Fanning into Flames

Kate Dibbern writes about the team's final day at Eden Children's Village. 

I’ve been avoiding writing a blog because I had no idea how to put
down in words the experience I had yet to fully process. Each day has
been a lifetime of lessons.  We just came back from our final time at the orphanage village.  We had the privilege to deliver one full set of hand crafted furniture to a cottage, a couch, a love seat, and an end table. As we entered the village, the kids came out of the houses in droves and surrounded us.

They jumped around wanting to play and have our undivided attention.
With smiling faces and broken English they seem so innocent.  My heart became theirs. Yet, behind each and every one of their eyes there is a
past, a very sad past. They are all orphans and whether they have
parents alive or dead, they have been abandoned. Some as babies in a
sewer or dumped on the side of the road.  Some as toddlers left to
starve or beg.  And some as teenagers raped, beaten, abused, and
tossed out to fend for themselves.  Their past in the last few years
of their life has 10 times the sorrow and despair of mine.

This morning we travelled with another missionary living in the bush outside of the orphanage. The stark opposition of life outside the orphanage was breathtaking. The reality of starvation, the turmoil of the AIDS epidemic, and the utter hopelessness made any National Geographic photo of a third world country come to life. Avoiding the reality of the presence of starvation in our world amongst brothers and sisters lost from faith has become blindingly present and real to me. Starvation was staring at me through a man named Joseph with sunken eyes and a body so fragile from AIDS, standing next to his barefooted wife and little boy with a belly swollen from malnutrition.

The problem seems so big, and the need for creating disciples seems so real. This country is withering from hopelessness. Their physical life is not what matters, but helping the Holy Spirit in His work spreading the unrelenting love of God and teaching those that the gift from God is for all and meant to be spread through us, is where all hope lies. My prayers for their lives and souls has become more then just spoken words, it’s an utter plea to God that the word of life take hold of these people and spread like wildfires across these golden savannas.  The bubble that the orphanage provides protects and creates a family environment where the children learn God’s word and feel His love through those that work and live here. Yet the difference between the two is vast and the reality of what is to come or the steps needed to
be taken is still unknown. I find myself pondering this, how are these children going to re-enter society and not be sucked back into the surrounding culture. The first generation of graduates are soon to take this step. As they arrive at the top of the cliff not knowing if the next step is a couple of feet down or a few hundred feet down the need for prayer and faith in God’s strength and wonder is necessary.

Through obedience in God, He will secure a bridge connecting society
and the positive environment the orphanage has provided. May this be
the strong burning embers of Gods glory awaiting to engulf this place
in a fire for him. 

Coming Home

I'm Justine Anthony and I am going to be a senior at Southwestern college this coming fall. Over Christmas break God laid missions on my heart and then Ben came to speak at chapel but I missed the opportunity to apply. Then I got a phone call from the Birky family, who I babysit for in Lakin, asking if I would be willing to go to Zimbabwe with them to help with their three kids and do some ministry. Right away I said yes. 

This trip has been an eye-opening experience. I knew that some kids were without families and had been abused but I had never come in contact with them before. I arrived in Karanda, Zimbabwe and met a little 4 year old girl who had been tied up outside for part of her life because she is deaf and has some kind of mental illness. Her family didn't know what to do so that's what they resorted to. My heart broke for her and it was a blessing getting to meet her and show her some love. Her name is Praise, keep her in your prayers! 

After Karanda we went to Eden's Children Village. At the Village I was able to meet so many children who don't have parents but have complete faith and trust in The Lord. I was astounded by their faith. I got the opportunity to pass out candy and dresses to the kids as well as chase them around. Another opportunity I had was going to a preschool classroom and hanging out with them for a couple hours. One of the girls, Chaiedza, showed signs of being abused. The teacher came up behind her to help her and she started flinching and covering her face. It was heartbreaking and hard to hold tears back. Keep her in your prayers as well. 

I was inspired by the missionaries' attitudes and their hearts to serve others. It was exciting to be around people who had the same mindset and attitude as me. Now as we are sitting in the airport getting ready to board plane two I am saddened that I am leaving all the children but thankful that the missionaries are there for them. I'm hoping I will get the opportunity to go back. 

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 

God bless, 

Justine 

Reflections

We departed Eden Children's Village yesterday morning for Harare, stopping along the way at a small shop known nationally for its "biltong": Zimbabwe's name for beef jerky. Most of us call Kansas home and Kansas is home to some of America's best beef. We couldn't resist the opportunity for comparison. The conclusion: biltong is thinly sliced (easy on teeth) and well seasoned, but there's nothing like a good piece of Angus beef from southwest Kansas. We bought plenty to bring home, so we'll let you be the final judge.

Our group spent most of yesterday in Harare, meandering through various stores and shops, bargaining with the venders for souvenirs. I spent most of my time in a local grocery store, procuring a one-year supply of tea, "drinking chocolate", biscuits, and other tasty African treats.

We had dinner at an authentic Chinese restaurant (which may sound peculiar as we are in southern Africa, but the Chinese presence here is growing quickly due to their interest in Zimbabwe's natural resources) and then spent the night at Gateway Mission, a boarding facility for visiting mission groups. Including a full English breakfast, our group of 22 people paid a total of $307.00 for room and board. ECV's relationship with Gateway Mission made that possible.

Today was spent on a daylong safari at a small, family-owned game park called Imire, which gained international fame when it was featured in a 2007 Animal Planet program called "There's a Rhino in My Kitchen". Imire is home to three of the world's few remaining black rhinos. One of the three, "Tatenda", was raised from 3 months old (literally) in the home of Imire owners John and Judy Travers, after his mother was killed by poachers. The Travers' daughter is our hostess here. Maddy and Hailey fed Tatenda his lunch by hand. The picture above is of my shoe in front of the elephants that five of us will be riding tomorrow morning. They were about 20 feet from our open trailer.

Tonight, our team spent a few hours together in reflection. We processed our experiences and worked through how to share what we saw with our supporters, friends, and families.  Barring any issues in the next 24 hours, our team is going to have some funds left over that we can use to bless the missionaries who live here. Tonight, we discussed the recommended use of those funds as a team. After some discussion, we decided not to earmark any of the funds we give the missionaries as these people are as prudent stewards of natural and financial resources as anyone we've ever known. 

Our meeting tonight concluded with a charge to remain in some way connected to what we saw here, not out of guilt, but through a sense of empowerment. We are not all called to the same task of service to vulnerable people, but the Gospel of Matthew is clear that we are each commissioned to serve vulnerable people the way Christ calls us to do so. Through prayer and time in Scripture, we are to listen to the Lord's call for our lives. 

See you in a few short days. We love you all.

-Benjamin

Eden, through the eyes of me and a friend!

By JT vickers and Brian sixpence

We have been here for 8 days. Working in teams to try to get many things done.  Some have gone smoothly, some have had some minor set backs.  All are exactly what GOD has wanted.

     For instance, the lumbar was not available until several days. So as there were many pieces to build, we quickly noticed that we were never gonna finish. So what to do?  I was able to show 2 Shona men, how to build the furniture, and they quickly picked it up and began to build them quicker and better!   It's a joy to see them finishing a piece of furniture.  The smiles in their face is priceless!!  

   I was very disappointed that I could not finish, and Ben and Rory put it to me this way," fed a man a fish, he eats for a day,   Teach him to fish, and he eats for a life time. JT u taught them to fish!"  A different perspective!! 

    Finally breathing room.  It reminds me of a mission trip n brazil!!  How we had to let some of the work be finished by the locals.  And in the end, we were told how much of a blessing that was to them.  It brought many wonderful things.  

  And so here we are, leaving tomorrow, and there is many things left undone.  I have to be ok with this.  I know it's for a purpose, more than anything I can imagine.  

  Now back to the original story.  I really have never blogged before.  I have to remind myself that it is not my Facebook posts.  I actually have to spell out words!!!!   

So,  this pick is of me and Brian!   He is a 13 yr old child, who came to Eden when he was 8 months old. Since the first days we were able to hang out with the kids, Brian and I seem to always find each other!  I asked home to help me write this.   I asked him," what would you like everyone to know?"   So he thought and said that," I want people to know about me!"  This is a basic human thing I suppose.  We all want to be known. For something!!!  Even in the deep Zimbabwe mountain, in an orphanage, that basic need still prevails.  So we began to write things down. And this is the sum of his message!

Brian

•I like carpentry, soccer, and wants to be an engineer!  

•favorite food is, rice and chicken. And cabbage. 

•favorite bible vrs John: 1:2. Go look it up!   

    We talked about that vrs for a while! 

• has 1 sister,Belinda.   Twins 

•he lives in ECV 5. W 13 other kids. 

•favorite subject n school, spelling!

•i asked him when he had ever seen GOD. His answer,". One day while he was walking home, a kid started to wanna fight him.  And all of the sudden a man who he had never seen, stepped up and stopped the kids!  Saying," stop it!!  GOD  doesn't like that!"   He felt really protected.  And never saw the man again. 

•on his birthday this yr, march -18. He felt JESUS calling, he went to pastor condongrie and Brian asked JESUS into his heart!   

According to him, he should get baptized this Sunday. I will be sad, I will not be there!!  

Brian loves Eden, it helps in so many ways.  Food, clothing, protection, and LOVE!!  I look forward to the day I see him again.  He will always be my friend!  

From Karanda to Eden

As I'm writing this post, our group is gathered around a fire at Eden children's orphanage with 3 guitars going and bluegrass hymns being belted and it seems to me a very accurate picture of the way our group is here to love and worship The Lord through service. I was a part of the Karanda team that just joined up with the Eden team and now our group is finally whole again. The Karanda adventure was an amazing experience, we got delayed at the beginning due to airline delays and the fact that it gets dark here around 5:45 and its too dangerous to drive out of the city after dark. But we eventually made it to the hospital after a 3 hour drive and navigating through a river (thank goodness for the 4 wheel drive). We met a great group of medical missionaries who want to serve The Lord through medicine wherever He leads them and it was so encouraging to meet people on fire for The Lord halfway around the world. Karanda mission hospital was founded 50 years ago and continues to serve the people in Zimbabwe today. They have built up a great reputation and people will travel for days just to be seen there. I got to see some incredible surgeries and clinic work that makes me excited to be pursuing medicine... There is so much good to be done through medical missions and this trip has definitely planted a seed in my heart for the people here. Praise God for the work he is doing here! I'm excited and honored to have been a part of it.

-Jaimie Dungan

It's In Their Eyes

My name is Tim Walter. I am a landscape photographer from Denver, Colorado and I’ve come along with the team to Zimbabwe to photograph Eden’s ministry here and the activities of the team. It has been a pleasure to be a part of this trip.

To say that Eden Children’s Village is an extraordinary place or their work is extraordinary work would be an understatement. To try to explain it would never be adequate. To describe the impact they have had on the children here, in many areas, would fall far short. The only way to understand is to see the ministry of ECV firsthand. I am glad that I have had that opportunity and I am so thankful for the support of those friends and family that have made it possible.

I’ve been moved in many ways in just a few days here, but let me tell you about today.

I suppose because I’ve bundled a ton of camera gear over here to Africa and my primary responsibility has been to photograph a story – ECV’s story – Susan Fry (of one of ECV’s founding missionary couples) asked me if I would go around to each of the classrooms, morning and afternoon, and photograph all the kids so they would have a picture to send to their sponsors. “That’s yearbook photos,” I thought, “not exactly what I signed up for.”  But the permanent staff work so hard here and this was something I could do to share the load, so I said, “I’d love to!” Several hours and 163 kids later (thank you, Haley, for your help) it struck me that I had been given what was probably an especially unique gift.

A photographer strives to “look and see” things around them that most people may walk past and miss, and to reveal subtly impactful stories that hide there. It may be a wedding or a baby or, as in my case, beautiful Rocky Mountain landscapes. There is always a story to be told and a picture holds a thousand words. Today I looked into the eyes of every kid here and took a little bit of their story with me.

It was in their eyes, in their smile, in the way they carried themselves or maybe in the way they thought about connecting with their sponsor. That they are fed, cared for, educated, and daily shown the love of Jesus assures that their life is changed forever. They have opportunity two million other Zimbabwean orphans will never have. When I think about the privilege I have had I think I can start to see at least part of God’s purpose for me being here.

Most special of all those eyes and smiles was four year old Bethany, a little Shona girl and the daughter of one of the employees here. She has bright eyes and a sweet spirit and her little girl smile betrays a cute gap where she’s missing her two front teeth. And my wife and I will be sponsoring her for her education here at Eden Children’s Village. I can’t wait to tell her tomorrow in church!

Thank you, Jesus. It has been a good day.

Remarkable

This experience has been remarkable, perhaps because we've been traveling with remarkable people.

Just prior to our departure, most of the members of our very diverse team had never met each other. We have both urban and rural people from Washington state to Texas to North Carolina and Florida. Most of us reside in Kansas. Our youngest member is 11 months old. Our oldest member is, well, in our culture, we don't talk about such things. We are a mix of academics, artists, athletes, baby-bottom-wipers, ministers, medical professionals, retirees, and cattle ranchers, sprinkled with a bit of "granola". An outsider looking in might say bringing a group like this across the world together is a bit risky; sparks could fly.

And yet, we experienced 40+ hours of international transit together, five of which were spent dealing with mostly indifferent and inefficient Kenya Airways staff amidst the sights, sounds, and "aromas" of an African airport; we remained intact. 

We spent hours haggling with an inconsistent customs department at the Harare airport, as they dug through the  team's feminine hygiene products and underwear, looking for something valuable enough to justify duties; with prayer, we remained at peace.

We spent three hours in vehicles, driving down narrow, congested highways and bumpy dirt roads to arrive in Doma long after dark; still, we encouraged each other.

And with sacrifice comes reward. Together, we're experiencing a holistic way of life and a culture that treasures the things we overlook or throw away. We're coming to know missionaries who value our time with them more than the money required to get us here.

We've witnessed Savannah Jenkins, our 16-year old team member come out of her shell and build relationships with at least a dozen children, many of whom ran up to her as a group and embraced her with love. As she was leaving their home, they jumped up and down, chanting her name in unison. 

We were inspired by the courage of Tim Walter, who shared his fears and vulnerabilities with the rest of us, giving each of us the privilege of going second.

Many of us shared the emotions of Jerry and Nancy Voorhies, as they witnessed the smiles of the twin children they've been sponsoring for the past three years.

We've heard the enthusiastic, dream-come-true report of Jaimie Dungan, our young medical school applicant, who was able to assist Dr. John Birky in two major surgical procedures at Karanda Mission Hospital. 

We've seen JT Vickers, our Texan tradesman, spend time with two young Shona men, patiently teaching them how to build new living room furniture for the orphan cottages.  JT has taught us that the relationship with and development of these two young men are more important than the work of our hands.

We've heard the account of Justine Anthony, our early childhood development major, who spent time with 12 children in a preschool classroom the size of an American bathroom.

We've heard the laughter of dozens of orphans, as Kate Dibbern and Robbi Lee taught them new, fun ways to stay active by playing games.

We have all appreciated the delicious meals diligently prepared by Joy Haggard, who even spent the time making tortillas and rhubarb cobbler from scratch (and wonder if Joy will try to disappear the day of our departure; these are her people).

A few of us tried to hold down that food as Melissa Bender described her trip into the African bush to treat the wound of man who would otherwise not receive care. A highlight for me was Melissa meeting Dave and Cynthia Fortescue, the Zimbabwean missionaries her parents have supported for over a decade.

Last night, Hailey Weston and Maddy Martin joined their peers for a late-night lock-in with local teenage girls, connecting with them as role models and providing support to the young, female missionary who is working with them. 

And I am so grateful to Ashlee Alley, who has shepherded not only her Southwestern College students, but many of our other team members. She has done much to create a safe, stable environment for our team to grow and serve.

I am honored to be among such servant-hearted people who are willing to surrender themselves to the Lord's call to care for vulnerable people and am pleased to report that the best of this trip is yet to come. Stay tuned.

Benjamin

Sadza and Smiles

Ashlee Alley shares a bit from her experience eating dinner with the teen girls on Wednesday evening. 

We have been having a great experience here at Eden Children's Village!  One of my highlights so far is from our meal on Wednesday evening. We went in pairs to the various cottages to eat dinner with the children and their houseparents. Kids are placed in the various cottages and make up a sort of a family unit. There are a variety of ages in each cottage, from infant to upper teenager. Each has two house mothers, with one house having a married couple who live with the children. They really do function as a family unit. The houses are mostly arranged in a little village, with a common kitchen and bathrooms. The house I went to was the teen girls house. There were only 4 girls there: Lisa, Talent (who lives up to her name--she knits things beautifully!), Pauline and Shingatai. The house mom is Juliette. When Hayley and I got to their house, the girls were sitting on their front porch waiting on us. They were very hospitable to us, even if a little shy. They invited us into their house for dinner. We sat around their coffee table and they started the dinner ritual with hand washing. They held out a bowl and motioned for me to out my hands under it. They poured very hot water over my hands and apparently I washed my hands wrong--you are supposed to wring your hands, but I just cupped my hands...they laughed at me and then showed me how to do it correctly. After everyone's hands were washed, one of the girls served up out meal. It was a traditional meal of sadza, beef and relish (greens). We ate in the traditional way...with our right hand, using no fork!  They used our plates to scoop out enormous servings of sadza, at least half of the plate. Then they served a generous helping of beef and relish. I looked at it knowing that there was no way that I could eat it all. I pinched off a bit of the sadza, rolled it into a ball with just my right hand and used the sadza to scoop up some of the beef and relish. I braced myself, unsure of how it would taste and chomped down on a slimy piece of fat along with my beef. The taste was pretty good, but the texture was a challenge for me...and it was only the first bite. Our hosts all eyed us expectantly to see what we would say about it. Of course we both said, "It's good!" but I think that Hayley was more convincing than I was. We had been warned that Zimbabwean dinner conversation is almost nonexistent, so we were prepared for the awkwardness, but thankfully, they were curious about how we liked the food and how we liked Zimbabwe. We had a great time sharing stories and laughing with each other. 

Sadly, I was unable to eat very much of my meal...maybe only a quarter. But Hayley was able to eat like a champ!  After dinner, I passed around some candy, which they doled out with excitement. We played some card games with one another and then enjoyed asking each other questions. While we talked, one of the girls played with her cell phone, another looked at picture from my cell phone, and the others tried to outsmart everyone in cards. The girls were smart, funny, curious, and in many ways just like typical American teens. There were some significant differences, though, I suppose. They had all watched their parents die, mostly from AIDS.  They had learned what it means to become a different kind of family, and they seemed to have a trust in God for all their needs. We heard later that several teen girls had been leaving lately for work and independence that took them away from Eden. These girls may be contemplating leaving, too, but if they stay here, they can get more training, education, and support as they transition to independent life. 

While there are many differences between Zimbabwe and America, one thing that unites us is our desire for independence, community, and fulfillment. This place had our hearts before, but I think after we were so generously invited into their homes, we were even more taken by this place. We left with hearts and bellies full. 

Gods Hands

God is good! It's an amazing thing to be a part of a team that are all working to do Gods will no matter if it benefits them or not. Opening your eyes to a world you have only watched and read about is a very new, exciting, and scary experience. We have already been through and learned so much and it is only Friday! Walking in to this adventure I had no clue what to expect, and it has been so much more that I could have ever imagined so far. It's amazing how not only are we helping and teaching the kids and people here but they are just as equally helping and teaching us. To see the happiness and love that the kids have for us and one another is so precious. At home, we don't realize how much we actually take for for granted...like complaining about sharing a room with siblings. Coming here, there are more than 10 kids sleeping in one small space. They are all a huge family and its wonderful to see how honestly authentic their faith is because they do not care what or who they have, God is truly working in their life and those smiles are priceless even when they have nothing to smile about.

Joy came up to me last night at dinner and told me that tenashe (a young boy that I have grown very close with) was praying earlier that day and while he was praying thanked God for "his new friend Robbi, who plays games and has fun with me". It is an unbelievable feeling when you realize how much you can touch one kids life by showing them that you care. I love each one of them so much. This is an experience that will change your life and the way you really view things and I know that we are all going to return home with such a different perspective. I will make sure to return to this wonderful place and people. God's hands are layed upon Edens Village and I am so fortunate to have a part in it all for these weeks.

Robbi

Expecting

Maddy Martin, a senior at Washburn University in Topeka, KS is contributing this blog to tell of the team's experience in Zimbabwe thus far. 

The one word that comes to mind is expecting. The last five days have been nothing like I had expected them to be. My visions and thoughts that I had prior to being in a new country and on a new continent are quickly changing. 

My first flight over a real ocean rather than a sea went swimmingly... Ha! The lack of sleep on the other hand has been rough to catch up on. The many un-expecting adventures in the airports...every single one we were in...finally brought us to our destination.... Zimbabwe! Never had I dreamt of staying the night in Kenya, but pushing through that finally got me here. 

I was able to sleep in the first morning, along with the others to start the journey at ECV off right. I also got to sleep in a real bed and a house rather than what I was expecting...a tent! I am so thankful that Rory and Judy opened their house to me! 

I have been able to walk through the land and learn how everything at ECV has a use.... Even used tea bags (soaked in kerosene to use as a fire starter)! What Susan and Kevin (the owners) have done with their property is unbelievable. The simple yet intricate work that is completed is breath taking... Hand milking cows, growing everything to be eaten, using straw for a roof, walking everywhere, and sitting outside to eat each meal to name a few. Something I have yet to get used to are the workers. Most tasks completed are done by Africans who are paid to do it... Literally workers. They want to clean the dishes I eat off of or sweep the dirt I carry in the houses with my shoes or even wash my clothes for me because that's how their family is able to live... None of which I was expecting. 

Today I was able to help in the school, in a classroom that had 10-13 year olds. I helped them write letters to their sponsors... Spelling and grammar and sentence structure were the hardest to grasp. I have also had the opportunity to play with the children in the orphanage and eat supper with one of the houses. Star gazing, lots of walking, fighting fires and chatting late at night are some other great times that have taken place. 

Each day in Doma is different and unexpected things take place. I am excited to see what I learn in my time here. Something I have learned is that I would love to spend more time traveling and helping others throughout the world.

Parts I have loved so far:

- Avocados I pick from the trees
- Flying over an ocean 
- Laughing with new friends 
- The slumber parties that take place in the bedroom I stay in 
- Delicious salads with greens from the garden  
- The peacefulness an open savanna brings me 
- Fighting fires like a champ

Peace out for now--

Maddy

The first few days

We got to Zimbabwe after slightly entangled connections at the airports with baggage and scheduling, but made it here at last, a little worse for wear and very grateful for a good nights sleep. I was pleased to find many familiar plants at the house here, although some are much larger and growing outdoors as part of the landscape instead of being houseplants indoors. We got to play with the kids yesterday and then were invited to eat with a family for dinner. I had cottage #5, where12 children -all boys ages 17 to 6 except the baby girl who is a little over a year old -live with two houseparents. Beds for the children are upstairs. One bathroom, a living room and small kitchen and parents bedroom are downstairs.  The cottages are stucco with cottage type thatch roofs. Jerry brought his guitar along and played a few songs on one of the porches, which had been scrubbed that morning (and probably every morning) It made a great icebreaker. We ate a very typical meal of sudza which is a corn- based staple cooked over the fire outdoors in a large pot until it is quite thick, so it is able to be scooped up and eaten with  hands. A side dish of greens and some chicken rounded out the meal and was very good. Then we visited afterward around the table an played a couple of simple games which animated the children and opened up a closer connection with them. I look forward to more interaction with the kids this week. Some have Shona (native)names and some have American names. One little girl told us her name was Cherrrrrrite- rolling the r very much. The accent is some Shona and some British. We got home and found her name is actually Charity. There is also a Proud, Blessed, and  Talent-who is well-named, as well as Stanley, Dennis, Bryan and Beverly. Tatenda means thank you and is one of the boy's names. I fear I will not be able to remember the few Shona words I learn hear but it is good to try. I'll write more later this week, the kids need the computers.
Joy

Our Adventure in Kenya

We made it to Kenya!! But we had a misunderstanding that caused us to miss our last flight to Zimbabwe. Since that happened we waited in the airport 5 hours until the Kenya airline transported us to a 5 star hotel where we got a hot meal and shower that we really needed. It is 2:00am now we will leave the hotel at 5am and head back to the airport and fly to harare where will then head to doma where the orphanage is.

Hayley Weston

Who Are We?

You will be hearing from various people throughout our time in Zimbabwe. Here is a bit of who we are:

Benjamin Anderson is our trip leader. He has been on several missions already to work with Eden Children's Village and has been the lead point person for what we are doing. Ben has recently moved from Ashland as the CEO of Ashland Health Center to Lakin, KS for a comparable position. 

Dr. John Birky and his wife, Lisa are the second coordinators of our mission. Dr. Birky has been on several medical missions and he and Lisa lived in Zimbabwe for a time. Their three children Jude, Lily, and Eva are joining us as well. The Birky's will be heading to a clinic for half of the trip. 

A different dynamic of this mission for the usual mission trip from Ashland is that there are college students joining. Rev. Ashlee Alley from Southwestern College is going and will help in some administrative ways on the trip. Three Southwestern students, Justine Anthony, Robbi Lee, and Hayley Weston are going as well. Each girl is going to be a senior next semester. Hayley is excited to be on her second international mission trip and will be tutoring as well is helping us tell our story through words and pictures. Justine is responding to an exciting call by God on this mission and will be helping with the Birky kiddos and with some tutoring. Robbi has been counting down and anticipating what God is going to do through the mission. She will be leading a sports clinic at Eden. Jaimie Dungan is a pre-med student at Newman University and is going to be a senior. She is excited to have this international medicine experience and will will assist Dr. Birky with dental training at the Eden Clinic and a variety of surgeries at Karanda Mission Hospital. Maddy Martin is an early childhood major at Washburn University and will be tutoring children. She is excited about seeing her field of study in this context. 

Savannah Jenkins, from North Carolina, is our lone high school student. She had travelled abroad before, but never for a mission quite like this. She will be serving in lots of areas and is so excited about this opportunity. 

Joy Haggard comes to us from Ashland. She is a school records clerk and is on the board of the local thrift store ministry. She loves holistic living and is excited to experience the self-sustaining lifestyle of Eden. 

Jerry and Nancy Voorhies are joining the trip as well. They have sponsored a set of twins from Eden for the last several years and are experiencing a life-long dream by serving in this way. Jerry is a cattle rancher and they live half of the year in Washington state and the other half in Kansas. 

JT Vickers is a trained X-ray tech and owns a roofing company in Georgetown, TX. He has built a prototype of bench that we will be replicating for the orphan cottages and will oversee that project.

Melissa Bender is a NICU nurse in Florida. She will be joining the Birky's on the medical portion of the trip and will be training the clinic staff and area midwives on neonatal resussitation. 

Kate Dibberen is a track coach at Garden City Community College. She designed some great art for the trip for tshirts and will be working with the sports clinic among other things. 

Tim Walter is the final member of the team. He met Benjamin through a providential experience and has joined the team. He is a professional photographer and is also being able to share in a dream as he has been open to an opportunity for God to use him in a humanitarian photography assignment. He will be sharing a few pictures along the way, but mostly we will get to see his pictures upon return home. 

We come from 6 states, 5 different decades, 15 churches and will be taking 4 flights (each way). We will cover thousands of miles and we've been supported by tens of thousands of dollars in support and countless prayers. And we serve a God who knows each detail and loves each of us and those with whom we will partner in ministry. We look forward to sharing the journey with you! 

At the Airport

Our team is loaded up and is ready to go to Zimbabwe. Three members of our group are meeting is in Chicago (and one in Paris) and the rest are flying out of Wichita. We are ready. We are seeing God's provision in so many ways right now. Please pray for safety in travel and also, smooth transitions in airports and at customs. We've got a lot of people and a lot of stuff. Thanks so much for all of the support.