Changing Zambia One Child at a Time

“sowing life into today for a greater future tomorrow”

Because we love and care for vulnerable and orphan children, we are making every effort to gather resources to help them. We are currently targeting the country of Zambia, in South Africa. There we find a country that has proclaimed itself as a Christian nation but because of extreme poverty and disease, has struggled to get on its feet. But things are changing. Though the country is filled with children who have been abandoned and left parent-less by hunger and disease, deprived of basic education and forced to spend their days barely surviving looking for hope, we are there making a difference. We believe the nation has a great potential to be a prototype for all of Africa. We know the change starts with investing in the children. We are helping establish communities where the children who are dispossessed are receiving the basics they need for today and the training they will need for tomorrow. And there is nothing as essential as food, education and care. This last year we have helped proved over 24,000 meals among 6 community schools in Zambia and we see clearly how the children are being impacted. The children we serve are not just receiving a handout, but they are being kept alive while being educated and cared for. We are helping them get their feet on the ground because they will be the leaders and the future of Zambia. We believe and know that many of these children will arise to lead their families and their country into prosperity and success. This always happens where the gospel is planted; its fruit is the most powerful force for change on the earth. This is why our passion is to impact Africa through the gospel while feeding, providing clean water, educating, and nurturing the children. We want to fill bellies, feed hungry minds, and bring children the ultimate message of hope! It’s not just about meeting the needs of a current problem, but sowing life into today for a greater hope for tomorrow. It’s about changing lives and enabling the emerging of a new Zambia, one that is lead by people who have been transformed by the values of the gospel and an expectation of good. We see a new Zambia that serves the Lord; one that is prosperous and filled with justice. We believe Zambia will manifest kingdom culture and be a leaven for all of Africa.

Contact Us:
1.800.873.1753
2385 Virginia Vista Drive
Reno, NV 89521
info@fhafrica.org

 

Education and Child Labor – it really makes a difference!

Around the world today there is said to be some 200 million children worldwide still involved in child labor (ILO: Facts on Child Labor), and some 115 million at least, are subject to its worst forms. That is hundreds of millions of children living under oppression, without hope for the future!
The more we here at Father’s Heart have learned about the facts on child labor, the more our hearts have been moved to do something about it.  Though the facts are sad and disheartening, there is an excitement in learning that the things we are currently doing are already making a difference!
Did you know that one of the best tools for eliminating child labor is education? It makes a vast difference! Our Education Fact Sheet puts it like this:

“Children who are forced out of school and into labor to help their families make ends meet are denied the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills needed for gainful future, thereby perpetuating the cycle of poverty and child labor…For every child that is subject to labor today is another uneducated adult or parent for the generations of tomorrow…Educating children helps reduce poverty. Education will give the next generation the tools to fight poverty and conquer disease. Educating a girl dramatically reduces the chance that her child will die before age five.  Furthermore, educated girls are likely to marry later and have fewer children, who in turn will be more likely to survive and be better nourished and educated.”

One of the most heartbreaking facts about child labor is how it reinforces the cycles of poverty and disease, stripping both children and nations of a hopeful future. No one should have to live with that, no person should start their life with their future already taken away from them! Education helps give it back. Education helps break the cycle, and creates a new one: one of empowerment and of hope, as it provides the knowledge and skills needed for the gainful future that each child deserves!

Join us today, and be a part of the movement towards ending child labor! If education is the key, let’s put that tool into the hands of as many children as possible!

Donate towards our education programs today >>

Want to read more? Check out our fact pages on Child Labor and on Education!

 

A look into the next chapter of FHA!

As we strike into a new year, Father’s Heart is excited to be launching forward with some new momentum! We’ve had a couple of things up our sleeves these last few months, and we are excited to see them begin to unfold. Our heart and our goal have always been for growth – not for our own benefit, but for the benefit of the beautiful people of Africa! And so our team has been brainstorming about expansion; not just in quantity, but in quality. We want to create an impact that reaches past our own generation, and into the hearts and lives of tomorrow’s generation! We wanted to see our reach widen and more done for God’s kingdom, for the hurting and lost, than we ever thought possible.
And so we decided it was time to do a little re-vamping! We are pleased to announce that in the coming weeks we will be launching a brand new website, and begin the transformation of a whole new look. This is going to be an exciting time! We also will be featuring a brand new logo, which highlights an acacia tree.
For us, we wanted a symbol that was our own, and decided it was time to move away from generic and over-used imagery. The acacia tree is a widely recognizable symbol that one would imagine when picturing the African plains. It has deep roots, and survives through drought, dryness and famine. It is a strong tree which provides shelter for wild animals from the soaring heat of the sun and it also provides food and nourishment. Since biblical times, the acacia tree has been a symbol of stability and resilience, and longevity.
In addition to a new logo, we also created some new goals for our website that helped us re-shape its look. We wanted it to be clean, easy to navigate, and be a better representation of the caliber of work we are doing in Zambia. But more importantly we wanted to begin to capture the hearts of a new generation, for there is no tomorrow without them! When we looked at the website, we wanted to see it change and grow the point where it felt more suitable for the future.
And so we are in the final stages of putting everything together, so be looking to hear from us soon with an announcement that it will be launching! We sure are excited, and hope you will be too. And what can we say? With growth comes expansion! We’re ready for change – how about you?

Here’s a snippet:

 

Heart Condition Healed!

This video shares the story of Ernest Sitali – a Father’s Heart child sponsorship administrator – who was healed of a very serious and life threatening heart condition. Our team ministered to him last August while we were in Lusaka doing a youth conference.

 

Our Work: Clean Water Wells

Clean water is a basic need that no one should live without, and yet around the world today some 894 million are being deprived of this necessity for life. That’s more than one in six people! Perhaps the greatest tragedy is the disease that is ravaging many in Africa for a reason that is easily reversed. Did you know that every 20 seconds a child dies as a result of poor sanitation? That’s 1.5 million preventable deaths each year!
The more we have gotten involved with Africa’s beautiful people, the more we have seen how this issues has wrecked havoc on their communities. Many draw their daily water, used for cooking, cleaning, and drinking, from dirty and polluted sources, resulting in much unnecessary pain and disease. But together we can make a difference! With our Clean Water Programs we are taking every opportunity we can to dig new wells and install pumps, so entire communities can have access to clean, safe, water, and avoid countless diseases and deaths with this one basic effort!

Join Us Today! >>

 

FHA 2011 Youth Trip – An Awesome Journey

How fast time seems to fly! Seems like we were just preparing our team to go, and they are already back! If you want to check out some photos from the trip, visit the the page here.

It was such an exciting pleasure to follow this trip – I enjoyed getting up every morning to scout for new photos and updates from the team. One thing that was particularly exciting was the impact they had on the local youth leaders during their leadership conference. The theme of the conference was called Back To The Presence, and was about just that – getting back to being in God’s presence. They also shared about how God is good, and how He wants a loving relationship and wants to interact with you now. He wants to show kindness and hear your heart and “talk” to you. They shared their hearts about how our walk with God is not about rules and regulations, but about climbing onto the Fathers lap and being His child, and that the Father is a God who is gentle and caring, not one thats hard and afar off!! This is very different from a standard “Christian” message that is often taught in Zambia – one that is usually rigid and religious.
At first they did not seem to get the message, as it seemed so outside of the box for them. But after a few days of hearing the Word, and just enjoying God’s presence, this wonderful message began to sink in. I really believe God is doing something new among this beautiful people, and it is exciting to see it unfolding!
After the team returned we received a couple of comments from the African leaders who were there…

“Thanks for your ministry the past week here in Lusaka. It was awesome. I had debriefing with the team which came from the Southend and their feedback is very encouraging for the future of this ministry. The impact BACK TO THE PRESENCE left is visible, though invisible. ‘Thanks for letting us get soaked in His presence,’ Said one young man. Another added: ‘I went loaded and heavy, but I came back offloaded and light!’ Thanks team. You are awesome!”
- Elemon Sakala

“Thank you Lord for your presence, and the Back to the Presence team – I will never be the same again!”
- Mwape Jacob Shawa

Thank you again for all you prayers and support, and for partnering with us to make a difference!

For Africa,

Lacy Timpano
Communications Director
Father’s Heart Africa
www.fhafrica.org

 

FHA 2011 Youth Trip – On Their Way!!!

Well, our team is officially off! Made it through a small leg of their journey, to the Washington D.C. airport, and headed out on another flight to Ethiopia about an hour ago!
I feel so excited as I watch the photos and updates begin to stream in from the team, and it takes me back to my first trip to Zambia…
I still remember vividly the view from the plane as we flew in on a very early morning, some eight years ago! A bright orange from the rising sun was peaking on the horizon (and I mean bright) – yet the sky above it was still totally dark. The contrast was incredible – the fiery colors erupting from the ground, against sheer black. And many stars were still visible. In all my life I’ve never seen anything like it since. I was also surprised how swiftly the sunrise came.
When we stepped off the plane, I was overcome by an incredible feeling – like coming home, but for the first time. You have to understand that I have traveled many places, spanning the globe, but I’ve never had the feeling I had that day, when I stepped foot on African soil for the first time. It is a captivating place – exactly how you would imaging it! From the landscape, the trees, to the people, culture, dress, and language. It kinda makes you feel like you’re stepping into a movie, or a picture you’ve seen, and you somehow can hardly believe you’re actually there! It is a beautiful place. It stole my heart.
And so I am very excited for this team – among whom is one of my best friends, Joey Halstead – who is going for the first time! I know it will captivate their hearts like it did mine, and in the end leave them a little bit changed. And there is nothing quite better than another heart gripped for that wild place, and its beautiful people.

For the love of Africa,

Lacy Timpano

Want to make a difference too? Visit us as www.fhafrica.org to give a donation or sponsor one of our programs that are making a difference in Africa today!

 

Update: A Well for Shantumbu

Water: after a long bicycle ride, I like to walk into the house, fill a glass out of the kitchen faucet and drink the whole glass. Because we as Americans live in a modern country, it’s easy to take for granted that clean clear water is available.  It is really a blessing that we may not even think about.
For a woman villager in Zambia, Africa, water is a constant issue on her mind.  Traditionally, carrying water for the family is designated to the women or children. A five gallon yellow plastic jug carried on top of her head is the norm.  Often the water hole that they fill the container in is a half an hour walk away from home.   Five gallons is too heavy for an adult to carry for a long distance so they usually have three gallons in the container, and small children carry even less, so two trips a day are usually needed for water.
Can you imagine spending two hours a day getting water?  This daily burden takes time away from other household duties.  Women could be in the field farming for needed food but instead they are hauling water, day after day.
When I arrive at a village to do ministry I always ask, “Where is your water source?”  Sometimes they have a well with a hand pump some distance away, but the farther you get off the pavement the more likely it is they will be getting water from a hole dug into the ground.   Many times I have seen a shallow hole dug into a meadow.   The water smells quite awful and is either milky white or light brown.  It’s really not fit for human consumption, yet that is all they have.  When I look into that muddy water my heart begins to grieve, for I know the sickness and death this water will bring, for this is the water they give their babies.  The water is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and cholera.  When they give it to their babies, many times they get sick with diarrhea and die right in their mother’s arms.
The UN suggests that each person needs 20-50 liters of safe freshwater a day to ensure their basic needs for drinking, cooking and cleaning.¹ Did you know that more than one in six people worldwide – 894 million – don’t have access to this amount of safe freshwater? ²
Unsafe drinking water and inadequate sanitation are major health threats to Africa, spreading disease, and ultimately continuing the cycle of sickness. Every 20 seconds, a child dies as a result of poor sanitation. That’s 1.5 million preventable deaths each year! ³
And we can do something about this.  As the Lord provides we can drill wells that provide fresh, cold, clean water.  It makes such a difference, and we are honored to say we have been able to do this, having just completed drilling a new well for the Father’s Heart school in Shantumbu!
In African society the water well is a meeting place.  A place to meet your neighbor, to sit and rest for a while, and to talk and share what is going on in your life.  For this reason we like to drill our wells at a Father’s Heart school and church.  Because the well draws the neighbors to the church, the pastor can get to know his neighbors, pray for them and share Christ with them.  Isn’t it ideal when the church is the central meeting place for miles around, drawing hundreds to it for not only drinking water, but also for Living Water?   In John 4:13 Jesus says “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” What a beautiful model of ministry this is to our fiends in Zambia!
Lord, thank you for what you are doing in Zambia, for you have blessed many.  Continue to empower Father’s Heart to minister to the suffering, the lost, and the hungry.

With His love,
Josef Rousek

1: World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP)
2: World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) Joint Monitoring Programme on Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)
3: Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC)

 

Inspiration: hope that brings healing

Hope That Bring Healing – a story about Lydia Sitali, by Kathie Griner

In 2009 I was preparing to go with my husband, Tom Griner to Africa. It had been a couple of years since I’d had the opportunity to go and frankly since the ministry started around 12 years ago I had not been able to go very often. Although I loved going to Africa, it was important for me to hold down the fort while Tom went and to take care of my own children. I personally never wanted to let ministry take precedence over caring for my own family and their needs. I knew there would come a time when my own children would be grown and I would be free to travel to my heart’s content.
I was visiting a sister church a couple of weeks before we were to leave, and found myself a little perplexed. One of my grown children was in a situation of need and I couldn’t decide if I should stay home and minister to my family or go and believe the Lord would cover the situation. Part of me did not want to leave, but part of me truly wanted to go. At the end of the service a woman approached me and gave me a word. She said that the Lord wanted to use me in Africa on this trip as a mother. That word hit my heart and I knew it was the Lord telling me that if I went and looked for children who needed my particular gift of caring then He would cover the situation at home. So I went, excited to look for the children I was supposed to mother.
Before we left Ernest Sitali, a local African pastor, had contacted Tom and ask for us to visit and pray for his daughter. I had never met Ernest or his family but I was excited to visit and get to know them.
As we visited the grounds and saw the school that Ernest oversaw, we were very excited, we could tell Ernest had a true heart of love for children and wanted to care for the people in his city. Then he began to tell us of Lydia, how she was such a big help to him and the school. How she would teach, sing and dance and how people loved her. He shared how much he missed his daughter, even though she did not die she was still in a sense dead to life and he said, “Please, please come pray for my Lydia”. So we walked to his house.
As I entered his house I saw Lydia lying on the couch, and it was such a sad picture. She was beautiful, young, and perfect, except the disease had captured her and held her in bonds of immobility. How sad to think of how alive she was, how she brought life, love and help to their school. And here she was, living like a lump on the couch. Her arms hung down as she did not move or even notice as we came in. My heart cried out to the Lord, “I have three daughters around her age, alive, well, and full of life. What would I do and what could I say if this were one of mine lying there hopeless!?” Then the Lord spoke, “Give her hope, speak hope. Hope is what she needs.”
We all gathered around Lydia and prayed, then I turned to Lydia’s father and mother and gave them what I perceived to be a word of wisdom. I told them they needed to begin to give hope to Lydia. They needed to remind her of the things she loved – of singing, dancing, and teaching. She needed to begin seeing herself doing again all the things she loved. They had to stop speaking negative things around her and acting like her life was over. She needed the hope that life would return, as they saw her living again and not just being this corpse on the couch. I felt sure she was going to live again. All of a sudden we saw Lydia move with all her might, she struggled to fling her arm around my neck and gave me the best hug I’ve ever received in all my life. She was saying, “Yes. Yes, I want hope. I want to live, I want to teach, to sing, and to dance,” and she was willing to fight for it. I held her for a while and spoke things I would speak to my own daughters, things only a mother would speak, things only a daughter would long to hear. When we left hope was full in all our hearts and in that house.
When we returned from our trip Tom talked to pastor Ernest and found out that amazingly Lydia was standing and singing and dancing again. My heart leaped, and I secretly wanted to bring her home and care for her. She still has not received her sight, but she is alive and active and has hope. And who knows if the Lord will not do in time another work, another miracle for Lydia.

 

Upcoming Events: 2011 Zambia Youth trip

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 7th-18th we will be taking a team to Lusaka, Zambia. The focus of this trip will primarily
be on the youth conference we are hosting – this will undoubtedly be a great ministry time, not only for the youth of Zambia, but for the youth on our team who will be learning how to minister! The team will also be visiting orphans, and ministering to them as well. This will definitely be an exciting time, as there is nothing quite like the opportunity to step on the field to see and do first-hand. We have seen time and time again how these trips transform people’s hearts, particularly young people, in a way that can affect them for the rest of their lives. Please partner with us in prayer for the ministry during the youth conference, and for the team, that they would have a transforming experience, safety, and financial provision.