the Clau Clau Service Centre where we had lunch and then went straight into the community.  In typical African style we were welcomed through singing and dancing, quickly understanding that our talents are very limited in comparison to theirs. Part of our team joined with the Care Workers to visit the homes of widows and orphans (of whom most suffered with HIV).  The younger members of the team played an assortment of games with the children at the care centre.   It was crazy at the time to think that within a couple of days of leaving Australia we were standing in the heart of ‘Hands at Work’, being blessed by each child that gave us a high-five, sat in our lap, took a photograph or stole our sun glasses.   

The next day was a prayer event in Bushbuckridge (BBR) about a 2-hour drive away and we were given the opportunity to pray with the Care Workers of that community.  Something you quickly realise is that Hands at Work is all about relationships.  The Care Workers in these communities don’t need us to dish out the children’s food or build them a well or school building.  Through the partnership with Hands at Work, they can do these things themselves.  The Care Workers sacrifice their time and energy everyday to care for the vulnerable and orphans in their communities.  Our role was to motivate them to continue this amazing sacrifice.  We helped them to understand the importance of their work, to ask their name when nobody else does, and to show them the love of God through our actions just as they show us His love through theirs.    

Throughout our time, we visited two communities, one in Bushbuckridge (Pfunani community) about 2 ½ hours away and the second in Senzikuthle in Clau Clau about 1 hour away.  We were given the opportunity to do home visits and to feed and play with the children at the care centre.  Each night we would debrief about our day.  Some days some of us would have plenty to share and then other days there was not as much.  But after every story I heard I was reminded of suffering so apparent throughout Africa.  Children who were not even 10 years old were more mature than an Australian in their 20s, and, most of them have seen or experienced more horrific situations in their short time on this earth than I ever will in my lifetime.   These children are forced to grow up so young, they are forced to father or mother their siblings in the absence of their parents, the girls are defenseless against any man who knows their vulnerability, and the saddest part of it all is that they most likely won’t ever know life can be any different.   

What I love so much about Hands at Work is that they seek to find the most vulnerable and then advocates every single day for their survival.   You see in the West we assume that food and a lack of parents are Africa’s biggest problems.   To an extent this is very true.  However, there are so many more issues that can as easily take a child’s life.  That is why Hands at Work advocates for the vulnerable as well as the orphans and widows.  

I have been back in Australia for almost a week now and settling back in has been a challenge.  Before leaving South Africa we were warned of the cultural disorientation that would surmount.   Well they were right.  It has been incredibly hard to slip back into the life I left behind.  You see Africa changes us whether we think it does or not, but the world we leave behind doesn’t change.  Our lives stay relatively the same and no matter how hard we try to tell our friends and family about Africa words do not give it justice.  I thank the Lord every day for the change that I have experienced because my life and what is important to me needed to be challenged.  Whether God wants us to work overseas or to work in our own communities here we need to understand how blessed we are.   I did not choose to be born here it was through God’s grace that I have a family and food and a home to live in.  When we were over there George (founder of ‘Hands at Work’ in Africa) told us not to feel guilty for what we have but to feel blessed.  Well I now know that I am incredibly blessed.

Oliver for Oshoek (USA)

By Jungjoo Pak

“MOOOOOMMY~.”  My days often start with my almost three-year-old son hollering for me to come and get him out of his crib.  Who needs an alarm clock when you’ve got young kids eager to start the day?  Most of my days are spent running after my two very energetic boys (Owen who’s almost three and Oliver who just turned one), cooking meals after meals and wiping the floor countless times.  Faces and names of the precious children I met in Africa on my last trip in 2007 often seem so distant and irrelevant to my hectic day-to-day life.  I know this about myself—my tendency to be so self absorbed and caught up in my own world.  That’s why I am so grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to volunteer with Hands U.S. office for the past several years.  More than my small contribution to Hands, I really do receive so much more by staying connected through my involvement.  Every story I read from the different communities adopted by Hands reminds me of the stark reality I saw, touched and felt back in 2007. 

How can I ever forget a precious little girl named Thandazile who fell asleep to my “amazing grace” lullaby with tears rolling down her small cheeks as she drifted into sleep?  She couldn’t have been more than two at the time.  Yet when a bus came to pick her up from a Hands care center to take her back home at the end of the day, she just got in line and walked up to find herself a seat in the bus.  Her independence at such a young age was a necessity for survival.  The image of this little toddler walking up to that bus is still so vivid in my memory.  Now with children of my own, these memories dig even deeper into my heart.

It does seem so overwhelming to think about all the orphaned children in Africa who are desperately in need, both physically and spiritually.  But I am so encouraged by Hands’ focus on reaching one child at a time.  One of the songs that spoke to me so deeply during my trip to Africa was a song called “He knows my name.”  This song talks about how our heavenly father knows every child’s name.  Though often lost in a seemingly insurmountable “number” of orphaned children in Africa, every child is known by God!  This is the approach I’ve been trying to take—trying to be faithful with the opportunities God is giving us in reaching and supporting the most vulnerable children in Africa one child at a time. 

When it came time to plan for my younger son’s first birthday, which tends to be a pretty big deal in my culture, I had a vague desire to somehow use the party to remember and support many precious little children in Africa as we celebrate my precious little son’s first year of life.  At around the same time, I became aware of a small community in South Africa called Oshoek.  This community had been in relationship with Hands for a few years and infrastructure has been put in place to bring in practical help (such as providing one nutritious meal a day for the most vulnerable orphans in the community).  When I found out about Oshoek, I wanted to connect my son’s first birthday to the lives of children in Oshoek.   We sent out invitations to our family, friends and co-workers along with a note that asked our guests to consider bringing a donation for Oshoek instead of a gift for Oliver. 

The party was held at a local park on a beautiful Saturday morning with 80+ guests.  Along with cupcakes and a popcorn bar, I put together and displayed a poster of Oshoek that included a brief community profile along with pictures of the community and its people.  Through the party we were able to raise $855.  I was overwhelmed by the generous response of our guests.  I am reminded through this that there really is no village/people too remote or too small for God.   I know that it is ultimately the Lord who caused us to come to know and remember Oshoek.

Not My Love, but His (SA)

Nora is a volunteer care worker at the Mandlesive Community-Based Organisation (CBO) in South Africa. As a care worker, she joins several other men and women who share her heart of servanthood to bring hope to the most vulnerable children in her community. The care workers visit these children regularly, offering help with homework, spiritual guidance, and a listening ear. They walk them through heartaches and encourage them to follow their Father and the plans He has for them. Evidently, their stories are every bit as compelling as those of the children whom they serve.

"After my boyfriend left me alone to care for our daughter, I started selling home grown vegetables to earn a living. It was tiring work, and often left me stressed and tired at the end of the day. At the time both my sister and my mother were very sick, and I found myself caring for them and my sister’s children in addition to my daily jobs.

My only hope was these women who would come and visit my sister each day. They taught me how to bathe her and care for her. Once my sister died and my little family gained four more, children, I decided that it was too much to bear and I needed some way to cope with my life’s situation. Then my mother passed away. This is when I asked to join these faithful women who had been devoting their days to caring for my sister and her family.

Now that I am a careworker at Mandlesive Community-Based Organisation, I couldn’t ask for a different life. I care for nine orphans by assisting them with their daily activities such as washing, cooking, helping them with their homework, just as the other careworkers cared for my family.  Giving to the community from the bottom of my heart is the reason that I get up every day; the reason that I can cope with losing my sister and my mother. There are often times where I must give up some of my family’s support in order to bring necessities to these children, and sometimes it is difficult for me to explain this to my family. Sometimes people laugh at me and tell me that I am stupid to be giving up my life to care for other people. While this hurts me, the pain of seeing a hungry child hurts more.

The Lord has overwhelmed me with his blessings. He has kept me and my family safe – there are many times where I have worked with very contagiously sick patients, and He has spared me from illness. My daughters are happy and healthy, I have sweet potatoes in the garden and mangoes on my trees, and my family has food on the table each night. I am able to love these orphans that I care for as my own children because I recognize that it’s not my love to give. Our Father has so richly blessed us with His love, and I know that the love that I show these orphans does not come from me, but Him.

Nora was recently trained by Hands at Work, through the Walking with Wounded Children Program. The training, developed by a team of counsellors and psychologists, equips those who care for children with tools to lead them on a path of healing from any emotional wounds or losses they may have experienced. This training, combined with the love embedded in the hearts of women like Nora, are bringing God’s hope to vulnerable children across Africa.

Beauty of Grace

David Da Costa is a musician from Mozambique, living in Australia. Him and his wife, Carly, give time volunteering for Hands at Work in Australia. Inspired by stories of desperate African communities, they wrote this song and we are giving it to you now as a free download.

Diamonds in the Dust

Diamonds in the Dust from Hands at Work in Africa on Vimeo.

“Diamonds in the dust.” It’s a beautiful phrase that we have been using in Hands at Work right from the beginning of our history. -Hands at Work Founder, George Snyman

Buried in the backrooms of poor communities, these youth are truly our diamonds in the dust, and worth a lifetime of searching for and discovering them.

Following her Heart back to Africa (CAN) (SA)

Christa Roby, a massage therapist in British Columbia, Canada, volunteered with Hands at Work for six months in South Africa in 2010. Two years later, she feels an undeniable pull to return. Read her reflections as she prepares to pack up her life in Canada and follow her heart, and God’s calling, to Africa.

"For me, it's harder to be away from Africa than it is here... It’s where my heart is. After being there so much and having that time with the people there, and seeing someone who has so little, but gives so much, it just becomes something you want to be a part of, something you want to share in...It's raw, it's innocent, and it’s a deeper sense of fulfillment."

Read the rest Christa's reflections on coming back to Africa in the Chilliwack Progress.

"I soon realized that making the decision and actually doing the follow-through are two very distinct acts. But no matter how big the effort to follow-through would be, I knew in my heart I would walk it out."

To raise money for her trip, Christa hosted a charity gala in her hometown. Read about it on the Hands at Work Canada Page.