Participants:
Series Code: TDY
Program Code: TDY200004S
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00:01 I want to spend my life
00:07 Mending broken people 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Removing pain 00:23 Lord, let my words 00:30 Heal a heart that hurts 00:34 I want to spend my life 00:40 Mending broken people 00:46 I want to spend my life 00:51 Mending broken people 01:09 Hello, and welcome to another 3ABN Today program. 01:13 I'm Jill Morikone and I'm with my sister. 01:16 Angela Lomacang, 01:17 and we're so glad to be here, aren't we? 01:18 It's gonna be a great program. I'm excited. 01:20 I always loved the Today program, Angela, 01:22 because we have the opportunity to find out what God is doing 01:27 in ministries around the world. 01:29 Yes. 01:30 And this particular ministry, 01:32 I'm personally very excited about. 01:35 We heard about it years ago... 01:36 Yes we have. 01:38 When God inspired the CEO and co-founder 01:41 to launch this ministry. 01:43 And it's a ministry 01:44 specifically for young children, 01:47 we could say in Africa. 01:49 Oh, Africa is one of my favorite places 01:52 to travel to. 01:53 Almost every year 01:55 we go to different parts of Africa and children, 01:57 that's where my heart beat, 01:58 when I see the children, and the needs that they have. 02:01 When I go, 02:02 I always bring gifts for these kids. 02:04 I always bring, children from my church, 02:06 I bring clothes, half my suitcases. 02:09 One suitcase is packed with giveaways. 02:11 I go to the Dollar store, get balloons and whatnot. 02:14 So I'm excited about this program. 02:15 I'm excited too. 02:17 And we are going to introduce you 02:18 to our special guests right now. 02:20 Cynthia Prime is the CEO and co-founder of SOHO, 02:23 which stands for Saving Orphans Through Health Care Outreach. 02:27 Did I get that right? 02:28 Yes, Saving Orphans 02:30 Through Health Care and Outreach. 02:31 Yes. Outreach. 02:32 Amen. 02:34 So, Cynthia, you are not a stranger to 3ABN. 02:37 I remember programming that you did for us and... 02:39 Praise the Lord. 02:41 When God called you to this ministry, 02:44 and then we really wanted to hear an update. 02:46 We want to hear what God is doing 02:48 in and through this ministry 02:49 and we are excited to partner together 02:52 and helping get this message out. 02:54 So tell us just a little bit what is SOHO all about? 02:58 Okay. 02:59 SOHO began with a call from God, 03:01 to be camp meeting speaker in Swaziland 03:04 at that time it was named, 03:06 and had no idea what I was getting into. 03:09 But as you will see, 03:11 we raised enough to feed 1000 children 03:13 three meals a day for one week. 03:15 And God said, Cynthia, these are the least of these, 03:20 and that was the beginning, that was the beginning, 03:23 I've watched God work miracles with nothing, 03:26 starting with nothing. 03:28 So we've got schools, 03:29 we've got programs that minister to children 03:32 who are indeed the least of these, 03:35 and we look at the, you know, 03:36 health education, feeding, nurture, 03:38 empowerment of those children in Southern Africa. 03:42 Amen. 03:43 It's the hands and feet of Jesus. 03:45 Oh, yes. Amen. 03:46 So, we're going to introduce the rest of our guests here 03:49 and want to make sure we hear from each one of you. 03:51 But next to you is Andrew Von Maur. 03:54 You are a professor 03:55 at the Andrews University School of Architecture 03:58 of Interior Design. 03:59 That's a mouthful. 04:01 Did I get all that? Right. 04:02 The School of Architecture and Interior Design. 04:04 And interior design. Okay. At Andrews, yes. 04:06 How long have you been there at Andrew? 04:07 Sixteen years. 04:08 Wow, long time. 04:10 As professor the whole time or? 04:11 As professor, yes. 04:13 I also finished my undergraduate work there. 04:14 Okay. 04:16 So my first question and I know this comes later, 04:18 but what in the world 04:19 does Andrews have to do with SOHO? 04:22 Yeah. 04:24 Well, we see architecture as a ministry. 04:27 And so God uses all kinds of people 04:30 in all kinds of disciplines. 04:32 And, you know, God is also an architect. 04:36 And so, we see opportunities to uplift 04:41 His work and to assist 04:43 with different projects around the world. 04:46 And in this case, 04:48 God led us to Cynthia and her ministry, 04:51 and we saw an opportunity to be of assistance. 04:54 Amen, we're going to hear about that partnership, 04:56 I'm excited. Yeah, me too. 04:58 Sitting next to you is, Gwen Albright, 05:00 and you're a student, 05:01 is that correct at the Andrews University 05:03 School of Architecture and Interior Design? 05:06 And how long have you been there? 05:07 Where are you from? 05:09 So, I'm originally from Burundi. 05:12 But I also grew up in Rwanda. 05:13 So I claim both countries. 05:17 And I've been to Andrews, at Andrews for five years now, 05:20 this is my fifth year, yeah. 05:22 Very exciting. 05:24 And sitting next to you last but not least. 05:26 No, not at all. 05:27 Stephanie Davis, 05:29 and you're a student as well 05:30 at the School of Architecture and Interior Design. 05:33 And tell us a little bit about your background? 05:35 Well, I was born in the States, 05:36 but raised in Honduras for my whole life. 05:39 So I claim Honduras. 05:42 I have also been in school, since 2015. 05:45 So we're classmates and we're on our graduate year. 05:48 Wow. Beautiful. 05:49 Praise the Lord. That's wonderful. 05:51 It's nice to have young people a part of this ministry. 05:54 It's beautiful. Absolutely. 05:55 Yeah. Absolute. 05:57 I believe that's the way 05:58 that you reach them and keep them. 05:59 Yes. They want to change the world. 06:03 Yes, they do. 06:05 So, Let's talk about that, 06:06 and how SOHO is changing the world too. 06:08 So I'm excited. 06:09 But, you have a scripture for us first, don't you, Angie? 06:11 Yes, absolutely. 06:12 This is from Psalm 121:1-2. 06:17 And I love this scripture, it's absolutely beautiful. 06:20 It says, "I will lift up my eyes to the hills, 06:24 from whence comes my help. 06:26 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." 06:31 Beautiful and it's true. 06:33 And we're going to talk about hills today, aren't we? 06:36 We are. 06:37 Oh, you're gonna see some beautiful hills 06:40 on this program. 06:41 So stay tuned. 06:43 There's a lot to come. 06:44 Amen. 06:46 But first we're going to hear from Angie's husband, 06:49 Pastor John Lomacang. 06:50 Yeah. He's gonna bring us a song. 06:52 He's gonna sing, 06:53 I'm so excited that he's gonna sing a song 06:55 today called, "I will go." 07:30 Give me ears to hear Your Spirit 07:36 Give me feet to follow through 07:42 Give me hands to touch The hurting 07:47 And the faith to follow You 07:57 Give me grace To be Your servant 08:03 Give me mercy for the lost 08:09 Give me passion for Your glory 08:14 Give me passion for the cross 08:21 And I will go Where there are no easy roads 08:27 Leave the comfort that I know 08:33 I will go and let this journey Be my home 08:39 I will go 08:44 I will go 09:01 I'll let go of my ambition 09:07 Cut the roots that run so deep 09:13 I will learn to give away 09:18 What I cannot really keep 09:24 What I cannot 09:27 Really keep 09:32 Help me see 09:36 With eyes of faith 09:39 Give me strength 09:43 To run this race 09:46 And I will go 09:49 Where there are no easy roads 09:54 Leave the comfort that I know 09:59 I will go and let this journey Be my home 10:05 I will go 10:12 I will go where Lord 10:15 Your glory is unknown 10:18 I will live for You alone 10:24 I will go Because my life is not my own 10:31 I will go 10:36 I will go 10:44 I will go 10:57 Amen. 10:58 Thank you so much, Pastor John Lomacang. 11:00 I will go where there are no easy roads, 11:03 leave the comfort that I know. 11:05 But go because God has called, 11:08 and our special guests today have truly done that, 11:11 they have gone 11:13 where maybe it wasn't the easiest place to go. 11:15 But they have gone because the Lord Jesus 11:17 has a call on their lives. 11:19 So, Cynthia Prime is the CEO and co-founder of SOHO, 11:23 which is Saving Orphans 11:25 Through Healthcare And Outreach. 11:27 And with you is professor at Andrews 11:30 along with some students from Andrews, 11:32 and we're excited to hear what God is doing 11:34 but take us back, Cynthia, to the beginning of SOHO, 11:38 and when God dropped this dream into your heart? 11:42 Well, I love the song, I will go, 11:43 because what you find out when you surrender 11:46 and you really give yourself, 11:48 it's an unpredictable journey. 11:51 But for young people who think God is boring. 11:53 I tell them He rocks. 11:55 He does, you know, 11:57 if you picture just having a speaking engagement 12:00 out there and feeling the call of God 12:02 because one third of the population 12:04 was HIV positive. 12:06 This was in Swaziland? 12:07 Yes, in Swaziland, 12:09 and you had a mushrooming population 12:12 of orphans and vulnerable children. 12:15 Going there and seeing smiles that didn't meet their needs, 12:18 seeing the number and hearing that call from God. 12:22 It was to quit my job as a consultant, 12:25 beautiful office with nothing under you. 12:28 So sometimes He says, put your foot into the Jordan, 12:30 nothing under you. 12:32 And what I love, 12:33 what we want to share today is to see 12:35 what God would do with nothing. 12:37 Amen. 12:38 With nothing, 12:40 He doesn't say what do you have? 12:41 He says, what would you surrender? 12:44 Oh, that's deep. 12:45 I think it's good for us to start with a video 12:47 that really takes us back, 12:49 that shows you a bit visually where we were 12:52 and that will put some context into the discussion. 12:55 Perfect. 13:02 The story begins in 2006 with the HIV AIDS pandemic 13:06 sweeping Swaziland, 13:08 the last remaining absolute monarchy in Africa. 13:12 In a population of 1.3 million, 13:15 33% of the people were affected, 13:18 leaving 150,000 children orphaned and vulnerable. 13:23 That's when Cynthia Prime arrived, 13:25 with an international team of volunteers, 13:28 who had heard her interview with Danny Shelton on 3ABN 13:31 and had come to help. 13:33 The country was scrambling 13:35 to put support systems in place. 13:37 Children were parenting siblings, 13:40 and in some tragic cases, 13:42 becoming parents themselves before their teens. 13:46 Cynthia Prime quit her corporate job 13:49 to become a full time volunteer serving orphans, 13:52 because she felt it was what God 13:54 would have her do. 13:55 SOHO volunteer teams conducted mobile clinics, 13:59 distributed container loads of clothing and supplies, 14:02 and fed hundreds of children. 14:05 In a rural mountainous community 14:06 called umshove shane, 14:08 SOHO encountered grannies like Maisie, 14:11 caring for 17 children in one small room. 14:15 A home was built for her. 14:17 Relationships were developed with area schools 14:20 and orphans with the greatest need were fed. 14:23 A 4000 square foot welcome place was built, 14:26 to house a preschool, 14:28 feeding program, and periodic clinics. 14:32 At slum Vane, 14:33 SOHO discovered children daily, 14:35 scrounging for food under a tree. 14:38 Lorraine Hope, 14:39 an elderly retired nurse from New Zealand 14:41 did a pencil sketch of a structure 14:44 and then raised the funds to build a preschool. 14:47 Today, it is Hope Discovery Learning Center, 14:50 one of the country's first classrooms 14:52 serving children with disabilities. 14:55 In nearby Mara camp, considered a squatter camp. 14:59 SOHO's outreach coordinator Pastor Melvin Moyo 15:02 has recruited children at risk of abuse 15:04 to attend Hope Discovery Learning Center. 15:07 Primary schoolboys 15:09 who had been taught to make Marula beer, 15:11 now learn life skills through soccer. 15:14 Girls are being nurtured at an annual camp 15:17 serving 150 children. 15:19 God had bigger plans for His children. 15:23 SOHO needed to address the issues of abuse, 15:27 as one in three girls become victims of predators 15:30 before their teens. 15:32 Hunger, 15:33 as food insecurity leads to physical insecurity. 15:37 Opportunities for schooling 15:39 as only 20% of students finish high school 15:42 and only 5% are able to attend college. 15:46 And human trafficking, 15:48 as poverty and lack of safe parenting, 15:50 continues the cycle of abuse and exploitation. 15:55 For eight years, 15:56 the SOHO team prayed for land 15:58 with title and deed that could be purchased, 16:01 where safe housing could be built for children 16:03 at great risk. 16:05 We asked for 30 acres. 16:08 When God replied, 16:10 He made one of the best farms in Swaziland available 16:13 in a truly miraculous fashion. 16:17 More than 1000 scenic acres, 16:19 fenced, well-watered, 16:21 with a new farmhouse and a macadamia nut plantation. 16:25 On this, SOHO will establish a children's village, 16:29 as well as social enterprise and agriculture 16:32 to support the village 16:33 and provide opportunity for skills training. 16:36 This is a God-sized dream. 16:40 Intsaba, 16:42 a mountain village where children can learn 16:45 how much God loves them. 17:01 Wow, that's amazing 17:03 to see the need, to see the pain, 17:07 and then to see what God is doing through SOHO, 17:10 and what God did then, 17:12 in the school in being developed 17:14 and that was by volunteers, is that correct? 17:16 Yes. Yes, it is. 17:17 It is amazing that the volunteers, 17:21 one of the schools, the one that serves children, 17:24 the first in the country 17:25 to serve children with disabilities, 17:28 who are considered cursed, you know, 17:31 it's an elderly nurse from Australia, 17:33 one of the first volunteers to Swaziland, 17:36 who heard the program on 3ABN, 17:38 when I was being interviewed, true thing raised the money. 17:42 And that was the first part of that school 17:44 that is now known as Hope Discovery Learning Center. 17:48 And it is really a lighthouse in that community. 17:50 The other, the larger building, serves children. 17:54 We do clinics there, 17:56 we've done a lot of work there. 17:57 But I think when you look at the need, 18:00 if you look at a population 18:01 where more than 50% of the population 18:04 is under the age of 20, it's a young population. 18:10 When you look at children, you know, 18:14 not even having the basics. 18:17 But what is so touching, 18:18 Jill, it is mainly volunteers, mainly volunteers, 18:23 we have very small staff that we have, 18:27 but volunteers come together and they make a difference. 18:30 Are they volunteers from Africa? 18:33 Volunteers from the US, really. 18:34 From the US? 18:36 The US, from Australia, 18:38 who went out there and who participated. 18:42 We've had some long term volunteers 18:44 who stayed out for two years 18:46 at a time to help run the program out there. 18:49 So you went to speak 18:51 when this vision was first dropped 18:52 in your spirit, 18:53 you can say that was in 200... And 6, about. 18:56 Six, okay, 18:57 so, and then this school began 19:00 and it's been running since that time 19:02 with the volunteers. 19:03 How many children are in there? 19:05 Well, you know, 19:07 this last period we serve not only in the school 19:10 about 150 children, 19:12 because it is, you've got the preschool there 19:17 that prepares them for primary school. 19:19 Only 5% graduate from college. 19:23 You have 20% graduate from high school. 19:27 So preschool because you know, 19:29 this money issue, there's school fees issue, 19:31 there's uniform, 19:32 or is the ability to either go fetch water 19:35 and take care of the goats or go to school. 19:37 So we've made education a point of celebration. 19:41 You know, they graduated 19:42 so they're in their little graduation gowns, 19:44 make it a big deal and half the community comes. 19:48 We graduate from the joint schools, 19:50 but we also do outreach into the community. 19:52 So if you look at the population 19:54 we're serving now, it's about 150. 19:56 Some of them it's visitation into their homes and whatnot, 20:00 but that's, apart from that, 20:04 way you saw the crowds there. 20:06 We do outreach into the communities. 20:08 We've done mobile clinics, volunteer clinics, 20:11 but what we're doing now 20:12 in one particular community is amazing. 20:14 They call it the squatters camp, 20:16 the Mara camp. 20:17 And it's just, just, 20:20 just poverty at the deepest, 20:23 most grinding level. 20:25 What do you mean by squatters? 20:26 Well, they're there 20:28 because they don't have anywhere else to go. 20:31 And they've built a home there, of sorts, 20:35 but it's very vulnerable populations. 20:37 Would there be intact families as in mother, 20:39 father and children, 20:40 or are these just children without parents or...? 20:41 Some of them are children living without supervision, 20:44 and they are subject, you know, targets of predators. 20:48 Some of them, 20:49 there're different levels of dysfunction. 20:51 They do what they can, 20:52 and you learn more about them from the Andrews team, 20:56 because they've been there. 20:57 But the nice thing 20:59 is that we've just taken 40 of those children, 21:01 to school them in our school. 21:04 Yeah, we raise money for the sponsorship. 21:06 That's why it's all the, all the support, 21:08 we get the support, then we're able to do. 21:12 You know, I'm just sitting here thinking that such need, 21:15 and you could say, 21:17 well, the Lord has blessed us with this school 21:18 and we're doing these incredible things 21:20 that I think I'm doing what God's called me to do. 21:23 But instead, Cynthia, you're saying, 21:26 God wants me to do more 21:27 and you're developing a brand new project. 21:31 So tell us, in addition to the school, 21:34 tell us about this new project? 21:36 Well, one of the things 21:37 that we encountered there is you know, 21:40 there's a hunger there's the education issues 21:43 and what have you. 21:44 But the one that stuck with me is the issue of abuse, 21:48 of as, you know, children, and they needed safe housing. 21:53 We haven't had residential programs 21:59 and the reason is that you have two kinds of land 22:02 in the country Swazi nation land 22:04 and land that, you know, title deed, 22:07 the programs we have now are on land 22:10 that is owned by the king, 22:11 but dedicated to the use of the Swazi people. 22:14 Okay. 22:15 And there are some limitations in what you can do. 22:18 But we prayed for eight years to have land 22:22 that could be under the auspices 22:24 of the organization, 22:25 where you can build and you can do things. 22:27 Yes. 22:28 We prayed for 30 acres and God, 22:30 He'd been miracle working all along, 22:32 doing amazing things. 22:34 But God answered that prayer with 1000 plus, 22:37 1075 acre mountain farm 22:41 and then everything began to explode. 22:43 God can do exceedingly, 22:44 abundantly above all that we ask or think. 22:47 Amen. 22:48 So you prayed for 30 acres, and God said, 22:51 I'm gonna give you over 1000 acres. 22:53 Yes. He wanted a village. 22:56 This is historic. 22:57 I mean where on earth would you be able, 23:01 in a country where land is not, 23:03 it's not as available in the US, 23:04 you have money, you go buy land, 23:06 you know, it's owned privately, 23:08 but to find a way through chance meetings 23:12 and all kinds of miraculous ways 23:14 to come to a place where then you see it. 23:18 And you know, this is beyond our reach. 23:21 And then you pray, Lord, if it's Your will, 23:24 then it's fenced, its historic, 23:27 you don't fence that much acreage. 23:29 Everything is done, everything under checklist. 23:32 And then you said, Lord, if it's Your will, 23:34 let price be the deciding factor. 23:37 And God said, okay, 23:39 so we're just raising the last bit there 23:41 but I'm telling you, 23:43 and then He began providing, 23:45 He began providing ways 23:47 and even the people, the settlers, 23:49 there's a whole miracle story there. 23:51 But this is a real good time to bring Andrews 23:55 into the picture because you will see, 23:58 you'll be able to see that video, 23:59 what happened there. 24:00 Oh, wonderful, 24:02 we want to take a look at the video now and then... 24:03 Yes. Okay, let's do that. 24:05 Let's do it. 27:26 Wow, what a mission. 27:28 What an incredible video, 27:30 those statistics and seeing the faces 27:32 of those children, that just breaks your heart. 27:37 And yet you're going in to make a difference in the lives 27:40 of these young people. 27:41 So, Cynthia, tell us how you first connected 27:44 with Andrews and then we'll hear 27:46 from our Andrews team. 27:47 Well, one of the trustees from Andrews 27:50 who had served on SOHO's board said, 27:54 Cynthia, you need a clinic, 27:56 they've made a clinic out of a 20 foot container. 27:59 The design and they did such a wonderful job 28:02 for another country. 28:03 Would you like one? 28:04 I said, "Absolutely." 28:06 And the dean of architecture then created this clinic, 28:12 which we hope to ship over there. 28:14 Twenty foot container, 28:15 examination room and everything in there. 28:17 Really? 28:19 So when God worked this miracle 28:22 and brought this farm into our lives, 28:25 it's like, Lord, what are You doing? 28:28 We know that the need is there. 28:31 We need, we need help. 28:33 And so one of the retired dean of agriculture said, 28:37 "Why don't you reach out 28:39 to the School of Architecture?" 28:40 And the dean said, 28:41 I said, "We need help. 28:43 God is wanting to create a village." 28:45 He said, "I'll get back with you." 28:47 And the next call I got was next connection 28:50 was with Andrew Von Maur here, and it just picked up. 28:55 They'd done some research and whatnot 28:56 and just picked up impetus, 28:59 because they saw that 29:00 this is a God sized dream that... 29:02 can transform an entire country. 29:04 Amen. 29:05 So, Andrew, what was your first impression 29:06 when you found out about the project, 29:08 and what was going on there in Swaziland or Eswatini, 29:15 Eswatini okay. 29:17 Yes. 29:18 Well, 29:20 I had actually been, 29:21 we do a project every year for a community 29:25 or ministry around the world with our graduate students 29:28 our 50 architecture students. 29:30 And I had actually been praying for a project in Africa, 29:34 because we happen to have a few Africans in the class. 29:38 Yes. 29:39 And, sometimes it just really helps 29:42 when you have people who can relate more easily 29:46 with the local population and the local people. 29:48 And I think the class in general 29:51 was enthusiastic about. 29:52 We had done some studies about African architecture 29:55 in the previous year, 29:56 and there was a lot of desire to go and make a difference 29:59 and do something, 30:00 and we had been looking at different projects 30:02 around the continent. 30:03 And suddenly we get this connection 30:06 out of the blue. 30:07 God's timing. 30:09 God's answer to our prayers. 30:11 And we felt immediately that this was the perfect kind 30:15 of project for us to be involved in, 30:18 good for our students to be involved in, 30:20 but also of service to the ministry 30:23 that SOHO is pursuing. 30:26 We had previously worked in southern Africa as a team 30:29 and so we felt somewhat comfortable 30:32 going even this far. 30:35 And, you know, what, 30:37 Cynthia was really asking for is help in building 30:40 the vision for how do you actually 30:42 make a place like this? 30:44 Yes. 30:45 And, you know, 30:46 in our discipline and architecture, 30:49 you know, every house and every church 30:52 and every building is a kind of testimony 30:55 to a way of living. 30:57 Okay. 30:59 It tells you a little bit about what people value 31:01 and what would, well, how people live. 31:04 And so building a whole village and designing a village 31:08 is a way of understanding how to live. 31:11 And so you have all of these young children 31:14 that are currently vulnerable and orphans, and dealing with, 31:19 you know, the worst possible scenarios in their lives 31:22 that you can imagine, that need a home. 31:25 And not only are they God's children, 31:28 but also you know, 31:30 SOHO is interested in building a home 31:33 not just physically but also the relationships 31:35 of people that support these children. 31:38 And so, in the work and the education 31:41 that they would be pursuing, 31:43 the whole mind, body and spirit education. 31:47 And so, she needed help in putting together a vision 31:51 for what that would look like and, 31:53 and we had the opportunity to help 31:56 and so we took it and... 31:58 So when you create a vision, 31:59 that means you have to go on location and see, right? 32:03 So would that be one of the first steps, 32:05 that you would travel there and what was your experience, 32:09 like when you were there and saw the people? 32:12 So, my colleague and I, Christopher Perry, 32:16 we went down first to just kind of understand the situation 32:20 and met also with SOHO outreach coordinator, 32:24 Pastor Melvin Moyo, 32:25 who's on the ground there 32:27 and some of the other partners for organization and... 32:31 You know, when you go to especially the squatter camp 32:34 that was mentioned earlier, it's called Mara camp in - 32:38 in center of Swaziland. 32:41 You know, it's an old railroad property 32:43 and people sort of informally built up a community. 32:47 And you know, when you're there and you, 32:50 and you see and you get to know, 32:52 and you get to work with and live 32:56 within a sense briefly with, with these children, 33:01 and you realize the profound need 33:06 that really exists. 33:08 But also the beauty of the lives that are there, 33:12 and the value of all of these individual children. 33:18 You know, it touches you more deeply 33:19 even though of course, 33:21 intellectually you already understand there's a need. 33:23 There's a sort of an emotional and a sort of greater passion 33:27 that sort of builds up then and a conviction that you know, 33:31 you want to be part of a solution 33:32 and help touch these lives and do the best you can 33:36 that God has given you resources to do with, so. 33:41 It's beautiful. 33:42 What about Gwen, and... 33:44 Yeah, how did you get the students involved? 33:45 How? 33:46 How was your experience when you went? 33:49 What did that do for you inside 33:51 and then what's your involvement 33:52 with the project? 33:55 Well, personally, 33:57 someone who is actually from a place like that. 34:01 Right. 34:03 It personally felt like I was going back home 34:05 to change something. 34:08 So it was to a deeper level an experience 34:14 that I'll never forget. 34:16 And I felt like it was kind of God's telling me, yeah, 34:20 by the way, you can do something 34:23 where you came from. 34:24 Yes. 34:26 So, when we heard the news that we're going to Swaziland, 34:31 in a million years, I would not have ever thought 34:33 that I'll go to Swaziland, in all the countries in Africa, 34:37 Swaziland was probably not even in the list of countries 34:40 that I was thinking of ever going to. 34:44 But when I, when we researched about it, 34:47 everything that I read was, 34:49 it was kind of echoing what happened. 34:52 What is happening in Burundi, in terms of like the poverty, 34:56 the offense, everything that is happening there. 35:02 So, it literally felt like I'm learning about my country, 35:07 but in another world. 35:08 Oh, wow. 35:10 It's deep. 35:11 And as an architect, of course, and it was, 35:15 it's my fifth year so it was a year 35:18 where you ask God, 35:21 "Where do You really want me to be? 35:24 What do You want what?" 35:26 Everything I was actually thinking about 35:29 stewardship a lot that in that period 35:32 because I was thinking, 35:34 I'm going to graduate, I have skills, 35:35 I have expertise, you know. 35:39 So what should I... 35:40 What do I have to do with it? 35:42 And because you think you want to do it 35:44 for the glory of God. 35:46 I believe that, that was a door that was open 35:50 for me to realize, 35:52 yes, I give you this and this is how you can do it, 35:56 by becoming the feet of Jesus in a place. 36:00 So when we went there, it was literally amazing. 36:07 Youth, I would see kids and I felt like 36:10 I looked like them and this could have been me... 36:14 Right. 36:15 This could have been me literally. 36:17 So it was such an experience of saying, 36:23 I can make a difference with what I studied, 36:27 with who I am, 36:28 with the experience that I have. 36:30 Yeah, was it emotional for you? 36:32 It was very emotional actually going there. 36:35 I was praying the whole way, 36:37 like on the plane because you know, 36:40 it's a long, it's a long flight. 36:42 I was, I literally felt like I was going back home 36:45 because like even the itinerary is going back home. 36:50 So, it was very emotional. 36:52 I actually cried on the way there 36:54 because I felt inadequate, 36:56 like when you see a huge need for children 37:00 and when you deal with children, 37:03 you're not only dealing with the present, 37:05 you're also dealing with the future. 37:06 Yes, that's right. 37:08 So it was emotional because I felt like I'm, 37:11 I don't have what it takes. 37:13 But I realized that it's through God 37:16 that anything is possible. 37:18 That's right. Wow. 37:20 What about you, Stephanie? Yeah. 37:22 Well, along the same lines of what Gwen was saying, 37:25 it was when we first heard that we were going 37:27 to be working with children. 37:30 It was already transformational 37:32 because I have always worked with children. 37:36 I've been working with children's for 10 years, 37:39 in all sorts of ways. 37:42 And just to see the opportunity 37:48 in every little phase, 37:50 and to know that it is by chance, 37:53 that there by chance that I'm there, 37:55 but it's not by chance, I should say, 37:57 it is by God's grace that we are where we are, 38:00 and it was just incredible 38:06 to know that God has been working 38:09 for so long in so many ways. 38:11 That, 2006 when Cynthia started, 38:17 I was in high school. 38:20 He was preparing me already to come to this place. 38:23 He was preparing my classmates. 38:25 He was preparing the land. 38:26 Yeah. 38:28 And it just, as a person 38:30 that's emerging into a profession, 38:32 I can see that God is already working, 38:35 and He's already preparing the things 38:37 that we are going to do. 38:39 And I have so much hope and so much faith 38:41 for these children that we met, 38:44 that this is going to be an incredible opportunity 38:47 for them and this is going to be a home 38:50 and I cannot wait. 38:52 Amen. 38:53 Praise the Lord. 38:55 Once the students, 38:56 so when we had gone for a preliminary visit, 38:58 we brought back a lot of photos. 39:00 And we had put them up in our studio to help 39:02 explain to our students before we went down as a team. 39:06 Here's kind of the situation. 39:08 And, you know, we showed them I think a video or two as well. 39:12 And the students were so touched 39:14 by even just the nature of the project, 39:16 and the mission, that they, 39:18 on their own initiative started a fundraising campaign... 39:21 Oh, how nice. 39:23 To get certain supplies that are needed. 39:27 So, you know, we had found out that shoes were needed. 39:30 Yep. 39:32 Because, especially with the rainy season 39:33 starting soon, raincoats were needed. 39:37 Once the students put together a GoFundMe campaign online, 39:43 and reached out to different people 39:45 in social media and churches, 39:48 and were able to raise a lot of money 39:52 that enabled us to buy supplies locally. 39:54 Yeah. 39:56 That we could then put to use and spending the money 39:58 locally is I think, is also a good thing 40:00 because then the local merchants 40:02 are benefiting from that. 40:04 And so we were able to get a lot of things. 40:08 And while we were there, I don't know, 40:10 what are some of the other things you notice 40:12 while we're there and you ended up getting? 40:13 It was incredible because we went, 40:15 we raised the money with the idea 40:16 that we were going to buy 40:18 rubber shoes for the children, 40:19 because the rainy season's coming 40:21 and it's just easy for them. 40:22 But while we were there, 40:23 we realized that we had not just enough money 40:25 to get the shoes for these children. 40:27 We had enough for raincoats. 40:29 And then while we were there, 40:30 we noticed that some of the little girls 40:32 and boys didn't have any undergarments. 40:35 So even, even there God had already provided, 40:38 we had the money. 40:39 We went to the store, we chose as many as we could 40:42 and we brought them to them. 40:44 And Gwen also had the opportunity 40:46 to reach out and collect some toys for them. 40:50 Did their eyes light up? 40:52 I'd love to see that, the joy. 40:54 Also candy because you know children, 40:56 when you bring them candy, you bring them Christmas early. 41:01 But another aspect that I really, 41:04 it touched me was we brought to them 41:08 lead to Christ, Steps to Christ. 41:12 Steps to Christ books. 41:14 And I remember my, like how I got to know 41:18 Christ was like that, 41:19 was through a book that somebody 41:22 randomly brought to me. 41:23 And when we took them there, when we took them there, 41:27 and we gave them, we had like 100 books 41:31 that we distributed to children. 41:33 And it just reminded me that maybe that's gonna 41:37 be someone like me in the next few years to come. 41:41 So it's like, there is so much hope 41:43 for these children, 41:45 that only God could have ordained all that like, 41:50 all of that, for us to be there at that specific moment. 41:55 And, yeah, it was really amazing. 41:58 It's so exciting. 41:59 Divine Providence, you see God's hand 42:01 in bringing SOHO and Andrews together. 42:04 I know our time is going, 42:05 so let's get to what God is doing 42:08 with this mountain farm. 42:10 Talk to us about the plans, the design, 42:12 I think we have some pictures, so. 42:14 Yes, they have some pictures but I think 42:16 what is critical here is, A, 42:18 it will provide opportunity for housing, 42:21 safe housing, but it is not just housing, 42:23 it's a whole holistic program, it's the housing, 42:27 it's the schooling, it's the church. 42:29 And then in addition to that, 42:32 we're establishing social enterprise, 42:37 a chalets, a lodge where you can have meetings, 42:40 where you can do training, 42:42 where you can do a lot 42:43 and that will produce revenue for the farm. 42:47 Self-sustaining. 42:49 Right, it is self-sustaining. 42:50 And the important thing 42:52 is God has put His signature on it. 42:54 The farm was listed for a 400,000 US, 42:59 and we're close to getting there, 43:02 to taking that farm over. 43:03 Yes. 43:05 We have to put a clinic there, we have to put a lot of things. 43:09 And so just being able to see the impact introduce health, 43:14 healthy living there, and what they have designed, 43:17 they have put the pieces in place 43:18 so that we're able to look at what actually can be there. 43:23 We found out by the way that the sellers of the farm, 43:29 they had been reading the Bible. 43:32 When they felt led there, 43:34 they put their wealth into building, 43:35 fencing the farm. 43:38 They, when we met them, and we thought, 43:41 they might be biased about having orphan children there. 43:44 We found out that they were Sabbath keepers 43:47 and they didn't even know anything about us. 43:50 So God had His stamp all along the way. 43:55 That's beautiful. Now, what's this here? 43:57 This is the property itself. 44:00 So it's 1075 acres. 44:02 It's beautiful. 44:03 It's a beau... 44:04 I mean, we went around most of Eswatini, 44:07 and this was by far the most stunning piece 44:09 of property that we saw. 44:10 It's in the mountains? 44:12 Is it cool up there? It is a mountain. 44:13 Okay. Is it a little cooler weather? 44:15 It's, it's, it doesn't freeze. 44:17 So it's perfect for agriculture because it's all year round, 44:22 you know, growing season. 44:23 And it's a, it's blessed with 15 natural springs. 44:29 So there's plenty of water all year round, 44:30 even during the dry season. 44:31 Such a blessing, you don't have to dig a well. 44:33 Yeah. And what's this? 44:35 So, when you, when you arrive at the property, 44:37 this is the sign that's up there, 44:38 Deuteronomy 28:6, 44:40 "Blessed are those who come in and blessed 44:41 are those who go out." 44:43 And it's in Afrikaans, 44:45 the language 44:47 there in South Africa and so on, 44:49 and this is what the property ownership 44:51 put up at the entrance there's - 44:56 they're the sellers of the property. 44:58 And the Sabbath keepers. 44:59 Yes. Yes, okay. 45:01 And sort of a Nehemiah type character because, you know, 45:05 he fenced the property. 45:07 But in the process of fencing this beautiful land 45:10 that you see here, 45:11 he also built relationships with his neighbors 45:14 because he engaged his neighbors 45:16 who had first were skeptical, 45:18 but of course moving there and he prepared a sanctuary 45:22 for him and his family, he raised. 45:24 They raised six children there, in a Bible centered way. 45:30 This is us, in the Mara camp, in the informal settlement, 45:34 working with the children and getting to know them. 45:37 We had a Sabbath service all day long 45:39 in the town square, 45:41 in this community that we were able to use 45:44 in order to spread hope. 45:48 This is us at a local high school 45:50 Ekukhanyeni High School, 45:52 working with young people, 45:53 we showed them our designs 45:55 in order to engage young people 45:57 in the process of what we're doing. 46:00 And here's the initial site plan. 46:03 This is your design concept? 46:05 Yeah. The students put this together. 46:07 Okay. 46:08 And it's for our children's village. 46:09 So talk to us about what we're seeing here? 46:11 Well, at the very center of it, 46:14 you can see this is a semi-circular space. 46:16 Yeah. 46:17 Which is an amphitheater looking out 46:19 over the mountains and church, 46:22 and you can see the church here in this view. 46:25 It's a building at the center of the community. 46:29 And it's, the whole design is inspired 46:32 by traditional Swazi homesteads 46:35 that were very community oriented. 46:38 We had an interest in really enabling 46:41 those young children to not just grow closer 46:45 to the Lord and to be educated and receive the health care 46:48 that they need, 46:50 but also to become functional Swazi's 46:53 that can remain in the country as people 46:58 who have an identity as Swazis, 47:00 and who can function in society in that way. 47:02 That's way the buildings would have that architectural design. 47:04 Yeah, they had. 47:06 That's part of why they're like that. 47:07 That makes sense. 47:09 Part of it is the climate. 47:10 We just saw a picture 47:11 of where the children would actually live. 47:15 And so, you know, the views are stunning 47:17 and so thinking about the relationship 47:20 between how you live on this property 47:22 and how you live in nature. 47:24 There's an agricultural component 47:26 that's very significant. 47:29 There's a financial sustainability plan 47:31 in place that has to do with a lodge actually. 47:35 And so we had a hospitality consultant with us, 47:41 who worked with us to identify opportunities 47:44 for how a lodge could be developed 47:46 on the property, 47:47 so that there could be long term 47:49 financial sustainability for the children's village. 47:52 When you say lodge, you mean like, 47:54 what we'd call a bed and breakfast, or no? 47:56 What do you mean by lodge? 47:58 Basically like a resort. 48:00 Got it. Okay. 48:01 And that last picture that you saw there, 48:04 showed you the lodge, 48:06 with some of the guests chalets, 48:08 looking out over the countryside, 48:10 there's an opportunity for game, 48:11 wildlife, and all kinds of outdoor activities 48:14 that hospitality consultant was very excited about. 48:18 But we see a... 48:19 We see an opportunity for the lodge 48:21 and the children's village to actually 48:23 be a combined community 48:28 where the branding of the lodge is actually partly involved 48:32 in the children's village and as its mission 48:34 so people who go there don't just go there 48:37 to spend time in nature, 48:38 but they actually go there to be part of an authentic 48:40 Swazi community and part of a mission 48:42 to uplift these young children, 48:44 so. 48:45 Amen. It's beautiful. 48:46 Yeah, what I was going to say is that skills prevent 48:52 them from being taken advantage of, 48:54 so the skill building is part of the whole 48:57 educational process as well. 49:00 The lodge is such a heavenly site. 49:02 So it's a place where people will come 49:05 and be able to find healing. 49:06 Lifestyle, vegetarianism almost doesn't exist 49:10 because even in the best hotels you cannot find. 49:13 So this is going to be a campus where the children 49:15 will have them tested, to be fed a vegetarian diet, 49:19 where people can learn about healthy lifestyle, 49:21 where change can happen in different ways 49:24 while at the same time crafts and what have you, 49:26 but the lifestyle change will take place. 49:29 So even with the income generating, 49:32 when people come, 49:33 they will be able to discover a lot about God 49:36 and a lot about this plan right there. 49:38 Amen. Is there a pastor there? 49:41 Yeah. 49:42 Outreach coordinator. 49:43 We've got a board of directors down there 49:45 that they're very dedicated, 49:48 the system that's well organized. 49:50 We have an outreach coordinator, 49:52 dynamic young pastor, 49:53 Pastor Moyo, who they call them, 49:56 they made a song about him. 49:58 He's their rock star, right? 50:00 And so he's in there working with them 50:03 determining their needs, 50:04 see who needs help, 50:05 so that SOHO has a hand in directly 50:08 in the community itself. 50:10 So, the visitation and whatnot 50:12 and the children are giving their lives to Christ 50:14 We're going to your address in just a moment, 50:16 because we want the 3ABN family to partner 50:19 with SOHO in what God is doing, 50:21 but talk to us for just maybe one minute, Cynthia, 50:23 about some of the needs and opportunities? 50:27 Right. 50:28 Well, the need is, the first need is funding, 50:31 because obviously we've got to, 50:33 we want to put closure 50:35 so that we can take possession of the farm and that is urgent. 50:40 God has touched hearts. 50:41 He touched the heart of one person in California 50:44 who said she was standing in the building and God said, 50:47 you need to help the orphans. 50:48 She called weeping and sent a hundred thousand dollars. 50:51 You know, it's like just seeing lives changed here, 50:55 people who just give little gift what, 50:57 but we will need people with skills and abilities too 51:01 as well. 51:02 People who would be willing to volunteer, 51:04 people who would be willing to pray. 51:06 We have churches that are looking to engage, 51:08 we want schools. 51:10 We want it to be something that is transformable for all, 51:13 transformative for all who are involved 51:16 in any capacity. 51:17 Amen. I'm excited, Angie... 51:18 I am too. 51:20 About what God is doing in and through SOHO, 51:23 and we're excited to bring this need 51:25 and opportunity to you at home. 51:27 So right now what we're going to do is we're going to go 51:29 to the contact information for SOHO. 51:32 We encourage you to pray for this ministry. 51:35 We encourage you to get involved 51:37 in this ministry. 51:38 We encourage you to financially support this ministry. 51:49 SOHO are saving orphans through outreach healthcare, 51:52 works hard to improve the quality of life 51:54 and life expectancy of orphans and vulnerable children. 51:57 For more information about this ministry 51:59 or to support them financially, 52:01 please visit their website, SavingOrphans.com. 52:04 That's SavingOrphans.com. 52:07 You may also call them 52:08 at 317-779-0001 52:13 or write them 52:15 at SOHO, 1100 West 42nd Street, Suite 220 E, Indianapolis, 52:20 Indiana 46208. 52:31 This is a wonderful ministry, 52:34 and we want you to support this ministry any way you can, 52:37 by your prayers and your support. 52:39 Now, Stephanie, 52:42 you were there, and we just want you to have... 52:45 What is your closing thoughts about this? 52:48 Well, it was a wonderful opportunity to be there 52:50 and it just told me that God is there 52:52 waiting for us to be a part 52:55 and we had a chance to give these children a home, 53:01 we wanted to focus on rebuilding 53:05 that broken part that they have in their life, 53:07 they're missing a place that they can call their own. 53:10 A lot of these children live in households 53:13 that are run by other children. 53:15 And so we're trying to give them 53:17 a place where they and other children 53:19 can be supervised, 53:20 and it can be their own. 53:23 And I think that was the most wonderful part for me. 53:26 Amen. Thank you. 53:28 Gwen, what about you? 53:29 Yeah, so when I always remember 53:33 the whole project as a whole. 53:35 I remember when we're there and we talked to the - 53:39 we asked them, 53:40 if you'd come back 53:42 in a couple years after this happened, 53:45 like the project is happened. 53:48 What would be your, for your, 53:51 what you don't want to not see. 53:54 And what they say to us 53:56 that they don't want it to go back 53:58 to where the property was, 54:01 because it was like a marijuana property, 54:04 and then they changed it. 54:05 So basically what they were saying is, 54:07 we cultivated the land to be a beacon of light. 54:10 So we want to see that even become more and bigger 54:14 to not only the Grand Valley farm, 54:17 but also to the whole Eswatini. 54:20 So, I believe that we were used by God to start, 54:25 and I believe that through those children, 54:29 Eswatini certainly has a future Amen. 54:31 Andrew. 54:33 The name of the property is Intsaba, 54:36 which in Swazi is Mountain Farm. 54:38 And Eswatini is a mountain kingdom. 54:41 And the Bible tells us 54:43 that with just a little bit of faith, 54:45 you can move mountains. 54:47 And so, when you think about what that means, 54:50 and you look at a project like this, 54:51 which is quite large. 54:54 We see God working already in the sellers. 54:57 We see the God working in the children. 54:59 We see God working in the ministries 55:01 that we've been a part of. 55:02 And we know that the testimony 55:05 of the elders are a testimony 55:07 to how faith can move mountains. 55:09 And so we've seen kingdoms move before. 55:11 And we have a lot of faith 55:12 that this project can help move mountains in Eswatini, so. 55:15 Amen. 55:17 Cynthia. 55:18 Well, to say the least, I'm excited. 55:21 I'm excited to see what God can do. 55:24 Way before this property was purchased, 55:27 God had sent someone to send a block making machine 55:30 to build houses out of earth, 55:34 He prepared the place. 55:35 I believe that in these closing days, 55:38 God is giving opportunities to His children. 55:41 He is giving us opportunities 55:43 that He'll pass on to someone as if we don't respond. 55:46 And this is a golden opportunity 55:49 to step in not only to trust Him, 55:53 but to be a part of doing something significant 55:56 that is going to bring many to a knowledge of Christ. 56:00 To save this generation of youth, 56:04 it is not just sermons. 56:06 It is productive activity 56:07 that sees them change the world. 56:10 This is a golden opportunity 56:11 and we're inviting 56:13 all those who are touched, pray. 56:16 Think of how you can generously participate, build a school, 56:20 build a house, build a room, come to a clinic. 56:25 It is part of the vision prayerfully as you look, 56:29 you can help to put Intsaba on the map, 56:33 not only for Swaziland, 56:34 not only for Eswatini, but for the world. 56:38 Because God wants to do great things there. 56:42 We invite you to help us. 56:44 Amen. 56:45 Amen, well said, little is much when God is in it, isn't it? 56:48 Yes. 56:49 And you talk about the faith of a mustard seed. 56:51 And everyone here has the faith of a mustard seed. 56:55 Great things are going to happen. 56:56 Amen For the Lord 56:58 and lives have been changed for the better. 57:00 Amen. 57:01 Thank you all so much for coming. 57:03 Thank you, Cynthia, for walking out, 57:05 being willing to walk in obedience 57:07 when God placed that call in your heart. 57:09 Thank you, Andrew and Gwen and Stephanie, 57:12 for joining this vision 57:14 and for what you're doing there as well. 57:16 And, Angie, thank you for joining. 57:18 We had great time. Oh, we had a great time. 57:20 Yes. 57:21 And thank you at home. Thank you. 57:22 Thank you for being part of the 3ABN family. 57:24 Thank you for your support of this ministry, 57:27 as well as other ministries 57:28 that we feature on the Today program. 57:30 God bless you until we see you again. 57:33 Bye-bye. Bye-bye. |
Revised 2020-02-17