Why Africa?

Four years ago, Zach (18 at the time) felt called to go to Africa. At that time we were attending a small church in our town. A woman gave a presentation on a family she was helping in Zimbabwe. Her daughter had attended college with Pastor Jeff from Zimbabwe here in the states. She became friends with him and when he returned to Zimbabwe he married and had a child. His first child died from starvation so the woman and her daughter began sending money to him.

During the presentation I felt the Holy Spirit telling me that Zach was to go over and help. Being a Mom and not wanting my son to go to Africa, I said nothing. On the way home from church my husband said to Zach, "Zach, I think you are suppose to go to Africa to help." Zach said, "No way! When I went out back for coffee hour Laura said to me, "Zach, when are you going?" I then shared that I had felt the same thing.

Laura emailed Pastor Jeff and his response was, "Yes, send the young man." At the age of 19 Zach felt the time was right to go. He had never been away from home for any length of time but he gave away all his belongings, bought a one way ticket to Africa and stayed for three months. Once there God turned his heart to the children of Zimbabwe. So many abandon or both parents dead with no one to take care of them. It was then that God gave him the vision to start a non profit, "Christ's Initiative" to start a shelter for children, to help feed and educate them along with adults that may need help.

After collecting some funds he returned a year later with a friend. They were their for one month and since then Zach has been fund raising. He is again headed there with his younger brother Caleb, 19, so this is where this blog begins, with this new adventure!