Final Thoughts....

We're back!!! We had an incredible time with Koos and his team in Mozambique. We camped out in the village of Macacaza near the village school, which was deserted and appeared to be out of commission. We spent our days visiting various clusters of huts. My (this is Kate speaking) idea of an African village was a fire pit with a gathering of huts around it, with all of the villagers living close to each other. That was not the case in this village. Each family had its own collection of huts, and each group of huts was a 5 or 10 minute hike from the next one. We did a lot of walking.

Koos has been working with villages in this area for about 4 years. There are several believers in Macacaza, but no pastor or church (in the way we think of a church). Our visit was an encouragement to our brothers and sisters there. One woman named Rosa had a glow that could light a room (which was good, because we did not have electricity). She thanked Koos for coming to teach the villagers about God. From a Western perspective, it might seem that what Koos was doing (teaching a basic Bible lesson) was not that ground-breaking, but for believers who do not have a shepherd living among them and leading them, what Koos is doing is revolutionary and life saving. This week reminded us how much we take for granted as well-resourced, "plugged-in" Christians. We have sermons at our fingertips and books on every shelf, yet often we lack that personal touch of Christ that was this woman's foundation.

We also worked with the children who lived in the local village. We played tag, gave hugs, sang songs, shared stories and passed out school supplies. What a humbling experience to love on these children who long to be loved unconditionally. What a true blessing.

As we finished our time in Africa, we had much to reflect upon. So many thoughts filled our head and we were asked so many questions that may never be answered. And yet, we still have many to answer as we come back to the States.-"How was Africa?" was among the first to be asked. And how do you answer that with all that was learned? We literally saw the poorest of the poor, the effect of AIDS, the importance of relationships and still saw the goodness of God. We are still trying to convey to our friends and family exactly what we are feeling and so excited to share!

Thank you. Thank you for your prayers and for your consistent love. They are coveted.

Enjoy the pictures from Mozambique and please continue ask us how we are feeling. We love sharing our hearts.

Peace, love and Africa,
Rachelle and Kate

rlpichardo@yahoo.com
katherine.schoen@gmail.com

Heading to Mozambique

Our time at Sparrow ended well. The Lord blessed us with sweet moments of goodbye with the kids, and the other volunteers. We look forward to sharing our experience with all of you in depth when we return.

We have reached Mokopane, South Africa., where we are staying with Koos and Jeni Basson. We are excited about our trek into Mozambique with Koos and his team tomorrow. Our role will be to conduct the children's ministry. We think most of the children's ministry will be centered around the village school. From what Koos has told us of the school, they lack the most basic items (pencils, paper, scissors, etc). We are going today to purchase school supplies and hope that will be a blessing to both the children and the teachers.

The area we are going to does not have a strong church or local faith leaders, so much of the work Koos will be doing is to build up those he has met on previous visits and further establish a presence in the area. Please pray for our interpreter and for clarity of understanding. This is one of Koos' "young" missions, and we are excited about what is in store!

We will return on Monday....then head back to Jo-Burg Tuesday, and fly back to the States on Wednesday and arrive on Thursday!

What a journey!

What an adventure!

Peace, love and Africa-
Rachelle and Kate

This Week in Pictures

Showtime at Sparrow

This weekend was a busy one. On Friday morning, we hosted 15 teenage girls at the guesthouse for a beauty party. They had a blast painting their nails, putting on make-up, and dancing around to the sounds of High School Musical 2. Though it has taken almost two months to build a relationship with these girls, the time and energy was well spent. As we spent time beautifying outward appearances, our conversations revealed the beauty inside each girl. Our friendships with these girls have given them confidence in their identities as daughters of the King. They no longer resist our hugs or make funny faces when we tell them we love them. Our prayer as we prepare to depart is that they would realize that the love we show them is not our love, but Christ’s love in us. That is our prayer not just for the teenage girls, but for every child, caregiver, and adult we have met during our stay.

Saturday night, Sparrow’s talent kids debuted in “Spotlight on Sparrow.” The kids worked on their performances for two weeks, and the result was a wide array of singing and dancing that delighted the house mothers and the other kids. Again, all that was required on our part was to affirm within these kids that they are special, and the kids rose up with confidence, beaming as they took the stage. The following afternoon, the kids did an abbreviated performance in the hospice for the patients. This time, it was not about building up the kids, but about showering the patients with love. As we were setting up for the talent show, one of the patients asked what was happening. We told her the kids were going to be singing and dancing, to which she replied, “Oh, what a nice surprise.” As she watched the kids perform, her glowing face said it all: people rarely take time to think about my pleasure. We are not nurses or doctors by trade, but we can help people to enjoy the life that they are able to live.

With only five days left at Sparrow, we are making the most of our last moments here with the people we have grown to care about. We feel a sense of urgency to say our last thoughts, but also realize that for everything there is a season.

A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words

Different Views

Tuesday was one of the longest days we have had since arriving at Sparrow. We went from two funerals to laser tag, a tough transition for even the most seasoned minister. The day’s event brought before us the humanity of Sparrow, but we each saw that humanity in different ways. Here is an account from each of us.

Buried and Broken (Rachelle):
As I try to put my thoughts into words, all I can think about is Siyabongo. He is 7 years old. He is now an orphan. His face cannot be put from my mind. Tuesday, he buried his mother, who died at a young age from this heartless disease we call AIDS. They both lived here at Sparrow. This was one of two people we buried Tuesday. The other was a man who was taken in off the streets, who had no one at the funeral but a couple of friends-no family. I cried for Siyabongo; for these loved ones we lost; I just cried.

I had the honor of sitting next to Siyabongo in the car on the way to the burial. We were silent. I was silent the entire service. As I sat by Siyabongo, I thought about how he felt. Although we don’t speak the same language, we did that day; I felt his pain-the pain of losing a mother. It has been almost three years since she has been gone, but it was a fresh feeling that day. How I wanted to hold Siyabongo and tell him it would be okay; that Jesus would heal his little heart. I put my arm around him and I silently prayed for him. It would be a long road ahead. A road that he knew nothing of.

He cried as they buried her. He threw flower pedals into her grave and songs of praises and mourning were sung by all who were there. Vusi preached and prayed. It was a day of grieving for everyone present.

A different perspective was given to me that day, a perspective I had yet to see. I saw death in the face of AIDS. All I felt like doing was being alone.

Where is your heart today? Where do you need healing? What perspective is God asking you to look from today?

Healing Touch (Kate):
“And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.” --Lk. 6:19

On the drive home from playing laser tag with the teenage girls, I felt something tickle my shoulder. I glanced down just in time to see a head sink into my shoulder as one of the girls napped on the seat next to me. The bakkie jerked its way through rush hour traffic, but I stayed as still as possible, hoping to prolong this tender moment. Looking down at her, I was struck by the healing I sensed in this simple posture.

From the hugs Rachelle gives to every kid she sees to the way Caroline cradles the babies, from the way siblings hold hands as they frolic across the playground to the way mothers carry their children on their backs, everywhere I see this healing touch. Perhaps I am romanticizing what some consider a basic fact of life, but I think not. An American missionary we met a few weeks ago at the Baptist Training Center told me about a study in which babies were changed regularly and given food and water. Some babies, however, were never touched, apart from that required to change their diapers and clothes. The babies that were not touched quickly sunk into a state of despair that bordered on death while those who were touched thrived.

Although I am not sure about the ethics of this experiment, the point is striking: without touch, we die. That an act as simple as rocking a child to sleep is as powerful in the fight to keep him or her alive as the medicine the doctors prescribe seems too incredible to believe. It is difficult to understand how powerful and healing a touch can be, until you consider those moments when you have been broken, and the Lord has reached out, touched you, and healed your brokenness.

Lessons Learned

One of the first questions most South African's ask us is, "How do you like South Africa?" We reply, "The landscape is nice, but it is the people we love." We have been overwhelmed by the hospitality of strangers we are now blessed to call friends. Here are some lessons we have learned from people we have met. We hope these reflections encourage you to think about the meaningful people in your lives and take time to express your appreciation to them.

From the kids...Everyone wants to be loved and to know they are loved. On a walk to the corner store, one of the teenagers asked Rachelle why we love them. She did not ask if we loved them, but why. This was a great reminder that sometimes living your faith and sharing God's love through your actions is not enough: we need to express in words why we believe what we do and why we do what we do.

From the caregivers who truly care...Jo-burg has been experiencing random blackouts for the past few months as the government has enforced electricity load-shedding. Most of the blackouts happen at night, so we do not notice. Lately, however, Sparrow's electricity has gone out just before dinner. We do not have generators, so this loss of power creates a bit of chaos. From feeding 250 kids to ensuring that oxygen-dependent patients continue to receive their life-sustaining flow of air, the caregivers at Sparrow have amazed us. Without skipping a beat, they drop what they are doing, light candles, and give all their attention to the patients. Selflessly, they work together to keep the situation as normal as it can be. We have witnessed several caregivers turn around as they were departing the building at the end of their 12-hour shift to help out during a blackout. The love these men and women show for the babies, children, and adults is a challenge to anyone who really sees them. Their actions push us beyond our limitations.

Vusi...With a 9mm on his hip and a bulletproof vest on his shoulders, Vusi is not the most likely visitor to the baby room of the hospice. Every night, however, Sparrow's night guard pays a visit to the youngest residents. He calls each child by name as they hold up their fists in anticipation of their nightly fist pound. Those who cannot make a fist get a thumbs up. And some get both. His enthusiasim and consistency let the kids know they are cherished and significant and important. We all need a little more Vusi in our lives!

These descriptions do not do justice to the souls we are meeting here, but we hope this glimpse of who they are to us ministers to you.

Peace, love and Africa.
Rachelle and Kate

Pictures in order of appearance:

Kate with the kids in the Hospice
Rachelle with one of the babies in Hospice
The kids sitting outside of church
One of the kids with their faces painted with white chocolate from an Easter Egg
Showing off her decorated egg!
One word describes this child: precious
Here are our guys getting more firewood for our bonfire: um, a tree?
Kate and I enjoying our bonfire with our friends!

Our Identity

It’s the start of a new week, and we are excited about what God has in store. From the kids we tutor to the babies we rock to sleep each night, we see the face of God.

There are many struggles foreign missionaries face as they seek to share the truth of God’s love with different cultures. Although we have both had experience ministering among different peoples and cultures, each new expereince gives rise to its own questions.

We keep coming back to our Pastor Bryan’s words from a past sermon about our identites. Before we are anything else, we are Christians. In this situation, before we are relevant to the culture of South Africa, we are followers of God. The reason we have been meditating on this is that we have faced a few situations with the teenage girls where we were put in a position to respond to the culture. We want these girls to know, as they watch us and talk with us, that they are precious in the eyes of God and that they can make choices different from the ones the world and their classmates encourge them to make. In one conversation, this meant being honest about our belief in abstinence until marriage (something the government does not actively promote). Our struggle to be a fiathful witness without being culturally insensitive is tiring and sometimes we doubt our testimony, but we trust in the Lord and His power to work through us.

Our friend “Erica-from-America” picked us up and took us to the campground where we spent our first days in Jo-burg. Amid the solace of this peaceful place, we were able to commune with the Lord and gain strength for the week ahead. We also had the chance to talk at length with 3-D’s interns who are preparing to set out for 6 months of missions. Our faithful guide Lennit and his encouraging wife Janine took us to church on Sunday morning. The campground’s director, Dawn, let us crash at her house and watch movies on Sunday afternoon when it became terribly cold and rainy.

We cannot express the depth of our thankfulness to our church leadership and to those who are praying for and are encouraging us. We feel the warmth of your care, even as we are thousands of kilometers away. Please continue to pray for our relationships with the teenage girls and with the other volunteers. Pray for Rachelle as she begins helping in the local school and for Kate as she helps another volunteer revise the volunteer application process.

Peace, love and africa!

In order or appearance....
Kids from the hospice
Rachelle's new sweet friend she just loves so much
Kate's new buddy she is trying to get to sleep
Our sweet girl in the hopsice
Rachelle teaching her new friend 'I love you" in sign language
"Erica from America"
Trying to survive the cold, rainy weather!

Finding Our Place

Today concludes our first week at Sparrow. We came into this journey trusting the Lord, and not knowing what our time would look like. Based on information from Sparrow's website, we thought we had an inkling of an idea. Rather than arriving and finding room after room of near-death residents, we found bubbly teenagers practicing their "walks" for an upcoming beauty pageant at school. The situation at Sparrow reflects the positive result that medicine and consistent treatment can bring. Rather than coming here to die, most children and adults now come to Sparrow to get well and go on to lead healthy lives. We rejoice that these are the lives Sparrow's residents are now living!

Sparrow's main focus is still providing healthcare to those faced with the AIDS epidemic, but they find themselves in a new struggle--that of educating the next generation. After several days of observing the Village, we finally found our niche. When they arrive home from school, we work with them on homework and reading skills. Around 7pm, we head to the baby room of the hospice to help feed the infants and get them ready for bed. This makes for a long day!

We are praying for opportunities to share the Gospel and minister to some of the teenage girls. We ask for prayers for discernment in how to fit in at Sparrow and for strength and kindness as we build relationships with the students and our fellow volunteers.


Just hanging out with some of the girls at a soccer game!


Kate with some kids at church!


Kids just being kids....adorable!


Assisting on homework!


So cute....look at their little feet!!!

Getting Acquainted

Our journey has begun. We landed in Johannesburg, South Africa, with adventurous spirits, ready to do whatever is placed before us. We have been blessed to take the first few days to acclamate ourselves to South Africa. We have been meeting those who live in the area near where we plan to work. Our hosts have been warmly hospitiable and have brought us up-to-date on various situations including the history of South Africa, apartheid, racial relations, and the effects of AIDS. Here are a few of the many insights we have gained from our new friends: Koos and Jeni Basson and our faithful guide, Lennit.

With the focus of our trip being to serve residents at an AIDS hospice, many of our initial questions had to do with the disease and its effects on South Africa. AIDS was first identified in South Africa in the mid-1980s. Truck drivers and mine workers were the main progaters of the disease, as they were mobile throughout Africa and often had many partners. Today, we see the government trying to fight promiscuity with the “ABC”s of healthy living. “A” is for abstinence. If you cannot abstain, then “B” is for be faithful. If you cannot be faithful, then “C” is for condomize.

Given the rise in the number of people with HIV/AIDS, it is clear that most people choose “C.” Those we are meeting with believe this educational strategy tries to placate different interest groups, but fails to give the right information. Whether you believe in God and His design for marriage or not, abstinence is the only way to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS through intercourse.

In the words of a Congolese immigrant (who is a student of Lennit’s wife), “South Africans are the victims of their own democracy.” We are seeing the truth of this statement as we learn more about all aspects of life here.

We have so much to learn, so much to do and there is much ahead of us....we head to Sparrow Village on Friday to work at the AIDS Hospice. Pray as we prepare for the work ahead.

Enjoy the pics....more to come.

Peace, love and Africa.

The pictures below are Kate and I looking into the city, Kate and I petting baby cubs, and the last one is a look into the Squatter Camps...a very sad situation.

We arrived!

Our team arrived safely!

We don't have much time here in the internet cafe, but we will post later on in the week!

The country is beautiful.

The people are beautiful!

We can see the Lord's hand.

Thank you for your prayers.

It was a long journey!

-South Africa Team!

The Countdown Begins....

Drum roll please....(da da da da....)
After conference calls, phone calls, text messages, emails, a nice farewell lunch at the Ugly Mug and a good cry with my refugee families, I think I am almost ready to go.....
As Kate and I decide what we should and should not take, we are quickly reminded of the luxuries of America...and how much we really don't need to take to South Africa.
I have been reminded so much this week of how much others love me. A friend bought me a new backpack today-just because. Another friend helped me pack last night, even though she had to be up early for her meeting this morning, another brought me a devotional book we could go through together....and another ran errands with me and is setting up my new computer for me so I don't have to worry about it...I am telling you-I just don't understand it sometimes. Why amd I so blessed? Another friend went to target for me for my shopping....ahhhhh!!!!!
Kate's mom has been so incredible...from sending me a sweet card, to buying us medicine to help us with our crazy stomachs to just being so encouraging....blessing upon blessing...my roommates leaving me with notes to open on my birhtday...I am telling you....I could go on and on and on....(sorry if I am forgetting...I am about to go run some more errands!!!!)
My family has called me this week to just talk...I love it. I love it. I just love my family and appreciate them being proud of me...I received a card from my brother in New York saying that he was so proud of me and was just excited for my trip. I am so blessed.
Kate and I are also just anticipating the road ahead....what we are going to encounter...and the unexpected. We pray that we would be able to communicate clearly to you all and be transparent as we see some hard stuff. Pray that we would truly be servants...that we would be sensitive to what the people are going through and that we would continue to have joy as we are there.
You may go HERE to see more of what we are doing and go HERE to keep an update from our church.
Peace, love and Africa.
-Rachelle and Kate

5 Days and counting!!!!!

My sweet friend at tutoring....I am going to miss my kids!

Can you believe it? 5 days and we will be boarding a plane to South Africa!!! I can't believe it!
I am trying to prepare myself spiritually, emotionally, physically and honestly, I don't think I can do enough. So many questions linger in my mind. What am I going to see? What can I offer? What in the world am I walking into? How can I prepare?
It's been a hard weekend....just walking through emotions that I thought I had dealt with. And honestly, allowing the Lord to truly define and refine parts of me that I didn't want to see. And it's allowed me to get rid of some junk that He didn't want me to take with me to Africa. I praise Him for that.
I am overjoyed with how many people have been so supportive of what our team is doing. I am so blessed my friends, strangers and the church. I am so thankful for such an amazing group of people who just want us to do the work of the Lord. I pray that we can be poured out. Just be used by Him.
Prayer requests:
~ Safety for our travel
~ For our team: Soup, Linda, Kate and myself
~ A love and sensitivity for the people who are sick
~ Protection in South Africa
~ A consistent joy in serving

I will keep you posted as the week continues!

You may go HERE to hear our sending out at church!


Kate and I....

South Africa or Bust!

Hello everyone!!! I want to update you on my life thus far since Sudan!!!
I have continued to volunteer in the refugee community. Most of these families are from Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, as well as Afghanistan and we have new refugees from Burundi and Rwanda. As you may know, they are in the US because they are experiencing war in their country. Many have been living in refugee camps the last few years and now have an opportunity for a new life in America. We have over 6,000 families here in Memphis. There are many problems when they arrive in America, language and education just being a couple. Because one out of every three adults in this refugee community are illiterate and cannot speak English, we implemented an after-school program for the children and English as a Second Language (ESL) class for the adults in 2002. We serve nearly 250 children and about 100 adults. It’s the only program in Memphis that serves the refugees in this capacity. Life is busy here in Memphis.


My sweet friends in the refugee tutoring program!

I am currently working at Ugly Mug Coffee, a Fair-Trade Coffee Company, here in Memphis. Part of my job is to help develop a Jobs Program for refugees in the community. We currently have two employees, one from Afghanistan and one from Burundi. I teach English as a Second Language (ESL) and help them with on-site job training. We also work with their families and assist them with any need that arise, empowering them to become self-reliant and equipping them to someday move to a better-paying job.

I am excited to share with you an opportunity to support a ministry for individuals with HIV/AIDS. Located outside of Johannesburg, South Africa, Sparrow Village was created to care for those living with HIV/AIDS and those who are in the final stages of the disease. Since its inception in 1992, Sparrow Village has expanded under a vision of ministering to an entire village, rather than limiting their reach to individual patients. They now provide counseling for the families of their patients, education for schools, businesses, and churches, and a work rehabilitation program for homeless people living in the vicinity of the ministry. They believe that people should be able to die with dignity.

Over the past decade. Sparrow Village has said farewell to over 2,000 individuals, but with dignity and peace. As the pressure of beds intensify daily, they have "enlarged our tent" and opened Sparrow Rainbow Village - The first AIDS village in the world. Their new village project enables them to care for 400 individuals including 200 children.

I plan to visit Sparrow Village for the months of March and April. My friend Kate and I, along with our friend Soup and Linda Campbell will be leading this trip. Discussion of this visit arose when two pastors from Fellowship Memphis (my church) returned from a trip to South Africa. They were impressed by the ministry, but wanted to see and learn more of how it operates and who it serves. Given that they could not leave their congregation for the length of time it would take to make these observations, they turned to us. I will be serving with my friend, Kate. As ambassadors from the church, we will, first, be serving in the ministry along with other volunteers from around the world. Our second purpose will be to discern whether Sparrow Village could become a ministry partner with Fellowship Memphis.
You may go to Sparrow's website here to view more about what they are doing!

I will keep you posted as the time to departure draws near....