Session Seven | Debrief

Length: 120 minutes

Welcome Back!

Purpose: To do a final debrief with the team after they have had a week or two to recuperate from the trip – but not too long afterwards so that the trip is still fresh on their minds – and reflect on their next steps, personally and as part of the partnership.

This session is facilitated by a Hands at Work International Office representative and attended by all team members and the Advocate(s). 

  • Share story of a child or Care Worker and pray (5 minutes)

    • Ask a team member in advance to share a story and lead the group in an opening prayer.

  • Review the overall experience (1.5 hour)

    • Discuss your time in Africa with your group: the things you saw, things you felt, how the experience has impacted you. As team members you must understand that you have experienced something unique together. You should treasure and support this relationship that has been built amongst your team. These are people you can relate to and draw on for support when you reflect on what you have experienced in Africa.

The Hands at Work representative will facilitate discussion and reflection of the team’s time in Africa, based on the following questions:

  • How has it been since returning? What have been some joys and sorrows?

  • How has this experience affected you, in terms of (a) your view of the world around you and (b) your walk with Christ?

  • How did you encounter your own poverty whilst on the trip?

  • What was one thing you felt God was stirring in your heart and asking you personally to do, coming out of this trip, in your relationship to your partner community and family/church?

  • What do you see getting in the way of being faithful to that? What practices/rhythms do you have (or need) in place to remain faithful?

  • What questions or challenges are lingering for you from this experience?

What’s Next?

The Advocate should review the goals of the partnership and discuss how the team can help advance them, for example, by sharing their experiences and stories of people they met.

What’s Next?

Return on a team. Lead a team, inviting others in your church community, including leadership

  • Return as a volunteer (1 year+)

Share with your partnership at a sharing event! Return to Session Five for a framework for sharing, or see the resource guide on HOW TO SHARE

  • Invite friends and family to participate in the partnership through praying, giving regularly, visiting, and knowing families and their stories

  • Join the community of Advocates in your home country

Join the Hands at Work prayer rhythms, including downloading the Hands at Work Prayer App

  • Pray through the layers with specific names of people who the team would have met. Do this together to close

    • Vulnerable child

    • Caregiver

    • Care Worker

    • Service Centre staff

    • Regional Support Team staff

    • Hub

    • International office

    • Partner, including Advocate(s) and team members

  • Gather a group of people regularly to pray for children and Care Workers by name

Equip the Care Workers with tools to care for vulnerable families by lifting the burden off the grandmothers and Caregivers. Twenty-five dollars a month supports a child in receiving a daily meal, education and holistic care.

Identify ways to apply what you have witnessed in Africa to your local context.

WE ARE - Regular rhythms of prayer and gathering are an integral part of the community of Hands at Work in Africa and across the globe. These times are targeted specifically for building relationships with God and with one another. The Hands at Work Community is built on the foundation of Christ and we are called to express our worship, prayers and faith together as a community. Perhaps upon return, you have a desire to create new rhythms, or participate in Hands at Work’s rhythms in your own country, such as weekly bible studies, prayer meetings, advocates calls, etc.

WE DO - Do what the Care Workers do. Follow in their footsteps. Ask the question: “Who are the most vulnerable in my community?”, “Is there somebody I can do a Holy Home Visit with?” and respond.
Volunteer with your country’s Hands at Work office.