2014 has been an
exciting year for Homes of Joy so far! Nyumba
Yanga Orphanage welcomed an assortment of international volunteers who helped
to conduct a site visit and spent time volunteering with the girls. Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing a
series of blogs about their time in Zambia. Our group of international
volunteers included: a group of students
taking part in the Residence Life Service Learning Program at Simon Fraser
University, board members Micaela and Mary Roughton, and HOJ child sponsor and
long-time supporter Jane Taylor. We hope
you enjoy their stories and reflections about their time at Nyumba Yanga!
The Homes of Joy
Board of Directors
My trip to Zambia and the Nyumba Yanga Orphanage was
literally out of my world and comfort zone on many levels. Each day was an
unpredictable journey into a whole new world; international travelling, living
as a minority, in an orphanage, in a developing country in Africa, with no
husband accompanying me for the first time ever. Thoughts of these challenges
brought no comfort but, I stepped out in faith. The warm welcome including
music, dance, song, skits and hugs and the resulting pure peace and joy I
encountered in this poor simple orphanage was beyond anything I could have
hoped for or imagined, truly out of “my” world. These beautiful girls, all from
traumatic pasts, living in poverty in an orphanage, are the most incredible,
amazing ambassadors of faith, love, hope and joy that I have ever encountered
in all my life!!!!!! I was humbled, and my heart strings pulled as I was
enveloped in love from these girls who live with no families and yet give so
much. No holiday has ever, nor could ever compare to the daily experiences of
living in community with these girls, the house mothers, and the Sisters at the
convent. We, in the Western world, the land of plenty and advancement, have so
much to learn about real living. If only
we could live more simply and selflessly, then others could simply live, and our
world would be a better place for all!!!
I have been involved actively in the background of Homes of
Joy from its inception with my favorite responsibility being sponsorships. I experienced firsthand what it means to
these girls to know someone on the other side of the world truly cares about them!
There was such excitement as they asked for the details about their sponsors
and anything personal we could share.
One of my greatest aha
moments was being able to connect the
girls with their sponsor as I had a few
pictures with me,and in retrospect wish I had had all pictures. Now, one of my personal goals within the organization is to promote this connectivity for every
girl and every sponsor but my first priority is to get all sponsored so no-one
feels left out . Five more sponsorships and we will have met this goal, (my
heart’s desire from day one), and I hope to achieve it by Christmas!!!
Mary Roughton
HOJ Board Member
.JPG) |
| This is my last day with the girls and as you can see we have connected and share love, laughter, joy and memories until we meet again…. |
So proud of you Mary and Jane and Micaela for making this trip to Africa. I feel the stories you share makes the Homes of Joy real and tangeable. It's not just strangers far far away but real girls and real lives with real needs and so much love to share. It's very inspiring to see what God has done to open your heart and mind to reach out and actually touch God's precious people. We knew if GOD brought you to it He would see you through it and HE DID Praise God!! Praise God!!
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