What FUN we are having teaching at Various vacation bible schools this summer!! The children, teens, adults and seniors have brought such a wonderful dynamic to helping us teach them about what life is like in Tanzania!
We want to THANK all of our mission partners for having us come to plant the seed or water a seed in these children and adults that are attending their churches VBS programs this summer.
We love the questions that everyone is asking! We love to see the comments that are made as each person discerns why others have to live in such difficult situations! I have to admit, until I went there I wonder if I would have asked the same questions that we are being asked during our teaching moments.
I am so grateful to have been called to this work. I am blessed to be trusted to teach about our world! I get the opportunity to travel to Tanzania, it is my responsibility to share what I am learning on each and every trip!
Blessings and peace ~
"The Happiest Day for Simeon and Sula"
Children's Book
Simeon and Sula Dolls
Purchase and help those who suffer
Hajiba (middle) widow who made dolls
Supporting the widows in Kenya
Simple Hope East Africa Director Charles Mpanda
Dedication of SHEA Food! Thank you Country Director Charles Mpanda for your help!
Building a bridge of love between our worlds
Hand in hand we help each other!
Matonyak Orphanage
Sharing Love with an orphan
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Bryson!
I have such joy in my heart today! After being on skype with our wonderful director Charles Mpanda who was at our orphanage ~ he shared with me the most awesome story.
On my blog I have a photo of Libby holding Bryson! We met Bryson the end of March! When we arrived, he was listless, very tiny (weighing only about 15 pounds) and could barely hold his head up. We all took a turn holding him ~ tears came to my eyes knowing that this poor little boy needed food - the orphanage was doing all they could to get by with the little they had. Our Simple Hope food had not yet arrived but I knew that it was not going to be long until Bryson would not be able to survive! My prayers started immediately for this young boy.
After we arrived home, we worked feverishly on getting our food out of the Port and to Matonyak! Our director Charles got our food there very safe and the feeding began.
TODAY I was thrilled when on skype with Charles and he told me he weighed little Bryson and his weight has jumped to 21 pounds! He said he was even standing on his own two feet and gave a gentle smile to Charles. It truly is a miracle! Prayers are answered and THANK GOD for his mercy and grace.
I am counting the days when I can be back at the orphanage seeing this with my own eyes. I hope Bryson knows how much we love and care for him!!
I am so proud of our director Charles - who gives selflessly of himself - to help those in desperate need! Please keep him in your prayers as he is a tremendous asset to us (Simple Hope) and his fellow Tanzanians.
Continue to pray for all those in Tanzania who suffer with lack of food, clean water, education and healthcare! We know that "kidogo kidogo hujaza kibaba" Little by little we will arrive ~
Blessings and peace~
On my blog I have a photo of Libby holding Bryson! We met Bryson the end of March! When we arrived, he was listless, very tiny (weighing only about 15 pounds) and could barely hold his head up. We all took a turn holding him ~ tears came to my eyes knowing that this poor little boy needed food - the orphanage was doing all they could to get by with the little they had. Our Simple Hope food had not yet arrived but I knew that it was not going to be long until Bryson would not be able to survive! My prayers started immediately for this young boy.
After we arrived home, we worked feverishly on getting our food out of the Port and to Matonyak! Our director Charles got our food there very safe and the feeding began.
TODAY I was thrilled when on skype with Charles and he told me he weighed little Bryson and his weight has jumped to 21 pounds! He said he was even standing on his own two feet and gave a gentle smile to Charles. It truly is a miracle! Prayers are answered and THANK GOD for his mercy and grace.
I am counting the days when I can be back at the orphanage seeing this with my own eyes. I hope Bryson knows how much we love and care for him!!
I am so proud of our director Charles - who gives selflessly of himself - to help those in desperate need! Please keep him in your prayers as he is a tremendous asset to us (Simple Hope) and his fellow Tanzanians.
Continue to pray for all those in Tanzania who suffer with lack of food, clean water, education and healthcare! We know that "kidogo kidogo hujaza kibaba" Little by little we will arrive ~
Blessings and peace~
Monday, June 27, 2011
"The Happiest Day for Simeon and Sula"
Finally! My first children's book is published! I am humbled by the experience. I never even thought about writing a children's book - but to my amazement here it is. I truly want to Thank God and my family for supporting my efforts in this book... God had this amazing plan all along, and it was very real as each step went seamlessly easy. Not having any knowledge on how to write a book is one thing but then to take to being fully published still amazes me.
I am so blessed with the illustrations for this book too! My dear friend Ann Solomon introduced me to "Sheggy" and here is another very wonderful story that only God could facilitate. As I was learning about traditional publishers the same story kept coming back to me: "We will take your story but WE WILL find the illustrator" and I kept saying, NO, nobody knows this story better than Sheggy who has lived this story. My friend Ann read him my story and he immediately began to cry...he said this story was the story of his personal life. Sheggy was orphaned at a young age and was left with no parents or siblings from age 11! Imagine that? He began to draw to take the pain out of his heart and God gifted him with this talent that only can be explained as a gift from God. He has had no formal education and has never had an Art class. I am beyond blessed with his illustrations for this book.
This book is a wonderful tool for parents, grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, churches, schools, vacation bible school, community learning centers, libraries and children to read. They will get to know another way that most of the world lives and how difficult it is for them.
I have been blessed to travel to Tanzania 5 times since my first trip. I will be returning again in September. I continue to learn about how children/orphans/street children live and my heart continues to reach out to help them as much as I can.
If you choose to purchase this book, I will tell you that a portion of the proceeds will go to help "Sheggy" our illustrator so he can continue to lift up his dream of becoming an artist / musician and it will go toward helping with our many wonderful projects of Simple Hope.
Please consider purchasing a book at: www.authorhouse.com OR if you live in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area, contact me at: simplehope1@gmail.com and I can arrange to get you a copy.
This book is a wonderful teaching moment for you. Please help me to help others.
Blessings and peace ~
I am so blessed with the illustrations for this book too! My dear friend Ann Solomon introduced me to "Sheggy" and here is another very wonderful story that only God could facilitate. As I was learning about traditional publishers the same story kept coming back to me: "We will take your story but WE WILL find the illustrator" and I kept saying, NO, nobody knows this story better than Sheggy who has lived this story. My friend Ann read him my story and he immediately began to cry...he said this story was the story of his personal life. Sheggy was orphaned at a young age and was left with no parents or siblings from age 11! Imagine that? He began to draw to take the pain out of his heart and God gifted him with this talent that only can be explained as a gift from God. He has had no formal education and has never had an Art class. I am beyond blessed with his illustrations for this book.
This book is a wonderful tool for parents, grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, churches, schools, vacation bible school, community learning centers, libraries and children to read. They will get to know another way that most of the world lives and how difficult it is for them.
I have been blessed to travel to Tanzania 5 times since my first trip. I will be returning again in September. I continue to learn about how children/orphans/street children live and my heart continues to reach out to help them as much as I can.
If you choose to purchase this book, I will tell you that a portion of the proceeds will go to help "Sheggy" our illustrator so he can continue to lift up his dream of becoming an artist / musician and it will go toward helping with our many wonderful projects of Simple Hope.
Please consider purchasing a book at: www.authorhouse.com OR if you live in the Milwaukee Wisconsin area, contact me at: simplehope1@gmail.com and I can arrange to get you a copy.
This book is a wonderful teaching moment for you. Please help me to help others.
Blessings and peace ~
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Have you ever wanted to take part of a MISSION TRIP?
I am very excited to say that we at Simple Hope have organized 3 separate weeks for mission travel in March 2012 to experience what it is like to live, eat and work in Tanzania East Africa. We have finalized projects that will be our focus for three different mission weeks in Tanzania.
These trips have been meticulously planned by co-founders Pamela and Karen along with the partnership of our director in Tanzania! We have planned them to be meaningful both spiritually, mentally and physically. We will connect you to those children and adults that are looking forward to meeting YOU!!!
We will be focusing on construction projects for week 1 and 3. Our second week will include vocational training. We can provide in depth details for our trips if you are seriously considering joining us. Please email simplehope1@gmail.com for more details or to speak one on one about what it entails to join us.
We are very excited to share our work with you!
Blessings and peace ~
These trips have been meticulously planned by co-founders Pamela and Karen along with the partnership of our director in Tanzania! We have planned them to be meaningful both spiritually, mentally and physically. We will connect you to those children and adults that are looking forward to meeting YOU!!!
We will be focusing on construction projects for week 1 and 3. Our second week will include vocational training. We can provide in depth details for our trips if you are seriously considering joining us. Please email simplehope1@gmail.com for more details or to speak one on one about what it entails to join us.
We are very excited to share our work with you!
Blessings and peace ~
Sunday, June 19, 2011
The Brown Envelope!
As I was blessed this weekend to have a "work retreat" with Karen....we got to reminiscing about Tanzania and our recent trips to this country. First thing out of our mouths was just how very blessed we feel to be called to this mission field. Second thing as we sorted through notes, folders, writings, it became apparent that we kept finding the "brown envelope" that EVERYONE carries in Tanzania.
Here is what I mean. In our country, anything gets transported by some sort of bag. Papers get put into folders or binders which then go into a "briefcase" or computer. We have ways to get whatever paperwork we need to transport easily to its destination. Other items that need to get from point A to B go in any other sort of bag.
In Tanzania, people carry brown envelopes for everything. Our friend Elicana, came to meet us in March. He brought with him, a small notebook, his passport, and a few small papers and hidden under his Masai clothing was the "brown envelope" We asked him what he had in this envelope and he showed us that this goes with him anywhere he goes. It was very worn with the corners ripped and torn but it was his safe place for all his belongings.
Looking around and watching people that walk on the streets or in the market are brown envelopes. I imagine it is wonderful to have their "papers" tucked safe into this envelope? We just noticed that EVERYONE carries one with them in some capacity.
We decided in March that we should have "the brown envelope" as well so we purchased a couple to put our important documents in too. We put them in our purses and you know what? I always knew where my money was and where I could find my receipts.
Tanzanians have a wonderful idea with the "brown envelope" and we appreciate you showing us this small way to make our lives simple and uncomplicated. Keeping our "stuff" tucked into the brown envelope is now reminding us of our time in Tanzania and it is flooding back memories of how this important envelope is all they have!
We pray for you Tanzania everyday.
Blessings and peace ~
Here is what I mean. In our country, anything gets transported by some sort of bag. Papers get put into folders or binders which then go into a "briefcase" or computer. We have ways to get whatever paperwork we need to transport easily to its destination. Other items that need to get from point A to B go in any other sort of bag.
In Tanzania, people carry brown envelopes for everything. Our friend Elicana, came to meet us in March. He brought with him, a small notebook, his passport, and a few small papers and hidden under his Masai clothing was the "brown envelope" We asked him what he had in this envelope and he showed us that this goes with him anywhere he goes. It was very worn with the corners ripped and torn but it was his safe place for all his belongings.
Looking around and watching people that walk on the streets or in the market are brown envelopes. I imagine it is wonderful to have their "papers" tucked safe into this envelope? We just noticed that EVERYONE carries one with them in some capacity.
We decided in March that we should have "the brown envelope" as well so we purchased a couple to put our important documents in too. We put them in our purses and you know what? I always knew where my money was and where I could find my receipts.
Tanzanians have a wonderful idea with the "brown envelope" and we appreciate you showing us this small way to make our lives simple and uncomplicated. Keeping our "stuff" tucked into the brown envelope is now reminding us of our time in Tanzania and it is flooding back memories of how this important envelope is all they have!
We pray for you Tanzania everyday.
Blessings and peace ~
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Sunday June 12, 2011 YOU ARE INVITED.
Please join us at Shepherd of the Hills Church in Richfield Wisconsin at 6:30p.m. We are going to be sharing photo's and videos from our last mission trip, we will share with you how our projects are developing and how next year we will be leading groups with us to help serve the "least of the least" in Tanzania.
All are welcome, refreshments will be served and we hope to see you at this fun, casual evening.
Blessings and peace ~
All are welcome, refreshments will be served and we hope to see you at this fun, casual evening.
Blessings and peace ~
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Arusha Times News Article May 2011
By Happy Lazaro
SIMPLE HOPE DONATES FOOD TO ORPHANS
An American non-Government Organization knows as Simple Hope has donated food valued at Tshs.6.9 million to Matonyok Parents Trusts situated in Olasiti in Arusha City.
The donation was handed over by the Director of the Organization Mr. Charles Mpanda to the founders of the orphanage, Peniel Ndemno and Emmy Sitayo.
Mr. Mpanda, who is also a Councillor for Kaloleni Ward said that along with the food donation, the organization is also planning to construct a dormitory and to complete the construction of a classroom at the orphanage. Construction works will cost a total of Tshs 62 million.
The orphanage started in 2005 with few children and the number has risen to thirty five by May this year.
He said Simple Hope in Tanzania aims at assisting the orphans and the Hadzabe Community living on the shore of Lake Eyasi in Karatu District.
We Thank Charles Mpanda, Happy Lazaro and Peniel Ndemno and Emmy Sitayo for making this all work smoothly and effectively.
Blessings and peace ~
SIMPLE HOPE DONATES FOOD TO ORPHANS
An American non-Government Organization knows as Simple Hope has donated food valued at Tshs.6.9 million to Matonyok Parents Trusts situated in Olasiti in Arusha City.
The donation was handed over by the Director of the Organization Mr. Charles Mpanda to the founders of the orphanage, Peniel Ndemno and Emmy Sitayo.
Mr. Mpanda, who is also a Councillor for Kaloleni Ward said that along with the food donation, the organization is also planning to construct a dormitory and to complete the construction of a classroom at the orphanage. Construction works will cost a total of Tshs 62 million.
The orphanage started in 2005 with few children and the number has risen to thirty five by May this year.
He said Simple Hope in Tanzania aims at assisting the orphans and the Hadzabe Community living on the shore of Lake Eyasi in Karatu District.
We Thank Charles Mpanda, Happy Lazaro and Peniel Ndemno and Emmy Sitayo for making this all work smoothly and effectively.
Blessings and peace ~
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