This team is in Costa Rica January 5-18, 2010. These are notes we’ve received from various team members over the last few days. ed.

Jan 6

First system, stand and tanks.

This morning the team visited two sites that will be the focus of our work over the next three days.  The first site is a Salvation Army feeding center that will receive a water purification system – plumbed to the kitchen sink and hand washing station.  The Salvation Army has a separate building in which the team will conduct heath education and vision clinic.

Second install site.

The second site is a church, Templo Cristiano La Vid Verdadera, next to a slum area of San Jose.  This small church is undergoing some major construction to the outside walls and bathrooms.  After much discussion with the church pastor it was decided to locate a water purification system in a small building that houses their kitchen and two bathrooms.  The team decided where and how it will do health education and vision clinic there.

The afternoon was dedicated to purchasing water storage tanks, parts and supplies for both sites, playing with a few local kids and resting a bit.  Now we await the arrival of four additional team members from Water Ambassadors of Canada. Bob Browning

Jan 7

Today was our first day of work on two different sites.  Yesterday we visited the sites to make plans and figure out what materials we would need, then in the afternoon we went to the hardware store.  We also had a meeting with all of our translators.  (It’s really nice having translators, by the way!)  So I’m in charge of the site at a church called La Vid Verdadera, which is in a decent neighborhood but is near a poor slum.  We are installing a water purification system there, which we began today.  We will also do hygiene education there tomorrow and Saturday, then a vision clinic on Sunday.  The other half of the team is with Bob at the Salvation Army, where they are doing the same thing.  Their vision clinic will be on Saturday though.

Things at Bob’s site went a lot more smoothly than they did at mine.  They got the manifold for the tanks laid out and are ready to run the pipe to the kitchen.  But at my site we had to wait for the workers to build a platform for the tanks and purification system, which took most of the day.  But the tanks are finally up on the rack!  We did a lot of planning and things should move pretty quickly tomorrow.

The team has been really awesome!  Everyone is patient, hard-working, and mature.  They are a lot of fun and I’ve enjoyed getting to know them.  The 4 Canadians arrived late last night.  They are real go-getters, and it’s fun to have them on board too.

It seems that my Spanish has improved since last year, which is a lot of fun.  I’ve been able to have some helpful conversations about the communities here and life in Costa Rica.  They’ve told me I speak pretty well and that I have a good accent!  :-) Melissa Raley

Jan 8

Here are two pics from yesterday’s work at the Salvation Army.  A few highlights…

The team reviews with Captain Oman of the Salvation Army work on the water purification system at their feeding center.

•    Captain Oman, his family and workers are warm, welcoming and very helpful.
•    Team installs two tanks and soft assembles plumbing for tanks, pipes to fill the tanks and ran pipe through back wall (behind tanks) into the kitchen
•    Others on team walk around neighborhood with two Salvation Army workers and translators to invite people to today’s health ed and Saturday’s vision clinic. Sometimes using a megaphone. They pass out about 200 cards with info about vision clinics to nearby residents.
•    The area surrounding the Salvation Army is plagued with homelessness, extreme poverty, drug use and alcohol abuse.

EDGE team leads about 100 children in relay game at the Salvation Army.

•    About 100 kids showed up for games at 2 – 4 PM in the separate Salvation Army building – located 1/2 block from feeding center

Bob Browning

Jan 11

I am sure you are wondering how our contingent is fairing on our journey.  For some I am sure it is hard, not hearing from us for this extended period, but in all actuality in is quiet short and you will see us again soon.  I believe I speak for the group when I say we are all enjoying a great time, and are having experiences that are truly life changing.

We have been quiet busy in our various areas of work.  We have been building water purifing systems, teaching health clinics, playing with children teaching Bible stories and many other activities.  While down here we have experienced things many things that I did not envision I would ever witness first hand.  We have seen poverty that you cannot imagine, people living in one room shacks on top of trash heaps, literally.  People doing drugs and lying in the middle of streets, not even moving as cars approach.  My words fail to describe how destitute some of these communities truly are.  It has been a blessing to help these people and show them the love of God. The vision clinic has been very rewarding to me personally.  It’s amazing to see the look on the face of someone who has not seen clearly in years, as you put a pair of glasses on them.  Then they will start praising God and telling us they love us and how much it means to them.

I would like to close by saying a word about our group.  I don’t know who all is receiving this but you are no doubt closely involved in the life of one of my team mates, I would like to say you should be proud.  I have never worked with a group of people this pleasant or amazing.  I have not head one complaint and everyone is always read to help.  It has been a blessing being around so many fine Christian people.  Jacob McIntosh

We finished the water system at my site today!  It works perfectly, gracias a Dios.  You can see some pictures of the finished system, as well as the vision clinic the team did today on my website: http://picasaweb.google.com/mdraley/Jan810#.  We saw over 100 people and handed out lots of eyeglasses. Everyone was very grateful to be able to see well again.  The other half of our team also finished their purification system at the Salvation Army.  We went to church services at our respective sites this morning and they expressed a great deal of gratitude for us being there and helping them.

Tomorrow morning we leave for Tileran, which is in the province of Guanacaste.  It is more rural than San Jose, where we are now.  I’m looking forward to seeing the countryside again and working with the church there.  I probably won’t have internet access again until Friday, but I’ll update you again then.

Oh, by the way, a reporter from the local newspaper came to my site the other day and interviewed the pastor and a couple of us on the team.  They print 10,000 copies and you can also read it online.  The article will be printed on Jan. 26, so I’ll send you the link.  Pretty cool, eh?   Melissa Raley

Jan 14 (This post is from the Berea BCM blog. Read all their posts. )

Over the Rainbow
We’ve been in Guanacaste now for three days, and I now know what Dorothy felt like in The Wizard of Oz! I’ve never felt such strong wind in my life.

We are in a very high-altitude area, just adjacent to the Arenal Volcano. The wind is constantly moving here, so much so that I thought a hurricane or tornado might be coming. It makes an awful howling sound in our hotel. It’s unseasonably cool here right now, and we’ve heard it’s because it’s so cold in the US. So instead of getting sun-burned, we are getting wind-burned. But God is still working.

We’ve held two vision clinics the past two days and have met with over 700. And there were only a handful that we could not get glasses to. There was one lady who was in her 80s. She had severe cataracts, and hadn’t been able to see for quite awhile. I took her reading on a machine called the “sure shot,” which is a machine that can read the exact prescription of the eye within 10 seconds. Her prescription was something like -9.99, .5, which is BAD (most were around a +\- 2)! We were really worried that we wouldn’t be able to find what she needed, but fortunately we found something close, and suddenly she was able to read and see distance! The first thing she read was a teammate’s shirt which was in English! It was a great experience, to see someone who hadn’t seen in years be able to see world around her.

The water project is moving along steadily. A few of us worked into the night tonight, so that we would be able to train the church members tomorrow morning. We’ve had some awesome welders, a man named George and one of our teammates Tierah.

Tomorrow will be our last day in this area, and then we will travel back to San Jose, hopefully making a stop to view the Pacific ocean. Hopefully the weather will be a little better once we get off this mountain, but it’s been an awesome ride while we’ve been here!!!  (end of post)

Jan 14 – short note from Bob Browning

Just wanted to let you guys know the team is finishing up in Telaran today and going back to San Jose a half day earlier than planned.

On Tuesday we saw 350 people at the vision clinic with relatively few seen in that morning.  Yesterday the vision clinic was packed from start to finish.  Probably double that number seen Tuesday.

Health ed training will be held at 9:30 this morning tico time.  A flyer announcing this was given to everyone who came to the vision clinic yesterday.

Plumbing for the water system was finished late last night.  Training on the water system will start at 9:30 AM tico time.

More later.  Blessings to you all.

We’re all praying for Haiti and your efforts to help those affected by the earthquake.

Bob

and a final post from Melissa

The team spent 4 very windy and rainy days up north in Tilaran.  We returned to San Jose a day early because we finished the water purification system, health education, and vision clinics early.  Everything was excellent!  We saw over 700 people at two day-long vision clinics.  It was a real blessing for me to be able to finally help out at a vision clinic.  I found that my Spanish was usually good enough to find people glasses that helped them, which is too cool!  The team taught some health ed on the first day of the clinics, but we decided it was too was too difficult to combine with the clinic on the second day.  We set up a time for moms and kids to come for health ed this morning, but only 3 people showed.  We still made the best of it – I think they enjoyed what we had for him, and the team was glad to help.  Amber and Bob trained a bunch of people how to use the purification system this morning and they are really excited to finally have a system at their church.  They were very grateful and understand the responsibility to the greater community that comes with having such a resource.

We stopped by the beach at Puntarenas this afternoon on our way back to San Jose.  The weather cleared and warmed up long enough for us to have a quick walk and/or dip, gracias a Dios!

I’ve uploaded some pictures on my picasa website: http://picasaweb.google.com/mdraley/CostaRicaJan1114Tilaran#

All of us on the team are really concerned about the situation in Haiti since the devastating earthquake.  It did not affect this area at all, but we are all praying hard for the people of Haiti and the relief workers who are struggling to recover and rebuild there.  We are especially praying for EDGE as they are putting together 3 teams of 6 people who will take 9 purification systems to Haiti on January 20.  They need to raise $79,000.  For information or to donate, go to http://www.edgeoutreach.com/.  There’s also a video on WLKY News about what EDGE is doing: http://www.wlky.com/news/22238731/detail.html.

Thanks for your continuing prayers! Love, Melissa Raley

My name is Justin O’Brian and I met you at the Oct. 2007 water conference in Louisville, KY. Last April a team of people from Philadelphia took a purifier to an orphanage in Salines Mayette, Haiti, a remote region far up in the Northwest section of the country.

Our main project was to install a purifier at the new orphanage there. I also brought down a water testing kit for testing for the presence of E. coli in the water streams that they use. I tested all of the different spots that they get water from for E. coli and found that they were all contaminated.

The drinking water site was approximately a 2 hr walk away from the orphanage, and one of the ladies had to carry the water by donkey all that way at least twice a day to provide enough water for the 107 people at the orphanage.

So right now, the situation has gone from all 107 people at this orphanage having no clean drinking water to having 600 gallons of clean chlorinated water. What an awesome thing! I hope this is encouraging to you guys.

(Ed. – Bowin, RicK Jenner and Stewart Haag are in Haiti. The photo was sent December 19, 2009. left to right – Bowin, haitian man they trained to operate the water system, Rick and Stewart.)

The school has 1700 students and most only receive one meal a day and that is at the school. This system delivers safe  water to the kitchen and all of the drinking fountains. We finished it yesterday and purified the water and since we are staying there, I went down this morning and brushed my teeth at one of the fountains in the school yard. I was at the fountain when some kids came over for a drink. It was nice to know that this water won’t make them sick anymore.

Bowin Tichenor, EDGE OUTREACH Dominican Republic/Haiti

Latrine Dedication in Mawphansiar Village, India
by Bob Browning – Nov 18, 2009

Some of the most delightful moments in life are ones that start with stunned surprise and end with humble thanks. Once such moment occurred two weeks ago when walking from the site of a new water purification system in Mawphansiar village to our host’s house.

Kurtis Daniels, I.G. Lyngkhoi – our host- and I had just finished inspecting the site of a new water purification system.  It was a glorious dusk.   Light, whispy clouds illuminated orange, red and purple by the setting sun.  As we walked along we came upon the simple, modest home of a Khasi tribesman and his family.  It’s wood-framed home with dozens of potted plants and flowers neatly placed around the house.

Out of the house comes Mr. Wahlang, along with his wife and daughters asking us to look at their brand new latrine…with an urgency that suggested one of them needed to use it.  So proud were they of the new latrine that we were asked to bless it and even do a ribbon cutting.  And so we did.

Kurtis Daniels cited scripture from Deuteronomy 23:12-14 where it addresses sanitation and cleanliness in the camp.

“Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.”  NIV

We prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for the difference this latrine will make in the life of the Wahlang family and the example it provides for others in Mauphansiar village.  After the prayer, one of the daughters brought out some ribbon and old pair of scissors for an official ribbon cutting and picture.

As we walked away from this simple ceremony we were filled with immense gratitude.  That something we so often take for granted in this culture means so much to this family….and now to us.

Dear Family & Friends,

The day before yesterday (Oct 29) we rode five hours west of Shillong to the village of Mawphansyiar.  The last half of trip into the rural area was on rocky, unpaved road.  Along the way we saw glimpses of rural life among the Khasi tribespeople who inhabit the part of India.

The terrain is rolling hills topped by grass or trees.  We saw miles upon miles of rice paddies with workers cutting or thrashing the rice and Khasi women doing road work (actually building the road) alongside the men.  There are lots of goats, cows and chickens anywhere near houses and villages.  And we’re struck by how much the Khasi people look similar to both American Indians and Asian people.

Friday morning Adrienne and Robin went to a primary school to teach health & hygiene lessons – with the help of three trainees from conference held earlier in the week.  In the morning session there were 100-150 Khasi children.  In the evening, about 350 adults and children packed into a large one-room school, lit by one lightbulb, for a longer session.  The Germs & Pure Water skit, Elisha story and Hand Washing Lessons went over very well. Everyone was incredibly attentive and very receptive to the lessons. Diamond, a Khasi woman from Mawphansyiar, has started working with Dave and Robin and is become an incredible hygiene teacher.

Starting at 11 AM Friday was a three hour inaugeration (sp?) of the water purification system we installed near Mawphansyiar Presbyterian Church for use by all in the village.  The land for the system was donated by a church member.  In attendance were many local dignitaries including the local health dept. official (and doctor), head of local water district, chief of local police, leader of local Presbyterian synod, about 100 school children who sang songs for the 500+ attendees.   Following the innaugeration new water containers were distributed and filled for people in the village.  It was an awesome day to say the least!

(The inscription reads: Water Purification System Donated By EDGE OUTREACH USA. This System Will Provide Pure Water And Better Health For The Community. Dedicated This Today October 30, 2009. The Mawphansyiar Presbyterian Church, Umsaw Presbytery.)

Tonight we just returned from a dedication service at John Roberts Seminary attended by about 75 of the seminary students.  Following the service we ate a scrumptious dinner with all the seminary students and staff.

We look forward to sharing with you in more detail upon our return.  We have over 350 pictures so far.  We miss and love you!

Blessings,

Bob, Kurtis, and Adrienne

Hello all! We’re coming to you live from an Internet Cafe’! It is
currently 6:30pm here in Shillong, India. We are trying our best to
get these stories to you, but we are having a lot of issues connecting
to the Internet where we are. So forgive the lack of new pictures. We
will try to send more soon.

Today, the students and EDGE folks took next steps. The morning was
spent with Bob teaching different ways to apply a water purifier, on
point of use systems and time for allowing the attendees to dream
aloud about how they envision next steps taking place in their
communities, in regards to the water purification system and hygiene
education. Their stories, communities, and dreams blew us away! We
were all touched by one man’s story, who travelled 3 days (400 miles)
from a remote community without roads, electricity, and schools to be
with us, much of his travel by foot! In the words of the Lutheran
Bishop who helped bring this man to the conference, Water is a Right -
Water is Life. Such powerful words and testimonies were shared.

Later in the morning, Kurtis and Bob had the attendees put the systems
together themselves and run the systems several times. Pure water was
flowin’ even before lunch! Dave Brothers talked with the conference
attendees about how to make their dreams of pure water and health
become reality. Please keep Dave and Robin in your prayers as they
work with each of these communities in the weeks, months, and years to
come.

We have all been amazed at the diversity of people groups represented
here, as Bob has mentioned before. Nepali, Khasi, Zou, Kuki, Jaimta,
Assamese, Garo…it is incredible. Many of their roots trace back to
Myanmar, China, Mongolia. We have almost a third of
Asia represented here!

At the end, we shared our thanks and told them that you all are
praying for them. They send each of you their greetings, thanks, love
and prayers. As we ended in corporate prayer aloud today, it was a
little piece of heaven!

Tomorrow we will do an install at John Roberts Theological Seminary,
where the conference was held and do a special session with the
seminarians on Sat. night on the system (they have been on holiday).
On Thursday, we will do a site visit at a hospital then travel to Rev.
Lynkoi’s community in the jungle to do an installation. We discovered
today that all the community officials will be involved, and they
already have a huge celebration planned! Thus, after tomorrow
communication with you all may be difficult until we return on
Saturday to Shillong.

Blessings and love,
Kurtis, Bob, and Adrienne

Hi family and friends,

Just wanted to let you know that training started yesterday (10-26) at John Roberts Seminary in Shillong India with 21 people from Northeast India including the states of Meghalaya, Assam and Nagaland.  We’re happy that a third of them are women; one of whom is the Lutheran Bishop for North and Central India.

The training started with introductions followed by excellent instruction from Adrienne on health & hygiene education. During the break and lunchtime there were many requests for the training material (health ed kit) and training slides.  The students have been very quiet and modest not asking question early in the day, but are starting to open up.

Before lunch Kurtis demonstrated how to assemble the NLI purifier and diagramed how the system works.  After a lunch consisting of three awesome Indian dishes, the group went outside to assemble  and operate their first water purification system.  (A couple pics are attached).  Within 40 minutes the systems were assembled; and one group was chlorinating water within an hour.  Judging from their work and questions, they grasped the NLI chlorinator and how it works.

During lunch, Mac Hynniewta, the principle of the John Roberts Seminary told a personal story that underscores the importance of health & hygiene training.  The story was about a little girl who died from a diarrheal disease when she was given no water to rehydrate her body.  (Part of what Adrienne taught was the importance of rehydration including how to make an oral rehydration solution.)

On Sunday we went to Cherrapunji, a site known to be the wettest place on the planet.  We saw the 4th tallest waterfall in the world which drops water nearly 1,000 ft. into a river whose water was a vibrant azure blue. Mountains surrounding the river are covered with trees that thick green canopy over the terrain.  Incredible landscape, tasty oranges from a street vendor, meeting a old woman selling huge sticks of cinnamon bark, and a surprising discussion with a younger girl who spoke perfect english and worshipping at a Presbyterian Church in Shillong were among the highlights of the day. Also, lol, we met some folks there who thought WE were the tourist attraction, and everyone in their group had to have their picture taken with each of us.

Now we’re off for our second, and last day of the India training conference.

Blessings and love to you all,

Dear Family & Friends,

We (Adrienne Eisenmenger, Kurtis Daniels and Bob Browning) have been in India two days now and wanted to let you know how the trip is going.

We arrived in Delhi airport Thursday evening after a long flight from Chicago to the sights, sounds and aromas of a completely different world. Immediately we were a minority. People looked – and continue to give us strange looks – we think because of our light skin and height. We left the airport to see a veritable sea of motorcycles and a shrine to several gods mounted in a raised gazebo illuminated by small colored lights. What followed was an hour and a half drive in grid lock traffic to the YMCA Delhi where we stayed the night.

Yesterday morning we woke to sun coming over the Delhi skyline thick with smog and dust. Among the signs that we were in a different country was the throng of monkeys passing through the back of the hotel property (see pic). The flight from Delhi to Guwahati was uneventful save a lone casket setting on the tarmac next to the aircraft as we boarded. We were glad to meet up with David and Robin Brothers and begin the 5 hour drive to Shillong.

On our way through Guwahati (the capital of Assam state) we were struck by the maize of traffic – cars, trucks, 3-wheeled rickshaws, small taxis, carts moving in all directions, cows and goats in the streets, more street vendors than you can count and women dressed in long, colorful saris. Then we drove into the rural areas into rolling mountains, similar to the Smokey’s, with fields of rice, cabbage, potatoes and other crops. To say the roads were windy would be an understatement. Our driver adroitly passed hundreds of cars, trucks and rickshaws on very sharp curves. Needless to say, we didn’t sleep much during the drive. After a delicious dinner with the Brothers we crashed … the time difference really being felt.

After waking up at 4:30 AM or so local time, we were out and about by 7:00. The town of Shillong, which is about a million people, doesn’t wake up until 10 AM or later. We noticed the drainage ditches at the side of the roads and pathways through which much of the waste water passes. A discussion with two local ladies sweeping their sidewalk revealed they haven’t had running water for a year in their homes. What drinking water they do collect is boiled and filtered.

This afternoon we went to the campus of John Roberts Seminary, located on top of a mountain overlooking parts of Shillong. Mack Hynniewta, the Principal, met us to discuss water issues at the seminary, Shillong and neighboring areas. We also checked out where we will train 25+ people next Monday & Tuesday. We’ll have a brand new meeting room, wireless access, place to train with tanks & water;…. a great set-up. Since many of the training participants may not realize the link between water and disease there was a lot of discussion about water testing and health education.

This afternoon we met with the Brothers to refine the training schedule, determine which health lessons to teach, what configurations of purifiers/tanks to use, slides, etc. We are excited about meeting the training participants Sunday night and Monday morning.

Tomorrow is Sunday. And we’re looking forward to worshipping here. We’ll also go on a side trip to Cherrapunji, which claims to be ‘the wettest place on the planet earth’, rain ponchos in hand.

We hope this finds you well and happy. More of the story to follow tomorrow….

We miss and love you!

Blessings,

Bob, Kurtis, and Adrienne

Claudia, I love you! Kurtis
David, I love and miss you! And the food is all we dreamed it would be! Adrienne

story by Beth Neal, summer staff intern

I was not sure what to expect when I initially heard the idea: a church service on the waterfront to meet both the spiritual and physical needs of Louisville’s homeless. Providing a free breakfast followed by a worship service and clothing give-away sounded like a great plan to meet what were obvious needs among the population. But, I still had so many questions. How did such a thing work? Who would be there? Did they have enough volunteers? What were the most pressing needs?

According to the 2009 Homeless Census and Homeless Point-in-time Survey Summary report, the are 8,936 homeless in Louisville. 25% of these homeless are listed as being chronically homeless while another 25% is made up of families with children. Most homeless, 6,263, are single adults but many people might be surprised to learn that there are 481 unaccompanied homeless children in metro Louisville. Another sobering statistic lists 21% of homeless as being American veterans.

Homeless individuals list many reasons for their homelessness. 26% are victims of domestic violence, 31% indicated an inability to pay their rent or mortgage, and 32% reported substance abuse as the cause of their homelessness. Their levels of education are varied as well. The largest group, 38%, have completed between 9 and 12 grades of school. 25% have their high school diploma. 24% have attended some college and 7% hold a college diploma.

Homelessness cannot be boiled down to one age or group of people, one cause, or a lack of education. The population and causes are equally varied. This was one of the things most readily observable at the worship service. Everyone was there: African Americans, Whites, Hispanics. There were people of all ages, from the wheelchair-bound elderly to young children. One boy in particular caught my eye. At first I could not tell whose child he was and I thought that he must be one of the 481 unaccompanied homeless children but later I noticed that his parents were there as well. He seemed very full of energy, running around and talking animatedly to everyone.

Periodically, however, he would lay down and sleep for 20 or 30 minute intervals. It was a very surprising thing to see and I realized that, though the statistics were surprising, they had not adequately prepared me for a first-hand encounter with the harsh realities of homelessness.

By the time that the volunteers began to serve breakfast, over one hundred homeless had gathered. The volunteers, of which there were many, informed me that the numbers had been going up every Sunday and that it was quite common for them to serve over one hundred people each Sunday.

I was impressed by the number of volunteers who were helping and by their extraordinary dedication to their mission. “This is the most worthwhile church I’ve ever been a part of,” one woman told me. “What do you need the most?” I asked. I was told that hygiene items were a particular need, especially for women, and that deodorant was expensive and difficult to find in bulk. Also, because of the steady increase in the number of homeless that they are serving, the volunteers said that the donation of food and support from churches is crucial to their continued success. Of course, they said, more volunteers are always welcome and needed.

I stood with the volunteers while one of the homeless men gave a sermon on consequences. Afterwards, I helped them to organize and set out the clothes that had been donated so that each person could take two pieces of clothing. While we packed up the extra clothes I watched the worship service dissolve as everyone gathered their belongings and new clothing. However, the greatest thing that they took with them was the spirit of the service, the spirit of community and belonging. It was something that was intangible but profoundly real and present. It was the opportunity to gather with others and share a meal, to listen to one another and to share in the presence of Christ’s Spirit among us.

Additional Resources:
http://www.louhomeless.org/index.htm
http://leoweekly.com/news/what-homeless

story by Eunice Mukaz Dada furaha, summer staff intern

I am Eunice Mukaz Dada furaha. My whole life has been a miracle. Actually, seeing that I am still alive and my family too is really a miracle, especially after what we went through as a result of the war between Congo and Rwanda. I originated from the Congo and grew up in Zambia. We are six in my family, and I’m the fourth.

When I was a child I was separated from my mum for about three to four years. The conflict had gotten worse, so she went to Zambia with my two little sisters. It was hard – seeing people dying and my family being separated, as well as watching people suffer. As a kid I loved helping others and this continued after I lost my family. I began helping people, especially old people, who could not do a lot for themselves. One reason is because my parents taught me something that I still remember even now, and that is when you are helping others, do it with your heart, which means that it comes from your heart not to be pleasing to people but to God. Through your faithfulness, you will see that everything will work out for you. Treat them the way you would like to treated.

Years later, I went to join my mother and my two sisters in Zambia. We became a family once again, and I started singing in the choir at church, where I got involved with the youth group and began doing different kind of things. I was happy with my life then my family left for U.S.A. I was not allowed to go because I did not have all the necessary paperwork. For a while I was hurt and confused, and I stopped serving others. I came to realize that everything happens for a reason. Maybe God wanted me to get something from that experience or He wanted to show me something that I never had seen before. Through all of that, I became someone who could pray for others and became more courageous and confident in everything I did. I truly know the meaning of the passage in Psalms 54 that says “no weapon formed against me shall prosper” (Psalm 54: 1-17).

After many years, I came to U.S.A to be with my family and can tell you that all these things happened because God wanted me to learn something that I will never forget. He showed me his power! I have been here for just a few years. I have gotten to stay with family and we have enjoyed being reunited.

It’s been a blessing and pleasure to work with EDGE OUTREACH. They are allowing me to do what I enjoy most: serving others. I have had the chance to meet lots of different people, learn from them and have fun with them. This will be a summer that I’ll never forget. Thanks EDGE!