Grassroots Heroes - Tanya's Blog

Got To News Tab

2011-12-19T07:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Heroes,

I have found a newsletter format a better fit to share with you what is going on in Zambia. On this blog you will find the news from 2010 and early 2011. For current news, please go to the News tab on the home page, and click on 2011.

Blessings,

Tanya Brenneman

Behold! A Builder!

2011-05-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

May 3, 2011

Dear Heroes!

For months we have been wrestling with the problem of finding a trustworthy builder to supervise the building of the first block of classrooms for the new school in Grippis Farm. Many local Zambian builders were considered, but none had clear reputations. In the meantime, a wonderful church in Texas was moved to fund raise and book tickets to go to Zambia to help build the classrooms! When Vincent was in the U.S. in March, we talked and prayed about the urgent need for a builder would arrive in Zambia by June 1, to set the stage for the team, get the materials, have the foundation ready by the time the Texas team would arrive on July 1. Praise God -with only one month to spare, God spoke to someone's heart to be our builder! Below is his life story and how it led to his acceptance of this role. He is a God-send, and we are so thankful for him!

Please Remember The GHIGolf Tournament on May 16 . It is our one major fund raiser for this calendar year to raise funds to support the school, the animal husbandry, the sewing, and the adult education projects. We still need 4 teams of golfers. Let me know if you want to put a team together to help us raise the needed funds. Email me at tanya@grassrootsheroes.org

Our Builder: Alvin Graber

I was born and raised on a farm in Central Illinois. I was introduced to residential construction at the age of 16 by working for my brother, who was a general building contractor, when I didn’t have farm duties. I became a Christian at age 15 and immediately sensed a call to some sort of Christian ministry. I and my best friend became leaders of a vibrant youth group at our church which lasted several years until we both went our separate ways. After getting married and starting a family, both myself and my wife Doris felt uncomfortable just living and working in my home community. After a time of fasting and prayer, we were led to serve as youth leaders in a stateside mission outpost in southern Indiana. While being there, getting acclimated to our new responsibility for only six months, the senior pastor suddenly died. The sponsoring mission board then asked me to serve as an interim pastor, which turned into a 10 year interim. Sensing the need for some additional pastoral training and having qualified local men who were willing to give leadership to the church, I and my family moved to Harrisonburg, VA for 2 years of additional training.
We then moved to Knoxville, TN to pastor another mission church. While there, the family became involved in a limited ministry to University of Tennessee international students, along with ex-prison inmates and displaced families. After seven years there, Doris’ aging parents requested us to moved close to their home to help care for them. In 1987 the decision was made to move to Waynesboro, VA where Doris ‘ parents lived. Upon hearing of our intended move, a local church requested for me to consider a pastorate there. It was accepted. That pastorate lasted until 1998 when for a number of reasons I resigned the pastorate to join the construction business that I and David Kanagy had launched in 1990. (Most all of my pastoral years were bi-vocational, pastoring while also working in construction.) I worked full-time until the fall of 2008, when work slowed to the point of needing to lay off some of our employee’s. Instead of laying off anyone, I chose to retire and pursue other opportunities. I have been doing a lot of volunteer work with various disaster relief organizations such as MDS, Samaritan’s Purse, CAMA (the mercy branch of the Christian and Missionary Alliance), and a national organization called, “Rebuilding Together”, which specializes in small additions and home repairs for low income families.
Doris and I have been working with international students from Mary Baldwin College, a local school. This has given us an opportunity for many cross cultural experiences along with numerous foreign missions trips sponsored by the churches we have attended, both presently and in the past.
Also our daughter and her husband are YWAM missionaries in Thailand. These connections and experiences have served to make us conscience of global needs. After being introduced to Grassroots Heroes International by our neighbor, Marilyn Burkholder and invited to an informational meeting with Vincent sharing about Grippes Farms needs, my spirit seemed to connect. After much prayer and some counsel from trusted friends and family, I said yes to the need as it was presented. I’m looking forward to serve the Lord, Grippes Farms community and Grassroots Heroes in the coming weeks of June and July.

Report from Vincent in Zambia

2011-04-26T04:25:00.000-07:00

April 26 2011

Dear Heroes,

Vincent sent the following report on the status of our projects in Grippis Farm. I rejoice that the transition has gone well so far with the new government officials. Notice that Vincent asks for prayer for the new leadership as they take on their new responsibilities. I also have a great praise to report! Vincent, the Grippis Community and those of us in GHI have been praying for a building supervisor to coordinate the construction of the new block of 3 classrooms this summer. A team from Texas is arriving in Zambia the first of July to help build it - but we had no supervisor. God moved in the heart of Alvin Graber, of Virginia, to take on this responsibility. I will post his story on the next blog!

Vincent's ReportOn Saturday April 23rd I was able to meet with the entire Grippis community and read Tanya's letters before everyone. I had a privilege to finally meet the three new community leaders. Mr Alfred Aisha the top chairman, Mr John Chungu the vice chairman and Mr Sakala the secretary.
The meeting went well and during this meeting I learned that Mr Titus Sachika still remains the executive chairman of the Grippis Corporative. He will be in charge of all the projects in Grippis
The new leadership continue to support GHI partnership and the projects. We ask that you continue to pray for this transition.
Projects:
Animal Husbandry: rabbits 95, ducks 40, goats 9 and two mothers are now pregnant they are multiplying. On Tuesday April 26th we plan to sell 15 rabbits :and two ducks so we can reduce the number a little.

Sewing Classes: the students are on break till May 3rd

Adult Basic Education: the classes continue to run we now have 50 students

The Animal Husbandry Training Center Construction Project :is almost complete. Three rooms were built plus a duck pond and a wall fence. We still need 1 metal door, 13 metal zinc and wire fence.

Micro Enterprise: we have 9 women that have gone through the business workshop and are are now ready to begin the loan projects. 4 women have applied for K500.000 each , 4 Women have applied for K700.000 each and one for K1,000,000 million some plan to begin a vegetable garden and some a small shop, and others would like to sell used clothes.

Vincent Luwizhi

God Continues To Work!

2011-04-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2011

Dear Heroes,

We enjoyed having Vincent Luwizhi with us in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Texas and California! He shared much of what God is doing in Grippis Farm. Below are a few of those stories. I will continue to share more stories with you so you get a full picture of what you are accomplishing in Zambia.

PRAISE!
God Continues to Provide for the needs of the people of Grippis Farm. He continues to express his love to them through you and others! Do you remember Leah, the 19 year old orphan and mother of 2 year old twins who came to Grippis last year?
The government leaders allowed her to build a mud house in their community, but she had no funds for a roof. Some of you provided those needed funds, and she got her roof! A church in Texas started helping Leah with food for herself and her children. Since that time, her sister died, leaving Leah with twin 4 year old nieces to raise as well as her own 2 year old twins. In March the bulldozers came into Grippis to build the roads that are part of the city development plan to make it into an official sub-division. Unfortunately, Leah’s little house was sitting where one of the roads is supposed to be. The bulldozer drivers allowed her to stay for a couple of months, but she has to relocate. Leah has no plot of land assigned to her in Grippis – the only way she can get one is for someone else to leave their plot. Even then, Leah does not have the money to purchase a plot for herself. I told her story to the First Christian Church of Larned, Kansas, and their hearts were moved to adopt Leah! They took up a collection which yielded enough for her to purchase a plot! Their heart’s desire is to continue to collect their spare change and bring it together once a month so they can help Leah build a proper concrete block house on her plot! When Leah has the chance for a plot of land, we will already have the funds for her to buy it and start building her new house! Praise God! God’s love is pouring over her. Vincent reports that her whole countenance is changing as she experiences the kindness of God through others in her life. She is also taking the Adult Literacy courses which are the first schooling she has had in her life. Transformation is happening!

PRAYER NEEDED
The people of Grippis held an election in March to select government officials. Mr. Sachika was the Vice-Chairman of Grippis for many years. He spearheaded efforts to get their plots of land for them, purchase the land for the school and many other important contributions. The community has elected a new Vice-Chairman – I only have a first name at this point – Aisha. Please pray that Aisha will take up the mantle of leadership with God’s blessing and lead the community’s efforts to become all that they can be with God’s help! I hope to have more information for you soon!

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE PROJECTS?
A new animal shelter is being constructed for the Animal Husbandry Project. This training center will continue to provide opportunities for families in Grippis to learn how to increase their personal income by raising small animals. The 12 families who received the first round of training in raising rabbits are now seeing the fruits of their training and efforts! They are selling their rabbits to the Chinese in Lusaka who buy them to cook and serve in their restaurants. 10 more families will receive training next month as well as the 12 high school students from Grippis who will use their money for school fees, uniforms, books, etc.

One family at a time, God is bringing hope into lives through the kindness of God’s people! Thank you for making it possible.

Richest Blessings,

Tanya Brenneman

One Person At A Time

2011-03-23T19:12:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Dr. Kurtis Sauder

Dear Heroes,

I recently heard a story on the radio about the 2010 United Nations Human Development Index, an attempt at quantifying quality of life in different countries around the world using data on health, income, education, etc. While no index is perfect for measuring quality of life, I assumed there was some relevance and immediately wondered where Zambia was on the list. It turns out that Zambia ranks 150th out of 169 countries ranked (the United States is 4th). Some of the numbers that lead to such a dismal ranking for Zambia include a life expectancy of 47 years and average education completed by adults of 6.5 years. One wonders what could lead to such a dismal situation and persons much more knowledgeable than me have studied and written much about poverty in places such as Zambia with no consensus on the causes.
In speaking with Vincent Luwizhi this weekend during his visit to Virginia, I got a better sense of some of the factors in play. While he has stories of progress and hope, he is also constantly combating fear, lack of education and basic job skills, and pervasive mistrust by persons accustomed to a life full of broken promises, where corruption and treachery are an expected part of the culture.
These are problems that go deeper than their outward manifestations, problems that beg for a redemptive solution that can change people and communities from the inside out. But this does not negate the need for the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing, and shelter.
So what can we do in such a situation? Vincent told us about a 19 year old single mother of two who now was taking care of her deceased sister’s two children as well and how she has changed from being dour and overwhelmed to hopeful because of persistence in kindness and love directed towards her. I am reminded of the quote from Mother Teresa, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” If we really want to make a difference, it is going to take many of us doing many small things with great love.

Urgent Needs in Grippis Farm

2011-02-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

Dear Heroes,

We all have unexpected needs that we can’t see in advance and do not plan and budget for. Consider what happens when you are driving along thinking about something else and unexpectedly take out a row of mailboxes (or maybe that only happens to me). Suddenly there is expense that was not planned for – fixing mailboxes and fixing the car. And it interferes with your plans – “I’m supposed to be somewhere else now but I need to stay here and talk to the guy whose mailboxes I just ran over. And when am I going to have time to get the windshield fixed and the fender reattached and how much will all of this cost?”

Now consider a situation in which you are already living on the edge, barely surviving, and suddenly you have a need that could not have been anticipated. You have no insurance for such things and your family and friends are similarly destitute and not in a position to help. Grassroots Heroes often hears of these situations but they are not in our budget. We know they will happen, that something will happen. But we can’t plan for it because we don’t know the who, what, why, or when until it happens. So we would like to start an emergency fund, money to have set aside for these situations that we know will occur.

Right now there are several needs that have been brought to our attention. James and Levy are brothers who live in Grippis Farm. James, 10, attends Mango Grove Community School and Levy, thanks to his GHI sponsors, attends the public high school in Chamba Valley. (James pictured right, Levy shown above red, helping construct new school building) Their father died several years ago, and their mother, Violet, worked hard to meet their basic needs. Tragically, in January this year, she died, leaving James and Levy orphaned. Their aunt has taken them in, but has no means to support them. GHI would like to provide emergency food for the family for a few months while the aunt and the boys are trained and equipped to raise small farm animals in order to help them become self-sufficient.

Mrs. B.,(pictured right) a single mother of 6, has had a difficult life scarred by abandonment, domestic abuse, and extreme poverty. She works hard both at her job as a maid and at home as a home maker. Recently she developed an infection behind her fingernail that ate part of her finger away. In August of 2010, Grassroots Heroes International paid for her to have surgery to clean out the infection, which was threatening to become gangrenous. The finger has now reopened, and she needs to return to the surgeon for more help. One visit to the surgeon costs twice as much as her own monthly salary ($50) with which she tries to feed and sustain her six children. GHI would like to pay for her surgery, which could save her finger and prevent further spread of infection causing more serious problems.

One of the teachers at Mango Grove Community School is also going through a crisis. Her husband died in January and her son is not able to go to school because of the sudden loss of his father’s income. She is asking GHI to pay his school fees for one year so that she can get back on her feet financially.

If you would like to help any of these individuals or simply contribute to our emergency fund to help in similar situations in the future, you may give via our website, www.grassrootsheroes.org or by mailing a check to:

Grassroots Heroes International
P.O. Box 10
Mint Spring, VA 24463

Submitted by:
Dr. Kurtis Sauder
Grassroots Heroes International Board Member

"We Were Ourcasts"

2011-01-18T05:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Heroes,

The following entry is from Dr. Kurtis Sauder, from the Board of Directors of Grassroots Heroes International.

My travel coffee mug is getting old and leaky so today I ordered this really cool one with a black bear on it for $25. I was pretty excited about my new mug because I live in the mountains and enjoy seeing bears. It seemed like a way to take a piece of the Blue Ridge Mountains with me when I leave home. It’s kind of pricy for a mug but it is heavy duty and I figured it will last a long time and it is still a lot cheaper to make my own coffee and take it with me than to stop and buy a cup on the way to work in the morning.

After surfing for mugs and prior to our Grassroots Heroes board meeting tonight, I was reading reports sent by Vincent Luwizhi about the different projects going on in the Gripps farm community – animal husbandry, tailoring, and adult literacy to name a few. Among the reports of all of these great projects, one paragraph stood out to me and I read it over and over. It was a quote from a woman who is in the adult literacy class. “I appreciate so much for I came empty-minded, but now I know the entire alphabet in saying and writing. I will continue coming until I know how to read. It is my prayer to Tanya, Leland, and Vincent for coming miles and miles to help us here in Grips for we were the outcasts before you people. I shall continue coming to learn and know the Bible. May God have favor upon you with much blessing and a prosperous new year.”

And at the meeting, when we discussed the budget for 2011, a number stood out to me – $25 per month. That is roughly what it costs to send a child to school. For the price of my coffee mug, an orphan living on his own, without hope in a mud house, can go to school, can have hope for the future.

Sometimes it feels like we are spinning our wheels. Things don’t work like they are supposed to, disagreements arise, and I wonder if we are making a difference. We sometimes respond with resignation, “TIA” (this is Africa). But consider the woman who no longer feels like an outcast and the orphan with the opportunity to go to school. There is an impact on these people. No one ever said that helping people out of poverty, despair, and ignorance was easy. But Jesus did say, “Whatever you have done for the least of these my children, you have done for Me.”

Kurtis L. Sauder, MD

Goats, Ducks, Rabbits, & Tomatoes - Hope for Families

2010-12-02T13:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Heroes,

Look at these beautiful goat kids with their mother! And the rabbits are reproducing like rabbits! The ducks have grown into some very handsome creatures! And the vegetable garden that the high school students are growing is producing some mouth watering tomatoes! Vincent is doing a fantastic job training the Grippis Farm villagers in small animal husbandry! Your donations are moving families forward with more capacity to provide for themselves! Praise God how exciting to be a part of his amazing work.

Christmas gifts are available for you to purchase from our website!

Buy a bag of delicious coffee on the site, and GHI will receive a $5 donation.

DONATE TO GHI IN HONOR OF SOMEONE ELSE AS A GIFT: We have postcards with a photo of some of the great CHILDREN of Grippis Farm on the front. On the back it says "A donation has been made to Grassroots Heroes International in your honor" There is space to write a personal message if you want to. Just donate through the site, and write in the comment box where to send the postcard - name, address, zip.

The Tailors of Grippis Farm!

2010-12-02T13:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Heroes,

Look at these tailors who are so very proud of their work! You are making it happen! Changing lives, giving hope, sharing God's love with these dear ones that he loves so much. On behalf of the tailors --THANK YOU!

Remember to buy some delicious bags of coffee on our website for Christmas Gifts! Grassroots receives a $5 donation for each bag you buy!

Also, all donations toward the building campaign for the school will be matched up to $5,000! Double your donation! Give the gift of a new school room for the students to start their new school year in January.

Tanya Brenneman

SEWING COOPERATIVE IS UP AND RUNNING!

2010-11-20T10:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Heroes,

The sewing machines which we donated in 2008 have been refurbished after 18 months of not being utilized due to the challenges in 2009 with the law suit and a lack of funds and space this year. But a GHI donor stepped up to take care of getting the machines refurbished, and the August mission team built a building where the coop can function! Praise God! They are going to learn how to make all kinds of clothing,including school uniforms for the students at Mango Grove, and at the completion of the instruction phase, the top students will be given their sewing machines so that they can begin to earn a living as tailors! Wow! We currently need donros to help pay the teacher - $100 per month would go a long way!

Here is an update from Vincent on the Sewing Cooperative:

Dear Tanya here is the information you requested for the sewing class. Right now we have 20 students, 3 males and 17 females. The teacher is Mr. Sachika's Pastor's wife, Mrs. Nyrienda. The class meets Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am 12pm and then 2pm to 4pm there are 10 in each class! We are currently looking at possibly charging a monthly fee for the school, right now the students are telling about what they are able to afford. We are hoping that with the little that we are able to collect that it will help to pay the teacher some. The teacher is hoping that by February they will begin to start the sewing of the school uniforms.
The students are excited about starting. Hopes and dreams of the students are to acquire skills that will help them to feed their families. They would desire to get a job at an industrial fashion designing company. After the completion of the school, they would like to be given a little capital to start their own sewing business"

Vincent

Photo Slide Show

2010-09-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

(Posted by Frank)

Hello Friends,
Tanya finally was able to get some good bandwidth, so sent a bunch of pictures. She asked that I create a slideshow for the bog so you could see what has been happening over the past number of weeks. (it may take a moment to load)

Meet the Luwizhis-Missionaries to Grippis Farm

2010-09-08T03:07:00.001-07:00

Dear Heroes,

We are so pleased to announce that we have received our 501C3 status as a registered non-profit organization. All of your donations are tax deductible - and this status is retroactive to February of 2008 when we first applied. While our application was pending we were able to issue tax receipts for your donations. Now you can be sure that all you have donated is tax deductible and all that you will donate in the future will be as well. This may encourage you to donate to support our projects in Zambia. Below is one of the needs that we currently have. May God guide you as you reflect on it.

Vincent Luwizhi is the director of GHI's projects in Zambia. Vincent is a full time missionary for GHI who relies on donations to support his family while doing his ministry in Grippis Farm. He is a godly man with a gentle spirit who is committed to seeing Grippis transformed by the power of God as he shares the biblical world view with the villagers. He is also excited about bringing economic improvement to their personal lives by introducing income generation projects. He is heading up the oversight of the Mango Grove Community School, the small animal husbandry training center, the new building construction, the income generating projects of tailoring, gardening and others. I was happy to get to spend time with him and his family while in Zambia. Vincent is a Zimbabwean with a theological degree from Liberty University, and is an ordained pastor. He is also a highly trained community development specialist who has lifted African communities out of poverty and dependency in 5 other African nations. We are so amazed and blessed that he responded to God's call to do the same for Grippis Farm.

He did an amazing job of coordinating everything when the mission team was there - he had everything incredibly organized - he had made all of the preparations so the team could do their work on the building. He had organized the architect to do the plans, the foreman to oversee the work, did all the legwork to get the supplies in place, the workers ready, and kept positive relationships with the community while they were clearing the land and preparing it for the construction. He did all of the up front work with the well drilling company and followed up afterwards to make sure that it was well done and in working condition. He is a hard working, dedicated, efficient man with a very positive, optimistic and faith-filled attitude. He is servant leader, even tempered, and always keeps himself in the background, quietly making things happen (He is pictured above with Mr. Sachika looking over the architect's drawings for the school and with the workers from the village at the construction site.)

His wife Samantha is an American who is by training a special education teacher. However she is a full time mom right now to their two girls, Madison, 4 years old, and Olivia, 1 year old. Madison is a precocious, warm, outgoing little girl who overflows with energy and a zest for life. She has a tender heart for the children of Grippis. The family has a slideshow of the Grippis children on their family camera. She sits and watches it and tears run down her face. "I just think it is so beautiful," she says. She loves to help with the rabbits, the ducks, the goats and chickens in the training center. She is friends with all and involved in whatever is going on. Olivia is an adorable toddler who is still trying to keep her balance so she can walk. She smiles almost all the time, is cutting teeth, is easy going and just as delighted with crawling after the ducks and chickens as Madison.

This God-sent family has embraced the children and teachers of the Mango Grove Community School, and have been accepted with open arms by the Grippis Community. They have already earned great respect from all whose lives they touch. They are currently living on faith - they have received only a fraction of what they need to pay their monthly expenses. If God nudges you to support them, please donate through the website, or by check to P.O. Box 10, Mint Spring, Virginia, 24463, and mark Vincent on the Memo line.

Or, if you feel nudged to go and volunteer to help Vincent administer the projects in Grippis for a short term mission assignment of 6-8 weeks, he is asking for help.

God bless you for your obedience and generosity,

Tanya

Sharing The Gospel With Zambia's Chiefs

2010-09-08T02:30:00.000-07:00

Many Tears, Few Words
When we are working on public relations materials together for our family business, my son David often says to me, "Mom - too many words." Today, I am at a loss for words- something profound has happened. I can only give you a timeline and weep, as I have for the past 7 hours.

11:00 am- Chief Chipepo from Siavonga arrives for a meeting that he initiated with me and my friend Dorothy Phiri, who arranged for our visit to his chiefdom to give out glasses. He thanks us for the wonderful service to his people.
11:30 He says "At 16 hours I invite you, Tanya, to come to our Chief's conference at Mulungushi Conference Center to give whatever word the Lord gives you to give to the Chiefs.
11:45 He leaves. I begin weeping. Stunned. Humbled. No words can capture…
12:30 I arrive at Heroes Farm and put my towel on the wood floor of my bedroom. I lie prostrate on it, weeping. Unable to comprehend what God is doing. As I weep, God speaks. Bit by bit what his message is to the chiefs enters my mind.
3:00 I leave Heroes Farm with a message in my heart and spirit, driving to Mulungushi Center
3:40 I drive in the gates - Impala are roaming on the grass across the street from the mall where I always go to the internet cafe. A fountain shoots water under lines of palm trees and manicured lawns. A huge metal sculpture stands at the entrance of the Conference Center. I park my old Pajero in the lot, and feeling somewhat conspicuous as the only white person on the premises with men in suits and women dressed in formal African attire, I walk into the beautiful building.
3:45 Dorothy Phiri arrives to accompany me. She phones the chief and asks which building we should be in. We walk to the right building.
4:00 Chief Chipepo greets us warmly and invites us into the VIP lounge. He pulls a small table in front of our chairs in order to serve us. He instructs the wait staff to bring us tea and a plate of finger food.
4:05 We hear the National Constitutional Committee voting on the new constitution being put into place. Inside the doors next to us are the parliament and the chiefs who are writing the new constitution.
4:10 The Chiefs are on break, and start arriving in our room - each one greets us personally with a handshake. We get on our knees for each one and shake their hands and greet them as "Your Royal Highness". They are warm and welcoming. They get snacks and tea and are seated in the large black leather chairs that are positioned in a U shape in the room. Chief Chipepo opens the meeting by saying that Tanya has brought a medical team to check eyes and give out eyeglasses to his chiefdom, and that she is willing to do that for any other chief who is needing that service. (I am surprised to hear that I am - I am just listening to God's plans unfold in the moment)
4:15 The Chairperson opens the meeting and introduces me.
4:16 I kneel before them on both knees and address them "Your Royal Highnesses, I am a simple woman. I am of no importance. I am humbled and honored to be in the presence of great men and women here.” I proceed to explain that I believe that God has shown me that they are great in the physical realm because they have royal blood flowing in their veins and royal cells that make up their bodies. But even better than that, that God has called them to be great in the spiritual realm as well. There is a holy purpose for their lives. I told the story of Moses, whom God called to set people free from physical slavery. I said that God is calling them to set people free from spiritual slavery. Moses had no weapons, but God accomplished what he did through Moses. He is calling them to be Moses to their people by taking a stand before the evil spirit saying "Let my people go". They also have no weapons, but Jesus said that He was anointed to set the captives free. If you do not know how to access his spirit, he tells us in 2 Chronicles that if we humble ourselves before him, seek him, and give up our wicked ways, he will answer us from heaven and heal our land. I said that if they do not know how to seek the spirit of Jesus, it is by being still, and inviting him to be their Lord, their ruler. Just as they are rulers of their people, and their people carry their chief's name on their identity cards, Jesus wants us to carry his name, and to submit to him as ruler. If we follow his instructions, he will come and set the people free from slavery - slavery to greed, to lust, to the love of money, to anger, etc. I ended by asking them - are you willing to accept God's invitation to be Moses to your people? To see Jesus set them free from spiritual slavery?
4:25 Chief Chipepo invited them to share their contact information with me if they were interested in medical/eye teams coming to serve their people.
4:30 The Chiefteness seated next to me spoke up "I am so encouraged and lifted up by the message we have heard today. Yesterday - in those chambers - we were called savages who ruled over savages. Today, we have heard that we are a chosen people to lead our people to holiness. I am so thankful, so touched, so uplifted by this message. I want to thank our visitor for speaking God's words to us”.
4:35 Chiefs went back to the Constitutional session with members of parliament. My Zambian friend, Dorothy Phiri whispers to me - you don't even know how extremely difficult it is to see these chiefs. It is so unbelievably rare to get an audience with just one of them.
4:40 I drove across the street to the internet cafe, weeping once again to tell you this tale.

I think I did have some words - is that ok this time David?

Tanya

2010-09-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Heroes,

Carolyn Snell shares her mission to Zambia below:

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

By Carolyn Snell

About a year ago I received a nudge from God to participate in a mission trip to Zambia Africa with the organization We’re All Gods Children. This particular mission trip was to entail vision screening and then provide eyeglasses to the poor.

But AFRICA I asked God and myself?! Never in my wildest imagination would I have ever conceived the idea of going to AFRICA! I mean that country seemed so far away; so remote, and so very primitive!

However, after meeting with Carol Fanelli and viewing her DVD on a trip to Kenya, my heart was touched. The pictures of those poor people proudly wearing their new glasses that sometimes were too small, too big, or even for the opposite sex, stirred something inside of me that I cannot explain. Being an optician, I see people with new glasses everyday – but this was different. Here in the States, we get to choose our eyeglasses. The term is even different, it is eyewear. The choice is based on fashion, name brand, color, and perhaps purpose of use. Most Americans have several pairs of glasses! But these people are different. Even in still photos, one could sense the hearts of the people in Kenya, their gratitude, and their humbleness. Although they were poor, they were a proud people.

But AFRICA? I came up with lots of excuses not to go. But God had a plan for me. He wanted me to go and go I would. I realized it wasn’t about me; instead it was about being obedient to God whom I love.

So off I go to bless the people of Zambia and Grippis Farm with my skill to fit eyeglasses. Little did I know it would be quite the opposite! I was blessed beyond description by the people of Zambia. Not only was God going to do a work through me, but he was going to do a work in me!

The first thing I noticed when we arrived in Zambia was the smell. The smell wasn’t of lush green fields with lots of fragrant flowers, but instead the smell was of burning brush and of a very impoverished place. Certainly not like some tropical place I would have chosen. But God did not give me a choice did he?

Since it was dark when we arrived, I was not prepared for the actual sight of this place! Not only was the smell unpleasant, the image was worse. It was of poverty, sickness, disease; hopelessness. The roads were mainly dirt with lots of potholes and trash strewn along both sides. There were people everywhere walking to their destinations, without ever having hope of owning a car.

The next day, we walk to Grippis Farm. This is the place that God has placed upon the heart of Tanya and the hearts of the people of Greenmonte Fellowship in the small town of Stuarts Draft, VA. This walk from Heros Farm to Grippis Farm brought to my mind a walk that perhaps Mother Theresa would have walked. In fact, as I witnessed Tanya walking through this little village she so loves, in my spirit Tanya is Mother Theresa!

We were all devastated by the sights we saw walking through this village. The poorest of the poor were living here. Children running around in the dirt, no shoes, filthy rags they wore for clothes, and the dirtiest little faces I think I have ever seen. The women were working hard to do their daily tasks, with a child upon their backs. I didn’t see many men until we came upon the “tavern”. There they were - drinking to drown out the desperation and hopelessness of the living conditions their families were in. I cried tears of sorrow for these people. “Oh thank you God, for allowing me to participate in this mission trip that will in some small way bless these people” I prayed.

Once we arrived at the school, the teachers and the children had a surprise for us. They had worked so hard on songs to sing and a skit to perform for us. Despite the visual aspects of poverty, these children of Grippis Farm portrayed an inner beauty that could not be denied nor contained. The inner beauty of these people burst forth with so much vivacious energy, that we were completely overcome with joy!

I cannot properly put into words the emotions I had during the eye clinics. I work in the field of Optometry. I know how important eyeglasses are. I know how important medical care for the eyes is. I know how debilitating a fully developed cataract is to a person. And I also know how easily some of these conditions are to make better. It was absolutely heartbreaking to witness a man, woman, and/or child have a cataract (or two) that was so dense it looked like white marbles where an eye should be! We saw many that had lost vision due to an injury or some genetic disease. Without the means to pay, these people could not seek medical care for their eyes! It all seemed so senseless to me. But God was using the sights and the smells to soften my heart that had in some ways had become hard. After being in Grippis Farm, Chikumbuso, and being in Chief Chipepo’s village for a day, my heart was especially heavy. On the four hour ride to the Chief’s village on the second day, I cried and I cried. My heart was screaming out to God “The Injustice of it all! Where, my God is the justice in this?” At some point in this period of mourning, I knew it was the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart and my soul. I began to look at things from a different angle. I began to see the good in the bad.

My experience in Zambia wasn’t all “gloom and doom”. There was a great deal of laughter among the team. Although we were strangers to one another we shared a common thread that bound us together forming a lifetime of memories and friendships. Laughter and joy was also prevalent whenever we interacted with the Zambian people. Their laughter and was contagious to say the least.

Some special people I met that brought me such joy and inspiration were David at Heroes Farm, Issac at Heros Farm, 13 year old Kennedy at the orphanage Chikumbuso, and a fine young man at Chief Chipepo’s village.

David made me laugh and laugh. He was always threatening to leave me somewhere! We bantered back and forth the whole time we were there, but we loved each other. Isaac always had a smile on his face and he has such a sweet spirit about him. He truly serves the Lord with his whole heart.

Little Kennedy translated for Miriam and me the entire day with such enthusiasm and joy. He has the biggest and brightest smile on his precious face. He loves school, speaks three languages, and wants to be a lawyer when he grows up. I pray that God will make a way for this beautiful child.

And then there was the special young man. He translated two days for Miriam and me at Chief Chipepo’s village. He is eighteen years old, an only child, and just graduated from high school. He still lives with his parents in a hut with no electricity or running water. He wants to go to college in the field of electrical engineering but has no money. He needs a sponsor to fund his college tuition. My heart went out to him Even though I never lived in poverty such as him, I grew up poor. I know what it is like to want to go to college, but have no means to do so. I pray for him as well.

One of the greatest things about this mission trip was our team members. God sure knows how to place people together to work together for good! We had the best! I was so blessed to have Linda as my buddy. She and I grew so close in those two weeks, we were even thinking alike! And then there was my girl Lindsay. She was ALWAYS looking out for me. Being scatterbrained like I am, I misplaced something every single day I was there. She would continuously look behind me to make sure I didn’t leave something behind. Thank you Lindsay!

And of course there is Tanya. I was and continue to be in constant awe of this very special lady. She serves God and the people of Grippis Farm with such tenacity, endurance, and total love! She totally amazes me. God has used this tiny petite woman to move mountains for His honor and glory!

God has been showing me areas in my life that needed changing. I kept denying this one particular area. Justifying it in any way I could possibly find. I had just about convinced myself that it never really existed. But God wasn’t through with me yet! On the plane ride to Zambia, I met a gentleman who is a native of Zambia, but travels to the States on business. He works for a major bank; therefore travels back and forth. I asked him if he liked the United States. His response was yes in some ways however he noticed that Americans are individualistic; the Zambian people are relational. Americans are selfish, self-centered, and very much about themselves. The Zambian people share what they have with one another no matter how small. Time is not important to the Zambians; time is everything to the Americans. During my two weeks in Zambia, I was reminded of this over and over again. “I know, I know, I say to God. I hear you!” I learned early on in life to depend on myself. I became very independent and self sufficient. I had to. By relying on “self”, I became self-centered and selfish. This is the very thing God has been and continues to speak to me about. “WOW” and “OUCH” at the same time! Sometimes we have to keep going around and around that mountain before we learn those lessons huh?

The most special of all nights we had together was the night the teachers from Grippis Farms, the school officials, and government officials came to share dinner with us Zambian style! After dinner, the sharing began. Not only did the teachers share, but the officials as well; one testimony after another. The fun part of the evening was everyone singing and dancing with one another totally without culture barriers. But the absolute best part was the worship and the prayer. Those teachers sang to our Lord Jesus Christ with such passion and love it penetrated their very souls! When the time came to pray I know without a doubt the Holy Spirit filled that room and every single person in there! I have NEVER experienced anything so beautiful, so heart throbbing, or so intense in my life. We all cried out to God in out own voices, in our own way, and in our own language. What a harmonious symphony that must have sounded like to God and his angels in heaven above.

I’ll end with this last thought. I went to Zambia thinking I was going to bless those people and perhaps in some small way I did, BUT I was the one blessed beyond description. We think of the Zambian people as being poor. And they are in many, many ways and yet we are too. They are poor in material things yes. The sicknesses and death is overwhelming. But they are so rich in ways that are much more important. They have a love, a faith and a trust in the Living God that penetrates every single tiny fiber of their being! They are in constant worship and prayer to our heavenly father. They have a complete and total dependence on God (not themselves); they simply have to.

So, I ask myself - WHO is poor? The answer is in the mirror!

I came away from Zambia with a new perspective. I now have a deep love and respect for those people – those BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE.

Carolyn Snell

Chris Beverage

2010-09-08T02:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Heroes,

Chris Beverage shares his experience on his mission to Zambia below:

Dear Friends and Family,

I am safely back in the US and already miss Africa. What an amazing experience it was. To witness God's presence in a place of such poverty is something I can't describe. The people there are so gracious and humble and joyous, it made me feel as though it's us that are lacking. Most of the families in this community have several people living in a 2-4 room mud hut. They are the poorest of the poor but have the most wonderful spirit.

While we were there we began construction on the first building of a school for the community. With the financial help of Grassroots Hereos International in Stuarts Draft, the school is being built for children in the community that cannot afford to go to school otherwise. Each morning we went to the construction site and there were 10-15 members of the community already there volunteering to help. When we left, the building was to the point of putting on the roof. Not too bad for 2 weeks with no tools except for 4 shovels and some masonry tools.

There was a second team that provided vision screenings for the community as well as other poor areas of Zambia. Over the two weeks they gave out over 1,100 pairs of eyeglasses. Again, these people would never be able to afford glasses otherwise.

I want to thank each of you for your prayers and support. It was an experience that will forever change how I view many things. For every one of us that went, God gave us so much more than what we gave the people of Zambia.

Chris Beverage

Julie Burkholder's Mission to Zambia

2010-09-08T02:00:00.001-07:00

Dear Heroes,

Julie Burkholder came to Zambia to explore a call to missions she has had in her heart since she was about 8 years old. She turned 17 on the night she arrived! Photos of her below show her praying with a woman from Girppis and making friends with the kids. She shares her experiences in her note below the photos. Her Mom adds a note also.

Dear Miss Tanya,

I told you that you would hear my thoughts on the trip once I processed them. So here is the best I can work out for now. Arriving at Heroes Farm Monday night was wonderful. Over time, that house became like a home away from home because of the people that were in it. I really enjoyed David's character, attitude, and perspective nature. I loved the simplicity of the house itself. There wasn't much there beyond what was needed (in an American viewpoint), but that allowed us to be focused on the mission instead of wishing to get back to whatever luxury we had left at the house. As far as the living style at Heroes, I found it to be just about like we live at home just a little plainer.

Grippis was wonderful. I loved seeing the people that you keep talking about and the places that show the improvement in their lives. I'm excited by the vision and excitement that is sweeping the village as more and more people are getting the idea that they don't have to stay in the same situation forever. The children are precious and the teachers are so inspiring, I had no chance to be depressed. All I could do was praise God for where he had brought this community and where He was leading them. I know there are still lots of huge obstacles to overcome, but if God has brought them this far in this short amount of time, how much farther will he take them in the years ahead, just like you said at the well dedication day.

About Chief Chipepo's village, it was so Godish the way everything worked out. The smallest amount of people were in that village, but we got to do two chief's and you got to talk to almost all of them!
I think that was all the major observations about Zambia. It is a lot easier to understand the Bible now. The way Jesus did His ministry makes so much more sense as does the way the Israelites lived in the OT. It also makes sense why God sent Jesus to be in the "third-world culture," because that is what most of the world lives in, if He had sent Him to a "First-world culture," most people wouldn't understand the Bible. I hope to go again sometime so I can learn to know the people more instead of just the situation. Julie.

Julie’s Mom, Marilyn who accompanied Julie to Zambia adds these observations as well, “Our time in Zambia was even more precious as I watched Julie's call to missions was affirmed, knowing that I will one day be releasing her to follow that call to places and persons to which we were ministering. She willing returned home, but her heart was left there in a totally different way then mine. We came to love the people and desire to see their hearts following the Lord.”

Marilyn

Saving Lives in Zambia

2010-09-08T01:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Heroes,

I am always so blessed to be able to help those who are in very serious need in Grippis with the funds that you are providing. This trip I encountered some very serious medical situations which were quickly becoming life threatening. The first day I was at Grippis, Lillian, showed me her finger. It looked to me like there was some of it actually missing. She said she had not injured it, that it just started swelling and then it turned into what you see in the photo. She had gone to the local clinic and had already received 10 injections, but the finger was not improving. I was able to take her to a surgeon in downtown Lusaka where they x-rayed it and then opened it up and cleaned out the infection. It took three trips downtown to get it all taken care of. The nurse told me if we hadn’t intervened it would have soon developed gangrene. Lillian sent me a message through Vincent that now her finger is better. Lillian is able to go back to work now. She got a job as a maid in the nearest community to Grippis. (She earns $45/month) She has built a small mud brick house for herself and her 6 children – she recently separated from her abusive husband to make a better life for herself and her children. She is more confident and joyful than I have ever seen her. She is going to the new church plant in Grippis, and is the song leader there. Her relationship with God has given her new hope and faith that God will take care of her. (She is pictured praying during the church service we attended at Grippis where Pastor Elias of Harvest Church is leading the new church plant which meets at Mango Grove School.)

Another person you helped was this little boy who came to the eye clinic in Chief Chipepo’s Chiefdom in Siavonga. (Pictured in pink) He was beaten with a stick that had broken his eyeball open. The local doctor put gauze on the eyeball, but couldn’t do anything else to help him. He needed to have the eye removed and an artificial eye put in. His family had no way to pay for the surgery. He had been living with his eye ruptured for almost a year. He is 9 years old. We were able to pay for his eye surgery. With your donated funds. I don’t have contact information for the mother, but she was so grateful for the help that we offered, and I hope to be able to follow up with someone after he has his surgery. He is pictured getting his good eye checked at the vision clinic.

One of my dearest friends in Grippis is Josephine Phiri. She has a heart of gold, and her family is an amazing bastion of God’s love and light in Grippis. She, her husband Fred and her adult son Abel took the tailoring class, and are all anxious to resume classes when we are able to fund those again. She just had her eighth child, Emmanuel. Following the birth she had surgery. About a week after surgery she developed pain in the area of the surgery, and then got a fever. When I saw her she had a raging fever, was chilling and in severe pain. I took her to a good clinic in Lusaka where she received medications to fight infection and help with the pain and fever. I paid for that with your donations. By the time I left Zambia she was feeling better, and had had a check up with the doctor who adjusted some of her meds. Thanks to you she is in good health again.

As I walk through the Grippis community I see so many others who have received medical help from your funds – Mrs. Banda, who invited the teachers to start a school under the mango tree in her yard had a granddaughter, Teresa, with a hole in her heart. She was only 3 years old. A donation paid for her to see a cardiologist, and when she grabbed my hand to walk around the village with me on this visit, I asked her how she is feeling “I’m fine now. I’m not sick any more,” she told me. “I’m six years old!” she beamed. In 2008, Mr. Sachika’s grand daughter, Maggie was bitten by a snake, and by the time I saw her leg it was horrid – the skin was broken down, it was terribly swollen, and she couldn’t walk on it. The other children would carry her around the school yard. She was depressed, and would sit by herself a lot. With donated funds we were able to get her help at an orthopedic hospital outside of Lusaka. She had surgery on her leg, and is now walking and running around with the other kids. You would never know by looking at her that she almost lost her leg! Another teenaged girl was helped to get meds to stop her seizures, a little boy had an insect flushed out of his ear which was severely infected, another boy was treated for bilharzia which is life threatening. So, I am saying thank you on behalf of all those you have helped over the years. You have saved many lives!

Rich Blessings,

Tanya Brenneman

2010-08-11T12:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Grassroots Heroes,

Bible School, Jimmy The Machine, The Well Dedicated

Wednesday started with a Bible School at the Mango Grove Community School for the children and youth. The mission team presented the story of Jesus as the good shepherd who goes after the one sheep that is lost and brings him home. They had a craft for all the kids to do with cotton and glue to make the printed picture of a sheep fuzzy. It was the first time the children had ever used glue! They thoroughly enjoyed it and held those little sheep pictures close when they left for home! Linda led the teaching, and said she has always been shy about speaking in front of anyone, but this time the Holy Spirit flowed through her in a new and powerful way – words just poured out that she had not planned, and could not repeat. She was so blessed to experience God enabling her and speaking through her to reach the children.

The construction project is ongoing. The challenge is to get the water from the well to the construction site. They hooked a heavy long hose up to the pump, and pumped the handle so the water filled the hose. But, the water had to be put into a barrel in order to get it to where it was needed, so the team had to lift the heavy hose up and work the water up into the elevated section, while blocking it from flowing backwards. It was heavy, hard work. But they did it! Everyone got into the work – even some of the older ladies on the mission team helped carry cement blocks from the pile to the site. The walls are rising up! We are all amazed at the intensity with which the young men from the community are working – and doing it nonstop. The team nicknamed one “The Machine” because he shovels and digs and pushes barrels with all his might at top speed. There are about 7 of these teenage boys who are volunteering to help with this building project. What an inspiration and joy to see them laughing as they work and interacting with the American team!

In the afternoon we gathered around the well and began to sing praise songs “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” As we sang, the Grippis women gathered with us and started singing some of their own songs. More and more poured down the path to join the celebration over the well. They danced, they acted out the songs, they passionately praised God for the water, for his love, for his power. Mr. Sachika thanked the team on behalf of the community, and Carol Fanelli of We’re All God’s Children officially gave the well to the community. She and Mr. Sachika pumped the handle together as an official symbol of the turn over. We thought together about how much God has done in that community. I asked the crowd, “Five years ago, could you have ever imagined that that you would have two wells, and this big plot of land for your new school, and a new building sitting on it?” “No” they shouted in unison, and then broke into a long period of shouting, clapping, punctuated with shrieks of joy.

God’s plans are so much greater than we can imagine! Who knows what the community will look like five years from now! Our hopes and prayers are that first of all the people of Grippis are serving Christ with all their hearts and that through them, He is accomplishing his purpose! Rich

Blessings, Tanya

2010-08-09T14:21:00.001-07:00

Dear Grassroots Heroes,

Building More Than A School

The construction mission team is working hard in the hot sun, dust and wind at Grippis Farm. They are doing manual labor in a very rustic way. At first it was just them toiling. As the villagers witnessed their hard work, one by one they began to join the volunteer effort. They grabbed picks and shovels the team bought for the project and began to dig out the hard, dry soil for the footers of the foundation. They chopped out roots and stumps with a pick axe. Together the growing team knocked out the work in good time.

The next phase was to transfer the concrete blocks from where the truck had dropped them to the building location. The team started carrying the blocks one at a time to the site. The teachers, on their first day of school vacation, arrived to help them. Soon, the children of the village saw the effort and wanted to help. Little tiny children were carrying the heavy blocks. Someone had the idea to form a “bucket brigade” to move the blocks. So, the Americans, the villagers and the children formed a long line passing the blocks along. For hours they moved blocks. The little children didn’t tire. The block layers began to lay the blocks – filling he holes in the center with concrete as they went. By days end they had four layers of blocks laid.

Today they are trying to mix the concrete to pour the slab for the floor.

The well is not yet opened, so the villagers have to fill huge barrels with water at the old well and roll them UP hill to the new site. It takes one hour to fill and roll one barrel of water to the site. No wonder they had requested a well at the new construction site! The new well won’t be useable until tomorrow. But, the workers aren’t daunted by the task at hand. By noon, they have 4 barrels of water, and they can start to mix when they have 5. A total of eight will be required for the work today. Tomorrow they will continue to build up the walls, which should be completed by Friday!

There is more than building a school going on here. Vincent said it this way “It is like the people of the village just woke up. They have started working on their own plots of land now – clearing the trees, and stumps, getting them ready for their own building projects. Somehow they have been inspired by seeing the school started. They have realized that there is hope, and it can be done, and they can make it happen! It means a lot to them that these people have come to help them – without getting anything in return. They feel by the team’s hard work – that they are valuable enough to help.” Who can measure the impact of being loved and served? One day we will all look back and be able to trace the path of the villagers as they were touched by the love of

God through his children!

Rich Blessings, Tanya

2010-08-09T14:07:00.000-07:00

Above are a few photos that go with the article entitled "Confusion, Laughter, Disappointment & Realization" This was sent out to the GHI mailing list. The boy in the

striped clothing is the one who lost his eye as a result of a beating. Thanks to the

generosity of a donor he is receiving an operation and a replacement artificial eye.

Tanya

2010-08-06T06:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Heroes,

For many months it has seemed like nothing is going on at Grippis Farm. There was nothing new, nothing happening, nothing visibly changing. Then, today when I drove into the new school land, it was full of activity that it caught me off guard. The well drilling rig towered high above it all, and the sound of the drilling filled the air. Children surrounded the rig, watching, playing, waiting for the end results of this all- day affair. In front of the well drilling rig a large truck was full of people lifting concrete blocks off to others on the ground who were stacking them in piles. To the right was a huge dump truck dumping cement, and a team of men and women moving fast to mix it into the layers of river sand and gravel that had already been laid in the ditches dug yesterday for the foundation. Up the dirt trail all day long came women pushing very heavy wheelbarrows full of small stones. They dumped their stones onto the growing pile, and the Chairman of the village, Mr. Soko placed a small stone on the pile of stones on the ground in front of him representing how many wheelbarrow loads that woman had brought. They will be paid by the load.

At the school the boys soccer team was showing off their new soccer uniforms, and the girls were playing netball in their bright outfits as well. They were stoked. Proud as peacocks, they pranced around!

Where did all this activity come from? Silently, out of sight ,God had been cutting the pieces of the mosaic that he put together today. In Grippis the women had been using heavy sledge hammers to break up big rocks into small stones, Mr. Sachika had been going about his duties with the Ministry of Lands, the architect and the foremen had been working on the drawings for the school, churches and individuals in Pennsylvania and Virginia sold hot dogs, washed cars, hosted benefit meals, Bible School teachers prompted donations from their pupils, and 17 of us were listening to God’s call to do our small part to be here on this day, and many, many others heard God’s prompting to give generously. We are a body – all working together to bring about God’s plan. We each have only a small part, but when it comes together as God has designed it, it is a beautiful sight.The well will be flushed out tomorrow, and we will dedicate it and give it to the community on Tuesday. I will have some photos of the clean water coming out of it for you to enjoy. I can taste the pride of the community as these improvements are made on their land. We have all given them hope of a future that is better than the past.

Thank you for doing your part!

Tanya

2010-08-05T06:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Heroes,

“Praise God I can see, I can see”, the elderly woman grabbed team member Carolyn Snell, laughing and laughing, hugging her close and dancing with her around the mud brick school room where the vision screening was taking place. Her joy captured the heart of our day today. Bringing sight to all ages of people at Grippis Farm was heat warming to say the least. The team of teenage girls, moms and others carried out the screening and eyeglass donation with ease, making lot of people very happy. Even the teachers from Mango Grove School got to take advantage of glasses, which they had never been able to afford. They were so thankful. Some of our favorite people through the years in the story of Mango Grove School, like Mrs. Banda, Fred and Josephine Phiri, Mrs. Chungu, and 290 others left with “new eyes”!

While the vision screening was happening, the construction crew from our team was busy digging the foundation for the building. Chris, Andy, Dale, Heather and Dennis worked in the hot African sun, using a pick, and a shovel to assist the locals in the back-breaking work. Tomorrow the foundation will be poured and then the blocks, which were delivered to the site today will be laid up until they are ready to place the rafters and roofing. Tomorrow the well drilling rig will roll onto the property, and yes, believe it or not, we just got a pledge for the $2,000 needed to complete the well. How amazing is our God? And how precious are his people who listen to his prompting to carry out his work!

The vision clinic moves to an urban slum tomorrow. I will move between the construction/well drilling site and the vision clinic to report to you how things are going! Thank you for your support and prayers
Tanya

2010-08-04T10:40:00.001-07:00

The Dance of Joy

The mission team’s first day started at Grippis Farm with a walking tour from Heroes Farm to the Mango Grove Community School. The reality of the horrible living conditions touched their hearts and many of them were crying as they approached the school. The students were anxiously awaiting their arrival. They lined up in the sunshine by grade and sang their hearts out for all the visitors. They sang praise songs, and worship songs, and performed a skit and poems for us. The team sang two songs for the kids and did a skit and we ended with the children in a big circle so we could greet and take photos with them. They loved the attention, and it was hard to get the team to say goodbye!

Later that evening, after our welcome dinner with the team, the teachers, the school board and the government officials, I certainly didn’t expect the living room of Heroes Farm to erupt into spontaneous praise dancing! Older white ladies joined in with the young Africans, old Africans bobbed and weaved with young white kids – hands clapped the African rhythm, the harmony rang out strong, the fever pitch built. The joy broke loose, and we were caught up in it together. Praising God, laughing, moving to our own singing. Poor village women wearing chitengas with babies on their backs, danced with seminary professors straight out of their classrooms, women dressed in evening wear swayed with others in jeans and t-shirts, the government officials of Grippis lost all their inhibitions in the middle of the circle of joy. These were rare moments of unity, when we dropped all that was different and fused into a oneness of spirit.

The build up was gradual, with one person after another sharing about how good our God is. Trials, hard times, character shaping, life molding experiences all under God’s hand led us all to this place, at this time to bring about the will of God. The focus was on God’s work in the Grippis community. Dr. Nelipher Moyo gave the history of God’s work from the beginning of the school and led up to the present. Mr. Sachika took the floor and preached a sermon right out of the depths of his heart, sharing his testimony of tribulations and loss that has led to something better than he ever had when he was an important employee of B.P. with every comfort. “If a person isn’t ready to walk the path of thorns, they aren’t ready to be a Christian,” he challenged us. We spent time in passionate prayer for the school and the community – for the transformation of hearts, minds and spirits. The sound was a roar of languages calling out to God for help.

The teachers, the school board, the young community members shared their gratitude for the team coming, for raising the funds to put in a new well and start their new school building. The Zambian law says that if you buy land and do nothing with it within a few months, the government can take it back, so by building this storage building and putting in the well, the team has given the community the security of knowing that their land will remain with them. The team presented 60 brand new soccer uniforms to the teachers, who were so moved and happy. Now the students can actually join a league and play other schools- before they were restricted from participating because they had no uniforms.

I closed by reminding the teachers that when we first came to Zambia and saw the heroic efforts of local teachers at Grippis, we wanted to name our organization after them so we named it Grassroots Heroes International . I presented them each with a Grassroots Heroes T-shirt, the government officials joined the spirit and accepted one as well, even Dr. and Mrs. Moyo wanted t-shirts to wear. They left with their shirts on, their smiles beaming and their hearts buoyed by the marvelous experience of worshipping God for what he has already done, and what is yet to come!

Your purchase of a Grassroots Heroes t-shirt will help support these heroic teachers efforts to educate the vulnerable children in the most extreme poverty. Or, a donation can help us give them a higher salary than they currently receive. Or, you could help finish the new schoolroom and drill the well for the community.Log onto http://www.grassrootsheroes.org/ to continue to join what God is doing in Zambia.
Blessings,
Tanya

2010-08-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

Three families received their rabbits from Vincent's rabbit project today. Mr. Chungu, pictured with his rabbit, built the cage in the photo inside his house. Another photo shows him with his family who live in the house - lots of people in a 4 room house! Now the rabbits have one room, leaving three for the family. It shows you how much they value this opportunity to earn an income from this project! You may remember Mr. Chungu's family story - several of his children died of AIDS leaving him with 5 grandchildren plus two of his own children to raise. He and his wife are the ones who taught the women to bake bread.

2010-08-02T06:15:00.000-07:00

16 people are in the air heading for Zambia from Virginia and Pennsylvania. They will check the eye sight in 5 locations, including 2 rural villages. I had the meeting with the chief's "front man" who instructed me in the proper protocol of meeting the chief when we arrive in the village. We are to call him "Your Royal Highness", and kneel before him. Even the President of Zambia does not stand higher than the chiefs of the land. So - we are in for an interesting experience there. The Chief graduated from seminary last year, and wants all of his people to know the love of God. I'm so glad we were invited to come! (Pictured above are Marilyn Burkholder and Carolyn Snell and Julie Burkholder and Chris Beverage during training sessions in July.)

The Mango Grove Community School is educating 250 children! The kids are learning, being fed and nurtured spiritually. It is obvious that they need some better facilities! Would you help us put in a well on the new land and build a new school building for this community?

A day at Grippis Farm

2010-07-31T15:00:00.001-07:00

Dear Heroes,

I spent one day at Heroe's Farm and Grippis Farm and have compiled some photos to share with you of the animal projects, the women working on the plot for the new school, the chicken lunch we provided for them.

I also posted photos of the process of identifying where there is underground water is located under the new school plot so we know where to drill the new well for the school. The man from the drilling company came with his copper rods and located a place by holding the rods out straight and walking until they crossed each other. I wanted to try the rods, so there is a photo of my face when the rods actually turned themselves when I stepped over the spot. He says there are two streams there and they are at the depth of 18 ft and 26 ft. We will do the drilling within the next two weeks in addition to building the first building on the plot if we can raise another $2,000! Would you consider helping us make this wonderful gift to the children and families in Grippis Farm?

A correction on my last blog - the size of the building we are putting up is 10X15 meters.

God is good!

Tanya

Bunnies Bring Hope to Grippis

2010-07-08T12:52:00.000-07:00

July 8, 2010

Hello Heroes!

Vincent is so proud to announce that the rabbit project is now up and doing well. (Photo is of the tiny baby rabbits at the training center)The hopes and dreams of the community of Grippis are to raise rabbits for an income for their families. 10 families have been trained at the training center at Heroes Farm, and the rabbits in the training center have now multiplied. As the families take possession of their own pair of rabbits, their offspring will be shared with others in the community - what a blessing for these impoverished families to have the hope of having a family business that will help sustain them! I am carrying over rabbit water bottles for each family and the training center so they can get their water more easily. Praise God for the initiative that the community took to get this project started, and the donors who made it possible! His message to me is below: (Praise God for Vincent!)

Dear Tanya,
The rabbit project is going very well as you know we have already witnessed multiplication! We have completed training with 10 families within Grippis. Our hopes and dreams for this project is income generation for the people in Grippis. We have discovered that rabbits are a good market here in Zambia. We would like the people to be able to generate an income so that they can begin to rebuild their homes on their new lots and eventually sustain their livelihoods! Also this is a project that more of the community will be able to benefit from as babies are born to the 10 families who start the project then others will be able to join in this market!
This project will be individual, meaning that each family will have the rabbits on their own lot and they will not require much space. Rabbits require little money to feed them as the families can grow their own vegetables to feed them. But we are open to any suggestions. The people themselves wanted this project.

Vincent

Blessings,

Tanya

God Sized Need

2010-06-24T07:18:00.001-07:00

June 24, 2010

The school building project has begun in Grippis Farm! Thanks to donations from We’re All God’s Children, a Christian non-profit organization in Pennsylvania, 20 Grippis families were provided with large hammers, which they are using to crush stones they have gathered from the ground in their own community. They will crush the stones into gravel to utilize for making the concrete blocks needed to construct their school building. It is hard, physical work, but they are willing to do it in order to see the school have a strong, new facility where their children will be assured of getting an education for many years to come. Praise God for the donations, big and small,which are making this beginning stage possible.

The next stage will be to purchase two concrete block making machines for forming the blocks, and the funds have already been raised by We’re All God’s Children for this phase as well. In addition, a mission team will leave the States on August 1 this year to go help the villagers build their school.

We are excited to see what God will do as he moves in people’s hearts to help the village build their new sturdy school. The school they are currently using is made of mud bricks – the walls are crumbling in many places – one wall has a three foot hole in it. One of the school rooms is missing the bars that protect it because the walls around the window are cracking and the bars simply came loose. A new concrete block building will be a permanent structure for the mission that the teachers are carrying out every day.

Will you help make this new building project possible by purchasing blocks for the construction? One block costs only $10, so for $1,000 you could buy 100 blocks, which would be a huge help. Whatever God moves you to give will be a blessing to the community. Perhaps you own or work in a business that would be willing to give toward the building of the school? We need to raise $135,000 to put this school up – and we are wide eyed in anticipation for how God will make it happen! This is a God-sized need, which only he can meet through moving the hearts of his people.

Richest Blessings,

Tanya

Positive Steps Toward New School Building!

2010-06-10T05:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Grassroots Heroes,

There are so many wonderful things happening to get the new school construction started for the Mango Grove Community School.

1. The 40 students in a very small Christian school, Joy Fellowship Christian Academy, in the Bronx, New York raised and donated $2,000 to assist the Grippis Farm community with their purchase of the new land they have been allocated for their school. These little first through fourth graders (in photo above) felt such compassion for the students at Mango Grove Community School that their zeal lead them to ask friends, neighbors, and family to help buy the land for the Mango Grove School. What is most touching about the story is that the New York school is itself without a proper facility and does not have the funds needed to purchase a new school building. I hope and pray that God will bless them for their willingness to share with others first before focusing on themselves!
2. A doctoral student in England held a birthday party, and asked that instead of gifts, all donations go to help build the new school. Several hundred dollars were donated by her friends.
3. The Grippis Farm Community has now been approved by the Ministry of Lands and Cooperatives as a cooperative. They are thrilled! They are now waiting on the certificate from the Ministry which can take up to two months. This certificate is all they need to present to be able to purchase their land with the funds donated by the New York school.
4. A mission team, from We’re All God’s Children in Pennsylvania and two churches in Virginia, is fund raising to build the new school building on the new land. The first funds were given to the Grippis community this week to get them started with their construction. 20 big hammers, which they requested, will be purchased for breaking rock which they are collecting from their own area. This crushed stone will be used to make the cement blocks for building their school. The same mission team will also donate funds to purchase two concrete block-making machines. The people of the community are donating their labor for clearing the land and for breaking the stones.
5. 5 members of the mission team will be arriving on August second in Grippis Farm to assist the villagers with their construction of the new school.

God is so amazing! He puts his pieces together in his perfect way, in his perfect time. What a joy to watch him work! If you would like to help the village build their new concrete block school, you can make a donation today for that purpose. The total needed is $135,000 – a seemingly impossible amount. But that is what we have thought before, and God has provided! If you would like information on how your business or church can participate in the “Build A Wall Campaign”, please write to me at tanya@grassrootsheroes.org. How is God prompting you to respond?

2010-05-31T05:53:00.000-07:00

May 31, 2010

Dear Grassroots Heroes,

Two weeks ago Leah, a single mother of four small children in Grippis Farm, lost the roof off of her mud house. The season is changing to winter in Zambia, and the weather is getting colder and colder. When we heard about Leah’s desperate plight, we put out an appeal for help to replace her roof. A generous young couple responded immediately and within days, Leah had a new metal roof. See Leah’s house above without the roof, and then with the roof, and Leah with two of her children.

Thank you donors for showing God’s love to a woman with no hope!

Blessings,

Tanya Brenneman

Desperate Situation & Positive Steps Forward

2010-05-21T16:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Grassroots Heroes,

I communicate regularly with Vincent Luwizhi, the GHI missionary doing community development in Grippis Farm. Below are two of his reports from this last week.
Rabbit Income Generation Project
“Today we had Rabbit workshop in Grippis and it was attended by 14 people. the workshop was to teach people how to raise rabbits. We brought in an instructor from the Ministry of Science and Technology from Lusaka who taught. The workshop was well received and we are so excited about this project. Total hours of training is 8.”

The vision of the rabbit project is that 10 families will be given training in raising rabbits at a training center on Heroes Farm. They will get experience for some time in how to construct a rabbit house out of local materials, what to feed the rabbits, what medicines they need, etc. Then, as the rabbits begin to reproduce, the families will give others in the village a breeding pair of bunnies and pass on the training that they received.

Desperate Situation
A young woman in Grippis is in a severe set of circumstances – her roof ( of plastic and grass) was destroyed and she is living with her four little children in a mud hut without shelter above. It is now the autumn season in Zambia, and the temperatures are getting cold. Vincent’s financial request is below. The total cost to buy a roof for this single lady in crises is $250.00. Would you like to help this vulnerable family? If so, please make a one-time donation designated for Leah.

“Leah, the young mother with 2 sets of twins still needs our assistance on replacing the roof sheets. She needs 10 roof sheets and here is the detail budget
10 roof sheets cost Kw 60.000 each
30 long nails cost Kw 2.000 each
Transportation of the roof sheet from the city center cost Kw 90.000
labor cost Kw 200.000
Total is Kw 920.000”

Mission Team Preparing to Help Zambians Improve Sight
On the home front, a mission team from Virginia who is going to Zambia with a team from Pennsylvania to conduct vision screening clinics for Grippis Farm, Mercy Ministries, two villages in Siavonga and Chikkumbuso in the urban slum or Ngombe, held fund raisers this weekend. They and many of their families and friends washed cars and sold hot dogs in the hot sun and raised enough to help the project launch. Thanks to all who helped! They will be leaving the U.S. on August 1 for Zambia.

Rich Blessings,

Tanya Brenneman

One Life Transformed By Your Help

2010-04-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

4-11-10

Dear Heroes

Hunger drives us. It pushes hard. It is unrelenting until it is satisfied. I have seen severely emaciated people, literally dying of hunger. I have seen the astounding results that food in their frail bodies achieves. I am seeing the same results as the children of Grippis Farm, who are hungry for an education, are given teachers, books, and a safe learning environment, food and clean water. They change from shriveled, shame filled shells into human beings with dignity and a sense of purpose.

The best example of a young person with a hunger for an education that is now being satisfied is Thomas Bwalya. Thomas’ parents both died before he was 5 years old (presumably of AIDS). His grandparents were also dead. Thomas told me “It was very sad. I kept wondering what am I going to do? I always knew that God would take care of me. He created the world – he made me. He will take care of me.” He lived with his older sister but did not go to school. In 2008 Thomas, age 15, moved to Grippis Farm with his sister and came to one of the GHI volunteer teachers from Canada serving at the Mango Grove Community School and confided in her that he could not read. He begged her to tutor him one on one. She met with him every school day, and he grabbed onto every syllable with gusto. (Pictured above with Dayna Thomas) He continued to devour every tidbit of information given to him in his classes at Mango Grove. “I knew I had to work really hard to make up for all the lessons I had missed,” he said, explaining his extreme dedication to school.

18 months later Thomas did something that took tremendous courage for an orphan from a squatters’ village outside of town. He, in his torn t-shirt and too short pants, wearing shoes with no laces and holes in the soles, sat with the public school students in their crisp, colorful school uniforms and took the seventh grade end of year exam given by the Ministry of Education. In January he learned that he had passed the exams, giving him permission to enroll in the eight grade in a public school in the Chamba Valley.

The elation that he felt was immeasurable. He left Grippis 5th grade class and enrolled in the high school in Chamba Valley. In February, I had the extreme pleasure of taking him shopping to buy his school supplies. He wore his new dark green pull over sweater sporting a sparkling white long sleeved shirt underneath and striped tie with black trousers and shining black shoes which make up the school uniform. Together we walked into the shopping center in Lusaka, and he strode down the aisles of the store with his head held high, his pride evident in every move. I dropped him off in the morning for school – his new backpack slung over his shoulder, his geometry instruments and notebooks and pens tucked neatly inside, and watched him melt into the crowd of students who looked just like him. And for an orphan boy from Gippis Farm, that says it all. He fits, he belongs, he has crossed a huge gap by walking over a bridge that GHI provided for him by your contributions. Imagine how he inspires the younger students in Grippis as they see him walk through the village now!

Reports tell me that Thomas continues to follow his thirst for learning by taking three extra months of schooling during the school vacations. He is determined and thankful. He sees himself in a different light than before – he has a future. He will be an educated man. In addition, a man of God from Texas visiting Grippis with Vincent saw Thomas’ plight, and is providing a monthly supply of food for him and purchased a plot of land for Thomas in Gippis where Thomas, now 17, can build his own home. He is also working part time at Heroes Farm and being discipled by YWAM missionary Ron Chideme, GHI’s representative. I took this picture of Thomas with the group from Heroes Farm and Grippis who attends church together every Sunday. (Thomas is in the center in the tan shirt) God’s love for Thomas flows through his people’s gifts and support. On Behalf of Thomas, a heartfelt thank you for a life transformed!

Tanya

Ministry of Lands Meeting Report

2010-04-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

April 1, 2010

Dear Grassroots Heroes,

I received this report from Ron and Vincent who are the GHI representatives working in Grippis. They offer a report on the meeting at the Ministry of Lands, which sounds very hopeful. Some of the paperwork that would normally take a long time seems to have been already filed which may simplify the process of the community owning land for the well, the school and even for the market which is designated for the community on the official plot. If I read this report correctly, it says that the community actually has the first right to buy the plots where the school and well are now located, which is very good news. Reading their report is also interesting from a cultural stand point just to see how other governments are organized. They ask for continued prayer as they work toward securing these plots of land. Thank you for your love and care for them, and your fervent prayers.

Tanya

Dear Tanya,
We went to the ministry of lands on the 29th March to get help and advice on the best way forward concerning the land for the school plot, projects and whatever the community will need to do. After considering all the options available which are the community registering as a society, register a co-operative or registering a company by guarantee (not for profit company) we felt a co-operative is the best way forward because it has less hassles, less paper work and gives the community more control over their activities collectively.

We then went to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives registrar where we discovered to our amazement there's is a registered co-operative in GRIPPIS already (this was registered by the baptist pastor & his leadership). However the way it works is that every family in GRIPPIS has to be a member & if anyone sells their land; the buyer becomes an automatic member of that co-operative. This grouping has the right to own land and properties on behalf of the community, they can sue and be sued. They can also open a bank account and suchlike. Therefore this co-operative can apply for the land earmarked for the market, school, and the two plots where the well is now and own it. They have the first right to offer to buy these plots (the two accommodating the well).

As mentioned earlier there is a registered co-operative in the compound already so we were asked to get hold of the certificate and the constitution that was used to register this body. After this we should ascertain how relevant this document is to our vision and needs in the community, if need be amendments shall be made, elect new office bearers/ trustees and adopt a new constitution and leaders. We would then invite the registrar of agriculture and co-operatives to the compound to educate the whole community on what this all means, expectations and how to make the leaders accountable. They will adopt these resolutions and give us new documents to use to apply for the said plots and land.

This whole process should be completed in five to six weeks all things being equal. We need your prayers for God's favour, guidance and breakthroughs as we continue in this work. We were also advised to continue using the favour of the second lady in securing a waiver of the offer fees so we intend to continue probing that avenue.

In His Vineyard,

Ronald and Vince

Twists & Turns Of The Faith Journey

2010-03-30T06:55:00.000-07:00

March 30, 2010

Dear Grassroots Heroes,

The land ownership conversations continue for the people of Grippis Farm. Please pray for the meeting, Wednesday March 31, at the Ministry of Lands. The community is appealing to the Ministry not only for their own land plots, but also is petitioning to retain ownership of the plot of land where the current school and well are located. The Lands Official is a new person in the job, and this will be his/her first introduction to the plight of the people of Grippis. In addition, due to what was quite a shock to all of us, the Grippis community needs a new location for their chicken house because the chicken house at Heroes Farm has collapsed. The roof fell in first, causing the walls to then collapse as well. Thank goodness we had shut the project down awaiting Vincent’s arrival and guidance.

When I first heard about the collapse, and saw the pictures of the house completely flattened to the ground, I felt a very unusual peace and said, “Thank you Lord, you are sovereign. Please lead us.” There is an estimate being made by the landlord to reconstruct the chicken house at Heroes Farm, which is a leased property. However, it seems that it might be better for us to build a chicken house on land that the Grippis community actually owns, so that the whole thing would belong to them. There are two plots in Grippis that the designated owners will not be utilizing. Mr. Sachika is going to appeal to the Ministry of Lands to allow the community to buy those two plots so they can build the chicken house there.

As we follow God on the path of faith that twists and turns in ways we can’t imagine, it is always helpful to remember the verse from Isaiah 55:8-11, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. …my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

Let us pray and wait to see God reveal his higher ways and what his word will achieve in Grippis.

Tanya

Vincent's New Home

2010-03-13T05:39:00.000-08:00

March 13, 2010

Dear Heroes,
Below is a note from Vincent, who arrived last Thursday in Zambia - looks like things are going VERY well for them in their fist week.

Dear Tanya
How are you doing? My family have just moved today to a new home from the farm house. We have found a two bedroom cottage at Justo Theological college just near the farm. the cottage is an ideal for our family at the moment, it has running water, electricity, security and wireless internet renting We are beginging to settle and the kids love it here. We are located near the Grippes community and Mr Sachika has already visited us at our new home.

Anyway I wanted you to know how are doing. Ministry note, on Wednesday this week I called a meeting for the Grippies community leaders and 20 representatives attended the introduction meeting. The purpose of the meeting was for us to meet the community leaders and them meeting us as well. the meeting took place at farm house in the living room. I, Vincent Luwizhi chairerd the meeitng and Ron hosted the community. The introduction meeting went well I was pleased.

I am scheduled to visit the community on tuesday morning for more meetings. I will give you more updates after the first visit on tuesday.

Today the School Board members met at Mr and Mrs Moyo's house for their monthly business meeting and I Vincent Luwizhi was invited to attend the meeting and it was very informative meeting. I just observed the meeting and at the end of the meeting Ron Chideme introduced me to the intire Board.

Blessings,

Vicent Luwizhi

Hero Teachers

2010-03-08T06:48:00.000-08:00

March 8, 2010

Dear Grassroots Heroes,

One of the most inspiring things about being at the Mango Grove Community School is watching the teachers in action. They start their days very early in order to arrive at school by 7:30. They walk together in a group up the dirt road for about 4 kilometers. This time of year is the rainy season which lasts from November through April. Daily rains are common. Some rains are torrential downpours, and happen day after day after day which flood the dirt road to the school. The teachers have to wade through the mud and knee deep water to get to the school. I am astounded at how they make it.

When they arrive, they start their day with a prayer meeting in the teachers’ office. They close the door, sit on the little animal-skin-covered stools and begin a passionate appeal to God for his help and strength to face the challenges of their day. They pray for the children, for the community, and then simply bless God with praises and honor. They pray out loud all at once- creating a sense of being in a thick cloud of prayer – surrounded by it on all sides. Some stand up and raise their hands high in the air, some keep their heads bowed in reverence. But all seek, and cry out and praise.

At 8:00 the official school day begins – the children gather outside under the mango tree. They line up according to classes, and then the teachers begin the school assembly. They lead the Zambian national anthem, read a Bible passage, say the Lord’s prayer all together, and then sing lively praise and worship songs in their tribal language and finish with the children all praying intensely – all at the same time – lifting their voices to heaven for help and rescue from the daily indignities and suffering that they endure.

Then the teachers go to their classes to teach the lessons they have planned and written out by hand the night before. They have no computers, they struggle to even have file folders or other materials to help them keep their lessons organized. In addition to teaching the children, they also have to deal with the parents – with their emotional problems, their drunken tirades, their fearfulness over witches who are casting curses on the school, their bickering with each other over who is supposed to cook breakfast for the students, their needs for help with issues at home, etc. The teachers become the role models and arbitrators of all kinds of issues. They are well respected and loved by the community.

They are on the front lines every day. Please pray for them! They need our support.

Blessings,

Tanya

2010-02-26T13:00:00.001-08:00

February 26,2010

Dear Heroes,

God is doing amazing things – which continue to keep me in awe of his love and desire to lift up the people of Grippis Farm, Zambia.

I just got off of the phone with Vincent Luwizhi (pronounced Luigi) and his wife Samantha and their 4 year old daughter. Things were rather hectic in their household – as we were talking, the movers arrived to remove all their furniture from their home in Tyler, Texas. Their 7 suitcases were packed with the only belongings they can take with them for their family of four for a move to Zambia! They found renters for their house in Tyler only two days ago. They have no home yet identified in Zambia, and their finances are not all in place to support their family while living there. The faith that this young couple has blows me away. The call of God is so strong on their hearts that they are leaving a comfortable home, steady jobs, and all the amenities of life in Texas to take up the leadership role in community development for Grassroots Heroes projects in Grippis Farm! I can hardly believe it as I write it. It chokes me up.

Since we began doing development projects in Zambia, we knew that we needed someone on the ground to manage them. But how that would ever be possible, we could not even fathom. We didn’t need to figure it out – God already had a plan, and he put it into motion. YWAM directors in Zambia who have known and worked with Vincent over the past 15 years, described him as a “community development superstar” and suggested him to us. We contacted him, and he went to Zambia in November to check out God’s work in Grippis. He was so moved and felt so sure that God wanted him there, that he came home, and three months later has moved all his furniture, bought his tickets and packed his two children ages 7 months and 4 years and his wife up to leave next Wednesday for Africa! With a theology degree from Liberty University, and training and experience in community development with Mercy Ships and YWAM in 5 countries in Africa, Vincent is the man that God has chosen to lead the charge for God’s redemption and development work in the people of Grippis.

He will begin by listening to the community leaders and members. Then, will start addressing any world view that is not consistent with the Bible. He grew up in Zimbabwe and knows first hand the mindset that Animism, a prevalent religion of ancestor worship, has on people’s ability to succeed. “My given name is Chimsoro, which means Big Head. My one brother was named Shorai, meaning Criticize Me Always, and my other brother’s name was Bhayi, which says Kill Me Just Now. When the white missionaries came to our rural village, they questioned our names. My parents told them that the spirits told them what to name their children, and they were too afraid to disobey them. After I got saved, the missionaries gave me a new name – Vincent – The Conquering One. This is just one example of the bondage many Africans are in to their worship of ancestor’s spirits. Once they accept the Biblical world view - that they have value, that God has a plan for their lives, and that God gave them talents and gifts to use, they can break out of mindset of poverty and hopelessness.”

In addition to teaching the biblical world view, Vincent will do leadership training with the community leaders to enable them to be godly leaders. He will be overseeing the ongoing chicken project and revitalizing the sewing cooperative, helping the women’s cooperative to find markets for their handicrafts and working with the community leaders to do other skills training at Heroes Farm for the people of Grippis.

How amazing is all of that?

How is God prompting you to support his work in the people of Grippis? Would you respond in as radical a way as Vincent and Samantha to what God asks you to do? If he is moving you to contribute to the financial support of the school and community development projects in Grippis, you can do it right now on the web site. We each have a part to play in this divine plan – all of us are needed and vitally important. As Blackaby says in Experiencing God, “When God shows you where he is working it is an invitation to join him!”

Blessings as you walk with God, and obey his leadings!

Tanya Brenneman

2010-02-23T04:45:00.000-08:00

Tanya's Updates Here