Sunday, October 3, 2010

October 2010 and on our way to new things...

It's October. WOW! I feel like I just put the Christmas decorations away and here it is almost time to get them down from the attic. Life is speeding by at the same rate that PC's are being updated. Maybe that's the problem. I don't care if I ever get a new computer again but I sure wish I could find the time to sit and reflect on what this year was all about before the next one rolls around. Maybe it's my job to "just do it".
It has been a busy year, but a good one. We began planning our second food packaging event the first part of the year and sometime between January and April we had 100,000 more meals done and saw the children and families who were benefiting from them with our own eyes, which was pretty incredible. Right now we're living a re-play of the first of this year.

October 9th we'll be at the University of Redlands again packaging 100,000 more meals for Tanzania and then in November we'll be on our way for another visit to our far away family. It's been only 6 months since we were there but it seems we're never there enough. Maybe one day we'll have the luxury of longer visits to this simpler land and life. God knows! For now we are blessed to be a part of this great adventure, no matter when or for how long. It's always a great ride.

The "New Things" we are eluding to are great indeed and we are writing to ask you, our brothers and sisters, to please pray with us as we have been offered an opportunity to grow exponentially. We know that it is God who gives and takes away at His perfect discretion and will. We again admit that we are only following His lead from day to day. All four of us, from our mornings and their evenings (Tanzania time) must rest, knowing He is the leader of this expedition He has led us in. We ask Him, as Moses did, that we would not go unless we are sure He goes before us. Our questions seem to continue to come back to; Lord, where, when, how... and He simply shows us as we put one foot in front of the other.

Children need homes, widows need food for their children, the sick and oppressed need deliverance and we need faith and boldness. It's all very simple and it looks no different over here than it does over there. Seems we should all be asking for an outpouring of wisdom and gifts from the Holy Spirit. Today time 'feels' short and it doesn't matter if we're here (USA) or there (Tanzania) or wherever, He could come back anytime and I know I'd stand before Him today and be guilty (convicted) of not taking the opportunities that are all around me. The "new things" don't matter. What matters is that my heart hears Him and obeys the nudging of the Spirit where ever I am. That's what we all need prayer for.

The food packaging will get done and we'll be on our way, Thanksgiving and Christmas will come and so will 2011, Lord willing, and what will be different? I pray that souls will be won to Christ and that our faith will grow in the exponential department and if this doesn't happen I pray that Africa Harvest of Hope doesn't grow either.
So, there you go. If you can figure out that prayer request then you've got us figured out. Well at least for tonight. Blessing and my you sleep well and be given visions and dreams...

Happy October 2010.

Alan and Shannon

Monday, August 23, 2010

Package 100,000 meals with us for Tanzania

Pictures do speak a thousand words, don't they?

Check out the pictures of our last trip and you to will see a significant change in the appearance of the children who have receive these meals. The time you give to this one day makes a big difference in the lives of these children. We could not accomplish this on our own. Think of it, four hands verses 1,000 hands. When hundreds of people come together to package these little meals, thousands of lives are changed. The more we do these food packaging events the more lives that are impacted, not only with the food that we are packaging and sending to Tanzania, but it also opens the door for us to share the good news that Jesus Christ loves them. Showing love and building strong relationships is what we believe speaks a love language much louder than our words.

Our next food packaging event is right around the corner so please mark your calendars for Saturday, October 9th and come out to Africa Harvest of Hope's 3rd Food Packaging Event.
We will be at the University of Redlands, in University Hall from 10 am until 4 pm. Anyone interested in helping out for the day as a volunteer leader please contact Alan or Shannon Reed at (909) 335-8167. We have many positions to fill for all day helpers. You can also sign up on line for a shift or an all day slot.
We will do another 100,000 meals. Remember that we will need 500 volunteers, giving an hour or two of their day, to package bulk rice, soy protein, dry vegetables and vitamin base bullion. The packages will be boxed up and sent to Tanzania. Any little bit of time you can work that day will help, so don't think an hour is not helpful. IT IS! (Watch an event on the tab marked video)
Also, remember these events are all done through the means of donation only. One bag of food cost $1.25. You can share this concept with friends and family who can't come and ask if they can help by donating even $1.25. Kids can get involved too. Get creative. Take a bag of food (we'll supply you with bag of food) and show people what you're doing. People what to help but sometimes they just need to know how. Remember to tell them that 100% of everything donated to Africa Harvest of Hope goes to the project. Nothing is used for administrative purposes. Shipping the container to Tanzania is also part of the cost of this project. The overall cost from start to finish for one food packaging event is about $18,000. Thank you for your support in this project. Kids are eating good nutritious meals today in Tanzania because of you!

Please call to request fliers to hand out to your church, youth groups, service groups, Boy or Girls Scouts or just neighbors and friends.

Thank you all for your support of this project.

God bless you,
Alan and Shannon

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

JUST A FEW UPDATES...

Just a quick update on a few things:


Benefit Variety Show.
Don't forget to come out on Friday evening, May 28th to the Fox Theater in Redlands for an awesome night of seriously great entertainment, and all for only $10.00. We want to thank Val and Lauren Mosher for putting this evening together to benefit Africa Harvest of Hope. Their support has been a blessing to us but you all should come out and be blessed by the talent that we will enjoy that night. I personally can't wait. I haven't been on a date in months. Don't tell Alan I said that.

Our next Food Packaging Event will be October 9, 2010. Please add this date to your calendar and come out for an hour or for the day to help us put another 100,000 meals together.

In April we witnessed the effect of what 500 pair of hands can do. It was a priceless experience and it was good for me personally because these events are not a "cake walk". I whine for weeks before each event, that I just don't have enough time or maybe the people won't come or ... Yes, I know, "o me of little faith" but now, I want to do more. I'm not saying we can just yet but you won't hear me complaining near as much. Plus, I've ask God to keep the picture of these children enjoying there KAH (Kids Against Hunger) meals fresh in my mind.

Please go to our Photos Page and click on the 'April Trip' to enjoy seeing what your hands helped to accomplish.

Our next trip to Tanzania will be the first two weeks of November in 2010. On this trip we will be enjoying the company of few friends who will be joining us. On the first leg of the trip we will be working at a church that helps the children in their area to excel in school as well as helping preschoolers prepare for school. We'll be doing some things with the children but we will also be doing a few seminars for adults in the area. We usually have the opportunity to help families who are seriously struggling as well as widows in the area. We always expect the unexpected on these trips so we really never know what God will direct our steps to do. We make a few plans and ask Him to direct us and He always does.
The last week or so of the trip will of course be in the Children's Home in Korogwe doing whatever might need to be done at that time. We will of course be spending time with the kids doing crafts, and games as well as telling them of the Love of God for them through stories and devotions.

Each year we try to take a group with us on our second trip to Tanzania. If anyone is interested in going on a short term mission trip to Africa and if God has 'opened the door' after prayer and searching your heart, to make sure we have the right motives for going, we'd like to extend the opportunity for you to join us. We will begin having our meetings next month to pray and discuss what a trip like this is like. (Not that any trip is the same)

You can call us at (909) 335-8167 or email us at shannon@africaharvestofhope.org for more information.

We have a new way of sending out our Newsletters through Constant Contact. (thank you Debbe Herrero for coaching me through our first one) If you are interested in receiving it via email please let us know and we will add you to our email list.

God bless you!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Back Again

WE'RE BACK...
It was an incredible trip! Thank you for praying for us. We knew you were! We couldn't have done some of the things we did had we not had so many people at home praying.
God is Good!

We'll just give an overview of the trip but it will be missing many pieces and we'll try to keep you posted on the latest updates during the month about the following things:

*Purchased a Chlorine Water system.
*Walked the perimeter of the land in Korogwe to see how it may be used for a future compound.
*Plans for the trip in October.
*500 chickens in the chicken project.
*Car situation. (Greatest need at this time)

As for the overview...

Well, we met some great people being with the Medical Mission group from Iowa on our first leg of the trip. We flew in a small MAF plane to Singida from JRO airport. That's was a great experience. We actually didn't know how great it was until we took the 10 hour bus ride back to Arusha. While we were in Singida we saw the children's feeding center that Outreach International built. This is the center we are considering doing if the plans for the land begin to unflod. We then had quite an experience as literally thousands of locals from the Singida area came to be seen by the American doctors and dentists. What a blessing as a medical person to have the ability and wisdom to help so many no matter where you go. Hats off to the team we were with. As we parted after only a few short days we were off to Arusha and then on to Korogwe and up to The Children's Home. It was good be back at the home and to be able to spend time visiting with the children. Alan and Herbert had a lot of business to take care of and I was just happy to tag along, taking notes and having my camera in tow. We trudged up and down the mountain mostly on foot but that's a good thing, especially the part that Herbert fondly calls the "short cut" as it humbles us to experience how committed Herbert and Emily are to what God has called them to do up on this mountain. (And then on the fleshly side, it shows us how much we need to get into shape if we're going to climb Kili) Each visit to Tanzania opens our eyes to new and even more exciting things. Every trip stirs memories, but it excites the adventurer inside both of us as well. We wonder what God is doing in us especially when it obvious that the only thing we can do is pray. Like when we are standing at a bus stop and we can't help but try to talk to a young man who is obviously possessed as he spews out chantings that the bus we're traveling on, will for whatever reason, not make it to it's destination. My heart aches as God reminds me, he's someones son, so I pray... Feeling helpless causes us to remember in our weakness apart from Him. He is God and there are few times we forget this in Africa. The needed dependence on Him is awesome. I needed to literally draw from His strength several times during this trip, physically as well as emotionally. Juma was one of the reason I needed His grace to be sufficient in my emotional moments. Juma is 6 years old and he has HIV. He's precious and persistent. He left his new home and friends and with his new back pack on his back, that was a big as he was, he hiked down the mountain with us going back to the village where he lived before he had come to the Children's Home. His wounds were now to serious to allow him to be exposed to the other children. We prayed... God heard... We'll expect! Please pray for Juma that he will be healed and return to his home on the mountain. While reading one day I found a specific scripture that became especially personal and applicable to my situation. I've read it many times but never applied it personally. It's Matthew 15:27-28. I'm one of those little puppies eating crumbs from my Masters table and I'm happy (blessed) that He says, "their Masters table". What do you think would be on the Master, of all the Universes, table? I have no problem with this 'analogy' of knowing who He is and who I am in contrast and because of knowing His love for me and Juma and everyone who is His child. He is still the loving, healing Master and I'll wait for His will to be done on Earth and it is in Heaven.

Well, story after story could be told at the return of each trip but we do realize living it and hearing it are very different and we don't know when we cross over to boring, so... It's just that we hope and pray that God might touch at least one heart through what He has allowed us to experience and then share with you. Thank you again for your prayers and support.

God bless you!

In His Love,
Alan and Shannon

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Praise & Prayer Requests

PRAISE GOD AND PLEASE PRAY!
Psalm 22:
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn—
for he has done it.

We know it was God who accomplished all that was done on Saturday at our second food packaging event. There were 103,000 meals packaged by approximately 400 volunteers. Praise God!

“The poor will eat and be satisfied;” and “those who seek the Lord will praise Him”

April 2010 trip to Tanzania - Prayer Request:

1 Thessalonians 5:
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.


1) Please pray that the enemy would be bound in the name of Jesus from hindering what God is going to do while Herbert, Emily, Alan and Shannon are together in Tanzania.
2) Please pray for good health for us all and healing for Herbert and Emily. Also, that Alan’s back would be strong throughout the entire trip.
3) Please pray for traveling mercies in the air and on the ground.
4) Please pray that we would all have clarity and God’s anointing as we share God’s word with the people.
5) Please pray that we would express His love to everyone we encounter.
6) Please pray for the people to have understanding and an openness to the Holy Spirit as we share with them; Children groups, church groups, street groups and especially the Muslims in this area (village).
7) Please pray that we would have good interpreters, preferably Godly but that we’d be a light to them if they are not.
8) Please pray for us to be as organized and time efficient as we can be and not worry when that is not happening. (TIA – This is Africa)
9) Please pray that, as God wills, we will have time in Moshi (where we originally began working in Tanzania) and have time to visit our friends there. Please pray that we will see Teddy, Angela and Nema for a good visit. (Young girls)
10) Please pray that God would use us while we are with the group of doctors and nurses from Iowa. Many are not believers. Pray for their salvation as God exposes them to things they have never been exposed to before. Let them know to call out to God almighty.
11) Please pray that God will give us His favor with the government. (Actually all people there)
12) Please pray that we will have honest, sweet and sharpening (as iron sharpens iron) fellowship with Herbert and Emily and that we would leave Tanzania having greater understanding of cultures and each other.
13) Please pray that we would come home knowing Him better and having a clearer vision of what He has for us to do.
14) Please pray for Herbert and Alan to have a kindred spirit and vision for this ministry. Please pray for absolute unity through the Holy Spirit.
15) Please pray for us to be humble, gracious, understanding and loving in every situation.
16) Strength, boldness, courage, discernment, wisdom… What ever God puts on your heart. He knows better than we do what needs to be lifted up in prayer. We will be praying that He will speak to your hearts on our behalf and also that He will bless you as you pray.
17) Pray for the salvation of many and that they would know Him deeply. Pray for the country of Tanzania to experience revival.
18) Pray for strength, boldness, understanding and wisdom for these children who have come to know Him and that God would use them to be a light in their own country for His glory.
19) Please pray for all the financial needs to be met by His grace.
20) Please pray that God would put it in and on the hearts of those who are to get more involved with Africa Harvest of Hope.

In Jesus Name we pray. Amen!

Thank you and may God bless you!

Monday, March 29, 2010

100,000 MEALS - DONE!

100,000 meals – done!

THANK YOU! This could not have been done without you.

It was a great day – As approximately 400 volunteers come together Saturday, March 27 at the University of Redlands from 8 am to 5 pm and packaged 100,000 + meals. You were an encouragement to us and we don’t know how to thank you.

It was an inspiring day - To see so many people standing side by side putting these food packages together. People who don’t know each other sharing their stories as they scooped and packed these life saving little bags.

It was a blessed day - As musician after musician came to share and worship with music, the volunteers were blessed as they worshiped by serving with their hands. Prayer went up for those who came who don’t know the Lord and a spirit of encouragement and love seem to be poured out in that place during the entire day.

It was a long day - For many of the volunteers who were there from before 7am to set up and then running food and supplies to the tables all day, we pray that God blesses your souls and restores your strength. We know this was a long, hard day for many of you.

(Those of you, you know who you are – we can’t begin to express our appreciation and we know God is going to bless you for the effort you put into this work. We have, and will continue to pray for all of you. We especially thank you and we pray that you accept our sincere apology for not having enough help to relieve you during the day. We know how very hard you worked.)

The implications of last Saturday are going to be felt and seen for a long time here and in Africa, and yet we may never know what they are. No matter, because this is not our work, it is His. He said, “…inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brothers and sisters, you did it to Me. Matthew 25:40.

Thank you and God bless you!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Behold how good...

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

It is good! It is good, because God said it was good. We need to find out how good this is and park here and become use to this way. This way of unity.

Yes, it can be overwhelming at times, but what in life is not overwhelming at times.

In 1 Corinthians 12:12 Paul says, "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ." Paul continues his illustration in this chapter and says, "...the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."

We are in awe of this body. We are humbled, knowing it is the body working as it should that accomplishes His will. It is however sad when we are witness to and even guilty of the body harming itself, remembering what Paul said, "...this is Christ's body."

Through this body, united and working together, God accomplishes great things for His glory. The united body is a powerful tool. No one person could accomplish what a strong united body can accomplish. A hand, and eye, an ear, a foot alone can not accomplish much, but together we, by the mercy and grace of God, can change the world.
A most important thought, moving further into chapter 13, Paul writes, we are only a loud, irritating noise if we do all that we do and we don't have love. Pray that our united body has love! Love for each other, love for strangers we will be standing next to, love for the unlovely and love for the people who will receive this food on the other side of the world. God's ways are beyond our understanding but when He says, "Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love" then we need to ask ourselves what does my love look like.
This Saturday is not about packing boxes with food, it's about packing with love.

Africa Harvest of Hope thanks you for showing the love of Christ in His body.
We are praying for you!