On the 28th of April Samuel Grottis (President and CEO of AfricaWorks) together with Pastor Gumbe and 4 American investors began their trek across 5 Southern African countries to visit AfricaWorks projects, to get a first hand feel of the impact funding actually makes.  We call this funding investments, as with each dollar donated, one is investing into the victory over poverty in the life of a vulnerable person.

 

The team came back with this report, aligned to these simple yet detrimental points:

• Those who are poor serve those who are poorer – a great lesson to learn. 
• Trade not aid. 
• Poor people are not stupid; they can learn and become better managers and leaders than many of us.  It’s our job to partner with them by giving a hand-up, not a hand-out. “empty bellies have no ears”
• Care for the sick, regardless of why they are sick.

28 April
The team unites in Johannesburg in front of their Southern African Marathon trip.

29 April
THE JOURNEY BEGINS! – headed for Mbabane, Swaziland
The team met with Tinashe and Naomi Chitambira. Tinashe heads the programs in Swaziland from the AfricaWorks side, in partnership with Advocates for Africa’s Children (AFAC).
The team already began to feel “We went to Africa to serve & partner with those poorer than us, and came back richer from the learning’s” 

 

We met many folks at the church on the hill. The pastors and women spoke.  It was a great time.  Specifically we met 7 of the women who have 19 children & care for 14 HIV/AIDS orphans. These women are learning to raise 1,000+ chicks every 2 month cycle in order to increase their income so that they may continue supporting those in need. With God, all things are possible to overcome.

• April – on to Mozambique

The team drove to Boane to see the new chicken coups being built by the Pastor/Community members.

• In Boane 84 HIV/AIDS orphans are cared for by our clients. Those who are poor serve those who are poorer – a great lesson to learn.
• The team also visited Piedade, a true encouragement for what we at AfricaWorks stands for. Piedade has become an entrepreneur extraordinaire!
• Piedade has grown from sharing 1 chicken house in 2007 to owning a chicken feed business, having her own chicken houses, her own brick making business and rents houses. These are the seeds we need to plant
• Piedade has 3 children and cares for 5-7 orphans.

1 May – Mozambique

• Taken from the extraordinary life of Moses in the bible :

1) Know God
2) Trust God
3) Obey God

The African sun over the ocean at sunrise was beautiful.

 

 

 

Sam and Jim revisit the restaurant where they first discussed what is now called AfricaWorks. What a journey - know God, trust God, obey God!

 

               

• We traveled to Guija to see the irrigation schemes and crops. 
• We thoroughly enjoyed the singing from the women of Guija program while standing beside the irrigation canal.
• We also had the opportunity to lay hands on and pray for Artemisia Chauque, a women with HIV/AIDS.  All she wants is to see her children grow up.  With God, all things are possible to overcome.

• On our visit to Mukhotwene we saw water wells and water points where water was sold so that the village can maintain and expand the water storage bins. This gave us a healthy respect for those who do this every day and live on less water in a month than most of us use in a day.

 

2 May - Mozambique

• Eph 2: 8-11 and Ps 139:14 – we have been designed as masterpieces to do good works; what we become will facilitate what we do; God is concerned with who we are and what we
• Traveled to visit Africa Oil Works in Maxixe where it’s all about coconuts to see the operation. 

• Today we drove 10 hours on a pothole with a road in it somewhere. 6 guys and 2 "roadside" bathroom breaks. Lots of laughs and deep, relational conversation.
• Identify 25 leadership qualities in yourself from Nehemiah 1 - 3 and 25 as well as from Acts 27.

 

3 May - Traveled to Mutare, Zimbabwe
Exodus 3 & 4 – The presence of God – how do people see the presence of God with and in us?  Do we go where God sends us?

• We met with Bishop Trevor at a business meeting with locals who challenged them to be leaders Poor people are not stupid; they can learn and become better managers and leaders than many of us.  It’s our job to partner with them by giving a hand-up, not a hand-out.
• We met with a doctor who shared his vision on partnering with AfricaWorks to better the pharmaceutical capabilities in the country.
• We also met with a timber expert who would like AfricaWorks to assist in the business.

4 May – Harare

 

• Went to Jakes and Lilly Muchengeti’s farm.  Discussed their business plan for farm expansion and an out grower plan, including training programs.

   

 

5 May - Travel day to Lusaka, Zambia
Let Freedom Reign – Isaiah. 58 1-10 – serving those who need freeing;  6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:  to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,   to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?  

• We drove North of Lusaka to visit an orphanage store.

6 May - Lusaka

• We met with Benedict and Kathleen Schwartz about the AKCL Orphanage.  We also met Claude Allen of Gerard Health Foundation.  Claude was the domestic policy advisor to President George Bush (son).

 

 

• The Orphanage http://www.akcli.org/ is about: schooling and learning about businesses: agriculture, chicken raising, cows, restauranting, way-side bathrooms and showers, sewing, retail stores, and bag and jewelry making.
• We enjoyed seeing the women singing.  We bought bags made of plastic and jewelry.  It should make a great beach bag.

 

7 May - Depart to Victoria Falls after another big breakfast.

• 2 Tim 2:19-26 God cares about our character and not our geography – we are to be agents of change.  Acts 2- God will pour out His spirit and give old men the ability to dream dreams and see visions.  We need to be innovative and creative and especially allow kids to dream dreams and see prophecy. 
• We walked on the bridge built 1905 and looked at Victoria Falls.  Worship the Creator, not the creation. 
• Just ate appetizers at the Lokuthula hotel since we snacked in the van all day.

8 May – Victoria Falls

• We drove around looking for wild life.  We also saw the “Big Tree”.
• Victoria Falls today, beautiful!  Thundering Smoke according to Dr. Livingstone, the first known European to see the falls. 1.7 kilometers wide (1.1 mi) and 108 meters deep (354 ft).
• We got soaked and had to wring out our socks and pour water from our shoes. Water was in abundance.

9 May

• We saw elephants on the way out of town.  Another highlight.

 

 

• We continued our journey to Bulawayo to visit with Peter and Di (Diane) Cunningham.  We spoke with Peter, Rene, and Brendan Smith about the Barnabas Fund, their vision and explored if/how they can partner with AW. 

10 May - Bulawayo

• We learned about and spent time at Ebenezer (2 year training for 18-24 year olds to disciple them and teach them farming – loans for inputs, land clearing, savings accounts, farming.

• We also met Mbhulilu, who walks about 11 miles each way every Sunday to preach at the church he started. Learn to humble yourselves before the Lord.  Be patient and give to the Lord by giving to someone else or the church.

 

11 May - Traveled to Johannesburg

• The most hopeless situation back to life.  Ps 25:14; Prov 3:21. 

12 May - Johannesburg

• We met with a few potential businesses we will partner with.

• 4 important topics for Africa (and others)
• Food Security
• Water Security
• Health Security
• Education

 

Sometimes the Urgent and Important cannot deliver the full financial returns that people look for; this is where social concern comes in play.

And So the Marathon ended on the 12th of May. We thank God for the safe journey, the lessons learnt and the importance of his work here in Africa!