Mocha Club Project Updates

GUEST BLOG: 'A Life-Changing Trip' by Shay Sanderson

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:43:00 PST

Editor’s Note: Shay Sanderson was on our Mocha Club Ethiopia trip #3 from July 17th-26th, 2008.

As I prepared for my trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I tried to imagine what I would encounter. I envisioned a people of poverty and loss; a country with limited resources and dire situations. When I arrived in July, I realized my visions were tainted by my American way of thinking. Don’t get me wrong – these people do face poverty and loss. They don’t have a lot of things – but they have hope. They have love. They have a smile and a happiness that comes from something greater than the sum of their being. They have a faith in God that many cannot understand.

As we spent time loving the people and learning their culture, I realized something. As an American, I tend to see things very black and white. I like to think that there is room for gray, but I rarely open myself up to the possibility of a third color. While I was there and since I have returned home, God has continued to open my eyes to the possibilities of His love. He does not see two or even three colors, God sees every color-every spectrum of the rainbow.

Many others have talked about the street boys of Ambo. The time we spent with those boys was heartbreaking, to say the least. But it was also a joyful time. Watching them care for each other in a way that is indescribable really stayed with me. I only hope that as a generation, we can teach others to care for one another the way those boys do. They took the time to see that the other had food, clothing, a place to sit. It was remarkable! I know that it may seem second nature to be aware if someone has food-but when you have no parents to teach you those things, and you have no one else to rely on but yourself – it was a blessing to see!

Throughout the trip, and even before, I felt God leading me to do something to help these kids-something more permanent than spending 2 weeks with them in July. On our trip, we got to hang out with the children at a few orphanages. While we were there, I really felt God calling me to adopt. The more I would stand there and take in their surroundings, the more I could hear His voice. After many nights of talking, crying, praying, and journaling, I was sure about what I had to do. When I returned home, I immediately found an adoption agency and started the adoption process. I can’t wait to actually hold my own child and know that I have helped one-for now anyway ;)

One of my favorite quotes is, “I will go to my grave with the life that I gave.” And that is what I want to do. I want to give my life to help the lives of others. Through this trip, I really feel that I connected with a group of people that love purely, with no pre-conceived notions of what is in it for them. And each day I strive to become that person!

If you are interested in my adoption process or how you can help, you can email me at sunshineshay20[at]hotmail[dot]com or check out my website www.sunshineshay20.etsy.com.

"I need Africa more than Africa needs me" - We need bloggers!!

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 07:52:00 PST

At Mocha Club, one of our biggest missions at the onset was to challenge the preconceptions that people have of this continent and its 54 unique nations. We have always cared about building an accurate perception of both the challenges that Africans face, and the BEAUTY of Africa.

We are launching this campaign on Dec 1st, but wanted to ask some bloggers to start a buzz starting November 24th. We want you to start your blog with the statement “I need Africa more than Africa needs me” and write maybe 200 words about what you think about that. Share from the heart – it’s phrased as a statement, but it’s more of a personal question. You and your blog readers are free to agree or disagree – we want to start a discussion, not impose a personal experience.

Email us at ineedafrica[at]mochaclub[dot]org if you are interested!

"We Are Hungry!"

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:13:00 PST

We received this story from one of our partners on the ground in Sudan, Kimberly Smith, in the village of Nyamlel.

Yesterday, en-route to the Internally Displaced People’s (IDP) camp, we slowed down the Land Cruiser so that the videographer who was with us could get some footage of people who had squatted along the roadside and tried to build make-shift shelters. There had been terrible rain storms the previous night so many were huddled under one set of sheets strung up by branches they had cut down in the bush.

As the Land Cruiser slowed, one man stood up and began shouting. He raised his hands to his mouth in desperation, mimicking eating. He cried out, “WE ARE HUNGRY! FEED US! THERE IS NOTHING FOR US TO EAT! WE ARE HUNGRY!”

Knowing that we had no food or anything to give him, the videographer quickly shut the window as the man rushed at the Land Cruiser. The hungry man bashed his fist against the window. Again he shouted, “We are hungry!”

[Local partner] James jumped out of the Land Cruiser and tried to talk with the man, explaining that we had nothing to give him today. We are trying to record the situation so that we can share it with other people who might share what they have to help others.

There was no consoling the man. He was hungry today. His children were starving today. He could not wait for weeks or months for food to come. He became all the more angry with our empty words and once again shouted, “WE ARE HUNGRY!” and added, “PEOPLE DON’T SEE US! WE ARE HUNGRY!”

As we drove away, we looked across the dirt road upon which we had been driving. Almost directly across the road from where this hungry man (and many others) huddled from the rains was a huge tent full of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) food. Inside the WFP storehouse we could see there was a huge stock pile of sorghum, grains and cooking oil. The UN or WFP only ‘drops’ the food, and there are no UN troops here to oversee distribution. So it lies in the hands of corrupt leaders and business who will not release it to those starving from the genocidal government’s control and now the severe flooding.

Once again, we are reminded that lasting help only comes through action. We are committed to remain on the ground, overseeing justice of distribution and sharing a Gospel of Hope for those to whom He has led us to serve.

We appreciate your love, support and prayers for they truly shore us up during our long days.

VIDEO: Mark Wagner at Village of Hope in Gulu, Uganda

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:01:00 PST

MC Sponsor Mark Wagner, visited the Child Mothers’ Village of Hope this summer in Gulu, Uganda, and now we have this video to share with you! Check it out!

Sudan declares Darfur ceasefire

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:08:00 PST

>> Sudan Declares Darfur Ceasefire.

Take our quick Tshirt survey!

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:40:00 PST

Quizzes by Quibblo.com

Remembering Prince.

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:23:00 PST

We are sad today that our little friend Prince, one of the Ghana orphans, has just passed away from AIDS. Please watch this video and remember him…

And thank you for all you do to serve our friends in Africa who are infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. We could not provide love and care and medication to those like Prince, without you.

What is netball?

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:22:00 PDT

Sara (on left, one of our partners in Uganda) and MC Events Coordinator Marisa Van Houten (center) with other team members from Midtown Fellowship at Village of Hope
On a recent visit to the Village of Hope in Gulu, Uganda, one of the MC trip teams learned about a game called “netball.” This photo was taken right before the team played a game of netball with the Child Mothers who live at Village of Hope!

Netball is similar to basketball and is a popular game at Village of Hope to help build community among those living there. Sports can be the universal language!

Update on Emmanuel School Construction!

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 05:48:00 PDT

Remember the new Job Creation project we shared recently, The Emmanuel Vocational-Technical School? This is a unique school in the Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya which will provide job training to many youth in the area. 180 new high school students that may not be in school now will receive vocational training and have their hopes realized.

The construction of the new Emmanuel Pre-School to replace the one that was burned last year has already been completed…

Living Hope kids: Mini-Olympics!

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:33:00 PDT

The following is an update from Living Hope Community Centre near Cape Town, South Africa, which is a facility Mocha Club helps support for those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Children who scream and run around in class and totally ignore the teacher during a lesson create a discipline problem faced by so many school teachers. However, activity of any kind – whether it is soccer, netball or even racing around a field draws the attention of any child.

Living Hope Life Skills Educators face some of the same problems. Nathan Panti, team leader of the Life Skills Educators at the Ocean View location has used his initiative to combat this common trend of ill-discipline. Knowing that children love sports, he introduced a Mini-Olympics event! Nathan wanted to get the children’s attention and also reward them for their good behaviour by allowing them to participate in this event. This effort proved to be a huge success! Children who misbehaved couldn’t take part in these activities. This made it easier for teachers and educators to teach hassle-free. Children encouraged each other to behave in class because they so badly wanted to be involved.

Not only did it combat the problem, it also complemented the Department of Education’s expectations as to what should take place in schools, i.e. physical, personal, emotional and health education. The start of this tournament was led by one of the major companies in South Africa, Engen, who graciously supported the event and provided sponsorship in a number of ways. Marine Primary and Living Hope co-hosted the first 2008 Mini-Olympics at the Multi Purpose centre in Ocean View and it is hoped that this will be an annual event in the future.