2017 Watchword Reflections
Advent Family Traditions
Living out a Kingdom Culture
2017 Orientation Reflection
During this placement, the volunteers were out visiting communities, helping wherever was needed and observing the work of the local office teams. It was a time to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to live out the biblical mandate God has given in James 1:27, ‘to care for the orphans and widows in their distress.’
Commitment to Discipleship
Finding a Friend in Holy Week
As we sat, each of us working on our designated bit of the banner, which was to depict the crucifixion, one of the younger prisoners said: “I don’t know this story. What happened?”I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could get any words out, the other prisoners started to tell him the story of Easter.
Encountering God on a Holy Home Visit
My Calling - Farai Ngunhe
At Hands at Work, our volunteers are called by God from all over the world to serve the most vulnerable in Africa. Each of us has a unique story of how we were transformed when we stepped out in faith and were obedient to His call. Farai tells his story of following Jesus in Zimbabwe, and how compassion for the poor and a desire to mobilise the local church has defined his life.
2015 Team Reflections
At Hands at Work, we are continually blessed by international teams who travel to Africa to be a part of God’s work among the most vulnerable people. We strive to embrace our short term teams as not guests, but family. Our desire is they will not stand on the outside and look in, but be on the ground, confronted by God’s heart for those who suffer, and challenged to serve with the love of Jesus. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together – 1 Corinthians 12:26
Praise
Praise’s grandmother Bertha began caring for him, but she was desperately poor and trying to survive. Praise was hungry - continually crying. People in the community said he would die and tried to put ritual charms around him but Bertha refused and knew God would provide. After her husband passed away many years ago, she said she learned to trust God throughout any hardship.
My Calling - Jen Waspe
I met my husband Dan when I was 10, at Christian camp. He was teasing me and stole my necklace – that’s how I always remembered him. As a teenager, my friends and I toured other church’s youth events. We started going to a Bible study – turns out it was Dan’s church. He didn’t go to the Bible study, but when we heard a group of girls had started coming, there he was! We started dating; I was 16 and he still had my stolen necklace.
My Calling - Vusi Mabuza
The Response of the Local Church
Made Mighty through Love
Malila and her family were already vulnerable before tragedy struck. It was only by chance that Care Workers in Mwaiseni community even noticed Malila and her sisters. Visiting a neighbouring home, Care Workers saw the three girls sitting outside during the day and wondered why they were not in school.
God of Wonder, God with Us
Our Call to Give
Hands at Work envisions the local church in Africa united with the international church around the world, serving together to care for the most vulnerable people in the poorest African communities. In the US, Suzette, Michelle and Sara are three members of the Hands at Work US team who have answered this calling on their lives. Here they reflect on their call to GIVE:
The Hands at Work Community: Striving to live in a Kingdom culture
Hands at Work believes that for us to serve the most vulnerable in the poorest communities in Africa, we must first serve the people we live and work with every day in community. We have very different testimonies of our walks with Christ, but we all feel called to serve the most vulnerable here in Africa
A Safe Haven: Camps for Children and Youth
One way the international church unites with the local church in bringing life to our children is through week-long camps. “We loved playing, having lessons, learning about God’s light, and having good food.” – Jenepher, 14 and Ruth 12, sisters from Kalende community. “They learned about mercy, obedience, and how there is God’s light all the time” – Dorothy, their Care Worker
My Calling - Erick Rukang
At Hands at Work, our volunteers are called by God from all over the world. Each of us has a unique story of how we were transformed when we stepped out in faith and were obedient to His call. Erick says, “God was speaking to me and clearly showed me a vision of me working with vulnerable children in my country.”