When it's Easter time, it reminds me to say remember, you were in the dark and now you are in the light, so don't go back to the dark place again, because Jesus loves you. He died for you. He didn't do anything wrong, but the love that He has for you is so special….

Hands at Work begins each year with a Watchword; a guiding scripture that our leadership team shares with the Hands family. This scripture is a promise, a challenge, an inspiration, an encouragement and an opportunity to invite God to lead us throughout the year, expectant for what He will do in and through us.

“I’ve done many Maranatha Workshops and been to Chilabula many times and even done one in Chilabula before and not seen the fruit. We needed to depend on God, not on our own knowledge. We prayed for weeks ahead of time. We even delayed the start of the workshop so we could have more time to pray…”

…Though his aunt welcomed Misheck into her home, she was already caring for other children, making them a large family of ten. The uncle in the home tries to support the family by gold panning around the nearby city of Mutare, but rarely makes any money. The burden is heavy for this family. 

“What a joy it was to stand among this diverse group of people, representing every demographic and many different locales and marvel at how we are all knit together by God with one passion and purpose…”

In 2014, I joined the local Hands at Work team in Dedza. Since I joined Hands at Work, I have developed a heart of ‘adoption’ and am understanding what it means to ‘make it personal’….

They felt so comfortable in the community setting at the Hub, reconnecting with and making new friends. They enthusiastically engaged in play and serving in the communities and at the Care Points. Sharing meals and just spending time with people was a big highlight….

The community of Katembe is located in the mountains, several hours from any medical facilities. By God’s grace, Lina’s mother, with support from strangers, managed to get to a clinic where they did an emergency caesarean section. Though Lina survived, her mother did not have the capacity to care for her daughter on her own, resulting in a quick decline in Lina’s health….

….Over the next three to six months, we started to discern that, and the Lord spoke to us in many ways through the Bible, through friends and through strange things happening that could only be signs from God that we were supposed to be heading to Africa.

“Everything may be different and yet, stepping out of our van into the community of Maranatha, I was greeted by faces I knew and people I could greet by name. I even recognised some of the kids and greeted them by name, even though it has been four years since I saw them last. I felt joy in seeing them again and, by the faces, I believe this was mutual….”

Not only are the boys learning skills that they can use for their future, but they are reading and digging into God’s word and learning what it means to be a Godly man in their community…

I had started reaching out to the vulnerable in Mulenga, and it brought me great joy. There was a great fulfilment in my heart. I remember some people started mocking me because they had heard that I wasn’t getting paid. They didn’t know why I would do it for free.