Acts Initiative...a Journey

Over the past 12 months Acts Initiative Coordinator Philip Kazhingu has been building relationships with local church leaders in Southern Africa, for the purpose of encouraging them in their ministries to children living in extreme poverty. After traveling throughout his own country of Zambia, Philip’s next trip would take him to Lesotho and Malawi.

Traveling through Southern African countries was something that really captured the attention of my heart, so months were spent in prayer, thinking through and preparing for these Southern African trips. As the days drew closer, the excitement increased though with a lot of uncertainty on the back of my mind. Knowing that I was going to people of different language and culture, I was not too sure of what to expect and my mind was locked up in the world of imagination. Trying to figure out what the place looks like, the problems facing the children and just what to expect in these countries? I am glad to report the fact that what seemed to be so fearful and uncertain, has now turned out so promising. The future looks so clear and brighter than when we first began, because relationships have been created and are being strengthened.

The time had come to leave for Lesotho and as I got into one of those big luxurious buses while the bus engine was warming up in readiness to hit the road. I saw little children trying to reach out the bus windows to beg for food and money and suddenly my heart sunk low as I realised the fact that this was the very purpose of my trip – Orphans and Vulnerable children. I believe you would agree with me that the attention of every tourist in the given country is focused on the wonders that nature displays and on the different species of the animal kingdom of that particular country. On the contrary, my whole attention was completely absorbed into the plight of children not only in my own nation but also in the region of Southern Africa. The purpose of my trips has given me a great sense of humility.

While I was awake on the bus, as we traveled through from town to town and from country to country, I kept gazing through the bus window. I notice how beautifully the weather changes and how drastically the scenery changes too. Indeed the language and culture change as well. Unfortunately, one thing though seems unchangeable and this is the poverty stricken children. They look the same starting from my hometown Ndola through Zimbabwe to Lesotho, Malawi and across the whole region. These kids look the same. They are dirty and hungry, have frowned faces and always move with an out stretched arm for begging. Though they live in different cultures, speak different languages and live in different environments yet they have one enemy in common and this is poverty. It has destroyed their God given esteem and shattered their hope for a better future.

Upon arrival in Lesotho, I was not only welcomed by Love in Action staff, but also by the unfriendly and terrible cold winter of that mountainous country which left me so cold and tired. Furthermore, poor and cold children stood by to welcome me too. Of course, they did it in their usual way of begging. What a humbling welcome. Though I could not respond to their begging, deep down in my heart I knew very well that they were the reason I was in that country. You don’t need any one to interpret the meaning of an out stretched arm of a dirty poor boy or girl on the streets. You may try to pretend like you have neither seen nor understood, but the meaning of that arm almost haunts you.

Visiting all the villages where Love in Action Lesotho is reaching out with their programs was a mind-blowing experience. I physically witnessed how HIV/AIDS epidemic and poverty has dehumanized the lives of these precious souls.

In Malawi, my heart was so compelled to the point where I had no choice but to do what the government is discouraging and this I gave some money to a beautiful little girl on the street of Lilongwe, who was hungry and dirty. The Malawi experience was quite different from Lesotho in the sense that I spent a lot of time on the streets interacting with the local people. During this time, I was able to see for myself the plight of children in Malawi. This experience helped me to speak to church leaders with a lot of passion and confidence since I wasn’t just speaking from what I had read in books but from what I had physically seen in the streets of Lilongwe.

I wish to thank Eagles Wings Staff for their prayers and all the people who are supporting the Acts Initiative program. It is you who have made it happen. As for me I am just the shoes of grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Above all I thank the Almighty God for the wisdom He gives in moments of predicaments and the strength and joy He gives in moments of stress and disappointments.

Just try to imagine

While drafting up our class reports for those who support the Education Program, we interviewed Naomi*. How can we ever possibly imagine what the majority of children go through around the world today?

My name is Naomi, I am 13 years old, and I live with my mother in Kanyala compound. At first we were 14 in my family, including my parents, but 10 of my brothers and sisters have died, including my father. The only person remaining is my mother, my two sisters and myself. My mother is very old she can’t work anywhere. We only survive through denotation from distant relatives who send us some food every once in a while. We eat once a day but sometimes we are blessed to afford two meals a day. My favourite meal is Nshima with a local relish made from the mixture of vegetables and groundnuts. I want to become a teacher when I grow up so that I can help little children and my old mother.

* Name changed

Walk for Education 1

Daniel Zulu writes, the people just came in masses, it was just unbelievable, in response to the Walk for Education.

Eagles Wings and Micah Challenge invited community schools in Ndola to participate in the Walk for Education. The schools came together to present their petition to the government of Zambia to improve the standard and quality of education in Zambia – specifically schools that are established to help vulnerable children.

Each school raised and voiced their challenges and concerns through a petition letter that was accompanied with over 3000 signatures. The petition stated that the government needs to improve the quality of primary education in Zambia, honoring the agreement to the improvement of primary education, according to goal two of the Millennium Development Goals.

http://www.micahchallenge.org/english/think/aim2/goals/

Pray that the government will be moved to act in assisting children further in education. Especially the vulnerable children.

Walk for Education

On Saturday 17th October staff and students from Eagles Wings will join hundreds – hopefully thousands – of students and staff from community schools across Ndola in a ‘Walk for Education’. This is in an effort to advocate for a greater commitment by the Zambian Government regarding education.

Eagles Wings Christian Community School Principal, Daniel Zulu, has been at the forefront of this effort and is hopeful that over 10000 signatures can be delivered to the Ministry of Education.

Please pray for this event, and for unity among the community school network, and other Non Government Organisation that have participated in the organising. Education plays a key role in the life and wellbeing of every child. We would hope that many more will have the opportunity and choices that education brings through these efforts.

Break the Cycle 2

To read about Break the Cycle's arrival into Canberra, please click on link below. A huge THANK YOU to all that participated in BTC 2009! What a journey.

http://btc2015.blogspot.com/2009/10/we-made-it-to-canberra-1500km-done-and.html

Break the Cycle 1

Well it is day 10 already on Break the Cycle (BTC) and what an amazing journey it has been to date! We are currently in a country town called Coolah and have cycled over 1000km – well on our way to Canberra!

We have covered the 8 millennium development goals with the whole BTC team – goals that if met will halve world poverty by 2015. Our prayer is that everyone involved will be impacted and know the heart of God for the poor and oppressed.

There are some sore bodies and minds from the stresses of riding over 120km per day, but the whole BTC team has been simply awesome and it has been a joy to build friendships and journey together on a worthy cause.

Please check the BTC blog http://btc2015.blogspot.com/ for all the daily videos. Also to encourage the team you may send a comment through the blog which will be read out each day.

Keep praying for safety and that God’s heart for the poor will be our heart.

African Fundraising Dinner 3

Eagles Wings/Break the Cycle ‘Dinner for Kids’ exceeded expectations! 240 guests attended the dinner with very generous hearts for children who live in extreme poverty.

While organizers of the event were hopeful of a small profit, many of the guests made sure their ‘limited’ faith (of at least one organizer – the blog editor) was challenged and gave above and beyond. Around $15, 000 was raised mostly through the charity auction in which one traditional African painting brought in Ndola, Zambia went for $2300!

A huge thank you to all involved, from those who donated time, goods and to all the organizing team who made this dinner a success. It is also great to know that all of the funds raised are for grassroots programs and projects of Eagles Wings. Children will directly benefit.