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Bidi Bidi - A Settlement of 270,000 Refugees - What can we do?

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  I promised you in my update last month that I would share Part 2 of my experience in northern Uganda this month, related to the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement. So here it is. Bidibidi was opened in August 2016, 10 years to the day of when I visited it last month. It opened to accommodate a massive influx of refugees fleeing the civil war in South Sudan. While it is being huge 250 sq km in size, it reached its capacity of 280,000 people in just 4 months by December that year, making it one of the largest refugee settlements in Africa and the world. Today, over 270,000 refugee are still there. I wanted to visit it because I had been to Omugo, a neighbouring refugee camp, in 2017 with World Vision. It was one of my most memorable experiences of my time with WV. As I watched the new arrivals get off the bus, I was struck by the women carrying their life possessions on their head, and the men bringing a goat or 2 as they went to their designated tent. All I could think about was I wonder...
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It was an Experience I won't soon forget!

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  These last few weeks have been quite an experience. One I won't soon forget. I went to northern Uganda for a 3 week acclerated training program about a community development model called Community Health Evangelism, known as "CHE." It's a Global network of Christians serving in over 4,000 villages in more than 130 countries worldwide. Its mission is to work alongside communities and local churches to impact the lives of children, families and communities by empowering them to address both physical and spiritual needs in an integrated way.  We met every day from 8 am until 6 or 7 in the evening, learning the program to equip us to become a "Trainer of the Trainers". I was learning it so I can come alongside some of our global workers in Africa who run ChildCARE Plus programs to help them integrate it with church-based community work, enabling us to broaden our impact, not just for the children but their families and communities as well. It has been quite th...
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The New Role has Begun

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  A couple of weeks ago I shared that God had opened a new door for me to continue to serve in missions by joining the Africa & Middle East Region Team of PAOC Mission Global. The role has begun! I'm back in Tanzania ... ready to work, ready to serve! While I unoffically started working several weeks ago, it feels good to be back home in Mwanza. There's nothing like being in the heart of the ministry. You may be wondering "What are the first things on your to do list"?  Here's 3 Top Priorities:  1. Getting to Know the Region's People & Programs 2. Participating in Africa ChildCARE Plus (CCP) Workshops 3. Supporting the Region through Leadership Tranisition First, I want to begin to know the global workers and programs in region. While I know many of them already, there many more with whom I have not yet engaged. I'm excited to see the expanded reach and diversity of global workers, partners and ministry in the AME region. Second, partnering with E...
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Update: A Door has Opened - A New Role in Missions!

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  I'm SO happy to share with you today. God has opened a new door for me to continue to serve Him in Missions in Africa!   I have joined the PAOC Africa & Middle East Regional Team! I'm so excited. This new role means I will be able to continue to: Follow my passion to serve vulnerable children Remain in PAOC Mission Global as a Global Worker Stay in Tanzania and support local ministry there, and Take on new responsibilities to serve the entire region!   Here's what I will be doing:  1. Co-ordinate and Support Mission Global initiatives Support regional and local initatives in 14 Sub-Sahara Africa countries and several more in difficult contexts in North Africa and the Middle East and engage in strategic planning focused on: Reaching the unreached   Caring for the most vulnerable    2. Care for Vulnerable Children and Communities  Partner with ERDO ChildCARE Plus (CCP) to provide child and community program support, monitor initiatives and bui...
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Important Update: Change is Underway (please read)

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I have some important news to share with you. Over the last year, I’ve been sensing in my spirit that some type of change is in the air. It is hard to describe, because I can’t even fully describe why I felt that way, but little things seemed to indicate change was around the corner. If you’ve ever experienced something like this, you know what I mean. Over the holidays, after a lot of prayer and consideration, and with a deep sense of peace, I made the decision to resign from VOH, effective end of this month. I’ve had an amazing time at VOH and will ever be grateful for the experiences gained during my time here. I’ve seen the impact the ministry is having on the lives of so many children first-hand, and there’s nothing like working from a desk and hearing the laughter of children in the background! It brings me such joy! (I think you know what I mean by some of my updates!)  It has been a wonderful chapter of my life! Yesterday was the last day at the VOH Tanzania location. It to...
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Go Tell It on the Mountain!

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  Merry Christmas!!   Our Christmas gift to you ... a video of VOH children from  Burundi, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia & Zimbabwe  singing the classic Christmas carole about sharing the Good News that Jesus Christ is born! May the joy in their singing, the confidence in their dancing, and hope in their hearts bring a smile on your face.   This is what VOH is all about!  Go Tell It on the Mountain! VOH Kids Singing "Go Tell it on the Mountain - Watch the Video Now!Watch the Video Now - Click May you have a blessed Christmas full of His love, peace and joy in your life and in the lives of those you love. Much love, Jeanette
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VOH Africa is Expanding!

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  VOH Africa is expanding!  We're getting ready to launch a new VOH Centre in Bulowayo, Zimbabwe!  The VOH Africa lead team, including me, visited the new location to give training about VOH Africa, our vision, mission, values and  programs. My role was to do the training on key standards and accountability measures to operate a VOH Centre.  What a fantastic week ... to see the energy and enthusiasm of the new leaders and volunteers. And to see the tremendous need. On the first day, we went to a location about 3 hrs from the city to see the potential new site. The government is gifting us land to start the Centre there. The community is one of the neediest in the country. Much drought exists, and the community is full of "go-go's" (grandmamas) looking after their grandchildren whose parents have passed away or moved to neighbouring countries to try to find work. We shared ideas, dreamed together and laughed together - all under a huge tree. I was so impressed wi...
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