Acknowledging Him with our Lifestyle.

I sometimes find it hard to write blog posts. After almost 6 years of living in Africa and serving with Hands most of my life has become very normal. It's weird to write about your everyday life, like it is something extraordinary. But one thing I am constantly reminded of is that it's a privileged and a gift and I want to share that with people. As we have teams and visitors come and we share about what we do everyday or we share with people at church a bit about our week, I realize it is extraordinary! Not because of anything I have done, but because of what He is doing in the transformation of the lives of people in Africa and across the world. 

- M

40 Days of Prayer
Every year Hands at Work journeys though 40 Days of prayer leading up to Easter. Every year I find it such a humbling time. Daily as we pray for Gogo's, children, men and women in Africa and across the world I am reminded of what I am a part of. Of what God has called us to and what he is busy doing in the lives of the most vulnerable and those who serve them. 
 

Celebrating Community
One of the things that I have come to truly love about our life, is the community we live in. Men and women from all over the world, living and working together. They are a constant source of strength, encouragement, laughter and grace. I always say we are a group of people who seemingly shouldn't fit together, but somehow we do! 

Recently I read a quote by Brenden Manning  “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” We live in a community that daily reminds us and holds us accountable to the not denying him with our lifestyle.

In this picture alone we capture 5 different countries!
I am blessed by these women everyday.

Community Prayer in Zwelisha Community

Once a month the Hands family visits a community near by to encourage, worship and serve together. In February we went to Zwelisha Community and were joined by a team from the UK called the Filling Station. I had the opportunity to go on a home visit before we left the community. We visited a sweet old man and his wife Gogo Betty*. He fled Mozambique in the early 50s and his wife followed a few years later. They have 16 children, but only 6 are still alive. I couldn't image losing over half of my children. They now care for a number of grandchildren, the youngest being only a few months old. Their grand kids have been left with them, and their parents have yet to return. Before we left we asked what we could pray for them, Gogo Betty shared with us what keeps her up at night. She told us about her youngest daughter Sara* who is 17 years old, she is a bright young girl in grade 11. Because they are Mozambican refuges, they are not eligible for IDs or papers in SA. This extends not only to Gogo Betty, but her children, her grandchildren and generations to come. Sara should graduate next year, but she won't be able to write her exams. You need an ID to write exams. Gogo fears what will happen to her family with out IDs. She has tried a few times over the years, but she has been scammed by people in her community claiming to be able to help her. She asked if we could pray for a miracle, if we could pray that somehow Sara would be able to write her exams and get the credit she deserves for her many years of hard work. She asked if we could pray for the future of her family, that somehow they would be able to get IDs and papers. ... I have gone to sleep many nights this week praying for Gogo Betty and Sara. Sadly their story is one we hear often among the most vulnerable people in South Africa. Please pray with us for a miracle for Gogo Betty and her family. 

A few pictures from Community Prayer 

Helping to clear the ground at the Care Point, so the children will have a safe place to play.

50 of the most vulnerable children in Zwelisha Community receive a meal each day.