The Smells of Fire in Africa

Journal writing at Vuma Hills tented camp,
Mikumi National Park

One of the joys of working for Kulea, is taking volunteers to experience Africa, to see the beauty, to feel the needs, to meet our friends, and to serve on a Kulea project. Each evening, we gather as a team to share reflections on our day. Additionally, some travelers keep a journal. It's a pleasure to share this excerpt from the journal of one team member, Walter Huston. Thanks, Walter!

20 August 2012

Kimotonge Hotel, Chalinze, Tanzania

8.30 PM 

Building a church in Chalinze, Tanzania

     The smell of a wood fire as I walked back from the other guesthouse reminded me of home. However, it is also my first sensory reminder of Africa. The smell of a burning fire is everywhere here in Chalinze. It was present in the homes we visited yesterday and it was present as we walked home tonight. It smells like it does when one walks through a campground on a summer night. The difference is that the campers back home are choosing it to relax, to get away, to connect with nature. Here, it is a way of life. There is no other house to return to, no other life to continue. This is it. They live, they breathe, and they survive by the fire.

     God does not call us to live by a campfire but by a different fire, the refiner’s fire. Not just a fun,‘get away’ fire, but a fire that consumes, devours, and causes only the purest to survive. A fire that glows with the highest, hottest flames and is so brilliant, we close our eyes due to fear and also in sheer reverence. As we walk closer, we tremble with fear but a Guiding Hand comes around us and assures us that though it may hurt, the fire will never completely destroy us but will only refine us in order to purify that which is hidden by human eyes.

Playing Simon Says in Chalinze

     We walk through the fire feeling the flames as they touch us and begin to feel the scorching of our flesh. We cringe, we cry, and even begin to scream. We don’t think we can go any further, but further we must go. We beg to stop, for something to ease the pain, but there is nothing except the Hand that continues to push us through to the other side.
     And to the other side, we finally emerge. Not as a lump of rock or coal but the most brilliant gem we are supposed to be. Some will be like diamonds while others like rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. All will be precious to the King. 

Kulea's August 2012 Team visits the future site of Ubazi Children's Village

Busy days in Exeter, NH

This weekend the United Methodist Church in Exeter, NH welcomed Kulea for the weekend! I enjoyed every minute -- busy, fun days! On Friday and Saturday, church members held a yard sale to benefit Kulea's September travel team. We met church members, and enjoyed the air conditioned indoor sale! We appreciate Amy Salyards-Frye, who took the lead in organizing the yard sale. Her son is currently on a mission trip for 7 weeks in Malawi  with Teen Mission -- see Teen Mission's Travel Update. He is 16 and hasn't been able to communicate directly with mom and dad (can you imagine that?).  However, the family gets updates from the ministry.  He's been away 4 weeks, so 3 more to go. Wow! What a huge sacrifice from this family. Hang in there, Amy!

I returned Sunday to the UMC in Exeter for worship, anxious to hear Reverend Cynthia Nickerson preach. Cindy is the Pastor of UMC, Exeter and has recently joined the Kulea USA Board of Directors.  In September she will travel with Kulea's Visit Africa team to Tanzania. She wore an Africa themed stole as she spoke and The Kulea Story 2013 video was shared at the end of service. The video moved some to tears, including me! Each time I watch this simple slide show, I am moved to tears, so overwhelmed with gratitude to our Father who has rescued these precious children.

 I'm so thankful He made a way for them to be in a loving family and to get an education.  I rejoice that I can be a part of His plan. I'm overwhelmed that this vision or dream he put in my heart in 2008 has become a reality! Each little face has a story and I know them well. I've held them and hugged them and reminded them they are loved by us but so much more by their heavenly Father. Their past stories of hunger, abandonment, brutality, or neglect do not define them. God has given them a new life and their future is bright!
After the worship service our September team gathered for lunch and a travel planning meeting. I shared my testimony, how God pursued me despite my stubbornness to start the Kulea ministry.  Seriously, I was a rebel when He asked me to do this work, telling Him he had the wrong person! (I think Jonah is my distant cousin. I completely understand why he ran to Nineveh - Story of Jonah). In the end, I am so thankful that God did not give up. I feel so privileged to participate in His work.
Our Visit Africa team is full of talented women preparing to go to Tanzania in September! Our project is three-fold: to paint the exterior of the Kulea home, facilitate an afternoon women's ministry event, spend time in the Kingdom Kids preschool providing training for their teachers. This team will visit the local clinic, a secondary school, the Maasai, local markets, and our land called Ubazi where the children's village is being developed. In addition, we will participate in a special dedication ceremony, thanking God for the well and the pure water now flowing at Ubazi, Kulea's land. At the end of our meeting, we took a photo

and named ourselves Timu Wanawake 2013 which translates to Women's Team 2013. I cannot wait to serve with these women in Tanzania! We look forward to the challenges and joys, expecting God to do great things!

Playing for good health!

Kulea volunteers had a great time Saturday, attending the African Health Cup 2013 in Lowell, MA.We met many people, had perfect weather, enjoyed African music, exciting soccer matches and of course, vendors selling African food, crafts, etc.  It was exciting just to be present and network with so many people. One of our volunteers for the day, SaRah LeBlanc, said she felt a little like she was back in Tanzania!

The Health Cup, an annual soccer tournament, is held to increase HIV prevention and education to African refugees and immigrants living in Massachusetts. It is organized by AFIA, Africans for Improved Access, part of the Multicultural AIDS Coalition. www.mac-boston.org

At the event, free onsite rapid HIV testing was available as well as other screenings for things such as diabetes.  Between the games, speakers addressed the players and spectators, sharing knowledge and testimonies from those living with HIV.
We enjoyed meeting Delfine Masongo, keynote speaker for the day. She is passionate about this work and is able to break down barriers and reach young people with her message. Delfine works as a peer advocate for AIDS Action, www.aac.org.

We met people interested in traveling with Kulea and the Head Men's Soccer Coach from Roxbury Community College, MA, Joseph Ashley, stopped by to visit. He offered to come with us to Tanzania or Kenya and teach soccer for a week to community youth.

We are looking forward to another community event this week in Exeter, NH -- a yard sale, benefiting Kulea! Join us if you can, at Exeter United Methodist Church, 307 Epping Road.  Friday 7/19 from 3pm - 7pm and Saturday, 7/20 from 8am - 1pm.  http://www.exeterumc.org/

It's a privilege to meet new people and share the Kulea mission with them. We continue to pray for God to open up the hearts of people because if everyone helps a little, we can make a big difference for orphans and vulnerable children in East Africa! Truly, it takes a village!

Does it Really Matter?

Ramadhani (Rama) the day we took him
to his forever home with Kulea

A drop in the ocean....a small act of kindness amid an endless sea of need.  Does it matter?

In East Africa, I see so many needs. It seems endless and every story breaks my heart. I wonder, "Are we doing enough? Does the little that Kulea does, make a difference? It seems we need thousands of dollars to make a dent..."

Then, I see the smiles and hear the laughter of just one of our Kulea children such as Rama, and am reminded that for THIS child, what we do is everything! THIS child had no mother, no father, no one to hold him at night and chase away his fear. At age 3, he had no security. The uncle he was sent to live with after his parents both died, abused him. He was sent to live with a different uncle, but a year later that man became sick and died, leaving Rama alone once again with no idea how to find food. At age 7 he faced the world on his own. We picked him up, dusted him off, wrapped our arms around him and promised him a forever family. We've given Rama the love of a mom and dad, brothers and sisters, the security of three meals every day, the opportunity to attend school, and the hope for a future. Now, THIS child -- Rama -- laughs and loves with abandon. It seems unreal to him that he was rescued just in time.

Rama today, confident, secure, happy!             

Today, Rama loves science and math and would someday like to build homes or be an engineer.  

Rama is now the one opening his arms to the next child we find abandoned and hungry, in need of rescue. The next child alone in this world and struggling to survive. If you've thought of sponsoring a child with Kulea, please do! Your contribution may seem small to you, like a drop in the ocean, like… maybe it doesn't matter. But, it means EVERYTHING to one child, your child.

Ramadhani Kisimikwe
Gender: Male
Birthday: July 29, 2003

Would you sponsor Rama or one of our other children? 

"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." 
         -Mother Teresa