A Calling for New Member of the Partners in Action Team by Jennifer Hughes
Jennifer Hughes is joining Partners in Action in Africa. She will be teaching and developing curriculum for our schools in Bulembu, Swaziland. We are transforming Bulembu, an abandoned city in Swaziland, into a place of hope for thousands of orphans and widows so that they may have life. Our vision is to provide jobs, housing, medical care, and schools to those who have no other place of hope, and to turn the City on a Hill into a thriving place full of life. Jennifer has unselfishly committed herself to the children and we pray she has the experience of a lifetime. Below she explains how she came to her decision and what her hopes are for the year.
If someone had told me at this time last year that I would be preparing now for the adventure of my life in a place called Swaziland, I would have chuckled and dismissed the idea. I (like most of the rest of the world) had never heard of such a place, let alone imagined going there. But a friend asked me to sit on an educational advisory board for a school there, and thus the tiny country of Swaziland entered my consciousness in a remarkable way.
At first I resisted. Serving on this board sounded innocuous enough, but as a first-year public school teacher and an advisor for the YMCA Youth and Government program, I was already feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities. When I realized, however, that God's answer to prayer does not come at a "convenient" time, I accepted the position with pleasure.
So, on December 15, 2006, I heard about Bulembu for the first time. I remember sitting on the edge of the couch as Rick Ueable described this abandoned mining town in the hills of Swaziland as a place of great beauty and deep sadness. A compulsion to be a part of the vision to create a safe, healthy, economically viable haven for the Swazi people filled me almost instantly. By the third meeting, I volunteered to go. On February 10, 2007, I interviewed with the president of PIA, Curt Cluff, who wholeheartedly endorsed my desire to fill this need.
I have a deep desire to be of service as God leads me to further His kingdom. I have a B.A. in Elementary Ed, along with a M.Ed. in Ed. Psych (Learning and Instruction). I taught in a special kindergarten program in the Peoria school system for one year, then left to teach my own children at home, as well as Sunday school and VBS. I also taught Research & Study Skills and Writing to junior high and high school students in a homeschool co-op for four years. This past year, I taught eighth grade language arts, reading, and civics at Coyote Hills Elementary. My work with a variety of children in a variety of settings has provided a wealth of experience to draw from as I observe and make recommendations about the curriculum, physical plant, structure, administration, and financing of the school, as well as how to improve teacher training and student progress.
I cannot describe how excited I am to be a part of God's work in Bulembu. Will you join me? I need "rope holders" as the father of modern missions, William Carey, put it: people who, like those who hold the rope for someone descending to help a person drowning in a deep well, will hold the rope for me as I reach out to the Swazi people with God's love. Please prayerfully consider coming alongside me as a prayer partner and/or financial supporter. Together we can make a difference in the lives of the Swazi people! To contribute to Jennifer's support, please click here.
A Life Saving Story by Dove's Village International
Dove's International is based in Sierra Leone, Africa and is a Christian ministry group that aids children. We have been one of Dove's partner organizations since 2003. Below is a heartbreaking and encouraging story of a little boy named Ibrahim who was saved because of Dove's Village International:
Since his mother had died and Ibrahim did not look normal, he was considered disposable and thrown into the bush to die. He was born with a cleft lip and palate, and many people found Ibrahim difficult to look upon. It appeared that there was no one who wanted to love him. Fortunately, someone with a kind heart found Ibrahim and wanted to help him, but didn't know what to do. Ibrahim couldn't suck from a bottle and just cried and cried. He was taken to a medical clinic that didn't have the capability to care for Ibrahim. That was when Dove's Village International was contacted. Dove was able to get Ibrahim the medical attention he so badly needed and as you can see, he has transformed into a happy and healthy little boy. We are thankful that someone cared enough to try and save Ibrahim so he could have a future.
Praises from Ugandan Officials for Suubi Children's Development Center by Ezra Simon Ssemwanga
The first week of this month, two officials from the district probation and welfare office paid a visit to our center. They were spending a week visiting all of the children's homes and centers in the entire district. We were very pleased that they were impressed with the high levels of discipline, personal hygiene and academic standards of our children.
"Unlike most other homes we have visited, most only provide accommodation and other personal needs, and only look for a nearby school for their children's education. Suubi has a school that is very functional. That is why it is easy for you to set the standards for it. I have heard good comments about Suubi Primary School. Thank you for helping our children and most importantly for giving them education. If you can provide them with this education to the last level, it will be great for our district and the whole country," commented one official.
As we continue raising a responsible generation for Uganda, we only wonder at God's workings. Through PIA sponsorship, many young souls have been and are being helped to lead a path to a good life. Since it was God's calling to you to reach out to those once needy and hopeless beings, He will definitely continue blessing all your efforts. For there is nothing we can pay back other than devoting ourselves to praying to Him to give you good life.
Jennifer Hughes is joining Partners in Action in Africa. She will be teaching and developing curriculum for our schools in Bulembu, Swaziland. We are transforming Bulembu, an abandoned city in Swaziland, into a place of hope for thousands of orphans and widows so that they may have life. Our vision is to provide jobs, housing, medical care, and schools to those who have no other place of hope, and to turn the City on a Hill into a thriving place full of life. Jennifer has unselfishly committed herself to the children and we pray she has the experience of a lifetime. Below she explains how she came to her decision and what her hopes are for the year.
At first I resisted. Serving on this board sounded innocuous enough, but as a first-year public school teacher and an advisor for the YMCA Youth and Government program, I was already feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities. When I realized, however, that God's answer to prayer does not come at a "convenient" time, I accepted the position with pleasure. 
I have a deep desire to be of service as God leads me to further His kingdom. I have a B.A. in Elementary Ed, along with a M.Ed. in Ed. Psych (Learning and Instruction). I taught in a special kindergarten program in the Peoria school system for one year, then left to teach my own children at home, as well as Sunday school and VBS. I also taught Research & Study Skills and Writing to junior high and high school students in a homeschool co-op for four years. This past year, I taught eighth grade language arts, reading, and civics at Coyote Hills Elementary. My work with a variety of children in a variety of settings has provided a wealth of experience to draw from as I observe and make recommendations about the curriculum, physical plant, structure, administration, and financing of the school, as well as how to improve teacher training and student progress. 
Dove's International is based in Sierra Leone, Africa and is a Christian ministry group that aids children. We have been one of Dove's partner organizations since 2003. Below is a heartbreaking and encouraging story of a little boy named Ibrahim who was saved because of Dove's Village International: 
Since his mother had died and Ibrahim did not look normal, he was considered disposable and thrown into the bush to die. He was born with a cleft lip and palate, and many people found Ibrahim difficult to look upon. It appeared that there was no one who wanted to love him. Fortunately, someone with a kind heart found Ibrahim and wanted to help him, but didn't know what to do. Ibrahim couldn't suck from a bottle and just cried and cried. He was taken to a medical clinic that didn't have the capability to care for Ibrahim. That was when Dove's Village International was contacted. Dove was able to get Ibrahim the medical attention he so badly needed and as you can see, he has transformed into a happy and healthy little boy. We are thankful that someone cared enough to try and save Ibrahim so he could have a future.
The first week of this month, two officials from the district probation and welfare office paid a visit to our center. They were spending a week visiting all of the children's homes and centers in the entire district. We were very pleased that they were impressed with the high levels of discipline, personal hygiene and academic standards of our children.
