Bulembu or Bust!

My bags are packed, and I’m … Well, ok, my bags aren’t packed yet, but I am ready to go! And I’m excited to officially announce that I’m going to Bulembu! My dear friend, Monique (from Holland), and I are going to Bulembu, Swaziland with a group of people, who will be led by Scott Campbell, Director of Development for Bulembu International. I leave Indianapolis on March 13 and head to Amsterdam where I pick up Monique. Together we’ll fly (for 12 hours) to Johannesburg on the 14th. After arriving, we’ll take about 24 hours to recover (and we’ll need it) before we meet up with the rest of the team and make our way to Bulembu. Our trip will last for seven days and will include time spent in the orphanage, working in the community enterprise and community care systems and for me, doing lots and lots of writing. I will head back to Indianapolis on the 24th of March, stopping in Amsterdam to drop off Monique. (Don’t worry – we’ll land first. I won’t just push her out of the plane as we pass over Amsterdam!)

There are still many details I don’t know as of yet but I am beyond excited! And I am over-the-top humbled by this opportunity! No, I still don’t have the money I need to pay for the trip. I still need about $1800 but I have no doubt that God will provide a way. To start, I will make a presentation to the Mission Resource Team at my church this Sunday. It is possible I may receive some support funds from this group. (Your prayers going into this presentation are appreciated!) Even if the funds aren’t available, I know I’ll have their prayers, and that means more to me than anything else! I have had some wonderful surprises in the form of checks arriving here and there from dear friends who have offered to help. I am eternally thankful for their generosity! I continue to try to find other fundraising avenues (and am always open to suggestions!).

I have heard many times that people often go into mission trips thinking they will change the people they meet along the way when in fact, it is they who come home changed forever. I’m not sure why but I have never once considered that I will enter Bulembu thinking that I will change or “save” someone. I do hope to be salt and light for these people I have come to love (even though I don’t even know them yet). But I know even before I go that I am the one who will be forever changed. Whatever I am able to teach them, I pray that it is a glory to God. And whatever they are able to teach me, I pray I go with open eyes and ears, and that I am able to come back and tell the rest of the world through the written word. I know of no other reason for me to go.

Bulembu

Journey to Bulembu

Anytime our church had a guest who spoke on the topic of going into the world’s mission fields, I was always the one person who would slink down into the pew as far as I could (without actually hitting the floor) so that God couldn’t see me. I was always petrified that He would call me to become a missionary, and that was the last thing on my “things that sound like fun” list. While I admired missionaries, I always did so from a distance; to make sure whatever they had wouldn’t rub off on me.

As a writer, I felt just fine telling the stories of other people who were doing God’s work in the mission fields from the comfort of my own couch. I justified it as my own little mission field, doing God’s work from a laptop and in my pajamas. But then I was introduced to Bulembu.

Many of you have read my blogs about the tiny town in Swaziland. I’ve written about Bulembu’s plight on numerous occasions for nearly a year now, and telling their story has become a passion for me. Much of my work has consisted of spreading the word in order to generate support for various fundraising efforts such as Voices for Bulembu, the charity of the Canadian Tenors. And now I am blessed with an opportunity to go into the mission field that is Bulembu and serve the people of this town.

I will get to spend seven days working in the various communicate care and community enterprise systems, especially and including the orphanage and children’s intake and welcome center, where Bulembu’s most vulnerable and fragile orphans are cared for. I will also be writing various articles, continuing to tell the story of the work that is being done and the hope that is being restored.

The Bulembu Foundation is a not for-profit organization serving Jesus Christ by restoring hope to the people of Swaziland through community enterprise and community care. That is their mission. My mission is to go there to be among the people and learn as much as I can; minister to them while there and then return home to continue to tell their story through the written word to give hope to other people and nations.

I have been called, and I willingly accept the invitation. But, I am unable to go without financial assistance. I am now doing my own fundraising for this purpose and am praying for the resources to come through. If it is God’s desire for me to go – and I believe it is – I will have what I need.

I will be blogging about this Journey to Bulembu, no matter the outcome. I pray you’ll come along with me as I share my fears, frustrations, joys, triumphs and so much more from now until the trip, which will take place in March. And I will continue the blog while I’m in Bulembu. I’d love to hear your thoughts along the way. Ask questions, share comments. Let’s take this Journey to Bulembu together!

Voices From Bulembu: Darryn de Souza

It’s been a couple of weeks since the Canadian Tenors returned from their second trip to Bulembu, a tiny town in the Kingdom of Swaziland. This trip was designed to show the progress that’s been made in the two years since their last visit, since they threw their support behind the Bulembu Foundation as ambassadors through Voices for Bulembu.

Their newly appointed Musical Director, Darryn de Souza, joined the Tenors on this trip. It was his first visit, and by the emotion projected in his voice, it won’t be his last. When I asked him what he felt upon reflection, he replied with one word: Humbled. Darryn said he was touched most by the children. These were children whom they had never met but were greeted as if they had been life-long friends. Despite the trauma these children had lived through, they were still happy to have these visitors from North America. And the feeling was apparently mutual as Darryn described how they all had to be pulled away from the children at the end of each day. And each day found them all wanting to spend every spare minute in the baby nursery or with the older children.

Darryn and the Tenors actually started their trip to Africa by visiting the Maasai Mara region of Kenya on a Me to We trip and helped to build an orphanage, working with the organization Free the Children. A Voices for Bulembu fundraising concert in Pretoria, South Africa and safari were on the agenda before their stop in Bulembu. As Darryn and I spoke about the beauty of the natural landscape and the awe-inspiring wildlife they saw, he noted that very few of the animals were ever alone. It reminded him of the children in the orphanage in Bulembu who were starting to understand what the Foundation was providing for them, an opportunity for them to allow other kids and other people to come into their lives, to make friends and have companionship.

So many of these youngsters have seen nothing but violence and have been victims of violence. Many come to the orphanage not trusting but once they begin to understand that they can receive the good things that come with loving relationships without punishment, they begin to blossom and learn to trust without barriers.

For Darryn, his visit to Bulembu was a life-changing event. In his own words: “When I touched some of those kids, the feeling was electric. I could not recreate that feeling with anyone I met except those children. When we were playing (music) for those kids, I could have played all night. The music suddenly became more important. Being there and giving something that’s not monetary, that’s the most important thing. They made us feel so much better than we could have ever made them feel.”

Darryn says there is no better way to support a child than to support the Bulembu Foundation because the Foundation finds a way to provide a better way of life.

We are less than two weeks away from the final Voices for Bulembu fundraising concert. That means less than two weeks for the fan fundraiser. Won’t you join Darryn and the Canadian Tenors and Raise YOUR Voice for Bulembu?

Darryn de Souza, mountains of Bulembu, Swaziland

Voices for Bulembu: Tales from Mozambique

I met Debora Hoeksema through Facebook because we both happened to be Canadian Tenors fans. It wasn’t long before we discovered our bond went deeper through a passion for helping orphans. Together, we developed the Canadian Tenors fan site and have worked on Raise YOUR Voice for Bulembu, a fan-based fundraising initiative in support of the Tenors’ efforts through Voices for Bulembu. Today, Debora shares what she experienced on her own mission trip to an orphanage in Mozambique. It is but a glimpse of what the Tenors have seen and will see when they return to Bulembu in August.

Debora, the floor is yours.

Who hasn’t seen those heartfelt commercials on TV of children in Africa, orphaned by AIDS or war? I must have been about seven or eight years old when I first saw one of those commercials and told my parents that I wanted to go to Africa to help those children. They were the words of a little girl, but I did think back to them when I stepped on a plane to help out in an orphanage in a rural area of Africa last January.

Over the years I had read so much about the continent – its problems and culture – that I felt prepared and ready for my adventure.  A bit naïve I know now. The hardship the people of Africa have to endure is something people from the Western world could never imagine. How could I ever be prepared to see people starve for food, or mothers walking 30 KM in 50 degrees Celsius to the orphanage to get some powder milk because malnutrition has not given them enough milk to breastfeed? How could I ever be prepared to see a baby die?  But most of all how could I ever be prepared to see children and people who were so joyful and happy despite the difficult lives they lead.

Ruama, the orphanage, where I worked for three weeks, is in Mozambique and home to 50 children. The children are usually placed in the orphanage when they are very young, some of them only a couple of hours old. All of these children lost their mother, and some of them also don’t have a father anymore. At the house they are in the good care of local women who raise these children with the culture and customs of the area, so they can adapt better when they are placed back with their father or other relatives. A question I have heard many times when telling the story of my time at Ruama is, “Why would they place those children back with their relatives and let them grow up in poverty?” The answer to that question is one that shows the strength and character of the African people; for them family is the most important, and not sharing what little they have with an orphaned niece or nephew is not an option.

And they don’t only share with their family. I was only in Africa for three days when the pastor of the orphanage invited me to listen to his sermon that Sunday and come to lunch at his house after church. I accepted his offer, partly because I was curious what his life would look like, and partly because I knew that refusing this offer would be very offensive to him and his family. His house was nothing more than a pile of wood. His wife and children were awaiting my arrival inside. They had borrowed a table and chairs and plates. And I had to sit in the best seat. And if I wasn’t feeling awkward enough, I was offered a drink: A bottle of Coca Cola. That doesn’t seem terribly impressive when you we buy them in bulk without thinking about it. But how would you feel if you knew that one bottle of Coca Cola cost him more than 50% of his monthly income? That one little, insignificant bottle of Coca Cola was a big eye opener for me. I recognized that the people that hardly have anything are the ones capable and willing of sharing the most.

Ever since I came back from Africa, I have been trying to find ways to become more giving and motivate others to do so too. The great thing is that you don’t have to think big. Start by thinking about the little bottle of Coca Cola. Something small for us is something big for the people in Africa. So consider for one day, don’t buy that meal at McDonald’s or that delicious Frappucino at Starbucks. Instead use that money to make a change for a deserving person, family or town.

Lately I have been involved with a charity called the Bulembu Foundation. Bulembu is a town in Swaziland that once was deserted because of high unemployment. But with the help of a group of entrepreneurs, the town is going to be restored, giving hope and a life to more than 2000 people by the year 2020. A feasible goal that is backed up by celebrity ambassadors the Canadian Tenors. Besides being great artists, they are also great human beings who use their talent to give back to those not as fortunate and prosperous as themselves.  The Canadian Tenors will be returning to Bulembu in August to check on the progress that has been made since their last visit. I am pretty sure they will be seeing a lot of the hardships I witnessed in Mozambique. Progress is being made but it is slow. However, like myself they have been touched by the happiness, determination and generosity of the people there. And even though their effort is admirable they can’t do it on their own. Wouldn’t it be great if all of us would step up and show the people of Bulembu that, far away in a world they can only dream about, there are people who care about them?

If you wish to make a difference, start by clicking on the banner below. You will be redirected to the Bulembu restore website, where you can make a donation starting as low as one dollar. The Canadian Tenors are doing all they can through the Bulembu Foundation and Voices for Bulembu to make a difference in the lives of the citizens of Bulembu. Won’t you consider joining this team and give hope to a nation that needs it?

Voices for Bulembu: A Conversation with Fraser Walters

What do you want for your birthday? A new car? An iPOD? Want to celebrate with a big party and lots of friends; indulging in cake, ice cream and whatever else is your fancy? These are the images we conjure when we in the western world think of birthday celebrations.

Two years ago, Fraser Walters of the Canadian Tenors, had what could arguably be one of his best birthdays yet. And it was also one of the most emotionally challenging for him. Fraser marked the occasion of his birth in Bulembu, Swaziland with fellow Tenors, Remigio Pereira, Victor Micallef, former member, Jamie McKnight, and the children of the local orphanage. (Current member, Clifton Murray, will make his first visit to Bulembu when the Tenors return there in August.)

“I couldn’t imagine a better (birthday) gift than to sit there for several hours with these kids,” he said of the occasion.

And sit there for a few hours is exactly what he did, bouncing children on his lap, playing guitar and singing with them. It’s that experience that has brought new meaning to birthdays for him since he made his first visit to the town the Tenors have vowed to help transform.

Bulembu has been ravaged by massive unemployment since 2001 when the main employer left town. Add to that the highest prevalence of AIDS in the world, and you’ve got the makings of devastation beyond measure; devastation the Tenors saw firsthand.

When I visited with the Tenors a couple of weeks ago, I asked Fraser what his most joyful and painful experiences were while in Bulembu. He reflected that both occurred on the same day, which happened to be his birthday.

“You sort of cycle through what it means to have a birthday, and what we usually associate with that,” he said. “You see the full spectrum of what they have, which is literally nothing in terms of materialistic things or even family structure. But they have an incredible amount of joy.”

Seeing the joy that emanates from the community and family that remains is what helped Fraser put things in perspective. He told me of some boys who had a small bag of dirt tied together with a string.

“They were throwing that thing around (as a toy) all day,” he said with a pensive smile. “They were taking pleasure in the small things. Seeing that, you learn to not take anything for granted.”

While every day had its own inspiration, it also had its own heartbreak. There was a dramatic contradiction of expression that flowed from Fraser as he admitted to an emotional journey during his time there. His eyes reflected the ache he clearly feels over the conditions the citizens of Bulembu wake up to daily. While he is always mindful of what they are going through, his face lit up when he told me about the time he spent with the children, including the concert where they performed with a children’s choir.

His biggest smile came when he spoke of a surprise they received during the show.

“We had this impromptu intermission where the women came to us in their traditional garb and asked if they could do a dance for us,” he said, beaming. “While they were doing their dance, some men in the back of the room went to their homesteads and gathered their traditional garb. They came back and danced for us when the women finished. It was mind-blowing! Those types of experiences are just incredible.”

Fraser insists the power of music is what helped break down barriers and allowed for the unplanned entertainment, adding that each of the Tenors believe in the idea of giving back one way or another.

“Music, for me, has always been a medium to share on a greater level,” he said. “We’re just realizing those dreams, collectively, as we go.”

Perhaps that’s why it seems apropos that the Canadian Tenors sing “Instrument of Peace”, for that is their mission. Conflicted in the ongoing struggle they know the people of Bulembu cannot escape yet, but confident in raising their voices to bring the hope of a future; one of healing, prosperity and peace.

Join us on Monday when we have a conversation with Remigio Pereira. In the meantime, please click on the banner to learn how you can Raise YOUR Voice for Bulembu on behalf of the Canadian Tenors.