Home, again

We arrived safely back at O'Hare early this afternoon, and the cell phones quickly came out to alert family and friends of our return. We are all now back in our own homes, soon to be in our own beds. But I think there is a greater awareness of those who don't have cell phones, beds, or even blankets. In some ways I wonder if I'd be better off being less dependent on all my techno-gadgets (the 300 e-mail messages pretty much confirmed that).

I know most people return from short-term mission projects with (1) a heightened sense of their blessings, and (2) a deeper wondering about what we can do without. I can go without my gadgets, but could I go without a bed? I can go without breakfast, but what about going without breakfast AND lunch every single day, as many children do in Samfya (and other parts of the developing world)? Guilt isn't really helpful here -- action is. We will continue to pray for God's guidance in our actions; please join us.

I know I'll be processing the cultural whiplash of going from Samfya to London in 36 hours -- from deep physical poverty to a place of wealth and excess. At this point I'm justifying it by saying we witnessed the human experience more fully by seeing both extremes.

Highlights and successes of the past few days:

1. Marianne and Michelle helping the SCCP staff and volunteers work on the after-school program curriculum. This provides much-needed support in English literacy for these little ones. Pray that the resources will be provided for a morning session, as children attend school in 3-hour shifts. Students who attend school from 1-4 p.m. can't attend the after-school program.

2. A seminar on motivating teachers (by Steve) provided much-needed info for a few headmasters. While we had hoped more headmasters and school administrators will attend, we know that those who did will be better equipped to support their already-stressed staff.

3. Content-area seminars for teachers of geography and chemistry. It's been encouraging to hear the teachers who have been in previous years say that they see improvements. Lisa has identified some gifted science teachers (Moses, Humphrey, and Fred, I think) who are great role models for their students.

4. Training for over 30 child advocates -- leaders in their communities and churches who LITERALLY defend these orphans. In one poignant home visit, some of the community adults had labeled a child as "crazy." This sweet girl, an orphan, had the responsibility of caring for younger siblings and didn't go to school consistently. The advocate, a wonderful young man named Kelvin (with some coaching from Kelly), was able to stand up for this child in a situation where she has no voice, no rights, no power.

5. Matt playing football (soccer, futball, whatever) with the kids. It was easy to spot the muzungu among a crowd of excited children, especially when we presented them with several soccer balls and basketballs to play with.

6. The singing. Indescribable. Thank goodness I have a video of that.

Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH for your prayers. We stayed healthy, relatively rested and stress-free, and all of our luggage made it home with us. :)


Grace & peace.

m

Last full day...

It's somewhat bittersweet. We have reached our last full day of ministry/work here in Samfya, and we are already seeing the fruits of our efforts. It has been so wonderful for the "repeaters" on the team to see friends they have met in years past. (Remind me to tell you about Hudson Mwanse and his family. SO amazing.)

The work with the advocates has gone so well -- thank you for your prayers. Kelly and Marsha have been on home visits to the orphans with the advocates many days, and it is so neat to see their faces light up during our time together. While there are still so many needs here, and such deep poverty, the sense of community is strong. There is a willingness to help your neighbor, even in seemingly small ways.

Slight change of plans this afternoon. The teachers will be working with the after-school program, while the social workers will have the opportunity to visit with women imprisoned in the local jail. Many are pregnant. And there is often no one to visit them. Prison visitation and caring for orphans are two areas where the church has risen to the task.

The churches in Samfya should be commended for this.

Update

Okay...(deep breath).

The work is going well. Days are filled with teachers in classrooms and doing workshops for Samfyan teachers. The social work-types finished formal training for the advocates and will now spend most of our time visiting orphans in homes. The work is draining but OH so rewarding.

Sweet moment with Michelle (special ed teacher) and a hearing impaired boy. He was elated that he found someone who could understand him...so touching.

The group is leaving me. More later.

Thanks for prayers -- they work. :)

mv

We're here!

Day one is done...we hit the ground running after arriving at Samfy at noon. We worked in the after-school program for a few hours and then met with some of the teachers and SCCP staff. And we met about 50 of the sweetest kids on the planet. Their laughter is infectious -- I hope to hear TONS more of it.

Kate Smith describes today as "refreshing." We look forward to tomorrow -- another full day of working with teachers and child advocates.


We have been blessed tremendously already.

Peace.

mv

We're ALMOST there...

I'm sitting in an internet cafe in Lusaka, waiting for our lunch (or maybe it's dinner? Breakfast? I can't tell. I've changed my watch a few times in the last 48 hours, and I'm not quite sure what day it is. I think it's Monday.) :)

We had a little drama with a delayed flight in Nairobi which was originally listed as "cancelled." We ended up leaving about 2 hours (ish) late, which changed the last leg of our journey. We will spend the night on the road (which apparently was repaved) between Lusaka and Samfya and arrive to Samfya around lunch tomorrow morning. Our chauffers, Courteney and Heather, have been gracious and organized, and we are in good hands.

There are ALREADY many stories to tell abotu encounters with different people and cultures, and we haven't even "arrived" yet.

More to come...

Peace.


mv

LONDON

We made it to London without a hitch. We were able to grab a shower and a few hours' sleep, and now we're headed back to Heathrow to catch another overnight flight to Nairobi. Happy Father's Day!

Of Mice and Men (and Teachers and Social Workers)

Teachers are planners. I've seen lesson plans that seem to have more detail than the blueprints for the Space Shuttle. Although Kelly and I (Marsha) are doing different work and won't be in the classroom, both of us have enough experience in educational settings where the "planning virus" has taken quite the hold. We have spent hours individually and as a team thinking about how to best use our precious days in Samfya.

Of course, we've already had a few moments of "Well, now THAT won't work..." after finding out more about the needs of the teachers and child advocates. I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard or thought, "You can plan and plan and plan, and you KNOW things will change once you get there and those plans are pretty much worthless." I thought I could at LEAST wait until I "got there" before the tables were turned.

The best laid plans. The best laid plans take up room in your suitcase, and in your heart, and in your mind. It's not that we're going completely unprepared, but there is this weird mixture (for me, anyway) of relief and apprehension realizing I don't really know what I'm walking into. Setting plans aside, or holding onto them loosely, leaves much more room for God to move, and work, and whisper, "Here's what I have for you to do. There's a teacher who needs encouragement. There's a child who needs a word of hope. There's an advocate who needs to know that the work she does MATTERS." If nothing else, I have already been reminded that the best work of God comes out of who we ARE, not what we DO. I know I need to be reminded to get out of my own way.

I'm about to finish packing. Less papers, more prayers.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding..." (Proverbs 3:5)



mv

Eavesdropping...

We are sitting at our last planning meeting before we go. Kelly & I (Marsha) are sitting at the kitchen table, planning our work with the child advocates. I'm listening in on the teachers as they are planning ideas for their teacher training. So cool to hear all the different ideas generated and gifts being used...

m

T minus 6...

Or 5 days, depending on whether you count today (Monday) or not. Our group will be flying out of O'Hare Saturday evening, bound for London, on the first of 2 overnight flights to get to Samfya. We also have an overnight to Nairobi, Kenya, and a shorter flight to Lusaka, followed by several hours (9) of driving to our final destination.

The team covets your prayers this week as we go through final meetings and last-minute preparation. Specifically pray for the health of the team members, that God would prepare our hearts for service, and that God would prepare the hearts and minds of the children, teachers, and mentors we meet.

I know we're all looking forward to spending quality time this week with friends and family in the middle of the busyness. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this venture.


mv

Meet the team!

From left to right -- Matt, Steve, Lisa, Marsha, Marianne, Michele, Kate, Kelly.

Lisa Backus, (our fearless leader), taught chemistry and physical science for 2 years at Palatine High School (back in the 70's!) Lisa says, “When my first daughter was born, I ‘retired’ from teaching and worked in industry (20 years) as a chemist. When my four daughters were older, I returned to teaching and have been at Deerfield High School for the last 8 years. I am now also a grandmother of two (soon to be three) grandchildren. This will be my third trip to Samfya. Some of my favorite moments in Zambia were watching the teachers and their excitement with the new techniques we were sharing with them. Education in Samfya primarily involved the teacher writing information on the chalkboard while the students copied it down. During my first trip, we shared many additional teaching strategies that the teachers could use that would not require many resources (the chalk, chalkboard, pencils and paper were all they typically had). After we trained the Samfyan teachers, they developed creative ideas to practice and used them to teach us about Zambia. One group used the body-kinesthetic technique of dancing to teach us about tribal customs. They made hats and costumes with paper and danced for us. They even made me dance! Unfortunately there is footage to embarrass me about my dancing abilities! On the second trip we got to visit the classrooms. There again I got to see the teachers use what we had shared with them. I visited the class of one of the most joyful science teachers, Moses. He taught his students all the things that he had learned in our workshops! It was amazing. I am so excited to return and continue the work we started.”


This is Marianne Frederick’s second trip to Samfya. Marianne says, “About five years ago God laid on my heart the plight of the people of Africa. I prayed for an opportunity to somehow make a difference besides contributing during the Celebration of Hope. My husband brought to my attention a very brief announcement of a possibility of a teacher team going to Samfya in Zambia.” She began her teaching career in the early seventies when she taught early elementary school in the Chicago Public schools. After raising her children, she returned to teaching 14 years ago and continues to teach second grade in Palatine District 15. “I love being a part of children's learning! I especially enjoy building their literacy and helping them to fall in love with reading…This year I am excited by the opportunity to be in classrooms and to provide ideas and strategies to teachers as I actually attempt to provide instruction to the children. Once again I hope that I can provide hope to teachers that face incredible obstacles as they attempt to teach the children of Africa. One of the most important things I feel our teams do is to give credibility and encouragement to the Samfyan teachers as they continue the challenge of educating the children in Samfya.“


Kate Smith teaches AP Psychology and 
Human Geography at Buffalo Grove High School. She lives in Carpentersville
with her “amazing husband, Matt, and loving golden retriever, Mia. 

I have always had love and compassion for Africa; I dreamt of one day 
traveling to Africa to serve God's people. When my husband, Matt, read A 
Hole in the Gospel he received a whisper from God suggesting we serve
 people in less developed countries. I searched Willow's website for 
serving opportunities and came across the Zambia Teachers Team. This was
 the perfect serving opportunity for Matt and I since we are both teachers.
 My dream was coming true! We traveled with the 2009 Teachers Team to 
Samfya, Zambia. The trip changed my life! With Samfya constantly on my 
mind and in my prayers, I am so excited to return to Samfya this summer.
 My dream continues...”


Matt Smith has been teaching/coaching at Jacobs High School in Algonquin for the past 5 years. Mat says, “I have a beautiful wife (almost 2 years) and the best dog in the world (Mia)…The book The Hole in the Gospel opened my eyes to the hardships that many people in the world face day to day. I got whispers from God that said it's time to be unselfish for once in your life and we'll go on an amazing journey. Boy was he right. Last year it was such a blessing to see the work that Mark and Carmen (Brubacher) have done to help the people of Samfya. It is so inspirational that 2 people can make such a big difference in people’s lives. It was also amazing to see the passion and faith that our friends (in Samfya) had when we as Americans would think that they have so little. They have the things that are truly important in life-God, family, friends, cultures, traditions, no sense of time...etc. I look forward to another amazing journey with God and with another Great group of teachers with the same passions.” (author’s note – Matt and Kate will be celebrating their wedding anniversary in Samfya again this year, as they did last year.)


Dr. Steven Lake is a former educator with over 30 years experience in the public schools. He has been a teacher, elementary and junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, and Superintendent of Schools. He is the author of several publications, including a bestselling social studies curriculum, a text on leadership used in Christian middle and high schools, and Life Compass, a comprehensive curriculum to help Christians identify and live out their life purpose. He is co-creator of Connections, a curriculum that helps church members identify ministry opportunities aligned with their spiritual gifts and areas of interest. Since 1994 Steve has taught in the U.S. and Africa about God's calling. He has additional ministry experience in Germany and Honduras. He is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a 501(c)(3) Christian non-profit ministry. Its purpose is to equip Christians to live out their unique, God-given purpose. It provides curriculum, seminars, and training to churches and Christian organizations.


Kelly Brittan is currently a Dean at a middle school in Wheeling, IL. Prior to her 4 years as a dean, she was a social worker at an alternative high school for 9 years. She also serves regularly in Promiseland at Willow Creek Church with the 2 year olds and the 4th/5th grade ministry. She has been on mission trips to Costa Rica the past 2 summers focused on building projects within a church community there. Kelly says, “While on these trips, I was always drawn to the children in the community, interacting with them at times more then working. Then I became aware last fall of the opportunity to serve in Zambia, where my interactions would revolve around children. I knew this was the serving opportunity for me. In preparation for this trip, I really had to consider what I could do without. This is truly my first experience traveling somewhere with a limited water supply and limited electricity. It really helps lighten the load when you pack without a hairdryer and the extensive toiletries that most of us ladies tend to travel with. It definitely humbles you a bit.” ☺

Michele Scott is a special education teacher for CCSD #15 in Palatine and teaches at Winston Campus Elementary. She is also the Director of Youth Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Palatine. She has been teaching for 18 years and working with the youth of her church for 10 years. Michele says, “Though I have been on local missions trips, this trip to Zambia will be my first overseas mission trip. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to share my 2 passions, my faith and teaching! The people of Africa have been on my heart for many years and God has answered my prayer of how I can be in service to them. I give thanks to God and all of my friends and family who are supporting me on this trip. ‘God has beckoned… there are things to do and places to go.’ (Romans 8:14)”


Dr. Marsha Vaughn is the “voice” of this blog and resident “arachnophobe” (and yes, I realize that could be a problem). I will begin my 10th year as a professor of psychology and sociology at Judson University in Elgin. I am still a southern gal at heart, born and raised in Tennessee and grad-school-educated (in Marriage and Family Therapy) in Texas. Before moving to Illinois, I worked as a family therapist and hospital chaplain. My “prompting” to pursue going to Africa came after seeing the incredible changes that have happened in Samfya thus far as a result of the work of the Brubachers (and Bright Hope International) and the investment of Willow Creek. While there is still much progress to be made, a holistic approach that addresses education, health care, and income-generating opportunities while strengthening the local church makes my heart skip a beat. I have to see this for myself, and I want to be a part of this.


Our team of 6 teachers and 2 mental health professionals will leave mid-June. The teachers will focus on training teachers in literacy, while Kelly and I will spend time training and encouraging the “community of care providers” (think home health aide + tutor + mentor+ case manager).

We are SO excited at joining in God’s work. We covet your continued prayers and support.

About the title...

It may not be the BEST title for a blog, but like many good titles, it has multiple meanings. The unbelievably gorgeous sunset in the picture above is over Lake Bangeweulu, which translated into English means "where the water meets the sky." A wonderful blurring of the lines between earth and heaven, between the mundane and the sacred, in an explosion of light and color that only God Himself could orchestrate.

As the eight of us are preparing for this journey, we are already marvelling at the things that only God Himself could orchestrate -- bringing together a wide range of experiences and expertise with one common purpose, to serve the children of Samfya, Zambia as best we can, by training and encouraging their teachers and caregivers.

Our preparation also prompts a greater level of trust that God will meet our needs for our work. He is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. He has provided each of us with dear friends and family whom we have invited to support us in various ways. Hopefully this blog will enable you to stay in closer contact. We will be able to post the occasional updates while we are in Samfya during the last 2 weeks of June. We covet your prayers as we get ready to go. Thanks for accompanying us on this exciting adventure!


Coming soon...meet the team!