I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Removing pain
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Lord, let my words
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Heal a heart that hurts
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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I want to spend my life
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Mending broken people
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- Hello friends and
welcome to 3ABN Today.
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My name is John Lomacang and I'm
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with my copilot,
my wife Angela. - Glad
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to be here.
Always excited to co-host
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with my husband. -
That's right. We are co-hosting
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a program today that
will be of great interest
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to anyone watching.
You know, we talk about
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missions. And when
we talk about missions,
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all kinds of imagery
come to your mind, and
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some people think
of local; some people
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think worldwide. Well,
our guest today is going
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to give you a
different approach, different
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vision, as it were,
about missions and how you
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could be involved,
and a number of things.
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Honey, I'm excited
about this program;
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what about you? - Oh,
I am so excited, 'cause
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missions, we love
missions, don't we?
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- That's right.
We've done quite a bit of
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missions, ourselves.
- That's right. - And
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every time we come
home, we adjust our-
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it calibrates us to
be more appreciative of
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what God has given
to us. But before we
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introduce you to
our guest, and kind of-
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you'll share about
our music today; we'll let
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our guest be
introduced after the music. But
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thank you for your
prayers, your financial
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support of 3ABN
network as we continue going
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and growing. And by
the way, you may not know,
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but my wife works
for 3ABN Radio, also!
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- [laughs] I do,
and it's a job that I
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totally enjoy...totally.
And today, we have some
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special music. The
Lord asked the question,
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"Who will go?" And
today, my husband is
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going to sing a
song called, "I Will Go."
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Give me ears to hear Your Spirit
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Give me feet to follow through
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Give me hands to
touch the hurting
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And the faith to follow You
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Give me grace to be Your servant
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Give me mercy for the lost
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Give me passion for Your glory
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Give me passion for the cross
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And I will go where
there are no easy roads
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Leave the comfort that I know
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I will go and let
this journey be my home
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I will go
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I will go
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I'll let go of my ambition
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Cut the roots that run so deep
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I will learn to give away
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What I cannot really keep
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What I cannot really keep
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Help me see with eyes of faith
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Give me
strength to run this race
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And I will go where
there are no easy roads
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Leave the comfort that I know
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I will go and let
this journey be my home
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I will go... I will go!
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I will go where,
Lord, Your glory is unknown
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I will live for You alone
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I will go because
my life is not my own
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And I will go...
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I will go
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I will go
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- That was beautiful. -
I can't thank the singer.
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- 'Cause it's you!
[laughter] And that's
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true. There's a
message in the song. - That's
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right. I will go.
And our guest today is
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one who did accept
the challenge. You know,
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Danny always says,
Danny Shelton always says,
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"The blessings are on
the go." The Lord says,
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"Come unto me."
And then He says, "Go."
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Our guest today is
one that did accept the
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challenge of going:
Tara Petersen. Good to have
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you here, Tara. I'm
close enough to extend my hand
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in welcome. - Thank
you so much. It's so nice
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to be here today. -
Yes! - Now, Tara, tell us
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a little bit about
yourself. Who are you?
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- Well, I live in
Denver, Colorado. I have a
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husband and a
4-year-old little girl who is my
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whole world. - Aww.
- Okay. - We've been in
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Denver about 10
years. And about a year and
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a half ago, I made a
huge change in my life.
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I have been in
nonprofit work, but I felt the
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call to do
something special. It has been
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a huge blessing, and
I'm so glad to be able
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to share with you
today a little bit about what
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we're doing. - Wow.
Having introduced yourself to
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the 3ABN family for
the first time, welcome.
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Good to have you here.
Now, we talked with you
00:07:48.30\00:07:50.47
a little bit about,
kind of, the background of
00:07:50.53\00:07:52.53
this ministry. Give us
the name of it and just
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kind of tell us how
it got started. - Yeah,
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absolutely. So, I
work for a children's home
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and school in
Zimbabwe. It's called Kuda Vana
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Partnership. I know
that sounds like a mouthful,
00:08:03.31\00:08:06.11
but you get used to
it. Kuda Vana. Kuda Vana
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means 'loving children' in
Shona, which is why the name.
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Kuda Vana actually
really started its roots
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here at 3ABN, something
I learned very recently.
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They've been around
about 12 or 13 years,
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and they were
started by a wonderful woman
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who was living and
working for the Seventh-day
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Adventist Church
in Zimbabwe. She saw a
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real need to care for
orphans and vulnerable
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children in the area
and began looking for
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housing for them and
ways to improve their
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lives, and actually
came here on 3ABN when
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she was first
starting her ministry. That's
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really how it all
began. In that time, so many
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things have improved
and changed, and we've
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been able to do so much
for the kids living there
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because of what she
started. - Beautiful.
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- Now, how did you
get involved with this
00:09:01.37\00:09:02.77
ministry? 'Cause, you
know, you said 12 or 13
00:09:02.87\00:09:04.87
years ago, somebody
else began it; but how
00:09:04.97\00:09:07.34
did YOU get
connected to it? - Yeah, well,
00:09:07.38\00:09:09.21
so, Kuda Vana used
to be known as Morera
00:09:09.28\00:09:11.11
Children's Home, so
if you have viewers that
00:09:11.18\00:09:13.18
supported it back
then, that's what it used to
00:09:14.12\00:09:15.68
be called. I got
involved because about, oh,
00:09:15.75\00:09:19.15
several years
back, Paulaline?, who
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was our founder,
she's an older woman and she
00:09:21.92\00:09:24.96
was looking to
retire. There was a couple in
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my church,
LifeSource Adventist Fellowship
00:09:27.43\00:09:30.00
in Denver, Colorado,
that felt called to do
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something radical
with their lives, that they
00:09:33.07\00:09:36.07
felt called to go and
to answer a children's
00:09:36.10\00:09:39.47
call that needed help.
They traveled; the whole
00:09:39.57\00:09:43.48
family ended up
getting involved. They traveled
00:09:43.55\00:09:45.35
to Zimbabwe, saw this
need, felt like they could
00:09:45.41\00:09:48.32
help and really take
this wonderful children's
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home to the next level
and equip those children
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not just to survive but
to thrive. So, I've been
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a member at LifeSource
for a long time, and I've
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been in the
nonprofit community for a long
00:10:01.90\00:10:04.13
time. That's been
my whole career. I was
00:10:04.20\00:10:07.10
supposed to be an
English teacher, but God had
00:10:07.17\00:10:09.50
other ideas. - Yes,
He did; a philanthropist.
00:10:09.60\00:10:12.34
- I was not looking
for another job. I had
00:10:12.41\00:10:15.21
a great job at a really
big nonprofit in downtown
00:10:15.28\00:10:18.35
Denver, and I felt
God nudging my heart to
00:10:18.41\00:10:21.62
help. - Now, do you
go? Are you in- now, the
00:10:21.72\00:10:27.06
ministry is located
in... - So we're in Zimbabwe.
00:10:27.16\00:10:31.29
We're just outside of
Mutare, which is on the
00:10:31.39\00:10:33.46
eastern side, right
near Mozambique. It's about
00:10:33.53\00:10:36.16
the fourth largest city
in the country, but we're
00:10:36.23\00:10:39.07
in the country. I
live in Denver, so I am
00:10:39.13\00:10:41.67
the only paid state-side
staff person; I just work
00:10:41.70\00:10:44.97
part-time. My salary is
paid by generous donors,
00:10:45.04\00:10:48.21
so everything else
is in Zimbabwe. Everyone
00:10:48.28\00:10:50.41
else is in Zimbabwe.
- Have you been there?
00:10:50.48\00:10:52.18
- Oh, yes. I go at
least once, sometimes twice
00:10:52.28\00:10:54.22
a year when I can.
Love those kids. - How much
00:10:54.32\00:10:57.75
staff do you have? -
We have, I think, about
00:10:57.85\00:11:00.02
24 full and
part-time staff on our campus,
00:11:00.09\00:11:03.56
so that includes our
caregivers, maintenance
00:11:03.63\00:11:06.76
people... We have a
psychologist on staff
00:11:06.86\00:11:10.50
that's providing
some emotional healthcare
00:11:10.57\00:11:12.37
to our children...
Teachers. We have a
00:11:12.43\00:11:14.84
school on campus. -
Is it an orphanage? - You
00:11:14.94\00:11:17.97
know, it is an
orphanage, but I'm glad that you
00:11:18.07\00:11:20.11
asked that question,
because we don't like
00:11:20.18\00:11:22.51
to call it an orphanage.
We are not your typical
00:11:22.58\00:11:25.88
orphanage. We like to
call ourselves a children's
00:11:25.95\00:11:29.18
home, because what Kuda
Vana's doing is providing
00:11:29.28\00:11:32.59
these children with a
real home and is close
00:11:32.62\00:11:35.16
to a family as they
can possibly get. Now, I
00:11:35.22\00:11:37.56
want you guys to
look at those photos. So,
00:11:37.63\00:11:40.83
you look at those kids,
and they're no different
00:11:40.93\00:11:44.10
from your nieces
or nephews or from my
00:11:44.17\00:11:46.20
daughter. They have
all the same hopes and
00:11:46.23\00:11:49.57
dreams and aspirations
and quirks and things
00:11:49.67\00:11:53.11
about them that make
them special, and I think
00:11:53.21\00:11:55.64
sometimes, it's
very easy to objectify a
00:11:55.71\00:12:00.62
photo of a child
in another country and
00:12:00.72\00:12:02.65
think, "Oh, that has
nothing to do with me.
00:12:02.72\00:12:05.22
That's so far from
me." But they're just like
00:12:05.25\00:12:07.56
our own children! They
have so much potential,
00:12:07.62\00:12:13.29
and they just need
someone to help them
00:12:13.36\00:12:15.90
to reach that. It says
in James that the purest
00:12:15.96\00:12:20.87
form of religion is
caring for widows and
00:12:20.94\00:12:24.54
orphans and their
need, and I feel very blessed
00:12:24.57\00:12:27.61
that my church and
Amstat International,
00:12:27.64\00:12:30.61
which is a huge
supporter of Kuda Vana-they're
00:12:30.68\00:12:34.02
based in
California- have been able to do
00:12:34.08\00:12:37.09
this for kids on the
other side of the world.
00:12:37.15\00:12:39.65
- Now, you have some
interesting experiences.
00:12:39.72\00:12:41.82
You've had, like
you've talked about, some of
00:12:41.89\00:12:44.36
these stories that
transform the way you
00:12:44.43\00:12:47.30
look at ministry like
family and education...
00:12:47.36\00:12:51.93
Share one of those
with us; we want to
00:12:52.63\00:12:55.24
lay some foundation.
You also brought some
00:12:55.30\00:12:56.67
video, but let's lay
some foundation before
00:12:56.74\00:12:58.61
we go to that. -
Yeah! Absolutely. So, I have
00:12:58.67\00:13:02.64
been blessed to
work for some wonderful
00:13:02.71\00:13:04.78
organizations like
World Vision, like ADRA,
00:13:04.81\00:13:08.15
that really gave me a
basis for my work here
00:13:08.22\00:13:11.92
at Kuda Vana. I
believe that's where God has
00:13:11.99\00:13:13.76
led me with my
experience -and here's what I've
00:13:13.82\00:13:17.06
seen is there're
wonderful organizations that are
00:13:17.13\00:13:20.86
caring for
vulnerable children on a large
00:13:20.96\00:13:23.53
scale, right?-
equipping them, giving them food
00:13:23.60\00:13:26.90
and medical attention
and shelter, and helping
00:13:27.00\00:13:29.87
make sure those
kids can really survive.
00:13:29.94\00:13:32.24
What's different
about Kuda Vana is we're
00:13:33.07\00:13:35.64
going to the next
level, and we're going beyond
00:13:35.71\00:13:37.95
just surviving to
helping these kids thrive. We
00:13:38.01\00:13:42.35
treat each child in
our care, and there are
00:13:42.42\00:13:45.02
50 children on our
campus; we have space
00:13:45.09\00:13:47.32
for 50 children,
plus more that, once they
00:13:47.39\00:13:50.16
age out, we'll talk
about that later. - So
00:13:50.23\00:13:53.09
they cycle through? -
Mhm. But we treat them just
00:13:53.16\00:13:56.26
like I would treat
my own daughter, where,
00:13:56.30\00:13:58.77
if they need braces
or they need a tutor or
00:13:58.83\00:14:02.17
some special
attention, that's what they're
00:14:02.24\00:14:04.51
going to get. Our
staff are really providing
00:14:04.57\00:14:09.01
these children with
holistic care. I mean,
00:14:09.08\00:14:11.51
when you think of an
orphanage, what comes
00:14:11.61\00:14:13.28
to mind when I say
that word, right? - I
00:14:13.38\00:14:15.72
mean, when you think
of it, what comes to your
00:14:15.78\00:14:17.89
mind? - No parents, no
family, so many needs...
00:14:17.95\00:14:22.32
- Yeah. - But a lot
of times, also, we've
00:14:22.39\00:14:25.19
seen orphanages
where the conditions were
00:14:25.26\00:14:27.03
horrendous, where
the kids were just barely
00:14:27.10\00:14:29.60
hanging on, where they
didn't know where their
00:14:29.66\00:14:31.20
next meal was coming
from...but it doesn't
00:14:31.23\00:14:32.57
sound like yours
is that way. - Yeah! I
00:14:32.60\00:14:34.37
mean, I ask a lot
of people, "What do you
00:14:34.44\00:14:36.14
think of when you
think of an orphanage?" and
00:14:36.17\00:14:37.91
they think, "Rows
of beds and chaos and
00:14:37.97\00:14:40.98
smell..." Kuda Vana is
not your typical orphanage.
00:14:41.08\00:14:45.21
Our children are
growing up in group homes, in
00:14:45.31\00:14:48.28
family structures,
where they're learning what
00:14:48.35\00:14:50.09
it's like to be part
of a family with siblings
00:14:50.15\00:14:52.99
and sharing chores and
responsibilities so that
00:14:53.02\00:14:56.39
one day, they can look
after their own families
00:14:56.42\00:14:59.46
and break that
cycle of poverty and child
00:14:59.53\00:15:02.83
abandonment.
They're getting an excellent
00:15:02.90\00:15:04.53
education. On our
campus, we have a primary
00:15:04.60\00:15:07.67
school (we'll talk
about that in a bit) as well
00:15:07.77\00:15:10.21
as off-campus through
post-secondary. They're
00:15:10.24\00:15:13.48
also getting the
emotional and physical support
00:15:13.54\00:15:16.88
they need to
really thrive, so working
00:15:16.95\00:15:18.98
through their
trauma- many of them have had
00:15:19.05\00:15:21.22
a lot of trauma in
their past-so that they can
00:15:21.25\00:15:24.29
go on and be a
blessing to their communities
00:15:24.39\00:15:26.59
and also the
spiritual guidance. So, we're
00:15:26.65\00:15:28.62
very involved with our
local church; they're in
00:15:28.69\00:15:31.43
Mutare. We have a
worship center on campus
00:15:31.49\00:15:33.16
and our kids also
attend and are very actively
00:15:33.23\00:15:35.56
involved in a Pathfinders
program there in Mutare.
00:15:35.63\00:15:38.93
So, really trying to
give our kids the most
00:15:38.97\00:15:41.70
normal childhood
possible that we can. - What's
00:15:41.80\00:15:45.47
the age group again? -
We take care of infants
00:15:45.51\00:15:47.98
all the way through
up and beyond the age of
00:15:48.08\00:15:50.78
18. - Infants... How
old would that be? - We're
00:15:50.81\00:15:53.55
getting babies that are
brand new. Unfortunately,
00:15:53.62\00:15:57.29
many of them are found in
pretty tragic circumstances.
00:15:57.35\00:16:00.76
We've had babies found
in pit toilets, in trash
00:16:00.79\00:16:04.79
cans, but God always
seems to find a way to
00:16:04.86\00:16:07.10
bring them to us. We're
the only children's home
00:16:07.20\00:16:10.37
in the area that
accepts infants. We have a
00:16:10.43\00:16:12.47
nursery dedicated
to infant care. - Wow,
00:16:12.53\00:16:15.14
can you imagine,
honey? Finding... - I know,
00:16:15.20\00:16:16.67
because of your
situation, it means a lot to us,
00:16:16.71\00:16:19.81
'cause my husband,
as many people know, he
00:16:19.91\00:16:22.41
was abandoned at 3
months old. - Yeah. So our job
00:16:22.48\00:16:26.25
is to take those
babies and help them know that
00:16:26.31\00:16:28.55
they have a Father
in heaven who will never
00:16:28.62\00:16:31.69
abandon them and
will never harm them. I
00:16:31.75\00:16:35.19
think that's the
beauty of what we're doing is
00:16:35.26\00:16:38.19
we're going beyond
just taking care of them.
00:16:38.26\00:16:40.20
- Isaiah says, "When
my mother and my father
00:16:40.30\00:16:43.06
forsake me, the Lord
will take care of me."
00:16:43.13\00:16:45.60
That's true.
That's special to me, too,
00:16:45.67\00:16:47.37
'cause I wouldn't be
who I am today. A lot
00:16:47.47\00:16:49.74
of lives- and I
like what you're talking
00:16:49.80\00:16:51.77
about today,
because I see this in my own
00:16:51.81\00:16:53.48
life- what begins
as a tragedy, sometimes
00:16:53.54\00:16:56.61
it's an appointment
to a triumph. Sometimes,
00:16:56.68\00:16:59.48
the Lord has to separate
a child from his destiny
00:16:59.51\00:17:04.39
that could be
horrific and put him in a place
00:17:04.49\00:17:07.16
or put her in a
place where their destiny
00:17:07.19\00:17:09.12
could become a
triumph, so you never know it.
00:17:09.16\00:17:12.29
So if you're listening
to the program, watching
00:17:12.33\00:17:14.43
the program, you may
be in a situation that
00:17:14.50\00:17:16.87
looks tragic, but as
mine did, it turned out to be
00:17:16.97\00:17:21.47
a triumph; but
sometimes, it has to begin in an
00:17:21.54\00:17:23.84
unusual way. But this
dedication to infants...
00:17:23.91\00:17:27.78
I mean, we've been
to orphanages, but we
00:17:27.84\00:17:29.68
haven't seen any with
infants. - No, we haven't.
00:17:29.71\00:17:31.48
- Yeah. Thank you for
sharing that about yourself.
00:17:31.51\00:17:33.98
I didn't know that. And
yes; we have our nursery
00:17:34.05\00:17:37.12
as capacity for
nine babies, and we are
00:17:37.19\00:17:39.45
always full. We'd love
to build another nursery;
00:17:39.52\00:17:42.72
there's actually need
for it. We partner with
00:17:42.76\00:17:44.86
social services in
the area, and if we had
00:17:44.93\00:17:48.50
another nursery
built, the babies would come.
00:17:48.56\00:17:50.97
What happens is,
until they find a home for
00:17:51.03\00:17:53.90
them, most babies, when
they're found, they just
00:17:54.00\00:17:56.10
languish in a
hospital. So they're safe, you
00:17:56.17\00:17:59.31
know, when they're
found, but they don't
00:17:59.41\00:18:00.74
get the attention and
the individual care that
00:18:00.78\00:18:03.24
they need. So, a
nursery is a wonderful blessing
00:18:03.31\00:18:06.25
to have on our
campus. Those babies...they're
00:18:06.31\00:18:09.15
going to have a
good shot-a good start at
00:18:09.22\00:18:10.92
life, for sure. -
So, you hold them if-
00:18:10.95\00:18:13.12
we're talking about
the cycle, some of them
00:18:13.19\00:18:14.79
cycling out. So, those
infants, if they're not
00:18:14.82\00:18:16.93
returned or... They
are there till they're 18?
00:18:16.99\00:18:20.80
- Yeah. Foster care
and adoption in Zimbabwe,
00:18:20.86\00:18:24.27
and I'm glad you brought
this up, John, is, culturally,
00:18:24.30\00:18:28.00
there's not a real
culture of adoption in
00:18:28.04\00:18:29.70
the country for a
lot of different reasons.
00:18:29.80\00:18:32.57
Zimbabwe is in the
midst of another economic
00:18:32.64\00:18:35.48
crisis. When families
are in crisis themselves,
00:18:35.54\00:18:38.81
taking on another child
isn't necessarily always
00:18:38.88\00:18:42.82
top of mind, I
think. There's a lot of
00:18:42.88\00:18:44.92
superstition around
adoption and a child
00:18:44.95\00:18:47.82
that you don't know.
And also, to point out,
00:18:47.89\00:18:52.19
Zimbabwe does not
really do international
00:18:52.26\00:18:54.83
adoptions, so it's
not an option to take an
00:18:54.90\00:18:57.50
adopted child,
typically, out of the country;
00:18:57.57\00:19:00.50
it's very rare that
happens. So, you have
00:19:00.57\00:19:03.71
a country where AIDS
and cholera and economic
00:19:03.77\00:19:07.51
issues have
created this orphan crisis.
00:19:07.58\00:19:10.18
There's over a
million kids that's estimated
00:19:10.25\00:19:11.58
in the country that
are orphaned without a
00:19:11.65\00:19:14.28
government that's
able to care for them
00:19:14.35\00:19:16.18
adequately. They
don't have- they have a lack
00:19:16.25\00:19:19.35
of trained social
workers, so there's not people
00:19:19.42\00:19:21.66
that are there that can
place children in foster
00:19:21.72\00:19:23.63
care situations.
However, I would say we've made
00:19:23.66\00:19:26.66
a lot of efforts in
that way we've partnered
00:19:26.76\00:19:28.66
with our local church
to encourage fostering,
00:19:28.73\00:19:31.63
taking our children on
school breaks and leaves
00:19:31.73\00:19:34.90
so they can get
that experience of being
00:19:34.97\00:19:36.67
part of a family, and
we continue to pray that
00:19:36.74\00:19:39.44
that will be an
option for our children as
00:19:39.51\00:19:41.48
much as possible. -
Now, what's spiritual life
00:19:41.54\00:19:43.91
there? What is it like?
It's so important to have
00:19:44.01\00:19:47.18
a spiritual life. Do
they go to church on Sabbaths?
00:19:47.25\00:19:51.12
- Yeah, we do! We
have a beautiful worship
00:19:51.19\00:19:53.89
center that was
actually built by Adventist
00:19:53.96\00:19:55.96
house systems, so
it looks out over- it's
00:19:56.02\00:19:58.36
an open veranda, looks
out over a gorgeous lake
00:19:58.43\00:20:00.36
reservoir. So, we
worship there most Sabbaths,
00:20:00.43\00:20:04.97
and then we also,
at least once Sabbath a
00:20:05.03\00:20:06.94
month, we go into
town to the local Adventist
00:20:06.97\00:20:08.97
church in Mutare to
help build relationships
00:20:09.00\00:20:11.57
and community there.
We feel like it's very
00:20:11.64\00:20:13.27
important for our
children to have that
00:20:13.34\00:20:15.24
external family,
church family for them, so
00:20:15.34\00:20:19.31
that's a huge part
of their lives. When you
00:20:19.38\00:20:21.65
visit Kuda Vana
and you stay, they have
00:20:21.72\00:20:24.42
evening worships
in each of the houses.
00:20:24.49\00:20:26.55
We do Friday night
vespers service, and
00:20:26.65\00:20:28.92
here's what's fun is
you're going to be singing
00:20:28.99\00:20:30.79
some of the same songs
that you sing here with
00:20:30.83\00:20:33.03
your families.
[laughter] - I know that's nice
00:20:33.09\00:20:36.13
about it. When we
get a chance to travel,
00:20:36.16\00:20:37.53
what's that phrase
we say, "They're singing
00:20:37.60\00:20:39.70
the same song." - Yeah.
- Of course, they have a
00:20:39.73\00:20:42.40
very African spin on
them. I'd say they're
00:20:42.47\00:20:44.57
a lot more lively.
- Oh, yeah. - Exactly-
00:20:44.64\00:20:47.91
true, which it's a part
of the culture. - Yeah, but I
00:20:47.98\00:20:50.25
think it's very
important for our kids to build
00:20:50.35\00:20:52.95
community, and the
church has been one wonderful
00:20:53.01\00:20:56.05
way that we've been
able to do that. They've
00:20:56.12\00:20:58.89
gone to Pathfinder
campouts and a camp meeting, and
00:20:58.95\00:21:01.62
they participate in a
lot of that, which has
00:21:01.69\00:21:04.96
so many benefits for
them in so many ways.
00:21:04.99\00:21:08.36
- Now, we've laid
some of the groundwork for
00:21:08.40\00:21:09.86
history; this, I
think, would be a good time
00:21:09.90\00:21:11.23
to show that video
to kind of give us an
00:21:11.27\00:21:12.73
overview of some of
the history of Kuda Vana.
00:21:12.83\00:21:15.50
- Kuda Vana Partnership
exists to empower the
00:21:27.55\00:21:29.98
most vulnerable
children of Zimbabwe to not just
00:21:30.05\00:21:33.05
survive, but
thrive. In fact, Kuda Vana
00:21:33.12\00:21:42.63
means 'loving
children' in Shona, the native
00:21:42.70\00:21:45.67
language. We love
each child as our own so
00:21:45.73\00:21:49.47
that they, in turn,
can one day share that love
00:21:49.50\00:21:52.07
with their own
families and communities.
00:21:52.14\00:21:55.18
- Kuda Vana is the
only children's home in our
00:22:15.16\00:22:18.10
area that cares for
infants and beyond the age of
00:22:18.17\00:22:21.27
18, ensuring each
child in our care is equipped
00:22:21.34\00:22:24.97
with skills and education
to become self-sufficient
00:22:25.04\00:22:29.24
adults. Kuda Vana's
group home structure
00:22:29.31\00:22:33.21
ensures that our
children grow up in family units
00:22:33.25\00:22:36.18
and have the
opportunity to live as normal a
00:22:36.28\00:22:39.45
childhood as possible. [singing
"Happy Birthday" in Shona]
00:22:39.55\00:22:47.43
Like any parent, we
go above and beyond to
00:22:48.03\00:22:50.73
ensure the health and
success of our children.
00:22:50.80\00:22:53.54
- Kuda Vana is a
great place. If you look at
00:22:54.60\00:22:58.21
it, all the kids
here are happy. It's such
00:22:58.27\00:23:01.71
a godsend place. God
sent Kuda Vana. God is
00:23:01.78\00:23:06.31
here at Kuda Vana. -
Kuda Vana Partnership
00:23:06.41\00:23:11.69
is changing the futures
of not just the children
00:23:11.75\00:23:14.46
in our care but also
the families of communities
00:23:14.52\00:23:17.56
they will one day be a
part of. With your help,
00:23:17.63\00:23:20.90
we can ensure they will
not just survive, but thrive.
00:23:20.93\00:23:24.83
- Wow, that was
very informing to show us
00:23:30.01\00:23:32.04
the campus. But
tell us, how old is that
00:23:32.14\00:23:34.68
campus? - That campus
is a miracle, let me tell
00:23:34.74\00:23:37.58
you. So, I mentioned
to you that, well, we're
00:23:37.68\00:23:39.91
a children's home. It's
just founded by Paulaline
00:23:39.98\00:23:43.79
and supported by 3ABN-
was growing, but eventually,
00:23:43.85\00:23:47.06
we actually ran out
of water. It was a real
00:23:47.09\00:23:48.86
crisis. Luckily, Kuda
Vana has really worked
00:23:48.96\00:23:52.73
hard to develop local
leadership in Zimbabwe.
00:23:52.79\00:23:55.63
Our director and
administrators, all of
00:23:55.70\00:23:57.30
our staff, are
local. That's part of our
00:23:57.37\00:23:59.40
ministry. I mean,
Zimbabwe is experiencing around
00:23:59.43\00:24:02.14
95% unemployment.
So, to be able to employ
00:24:02.17\00:24:05.07
these families and
give them a profession and
00:24:05.17\00:24:07.58
an ability to give back
to their own communities
00:24:07.64\00:24:09.38
is part of our
mission. Anyway, our director
00:24:09.44\00:24:12.65
ended up finding
some land for us that was
00:24:12.71\00:24:15.95
along a beautiful
reservoir, so unlimited water.
00:24:16.02\00:24:18.59
- Wow. - Yeah, and
we were able to acquire
00:24:18.69\00:24:20.29
that land, and
then in 2015, we built a
00:24:20.39\00:24:22.39
brand-new
children's home and renamed and
00:24:22.42\00:24:25.13
we branded as
Kuda Vana Partnership.
00:24:25.19\00:24:28.23
We felt like Kuda Vana,
the term 'loving children,'
00:24:28.56\00:24:30.73
really embodied what it
was that we wanted to do and
00:24:31.00\00:24:34.00
what we wanted to be
different. It's a wonderful,
00:24:34.10\00:24:36.87
wonderful place. - What is this?
- So, this is a photo of one of
00:24:36.94\00:24:41.08
our students, one of our
children talking about how she
00:24:41.14\00:24:44.45
wants to be a mechanic when
she grows up. But I think it
00:24:44.51\00:24:47.42
really embodies what makes
Kuda Vana Partnership different
00:24:47.48\00:24:50.62
is we want to give our
kids big dreams - dreams that
00:24:50.89\00:24:54.22
are limitless, just like
any other child and equip them
00:24:54.32\00:24:57.63
with the skills and
the knowledge to achieve
00:24:57.73\00:25:02.00
those dreams. So,
you see here, one of the
00:25:02.06\00:25:05.10
things that makes us
different is we offer
00:25:05.17\00:25:07.20
family units. You've
heard them talking about
00:25:07.27\00:25:09.24
that in the video. So,
all of our children are
00:25:09.27\00:25:12.47
growing up in
group homes. We have four
00:25:12.57\00:25:14.94
group homes on our
campus with 10 children
00:25:15.01\00:25:18.58
ages 3-17 living
in each group home.
00:25:18.65\00:25:21.95
They're really learning
what it's like to be part
00:25:22.02\00:25:25.22
of a family so they can
be part of that. My first
00:25:25.29\00:25:28.19
visit to Kuda Vana back
in- I guess it was 2017,
00:25:28.29\00:25:33.33
I met this family
you're seeing here in the
00:25:33.40\00:25:35.36
picture. The oldest sister,
Vimbiso, she's standing there
00:25:35.43\00:25:39.47
in the stars sweatshirt.
She's an incredible young
00:25:39.53\00:25:43.74
lady. Their story is
very tragic. They had a murder
00:25:43.84\00:25:49.34
and a death in their
family that resulted in
00:25:49.41\00:25:51.91
her, essentially,
taking care of her siblings by
00:25:52.01\00:25:55.18
herself for months.
She dropped out of school
00:25:55.28\00:25:57.29
and looked after
the family and did her
00:25:57.39\00:26:01.12
best. In most situations,
a family of five like
00:26:01.19\00:26:05.63
that, the youngest
being just a year old,
00:26:05.69\00:26:07.96
would've been split
up if they had found
00:26:08.06\00:26:10.47
a children's home or
an orphanage for them
00:26:10.57\00:26:12.33
to go to. But
because we have that family
00:26:12.43\00:26:14.74
structure, these
children were able to move in
00:26:14.80\00:26:18.41
altogether with us,
live under the same roof,
00:26:18.47\00:26:21.24
and also heal from
their tragedy together. So,
00:26:21.31\00:26:26.11
the mama, the caregiver
in their home, is actually
00:26:26.18\00:26:28.45
a trained social worker
and has freely been able
00:26:28.52\00:26:31.32
to help those
children work through their
00:26:31.35\00:26:33.72
trauma. Our school-
our counselor on campus,
00:26:33.76\00:26:37.33
our psychologist on
campus, is also working
00:26:37.39\00:26:39.66
with them and all of
the children to help them
00:26:39.73\00:26:42.56
process that in a
healthy way and help them
00:26:42.66\00:26:45.80
begin to move on
to healing. They're a
00:26:45.87\00:26:48.74
wonderful, happy
family now, and it's such a
00:26:48.80\00:26:50.84
blessing that they
could stay together. - So, the
00:26:50.91\00:26:53.38
family that you're
talking about that this young
00:26:53.41\00:26:55.31
lady was- they are a
natural family. - Yeah,
00:26:55.38\00:26:57.55
the five of them
were able to stay together
00:26:57.65\00:26:59.68
and intact because
God brought them to
00:26:59.78\00:27:01.82
Kuda Vana. - So,
it's not just infants, but
00:27:01.88\00:27:05.95
family units. - Yes.
We actually had another
00:27:06.02\00:27:09.76
sort of a miracle
happen just this last month.
00:27:09.82\00:27:12.53
We've had two
young people who are now
00:27:12.59\00:27:15.76
teenagers on our campus
since they were toddlers
00:27:15.80\00:27:18.27
since Paula
started Morera back in the
00:27:18.33\00:27:21.67
day, and they had
been rescued from an
00:27:21.70\00:27:24.94
abusive situation
and actually found out
00:27:25.04\00:27:27.64
recently that
their mother had had
00:27:27.71\00:27:30.35
younger siblings of
theirs. They desperately
00:27:30.41\00:27:33.75
wanted to know
what had become of those
00:27:33.82\00:27:36.28
siblings and if they
were okay. Social services
00:27:36.38\00:27:39.82
didn't know anything
about it- and come to
00:27:39.89\00:27:42.69
find out (this just
happened just very recently),
00:27:42.76\00:27:45.93
their baby sister was
living with us. She had
00:27:46.03\00:27:49.23
actually been taken
to our nursery and there
00:27:49.30\00:27:52.33
was a paperwork
issue, and now she's actually
00:27:52.43\00:27:55.17
able to know and grow
up with her older siblings.
00:27:55.24\00:27:58.01
- Beautiful. - It's a beautiful
story of reunification.
00:27:58.07\00:28:01.04
No, this is a different little
girl I can certainly tell you
00:28:01.08\00:28:04.91
about. - Yes. The pictures
are such a contrast. - This is
00:28:04.98\00:28:08.18
Rundai. Rundai's the reason
that I decided working for Kuda
00:28:08.22\00:28:12.75
Vana was what God
wanted me to do, so the picture
00:28:12.85\00:28:15.16
there of her in the
hospital bed- she was
00:28:15.22\00:28:18.13
abandoned as an
infant and she had a heart
00:28:18.23\00:28:20.63
condition...one that was
easily fixed if she lived
00:28:20.70\00:28:23.90
here in the States,
but it cost quite a bit of
00:28:23.97\00:28:26.07
money. Things in
Zimbabwe, I would not
00:28:26.17\00:28:28.47
say, are affordable.
They're quite expensive.
00:28:28.54\00:28:31.71
It was probably about
$5,000 $6,000 for her to have a
00:28:31.81\00:28:34.41
surgery. Our
volunteers and trustees came to
00:28:34.48\00:28:39.11
our church and said,
"This baby girl needs
00:28:39.21\00:28:41.02
surgery. Who can
help?" And somebody said yes!
00:28:41.08\00:28:45.55
A week later, she
had her surgery, and that
00:28:46.39\00:28:49.79
picture that you saw now,
she is a healthy, thriving
00:28:49.86\00:28:53.09
two-year-old who is
just unbelievably beautiful
00:28:53.16\00:28:56.50
and is going to have a
full life ahead of her.
00:28:56.56\00:28:58.83
- There is such a
contrast between left and right
00:28:58.87\00:29:00.84
between what she
looked like and the bright
00:29:00.87\00:29:02.60
light that's now on
in her eye. - Yeah, she's
00:29:02.67\00:29:05.27
a light to everyone
who was at Kuda Vana. She's
00:29:05.34\00:29:07.61
a beautiful and
very special little girl.
00:29:07.68\00:29:09.94
- Saved a life. - And
that's why I decided to
00:29:10.05\00:29:11.78
get involved, because
it was such a tangible
00:29:11.85\00:29:14.95
thing. I mean,
sometimes, I think mission work
00:29:15.05\00:29:17.62
can feel
mechanical, it can feel removed,
00:29:17.69\00:29:21.82
or "How can I
really know that I'm making
00:29:21.92\00:29:23.99
a difference when I
send in my donation?"
00:29:24.06\00:29:26.16
Well, I can tell
you... it made a difference
00:29:26.90\00:29:29.36
for that little
girl. - Wow. And now, there
00:29:29.43\00:29:31.63
are some kids- there's a
story you kind of alluded
00:29:31.70\00:29:34.50
to about a child who
was told that he would
00:29:34.57\00:29:36.54
never be able to
learn. - Yeah. So, the other
00:29:36.64\00:29:39.21
thing that makes
Kuda Vana different, and
00:29:39.31\00:29:40.78
I think I have a
photo of our school that you
00:29:40.84\00:29:42.88
can bring up, is
that we have a school on
00:29:42.94\00:29:46.41
our campus. One of our
goals is to really equip
00:29:46.48\00:29:51.62
our kids to be self-sufficient.
Our younger kids were
00:29:51.69\00:29:55.22
really going to the
local public school system
00:29:55.29\00:29:57.46
in Zimbabwe, and they
were really struggling
00:29:57.56\00:30:00.36
for a lot of
reasons. A lot of them were
00:30:00.46\00:30:03.10
behind academically
because they'd missed
00:30:03.16\00:30:05.07
school or been out
in the bush, abandoned
00:30:05.13\00:30:07.07
before they came to
us - whatever it was -
00:30:07.14\00:30:09.07
and there was a bit of
a stigma around orphans
00:30:09.17\00:30:11.91
in the area. They
were being bullied and they
00:30:12.01\00:30:14.08
just weren't
performing well; they were all
00:30:14.11\00:30:16.08
behind. So, we made a
huge, crazy idea about
00:30:16.14\00:30:21.35
two years ago, and we
launched our own homeschool
00:30:21.45\00:30:23.79
program. We hired a
couple of trained teachers,
00:30:23.85\00:30:26.52
we used the
Cambridge curriculum, and, in
00:30:26.59\00:30:29.82
just that year and a
half, almost all of our
00:30:29.92\00:30:32.33
kids are now up to
grade level. Some of
00:30:32.43\00:30:35.06
them are outperforming
their public school peers
00:30:35.16\00:30:37.67
on standardized national
tests. - Amazing. - It's
00:30:37.77\00:30:41.94
incredible what God
has done with our school.
00:30:42.00\00:30:44.14
What's really wonderful
about it is it's preparing
00:30:45.11\00:30:48.01
our kids emotionally
and academically to then
00:30:48.04\00:30:51.88
go onto high school.
So, most kids in Zimbabwe
00:30:51.95\00:30:54.85
go to boarding school.
I myself went to boarding
00:30:54.92\00:30:57.22
school; I went to
Mount Pisgah Academy in North
00:30:57.32\00:31:00.02
Carolina. My first
trip to Africa was when I
00:31:00.09\00:31:02.89
went on a mission
trip as a kid, so it all
00:31:02.96\00:31:05.99
started for me in
high school. - So the seeds
00:31:06.06\00:31:08.33
were planted a while
ago. - Yes, yes! They
00:31:08.40\00:31:10.07
were. Our kids go to-
many of them go to the
00:31:10.10\00:31:12.87
Adventist boarding
school in Zimbabwe, so
00:31:12.93\00:31:15.30
we're trying to give
them the absolute best
00:31:15.37\00:31:17.27
start that they
can before they go onto
00:31:17.31\00:31:20.98
high school and prepare
for adulthood. - You have
00:31:21.04\00:31:24.08
a saying that you
shared with us, because
00:31:24.15\00:31:27.45
there are only 50
students there and there are so
00:31:27.52\00:31:30.12
many more that you
have access to...what
00:31:30.19\00:31:32.05
is that slogan? -
Yeah, so this is something I
00:31:32.09\00:31:35.32
actually learned in my
church and it's something
00:31:35.39\00:31:38.06
I've adopted in my
personal life where I
00:31:38.09\00:31:40.43
can. "Do for a few
what you'd like to do for
00:31:40.46\00:31:44.27
many." So sometimes, I
think the need out there
00:31:44.30\00:31:47.64
can feel so big. "How
do I make a difference?
00:31:47.67\00:31:50.61
There's so much
suffering in the world; there's
00:31:50.67\00:31:52.44
so much to be
done." Pick your few, and
00:31:52.51\00:31:55.44
you invest deeply in
those few. Once you've
00:31:55.54\00:31:59.55
done that, the
ripple effect is huge. So,
00:31:59.61\00:32:03.28
for us, we're investing
deeply in these kids that
00:32:03.32\00:32:07.29
God has charged us
with so that they can
00:32:07.36\00:32:09.72
then go out and also
invest deeply and make
00:32:09.79\00:32:13.16
an impact in their
communities. Tendai,
00:32:13.23\00:32:16.60
and I think I have
a photo of him you can
00:32:16.67\00:32:18.50
bring up, he's the boy
that you're referring to.
00:32:18.57\00:32:21.30
Yes, that's him.
Big smile. He was one of
00:32:22.00\00:32:25.74
our young people who
was in the public school
00:32:25.81\00:32:28.21
system and was
failing. He was doing terribly.
00:32:28.24\00:32:31.81
The teachers told
us he had a learning
00:32:31.88\00:32:34.25
disability and he
would never learn to read.
00:32:34.32\00:32:37.39
He was almost 14 years
old, but he was brilliant.
00:32:37.45\00:32:40.76
I mean, the kid
built, like- he could make
00:32:40.82\00:32:42.76
things out of solar
panels and he builds
00:32:42.82\00:32:45.09
things and he's
very inventive. He has so
00:32:45.13\00:32:47.40
much potential. In
less than a year of school
00:32:47.43\00:32:50.77
on our campus (once we
pulled him out of public
00:32:50.83\00:32:53.10
school), he's now
reading and writing. He loves to
00:32:53.17\00:32:56.54
read his Bible, and he
has really been empowered
00:32:56.60\00:33:00.11
and feels so proud
that he's finally got the
00:33:00.18\00:33:03.78
skills to take care
of himself in that way,
00:33:03.85\00:33:06.92
and yet, he'd be told
that he would never do
00:33:06.98\00:33:09.18
it. I believe
that's God and I believe
00:33:09.22\00:33:11.75
that's also because of
our donors who invested
00:33:11.82\00:33:14.12
in our school and
this risk that we took to
00:33:14.19\00:33:17.03
do better for our
kids and invest in our few.
00:33:17.09\00:33:20.23
- That's
beautiful. - Any questions we-
00:33:20.30\00:33:22.56
- Yeah, what are
the needs that you have?
00:33:22.63\00:33:25.13
- Yeah, absolutely.
Well, we mentioned a lot
00:33:25.97\00:33:27.94
of the things that
make us different: our
00:33:28.04\00:33:30.31
education, our
nursery... One thing we didn't
00:33:30.37\00:33:34.98
mention that I love
to mention is that we go
00:33:35.08\00:33:38.45
beyond just the age
of 18. So, when your
00:33:38.51\00:33:43.92
niece or nephew
or my daughter turns
00:33:43.99\00:33:46.15
18, I'm not just finished
with her, right? Parenting
00:33:46.25\00:33:51.19
is lifelong. - You
know, at that point, I just
00:33:51.26\00:33:53.36
thought about that,
because if you're able
00:33:53.43\00:33:54.76
to put family units
together, obviously,
00:33:54.80\00:33:56.46
the mom and dad are
not 18. - Yeah! Yeah.
00:33:56.53\00:33:58.83
And so, what
happens in Zimbabwe and also
00:33:58.87\00:34:01.70
here in the States is
you turn 18 and you're
00:34:01.77\00:34:04.57
no longer allowed
to stay on campus. Most
00:34:04.61\00:34:07.18
of these children
have been raised there and
00:34:07.21\00:34:08.74
they're not allowed
to come home anymore.
00:34:08.84\00:34:10.45
I mean, think
about how horrible that
00:34:10.51\00:34:11.85
would be. So, we've
started a youth transition
00:34:11.88\00:34:14.42
program where we
actually are building supervised
00:34:14.48\00:34:17.55
transitional housing
for our kids who turn
00:34:17.62\00:34:19.92
18 and age out to live
while they finish school.
00:34:20.02\00:34:23.43
Many of them have
gone onto college; we
00:34:23.49\00:34:25.73
have a couple- a boy
in business school, we
00:34:25.76\00:34:27.90
have a girl who's
finishing up teacher's
00:34:27.96\00:34:29.33
college...OR they go
onto trade school and
00:34:29.40\00:34:31.73
apprenticeship programs.
So, we're really trying
00:34:31.80\00:34:34.87
again to do that
continuum of care so they
00:34:34.94\00:34:38.87
are equipped to become
self-sufficient and look
00:34:38.97\00:34:41.74
after themselves and
their families one day.
00:34:41.81\00:34:44.01
So, when you talk
about needs, our need really
00:34:44.08\00:34:47.22
crosses that
whole spectrum. We need
00:34:47.32\00:34:50.45
funding to help
keep our nursery going,
00:34:50.52\00:34:52.85
infant formula, all
of that. We need funding
00:34:52.89\00:34:55.79
to pay the tuition,
college tuition for our
00:34:55.82\00:34:59.06
kids in the youth
transition program.
00:34:59.13\00:35:01.26
- And what does
that cost about? - Our
00:35:01.33\00:35:02.70
tuition can cost
about, sometimes, $5,000 a
00:35:02.80\00:35:05.40
year for college.
Total, our kids 18 and under,
00:35:05.47\00:35:09.20
it costs about
$5,000 a year to give them
00:35:10.01\00:35:11.97
everything they
need. So health care, food,
00:35:12.04\00:35:14.24
housing, care, uniforms,
books, all of that. - Oh,
00:35:14.31\00:35:18.88
okay, so that's all
included. - Mhm. - That's
00:35:18.91\00:35:20.35
encouraging. -
Yeah. So really, any gifts
00:35:20.42\00:35:22.15
made to our general
operating fund goes to
00:35:22.22\00:35:25.22
all of the things
that we've talked about
00:35:25.29\00:35:26.99
today and really
helps us give that spectrum
00:35:27.09\00:35:30.59
of care to our
children. - Now, when you think
00:35:30.66\00:35:33.29
about some of the
greater challenges- I know
00:35:33.33\00:35:35.50
that you have staff;
you talked about that-
00:35:35.56\00:35:37.13
but then also, are
there opportunities for people
00:35:37.20\00:35:40.50
to volunteer and
help? Because I know that
00:35:40.57\00:35:42.37
that may be a challenge,
too. - Absolutely! One
00:35:42.40\00:35:44.97
of my biggest challenges
as a development director
00:35:45.01\00:35:47.54
is to- you know-
photos and stories and things.
00:35:47.64\00:35:51.55
When we have
volunteers over there, it really
00:35:51.61\00:35:54.05
helps with that. We've
had student missionaries
00:35:54.12\00:35:56.15
come before (which
has been a wonderful
00:35:56.22\00:35:58.12
blessing for our
kids). We need people to help
00:35:58.19\00:36:00.62
in our school, in
our nursery; we've had
00:36:00.69\00:36:03.22
nurses come and do
evaluations over our
00:36:03.29\00:36:06.03
kids and different things
like that, so we definitely
00:36:06.09\00:36:08.16
have the capacity
to house volunteers and
00:36:08.20\00:36:11.23
always welcome people
if you want to talk about
00:36:11.27\00:36:13.13
what that could look
like for themselves or
00:36:13.20\00:36:15.34
their families. - How
long do they stay when
00:36:15.40\00:36:17.97
they come? Is it
as long as they want?
00:36:18.04\00:36:19.94
- It really depends
on, kind of, what the need
00:36:20.04\00:36:21.91
is. I would say it's
a really long trip to
00:36:21.98\00:36:25.01
Zimbabwe, so when
you go, you'll only spend
00:36:25.11\00:36:29.68
probably a couple
weeks if you can. - At least.
00:36:29.78\00:36:32.25
- But yeah, it's
very flexible; we can talk
00:36:32.35\00:36:33.82
about what that looks
like for sure. - Is it
00:36:33.86\00:36:36.06
anywhere near
Victoria Falls? - No, it's not,
00:36:36.09\00:36:38.49
unfortunately. - Ok.
- But most people who
00:36:38.59\00:36:40.50
do come end up taking a
side trip. I still haven't
00:36:40.60\00:36:43.03
been. Someday, I hope
to go. - So it's a long
00:36:43.06\00:36:45.67
way, then?- from Victoria
Falls. - Yeah, it is not
00:36:45.73\00:36:48.10
close; just gonna
say it. We're about a
00:36:48.17\00:36:51.34
four-hour car ride from
the Harare International
00:36:51.44\00:36:54.64
Airport in Harare. -
Ok. - But it's beautiful.
00:36:54.71\00:36:57.68
Zimbabwe's beautiful.
The people are wonderful.
00:36:57.75\00:36:59.98
Everyone there is
just so kind and welcoming
00:37:00.05\00:37:02.85
and they understand
what we're trying to do for
00:37:02.88\00:37:05.92
these children, for
sure. I wanted to pull up a
00:37:05.95\00:37:10.39
slide, if I may. I
mother a four-year-old, and
00:37:10.49\00:37:14.66
we've talked a lot
about important things like
00:37:14.73\00:37:16.40
family and chores and
learning to be self-sufficient,
00:37:16.46\00:37:19.60
and education; but
we haven't talked about
00:37:19.67\00:37:21.90
one of the most
important aspects, I think, of
00:37:21.97\00:37:24.24
childhood, and that's
play. - Okay! - And that
00:37:24.31\00:37:27.28
is the final thing I
think that really makes
00:37:27.31\00:37:29.18
us different. Our
kids, and I have a photo, I
00:37:29.21\00:37:32.15
think, of our playground
somewhere... - I saw the
00:37:32.21\00:37:34.22
swings. - Yeah! Look.
We have this great little
00:37:34.28\00:37:36.08
playground. They're
given lots of time to
00:37:36.15\00:37:39.15
just be kids,
right? I mean, kids need to
00:37:39.19\00:37:41.79
play and run and
laugh, and our children are
00:37:41.82\00:37:46.16
having as normal of a
childhood as possible,
00:37:46.23\00:37:49.46
because we believe that
that's how they're going
00:37:49.53\00:37:52.33
to become the best
well-adjusted adults.
00:37:52.40\00:37:55.44
- Socially
developed. - Mhm. - Do they swim
00:37:55.47\00:37:57.27
in that lake? -
You know, they do! They
00:37:57.34\00:37:59.71
swim, we've had
baptisms down there in that
00:37:59.77\00:38:02.08
lake; it's just a
little walk, so a lot of our
00:38:02.14\00:38:04.05
children have been
baptized down there.
00:38:04.11\00:38:05.71
- Is there a pastor
on staff, or...? - Not
00:38:05.78\00:38:08.72
on staff, but we
have, like I said, a good
00:38:08.78\00:38:10.85
relationship with
the local church. Many of
00:38:10.89\00:38:13.46
our staff are
Christian or Adventist and can
00:38:13.52\00:38:16.52
really provide that
mentorship to our kids.
00:38:16.59\00:38:19.86
So, our administrator
and our director are
00:38:19.93\00:38:21.56
both real father
figures for our kids.
00:38:21.66\00:38:24.10
And then in the
homes, we just have mamas;
00:38:24.83\00:38:27.17
we have female caregivers
for a lot of different
00:38:27.27\00:38:29.54
reasons. - And they
speak English? - Mhm,
00:38:29.60\00:38:32.21
yes. So, it's another
reason why it's easy to
00:38:32.24\00:38:33.81
travel there. You
don't have to learn Shona,
00:38:33.88\00:38:35.88
although they love
it when you try. - Yeah.
00:38:35.98\00:38:37.91
- So do the children
speak in their language
00:38:38.01\00:38:40.72
also? - The
children all speak English.
00:38:40.82\00:38:42.62
- Ok! - Try really
hard to make sure that's
00:38:42.68\00:38:45.52
that something that
they gift that they've
00:38:45.59\00:38:47.39
been given, and most
of them speak it very,
00:38:47.42\00:38:49.59
very well. - Let's get
a little bit more specific
00:38:49.66\00:38:51.53
on these needs,
because a lot of times, when
00:38:51.59\00:38:53.60
people say, "We have
needs, education, high
00:38:53.70\00:38:56.56
school, boarding tuition,
youth transition program,"
00:38:56.67\00:39:00.74
how can you specify
one of those that you
00:39:00.84\00:39:04.71
think the greatest
need that Kuda Vana
00:39:04.77\00:39:08.24
might have? -
Here's what I would say: it
00:39:08.31\00:39:10.45
costs us $5,000 a year
to fully meet all the needs
00:39:10.51\00:39:15.58
of one child. We have
50 kids, so you do the
00:39:15.68\00:39:20.06
math. - Add THAT up. -
ADD that up. [laughter]
00:39:20.12\00:39:22.72
- Plus, we have
another 20 or so that are in
00:39:22.76\00:39:24.09
our youth
transition program that we're
00:39:24.13\00:39:25.66
assisting with
tuition and food and housing,
00:39:25.73\00:39:28.73
right? So, a gift of
$5,000 fully sponsors
00:39:28.80\00:39:33.64
a child and all
their needs for the whole
00:39:33.70\00:39:35.87
year; but not
everyone can do that! And we
00:39:35.90\00:39:38.01
understand. -
Right. - So, we also have a
00:39:38.07\00:39:40.11
child sponsorship
program. If you sign
00:39:40.18\00:39:42.91
up for a monthly gift
on our website of just
00:39:42.98\00:39:45.98
$25 a month or more,
you can sponsor a child
00:39:46.05\00:39:49.88
and bring that child
and their story into your
00:39:49.92\00:39:52.92
family, pray for them,
learn a bit about them.
00:39:52.95\00:39:56.02
Every year, we'll
send you a photo and an
00:39:56.09\00:39:58.23
update. So, that's
one way that, you know,
00:39:58.26\00:40:01.80
if $5,000- any gift
in any amount really does
00:40:01.86\00:40:05.73
help. But we've
grown so much and we are
00:40:05.80\00:40:09.07
answering God's call
to care for these kids
00:40:09.17\00:40:11.27
in the way that
you would care for your
00:40:11.34\00:40:13.51
own kids, and
that costs money. - You
00:40:13.58\00:40:15.78
know that what we
learned, and this is
00:40:15.88\00:40:17.38
something we've
heard before, because a lot
00:40:17.48\00:40:19.21
of times, organizations
say, "We're going to
00:40:19.25\00:40:20.98
send you a picture of
the child." And in many
00:40:21.05\00:40:22.82
cases, it's not
really the child; but we've
00:40:22.88\00:40:24.95
learned recently,
just in some mission trips
00:40:25.05\00:40:27.46
we just took, that
it's actually the child -
00:40:27.52\00:40:29.56
the picture you get is
actually the child that
00:40:29.59\00:40:31.49
somebody might be
sponsoring. So, if
00:40:31.56\00:40:34.33
you want to participate,
we'll let you know in
00:40:34.40\00:40:35.96
just a moment... Do
we have any more pictures
00:40:36.03\00:40:38.57
that we haven't covered?
- I don't think so. - Okay.
00:40:38.60\00:40:41.17
Now, there's a
second video roll that you
00:40:41.24\00:40:43.74
alluded to. Tell
me about that. - Yeah.
00:40:43.81\00:40:45.91
You know, I really wanted
to share with you something
00:40:45.97\00:40:49.78
from one of the
children in our care. The video
00:40:49.84\00:40:52.45
that we're going to
show is of one of the
00:40:52.51\00:40:54.32
first girls that I
met on my very first trip
00:40:54.42\00:40:57.09
to Kuda Vana. She's
brilliant, and she wants
00:40:57.15\00:41:01.56
to be a doctor
someday. I have absolutely no
00:41:01.62\00:41:04.83
doubt that she will
be, and that is because
00:41:04.89\00:41:07.86
of our generous supporters.
So, your gift will help
00:41:08.83\00:41:11.53
ensure kids like
her not only do well for
00:41:11.60\00:41:15.80
themselves but can
hopefully change the tide
00:41:15.87\00:41:18.17
of what's happened in
their country. - Right.
00:41:18.27\00:41:20.78
- So when you make a
gift, I want you to watch
00:41:20.84\00:41:23.95
this video and know
that she's the girl that
00:41:23.98\00:41:26.41
you're helping.
She's the girl that you're
00:41:26.51\00:41:29.38
helping achieve a
lifelong dream and
00:41:29.45\00:41:32.05
become something,
learn to know a God that
00:41:32.12\00:41:34.72
loves her, will
never abandon her, that she
00:41:34.82\00:41:37.56
has a family forever
in heaven. - Well, let's
00:41:37.63\00:41:41.10
look at this video.
00:41:41.16\00:41:42.66
- Wonderful video,
isn't it? - Yes! Amazing.
00:42:45.79\00:42:48.56
Brilliant young
lady. How old is she? - She
00:42:48.66\00:42:51.77
is just about 15. - Just
about 15. - Now, how long
00:42:51.87\00:42:56.30
has she been there?
- She has been at Kuda
00:42:56.34\00:42:58.97
Vana, I want to
say, since she was around
00:42:59.01\00:43:00.68
8 or 9. She doesn't
know her family's story.
00:43:00.74\00:43:03.61
- Oh, she doesn't. -
No. - But she knows who her
00:43:03.65\00:43:07.32
family is now. -
Wow. So this aspiration- I
00:43:07.38\00:43:11.15
would say part of her
inspiration comes from-
00:43:11.22\00:43:14.42
I have to include the
development of her life
00:43:14.52\00:43:18.03
at Kuda Vana. - Yeah!
I think it really shows.
00:43:18.09\00:43:20.93
I mean, for someone
who's really grown up
00:43:21.00\00:43:22.73
there that she has
such big aspirations
00:43:22.80\00:43:24.87
and dreams, and she's
so academically motivated.
00:43:24.93\00:43:28.37
I think it's a testament
to the environment that
00:43:29.04\00:43:31.41
she's growing up
in. We know we can't
00:43:31.51\00:43:32.87
replace true
family, but we can do our
00:43:32.97\00:43:35.38
absolute best and
connect her with people that can
00:43:35.44\00:43:39.05
act as family to
her, as well. - You know,
00:43:39.11\00:43:41.08
what happens is the
people that you're with or
00:43:41.15\00:43:43.02
the environment you're
left in, it could either
00:43:43.12\00:43:45.09
say to you, "What do
you miss?" or it could
00:43:45.15\00:43:48.16
say to you, "What do
you want to be?" "What
00:43:48.22\00:43:50.53
is your future
like?" And so many times,
00:43:50.63\00:43:52.99
people that are in
disadvantaged situations,
00:43:53.06\00:43:55.23
they think about what
they're missing rather
00:43:55.33\00:43:57.83
than what they
could be. They look behind
00:43:57.93\00:43:59.40
them so much that
they can't even get
00:43:59.47\00:44:01.67
vision to look up
front. What's exciting about
00:44:01.74\00:44:05.01
this young lady, for her
to have this inspiration,
00:44:05.07\00:44:07.98
she had to get it
from the care that's
00:44:08.08\00:44:10.85
she's getting at Kuda
Vana. I mean, if she didn't
00:44:10.95\00:44:13.01
think that her possibilities
were opening up, if
00:44:13.08\00:44:15.45
every day was a struggle
to her and every day was,
00:44:15.52\00:44:17.15
"Ugh, well, I can't
wait to get out of here,"
00:44:17.22\00:44:19.15
if that was the kind
of experience she had,
00:44:19.19\00:44:21.46
it wouldn't open up
this flower for her to
00:44:21.56\00:44:24.29
say, "You know
what? After what I've been
00:44:24.36\00:44:25.99
through, after where I
am, I could be whatever I
00:44:26.06\00:44:29.46
want to be!" Talk
about that motivation that
00:44:29.53\00:44:31.73
comes through the
staffing. - Yeah, and
00:44:31.83\00:44:33.17
here's the thing:
Diana will be turning 18 in
00:44:33.20\00:44:36.40
3 years, and in any
typical orphanage, they
00:44:36.50\00:44:40.04
would say, "Good
luck; you gotta move out.
00:44:40.18\00:44:42.64
Find a place to
stay; figure it out." How
00:44:42.74\00:44:44.98
are you going to pay
for education? Probably
00:44:45.01\00:44:46.65
not. That's not what's
going to happen for her.
00:44:46.72\00:44:49.52
- Wow. - So as we speak,
we are actually currently
00:44:49.58\00:44:52.15
building and finishing
up our youth transition
00:44:52.22\00:44:55.02
program housing so
our 18-year-olds have
00:44:55.06\00:44:58.19
a place to stay and
live while they finish their
00:44:58.26\00:45:00.30
education-some of
them when they go onto
00:45:00.40\00:45:02.73
college, some of them
will go onto trade school
00:45:02.80\00:45:05.83
programs or start
small businesses... - Their
00:45:05.90\00:45:08.14
uniforms. - Yeah,
those are pictures of- on
00:45:08.17\00:45:10.61
the top right
there, you see some girls
00:45:10.67\00:45:12.01
holding papers. They
just finished a nursing
00:45:12.04\00:45:14.68
certificate program
to do in-house nursing.
00:45:14.74\00:45:17.88
The girl there in the
middle is one of our kids
00:45:17.95\00:45:20.25
on campus; she's learning
computer skills: working
00:45:20.32\00:45:22.62
with Excel and
Word documents. And then
00:45:22.68\00:45:25.75
you can actually
see Diana's there in the
00:45:25.85\00:45:27.92
jacket there on the
right-hand side in her
00:45:28.02\00:45:31.46
school uniform,
getting ready to go to a job
00:45:31.53\00:45:33.23
shadow. So, we
actually partner with several
00:45:33.29\00:45:35.96
local organizations,
including Junior Achievement
00:45:36.00\00:45:38.63
Zimbabwe, and also
the Mutare Polytechnic
00:45:38.70\00:45:42.74
College to teach our kids
essential entrepreneurship
00:45:42.80\00:45:46.24
and financial literacy
skills and really equip
00:45:46.31\00:45:50.05
them, again, with the skills
to become self-sufficient.
00:45:50.08\00:45:53.11
So, when Diana
turns 18, we're not done
00:45:53.18\00:45:56.35
with her. We're going
to keep helping her go
00:45:56.42\00:45:58.52
onto college and go
onto medical school if that's
00:45:58.59\00:46:01.66
what she wants to
do. So, when our donors
00:46:01.72\00:46:04.03
make a gift, they're
really making a long term
00:46:04.09\00:46:06.83
investment in the
life of a child - not just
00:46:06.90\00:46:09.76
short term, making
sure she has adequate
00:46:09.83\00:46:12.43
food or shelter, but
enabling her to thrive.
00:46:12.50\00:46:15.74
- Beautiful. Now, when we
travel to these third-world
00:46:15.80\00:46:20.04
countries, I,
myself personally, I bring
00:46:20.08\00:46:23.95
clothes for these
children from children in our
00:46:24.01\00:46:28.18
church, their
used clothes, they've
00:46:28.28\00:46:31.39
outgrown them...
This last trip I went to
00:46:31.45\00:46:34.26
in Myanmar, I had
a suitcase just with
00:46:34.32\00:46:37.19
clothes just to
give away. How do they
00:46:37.26\00:46:40.03
get clothing? -
That's a great question. We
00:46:40.10\00:46:42.60
bring giant duffel
bags to Zimbabwe-really
00:46:42.66\00:46:46.60
big ones packed to
the gills. We do bring
00:46:46.63\00:46:49.27
over most of our
children's clothing. We
00:46:49.34\00:46:51.41
have some
wonderful supporters that do
00:46:51.47\00:46:54.98
the coupon-cutting
and all that stuff.
00:46:55.08\00:46:57.65
They go and find
the sales and the deals
00:46:57.71\00:46:59.08
and purchase clothes
for our children. - That
00:46:59.11\00:47:01.28
sounds like my
wife. - We actually have,
00:47:01.38\00:47:02.72
like, a clothing
shop, a store, on our campus
00:47:02.75\00:47:05.45
where the mamas can
go and find clothing in
00:47:05.49\00:47:07.82
different sizes
for their children. We
00:47:07.92\00:47:10.39
want to make sure
they feel proud and they
00:47:10.46\00:47:12.56
present well, that
they have that pride in
00:47:12.63\00:47:15.33
ownership that we've
even had a new or only
00:47:15.36\00:47:17.63
very slightly-used
set of clothing. So,
00:47:17.73\00:47:20.27
we do accept
donations like that. Definitely,
00:47:20.34\00:47:23.24
we also have a small
library that we're always
00:47:23.30\00:47:25.54
looking for good
books for our kids. We use
00:47:25.57\00:47:28.74
computers and tablets
for our children in our
00:47:28.78\00:47:31.18
school. - To
computer program. - Mhm, so
00:47:31.25\00:47:33.31
things like that
are always very welcome.
00:47:33.42\00:47:35.12
- You know what,
you're right; this is not your
00:47:35.22\00:47:37.09
regular orphanage. -
No, it's a home! - It sounds
00:47:37.12\00:47:40.02
like a high school
here in America somewhere
00:47:40.09\00:47:41.92
where- job fairs and
getting people dressed
00:47:41.99\00:47:44.49
up so they can go.
What's that program,
00:47:44.56\00:47:46.29
shadow...? - Job
shadow. Yeah, a couple of our
00:47:46.36\00:47:49.53
girls, they recently
went to- it was a local
00:47:49.60\00:47:51.73
radio station,
actually, that they visited,
00:47:51.80\00:47:53.77
which you might
enjoy. They also went to a
00:47:53.80\00:47:56.20
blood bank and
learned about what it's like
00:47:56.27\00:47:58.14
to work for a blood
bank and those types
00:47:58.21\00:48:00.11
of careers. So,
really trying to think out
00:48:00.18\00:48:01.88
of the box and plug
our kids in where we
00:48:01.94\00:48:04.31
can and help them,
really, look bigger
00:48:04.35\00:48:06.75
beyond their current
circumstance and have
00:48:06.82\00:48:08.88
big dreams. -
What about food? Where
00:48:08.95\00:48:10.99
do they get their
food from? - Great
00:48:11.05\00:48:12.52
question. So, each
family group home, they
00:48:12.55\00:48:15.19
have their own garden,
so the kids are learning
00:48:15.26\00:48:17.19
from a very young
age, they do all their own
00:48:17.26\00:48:19.13
gardening, so a lot
of them grow produce;
00:48:19.19\00:48:21.66
they grow things:
leafy greens and spinach,
00:48:21.73\00:48:24.40
tomatoes, maize, all
of that. - Maize. - The
00:48:24.43\00:48:29.70
local favorite is
satza. So if you've been to
00:48:29.74\00:48:31.71
Zimbabwe, you know
what satza is. It's
00:48:31.74\00:48:33.74
sort of like a thick
mush sort of cornmeal.
00:48:33.81\00:48:35.94
- Yes, yeah; we've
seen that. - And then,
00:48:36.04\00:48:37.55
of course, we
purchase a lot of it in bulk.
00:48:37.58\00:48:39.51
Things in
Zimbabwe have been a little
00:48:39.55\00:48:41.12
difficult lately, so
we're purchasing a lot
00:48:41.18\00:48:43.22
of our items in
bulk. We were very grateful
00:48:43.28\00:48:45.65
to receive a grant
this last year from ASI
00:48:45.69\00:48:48.09
Mid-America to
build a new food storage
00:48:48.12\00:48:50.76
facility so that we
could purchase things
00:48:50.83\00:48:52.83
in bulk and save
funds that way and have a
00:48:52.89\00:48:55.43
place to put it.
So, in the homes, the
00:48:55.50\00:48:59.03
cooking is all shared
in the family, all the
00:48:59.10\00:49:01.50
younger kids and
older kids work together.
00:49:01.60\00:49:03.77
When you've got a
family of ten, it's a lot. The
00:49:03.84\00:49:07.08
other thing I
should mention is laundry.
00:49:07.14\00:49:08.58
- I was going to
ask about laundry; that
00:49:08.64\00:49:10.41
was my next
question! - Yeah! So, we have
00:49:10.45\00:49:12.21
solar power for
hot water generators.
00:49:12.28\00:49:14.82
Sometimes, we're on
the grid; it depends. But
00:49:14.92\00:49:17.79
all the kids do
their own laundry, so my
00:49:17.85\00:49:19.82
four-year-old, when
I bring her to Zimbabwe
00:49:19.85\00:49:21.79
this next year,
she's going to learn how to
00:49:21.82\00:49:23.22
do her own laundry.
- She's going to grow
00:49:23.29\00:49:25.39
up greatly appreciative.
- She'll be out back,
00:49:25.46\00:49:27.60
handwashing her
clothes; yup. - Go to the lake
00:49:27.66\00:49:29.36
and wash your
clothes. - And, again, it's
00:49:29.46\00:49:31.83
giving these kids- I
mean, they're going to
00:49:31.90\00:49:33.23
have what they
need to be able to take
00:49:33.27\00:49:35.07
care of themselves and
their families one day.
00:49:35.14\00:49:37.11
- This sounds
like something where-
00:49:37.17\00:49:38.51
you need to have
a program where they
00:49:38.54\00:49:39.87
could take young
teenagers from America to go and
00:49:39.91\00:49:43.81
volunteer so they
could come back home with a
00:49:43.88\00:49:45.65
great heart of appreciation.
So many things come so
00:49:45.71\00:49:48.38
easily for children
in America, and in some
00:49:48.42\00:49:51.09
cases, for families
in America. But what Kuda
00:49:51.12\00:49:53.89
Vana's doing- and
it means what, again?
00:49:53.96\00:49:56.06
- 'Loving children.'
- Loving children. Wow.
00:49:56.12\00:49:58.73
You know, this
really is an amazing project
00:49:58.79\00:50:00.76
when you think about
it, honey. - Yeah. I love
00:50:00.83\00:50:03.40
children; we both
love children! - Prototype,
00:50:03.47\00:50:04.80
I think- we don't
have any, but whenever we
00:50:04.90\00:50:07.60
hear about missions
because of our experience
00:50:07.67\00:50:09.40
in Zimbabwe and
Zambia- we were both about
00:50:09.50\00:50:12.84
a couple years
apart- that any time my wife
00:50:12.91\00:50:16.54
hears "mission," she
targets- she goes right
00:50:16.61\00:50:18.81
to Wal-Mart, she
starts shopping... - I get the
00:50:18.88\00:50:21.55
specials in the...what,
dollar clothes? I buy
00:50:21.62\00:50:23.85
clothes for $1. -
Toys... - Toys, brand new. - So
00:50:23.92\00:50:27.72
when we get over to
the mission field, she's
00:50:27.79\00:50:30.29
right away looking
for kids. She'll take a
00:50:30.33\00:50:32.99
suitcase, and
before she's done, that
00:50:33.03\00:50:34.76
suitcase is empty.
Then also raising funds for
00:50:34.83\00:50:37.17
people to be able to
afford- children to be
00:50:37.23\00:50:40.17
able to afford
education, so this is something
00:50:40.24\00:50:42.27
that we're talking
about. - Yeah. - So, this is
00:50:42.30\00:50:43.97
inspiring,
because missions teach you
00:50:44.01\00:50:46.21
to get out of your
comfort zone. That's
00:50:46.27\00:50:49.14
amazing that
you're going to take your
00:50:49.21\00:50:50.61
four-year-old
daughter there. - Oh, yeah.
00:50:50.65\00:50:52.38
She's going to
grow up going. Well- and
00:50:52.45\00:50:54.08
I have to say I appreciate
you all so, just sharing
00:50:54.12\00:50:56.58
your personal
story, because no matter
00:50:56.62\00:50:59.05
where you are,
whether you're looking after
00:50:59.09\00:51:00.89
kids in Zimbabwe
or right here in the
00:51:00.96\00:51:03.43
States or wherever
you might live, there's
00:51:03.49\00:51:07.00
a mission field in
your backyard. There's a
00:51:07.06\00:51:09.30
mission field on the
other side of the world,
00:51:09.33\00:51:10.87
and you just have
to pick. Who are your
00:51:10.93\00:51:12.27
few? Do for a few
what you'd like to do
00:51:12.30\00:51:15.57
for many. - Wow. - ? the viewers
00:51:15.60\00:51:18.04
today is if they are
moved by this story of what
00:51:18.11\00:51:21.31
we're trying to do
for our few, that they
00:51:21.38\00:51:23.68
make a financial
contribution and invest
00:51:23.78\00:51:26.01
deeply in the lives
of these kids. - That's
00:51:26.05\00:51:28.42
right. And the information
that you need to participate
00:51:28.48\00:51:31.69
with the ministry of
Kuda Vana, here's the
00:51:31.75\00:51:34.12
information that
you need to get in touch
00:51:34.16\00:51:35.52
with them to make
financial donations
00:51:35.59\00:51:37.59
and any other kind of
donation. You can find
00:51:37.66\00:51:39.89
that information on
this website. - Kuda
00:51:39.93\00:51:44.23
Vana Partnership
ministers to the desperate needs
00:51:44.30\00:51:47.20
of vulnerable
children in Zimbabwe. They need
00:51:47.27\00:51:50.27
funds for education, a
nursery, special infant
00:51:50.37\00:51:53.41
formula, and
tuition costs to help these
00:51:53.48\00:51:56.11
children achieve
their lifelong dream. Please
00:51:56.14\00:51:59.05
visit their
website, KudaVana.org. That's
00:51:59.11\00:52:02.38
KudaVana.org. Or call
them at (720) 515-5148.
00:52:02.45\00:52:11.13
That's (720)
515-5148. If you would like to
00:52:11.19\00:52:17.30
write to them, you
may address your letter to
00:52:17.37\00:52:19.67
Kuda Vana Partnership
6200 West Hampden Avenue
00:52:19.73\00:52:24.24
Denver, Colorado 80227.
00:52:24.34\00:52:28.14