Hope for Africa Children's Choir

The Hope for Africa Children's Chior

Songs of Hope and Joy

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir from HUMBLE United Methodist School in Uganda Africa has been sharing their message of hope & joy through their spectacular performances.  The Choir has received the honor of being invited by UNAIDS to perform at an event drawing attention to the continuing HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa on Capital Hill on October 26th. They have also been invited to perfrom at a World AIDS Day, an event in Washington DC on December 1st.  They have been performing in the Washington DC Metro area and will be performing two shows at Crossroad United Methodist church in Ashburn, Virginia on Sunday November 6, 2011.  Please plan to attend this free show at:

Crossroads United Methodist Church
43454 Crossroads Drive
Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Phone: (703) 729-5100
Map

Show Times: 9:00am & 11:00am

Children of HUMBLE School on a Mission

The Hope for Africa Children's Choir

HUMBLE School Uganda Africa

The "Hope for Africa Children's Choir" from HUMBLE School in Uganda Africa are on tour in the United States. They are on a mission to help raise awareness to Humble School and the impact of AIDS in Africa. They deliver a message of hope in their high energy performances filled with dance and songs of joy.

Crossroads United Methodist Church in Ashburn, Virginia has the pleasure of hosting the Hope for Africa Children's Choir from HUMBLE School this fall! This year a group of 11 students will perform concerts at several locations in New York, Virginia and in Washington D.C. to bring awareness to HUMBLE School. They have even been invited by UNAIDS to present at an event on Capitol Hill to raise awareness on the continued HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa. They will also be performing at a World AIDS Day event on December 1st before they will return home to HUMBLE United Methodist School in Uganda Africa.

There are several events scheduled in multiple areas to help support the children of HUMBLE School. Discover how you can show your support by contacting the friendly people at Crossroads UMC:

Phone: (703) 729-5100
Email: information@ecrossroadsumc.org

HUMBLE School Students at Crossroads UMC

The "Hope for Africa Children's Choir" (children of HUMBLE School) share stories about their journey with families at Crossroads UMC Ashburn, Virginia.

HUMBLE School Mission Trip Overview

Volunteers from the Washington DC area and around the world have joined the Crossroads Uganda Mission team over the years to support the needs of the students, teachers, and staff at HUMBLE School in Uganda Africa. Information about the school and mission trips is available at "About Humble School and it's Students". This year's mission team strengthened relationships and worked with others on a new girl's dormitory. An overview of the mission trip is available in this video.

First Performance of Hope for Africa Children's Choir

The children of HUMBLE School had a few hours to rest after their long flight from Uganda Africa, but jumped right into their mission and gave a heartfelt performance at a local church in Virginia. The compassion and energy of these children can be witnessed in this video.



Find out where you can attend one of their free performances and information about other events supporting these children at Crossroads UMC.

Sharing Stories of Hope & Joy in New Ways

The Power of Social Media

People over Platforms

The power of Social Media enables us with the ability to share stories in new ways. Social Networks have eliminated the degrees of separation and continues to bridge gaps between communities and cultures around the world. Social Networking Tools and Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, & Blogs empower people with new abilities to participate in meaningful engagement. These new forms of communication are transforming old "broadcasting" models of media into new "conversation" models of Social Media.

New Communication Strategies

Bridges Connecting Communities

Have you ever met someone and felt you have known them forever? Last year I met Grace Nakajje during my travels in Uganda Africa. She amazed me with her compassion for others. She is the communications director for East Africa Annual Conference United Methodist Church. She travels around Uganda Africa and surrounding communities with her camera, a beautiful smile, and a listening ear to discover real stories about real change. Last year she talked about her ideas about using Social Media to share stories while connecting with others in meaningful ways. Now she is using web sites, blogs, facebook, and twitter to share stories of hope and joy around the globe. She publishes a newsletter people can get delivered to their inbox by an easy email subscription. Grace is also experimenting with a web-based radio show. Her creativity and willingness to try new things shows us the power of community does fuel real change. You can discover more at http://eaac-umc.org

People at Local Airport Defy the Laws of Physics

Relationships Matter

Ordinary People Defy Laws of Physics

Children, Women, and Men seemed to defy the laws of physics during reunions filled with tearful smiles of joy. While waiting at the International Gate at Dulles Airport, I was astonished at how people seemed to defy gravity as they leaped into each others arms. Many magical moments transformed the average person into an athlete with world class gymnastic skills . Everyone witnessed a little girl break free from her mother's grip and fly through the air into her father's arms. Couples reunited in a beautiful silence that the crowd could not miss hearing. The International Gate at the local airport is an amazing place. Anyone feeling cynical about life should spend a few minutes near the international gate of their local airport.

"Relationships Matter" was defined a thousand times in each of these moments.

Relationships are the core value of the Crossroads UMC Mission Team. Establishing relationships with others is the key to helping the team understand what needs done and the collaborative efforts of everyone is what makes real change possible. Purposeful interaction gives people the opportunity to learn about each other and each others' culture. These type of activities provide the building blocks for creating more than dormitories or school rooms.

Thank You
Thank you to all the children, sisters, brothers, moms, dads, friends, communities, and organizations for making these type of mission opportunities possible.

What's Next?
The children of Humble School in Uganda Africa have written a ton of letters and some desire to have pen pals. Contact Dave Norman at Crossroads United Methodist Church, if you are interested in the Pen Pal opportunity. He can be reached at (703) 477-7427 or dnorman@crossroadsnova.org for additional information.

People in Brambleton, Virginia U.S. area have joined others from Ashburn, VA, Loudoun County, Virginia, and the Washington DC area to prepare for the next Humble School Family Day 10k walk/race.

We also have an endless collection of stories, photos, and video to process and share.

Acts of Random Kindness

Good Gifts

How Children Remind Us of Good Things

So today I arrived at Humble School and one of the girls walked up to me to greet me.. and went to shake my hand... which was weird for her.... then i realized she was secretly giving me something. I looked down and it was a necklace with a cross on it. Before i could thank her she was walking away.. turned back and smiled. awesome day.

- Jen Schoenmann

This story has challenged me to perform Acts of Random Kindness every day.

 

Celebrating Independence in Africa

The Charters of Freedom

A New World Is At Hand

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - United States Declaration of Independence

Celebrating Our Freedom in Africa

While people in the United States were celebrating their independence, the Crossroads UMC Mission Team celebrated with them.  Dave Bennett coordinated with the staff of the hotel here in Africa to have a 4th of July party.  The Mission Team enjoyed sharing stories while eating barbecue and cake (not easily found in most parts of Africa).  Our new friends joined us for our fireworks show with sparklers.  Everyone had fun sharing stories with each other and playing together, like kids.

South Sudan Celebrates Their Independence

A New Nation is Born

A few days after the Mission Team celebrated their freedoms, a new nation was born. South Sudan Africa celebrates their freedom for the first time on July 9, 2011. See the CNN video of South Sudan's Independence Ceremony here.

A few years ago I met with David Choat, South Sudan Diplomat to U.S. to learn more about this mission of freedom.  Over the course of time I got to know other people supporting this mission: Esther Sprague, Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Tiseke Kasambala, Roger Winter (former State Department Special Representative for Sudan), and many more volunteers of GOSS Mission USA.

Cathy Norman of Crossroads UMC in Ashburn, Virginia and other volunteers from the Washington DC Metro area were very determined to see peace in Africa and Freedom of South Sudan.

We worked together on Social Media Strategies to share this message of hope.  This strategy included using Facebook, Twitter, Ustream, Skype, Blogs, & Google Tools to share stories of hope.

I am humbled by the limitless compassion these volunteers have for others.  I hope more people find the courage to share their stories with others.

Lessons Learned Along This Path Toward Freedom

• Never underestimate the power of an idea
• Never underestimate the power of the people
• Never underestimate the power of stories
• Never underestimate the power of social media
• Never give up hope

A Message of Hope for Africa and the World by US First Lady Michelle Obama

US First Lady Michelle Obama Inspires!

A Message of Hope and Inspiration

First of the United States of America, Lady Michelle Obama visits Africa and delivers the keynote address to a U.S.-sponsored Young African Women Leaders Forum from Regina Mundi Church in Soweto, Johannesburg.  The message goes beyond inspiring young African women leaders, it is packed with hope and inspiration ALL people in ALL places can use everyday.   The people of the United States of America are celebrating their independence today and there is a part in this video (41min mark) that reminds us how to celebrate moving forward.  I encourage you to watch the complete video with others you care about.

Quotes to Read Daily

 

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." - Theodore Roosevelt

"Each time a (wo)man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, (s)he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." - Robert F. Kennedy

Video of First Lady, Michelle Obama in Africa

Top 10 Keys to Unlocking Real Leadership Potential

1. Remember the sacrifices that were made for you.
2. What will you make of your inheritance?
3. What legacy will you leave?
4. Couple your vision with courage.
5. Take part of something greater than yourself.
6. Don't underestimate your abilities.
7. Connect with others.
8. Pursue Your Passion.
9. Be prepared to make history.
10. Be determined to build a better future.

Contuning Education and Students of Humble School Africa

Education is a Foundation for the Future

Visiting Humble Students at Secondary School

The volunteers of the Crossroads UMC Mission Team return to Humble United Methodist School in Mukono Uganda Africa. The volunteers and students shared a few quick stories and learned a little more about each other. The team got busy moving sand from piles to the sections of the foundation. They worked with others to spread the sand so it filled in around the stones created from the rocks they broke into the foundation the other day.

They rolled out wire mesh to go on top of the sand and rocks, and then secured all the pieces together. All of this has been done in preparation for the cement that should be delivered to the school on Monday.

The team of volunteers finished this work in time to fit in a visit to Mt. St. Henry's Secondary School. The team had a chance to visit with some of the students that graduated from Humble School and now attend St. Henry's. Some of the students that graduate from Humble do not get an opportunity to continue their education, so it was good to see some Humble School Students at Mt. St. Henry's Secondary School.

Education for children in Africa is not a requirement, so many children don't get an opportunity to attend school. Education seems to be considered a luxury in Africa and many families cannot afford to send children to school. Most of the children at Humble School get to have their education because of the generosity of others. This generosity even extends beyond providing a child primary education, because most children then teach others in their family and community the things they learn from school. It is sad to see children with great potential get denied secondary education, especially when there is such a high return on providing education for a single child.

The internet and electrical power are not available all the time, but we will continue to share photos and messages when possible (we take so much for granted at home). We plan to to attend church and do a little sightseeing n Jinja tomorrow.

Win a Trip to Africa with Will and Jada Smith

Help Families Have Clean Drinking Water

Win a Trip to Africa with Will and Jada Smith

Nearly one billion people in the world do not have clean drinking water. Many people around the world take serious health risks every day from the water they drink. Families need clean water to prepare meals and clean drinking water to help them stay healthy. Charity Water helps people helping others to have clean drinking water. See how you can help and possibly win a trip to Africa with Will and Jada Smith here.

"We believe every person on the planet should have access to clean drinking water."
- Will and Jada Smith

Join Will + Jada Smith to provide clean water for people in Africa. from charity: water on Vimeo.





A Jerry can full of water weighs 40 lbs. People all over Africa collect water in them and haul it long distances back to their homes. Women and children usually bear the burden of water collection, walking miles to the nearest source, which is likely to make them sick.


Water transforms lifestyles, communities and the potential for future generations. Where projects are built, disease rates reduce, women and children have time for work and school, families have a better chance for economic freedom and sanitary living becomes a possibility.

Volunteers Strengthen Foundations at Humble School Africa

Rock Solid Foundations

New Friendships and Relationships

The volunteers of Crossroads UMC Mission Team woke up to another beautiful day in Mukono Uganda Africa. Some were moving more slowly than others, but luckily someone remembered to bring Starbucks VIA (instant coffee). After much needed coffee and a little breakfast they got on the road to Humble United Methodist School. It was now about 9:00am (around midnight for those living on the East Coast in the United States of America). The team's energy was high and everyone was sharing stories about all the exciting things they have experienced over the last couple days. The majority of the conversation was about new friendships. The team also talked about things they have learned about themselves. We are making many new friends and creating deeper relationships with existing friends during this mission trip. The children at Humble School have also been teaching us a few new things about compassion and faith. We will spend some time with the children before starting our task of adding rocks to the foundation area for the new girls dormitory.

The students went back to class and we started moving rocks, big rocks into the foundation area and into the footings. This is the initial step before adding the layers of cement. There were soooo many rocks!

In the late afternoon, we had a presentation with the kids. We passed out all of the balls and sports equipment people around the United States donated to the children. They had a busy day packed with school work and were very happy to have some new things they can play with together.

Can Social Networks Spark Sustainable Businesses in Africa?

Over 20% of African Youth Plan to Start a Business

Young Africans Plan to use Social Networks to Launch Businesses

A median of one in five Africans between the ages of 15 and 24 who are not already business owners say they plan to start their own business in the next 12 months. These young entrepreneurs believe they can rely on social networks to launch their businesses, according to this Gallup Survey Report.

Finding a Way, Instead of an Excuse

Where There's a Will, There's a Way

The "Can Do" Attitude!

This is a picture perfect example of the "can do" attitude that can be seen in amazing people that choose to find a way instead of an excuse. This huge load carried by a man on a motorcycle is a good reminder of the loads we all carry and how important it is to find balance.

This photo was taken near Uganda Africa by Jen Schoenmann during her travels with the Crossroads UMC Mission Team. The team is supporting the needs of students and staff at Humble School.