Thank you for your interest in my first short term mission with Hear the Cry's trip to serve orphans in Zimbabwe this Summer.  Hear The Cry and A Jesus Church (my church) have been partnered with Hands of Hope Africa for the last 10 years and will be sending a team August 6th - 22nd to Harare, Zimbabwe to help meet the needs of the poor, the orphan and the widow. Hear the Cry supports four orphan homes in the community.

What has led me to the confidence I have been given in this mission?  For many years now I’ve been praying for God to help me to dream again. I’ve been asking Him to reveal my dreams to me and dream with me. Dreaming is something that I felt I had lost the ability to do.  I no longer believed dreams were a good thing but rather a source of disappointment. That numbness, emptiness and detachment felt awful. I suppose the dreams I chased after as a young adult weren’t the right ones. Most of them haven’t come to fruition. I realize now that they weren’t God’s vision for me. The blockage was in my mind. But my heart still ached to dream. I cried out to Him for years to heal this part of me, this ache.

It wasn’t until a year ago that I got a glimpse again of what he had planted with in me so many years ago!   He heard my cry. He’s showing me the things I had lost. Lost in my old life, the life I led before it intersected with Jesus. They were dreams that I had forgotten, dreams that seemed too lofty and too far beyond my means to attain. And well, I guess that’s because I can’t attain them. Only He can. But I had no clue who Jesus was then and I dismissed those dreams and chased the ones that seemed within my reach. He asks me; Is the arm of the LORD too short? If I Am for you than who can be against you? Am I enough? I believe He can and will. He planted a vision & desire in me around age 19 that is just now coming into focus. I had no idea how, when or why but absolutely saw myself in Africa loving, fellowshipping and celebrating with people! It seemed pretty mysterious to me then, but completely reasonable now. It's Jesus, to serve Him.

It brings me to tears to realize His wise and tender hand is in mine patiently waiting for me to come along with Him. Going with Him where He is leading. Why else would he give me a vision so many years before is revelation? Because he is glorified, Because, He, not I, will do it and do far more than I can ever imagine.  

Year after year the children from these orphan homes, as well as the whole community, look forward to this special time of refreshment and fun organized by our teams. This summer our trip will consist mainly of building relationships, skills training and VBS (Vacation Bible School).

Many of the orphans supported by Hear The Cry are aging out of the homes and there is a great need for further schooling and opportunities to work. We are going to work intentionally to provide skills and create job opportunities. Specifically, we will use whatever skills our team has to offer (last year we hosted a basketball camp, taught in schools, and did an infant massage training class). This year, we are working toward business planning for the opening of an orphan run coffee shop, hospitality and business management training, a spa day for the momma’s and aunties that care for the kids, basketball camp, scrapbooking and tons of fun and games with the kids.

Please partner with me in prayer. Specifically for my relationship building with the mommas and aunties who are also widows and orphans.  God’s healing of their deepest wounds, restoration and refreshment. Please pray for my personal growth, wisdom for me, sensitivity and courage as I get the privilege of praying for and sharing compassionate touch with the women.  Pray that it will then overflow into all that they do as they love, serve and care for these kids. My desire is that our Holy God will be honored and glorified!

I am honored to share the gift I've been given as a massage therapist to bring comfort and refreshment to the mommas and aunties who care for the children. I’ll be giving and teaching short form foot reflexology that specifically addresses common ailments such as headache, anxiety, stress, sleep issues and general wellness support.  I am greatly looking forward to building relationships with these hard working, self-sacrificing ladies who pour into the kiddos day in and day out.

I also get the exciting privilege to join in with the team as we teach, love, laugh & play with the kids in the weeklong VBS. I’ll specifically get to lead in the 0-5 year old group with arts and crafts.  Apart from structured activity times I have the opportunity to be available for however else God intends to use me! Please, if you will pray with me about this too! Thank you!

If you feel led to sponsor me in any way thank you!  I am responsible for funding this mission trip.

Love,

Erin                                                         To check out Hands of Hope Africa visit: http://hohafrica.org/wp/