Hey Y’all,

And we’re back for the third Wednesday of #WhyIWentWednesday ! After the hustle and bustle of last week’s Fall 2019 OHA Update live-stream (link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1402461786578236/?active_tab=discussion ), we are happy to get back on track with our regularly scheduled happenings.  This week’s is written by PJ Tuohy, enjoy!

“My first thought when I was invited to go, was “I need to go anywhere bu here”. Thinking more upon this, I figured, “I can go anywhere in the world – so what makes this trip different?” I started to think about all of my friends and all of the places I have seen them go on social media. Many come back with stories; but what was striking to me about this thought was that most people come back with stories about themselves.

It was an amazing trip. I did in fact come back with a story full of beautiful countries where nature is absolutely breathtaking. I came back with the stories of the lions, elephants, rhinos, and giraffes. The stories of the fun nights with good friends. The stories of new foods, and culture. But there was also so much more.

This was when I started thinking of trips from people who have helped others. Their stories were always about others and how they could be of use. Not only was this a trip where I can come back and talk about the things I saw and the things I did; this was also a story about other people – and a view of life that was not my own. I knew this trip would be one that changed me, but I had no idea what that meant until I was on the plane ride back.

I am a pretty carefree person, but I wanted to change that. I wanted to care about something – and I wanted to know that I would not be the only one who cared about this “something”. I know I have talents, but I haven’t seen myself use them in a way in which someone else was inspired to not even listen but replicate. On this trip, I felt this way. Whether I was learning about sustainable farming, or talking to people about their lives, teaching others what I know, or physically working on something – I was doing something that would make an impact that would last beyond the dates I had taken off of work. 

This is the trip that people ask me about most. Others are eager to learn more, and glimpse into a life, where they too can help. Many people are debating to themselves, “When or how can I go on a trip like this?” If that is the way you are thinking already, I urge you to dive headfirst into this world – because regardless of what you have to offer, absolutely everything you do helps and will continue to help for others long after you return.”

Want to be like PJ and dive headfirst into our OHA family at our programs in Eswatini and Mozambique? Join us on our upcoming trip this Decemebr / January or apply for a volunteer position (located under oneheartafrica.org/give). For more information about the upcoming trip please visit oneheartafrica.org/go or email jami@oneheartafrica.org.

Hey Y’all,

It’s the second Wednesday of #WhyIWentWednesday ! Help yourself get over the hump day by reading this inspiring blog by one of our previous inters, Gabrielle Glenn. Enjoy!

“Africa was always that place I wanted to venture to, but never thought I would make it to the great land itself. After my senior year of high school I knew I wanted to go somewhere new and unexpected before I began the new season of college. My parents and friends thought I was a tad of crazy when I decided to use all of my graduation money that summer to fly 16 hours away with two interns, or more accurately, two strangers.  Maybe I was a little bit crazy. I was walking into uncharted territory and signing up for a month and a half of service with an organization that sounded cool, but I didn’t know loads about. 

Hugging my parents goodbye as they sent off their 18 year old daughter to travel into an unfamiliar country was a little tough. I had some doubts about my journey, until I began my journey. Then it was all peace and so much joy. Those two interns who were at first strangers, they became my good friends, one being one of my best friends to this day. That place I didn’t know much about called One Heart Africa, well it became one of the nearest and dearest places in my heart. Those days sitting on the dusty ground washing my laundry in a cold bucket, those were simple days I wish I could go back to. The many days going to the local care points in Siteki to give out produce to the little ones in the school, dancing in circles and being silly with them as they smiled endlessly with their pearly whites, oh my I wish I could travel back in time to those moments. 

I gained so much perspective on my narrow view of life when I decided to have a little faith and jump on a plane with some strangers to become a summer intern at OHA. I could tell you countless stories about my time living on the farm in Swaziland or staying in Mozambique, but there’s too many wonderful stories to even count. All I can say is I’ve learned that in moments of uncertainty, remember that there’s so much more perspective to gain when we choose to interact with the faces, places, and spaces around us. 

People: that’s what I would go back for. Like our little munchkin’s, Piti and Fiso, who lived on the farm with us, they would act like my arms were literal monkey bars. Or the kindest and most beautiful mama, Figlile – a woman of so much tender love and compassion. Those people.. they’re just a few of the beautiful hearts I was so blessed to get to know. My heart will always have a deep love for OHA, oh yes it will. “- Gabrielle Glenn

Thats right Gabrielle, connecting to the locals & our OHA family at our programs in Eswatini and Mozambique is often cited as the best part of any trip for most visitors. We love our OHA family both at home and abraod and we would love for you to meet them! For more information about the upcoming trip please visit oneheartafrica.org/go or email jami@oneheartafrica.org.

Hey Y’all,

Miss us? We are back on the blogging game! Every Wednesday we will be posting a #WhyIWentWednesday to promote our upcoming Winter 2019 Team Service Trip. This week’s is from one of our latest visitors, Alexandra Tendler. Enjoy!

“When I think back to my first initial thoughts before booking my trip to Eswatini and Mozambique, I remember feelings of wonder and curiosity.  I felt this buzzing, infectious excitement to see, feel and learn more about the world. From the moment I booked my flights to actually boarding the plane to South Africa, I knew I was about to experience a trip of a lifetime.

 Despite having very few expectations or much knowledge of where I was going, I was well aware that this trip would be different from all the others I have taken. I’ve seen much of Europe and have been as far as the Middle East, but Africa was entirely uncharted territory for me. And having grown up in a rural American farm town, I knew my upbringing was sheltered. There was so much of the world I have wanted to see and when the opportunity arose to immerse myself in an entirely different culture and way of life I jumped at the chance. I was so thrilled but nervous and uncertain of what it would actually be like. I had some notion of what Africa looked like from books or movies, but my mind still struggled to fully wrap my head around where I was going and how I would react to it all. Yet it was this unknown that propelled me forward and made me even more excited to get there and get my hands dirty with experience. 

Also when I thought about this trip, I had this deep longing to do something meaningful for a change and help make a difference, however small, for a child, parent, or anyone in need. Visiting the Sharing Hope preschool in Mozambique was one of the things I was most looking forward to. I didn’t necessarily know what kind of impact I could make or how I could help people and children dealing with poverty or situations I could never possibly imagine, but I felt encouraged to go on this trip to meet the students, staff and do everything I could to brighten their day.

Having now been to Eswatini and Mozambique, it is funny to consider the optimistic, slightly naïve and open-minded version of myself from before this trip. The version of myself who took that spontaneous leap to see Africa and who had so many hopes and some fears too for what lied ahead. The version of myself who had no idea what she would be doing or seeing but knowing that this trip was right. And if only I could tell her or have reassured her that she made the best decision and found her visit to Eswatini and Mozambique to be so fulfilling, humbling and replete with humility and kindness. 

It was the kind of trip that still crosses my mind and courses through my veins everyday. I day dream of the dark skies at night that glow with bright, white stars as far as the eye could see or the laughter of the school children whose faces burst with happiness, the calm wisdom of the school teachers, and the friendly politeness of so many people that started as strangers and became quick friends. 

I would choose to see Africa a million times over and now the next question is how soon can I go back?”- Alex Tendler

Well Alex, to answer your question we just so happen to have a trip planned for this upcoming December / January! For more information about the upcoming trip please visit oneheartafrica.org/go or email jami@oneheartafrica.org.

Hi Everyone!

My name is Gabrielle, also referred to as Jabu (my SiSwati name), and I am one of the 3 interns here at One Heart Africa this summer! I’m the youngest of the crew; I’m 18 and just finished high school! I will be attending Lee University in the fall to pursue a degree in journalism and a minor in intercultural studies. I have a huge passion for missions, and loving people – and I’m so excited to be here this summer to truly live and learn all about One Heart Africa and the difference they are making here!

Living in Swaziland so far is incomparable to any place I’ve ever ventured to. I’ve been on several mission trips to Haiti and traveled to many countries in the world, but there’s something different about this place! Living here has really helped me appreciate the beauty of their culture. The people here are so genuine and honest – the love here is simply awe-inspiring. With that comes the desperate need, and that is where One Heart Africa comes in to play. Being here over 3 weeks now, I can already see the huge impact that OHA is making on this community. OHA does more than just farm or feed, they are truly educating, empowering, and equipping the community. It’s hard to really see that when it’s not right in front of you, but let me tell you – big things are happening here and I can’t wait to help communicate that in these next few weeks!

I will be writing to you occasionally, as well as the other interns, as we all take part in heading up the media for OHA these next few months!

As for now, it was so nice to meet you!

Until next time,

Jabu

The following blog is by summer 2017 OHA Media Intern, Emma Welborn. 

As I think about the past couple of weeks, one thing that comes to my mind is overcoming. The days here are a much slower pace than the days back home, and through this slower pace of life we learn efficiency and priority. But, there are some things that cannot be helped and they never cease to get in the way. We have overcome Wi-Fi difficulties, which is tough considering all of us interns are here for media related purposes. Nonetheless, we battled around that and found ways to make use of our time through helping with the farm, teaching us things we would have never thought of otherwise, like aquaponics (basically using fish poop to grow plants). We also had the opportunity to go to a Care Point, a school for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs), and were able to see the workings of a 14-year volunteer who sacrifices her life to help these children. Having no Wi-Fi gave us time to delve into the Word, and figure out our purpose for this trip and to form deeper bonds with one another.

In case you didn’t know, the food in Africa is different than that of the United States. Though we have been careful (drinking only filtered water), we have battled food poisoning, and are working to overcome a stomach bug. Combine this with homesickness and lack of sleep, one can see where it’s easy for us to lose focus of our mission. But, through many pep talks and forced joy, we have learnt to be there for each other and to work together to overcome the curse of bad health.

So, three weeks in and we are realizing how imperfect the human is, but how perfect our God is. We are able to form lesson plans for teenage girls, take photos to narrate the lives of the local workers, spend days running errands all over Swaziland to fuel a nonprofit, and grow deeper in faith and friendship with one another.

While it is easy to look back and only see the hard things we would not have had to face in the comforts of our own homes, it is refreshing to know how much God works in His own ways, and to see just how strong we are as a team. One Heart Africa is doing amazing things, but it is not without difficulty. I have been able to see the work Anna and Ryan put in every day, and trust me, the payoff is beautiful. Families clothed and fed, children going to school, a light in a world of darkness, oh the things we have overcome.

For the past two months, we’ve had this gem of an intern. It’s about time we get to introduce her to you! Presenting… Intern Won the Swan.  🙂

Hey there OHA followers!

So good to finally meet you. I’m Yee Won, your first official One Heart Africa intern! I’m so excited to be here on the ground in Swaziland serving with Ryan and Anna. For the next three months I’ll be working as OHA’s multimedia intern, taking care of social media, blogging, and some administrative things. So what brought me here? The thrill. Jesus. And the internship requirements for my degree.

I’m a senior at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where I’m a double major in communication & Spanish. At UTC, I fell in love with photojournalism after taking a class with my most favorite professor, Billy Weeks. He taught me that making images can produce change in a way that guns or knives can never do. I’m excited to use media as an avenue for storytelling because it’s one of the best ways I know. Telling people’s stories through images is powerful, and allows others to see people and places they may never. It sparks change, shows growth, and connects people. OHA has such an amazing story to tell, and I truly am honored to be a part of telling it.

I hope this summer will be a time of growth for me! I’m in a totally new place, with a new culture, and a new community. I’ve never really done anything like this before. My prayer is that God will allow me to see people the way He sees them. From each little Mozambaby’s hand I hold, to the kokos we will pray with during home visits, I hope that God uses this summer to shape me to look more like Him.

When I go home, I want to be able to show people my work—images and videos that can clearly represent what OHA is doing. I want to have created beautiful, meaningful things, and have helped the CEO’s out in a noticeable way. I hope this summer is something that will stretch me, and test me, and grow me for the better.

Africa, I am here for you.

Leggo!

You may have recently seen some pictures on our various social media pages about our vegetable gardens and greenhouses making progress over in Swaziland. But what exactly is the significance of this sustainable farming you’re hearing so much about?

Sustainability is a word that has surfaced in the past 30 or so years to address ecological, economic, political and cultural development, and it basically means the endurance of systems and processes.

In the case of One Heart Africa’s farm in Swaziland, sustainability means the change of livelihood of those living in poverty. It’s easy to ask for money to provide food and resources for those in need, but the aid only helps as long as it takes to expend it. So what can be done?

Thanks to a partnership with Harvests of Hope, we’ve developed a farm using organic seeds, pine dust, and animal manure that will yield crops for years to come! We’ve also built custom shade gardens that house 800 plants each. Since the plants aren’t getting as much sun as they typically would if they were out in the open, they try harder to get to the sun, which means they grow faster. Our crops are in individual seedling bags filled with very nutrient-rich soil, which means they require little water. This is also a plus, since the area we plant in can experience drought. We don’t use pesticides, and the greenhouses cut down on soil erosion and protect the soil’s nutrients.

HIV affects many families in the village, and one way to keep them healthy is by providing healthy food to keep them strong. Even if an HIV-positive individual takes the proper medication, it means very little if they do not receive proper nutrition. The OHA farm seeks to be an avenue where these families can get the food they need for free.

Not only does the farm support impoverished families, but it provides jobs for them. Poverty rips families apart by forcing one or both of the parents to leave their homes to seek work in different cities or even different countries. The children are then left in the care of a friend or relative, they don’t get the care they need, and the poverty cycle continues.

OHA believes that families should be together. Period. We seek to break this cycle by providing on-the-job training and steady, ethical employment through the profits from a portion of the crops. Our goal is to build guesthouses on the property so that each family that works with us can stay together.

Thank you, each and every one of you, for your continued interest and support in the work happening in Africa. We are so excited about everything going on, and look forward to sharing all the great developments in the villages there that have stolen our hearts!

Wow, let me first start off by saying that this year has been a banner year in the life and times of One Heart Africa!  We are continually blown away by the things that have happened and wanted to do a quick recap so that we can celebrate 2013’s accomplishments and start dreaming about the upcoming year.  Here we gooooo!!

I’m going to call this section: Sweet Stuff that Happened Last Year

January 15 – One Heart Africa (OHA) hired two local mothers as teachers and one young adult to cook lunch for the students at Sharing Hope Preschool.  These ladies previously had no opportunity for employment prior to Sharing Hope.   Now, they are able to provide for their families in a way that betters themselves and others!

January 28 – Sharing Hope Preschool opened its doors to 18 students to provide free, quality education for children ages 4-6(ish).

Sometime in March – OHA purchased a 22-acre piece of land (which we call “the farm”) in Siteki, Swaziland.  As of now, the land has been cleared, water lines have been run, and five acres of potatoes are growing! Yeee-haw!

April 1 – You guys helped us raise $1,800 to bring the story of Licilo and One Heart Africa to life – documentary style.  Thank you thank you thank you!

May 6 – Alice Lee, a fellow Tennessean studying in Botswana, shared her AMAZING photography skills with us while vising the school in Licilo.  Y’all, just look at how amazing she is! This is only a very small selection of her work.

Side note: I may or may not have cried a little when I saw these.  Again, amazing. Alice, you are such a blessing!

July – Two brave young travelers ventured with us to South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique to visit the OHA sites and film for the documentary.  While we were there, a new classroom for the school was completed and we were given about four acres in Licilo for farming.  The land was such an unexpected blessing!

Accepting the farm land in Licilo

November 9 – The One Heart Africa Film debuted along with our shiny new website! (You can click on the underlined stuff to check them both out.) Special thanks to Max Mospanyuk of Nine Line Productions for the documentary, Rusty Clanton for the film’s music, and Jesse Poteet for the website design! You all are so talented!