Page 3 - The Friday Flyer • September 8, 2017

SEPTEMBER 8, 2017 THE FRIDAY FLYER A-3 Trip to Zambia leads to journey of the heart...
ttFROM PAGE A1
nable pain and suffering.
This year, when our church decided
to put together another team, Jocelyn was first in line and had her mother by the hand. “Mom, you have to go,” she said. Although Janelle had a yearning to go, she knew the funds she would have to raise for the two of them go would be difficult. Not only is such a trip an ex- pense monetarily, but there was also the hurdle of Janelle taking that much time off work.
“I work for My Choice Senior Care as a marketer and patient care liaison. We are a small family owned business, so I knew that leaving for 18 days was going to put pressure on the entire of- fice team,” said Janelle. “God works in mysterious ways though.”
Robin Suitt, the sister of My Choice Senior Care owner Julie Zimmerer had also been on a mission trip to the Breath of Heaven in 2008. “Robin’s experience at the village was incredible and she is still very involved today with support- ing this very special non-profit,” said Janelle. Julie had heard Robin speak many times of this Breath of Heaven village, so she not only gave Janelle the time off, but she supported a large por- tion of her fundraising. “It was meant to be that I go,” said Janelle
Janelle and Jocelyn were joined with Canyon Lake residents Tina Crawford and Teal Lundgren. Tina, Pastor Kasey’s mother at Elevation, became “grandma” to everyone at the village. “She was also able to meet the amazing young man ‘Gift’ that she sponsors. Meeting him was a gift to her spirit and watching them develop a deeper friendship was so precious,” said Janelle.
Teal graduated from Temescal Can- yon High in 2014 with Jocelyn. This was her first time at the village. She plans on becoming a teacher and her love for these little ones was like a light. Janelle said, “They followed her everywhere! There was one very special little boy named "Sunday" who became her little shadow. This trip confirmed her goal of becoming a teacher as she begins her se- nior year at California State Fullerton.”
The girls brought many planned ac- tivities to the village, including a vaca- tion bible school focusing on David and Goliath, wood burning projects, small group discussions with house moms and aunties, and soccer practice with the Breath of Heaven soccer team.
Kaitlyn’s advice to Janelle was to “savor the little moments” with the kids. “She was so right,” said Janelle. “It was the simple moments of just hanging out with the kids that meant the most to me and created the deepest connec- tions. Coloring under the trees, watching them sing and dance, reading to them or shooting the hoop. Each activity let us see their individual loving personali- ties. As our relationships deepened, so many shared of their losses and it again reminded us how lucky we were to be
Janelle Basham hugs a young boy at the Breath of Heaven orphange she volunteered at in Zambia.
there to simply love on these beautiful children.”
Janelle said the most special moment for her was when one of the little girls, Vanessa, asked if she could call her “mama.” Janelle has already partnered with Breath of Heaven to help pay for Vanessa’s expenses. “Meeting her was pure joy, and I miss and pray for her ev- ery day,” said Janelle.
Janelle said she has learned so much from the children at the orphanage. “Even after all they had been through, they loved like I have never seen. They love like Christ loves us, unconditional- ly. They treasured every small thing that was given or said to them. For those of us on our mission team it was a journey of the heart,” said Janelle
Jocelyn plans to go back and spend an entire summer at the orphanage after she graduates from college. She shared in her blog, Servants Soul, “I couldn’t be more blessed to return to the village three years after my first trip. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of my kids and how much I miss them. I pray and wish they are doing well with their health,
school and faith daily. Each child touch- es my heart in a different way and it’s an overwhelming kind of love that these kids have for God and the people who are blessed enough to come visit them. My trip was full of smiles and tears as I watched the work God is doing in each of their lives.” Jocelyn has made con- nections with even more children than the last time she visited the orphanage. She’s now the sponsor of six-year-old Nandi. “I will forever be her support- er, not just financially, but emotion- ally, spiritually and any other way she needs,” said Jocelyn.
“It’s an honor to be able to watch these kids grow up into such inspira- tional people. It is so important for these kids who come from nothing to feel like they have a purpose in life. Africa, Zam- bia and Breath of Heaven have my heart forever. These BOH children have be- come part of me.”
Jocelyn said the village has become her home away from home and where she feels safest and most peaceful. Both Jocelyn and Janelle look forward to go- ing back.
The Breath of Heaven Children’s Ministries is dedicated to helping meet the needs of a growing orphan popula- tion in Lusaka, Zambia. The mission of the orphanage is to educate the children in a loving, family atmosphere and give them a hope and a future. “Our desire is to provide a stable, secure, family-like environment that will enhance the chil- dren’s interaction with their neighboring community,” said Pastor Ted.
Breath of Heaven has an immediate mission to develop a sustainable Chil- dren’s Village consisting of 14 children’s homes (there are currently 8), school, medical clinic and a church. When built -out entirely, Breath of Heaven will pro- vide shelter and well-rounded care for 168 underprivileged children and wid- owed house mothers.
Janelle has started a personal fun- draising effort for Breath of Heaven called “ Give Me Five.” She set up a donation box at her office, 31610 Rail- road Canyon Rd., Ste. 4, for those who would like to donate.
For more information about Breath of Heaven, visit bofheaven.org.
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Volume 36 Number 36
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