Day 6 Recap (Community Day!)
For four days we learned the principles for how to help children understand their story, heal from trauma, and realize their worth. We talked about what this could look like out into action. We discussed how this can impact families and communities.
On Friday we saw the fruit of this program in real life.
We drove to an area of Harare called Epworth, where we had gone to church on Sunday morning. There is a saying that nothing good comes out of Epworth.
We sat outside in a dusty school yard with 200 students and their teachers. We were greeted with joy and smiles and bright, shining eyes. There were presentations from the students of poems about child abuse, poems about recognizing their worth, skits against abuse and child marriage. Parents gave testimonies about how their families are changing because of what they have learned through their RiverCross training.
Our hearts seemed to simultaneously break for the necessity of little children to learn poems about abuse and to fill with joy as the students declared they are precious and valuable.
Then we played! Some of us played soccer, some of us played yard games and dancing, all of laughing and smiling and playing as friends. Then we all enjoyed the same lunch like a family does.
We received letters from the students to take back to the students at Risen. Reading the letters we discovered they were personalized — like letters from one friend to another across the world.
I believe the saying is wrong. Something very good is coming out of Epworth.
The family of God is beautiful and good in its rich diversity of language, culture, and experience. We are overcome with thankfulness to see this richness there in a dusty school yard as we high-fived and danced for joy for being able to connect with our extended family.
Day 5 Recap
Today we finished the last day of the summit. In the morning we dug into the practicalities of running our own RiverCross clubs for adults or children. We put our heads together to brainstorm ideas and asked questions and learned from each other. We played “London Bridge is Falling Down,” which ends up being a bit of an arm workout when you have about 50 people running through your tunnel!
In the afternoon, after another time of dancing for our God in worship, we had a time of presentations. The group from the pastor’s training sang a song and shared some highlights from the teaching. Then we had skits covering the material in the audio dramas, poetry reading and song, and a choreographed dance to Behold What Love Can Do (the theme song of the audio drama). It was a powerful time of expression through the arts and of witnessing the image of God in beautiful creativity.
The summit closed with a presentation of certificates to each and every participant. Each participant has been empowered to take what they have learned and experienced and go love and serve the child or children God puts before them. The cheering rocked the house!
Prayer points:
⁃ That lives and communities would be transformed by God working through the participants as they go back to their communities and work.
⁃ Health for our team. A few people have cold symptoms.
⁃ Sustained energy. These have been long days!
⁃ Friday we go to visit the freedom club. Pray for relationships with the caregivers and a joyful time with the kids.
Day 4 Recap
Imagine a room full of people from Zimbabwe , Zambia, Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, and the United States talking with each other about the grief they experienced in their lives, how God has given hope in difficult times, and joyfully declaring that there is no other way but Jesus. If you can imagine that, you have a good picture of our day today at the summit.
Day 3 covers some heavy topics: grief and loss, healing from trauma, lament, and forgiveness. We were able to participate in several activities to help visualize God’s healing and encourage working together to allow healing in our lives and our communities.
The day wasn’t just about heavy topics — we also laughed a lot as we played a game and sang joyfully as we danced in worship. One highlight from today was when one of the summit participants taught us a funny dance during our tea break.
Meanwhile, the pastor’s training continued. Here’s a word from Mark: The second day of pastor’s training went really well! Today we got into some detailed work of how to move from the biblical text to creating a sermon. The pastors were receptive, curious, and joyful. We are looking forward to staying in touch over zoom through once a month trainings!
Prayer requests:
Focus and understanding for the last day of summit as we explore how to present this program in different contexts
That relationships would continue to grow, between our team and the participants and between those who work in the same areas or similar contexts
Energy and strength for our team as we continue to serve
Sarah
Day 3 Recap
Today was our second full day of the Summit. The focus of today was to break down the audio drama a little bit more by analyzing the way the caregivers in the story have built relationships, supported children in regulating their emotions, increased safety, developed God’s story, grown in understanding, and embraced rest. In doing this, the caregivers were able to practically see how to treat vulnerable children who have experienced trauma.
While caregivers were in one room, Mark was teaching and guiding pastors on how to teach God’s word in another. These pastors came in with curious minds and humble hearts. It’s very evident that God is at work in them and their specific communities here in Zimbabwe.
Day 3 tomorrow!!
Prayers you can pray:
- Hearts of the caregivers and pastors to continue to be molded and shaped by what they are learning and hearing during their time at the Summit
- Wisdom and discernment for Mark as he goes into day two of training and teaching pastors
- Strength, health, and energy for the Risen team as we continue to pour out and serve daily
Highs:
- Dancing during worship!!
- Playing a multitude of games with everyone - ranging from simon says to acting out a variety of emotions
- Learning more about the culture of Zimbabwe
- Getting to listen to people’s stories - and how their stories reflect how God has worked all things out for our good and His glory.
Amber
Day 2 Recap
Today was our first day of The Summit conference! We got to welcome 80+ caregivers!
The core of this training that we will be doing over the next few days is embedded within the story Bridge to Freedom, an audio drama designed to capture hardships that many children and communities face. Yet even in the face of extreme difficulty, there is hope that is found in Jesus as he equips us to build a BRIDGE to freedom and flourishing for one another. Our goal is to empower caregivers through this training and the resources so they can then help vulnerable children thrive.
In the midst of all the learning and conversations we were able to play some fun games to break down walls and connect even more with people.
Tomorrow is Day 2 of the Summit, where we will be able to take a deeper dive into the audio drama.
Prayer requests:
- We still have 3 more days of the conference and a lot to unpack with the caregivers so prayers that their eyes and hearts remain open to what God wants to do in and through them
- Words of wisdom and discernment for Mark tomorrow as he is teaching and working with preachers in the area
Highs:
- Everyone mentioned that getting to connect with people at our tables and debrief the audio dramas together was something we all enjoyed
Quote of the day:
“Dance for your God!”
Amber
Day 1 Recap
Today was our first full day in Zimbabwe!
We started the day by going to a local house church led by our dear friend Tino. He is a big partnership liaison with RiverCross and a local to Zimbabwe. We got the privilege to worship, listen to Gods word being spoken, and fellowship with the church members afterwards over some yummy pizza!
The rest of our day was spent setting up for The Summit conference that begins tomorrow. We took an empty room and transformed it to be able to put on a full conference in no time. This conference is to help equip and train caregivers on how to handle trauma in the lives of those they come in contact with.
We are excited to see how God moves, heals, and transforms as the week continues!
Prayers you can be praying:
- [ ] For everyone who comes to the conference to feel loved, welcomed, and a sense of belonging.
- [ ] For hearts and eyes to be open as they go through the training.
- [ ] For Pastor Mark and Nathan as they teach and minister to the local pastors.
Some highs that were mentioned from our team today were:
- [ ] Playing soccer with some kids from the church
- [ ] Worshiping together with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ
- [ ] The greeting we got when we came to church this morning
- [ ] Late luggage that finally arrived
- [ ] Seeing how each person on our team was so eager to help and use their gifts to serve and get things ready for the conference that begins tomorrow.
Amber
