De-briefing

It doesn't seem possible that we have been at Hands@Work for seven days now. Today we met as a team with the Hands@Work regional support team, to listen and to share our experiences. This is one of the great strengths of the organisation, as a charity they prepare their short term volunteer teams well before a visit and offer a number of opportunities to reflect on your experiences before you leave.

Eleven of us met this morning and we were asked to share something that had been a highlight of our time here and something that had been hard or challenging. What we discovered was that each of us has been on a journey with God and in different ways we have been challenged to grow in faith and obedience. One of my personal highlights has been to listen to people talking about their faith and to see God at work in so many ways in their lives; children, Careworkers, Care-co-ordiantors, Regional Support Team members, Service Centre Volunteers and those who have come on short service teams as we have. Many shared their stories, as a parent it was especially encouraged to listen to our children speak of their faith and how they have felt about being here this week.

There is almost indiscribable material poverty, amongst so many we visited this week - and so much more, often we met complete family breakdown, with parents either absent by choice or through death. Children living in groups with an older sibling or relation caring for them. Men have frequently left for work and if they return, are disempowered through their own pain, grief or unemployment. Strong, healthy role models are hard to find.

The work of Hands is to bring the love and hope of Christ into these places, offering listening, compassion and practical help to empower these families, through the Careworkers. One of whom I met this week is known as Angel. It struck me how fitting a title this was for a woman who gives of herself, tirelessly to others. I was reminded to of our 'Angles' back home, those who visit the sick, lonely, bereaved and troubled. We have much to thank God for in their example to us. So much good does continue to be brought into our world, so often unheralded, quietly carried in the arms of love for Christ.

As we leave here in two days, we will bring away with us so much more than we could ever hope to give. Each of us has been touched by Christ afresh and challenged in different ways. When  we meet again face to face, asking ' how was Africa? ' will be hard to share in one sentence. So why not suggest a cup of coffee and an ear to listen to what God is doing here in this very beautiful but very needy country, where children die every day because they have no food or are endangered by their own communities for complex, deep rooted and painful reasons.
Mandy

The content of this blog represents the sole views of Mandy walker, not of Hands@Work or any other persons.