Catch the passion and the reality of traveling to Africa through the eyes of a recent high school graduate and one of Horizon's newest staff members on her first trip to Africa.
"I Feel So Alive" by Kayla Schaaf
The first questions from my high school peers when they hear that I have been to Africa are usually, "Did you see a lion?" or "What was the food like?" Yes, I've seen wild lions and African food is great, but for me, these trips are about orphans, orphans, orphans. I love orphans. That is why my 2010 trip to Africa was 20 days instead of 10. I joined two Horizon global outreach teams this spring to Harare, Zimbabwe, and Limpopo Province, South Africa.
I stuck my head out of the van window on our way from the airport to the Borrowdale Children's Home in Zimbabwe and just closed my eyes,
overwhelmed by the feel and smell of Africa. "Here again," I thought. I wrote in my trip journal that night. "I feel so alive!"
The next morning, I met a really special young woman named Maria. She is 19 years old, and she was orphaned because of HIV/AIDS. Little did I know, we would connect on a level on which I had never connected with another African orphan. We had an instant bond, and we spent much of the next week together. What amazed me about Maria, and many of the orphans we met in Zimbabwe, was her knowledge of and zeal for God. She shared her story with me one night as we cried and prayed together. Although she has been abandoned by her father and orphaned twice over, her dream is to "preach the Gospel in prisons, hospitals, and schools."
Doug Ehrgott, Horizon Global Team Builder and I met our South Africa team in the Johannesburg airport. The next day we started to prepare for our three-day Adventure Camp (retreat) for teenaged orphans from Madumeleng Village in Limpopo Province. We were very excited to share the Gospel with these kids, because many of our South African friends come from homes that practice Animism, Witchcraft, and Zionism. I spent much of my time with three girls named Junitha, Maria, and Shanty and was able to share Jesus with them. After a short sermon given by one of our team members, I noticed my friend Maria (who attends the Zionist church, which worships both the Christian God and nature) reading a little green card that explained the story of redemption through Jesus Christ. She bowed her head to pray afterwards. We hope and pray that many lives were changed during our retreat. I am humbled by the Lord for using me, a broken and imperfect person, to bring the hope of Jesus to HIV/AIDS orphans in Africa!
"I have been challenged, even changed by being in Zimbabwe" by Nancy Clark
“You will need to make it very clear to me, Lord, if You desire for me to travel to Africa.”
God tenderly spoke to my heart and clearly asked me to travel with a team of women to facilitate a women’s conference in Harare, Zimbabwe. My passion has always been loving little children and mentoring young women in our faith. This trip would focus on both these areas of my interest and gifting. Yes, this trip will be my ‘gift’ to God.
Even though I have read many books and viewed true stories about southern Africa as well as enjoyed a friendship with a dear Zimbabwean women for 4 years, I was not prepared for the reality of life in that country. I was overwhelmed with the number of orphans, the need in the infrastructure of the country, the cultural differences, and so on.
My ‘gift’ to God paled in comparison to the stamina and strength I witnessed in many of the women who walked for days to attend the three-day conference, many with young children they carried wrapped to their back. Their accomodations were primitive by my standards, but they enthusiastically entered into worship . . . Their humble and respectful attitude toward me as the American visitor far outweighed my ‘sacrifice’ of travel.
As I wrapped my arms around the women who came forward for prayer during the conference, I wept as I prayed for them after hearing of their suffering and trials. My passion for mentoring those younger than me seemed weak compared to their diligent care for each other and me as the visitor.
Caroline, a 4th grade teacher, Mavis, cooking for us at the Horizon home and cleaning the kitchen, Pastor Barbara, leading a church in a very needy community, Blessing, a lovely young woman who was a hostess at the women’s conference . . . these 4 women exemplified Christ’s sacrificial love far more than my meager ‘passion’ for loving children and mentoring young women.
I have been challenged, even changed by being in Zimbabwe. Still searching for words to describe the experience, I was encouraged by reading the book, "Take Your Best Shot", by a young teen, Austin Gutwien. So what if he is 15 years old and I am 63 years young, we both can give of ourselves, to those who have so little. We both can advocate for those who are suffering from the ravage of HIV/AIDS.
