Heart 4 Africa is so delighted that you have come for a visit!  This is our attempt to update you on your sponsored child and their life in Nairobi, Kenya. We are excited about the success of our recent Destination Kenya 2008 trip and hope that you can become one of our partners in changing the world for one child.  

With our gratitude,

Mike and Annette Biggers

Some of you have heard, but it bears repeating.  Two of our favorite men, Rex and Colin, went to Kenya and Uganda recently.  There wa big confusion early on because the original plans fell through.  It would have been super easy for Rex and Colin to either get extremely upset or become hopeless, but in true irony, GOD had other plans.  The boys stopped in to see our lovely children who are visibly doing much better. Bonnie, for example, who was hardly walkinin February was running around playing soccer with the kids two weeks ago.  All of this is due to GOD's grace and the consistent donations towards Herat4Africa.  We have been able to keep a fully stocke, well balanced fridge.  Colin said the kids have doubled in size, and everyone smiles as they play.  Honestly, this alone is enough of a miracle considering the state of our kids only six months ago.  The mere fact that they can all play together with energy and excitement is an honest act of GOD.

After the joy of our kids in Kenya, Rex and Colin flew to Uganda.  They were ableto speak and inspirelovely Ugandan teenagers at their youth camp.  One of my favorite stories is about how Jaida (one of our favorite Ugandan teens) saw Colin from far off and ran full speed to say HI.  Heart4Africa trades friendship and inspiration with kids all over East Africa.  While in Uganda Rex and Colin were able to speak to thousands of people, and Rex was able to share GOD's healing power with his audience as well.  It was a spectacular trip that exhausted the boys (and beleive me, that is HARD to do...but all things are possible with GOD).  :)  The boys came back a few days early, and a whole line of dreams and excitement has followed.  More to come,*

TINA*

Heart4Africa joined in to celebrate Colin Bigger's 21st birthday, and Colin shared the spotlight with two of our wonderful friends: Francis and Martin.  It is the first trip to America for both of these men, and I was very interested to know what they thought.  We opened up topcis such as marriage with the massive difference between American divorce rates and uganda divorce rates.  We talked about efficiency at the expense of relationships.  All conversations I wish I could sum up in a nut shell, but I can't.  Instead I am extending an invitation to you into these conversations; instead of sharing the interesting details, joyful common ground, helpful understandings, and happy friendships I want you to create your own.  Join with Heawrt4Africa in these friendships, come meet these men (and our other friends to come), shake their hands, listen to their stories, and remember their hearts and faces forever.

It is AMAZING to sit with friends and talk with no expectations.  Well...ok, I'll tell you one story..!  But only because I cannot help myself:  One of the men remarked on how much he admired the efficiency of America; he liked that we got things done.  He said, "In Uganda this would never happen because your neighbors always stop in."  I laughed because I remember sitting in the kitchen for HOURS with my roommates and friends, sometimes until the lights turned off, just talking.  You can never ask your guests to leave in Uganda, it is rude.  Our friend looked at me as I laughed and I remarked that was one of my favorite things about Uganda...and I miss it here.  I explained that here it can be VERY hard to maintain relationships because of our busy schedules.  I don't think our friend had considered that before; we agreed eventually that our countries have their own strengths and weakness.  

Conversations like these are so fulfilling because it is simply two brains and hearts coming together to shake hands...no alternative motive, agenda to complete, or greed anywhere.   My other favorite conversations include our kids and our dreams to make them the princes and princesses they were born to be.  We sit around talking about how little they once were and how beautiful they are now a few years later.  I always leave wanting to jump on a plane right that second.  Mike, Annette, I have had Africa in every thought since last night.  Lucky Colin will be returning to Africa later this month (SO jealous)..!

*TINA*

Please join us at any public events and meet two incredible men who will change your hearts and outlook.  Their schedule is below

http://www.icalx.com/html/teenietinyt/day.php?cal=Francis

Anybody ever heard of Mwangaza..?  If you have any relationship at all with me, Annette, or Mike you practically know them personally..!  Mwangaza is a children’s ministry from Uganda; they are a part of Africa Renewal Ministries and Mike, Annette, and I have worked with them for a few years.  The children train like Olympic athletes, and fly to western countries to perform.  Your mouth will hit the floor when you see them.  Watching and listening to them makes you understand a new sort of joy; their lifestyles at home have equipped them with a simplistic hope.  They can see GOD daily where many Americans fail to see beyond the “big picture.”  These kids can identify GOD’s work in their lives where many Americans would claim a “coincident.”  They smiles, laughter, hugs, greetings, and jokes are all examples of GOD’s mercy, grace, and compassion. 

They come from humble beginnings, but have been empowered and encouraged to do big things.  Their stories belong on Opera, CNN, and/or a prize-winning novel, and their futures are bright because of the GOD’s purpose.  They are a testament to GOD overcoming all odds, and HIS choice to use the forgotten to accomplish HIS revolution.  The reason these kids spark change everywhere they go is not simply because they are from Africa (the forgotten land).  The western world sees dozens of advertisements and campaign adds from NGOs and non-profits everyday about the poverty and broken state of Africa.  However, out of numbness or disbelief, we have changed the channel, hit mute, or turned our faces.  When Mwangaza comes, shakes your hand, hugs you, and smiles back at you with their beating hearts in front of you the reality of their success is absolute.  They can tell you in their own words with no translator, and it hits you like a ton of bricks. 

I have yet to meet one individual come away from a Mwangaza show indifferent.  Every one changes.  They do not change from guilt, like the television adds promote, or from badgering, like the peer pressure campaigns…they change because the GOD’s power stares back at them from these kids.  If there is an opportunity in your area to see an international group than you should put it on your schedule and bring friends because the experience is priceless.  And don’t leave right afterwards, stick around and force yourself to shake some hands.  It will feel like going to Disneyland as a child; you see your favorite Disney character walking up ahead and you want to go shake their hand, but you are nervous.  Your mother pushes you because she wants a photo for the embarrassing photo wall at home.  Eventually she convinces you, or does it for you, and afterwards you spend the rest of the day gabbing about how awesome it was.  Shaking a child’s hand is the same way; you will gab forever about how different that experience because you are not shaking the hand of indifference, you are shaking an honest, innocent hand.

*Tina* 

GOD's grace is sufficient for us.  GOD's grace pours over us.  GOD's grace saves us.  Common phrases.  

Not very often is it recognized that GOD's grace is also HIS provision.  HE feeds us, as the birds of the air and flowers of the field.  HE gives us the desires of our hearts, as a doting FATHER.  HE loves us with pure unconditional passion for each of us.  HE answers the calls of HIS children with faithfulness and righteousness.  All these things are expressions of HIS grace poured out in love.  

No amount of human activity or agency could spark a revolution like HIS.  The body of CHRIST moves in humility, with fervent power and divine authority; no other movement compares.  

Mike, Annette, and I got an email from Ingrid (rocking-est project manager ever) with a few snap shots of GOD's grace for our kids.  Check these out:

A greater volume of food than these kids have ever seen before...

We thought Geoffrey lost his smile...dreams and hope put the SPIRIT back inside kids..!

 *TINA*

Remember being a kid and wishing with all your might that Grandma wouldn't pinch your checks so hard, and that your aunts would stop gossiping about "how you've grown..?"  You would move around the house as a teenager just hoping that maybe the adults wouldn't stop and ask, for the millionth time, "how was school?"  Then college comes and you are DESPERATE to get out...and, of course, once you move out you are dying to get back in.  You swear up and down that you "will never be like your mother because she bugs you."  Remember those times..?

Well, what if you never had those memories..?  Would you be happy...I immaturely thought I would be until I heard a woman yesterday.  She was explaining that she recently had a discussion with her daughter, and her daughter was saying how much she missed her mother's "love'n."  Since she had moved out all the little nuances that once seemed annoying were actually caring, and those were the first holes in her life that she noticed.

My mind began to wander...back to Africa of course (it spends most of its time there!).  And I began to think of the memories stored away in our kid's minds.  Most of them have lost at least one parent, if not both, and I wonder how many tears they wish they could trade to have their checks squeezed regularly.  Or to have a guardian dote over their success no matter how small.

Heart4Africa is gifted and blessed to have a staff of people who have a love so pure, and a heart so big towards these children.  In times of anxiety and tight-quarters they stayed strong in ways our American members cannot.  Our whole program is enriched because of them...what BEAUTIFUL blessings from GOD.  Our team genuinely finds joy in watching these kids grow.  In learning the nick-names and personal style of our kids.  

For the first time I understand why grandparents, aunts/uncles, and parents dote: because you love your kids so much you would rather ask them the same questions a million times just to hear their lovely voices than lose them in silence.  The lady's daughter said she missed her mother's "love'n", and I can understand that now.  Our team shook hands a million times, and said, "How are you?" as if we were saying, "You just won the lotery!"  And I understand that too.

Watching them grow, and standing beside them is much more than a check, a shirt, or a dinner.  It's the prayers, letters, pictures, and visits that form the memories tucked gently inside them which provide the strength and encouragement they will need to overcome.  Heart4Africa does many things...but I'd have to say my favorite is watching them grow.

This is Mike (above) with Kady (a ROCKSTAR photographer from Texas).  I promise you she will watch him grow; maybe not from his side like Ingrid (our SHINING STAR project manager), but from constant checking in and communication (plus we are dragging her back...we just haven't told her when).  They developed the cutest little language, and Kady's favorite part to share was Mike's version of "bye."  He would look at you, smile (secretly, I think he knew it was funny), and say "Byeeeee!" and then immediately hug Kady.  Now, i have to clarify...this word is not simply "bye" extended...it is pronounced "Bi-yeeeeee," and always said with a smile!  She asked him to say that word a million times for Muzunugu (white people) amusement...but what an AWESOME memory!  

~Tina~