“I love caring for the children. It is my love for the children that has kept me going. There are times when it is difficult but when I think about the children, I know that I can’t give up because who else would care for them? When I get weary and tired, I pray and ask God to remind me of the first love that I had for the children.”
MY LIFE: CATHERINE CLARKSON, INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER (UK)
Ministering at Hands at Work has brought the scripture from Isaiah 58 alive in my life, which was prophesied over me when I was 19 and getting baptised. The verse is about spending yourself on behalf of the hungry and, if you do, that your light will rise like the noon day and will be like a well-watered garden. I’ve realised over the years that not only is the well-watered garden good for other people to feed from, receive nourishment and point to who God is, but it’s good for me to.
MY LIFE: JACKIE OKINDA, AFRICAN LEADER (KENYA)
Prior to joining Hands at Work, I had been sent by my church in Kenya to South Africa for a church plant. While serving in this church, I met some people from Hands and got connected. Many years earlier, there was a prophecy spoken over my life that I would serve children who need the love of Jesus.
MY LIFE: JO POULSOM, INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER (UK)
Before joining Hands at Work, God had already put in me a real love for women of different cultures and older women and people who are struggling and going through difficulties in life. One of my most precious memories is the chance that my husband Chris and I had to go to Moldova (which is near Romania), and my highlight was sitting in a hut with a woman who had lost everything, and I was able to hold her hand and be with her.
MY LIFE: WILLIAM MUSHANGA, AFRICAN LEADER (ZAMBIA)
MY LIFE: ROSA FRANCISCO, A CARE WORKER IN MATSINHO A COMMUNITY, MOZAMBIQUE
MY LIFE: PETER HAGEMANN, INTERNATIONAL OFFICE VOLUNTEER (GERMANY)
My first contact with Hands at Work was during a study tour to South Africa/Eswatini in 2016. I was deeply touched and moved by the visits at the Care Points and by George, who shared his story with us. After our return to Germany, we advocated for a partnership between our church council and Hands at Work which was established in 2017. Since then, I have been supporting the “Patenprojekt Afrika” as a coordinator, and I am currently involved in setting up Hands at Work Germany.
MY LIFE: BRENDA AND CRAIG REBRO, HANDS AT WORK PARTNERS AND ADVOCATES
The Lord brought Hands at Work into my life in 2008. I had been advocating in the United States for orphans and vulnerable children and felt that I should specifically help the vulnerable children of Africa. To make a long story short, after a few short-term trips, our family felt called to serve at Hands full time. Craig and I served for over three years when we felt our season at Hands was done.
MY LIFE: ABRAM, A CHILD FROM ZIMBA COMMUNITY, ZAMBIA
MY LIFE: LOUISE*, A CHILD LIVING IN BUHIMBA COMMUNITY IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
“My prayer and desire is to be like one of the Care Workers that care for me.”
MY LIFE: MICHAEL MWILA, HANDS AT WORK LEADER (ZAMBIA)
Earlier this year, I was driving back from community when another car hit the vehicle I was driving. Thankfully there was not much damage to the vehicle except the window at the back. The other vehicle was damaged beyond repair. Shortly after, I received a message from Suzette Tay-Lee (International Office Volunteer, US). She said, ‘Hello Michael, how are you? We are praying for you and your family.’ I was saved because at the time of the accident, someone was praying for me.
MY LIFE: KARA MCLAUGHLIN, INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER (AUSTRALIA)
In Exodus 34, verse six, God describes himself as merciful and gracious and slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Over the past six years with Hands, I feel like I've been able to get to the heart of the Father. To get to know on a deeper level those truths that He says about himself of his love, his grace, his mercy, his faithfulness, how he is slow to anger. I've got to know his compassion and that his heart is to bring healing and to bring restoration. He doesn't look away from the suffering and the pain.
MY LIFE: TINA BAUTZ, HANDS AT WORK ADVOCATE
MY LIFE: MAMA MARIE, A PRIMARY CAREGIVER FROM TOYOTA COMMUNITY IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
"When I saw how the Care Workers visited my house and my children, I was inspired to join them so that together we can serve these children. I do this ministry because I know that I'm doing it for our Father in Heaven, not for man."
MY LIFE: TIM VAN HOFFEN, MEMBER OF THE HANDS AT WORK INTERNATIONAL OFFICE IN CANADA
My first involvement with Hands at Work began with a short term team in 2014. My son, Devon, had left home a few months prior to this trip to serve for one year with Hands at Work. My wife and I thought it was important to see what he was doing as he was already talking about staying on for longer than a year. My wife Kathleen and I travelled to Zambia and South Africa with another son and a niece. For three weeks, we visited multiple communities, seeing first-hand the work going on in these countries. It was in the community of Mulenga that I believe God captured my heart to get involved. I didn't know it at the time, but it was in that time and place that I think the words of Isaiah 58:6-12 came truly alive for me.
MY LIFE: JONES KABAMBANYA, HANDS AT WORK LEADER, ZAMBIA
MY LIFE: TYLER RALPH (INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER, CANADA)
God’s changed my life completely. My personal experience was trying to climb the ladder at work and make more money and get that next title and buy a bigger house and bigger things. I was on my way to doing those things. I felt like I lived a very selfish existence. It was all about me. I wasn't helping anyone. I wasn't prepared to part with $5 to help someone else because it meant less in my pocket.
MY LIFE: TAIWO, MEMBER OF THE LOCAL HANDS AT WORK TEAM IN LAGOS, NIGERIA
“One of my highlights of working with Hands at Work has been how God has opened my eyes to see the way other people are living. God has shown me that there are people who are suffering and that they are close to God’s heart. I have learned the importance of giving what I have to the people around me.”
MY LIFE: BETHUEL, MEMBER OF THE HANDS AT WORK MAINTENANCE TEAM AT THE HUB IN SOUTH AFRICA
I am the oldest of three boys growing up in Masoyi Community, South Africa. My mum and dad separated when I was nine and my mum disappeared. Staying with my dad was good, but it got tough when my dad started getting sick and then passed away when I was 12 years old. We had nowhere to go and faced rejection from my dad’s family.
MY LIFE: TOMMY MALSTER, INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER (UK)
When I came to Africa, I had this thing in my head that I was going to come and change Africa with everything that I had learnt in school. But that wasn’t the case. It really sunk in during the first Holy Home Visit that I went on. It was at that point that I realised that everything I had learnt didn’t matter.