Poverty is prevalent in much of Africa, including Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where we visited. Here are some thoughts on helping:
1. Poverty (as most of us understand it in the west) is not the problem. Being poor is not a problem - in fact, anxiety and depression are American problems that have increased in lock-step with our affluence. Don't feel sorry for the "poor" people in Africa - they don't feel sorry for themselves.
2. People starving is a different matter. Because of government mismanagement of economies, droughts, the devastation of AIDS, and other such things, there are often situations in Africa where people are truly hungry and people are dying. At times like these, we in the west need to rise to the occasion and share what we have been blessed with.
3. Bigger is not always better. Large scale actions might be well intentioned and make good news stories, but they also have many unintended consequences that are not always helpful. For example, the UN, Oxfam, and other large donor organizations must funnel their aid through the government. Food aid then becomes a political tool in the hands of the ruling party. Large shipments of clothes often find their way to the markets, where they are sold.
If large shipments of clothes are being distributed free (which does happen) it makes it next to impossible for the local merchants and manufacturers to compete and stay in business. A short-term solution short circuits the long-term solution.
Organizations with staff have overhead expenses, and that's money not going where you intended it to go. Institutions, once set in motion, tend toward existing for their own sake. This leads to the temptation of skewing facts for the sake of maintaining donations. (Can you imagine a major aid organization saying "don't send us any more money; the crisis is over and we are disbanding the organization.")
4. Small scale solutions work - on a small scale. When multiplied, they work on a large scale.
Late in 2008 and into 2009 there was no food in Zimbabwe. When we recently talked about that with people there, nobody mentioned the UN or any other large-scale aid program as a part of how they survived. They all mentioned the small donations and care packages that came into the country from abroad.
Small scale projects have no overhead, do not attract government attention, can be quickly changed, can be easily monitored, and accountability can be maintained.
More information about a crisis situation in Zimbabwe and how you can easily help is at www.cupsofwaterafrica.blogspot.com.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Role of Missionaries in Africa Today
Most African countries (the exceptions being Muslim countries) have had the good news of Jesus being preached for well over 100 years now. Most countries have well established, reproducing churches and strong leadership, along with smaller, weaker churches that need good leadership – much like here in the USA.
The weakest churches are generally the ones with a recent history of foreign missionaries and foreign money supporting their local evangelists. The stronger churches are the ones that are local planted, have local leadership, and minimal interference from foreign money. Think of parenting – not cutting the apron strings makes a child dependent – not strong and independent. The same is true in mission work, whether in church planting, benevolent work or schools and other organizations. (Missionaries have often helped a village by installing a well, only to hear a year later, “your pump broke; when are you going to come fix your pump.”) Emotional ownership of any endeavour is essential to it's ongoing effectiveness.
There is a very limited role for foreign evangelists and church planters in most African countries. There is a role for westerners in Africa, but humble wisdom is needed to define it.
God has not called everyone to go to Africa. But he does still call some, and he gives them specific tasks that contribute to the growth and well-being of His people. Some are medical workers, some educators, some are farmers, some are training and encouraging church leaders, some are caring for orphans, street children, and the hungry. Some are called by God to go, some to give, and some to pray hard.
Some of the greatest needs in Africa are skills that will make life, work and church growth more effective – things like learning to plow with an ox rather than a short-handled hoe; better sanitation and hygiene to prevent diseases. But as simple as that sounds, cultural norms change very slowly. (Just look at our culture – we know that our diet causes obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, etc. But how easy is it to change our diets?)
One of the keys to effectiveness is to always go behind local church and community leadership. Begin by asking them, “what are your needs, and how can we help you meet those needs?” Channel your help and assistance through the local churches, not your own organization. Teach them to depend upon God to meet their needs – they have been taught to depend upon missionaries and foreign support.
Things that are free have no value. We work hard to teach that to our children – we need to incorporate that principle more in our mission work. Almost without exception, everyone can afford to pay something for things they need. (There are crisis situations where this is not true and that is a different matter.) Africans have learned from experience that Bibles are free. While the motivation of the donors is right, there are unintended consequences – things that are free have no value. This is true of Bibles, village wells, bicycles for preachers, and education, among others..
Pictures from our recent trip can be seen at www.picasaweb.com/meloniefudge87
The weakest churches are generally the ones with a recent history of foreign missionaries and foreign money supporting their local evangelists. The stronger churches are the ones that are local planted, have local leadership, and minimal interference from foreign money. Think of parenting – not cutting the apron strings makes a child dependent – not strong and independent. The same is true in mission work, whether in church planting, benevolent work or schools and other organizations. (Missionaries have often helped a village by installing a well, only to hear a year later, “your pump broke; when are you going to come fix your pump.”) Emotional ownership of any endeavour is essential to it's ongoing effectiveness.
There is a very limited role for foreign evangelists and church planters in most African countries. There is a role for westerners in Africa, but humble wisdom is needed to define it.
God has not called everyone to go to Africa. But he does still call some, and he gives them specific tasks that contribute to the growth and well-being of His people. Some are medical workers, some educators, some are farmers, some are training and encouraging church leaders, some are caring for orphans, street children, and the hungry. Some are called by God to go, some to give, and some to pray hard.
Some of the greatest needs in Africa are skills that will make life, work and church growth more effective – things like learning to plow with an ox rather than a short-handled hoe; better sanitation and hygiene to prevent diseases. But as simple as that sounds, cultural norms change very slowly. (Just look at our culture – we know that our diet causes obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, etc. But how easy is it to change our diets?)
One of the keys to effectiveness is to always go behind local church and community leadership. Begin by asking them, “what are your needs, and how can we help you meet those needs?” Channel your help and assistance through the local churches, not your own organization. Teach them to depend upon God to meet their needs – they have been taught to depend upon missionaries and foreign support.
Things that are free have no value. We work hard to teach that to our children – we need to incorporate that principle more in our mission work. Almost without exception, everyone can afford to pay something for things they need. (There are crisis situations where this is not true and that is a different matter.) Africans have learned from experience that Bibles are free. While the motivation of the donors is right, there are unintended consequences – things that are free have no value. This is true of Bibles, village wells, bicycles for preachers, and education, among others..
Pictures from our recent trip can be seen at www.picasaweb.com/meloniefudge87
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Zimbabwe Politics & Economy
This link will take you to a very good article on the current economy & politics of Zimbabwe. Takes less than 5 minutes to read, but lots of good information.
Kitco - Commentaries - Alf Field
Kitco - Commentaries - Alf Field
Sunday, November 8, 2009
What God Can Do With a Willing Heart - Maforga Mission
About 25 years ago Roy Perkins, a White Zimbabwean, accompanied a friend on a day trip to Beira, Mozambique (about 200 miles round trip) to take care of some business. Mozambique was in the last throes of civil war, the economy was decimated, and extreme poverty was everywhere. For months after returning home, Roy could not get the images of poverty out of his mind and increasingly felt that God wanted him to do something to help. He began to load his car with basic food stuff, drive into Mozambique and distribute it.
The governments of both Zimbabwe and Mozambique became suspicious of his activity and demanded that if he continue, he must have a base in Mozambique to work from (and they could keep track of him). He prayed about it, and the Lord led him to a farm on the east side of Chimoio, on the main road to the coast. He met the owner, a German lady, and much to his amazement, she wanted to sell the farm to him for next to nothing! The local community, as well as most of the country, was not only devastated by war, but also by AIDS and ignorance. The food he was providing was for many the only food they had to eat. Among those being fed were many AIDS orphans, widows, and young mothers with nursing babies.
Roy and his wife in time moved to the farm in Mozambique. God blessed them with more surrounding land (they now have over 2000 acres) and repeatedly He would lay a burden on their hearts then provide the means to meet the needs. They began to take in orphans, and now have over 100 living on the farm. They opened a clinic. Other missionaries have come to join them through the years, so that they now have, in addition to the orphanage, a school, a well-baby program for new-borns through their first year, a technical school, a wood-shop where the students make and sell furniture, a dairy cow project (in partnership with Land O Lakes, Inc. from the USA) that trains destitute families how to care for and utilize a dairy cow, then provides them with one or two cows to begin their new micro-business, as well as other projects.
Roy said they never envisioned all this in the beginning. They just felt led to buy food and drive to Mozambique to distribute it. Then as God opened more doors, they obeyed.
I pray that God will teach me to listen to His voice - and to have the faith to be obedient.
The governments of both Zimbabwe and Mozambique became suspicious of his activity and demanded that if he continue, he must have a base in Mozambique to work from (and they could keep track of him). He prayed about it, and the Lord led him to a farm on the east side of Chimoio, on the main road to the coast. He met the owner, a German lady, and much to his amazement, she wanted to sell the farm to him for next to nothing! The local community, as well as most of the country, was not only devastated by war, but also by AIDS and ignorance. The food he was providing was for many the only food they had to eat. Among those being fed were many AIDS orphans, widows, and young mothers with nursing babies.
Roy and his wife in time moved to the farm in Mozambique. God blessed them with more surrounding land (they now have over 2000 acres) and repeatedly He would lay a burden on their hearts then provide the means to meet the needs. They began to take in orphans, and now have over 100 living on the farm. They opened a clinic. Other missionaries have come to join them through the years, so that they now have, in addition to the orphanage, a school, a well-baby program for new-borns through their first year, a technical school, a wood-shop where the students make and sell furniture, a dairy cow project (in partnership with Land O Lakes, Inc. from the USA) that trains destitute families how to care for and utilize a dairy cow, then provides them with one or two cows to begin their new micro-business, as well as other projects.
Roy said they never envisioned all this in the beginning. They just felt led to buy food and drive to Mozambique to distribute it. Then as God opened more doors, they obeyed.
I pray that God will teach me to listen to His voice - and to have the faith to be obedient.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
George Nsinga - Child Soldier
George Nsinga grew up in a Christian home, with a fairly typical life for a young African boy in rural Rhodesia. At least, as typical as life could be during the war for independence in the mid-1970's. At any moment, life could be interrupted by the arrival of government soldiers or "the boys" from any of the three competing rebel armies. That could mean intimidation, threats, torture, confiscation of property or even death for anyone who happened to be in the way. The worst were ZANU-PF, headed by Robert Mugabe.
One day, while in class at high school, they came - a band of fighters from ZANU-PF. Whatever else might have happened, this we know - they kidnapped the students, including George, and marched them some 250 miles through the bush to Zambia. The march was dangerous and hard - from hunger, other rebel armies, and animals (as large as lions and as deadly as malaria-carrying mosquitoes). There they were sorted and redeployed - some to combat training, some to the USSR for specialized training. George was sent to the USSR for training as an intelligence officer, complete with liberal portions of communism and other propaganda.
After training, he was redeployed back into Rhodesia as a spy - mind you, he was still just a teenager. Caught in an attack, his right leg was shattered, and to this day he limps and uses a crutch.
The war ended in 1980. Today he is married with three children, and he and his wife Musa teach school while he also serves as the preacher for the Senga Church of Christ in Gweru, Zimbabwe. He is a quiet man of deep faith, tested by fire, full of compassion and joy. I wish you could meet him.
One day, while in class at high school, they came - a band of fighters from ZANU-PF. Whatever else might have happened, this we know - they kidnapped the students, including George, and marched them some 250 miles through the bush to Zambia. The march was dangerous and hard - from hunger, other rebel armies, and animals (as large as lions and as deadly as malaria-carrying mosquitoes). There they were sorted and redeployed - some to combat training, some to the USSR for specialized training. George was sent to the USSR for training as an intelligence officer, complete with liberal portions of communism and other propaganda.
After training, he was redeployed back into Rhodesia as a spy - mind you, he was still just a teenager. Caught in an attack, his right leg was shattered, and to this day he limps and uses a crutch.
The war ended in 1980. Today he is married with three children, and he and his wife Musa teach school while he also serves as the preacher for the Senga Church of Christ in Gweru, Zimbabwe. He is a quiet man of deep faith, tested by fire, full of compassion and joy. I wish you could meet him.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Rabia & Dionisio's Wedding
A local pastor (Dionisio) who works closely with Jacob, got married today, in his home, which is on Jacob's farm. He was married previously, but his wife kept cheating on him, and eventually the other church leaders in the district advised him to divorce her, so he did. The new bride was also previously married - she was the 2nd wife (at the same time) but could not have any children. She saw a doctor and told her husband that for a certain (small) amount of money she could have surgery to correct the problem. Her husband decided it was cheaper to divorce her and replace her, which he did.
Dionisio was interested in this lady (Rabia) so he asked the other church leaders what they thought, and they agreed it would be good for him to marry her. So he sent a friend to Rabia's brother to ask for his permission (her parents are dead), he agreed and it was arranged. (Dionisio and Rabia knew each other well and wanted to get married, but the process is necessary.)
The wedding was in large part the families, church leaders and the local chief answering the question "does anyone have an objection to this marriage?" They all testified that it was proper and good and it had their blessing. The ceremony lasted about 2 hours.
After the wedding everybody was served corn meal beer. When they were bringing it in, I thought somebody was tracking in something on their shoe. But if you don't breathe through your nose while you drink it, it's actually pretty good.
Pictures and videos can be seen at http://picasaweb.google.com/meloniefudge87
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
What Jacob Does Here
Jacob has lived in Africa - Zimbabwe and Mozambique, for 35 years (except for one year in Brazil and four in the USA). He has learned that a foreign missionary (in an area that has existing churches) should always be working himself out of a job – meaning that his job is to work alongside the local church leaders to help them to do their job better; not to build an organization around himself or to supplant local leadership. It may be slower, and doesn’t lend itself to exciting letters back home, but it builds men and women into strong leaders who depend on God, not foreign know-how and money.
He does not approach his work with an outside agenda. He makes it a practice to always go behind the local leadership - they will let him know what the needs are, and by working with and through them, they have emotional ownership of their work.
In 1984 Jacob and his family returned to Gweru, Zimbabwe, where he was co-leading the Mkoba church with a local preacher. The church was composed of poor laborers and was not supplying any support for either preacher (money was coming from the US for both). In 1991 Jacob decided and announced to the church that they no longer needed him – they had elders, a good preacher, deacons, and a membership of 700 (it was 300 in 1984). That’s when he moved to Mozambique.
The Mkoba church has since taken responsibility for the support of their preacher, started two more churches in Gweru (both of which are thriving), and grown to 1000 members.
Jacob’s role in Mozambique could be characterized as a resource person. He travels to a district (with advance notice to the churches), meets with the church leaders, and asks them how he can help them. For several days they will study together, help them find solutions to their problems, and if it seems appropriate, commit his outside resources to help meet a need. He has a constant theme of teaching them to depend upon God, not on western money or missionaries.
For the past 10 years Jacob has been driving a LandRover that has just about given up the ghost. The dirt trails, gullies, potholes, huge loads, and dust clouds have taken their toll. Two weeks ago he was able to get a “new” car – a 1994 Toyota Hilux Surf (similar to the 4Runner). What a blessing it has been! It gets there without breaking down!
Prayer Needs
- That the church leaders in this province (Manica) will be receptive to Jacob’s offer to help them. They have been conditioned to expect support and financial assistance from the missionaries, and that’s not what Jacob has to offer.
- That God will move His givers to supply the remaining $8000 for the new vehicle. (He had to rob Peter to pay Paul to get it.)
He does not approach his work with an outside agenda. He makes it a practice to always go behind the local leadership - they will let him know what the needs are, and by working with and through them, they have emotional ownership of their work.
In 1984 Jacob and his family returned to Gweru, Zimbabwe, where he was co-leading the Mkoba church with a local preacher. The church was composed of poor laborers and was not supplying any support for either preacher (money was coming from the US for both). In 1991 Jacob decided and announced to the church that they no longer needed him – they had elders, a good preacher, deacons, and a membership of 700 (it was 300 in 1984). That’s when he moved to Mozambique.
The Mkoba church has since taken responsibility for the support of their preacher, started two more churches in Gweru (both of which are thriving), and grown to 1000 members.
Jacob’s role in Mozambique could be characterized as a resource person. He travels to a district (with advance notice to the churches), meets with the church leaders, and asks them how he can help them. For several days they will study together, help them find solutions to their problems, and if it seems appropriate, commit his outside resources to help meet a need. He has a constant theme of teaching them to depend upon God, not on western money or missionaries.
One time he asked the village leaders what they needed, and they immediately requested that he help get rid of the elephants who were destroying their crops and threatening their homes.
For the past 10 years Jacob has been driving a LandRover that has just about given up the ghost. The dirt trails, gullies, potholes, huge loads, and dust clouds have taken their toll. Two weeks ago he was able to get a “new” car – a 1994 Toyota Hilux Surf (similar to the 4Runner). What a blessing it has been! It gets there without breaking down!
Prayer Needs
- That the church leaders in this province (Manica) will be receptive to Jacob’s offer to help them. They have been conditioned to expect support and financial assistance from the missionaries, and that’s not what Jacob has to offer.
- That God will move His givers to supply the remaining $8000 for the new vehicle. (He had to rob Peter to pay Paul to get it.)
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