Lockdown Poem!

In the stillness, You are there,

In the uncertainty, You still care,

Your love remains, 

Through it all.

In the silence, I find peace,

In the quiet, all fear has to cease,

Your love remains, 

Through it all.

We do not know what is to come,

Nor have we since this crisis begun,

Your love remains,

Through it all.

You are solid, You are true,

You are the hope in this crazy avenue,

Your love remains,

Through it all.

Post-Zambia Musings...

I decided not to write a blog again when I was out in Zambia, and I was quite glad I decided that as our time there was quite busy and I don't know when I would've found time! It was an amazing time and though I don't want to waffle on for too long, I will try and summarise the main things we achieved.

The first thing was that the school was in danger of being closed down by the government because of poor lighting and ventilation. The extension they had been given to get this sorted was actually after the Easter break, and we went during the break, so the timing was perfect! We paid for 8 new openings with louvre windows, plus 6 new strip lights and 3 large fans. The school is an amazing thing to be able to give to as it caters for a large number of vulnerable children, including those from the orphanage (up to grade 7), and the lighting and ventilation will definitely make a huge difference!

First of five openings to provide better lighting in the School

The next thing we set out to do was to give the Internet cafe a boost. Ritesh was taking classes each day, and he also trained Vincent, who is going to take the whole thing forward. We also paid for the next internet installment, and for a sign board advertising the cafe, school and English classes. The English classes are still happening and going well, and Ali was able to give Agnes some training on her new laptop (which we also bought), and this will facilitate communication of easy exchange of teaching resources.

New sign should hopefully bring lots of people in!

My personal highlight was the final thing we gave to, and that was for a bore hole to be dug. The work men drilled over 50 metres underground to reach water, and the Centre will now have fresh, running water 24/7! It was so exciting to watch and wait for the water to come up, knowing that it will make a huge difference to the lives of the children living there, and everyone who works at or visits the Centre 😊

The bore hole being dug

They were the main things that we used the money we raised for, as well as other little things like hair clippers and food. Something we want to put in place now is to help to provide the children with food, clothing and school/college fees, so watch this space as we get it set up. Once again, thank you so much to everyone who donated or helped with fundraising in any way, without you none of this would've been possible!

I really enjoyed spending time with the children every day and teaching them to play some games that we took over, which they loved! The family we stayed with were really lovely too, and very hospitable. It was definitely less of a culture shock going back this time, and it was so lovely to see old friends again, and make new ones also. The hardest bit was definitely saying goodbye to the children, it's so heart breaking to leave them behind, I wanted to pack them all in my suitcase! 😉  

Teaching some of the children to play Twister

A lesson that I learnt/something I felt God speaking to me about was gratitude. I just realised again how much we have and how much there is to take for granted- running water and an ample supply of food & drink being two of the main things, as well as many more luxury items that they just don't have. I just felt that I should be so grateful for all I have, not just materialistic things either, but also my amazing family, friends, church, a job to go to etc. Their love and trust in God convicts me too, because although they have so little materialistically, they have so much in the Kingdom and their love for God, and need for Him and His provision is so genuine. Makes me think of Matthew 5:3 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.'

I'll leave it there as I still haven't fully processed everything, but basically it was an amazing time and I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to go back. God is good.

The Return to Zambia!

Three years has passed since the last time I went to Zambia, and I'll be heading back again in just under two weeks! It feels quite different to last time as that was the first time of going there, as well as properly abroad! Therefore I felt quite nervous and didn't really know what to expect, but this time I feel excited about being reunited with the children at the orphanage and other good friends I made when I was there in 2014, I can't wait to see them all again! :) 
Ritesh is coming this time, along with Len and Ali, and it will be his first time in Zambia, so I'm excited for him too! 
The team has been busy doing lots of fundraising for the projects we will be involved with when we're there. This time Ali will be continuing to support the Literacy Project and training Agnes (the literacy project tutor) in use of ICT, so that communication can effectively take place on our return.  Ritesh will be helping with the IT Project, and will be setting up an accounting system and developing a business plan with a guy called Davies. Len will be involved in maintenance work around the ophanage and school. And I will be involved with youth work with the girls, and will be taking small groups of children from the school and orphanage into the Internet Cafe for tuition. All rather exciting!!
Finally, Just to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has donated towards our fundraising or been involved in the fundraising events! All your help has been invaluable, whether you ran a race, helped to organise the fish and chip quiz night, made a donation for the raffle, did a sponsored silence, baked some cakes, knitted some blankets... the list could go on and we are massively grateful for everyones efforts!
Thank you also for the prayer support, please continue to pray for the projects and for protection for the team, and a productive & successful trip! :)

The 10K Running Team!

About time for another blog!

Wow, I've just realised the last blog post I wrote was in 2014 - oops!

I got re-inspired about poetry again this week, and decided I'd give it a go, as it's been a long time since I've written a poem!

Here it is :) ...

Faithful God, my Father

Unchangeable, You are.

You are my hope, my strength

Your light, my leading star.

You direct my path, God

In You I put my trust.

You bring joy in the morning,

And shake off all the dust.

You restore hope when lost,

Assuage my fears, bring peace.

Promise joy - a new day,

Cause the darkest storm to cease.

You love where there is hate,

Release grace upon grace

You wipe away the past,

So we can see Your face.

You are all this and more God,

You restore all that is lost.

Thank you for who You are,

And for paying the great cost. 

Amazing Grace

I haven't written a blog since I went to Zambia, which was in February earlier this year... so when someone asked me the other day to write another one, I agreed it probably was about time!

The only thing I can think to write about is how recently I've just been amazed again at God's grace.

At church we sing a song, and the chorus goes like this :

Now my debt is paid, it is paid in full
by the precious blood that my Jesus spilled.
Now the curse of sin has no hold on me,
whom the son sets free, oh is free indeed!

Every time we sing it, I just think WOW God!

It came as a bit of a wake up call the last time we sang it (Sunday just gone), and I was reminded again that it isn't about what we can achieve, it isn't about striving to be good, it isn't about what we can do for God... I was reminded that we can't ever be good enough for God, but that really isn't the point.
God loves us and has set us free from the curse of sin, and the only way we can live in the completeness of this is to stop with the striving and trying in our own strength... and to simply call on God's amazing grace. So often we feel we need to be 'in the right place' and have everything sorted before we can approach the throne... we forget that our debt has been paid because of the huge sacrifice made for us on that cross, and although there is no way we can ever deserve God's love, He has already paid the price for us.
It is, after all, all about God... sometimes it's just too easy to forget that, and that's, I guess, when it becomes all about us and our efforts to please Him.

This bible verse says it much better than I ever could, in much fewer words :)

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.

Zambia- Final Blog!

Tuesday

Sanchie kept telling me she will miss me loads today- the feeling was mutual!
It was sunny again today, after all the rain yesterday! Sunshine for our last day :)
We began the day with giving out certificates to the I.T class and English Lit class, this was great!
They were all dressed up and very excited about receiving their certificates!
In the afternoon we gave out some more lollies to all the school children, whilst saying goodbye to every class! We then popped into town to exchange our left over money and get the family we stayed with some chocolate! We also picked Gladys up, who had been shopping for our leaving meal that evening- in a carrier bag she had 3 live chickens! She put them in the boot of the car, and I couldn't help jumping every time one of them squawked- needless to say I couldn't wait for dinner time ;)

For the rest of the afternoon, we spent some really lovely time with the children. Malama and Suzen disappeared, and came back with a letter for me- telling me how much they love me and will miss me. So lovely!
Another of the girls, Lilian, gave me a bracelet which says 'God bless you.' Such lovely girls. We shared the last of our sweets out with them all, and they were very happy!
When it came to 7 pm, George arrived to collect us. The goodbyes were the hardest thing! All the children walked with us to the car, and little Catherine started crying and whispered in my ear "I will always remember you Auntie Hannah". I couldn't stop crying after this... and Ali was really upset too. Eventually, after hugs all round we got into the car and went onto our next destination- our leaving meal at Glady's house!
We turned up a bit late and most people were already there and waiting for us. The gathering was basically all the Pastors and their wives, all just wanting to thank us for our work there. It was a lovely time- and the chicken tasted good too ;)
After this we said more goodbyes, seemed to be never ending and really hard!
This night we didn't get much sleep as we wanted to stay up and be with the family for the last time. In the end we went to bed and got a few hours kip before getting up to travel home!

Wednesday & Thursday

We said goodbye (more goodbyes!) to the amazing family we stayed with, and said we hoped to see them again sometime... and piled into the car at 8 am.

Next we picked up Farayi and James and George and Yvonne came with us also to the airport (Yvonne was going to make sure George stayed awake on the way home!)
A long, bumpy drive to the airport and we were finally there! We said our goodbyes to George, Yvonne and Farayi who was staying on for a few more days.
Finally, we arrived in Kenya where we met Len... it was good to catch up with him and hear all his stories... we had a 7 hour wait in the airport, so it gave us plenty of time!
After this we travelled back the UK, which took about 9 hours. Then we waited in Heathrow airport for another couple of hours... then finally headed home! (27 or so hours later).
Got in about 10.30, and was very happy to see Livs and Esther coming to greet me... it was so good to be home!
Went into my room and there was a big welcome home banner and lots of yummy food on my bed... happy days! Have spent the last couple of days just catching up with people and it's been great. Been very busy though and haven't had any time to just sit and process anything yet- time for that will come though :)
It's been an amazing two weeks, and it's good to be home :)

Zambia Part Three

Sunday

Today started with church. This week we went to George and Yvonne's church- it's a pioneering branch off of the main All Nations Harvest Church. There were about 10 (ish) of us at the service... bit different to the 100 or so last week! Still, it didn't make a difference. There was still masses of life and I really enjoyed the service... 'when 2 or more are gathered...' became evident... it's not about the numbers but the hearts.

Waiting for the church to be unlocked

Yvonne asked me to open the service with a prayer, next she called Sanchie up to lead the intercession and prayer- this was very powerful and well led, next Yvonne led the worship- no microphone or instruments... just voices, it was beautiful. After this Ali was asked to share her testimony, and this she did very well! George then preached about the church being a team and everyone needing to know where they are corporately going together. He also touched on ministries and gifting, saying everyone has a part to play and is needed. After this we had a little response time... he called people forward if they didn't know their ministry in the church, and asked Ali and I to go and pray for them... thrown in the deep end much! It was fine though- I prayed for a girl named Bertie and had a wisdom picture for her of her gathering people to her. God was saying He has called her to be a gatherer of people and this will grow the church. I told her this and she said she is very happy and encouraged, as she used to love to invite her friends, but got disheartened when they didn't come. She said she now knows she's got to persist and trust God in this. Thank you Jesus! 

We were called to give an offering by another guy after this, and he shared his testimony of how last Sunday he gave the little money he had left, and the next day he found a house, which he has been searching for for a long time- and he could afford it which was a miracle- he gave all he had and God met him in his need. So inspiring to hear. After this I was asked to say the closing prayer and then we went to the Hungry Lion for a take-away (chicken and chips) yum.

The afternoon was pretty chilled after this, lots of sitting around and catching up with George and Yvonne at home. It was such a hot day, hottest so far, and I was very grateful when running water came at 5.30 pm!

After this we had some cow's heart for tea, was actually nice! And then we had a Skype call to Heart, was good to see some familiar faces and weird at the same time, thinking that this was going on in England while we're sat in Africa!

Monday

Farayi and James joined us again this morning, which is nice. The team is back to four :)
Been at the church again today, and it's raining- what a relief after the hottest day yesterday!
First thing in the morning we visited the babies class, and saw them playing with the toys we had bought them and did some filming... this was lovely :) 

The baby class!

One little girl, Precious, cries every time she sees us... think she's scared of white people hehe.

After this we had a really healthy lunch, which consisted of tropical juice, crisps and chocolate! 

In the afternoon we gave out the paintings which some people back in the UK had painted to send over... this was lovely- the children loved them. 
We also presented Catherine (the youngest girl- aged 9) with a blanket which Doris knitted in England to send over, bless her. Catherine was very happy! :) 

A fairly slow day today- we seem to be flagging as a team... two weeks is probably about right we have decided :) 

Farayi is just taking a meeting for married couples at the moment and then we can go home for some dinner, yay... it's 7pm here! 

Later- 
we got home about 8.30pm and enjoyed some lovely rice, chicken and vegetables for dinner! Then we had a hot chocolate and sat around chilling... then for an early night, busy day tomorrow- last day at the Church, it's going to be sad!