Hands at Work
Pastor Theo Low's Reflections from Zambia

In July 2019, Pastor Theo Low visited Zambia with a team from Sunset Church in San Francisco, California, with Hands at Work. He shared his reflections as he finished his fourth full day in Africa and his third day of a church mobilization.

“Most of these local pastors are bi-vocational, which means they have small churches and they are not paid to pastor their church. But these men have a great hunger for the Word of God… I realized, I may leave, but this family and this neighborhood will still have faithful men preaching and teaching God’s Word. These men have affirmed their love for the true gospel, they hold God’s Word up high, and they constantly reference it.”


Pastor Theo Low's Reflections from Zambia

In July 2019, Pastor Theo Low visited Zambia with a team from Sunset Church in San Francisco, California, with Hands at Work. He shared his reflections as he finished his fourth full day in Africa and his third day of a church mobilization.

“Most of these local pastors are bi-vocational, which means they have small churches and they are not paid to pastor their church. But these men have a great hunger for the Word of God… I realized, I may leave, but this family and this neighborhood will still have faithful men preaching and teaching God’s Word. These men have affirmed their love for the true gospel, they hold God’s Word up high, and they constantly reference it.”


The Ridgewood Team Reflections from South Africa

“When you surrender fully to God, you will see the amazing things He is able to accomplish in and through you.”

That was the advice of Morgan Efferson who, with six other students, traveled for ten days to Beeskop and Sthobela, South Africa to work with Hands in serving the most vulnerable. Ridgewood Church put together a team of seven girls, enthusiastic about following the call to serve the widows and orphans. Recalling how they stirred pap with the gogos (grandmothers), got their hands dirty with gardening, played with the children at the service center, and shared stories with Care Workers, it became clear that God used these ten days to challenge and grow them in unimaginable ways.

“It was hard seeing the way people live, but it made me realize that we should appreciate what we have,” Jasmine Quinones says. “They are more appreciative... They were always joyful no matter what.”

The Bridge Team Reflections from Zambia

In late May and early June 2019, The Bridge Church from Venice, Florida, sent a team of five to Zambia through Hands at Work in Africa. They visited the community of Chibote in Zambia. Here are some reflections from team members Peter Gemma, Christie McKinney, Zander McKinney and Cheri Chambers on their experiences and the events that led them to join the team.

Why did you join the team?

“I have a special place in my heart for Africa; this was my fifth time traveling there, albeit never on a missions trip… I’m a different man because of that trip.” - Peter Gemma

“I found myself sitting in church listening to a very soft-spoken man, George Snyman, talk about his experiences of loving people in Nigeria and walking a plank over dirty water just to get to their homes. He charged us that, to really know our Father's heart for others, we have to walk the plank. This sermon rekindled a flame that hadn't gone out but was dimmed by children and life but now I found myself in a place where I could go.” - Christie McKinney

Broken and Built Up

Ever since I was little, I had the dream of going to Africa, opening an orphanage and setting it up with locals to run. I would then go back and forth to America to raise funds and open more! I knew this was a crazy dream. Once I was done with college, someone proposed I do foster care since that wasn’t as farfetched, so I did. I applied, not expecting to be accepted due to my crazy life growing up, but I was. I started with respite foster care (when a family temporarily provides short-term care for a child to give his/her foster family a break) and then got my first two full time foster kids. They had two other siblings, so I eventually also took in their middle brother. I adopted all three on 11/21/2015. The fourth child was expected to age out at 18 years old and transition out of the foster care system, so I decided to pursue her and see if she could also live with us. I adopted her 2 years later on 11/21/2017. All four children have high special needs. I had never left them overnight before.

When I was asked to join a trip to Africa for 2 weeks, I had so many mixed emotions. As I was praying and fighting with myself on what to do, one night, my oldest came up with this “grand idea” that I should go to Africa and leave them home since the flight would be too long for them! That basically solidified my decision and let me know loud and clear that it was going to be okay, so I committed…

Start at the Beginning

“How was your trip to Malawi?” It comes off as a simple question. But I have found it difficult to answer. It’s a trip that has no end since what I witnessed in Malawi continues to change me today. Writing this is another example of this challenge. But I’ll try. Let me start at the beginning.

When I was asked to be part of the first medical mission team from our church, I wanted to say no. Most would assume the reason to be the inconvenience of serving so far from home. But it wasn’t. It was the “medical” part that was my deterrent. Working as an ER doctor for 13 years had placed me in a very dark place. So, practicing medicine would be the last thing I wanted to do outside of work. But God asked. And I obeyed, hoping for a miracle.

Hands at Work Youth: Interview with Kayla Chang

In the summer of 2016, Kayla Chang (now 16) went on a missions trip to Malawi through Hands at Work with a team from Grace Church of Alameda in northern California. The team was there for 10 days with the goal of “[building] relationships with the Care Workers…show them that we were there to support them, pray for them, and help in any way that we could…We hoped that the relationships we built could continue in the future when we would send more teams.” Here she recounts her mission and some of her fondest memories.

I think these trips are important because Hands and our teams act as a bridge between these vulnerable communities and the Lord. Although we aren’t doing big things like building them houses or buying them food, our support and presence help the Care Workers and orphans so much. We are showing them that there are people out there who are thinking of them, supporting them, and spreading the good news that God is always watching over them. The Lord called my family that summer to serve, and He is always working through people to go on missions like this. He is always thinking of everyone out in this world. And that’s why I think these trips are important: it shows that the Lord will always provide. It might not be in the way you think, but He keeps sending teams to Africa and working through them to bless the Care Workers and children.

Krumwiede & Abundant Life Church Reflections from Zambia 2018

In August 2018, I was privileged to travel to Chisamba, Zambia, along with members of my family, people from my church and a few tag alongs. There were 14 of us altogether; only one of which besides me had ever been on a Hands trip before. With my three loves all in one place - my family, my church and Africa - it felt as close to heaven as I will ever get on earth!

Since this was my third trip to Chisamba, I was blessed to have a relationship with Peter and Cecilia, Wynifreida, who is now the head of the CBO there, and several of the other Care Workers. It was wonderful to be able to greet them as old friends and see the progress the Life Center has made during the past three years since my last visit- the flush toilet, the brick cooking house with covered meeting room, and the growth and maturity of the staff, plus the 50 children added to the feeding program. I was welcomed as an old friend and lots of questions were asked about family members who had visited in the past, but were unable to make the trip this year.

Interview with Sara Makwakwa: Part 2

When did you know you wanted to give your life to this ministry and continue to serve in Africa?

In October 2017 at Hands at Work’s annual gathering, God spoke to me when He challenged me about knowing the kids in Malawi and South Africa by name. Do I pray for them by name? Do I take their challenges personally? Do I allow things to happen to them that I wouldn’t allow to my children? Up until then, I was happy to serve and felt that I was doing enough by performing the tasks that are part of my role. But during that gathering, the Holy Spirit convicted me that that’s not enough. “I brought you into the homes of these children. I’ve told you their names so that you can speak their names in prayer. Who else prays for them by name? It might only be you.” It was at that October gathering that I realized God has entrusted these children to me.  

Interview with Sara Makwakwa: Part 1

When and how did you know that you were called to serve the vulnerable?

I was in church on a Friday night when a visiting missionary came. Ed spoke about the love that Jesus had for the most vulnerable. Of course it was not new to me, but the Holy Spirit spoke to me that night. He shared about people he knew who were loving the vulnerable the same way that Jesus did. He shared stories of people caring for patients and children in Masoyi, South Africa. I listened closely and the Holy Spirit stirred something in my heart. I prayed. The next day I asked him more about these people and if I could join them. He told me about Hands at Work in Africa

Goodbyes

In July 2018, Steve Kim traveled to Zambia with his wife, three children, and another family of five from Menlo Church in San Mateo, California. He reflected on his time in Chibote community with his team, the Kitwe Service Center staff, and the Care Workers and children they serve.

Today was our last day in Chibote. The past week and a half has stirred various emotions, none more than this afternoon when we paused to honor the Care Workers by washing their feet. Our simple act of gratitude was strangely cathartic seeing the dust wash away from their soles, as if my own soul, brimming with pangs of guilt, was also being washed clean .. even momentarily.

Ridgewood Church Reflections from South Africa 2018

In June 2018, a group of four from New York and Texas who are affiliated with Hands U.S. partner churches Ridgewood Pentecostal Church in Brooklyn, NY, and Chinese Christian Church of Maryland in Silver Spring, MD, traveled to South Africa. During their week there, they spent time at the Hands at Work Hub, at the Oshoek Service Center, and in the communities of Mafambisa, Beeskop and Sthobela. Here are a few reflections from team members Corrin Chow, Hannah Waldvogel and Sini Varghese about their trip, which they shared in a newsletter to their supporters:

“We set out to visit the Sthobela Care Point… A place where children are fed, where relationship groups happen, where the church is involved, and where the community can come if they need help or assistance with anything. It was amazing to see how much this Care Point has grown. In 2015 I visited for the first time and saw a small kitchen serving a group of 50 children. Now, three years later that tiny kitchen has grown into a building overlooking the mountainous region of Oshoek. It serves 75 children, is known by the community, and has 7 care workers.” - Corrin Chow , team Leader.

Wellspring Church Reflections from Malawi 2018

In 2007, I had an opportunity to join a missions team to Africa with my church. I was excited about the trip but also had reservations about going because it would mean leaving my wife alone to care for a toddler and newborn for two weeks. In one of her many acts of grace toward me in our marriage, Amy encouraged me to go so I went on my first trip to South Africa through Hands at Work that July. I knew the experience would change me but I didn’t anticipate how profoundly it would affect my family in the coming years.

Christ Church Reflections from Africa 2018

In May 2018, a team of eight from Christ Church in San Francisco, California, traveled to Malawi to serve and walk alongside the Dedza Service Center team and Care Workers in the community of Mcheneke. Here are a few reflections from team members Janice Whang, Lauren Chun, and Craig & Dani Ebersole about their trip, which they shared during Mission Highlights presentations at their church:

“Before we went, although we financially support Hands at Work as a church, the folks at Hands asked us to please refrain from “trying to help,” but to give of ourselves, to be present, listening and learning. To understand what the Lord is already doing there and the work he gave his people to do. If we really wanted to give them anything, then give some encouragement in the Lord…

Youth-Led Lettering Camp at Wellspring Church

For as long as I can remember, my church has been partnered with Hands at Work in Africa. Founded by George Snyman, it is a wonderful organization that empowers the local African church to provide the most vulnerable orphans access to food, basic health care, and education. My church, Wellspring Church, is one of their many partners, and we mainly support the Mcheneke community in Malawi, Africa. I knew God was calling me to support them somehow, but other than going on a mission trip to Africa, I didn’t know exactly what I could do to help.  

All my life, I have loved being creative, but over this last year, I have specifically grown a passion for watercolor lettering and calligraphy. I was able to use this passion to help with the Hands at Work Youth Art Auction in 2017 by auctioning off some of my lettering and artwork. Inspired by the auction, I came up with the idea to run an art & lettering camp for those who wanted to learn, since many people had previously asked me to teach them.

Interview with long-term volunteer Michelle Tom

Q: What brought you to Hands at Work?
A: In 2012, Christ Church started partnering with Hands after Pastor Toby Kurth went on a Vision Trip to learn more about the ministry. When he shared about how he saw the love of Christ through our brothers and sisters in Malawi serving their vulnerable neighbors, I remember feeling encouraged to do the same in San Francisco. Though I never felt a calling to overseas missions, I wanted to go and see what God was doing in Malawi.

In 2013, I joined my church’s team to visit the community of Mcheneke in Malawi. It was an eye opening experience for me. I spent time with Care Workers (CWs; local volunteers caring for their vulnerable neighbors), played with children and did Holy Home Visits (HHVs; visits to the homes of children served by the Hands ministry and their caregivers). On an HHV, I visited a Gogo (grandmother) who was suffering from malaria, which prevented her from caring for her three grandchildren. They lived in a home with no door or windows. The children had a look of despair. I was struck by the vulnerability of the family and left Malawi with a heavy heart, hopeful that the the CWs would bring hope and healing to them through the love of Jesus. That was the beginning of my journey with Hands.

Stories of West Coast Advocates Coming Together: Part Two

2018.03.15-HAWinLAarea.JPG

Southern California

A few days later, on Thursday, March 15, 2018, another Advocates Gathering took place in Kani & Rubin Kim’s home in the north side of Los Angeles. Similar to the event in San Francisco, Hands Advocates in the area enjoyed a meal together, reflected on a devotional, and listened to audio updates from U.K. long-term volunteer Dan Waspe about Ilaje in Nigeria, and Xolani Makwakwa from the Oshoek Service Center about Beeskop and Sthobela in South Africa, three communities supported by the partners who were represented. The group prayed for each other’s supported communities, the Care Workers who serve the most vulnerable there, and the Service Center staff who support them.

Afterwards, Kani Kim, whose family supports children in Oshoek in receiving the three Essential Services, commented that she was incredibly blessed by the gathering. She said, “Being here in the States, in the comforts of our luxuries and lost in the midst of the busyness of our daily routine of work and family, we often find ourselves fatigued and worn out by it all, sometimes running on fumes. We are tired and weary, but we find ways to press forward, to move forward, because that's what we're used to doing. But when we have our Advocates Gathering and hear all the beautiful stories of the amazing ways in which God moves, drawing the lost to Him, pouring out his grace to those who serve Him, strengthening those who are leading, it reminds us to take His yoke upon us - for it is easy and it is where we feel His peace covering our tired souls. It is when we take His yoke we are reminded of the greater work that is being done and needs to be done, and through that renewed strength and energy, we rise up joyously, for we have a purpose far greater than our eyes can see and our own hearts can anticipate." 

She continued, “Each time we meet we are able to reset, and take His yoke upon us. Each time we meet, we are reminded of the wonders of His love - how expansive it is, how glorious it is. Each time we meet we are reminded that we have brothers and sisters on the front-lines, fighting ferociously for God's glory and it reminds us to gather alongside them in prayer and in community.... Hearing George speak, the leaders of the communities speak, it keeps us in touch with what is happening and what still needs to happen. While the organization is growing, there is still a great need for leaders and for prayer. Having the prayer requests directly from the leaders working there helps us see the blessings as well as the needs that are still there.” 

Stories of West Coast Advocates Coming Together: Part One

2018.03.11-HAWinSFBayArea2.jpg

Northern California

On Sunday, March 11, 2018, Hands at Work Advocates in the San Francisco Bay Area met to volunteer with a local ministry that serves vulnerable and isolated residents, and spend time over a meal together in a home. It was a blessed time for this group to build relationships based on their shared experience of walking alongside Care Workers and the vulnerable children they serve in Africa.

The afternoon began at City Impact (CI) in the impoverished Tenderloin neighborhood of San Francisco, where Advocates from Wellspring Church, Christ Church, Sunset Church and Menlo Church Life Group volunteered with CI’s Adopt A Building (AaB) ministry, which seeks to “intervene through building relationships that will lead people to life transformation.” Similar to the experience of teams hosted by Hands at Work, AaB volunteers conduct regular home visits to vulnerable and isolated residents in San Francisco to build relationships with them, encourage them and show them the love of Christ. 

Lauren Lee, who advocates for Hands at her Menlo Church Life Group, noted that “walking through the Tenderloin and visiting friends in the neighborhood is at the heart of what Hands calls Holy Home Visits. I am so thankful that we can participate in this together as Advocates in our home town. It was definitely an adventure for me taking the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train, getting off at Civic Center station and walking over to City Impact as I witnessed several groups of people sitting or lying in the streets. One group I passed was sniffing drugs out in the open, and while walking over to the building where we were going to deliver the food, there were several cop cars going in the wrong direction and then other cops running after someone... This is definitely something I don't see regularly, and it sure brought perspective to my every day!” 

Amanda Baumann, Hands co-Advocate at Christ Church, commented that “Christian service should not be transactional but rather relational”, which she noted as being the foundation of both the Adopt-A-Building and Hands at Work ministries. Her husband Andrew added that he was struck by how Mary Choy from Sunset Church, who helped lead the home visit teams, was obviously a consistent visitor who had earned the trust of the residents over time. Amanda also appreciated how City Impact began with a time of worship before the home visit teams dispersed to their respective buildings because “it got us in the right headspace to prepare our hearts to build relationships.” She recognized the need for her to similarly prepare herself for her trip with the Christ Church team to Mcheneke, Malawi, this year. 

After the home visits, the Advocates adjourned to Abe & Suzette Lee’s home for a “Bring and Share” potluck dinner, lifted our voices in praise and worship, reflected on a devotional on our Servant God, and listened to audio updates from George Snyman, Blessings Sambo and Busie Sitaya Jones from Hands Africa about several communities that our Bay Area partners support -- namely, Mcheneke in Malawi, and Chibote and Zimba in Zambia. We also prayed together for the International Church (Day 23 prayer point in Hands’ 40 Days of Prayer series), each other’s supported communities, our Bay Area ministries that also serve the vulnerable, as well as for George and our African leaders. 

Lauren Lee reflected that, “It was definitely encouraging to hear about the local church efforts in Chibote, which her Menlo Life Group helps support through Hands, as well as the increase in children being supported. The time together made me even more excited about our time in Zambia… This has been on my heart for a number of years and to see it happening and being part of it… was a huge blessing!”

Reflections from the Hands at Work Youth Art & Music Fundraiser

On Saturday, November 18th, about 100 people gathered at the Bedford Gallery in the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek, California, for an evening of music, art and food to raise money for the orphans that Hands at Work supports in Africa. Both friends and family attended to hear from Hands at Work co-founder George Snyman and to participate in this significant mission of caring for the millions of orphans and widows on a continent 10,000 miles away.

Partnering with Nurses for Africa

Nurses for Africa, a non-profit organization sponsored by Ten Talents, has sent up to four teams to Africa each year since its partnership with Hands at Work began in 2009. These medical teams consist of nurses and other medical and non-medical volunteers who run mobile clinics, teach prenatal and wellness classes, and conduct home visits in the poorest of the poor communities where Hands at Work serves. 

Reunited

Miguel Chinn first stepped on Zambian soil in 2015 when he traveled there with his parents and older brother and sister as part of a team of 10 from Sunset Church in San Francisco. He returned to the region this year with his mother and was blessed to be reunited with a friend he had made two years earlier.

Read Miguel's story about their reunion here...