Cat Levine never thought she would end up in Africa. To be honest, it wasn’t even on her radar. That changed one day when George Snyman, co-founder of Hands at Work in Africa, spoke at The Bridge Church in Venice, Florida. Cat wasn’t at church that Sunday, but over the next week, people from church asked her if she was going to go to Africa and see what Hands at Work is doing. When she finally saw the church bulletin and heard the recording of George’s message, she was challenged by three words: “Are you willing?” Cat says that was the first time in her life she truly felt called to do something.

In February 2017, representatives from Ten Talents Foundation, Nurses for Africa and Hands at Work in Africa gathered for a weekend retreat in St. Louis, Missouri. The retreat agenda included opportunities for members of the three partner groups to build relationships; reach a clearer understanding of each other's missions; agree on their respective roles in preparing, hosting, debriefing and welcoming back NFA teams; and review practical steps and best practices to advance their individual and collective goals.

Hands at Work Youth started with the three eldest daughters of families all involved in Hands at Work.  As all three of us have been to Africa before, we have seen the way that youth can be impacted by Africa. We created Hands at Work Youth in hopes to encourage youth to focus their lives and actions on God's work in Africa.  We hope to share about the stories and needs in Africa to the youth and their families in our own communities.  Not only would Hands at Work Youth help send the teams there, but also become a support for when teams come back and face the sometimes difficult adjustments to their homes.

The Link for Life Penkridge Team consists of six students from a local High School (Maisie, Daisy, Libby, Sophie, Sam and Alex) and five leaders; their teacher (Michael), a driver (Mike), a church leader (Liz), a young leader (Joe) and me (Rose).

In June 2016, my family and I were able to visit my sister-in-law, Michelle, who is serving as a long-term volunteer in Zambia. We got the opportunity to see first hand what Hands at Work is doing in several communities in Zambia and in South Africa. After coming back, we shared our experience with our church family, Christ Church in San Francisco. The Lord laid it upon my heart to find a way to continue to connect our church to Hands at Work and for us to be engaged in giving with thanksgiving. 

We drove to the care point to meet over 70 children for camp. It was a cool morning, but you wouldn't know with so much energy and life in one place. The children sat according to their assigned color teams, eager to start the day, giggling together. I was greeting my team, the green team, when I found Charles*. He was a small, shy boy. "How are you?" I asked. I could barely hear him say “good”. I touched his face as I spoke to him. "Smile" I asked, but he would not.

When Michelle Tom first traveled to Africa in May 2013 for a short mission’s trip to Malawi, she hoped to respond to the Biblical calling to serve the most vulnerable, but was overwhelmed by the love for God she witnessed in the most desolate African villages, and the community she observed among the people she met which was also warmly extended to her and her teammates.