A Song of Africa

Raining inMhlosheni

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Thelander) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 18:28:00 +0000

Only Together

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Thelander) — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 21:39:00 +0000

Wrote this song last year for CRCC and the Mhlosheni team. Hope you like it.

World AIDS Day

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:58:00 +0000

Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day. This year's theme is "Universal Access and Human Rights." Please remember those struggling with this disease, especially our dear ones in Mhlosheni, Swaziland!

Last flight!

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:36:00 +0000

Despite our weather mess, the team's last flight is underway and on
time at this point (Delta #2565 from Atlanta arriving at 11:15).
Here's evidence, just sent in from Reed...

Be safe as you travel about today. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...and
enjoy your loved ones' return! -Erin

Homeward Bound

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:16:00 +0000

Today the team begins their long journey home (they actually began while we were sleeping). Pray for "journey mercies," as the Swazis would say. If you are able, come out to the airport tomorrow morning to greet them: Tuesday, 11/23, Delta #2565 arriving from Atlanta at 11:11 a.m. (Check for possible delays with this crazy weather: www.flypdx.com.) The team no doubt has amazing stories to share...stories of need, hope, and the power of the Holy Spirit - and the human spirit. Be sure to seek out these stories and let them impact you! Thanks for sharing in the team's journey. -Erin

The Proverbs Women

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:00:00 +0000

Friday, November 19

In the morning, we met with an ASCA (Accumulated Savings and Credit Association) group. They allowed us to participate in making skin balm and floor polish, which they sell. With the proceeds, these entrepreneurs purchase additional supplies, earn money for household goods, assist orphans and vulnerable children and invest for the future.

After listening to the group of 17 women share about what they do and how it has impacted their families and community, I was reminded of Chapter 31 in Proverbs.

-Shana

13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchants; she brings food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it: with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. ESV

Troubled Days

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 21:33:00 +0000

Imagine that in your neighborhood, one of every 20 families is composed of children-just children, no parents, no guardians. Sounds outrageous, right? Now extrapolate this to the entire US-1 in every 20 families in the United States is a child headed household-this translates to tens of millions of families! This however is the reality in Mhlosheni, Swaziland, where 5 percent of households have no parents. The AIDS pandemic has reconfigured an entire generation in Mhlosheni and left children vulnerable and often at a loss on many levels. Today was the hardest day the team encountered, as we visited one such family.

There were four children that were living alone. But this family in particular was very alone. The children had no one to speak for them from extended family or from the community as they relayed to us how desperate their situation was. They were disconnected from their community, marginalized, and forced to pay for the actions of their parents-actions that apparently transcended the passing of their mother and father. Their deep humiliation at their isolation and was apparent and painful, and we felt it without the padding of the usual buffers we often encounter in our daily lives here in the US. But it wasn’t just the pain that was difficult to encounter, it was the blatant challenge to our sense of justice, to our sense of what God can or will do in this world.

In this world, we will encounter pain and injustice. This is a certainty; we only need to look just outside the inner or outer doors of our lives to confirm this. We cannot fix all of it, or wipe it away completely from our experience here on earth. What we can do is continue to advocate, giving voice to justice and helping out where God leads us.

Christ tells us we will encounter hard moments in life-John 16:33 states “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.”

Our team cannot fix the problem of child headed household here, but because we all felt that this family, in this place, needed us to advocate for them, we are doing what we can. We can all advocate in our homes, communities, our world, and when the opportunity is available, if we act on behalf of those who do not have a voice, we can help bring about a transformation. Transformation is what Christ intended for all of us.

-Angela

Sunday in Mhlosheni

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 14:09:00 +0000

Today is the team's last day in Mhlosheni. They started the day much as us, with a church service. Following worship, the team met with church leaders over lunch, something that each team has done. WV believes that mobilizing the church is a key component in addressing the issues that those in Mhlosheni face. Here is a quick note from Ruth, with a picture of our team and some of the church leaders and WV staff...

We just finished a wonderful worship service and meeting with some pastors and church leaders. Blessings to you all this Sunday. -Ruth

This afternoon, the team said good-bye to Mhlosheni and its lovely people. I have no doubt that our loved ones are ready to begin their journey home, but leaving this place is not easy. Tonight they will stay in Manzini before their last day in Swaziland.

ASCAs Photos (from Friday)

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 22:38:00 +0000

Here are some photos Ruth sent this morning from their activities yesterday with the ASCAs group. She said she tried to send them yesterday but was not successful.

1. ASCAs group

2. Filling floor polish containers

3. Cooking aloe peel and melting vaseline

4. Straining aloe syrup into vaseline

About today's visits with the sponsored children: "Another very long day. We all just got back from visits after about 10.5 hours. We may not accomplish a post until tomorrow but we will see." Say a prayer for them! -Erin

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Saturday in Mhlosheni

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 06:14:00 +0000

It's just after 10pm Friday night in Oregon as I write this, which makes it just after 8am Saturday morning in Swaziland. It is the day when our team visits their dear sponsored children. In my experience, this is one of those days in life that you never forget...seeing the beautiful faces that you've only seen in pictures, getting to know these dear ones and their families. Be praying for these sweet moments between our team members and their sponsored children. There will be moments of joy and hope, and also those of sadness. And then there are the good-byes... it will be a very bittersweet day indeed. Hopefully we'll receive word tomorrow with a bit more information...for now, say a prayer for these cherished times. Siyabonga...thank you. -Erin

Friday in Mhlosheni

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:52:00 +0000

Today the team visited with an Accumulated Savings and Credit Association, or ASCA. ASCAs groups are community members who pool their money in order to access credit from World Vision; it is a microfinance loan program. Previous teams have met with ASCAs groups who were producing a variety of goods for sale, from tote bags to skin cream to floor polish. Additionally, the team visited a child-headed household, which sadly, is just a way of life in Mhlosheni. With the high HIV/AIDS rate, there are many orphans, and oftentimes young children are managing households. Thankfully, with oversight from World Vision, these vulnerable children are looked after and provided the basic necessities of life.

Here's a post that just came in from Reed, via Ruth's BB (of course):

Just a quick update from today as it was both very long and highly
emotional; both ups and downs were felt as a result of things seen in
Mhlosheni. That said, we are seeing, we believe, what God needs us to see,
but this can be difficult at times. We are all well but need a little time
to process the experiences of the day. Look for full posts from Angela and
Shana tomorrow. Thanks so much for your prayers... As you pray for us,
please say a prayer for those in Mhlosheni who are in greater need than you
might be able to imagine.
-Reed

Melody of the Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:40:00 +0000

(This just came in via Ruth's BB...a recap of their Thursday in Mhlosheni, written by Shana...)

Our morning began to the soulful sounds of World Vision staff singing "When
I remember what the Lord has done, I won't look back anymore." (When the
Swazis sing, they repeat the song many times, to allow the words to sink
into the soul.). Little did we know it would be the first of several songs
that would form a sound track for our day.

From the ADP office, we visited a dairy project that provides milk for two
Hope centers that, together, serve 90 orphans and vulnerable children. We
distributed flip-flops, stuffed animals and suckers to the children at one
such center. They serenaded us with "Making Melody in My Heart," (a fun
song with lots of hand and body motions. Adults joined in, and we were
reminded through a child's song that regardless of our circumstances, we
can choose joy.

Our final stop was a water project, where a borehole well was recently
installed to provide a community with clean water. After joining our hosts
on a lengthy walk to the previous water source, we were appalled to see the
dirty rivulet that about 35 homesteads had shared with animals. (Only about
4 percent of Mhlolsheni households have access to clean water). As we were
saying goodbye, our new friends broke into dance and song, inviting us to
join them. It was a wonderful way to end out time, and we all left with
full hearts.

As we began our trip back to our lodging, the words on the radio were,
"Lean on me, when you're not strong. I'll be your strength; I'll help you
carry on." It was yet another fitting song, but I'm at a loss to say who is
in the position of strength. Perhaps we were meant to lean on each other.

-Shana

Thursday in Mhlosheni

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:24:00 +0000

Today in Mhlosheni, the team visited two livestock projects: dairy cows and goats. Reed sent a picture (via Ruth's BB) of a sustainable dairy project that feeds 90 orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) with just two cows. The November newsletter article described this sort of project in more detail. In the photo, you'll see Rob, a dairy farmer, Shana, and Pastor Shiba. Another Hope Center was visited as well. We have a picture of some of the team sharing toys and footwear. A water project was part of the day too, according to the WV schedule. Thank you for continuing to pray for the team - they are most likely experiencing a lot of thoughts and emotions that can be hard to know how to process. Prayers for their strength and unity are most appreciated! -Erin

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Wednesday in Mhlosheni

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:28:00 +0000

Today our Go Team has been out in the Mhlosheni ADP learning about what is going on there and extending the love of Christ. My post is a bit later today, as I have been waiting for a couple of photos from Reed (again, via Ruth's Blackberry). The team started the day by meeting the WV staff and community workers. Then they visited a Hope Center, which is sort of like a childcare center / preschool, and then they met with a chronically ill person and their caregiver and family. We (finally!) have a photo with our loved ones in it...please lift them up in your prayers today, as well as the WV staff who work so hard to better the lives of the people of Mhlosheni. -Erin

Also, here are some thoughts from Angela that just came in via Ruth's BB...

This will be a day we all will remember well. We will remember it in part because of the outstanding driving Bongenkosi did in order to get us places that were at the top of very muddy hills and out of some precarious driving moments. We will also remember it for the things we saw and learned. Today started out meeting the staff of Mhlosheni ADP. What an amazing amount of work they do! After sharing a wonderful worship service and hearing some very beautiful voices we visited a new Hope Center. The
Center, only a few weeks old, is serving 40 children from the community. We handed out flip flops, beanie babies, toy cars and sweets to a group of very little kids - between 1 and 5 years, and it was a real treat to see their smiles. Hope Centers really do provide hope, as they offer one assured meal, the beginning of a primary education and a place for the children of the community to gather safely.

We then travelled with one of the 60 or so Home Based Caregivers (HBC) to visit one of her 25 or so chronically ill patients. HBC's spend most of their day caring for the chronically ill in the community every day... on a volubteer basis. The HBC's were at times overwhelmed by the "mammoth task"
of caring for all their patients, but were also very hopeful. It was important for us to be with her so that we could learn about the realities they face daily in Mhlosheni. As we were in the home we also saw that it was important to the family members as they were encouraged by our arrival and comforted by the knowledge that there were real people with real compassion behind the support they receive. We learned that through compassion, generosity is activated and that through this generosity, the work of the Holy Spirit is done. Because of the compassion of a little church in Troutdale, the work of the Spirit is being done through World Vision in a little community in Mhloshen, Swaziland. -Angela

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Sights to See

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:44:00 +0000

A strange thing happens to me when I come to Africa: I tend to want to see a lot of things. After all there is so much to take in. There are new people, new cities and towns, new countrysides, and new aspects of God's beautiful and variegated creation to take in.

In all of this newness I actually noticed myself getting a little selfish. It happened simply and quite naturally really; I suppose that's the case because down deep I can just want what I want when I want it. I even tend to wrap up such selfisheness in spiritual garb sometimes. It was like this when I prayed during one of our drives in "The Kruger." We had seen many beautiful things already but I wanted to see what I wanted to see so I prayed a silly little prayer that went something like "Lord, give me eyes to see a leopard!" Yep, that's actually what I prayed.

Guess what?

I never did see that leopard... And I'm glad.

Somewhere along the way of not seeing what I wanted to see, I ended up hearing what I - what we on the trip and all of us in the church - needed to hear. It came quietly to me in one of those still small voice kind of moments: "It isn't what you want to see that is important, Reed, it is what I need you to see that is."

I needed that. We all need that. Imagine a world where the followers of Christ saw the needs he sees and the pathways to hope he offers. Imagine a world where we simply prayed every day asking the Lord to help us see what he needs us to see so that we can give or forgive, or listen or share, or heal and receive healing as he directs.

That's what we want as a team here, to see what he needs us to see for the good of the people of Mhlosheni and for the healing of the selfishness that we all struggle with.

Please pray for us that we would have eyes to see what He needs us to see... And as you do this, pray for yourself in this way, too, for the good of your world there! In this I pray that we all will be nudged toward the ends God desires.

"Whenever someone has a ready heart the insights and and understandings flow freely..." Matthew 13:12

Opening our eyes with you,
Reed

(via Ruth's Blackberry to Erin)

Off the Grid

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:52:00 +0000

I received word from Reed this morning via Ruth Nottingham's (WV) Blackberry that they have been moved to a different lodge and have no cell or data service. So, it is unlikely that we will hear directly from them prior to leaving Swaziland. I will send out updates with their activities for the day in the ADP (this schedule was provided by WV prior to their departure). They are in safe hands, just off the grid for now! -Erin

Tuesday in Mhlosheni

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:29:00 +0000

Today our Go Team crossed into Swaziland! After some orientation at the World Vision National Office in Mbabane, they traveled to Nhlangano, the nearest town to the Mhlosheni Area Development Project (ADP). They will meet with some local Mhlosheni ADP World Vision staff for a bit more orientation and then settle into their hotel. This will be their "home" for the next week while they are in the ADP each day. Internet and cell service is limited in this area, so we're not sure how much we'll hear directly from them. I will provide daily updates of their ADP activities so you can picture what they're doing. Ruth Nottingham, our local (Portland) WV rep is now with them also. Please keep them all in your prayers!

The Kruger

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 08:01:00 +0000

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Our day began with a seven hour drive to Kruger National Park (called “The Kruger” by locals.) Once we unloaded all of our luggage (114 soccer balls, 7 pumps, 200+ pairs of flip flops, 114 t-shirts, assorted candy and other gifts take up quite a bit of room!), we were ushered into an open-air truck for a game drive. Giraffes, kudu, impalas, elephants, guinea fowl, and vervet monkeys were just some of the magnificent creatures that made up our evening entertainment. We witnessed two lions mating, followed by an incredible display of the male lion roaring. Shortly afterward, we watched a group of baboons migrating toward their evening resting spot in the safety of trees. Our group is now safely in our resting place, and it’s a good thing, as we’ll be headed out on a 4 am drive to (hopefully) see some of the more nocturnal animals. We’ll have one more night in a more remote area of Kruger, then on to Swaziland!

Our group is doing well, tired but in good health and spirits. We are using this time to team-build and acclimate both to the time and cultural differences, so that we may be fully “present” during our time with Mhlosheni ADP. (As a side-note to those who may not be familiar, all team member pay individually for the costs associated with this beginning part of our trip, rather than using money generated by fundraising efforts.)

Monday, November 15, 2010

Our guide, Basil, picked us up bright and early this morning for coffee and dry biscuit prepared by our camp cooks, PJ and Surprise. We were able to see a pack of hyenas, more giraffes, elephants, rhinos and dung beetles. We have a quick break to pack our things and post this, before moving to our next camp.

This will likely be our last post until after our Mhlosheni ADP visit is complete, as we don’t expect to have internet access. However, we will be preparing those updates and look forward to sharing them with you at our first opportunity. Until then, we love you all, and thank you for your prayers and support!

See the full gallery on posterous

- Shana

Land of Signs

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 21:30:00 +0000

“The infectious spread of apartheid into the smallest details of daily
life made South Africa into a land of signs” Ernest Cole

Greetings from the Outlook Lodge in Jo’berg! We all managed
to get a decent sleep last night and were able to enjoy our first day here-a
small but significant blessing, as we were given much to think about today. But
first, a bit about the place we are staying. The Lodge, actually a larger
house, is located in a fairly quiet suburban setting, and is quite lovely. We were greeted upon our arrival here with a
warm summer like evening and the sounds of several exotic sounding birds. Our host and engaging house manager here,
Francois, has helped make our stay relaxing and seamless-another small but
significant blessing for a bunch of nearly jet lagged stragglers like us. Many thanks Francois!

Today we spent the early part of the day learning about the
landscape of Soweto, a township in Johannesburg (The name Soweto is actually an
acronym that actually means south west township so-we-to). Our guide, S’nothile
(pronounced Snow-tilly) schooled us in the past and present of Soweto. It is very much a work in progress, partly due
to the residual effects of apartheid. Apartheid
has only been abolished since 1994, with the first democratic election held that
year. Apartheid has been a part of the
social landscape for decades, and has in turn devastated the physical landscape
and the effect on the people has been exponential. To get a feel for this, we spent the later
part of the day at the Apartheid Museum. One of
the exhibits we saw was based on a book entitled House of Bondage by Ernest Cole - one of the long chain of individuals
who helped move South Africa into a democratic state.

The quote at the beginning of this post is from Cole’s book,
and refers to all the signs that were posted in front of one store front alone.
Signs dictating to black South Africans where they could eat, go to the
bathroom, stand and a multitude of other instructions for people who were
clearly not acceptable to others. The
part of the quote stating that the state had become a “land of signs” had me
wondering how often as Christ’s representatives we make our own lives into a
land of signs. How often do we, without
realizing it much of the time, put people around us into categories that are
inferior to ourselves in some way? How
often do we place others at the back of the bus, based on a perception? I think the answer, at least for me, is “too
often”.

We will be learning more as we go, and hopefully by the end,
be more humble than the day we arrived. Until
our next post, as they say in siSwati “Salani Kahle”-Stay Well. We’ll be home soon.

Angela

they've arrived

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:22:00 +0000

I just received a call from Reed that they have arrived safe-and-sound in Johannesburg. They do not have internet at their hotel so are unable to post, but they should be able to receive calls. Please keep them in your prayers!

And we're off!

noreply@blogger.com (Reed Mueller) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:34:00 +0000

Well the team got through security and we are ready to head out, taking with us the heart of our congregation for Mhlosheni and her people.

Please pray that God would keep our hearts open to what he wants to teach us. Please pray that the Lord would help us listen to his children in Swaziland with alert ears so that our whole congregation might be challenged in our faith by the faith they live out every day. Finally, please pray for our families as we leave them here.

Songs of Africa

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Thelander) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:48:00 +0000

The 2009 "Go Team"is back and they've brought some awesome gifts. I can't wait til their story gets told in greater detail this coming Sunday.

But for now, Phillip Pearson -- intrepid team photographer and audiographer -- has given us a number of sound clips and images with variations of the "Song of Africa." They were captured in the midst of the African winter... just two weeks ago in Swaziland.

Thanks, Phillip, for bringing back these sounds and images. Looking forward to more!

Another Journey Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Thelander) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Yesterday around 7:00 AM our 2009 Mhlosheni team took off for Swaziland. I'm stuck in a bit of limbo -- remembering the experiences of the 2007 Team's visit and waiting for the new memories and images the current team will bring to us. Even the image at the top of this post reflects this limbo: It shows our first African sunrise in 2007, yet I know the 2009 Team has already seen their first African sunrise on this long journey.

Pastor Reed forwarded a message a while ago he'd like to share with all of you:

Just got off the phone with Erin. The whole team is doing fine, though 'the guys' didn't feel well on the first flight. No major issues though. They are resting in their hotel after their marathon flight. Anyway, Erin wanted me to update you all.

...on the docket tomorrow is a 6:45am pickup (it's 11:45pm now) for a five or six hour van ride to Kruger. Should be a good chance for them to see the countryside and catch some z's too. Then tomorrow afternoon they will have their first game drive. That will open their eyes - as it should - to the wonder of God's imagination and creativity... It will also prepare them for the contrast of the stark realities of Mhlosheni when they arrive there a few days later.

As our Swazi friends like to say, "Journey mercies" on our Mhlsoheni team. Peace be with you all!

While I Was Sleeping

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Thelander) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:00:00 +0000

For the tenacious readers who followed A Song Of Africa over the last few years it might seem like I’ve dropped off the face of the earth. My apologies. The day I wrote the last post on this blog – October 31, 2008 – I learned that I was being laid off from Inspiration Software.

This news threw me into a bit of a tailspin, coming as unexpectedly and as suddenly as it did.

I've since taken a role at Tripwire, one of the industry leaders in network security, file integrity monitoring, and configuration management. (Say that 10 times fast!) It’s a great position with a great company. I’ve been busy learning the ins and out s of the business over the last 60 days. But I realize I’ve taken my eye off the ball.

I found a news story today who’s title says it all: SWAZILAND: AIDs Epidemic Shows no Signs of Stopping. You can read the story through the link, but here are the highlights (or the lowlights if you will):

· In 1992 the HIV infection rate among pregnant women was 3.9%

· By 2002 the HIV infection rate among the same group had climbed to 38.4%

· The rate stabilized peaked in the 2004 study but declined slightly in 2006.

. The most recent study, for 2008, shows HIVW infection rates among pregnant women as climbed back to 42% -- an increase of 3% in just one year

I encourage you to read the linked stories. Take them in and make them a part of your day-to-day existence. Think about them on your way to work or school.

If you can, personalize these stories and make them real by adding faces and names to them. When I read them I think if the wasting Nokuphila, who a little over a year ago thanked me for my concern over the son she’d lost to AIDs. I remember how she was struggling with HIV herself, and how tragic it seemed to me.

It's not about feeling bad, or even about sending more money to our World Vision partners... though that always helps. It's about caring enough to tell everyone you know that your family in Mhlosheni is in trouble and needs your help.

For my part, now that I've woken from my long slumber I'll try to pay more attention.

A Tale of Two Countries

noreply@blogger.com (Michael Thelander) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:32:00 +0000

I stumbled across an article today because the title caught my eye. SWAZILAND: A Tale of Two Countries details the astonishing imbalance of wealth in Swaziland, a country in which the richest 10% countrol over 50% of the country's income. It cites this imbalance as an indicator of "inequality worse than in Brazil or South Africa, and beaten only by Namibia."

There's a lot of rhetoric flying around this election season about whether or not "spreading the wealth around" is a good thing or a bad thing. Some see it as a moral imperative, called for by Amos and Isaiah and Jesus. Some see it as a brutal attack on Amercia's core principles of democracy and capitalism. Some have hissed the "s-word" -- socialism -- and tried to stoke the fires of fear.

As always, I don't think it's as simple as "this or that." I think, here in my small, out-of-the-way blog, that God's reign begins with both philosophies working in tight harmony. The empowerment of capitalism, it's promise of enriching those who find solutions to the problems that plague us, must be embedded in a deep and abiding love for the "least of these" that transcends economics or politics.