I have a new KidZ at Heart blog

My new blog site is the following: www.kidzatheart.org/author/sroutzahn

KidZ at Heart July Newsletter

KidZ at Heart May & June Newsletter

April 2014 KidZ at Heart Newsletter

My time Stateside

 

Hello and Happy New Year! Can you believe it's already February?! Seems hard to believe. Time flies when you are having fun and doing God's work :) And this year is going to be jam-packed with KidZ at Heart ministry work for me in Africa. I'm very excited!

For the past 2 months I have been Stateside on furlough visiting with family, friends, and my prayer and financial champions. It's been such a sweet time spending Christmas with my family; especially my precious niece Tani. She's a bundle of joy. I've also enjoyed hanging with some close friends and taking in some USA things I can't do in Africa (eating at some favorite restaurants (sushi!) catching a movie, taking a walk on the beach, strolling through Target, Starbucks, that kind of thing....) And best of all I've gotten to meet face to face with so many of my support team and share all that God is doing in Uganda and the rest of Africa through KidZ at Heart. I've had opportunities to share about my ministry work at house parties that friends have organized and at several churches. I've split my time up between Jacksonville, Florida (where I'm from) and Phoenix, Arizona area where KidZ at Heart is located. At the moment I'm in Arizona gearing up for our KidZ at Heart Staff Retreat that starts in just a few days. This will be a time of spiritual refreshing and planning for this year. On February 14th I head back home to Kampala, Uganda where I will hit the ground running with all the exciting KidZ at Heart work to be done this year in Africa.

Here's some exciting things happening this year in Uganda and beyond in Africa:

• KidZ at Heart training workshops in partnership with KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology) will expand to many village areas throughout Uganda. It's our goal to bring our children's ministry training to as many parts of Uganda as possible and equip the nationals!

• I will be mobilizing short-term mission trips with KidZ at Heart to countries such as Uganda, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Cameroon.

• I will return in June to East Kilimanjaro, Tanzania to help lead a KidZ at Heart training with a team from the USA

• Our intensive children's ministry degree program called KAHLA (KidZ at Heart Leadership Advocacy) launches this year in partnership with KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology). We are so excited about this new development!

This will be the beginning of my 2nd year in Kampala, Uganda and it really has become like home to me. The abundant work of KidZ at Heart in Uganda and throughout Africa has just begun. And I'm very honored to be part of God's work there. In order to continue the ministry work God has called me to do, I need a team of champions that are praying and financially supporting the ministry work I'm doing. I'm currently needing $1000 more in monthly support to meet my monthly budget. The cost of living in Kampala is very high. (If you would like to see a breakdown of my budget or have any questions please feel free to ask) Will you partner into this amazing ministry and help reach the 2.2 billion children that need to know Jesus? All it takes is 10 people @ $100 a month, 20 people @ $50 a month, 40 people @ $25 a month or even 100 people @ $10 a month!

May God bless you abundantly!

-Shannon

Donation Details: To Donate Online: http://www.kidzatheart.org/about/our-team/staff-volunteers/ Scroll down and Select My Name (Shannon Routzahn). You can set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you select the "Ongoing Gift" option. (If the monthly amount options aren’t what you want to give you can also give via filling out the Automatic Donation and Automatic Withdrawal form that is available online at http://www.kidzatheart.org/give/support-a-staff-member-or-missionary/ )

 

Or Mail Checks to: KidZ at Heart International, P.O. Box 21148, Mesa, AZ 85277-1148 (Please designate on Memo line that it’s for Shannon Routzahn)

The 2.2 billion children have the right to become children of God if they receive Jesus as their Savior.  How can they receive Christ if they have never heard about Jesus and His salvation plan of each of us?  We must be part of God’s plan to reach the 2.2 billion children with the Gospel, so that they can become children of God. Over the past 10 years, KidZ at Heart has directly trained more than 5,000 children’s leaders in other countries to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. These leaders can also freely share KidZ training with others (an estimated 30,000 more) who are sharing Jesus with children. Thank God for his leading and provision!

 

Ngora KidZ at Heart Training

 

 

Praise be to Jesus! I recently returned from an upcountry district in Uganda called Ngora where close to 100 children's ministry leaders received a 3-day KidZ at Heart Training. Ngora is in Eastern Uganda, a 6 hour drive from Kampala. It's a beautiful part of the country with rock formations, palm trees, and lots of agriculture. But what makes it truly special are the people. Pastor Grace Rwothumio and Pastor Charles O'Pendi helped me lead the training and it was a really special time. The participants were pastors, Sunday school teachers, and children's ministry workers throughout Ngora district. As we arrived they were all so very excited that we came to give them children's ministry training. Only a handful of the participants have ever even had training. Trainings in the village areas are really precious. Over the past 2 years KidZ at Heart formed a relationship with some children's workers from Gawa Church in Ngora who attended our KidZ training in Kampala. One of the team members of a KidZ at Heart short-term trip (Lynn Vanderveen that runs ARISE Uganda) connected them to our Kampala training and the rest is God at work. Bringing a KidZ at Heart training to this village area is a dream come true to all involved. The impact this training will make on the children on this area is truly tremendous and we are so very thankful. Some of you may remember that 4 months back I traveled to Ngora to start the planning stages of this training. It's just amazing to see what God has brought about!

The 3-day training covered subjects such as How Children LEARN Best, 8 Wonderful Ways Children Learn, Story-telling techniques that bring the Bible to life for children, How to Prepare a Lesson Plan, How to Love Our Children to Good Behavior, and Discipline Dos and Donts. The participants even spent a day practicing all that they learned through different story-telling techniques. This is always our favorite day as we get to see how they implement what they have learned. Something really special was that the workshop handouts were even translated into their local language, Ateso. This was such a huge accomplishment and blessing. It's our hope that this is just the beginning of a very fruitful relationship in Ngora district and even the surrounding districts. We would like to do annual trainings in this area where we can keep building upon what was taught and keep expanding their children's ministry skills. KidZ at Heart has seen tremendous testimonies from other areas of Uganda that recently attended our trainings and we know that Ngora will be no different. The people of Ngora are family to me now and I can't wait to get back for a visit and then also future trainings.

I'd like to personally thank my dear friends Stanley and Beatrice Etiang (photo above), Vincent, Godfrey, Silver (our translator), Lynn and ARISE, our translator of the Ateso handouts, Pastor Grace, Pastor Charles, and so many others that were involved in making this training such a success. It takes a team to do God's work and each person is of such value.

What's next on the horizon for me?

• In just one week I will be in the USA! I will be in Jacksonville, FL December 13-January 25th for the holidays, seeing friends and family, visiting with supporters, and raising more support. I will then be in Phoenix, Arizona January 25th-February 10th for a KidZ at Heart staff retreat. I travel back home to Kampala on February 14th. If you are in any of these areas I'd love to see you when I'm in the States!

• In 2014 I will be back in Kampala and busy with KidZ at Heart trainings in partnership with KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology) and KAHLA (KidZ at Heart Leadership Advocacy program) throughout Uganda along with also mobilizing many short-term KidZ at Heart trips throughout Africa (Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, and many others).

• I've joined the choir at University Community Fellowship (my home church in Kampala) and I'm very excited about being highly involved with the worship team in 2014. I will also continue to help with UCF's children's ministry and the women's ministry called King's Daughters. I'm blessed to have found a wonderful home church.

• Supporters, PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR DETAILS ON THIS IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS. My giving method will be switching over to KidZ at Heart International. I will be walking you through this easy process and explaining about the switch-over. World Outreach has been wonderful agency to me and I'm thankful for all they have done the past few years.

Once again, thank you to all of my prayer partners and financial supporters. Words can't express how truly thankful I am for each and every one of you.

May God bless you abundantly,

Shannon

To Donate Online: http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select My Name. The system can process USA and International Cards. You can also set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you select the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to: World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061(Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

The 2.2 billion children have the right to become children of God if they receive Jesus as their Savior.  How can they receive Christ if they have never heard about Jesus and His salvation plan of each of us?  We must be part of God’s plan to reach the 2.2 billion children with the Gospel, so that they can become children of God. Over the past 10 years, KidZ at Heart has directly trained more than 5,000 children’s leaders in other countries to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. These leaders can also freely share KidZ training with others (an estimated 30,000 more) who are sharing Jesus with children. Thank God for his leading and provision!

KidZ at Heart Intensive Training at KEST

 

The KidZ at Heart trainings in Uganda just keep getting better and better! Pastor Grace Rwothumio, Way & Gean Stevens, and I led training at KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology) this past weekend for 25 key children's ministry leaders within Uganda. The trainees included our KAHLA (KidZ at Heart Leadership Advocacy) East Africa Launch team, KEST staff, and key children's leaders throughout the country. We did this intensive 2-day training to raise up trainers for KidZ at Heart within Uganda. Our work in East Africa keeps getting larger and we simply can't do it all alone. We are confident that with the help of this team we can bring more KidZ at Heart trainings throughout East Africa.

The 2-day training was a huge success and it was the first training of this kind in Africa for KidZ at Heart. Our 25 trainees were eager to learn and become great trainers. The participants came from churches and organizations such as Watoto Church, Church of Uganda, Baptist Union of Uganda, New Life Church, Christian City Gate, All Saints Cathedral, Jesus for the Little Children, Godly Living Ministries, Word of Life, Gawa Church, and Pentecostal Evangelical Ministries. On the first day we went over the fundamentals of how Children L.E.A.R.N. Best and then they each had a chance to lead part of this workshop after we led them in a workshop called "How to Become a Great Trainer". On the second day they each led a storytelling technique from our workshop "Bringing the Bible to Life". And we ended the day with a leadership workshop that focuses on teamwork.

Everyone that attended was greatly encouraged and excited about the future with KidZ at Heart. I myself was feeling so proud of this incredible group of leaders! It's so exciting for me to see each of them lead KidZ at Heart workshops and come together as a wonderful team to reach kids for Christ. They also have become like family to me here in Uganda. Whenever I'm in need or have a question I know I can call on any one of them for help.

Exciting things are happening with KidZ at Heart in Africa!

Here are some upcoming projects you can pray for as well as some praises:

• Praise! Our KidZ at Heart South Africa team had a wonderful and successful trip. They partnered with Walk Thru the Bible in Johannesburg and put on several trainings.

• Praise! and Prayer: I received my special pass visa extension this week (a huge answer to prayer) and I've been told my work permit should come through within a week.  There had been delays but it looks like it will be in my hands soon. Please keep praying, God hears and He's answering!

• At the end of November I will help lead a 3-day training with Pastor Grace Rwothumio and Pastor Charles OPendi in a district of Uganda called Ngora. This past July I visited Gawa Church in Ngora with the hopes of bringing a KidZ at Heart training to this region. I give praise to God for opening up the doors for this training. Please pray as we start planning for this training in the northeast region of Uganda.

• Prayer for upcoming travels. I will be in South Africa most of October and in the States December-February.

I'm continually thankful for each and everyone for you that either reads my updates, prays for my ministry work, or helps financially. I know that without your help I couldn't be here doing what I'm doing. Will you prayerfully consider joining my support team? I'm still in need of one-time gifts and monthly giving. Some needs that I have are:

• I'm still in need of living room furniture and I don't currently have the funds to purchase this. I need at least $1000 to cover this.

• I'm in need of some car maintenance (the roads here are rough). I need $500 to cover my car needs so my car is in top shape to travel throughout Uganda.

• I'm in need of more monthly partners. I could use $500 more in monthly support.

May God richly bless you!
-Shannon


To Donate Online: http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select My Name. The system can process USA and International Cards. You can also set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you select the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061(Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

The 2.2 billion children have the right to become children of God if they receive Jesus as their Savior.  How can they receive Christ if they have never heard about Jesus and His salvation plan of each of us?  We must be part of God’s plan to reach the 2.2 billion children with the Gospel, so that they can become children of God. Over the past 10 years, KidZ at Heart has directly trained more than 5,000 children’s leaders in other countries to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. These leaders can also freely share KidZ training with others (an estimated 30,000 more) who are sharing Jesus with children. Thank God for his leading and provision!

Success at Jinja and Kaliro KidZ trainings!

Praise be to God!

I just got back from a very fruitful ministry trip to Jinja and Kaliro in Uganda. Pastor Grace Rwothumio and I put on KidZ at Heart trainings in areas outside of Kampala for the first time. We worked closely with Asaph Isabirye Servant, founder of Jesus for the Little Children and our KidZ coordinator in Jinja. With his help and many others we were able to train close to 200 children's workers!! In the town of Jinja (where the Source of the Nile River is) we had 68 in attendance at Jinja Christian Centre and in the village of Kaliro (1 1/2 hours north of Jinja) we had 117 in attendance at Kaliro Discipleship Centre. Many of these children's workers have never been given the opportunity to attend a training. What I can say is that they were truly thankful and so eager to learn! During the 2-day training in both locations the participants were taught How Children L.E.A.R.N. Best, the 8 Wonderful Ways that Children Learn Best, 11 storytelling techniques of Bringing the Bible to Life, and concluded the trainings with the participants creating a Bible lesson based on the Christmas story and then presenting and evaluating them. Those in attendance for the full training were also given certificates at the conclusion of the workshops. I'm very blessed to see such success with these trainings. Lots of hard work went into the planning and preparation of bringing KidZ at Heart training outside of Kampala to other areas of Uganda. And this is only the beginning. I know over the next year I will be traveling all over Uganda to do more KidZ trainings as well as returning to Jinja and Kaliro.

Here are a few testimonies from the recent trainings in Jinja and Kaliro:


“We’ve had a lot of testimonies both in Jinja and Kaliro, what a wonderful training!! The people loved the KidZ training yet in Jinja many have undergone several trainings from other organizations before. They loved the L.E.A.R.N. method and many are applying it both at church and at school where they teach. Thanks for keeping your promise and bringing trainings to these areas. You may not know how many have had a chance of teachings through your efforts yet they have been struggling with what to do to help their children. We are so thankful and appreciative!!”
- Asaph Isabirye Servant

 A participant from the Jinja training, Nakabugo Proscovia from Deliverance Church Bugembe, says "I loved and clearly understood the L.E.A.R.N. concept. This is helping me even in class at a primary school where I teach and I will also be applying it to my kids at church. I extend my thanks to Shannon and Grace together with the KidZ team. I ask that they please come back next time because I appreciate the good work done."

A participant from the Kaliro training, Ketty Namukose, says “The most beneficial part of the KidZ training was learning the art of storytelling to children. I plan to change my way of teaching to children in the future and incorporate techniques such as drama and the L.E.A.R.N. concepts.”

Thank you to my prayer and financial partners who are helping me to stay in Africa and do the ministry work God has called me to do. Please know that you are truly impacting so many lives! And the lives of the children will be forever changed!

God Bless,
Shannon

To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select My Name. The system can process USA and International Cards. You can also set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you select the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061(Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

The 2.2 billion children have the right to become children of God if they receive Jesus as their Savior.  How can they receive Christ if they have never heard about Jesus and His salvation plan of each of us?  We must be part of God’s plan to reach the 2.2 billion children with the Gospel, so that they can become children of God. Over the past 10 years, KidZ at Heart has directly trained more than 5,000 children’s leaders in other countries to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. These leaders can also freely share KidZ training with others (an estimated 30,000 more) who are sharing Jesus with children. Thank God for his leading and provision!

 

 

Ngora, Tororo, and so much more!

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,

He gave the right to become children of God –

children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will,

but born of God." 

John 1:12-13
 

God is so good! My KidZ at Heart ministry work is thriving here in Uganda. I just got back from a week-long trip into many rural villages to share all about KidZ at Heart trainings and love on the children. What I can say is that I've fallen in love with the peaceful village life and the people. It was precious time together building new friendships. Pastor Charles OPendi (from KAHLA launch team) and I traveled together to Ngora and Tororo districts. God granted us amazing travel mercies and we made our way along all the bumpy dirt roads. There are a lot of those in Uganda! lol :) We had many laughs.

While in Ngora district (about a 5 hour drive from Kampala) we visited Gawa Church in the village of Tilling. We had such a warm welcome and I can say now that they are family for life. Many Sunday school teachers from Gawa Church have attended KidZ at Heart training in Kampala in the past and now we would like to try and bring KidZ training to their area where hundreds of children's ministry workers want to be trained. We are looking forward to that day and plans are well on their way. We simply can't wait to get back there. We attended their Sunday school program and were so impressed with how they were applying all they learned from KidZ training in Kampala. Their children's ministry is thriving with over 200 children! From Ngora we then traveled to many villages around Tororo (a town that borders Kenya) to share about KidZ at Heart. Pastor Charles is from this area and they were very eager to host us. Again, we were warmly welcomed with children dancing and such kind hearts. During my time in all of the villages I ate all of the local food and was treated to chicken at all meals which is a real honor when you visit someone in a village. I even had some goat too! And of course the local staple, millet bread (it's kind of a brown sticky mound that you eat and dip in sauces) Everyone that I visited said that I truly have become Ugandan, lol. I think because I adapt so well and eat all of their yummy food.

So what is next on the horizon for me the next few months? Shannon is a busy bee :)

• Pastor Grace Rwothumio and I will be leading a 2-day training in Jinja town end of August and possibly a 2-day training also in Kaliro. 

• The KAHLA East Africa Launch Team will be meeting this month to go over many important steps forward.

• I'm continuing to mobilize a KidZ team to South Africa that is August 28th-September 9th.

• I have some dear friends from Jax visiting the whole month of September and staying with me. They are considering becoming full-time missionaries to Uganda.

• Pastor Grace Rwothumio, a couple visiting from the USA that works with KidZ, and myself are leading a 2-day intensive training at KEST (Kampala Evangelical School of Theology) for KEST staff and KAHLA launch team.

• Tentatively we may have a week-long KidZ training in Ngora district the first week of December.

• December 12th-February 14th I will be in the States! I will be there for the holidays, seeing friends, family, and supporters, and also attending the KidZ at Heart staff retreat in Arizona.

I'm continually blessed by all of your prayers and support. Any day now I hope to have my approved work permit in my hands :) God bless you for your help!

-Shannon


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select My Name. The system can process USA and International cards. You can also set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you select the "monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)


The 2.2 billion children have the right to become children of God if they receive Jesus as their Savior.  How can they receive Christ if they have never heard about Jesus and His salvation plan of each of us?  We must be part of God’s plan to reach the 2.2 billion children with the Gospel, so that they can become children of God.

Over the past 10 years, KidZ at Heart has directly trained more than 5,000 children’s leaders in other countries to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. These leaders can also freely share KidZ training with others (an estimated 30,000 more) who are sharing Jesus with children. Thank God for his leading and provision!

 

Bwana asifiwe!!!!

Bwana asifiwe!!!! (Praise the Lord!!!! in Swahili),

I have just returned from a truly amazing mission trip to Tanzania with KidZ at Heart International! After many months of preparing, raising funds, and praying, our team of 6 spent two weeks ministering to the Swahili people of East Kilimanjaro. What I can say is that Tanzania has stolen my heart. The landscape, the beauty, the people, the way of life....my heart is full of joy from this experience of a life-time! I saw so many blessings. I saw the hearts of pastors, evangelists, and children's ministry workers change from the KidZ at Heart trainings in their area. I saw the love and importance of children change their thinking and their hearts. It was such an amazing thing to witness.

I joined up with an incredible team from the USA. Each team member had their own God-given gifting to contribute to the trip and they have become friends for life. We hit the ground running as we partnered up with the Northern Diocese of the Lutheran Church in Tanzania. Our focus for the two weeks was in the East Kilimanjaro district in a town called Himo. We were able to conduct a pastor's leadership day the Saturday before our week-long KidZ Ministry Equipping Conference (KMEC) and we saw close to 100 pastors in attendance! This was a huge step because if the importance of children within the church can be in the heart of pastors, that's when change can start to happen. We worked alongside two incredible pastors that truly love children and have caught the vision of KidZ at Heart. Pastor Rogers Mtui and Reverend Winford Mosha helped us tremendously and I can see God really blessing their ministry work. The week-long KMEC training was also a huge success! Throughout the week we had 80 Sunday school teachers, children's ministry workers, and evangelists attend. Their thinking was challenged and they learned many new ways to teach children for Christ. Throughout the week I saw eager hearts, laughter, praise and worship, and a deep love for Jesus and children. I believe that God has swung open the doors in this area of Tanzania for KidZ at Heart to do more trainings in upcoming years. I know that I plan to definitely be a part of it!

Also during our time in Tanzania we made life-long friends with the staff at Babylon Lodge where we stayed. We explored the lush and beautiful area of Marangu near Mt. Kilimanjaro. We visited some of the parish churches and saw their children's ministries. And we got to end our trip with a refreshing time as a team going on safari together. We visited Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater (the 8th Wonder of the World!), Haven Nature Safari Camp, and Lake Manyara. And one of the coolest things happened on my last day in Tanzania. For the whole two weeks our team was in the East Kilimanjaro area, the mountain was hidden by the clouds (the locals even say that the mountain is quite shy). I thought I would leave without seeing the mountain. But God had other plans. My flight was cancelled the day I was supposed to fly home to Uganda and wouldn't you know it.....on that day the clouds parted, the blue skies came out, and Mt. Kilimanjaro came out in all of her glory!! It was a tremendous gift to our team. I've learned that what may seem like inconveniences can actually be gifts from God.

So what is on the horizon for me? I have quite a bit coming up that I'd like to share with you:

• I will be traveling to an area in Eastern Uganda called Ngora July 19-23. Pastor Charles OPendi of KidZ at Heart Leadership Academy Launch team will travel with me to the village of Tilling to visit Gawa Church. We are hoping to bring KidZ training to this area in the future. (After our visit to Ngora we will travel to Tororo where Pastor Charles is from)

• I'm busy making preparations for KidZ trainings in the areas of Jinja and Kaliro that we hope to have the end of August.

• I'm also making preparations for a 2-day intensive KidZ training for our KAHLA East Africa  launch team (KidZ at Heart Leadership Academy) in September.

• I will continue to mobilize our KidZ South Africa trip that is end of August.

• And I'm in the final stages of the processing of my Uganda work permit!! This is a HUGE blessing and I can't wait until I have the permit in my hands :)

As always, my thanks goes out to my awesome supporters and prayer warriors. I know that God has called me to do ministry in Africa and I know I wouldn't be here without any of you. We each have a part to play and no part is less significant than the other. I'm looking forward to seeing what God has in store for KidZ at Heart throughout Africa!

Please consider giving towards this amazing ministry. I'm currently in need of $500 ASAP to cover the costs of my work permit. It's going to be ready any day now and I need to be able to pay to get it.

Mungu akubariki! (God bless you!)

Asante. (Thank you)

-Shannon Routzahn


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select my Name. The system can process USA and International cards. You can also set up Automatic Monthly Gifts if you choose the "monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Life in Kampala

Greetings from Kampala, Uganda!

I'm coming up on 5 months now in Uganda and it's been such a fruitful time. It's not been without it's challenges but God is always there for me and has carried me through. As I think back over the months, I can't help but think about just how good God has been. Since arriving, I've met some incredible people that I can now call friends, I've settled into a new home while conquering power outages and glitches, settled into a new church (University Community Fellowship), learned to drive the CRAZY roads of Kampala (imagine a spider web of roads filled with taxis, boda boda motorbikes, people and potholes), learned what to buy at the grocery store, have traveled to rural villages while dodging farm animals on the road (ha!), and so much more.

One of my favorite things since being here is when I drive around my neighborhood and all of the children are so excited and wave because they know me. It just brings me such joy. It's a constant reminder that what I'm doing here for God through KidZ at Heart is not in vain. These children and the children's ministry workers are being impacted. I've gotten to visit many churches throughout Kampala to see the Sunday schools and encourage the Sunday school teachers. I get to teach the children worship songs with dances and just this small thing means so much to them.

I've been busy preparing for my trip to Tanzania that is just next week. I'm joining 5 of my team members traveling from the USA and we will be training children's ministry workers in the East Kilimanjaro district. I really looking forward to what God is going to do through each of us. Please do keep myself and the team in your prayers. I will be in Tanzania from June 12-27. Once I return from Tanzania I will be busy with KAHLA East Africa, trainings in Jinja and Kaliro, mobilizing our South Africa KidZ team, and so much more.

I'm continually blessed by each of you; my prayer and financial supporters. I know these days the economy isn't easy anywhere and your commitment speaks volumes to me. I'm very thankful and blessed. If you know of anyone that may be interested in the ministry work I'm doing please do pass this blog entry along to them. I am still in need of more monthly partners; even one-time gift givers. Kampala is so expensive and I'm really believing God will provide me with more partners in my ministry work. Giving info is below.

God bless you and may God continue to work through each of you.

Thanks,
Shannon


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select My Name. The system can process USA and International cards. You can also set up automatic Monthly gifts if you choose the "monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Global Children's Forum Kenya

Hi friends!

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Kenya for Global Children's Forum 2013 conference. Grace Rwothumio and I traveled together by bus (a long and bumpy 13 hour ride each way) from Kampala and we got to meet up with hundreds of children's ministry leaders around the world. It was an amazing thing to be in one place with so many world changers! Children's leaders came from countries such as Australia, Philippines, USA, Africa, Nepal, India, Europe, Mexico, and the Middle East. The first two days were comprised of teams working on certain children's ministry projects. Grace and I were on the work team for a GCF Leadership Institute. We learned much and were able to offer much also. We are excited to see how the leadership institute will be formed over the next year! The last three days were spent all together hearing about Africa and the current needs in children's ministry along with strategizing how to move GCF forward and doing some "courageous thinking" in regards to children's ministry. It was such a fruitful time and so wonderful seeing people from so many different organizations and churches come together to work towards a common goal: reaching the 2.2 billion children of the world for Jesus.

At the end of this week I will be traveling to northeast Uganda with Pastor Charles OPendi (part of the KidZ at Heart Leadership Academy Launch Team) to visit a village called Tilling in Ngora district. Over the past few years a small group of children's workers from Gawa Church in Tilling have attended our KidZ at Heart trainings in Kampala and now we would like to bring KidZ trainings to their area so many children's workers in these rural areas can be trained. This upcoming trip will be a planning trip and I'm excited to see the ministry work going on in Ngora district and how KidZ at Heart can partner with them.

Then in June I will be traveling to East Kilimanjaro area of Tanzania to help train with a KidZ at Heart USA team for two weeks. I'm really looking forward to it! Other things that I've been working on are helping mobilize the Tanzania trip for June and also a South Africa trip that is scheduled for September of this year. In addition, I'm in the planning stages of doing a KidZ training in Jinja and Kaliro, Uganda for the last week of August. It's an exciting time here in Africa and I'm honored to be a part of it!!

I simply couldn't do any of this without my faithful prayer and support team. I'm very thankful for each of you and I'm praying for even more to join in the effort to reach children in Africa. Will you prayerfully consider giving a one-time or monthly gift?

My current financial needs are:

-$500 more needed towards my Tanzania trip. My funds are due May 13th.

-$1000 needed for living room furniture. God has really blessed me and my home in Kampala is coming along but I still have no living room furniture. Prices in Kampala are very expensive for furnishing. Any help is appreciated.

-$200 more in monthly support needed.


I'm praying for each of you and I'm so happy that I get to do this journey with you!

God Bless,
Shannon


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select my Name. The system can process USA and International cards. You can also set up automatic Monthly gifts if you choose the "monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Tanzania!

 

Hujambo! (Hello in Swahili)

Habari gani? (How are you in Swahili)

OK, I'm switching back to English now because that's about all that I know of Swahili so far :) Some of you are probably wondering, "Why is she speaking in Swahili anyways?", it's because I'm headed to Tanzania this June and that is what they speak there!

Greetings in the name of the Lord! I'm very excited about my upcoming adventure to my neighboring country (I'm in Uganda right now) of Tanzania this June with KidZ at Heart International! I just wanted to take some time to share with you regarding the ministry work I will be doing there. As you know I have lots of KidZ ministry trips on the horizon (Jinja in Uganda, Nairobi in Kenya this April, and other rural parts of Uganda like Gulu, Hoima, and Ngora later in the year) but I'd like to share more in detail about this Tanzania trip right now.

KidZ at Heart International traveled to Tanzania several years back to help train local Tanzanian children's ministry workers to better equip them to teach and reach kids for Christ. For 4 years, KidZ focused on the Hai District in Northern Tanzania and it was a great success. In 2008, KidZ at Heart Senior Editor for Training Materials, Valorie Eddy, was part of this trip and her heart for the local Tanzanians grew. She is now going to be leading a KidZ at Heart team to another area that hasn't had the opportunity to have children's ministry training. This year KidZ at Heart will be focusing on the East Kilimanjaro District and will continue to for at least 3 years. Many of you are probably saying "Kilimanjaro? That sounds familiar", that's because I'm referring to Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa! We will be ministering to villages under the slopes of Kilimanjaro :) I will be meeting up with our KidZ team there June 12th-29th. It's a wonderful team made up of 6 people from various parts of the USA that have a huge heart for children and training and equipping children's ministry leaders. I've already been skyping monthly with the team and I know we (Valorie, Corliss, Calissa, Kathleen, Rick, and myself) are truly going to make an impact in the lives of so many children and leaders throughout Tanzania. We will be holding a KidZ Ministry Equipping Conference for one week with Pastor Mtui's church. Children's ministry pastors and leaders from the surrounding areas (Marangu and Moshi) will also travel to attend. Together, we (me and you!) are going to be sharing the love of Christ with so many adults and children!

I simply couldn't do any of this ministry work without my sending team. So for this, I'm eternally thankful! Together we are making up the hands and feet of Christ to reach the nations! It is no small thing that you are doing, I want you to know and remember this. There are children on this continent that don't know the love of Jesus. There are children that don't have hope and are feeling neglected. There are leaders that have lost encouragement and want to give up because the work is so much and too hard. But your prayers and your giving are changing that. Through KidZ trainings, leaders are getting the skills and encouragement that they need and thousands of children's lives will be impacted and changed for the better through these leaders. Please don't ever forget this. God sees every integrated part of the work we are doing together :)

This trip is approaching quickly and I'm currently in need of $2000 to meet trip deadlines. Half is due April 12th, the remaining is due May 12th. I'm covering my own airfare costs to Tanzania ($600) and your monthly giving is still covering my living/ministry expenses for being here in Africa. Still, I am in need of raising as much of this $2000 trip cost as I can to cover the cost of accommodation, food, car transport, and ministry supplies for this trip to Tanzania.

Firstly, will you pray about this upcoming trip? Will you become one of my prayer partners and specifically pray for the team and the leaders/children we will minister to?

Secondly, will you consider donating towards this trip? I know together we can make this happen and I plan to put as much of the money I currently have towards this trip also.

I'm so very excited about being part of this amazing KidZ team to Tanzania!

Kwa heri (goodbye in Swahili) and Mungu akubariki (God bless you in Swahili)!

-Shannon


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select my Name. The system can process USA and International cards. You can also set up automatic Monthly Gifts if you choose the "monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

KAMPALA!!

Greetings from Kampala, Uganda! It's been a busy and fulfilling two weeks since I landed here in my new homeland. And a blog update is long overdue, so here is what has been happening since you last heard from me. I met up with a KidZ at Heart USA team here on January 11th and we hit the ground running in preparation for a KidZ Ministry Equipping Conference (KMEC) at University Community Fellowship (UCF) Kampala January 14-18th. The KMEC was such a huge success! We had over 140 participants attend from all over Uganda and they were very eager to learn and walked away even more equipped to do children's ministry throughout the country. I was able to help train children's ministry pastors and leaders alongside Gordon West, co-founder of KidZ at Heart, in an advanced workshop about Spiritual Formation for Children. It was truly eye-opening to so many that attended and they were very thankful. During the week I was also able to attend a launch team meeting for KidZ At Heart Leadership Academy (KAHLA) East Africa. It's apparent that God is the midst of doing something very big here in Uganda regarding children's ministry and I've very honored and blessed to be a part of it. More news to come on this soon....

Our team was also blessed to attend a children's concert called Celebrate Kids last Sunday. This is a once-a-year event where various churches throughout Kampala come together with their children's ministry to sing and dance and celebrate a certain theme about God. This year's theme was the Word of God. It was so much fun seeing the creativity and talent each church brought to the concert!

The KidZ At Heart USA team flew back home last Monday and I stayed on in Kampala to start getting myself settled. Uganda is a beautiful country with the kindest of people. God has really blessed me with incredible missionaries and UCF church family members to help me along the way. Pastors Grace and Micah Rwothumio have been wonderful as I stay at their team house until I find my own accommodation. And a UCF church member named Godwin has been incredibly helpful as we search for my housing and vehicle (which I have just purchased! A silver Honda CRV, pics to come soon!!!). I really don't know what I would do without all of their help. God is very faithful!

So these days I'm learning to drive in the crazy city of Kampala (traffic and the roads can be a nightmare), I'm searching and believing God to show me the perfect accommodation very soon, I'm connecting with so many children's leaders that want more KidZ At Heart training, I'm trying new foods (Ugandans eat many fresh fruits like pineapple, mango and banana, fresh-grown vegetables, pocho [corn maize], matoke [boiled and mashed green banana] ugali [millet], chipati [Asian flatbread], and cassava), and I'm listening to all of the crazy animals sounds this city has to offer (birds and monkeys). It's quite the adventure!!!

I'm also praying and believing that God will provide and many of you will partner into the ministry work I'm doing with KidZ At Heart here in East Africa. Together we can make such a huge impact here for the children. Some of my current financial and prayer needs are as follows:

• Most all of the accommodation within my budget is unfurnished. Furnished places are ridiculously expensive. Therefore I'm in need of at least $2,000-$3,000 to furnish my place ASAP. (This includes such things as a bed, kitchen appliances [refrigerator, stove, microwave, washing machine], desk, living room and dining room furniture, etc). I've been told I can get some really good deals so I'm believing it will only cost this much and even less.

• I'm believing in more monthly partners which would allow me to sponsor several children throughout Uganda and cover their school fees. More monthly giving will also help in regards to my travel finances throughout Africa. In June I go to Tanzania with a KidZ At Heart team.

• Please pray for my Uganda work permit to be processed smoothly and in a timely manner. It is currently in process and we have an agent working on it.

• Please also pray for a smooth transition into this new culture. I truly believe this is where God wants to use me in this next season.

I'm very blessed to be doing what I'm doing here in Africa. And I'm forever thankful for each of you that has helped in your giving and with your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I'm excited about this new adventure and what God has in store!

Be blessed,
Shannon


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select my Name. The system can process USA and International cards. You can also set up automatic Monthly Gifts if you choose the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Being back in Africa!

 

It's been 3 weeks now since I've been back in Africa. It's been a time of slowly readjusting to life here and catching up with good friends in South Africa and Zimbabwe. Readjusting to hot weather, slow internet, busy stores, bumpy roads.....but also remembering why I came back to this great continent...it's for the beautiful people that just fill your heart with joy.

This little guy in the picture above is named Talent and he's the son of the gardener named Sam at the house I'm staying at in Zimbabwe right now. He's a joy to be around and everyday he will say to me in the only English he knows "Hi, how are you?!, I'm Talent, I'm fine thank you". He's just cute as can be and he's a constant reminder of the children of Africa I have come back to minister to through KidZ At Heart International. There are children here on this continent that need to know Jesus. There are children's ministry workers and pastors that need equipping and training to reach kids for Christ.

As a MobiliZer for KidZ At Heart International, I will be helping bring teams from the USA to countries throughout Africa to put on week-long KidZ Ministry Equipping Conferences. Here locals in various African countries will get the training they need to effectively do children's ministry in their country. They will learn how to write their own lessons, use the materials they have available to them, and creatively teach Christ to the children. It's such an awesome thing to think about!!! We have teams this upcoming year traveling to Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa.

In January I will be headed to Kampala, Uganda to meet up with our USA team to help with KidZ At Heart training at Pastor Micah and Grace Rwothumio's church, University Community Fellowship. Then I will be staying on after to base myself in Kampala. In June I also have the awesome opportunity to be part of the KidZ At Heart Tanzania team!

Your continued prayers are appreciated as I settle in Africa.

• Please pray for the speedy processing of my Uganda work visa
• Please pray for the KidZ At Heart Uganda team that will be in Kampala January 10-22
• Please pray God leads me to the right accommodation and vehicle as I base myself in Kampala and provides a great support system of church family and fellow missionaries
• Please pray for continued provision in my finances
• And please pray for God to bring the right people to join KidZ At Heart teams coming to Africa. If interested please email me at sroutzahn@kidzatheart.org and check out our website at www.kidzatheart.org

I'm so very thankful for each of you and continue to pray that God blesses your life!

In Christ,
Shannon


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select my Name. The system can process USA and International cards. You can also set up automatic Monthly Gifts if you choose the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Hope for Sharon and Gloria

   

Meet Sharon and Gloria, the newest students of Wells of Hope Academy in Kampala, Uganda. These precious sisters have stolen my heart and with your help we have been able to bring hope into their lives. I first heard about the organization Wells of Hope just a few months ago. I connected with Francis Ssuubi, founder of Wells of Hope, through a missionary friend of mine named Teresa Kemp who does prison ministry around the world (check out her ministry at www.breakingchainsint.org).  I was intrigued by what Wells of Hope is doing for children of prisoners in Uganda. Since I will be based in Kampala, Uganda, very soon with KidZ At Heart International, I wanted to see how I could help in the lives of children close by and meet them one day soon.

Sharon and Gloria come from Northern Uganda, west of the Nile River, in a village called Etori in the district of Arua. This is about a 7 hour drive from Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Sharon is 6 years old and Gloria is 15 years old. They come from a family of seven children from different mothers but the same father. Their father has been serving in prison for a long time. When their mothers remarried they were abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Gloria had to drop out of school two years ago to look after her youngest sister Connie who was 6 months old at the time. Gloria also looked after her sisters Sharon and Judy. Their grandmother was sick so couldn't help them. Life at home was very difficult for Gloria and her sisters. They would have one meal a day and some days they would have to go without food.

Francis Ssuubi of Wells of Hope learned about Gloria and her sisters and saw the need to help. He spoke with her uncle and grandmother and convinced them of the importance of continued schooling. In African culture most families believe that a 15 year old like Gloria doesn't deserve to go to school. They believe that she should be married off and only do house chores. Francis worked very hard getting Gloria and her sister Sharon to Wells of Hope Academy (their sisters Connie and Judy remain with their grandmother and aunt who will look after them the best they can). Gloria and Sharon were overjoyed when Wells of Hope came to their village to help them. Since being at school, Gloria and Sharon were even able to visit her father in prison. It was a joyous occasion for all involved! I'm told that Gloria wants to be a teacher and can write/speak some English and Sharon wants to be a policewoman and is very active. With your help we were able to transport them from the poverty they faced in their village to Wells of Hope Academy in Kampala. We bought them suitcases, clothes, mattresses, bedsheets, blankets, and books. They are thriving now and I praise God for this!! In addition to Wells of Hope Academy, Wells of Hope also helps over 120 children with school fees, they have an HIV/AIDS Prisoners Support Project, offer counseling to children of prisoners, and they have a children's choir.

Be sure to check out their website at: www.wellsofhope.org


So what's new on my horizon?

In just 2 weeks I leave for Africa to work as the Africa MobiliZer for KidZ At Heart International!! www.kidzatheart.org I will be helping equip children's ministry leaders throughout Africa so they can reach and teach kids just like Gloria and Sharon for Christ :)

Will you help partner into this amazing ministry? I'm still in need of $500 more in monthly support and up to $10,000 in up-front expenses due to the cost of living/vehicle cost in Kampala being higher and traveling more throughout the continent with KidZ At Heart.

To Donate Online:http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations Select my Name. The system can process USA & International cards. You can also set up automatic Monthly Gifts if you choose the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

May God bless your giving and bring you abundant joy knowing you are making a huge difference in the lives of African children!

A New Adventure Awaits!

                          

Dear Friends and Supporters,

In Acts 16:6-10, we are told that the Holy Spirit prevented Paul and Silas “from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.” That night, Paul had a vision of the Macedonian “pleading with him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us!’ So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.”

I, too, believe that the Holy Spirit has redirected my ministry from Zimbabwe to East Africa. And I am writing to tell you about these exciting changes and how you can partner with me to reach the children of Africa.

In September of 2011 before leaving for Africa I was able to attend a children's ministry training called KidZtitute with an organization called KidZ At Heart International. At KidZtitute I was better equipped to do children's ministry not only in the USA but cross-culturally also. I enjoyed this conference so much that in January of this year I joined a KidZ At Heart team in Kampala, Uganda to help lead a KidZ Ministry Equipping Conference. This is an intensive week-long conference where African children's ministry leaders and teachers are equipped to present God's word to children in effective, culturally relevant, age-appropriate ways. It was a wonderful and fruitful trip.

Now, I'm happy to say that KidZ At Heart would like me to be on their team full-time! I very much believe in what KidZ is doing throughout the world and I'm honored to be a part of it. KidZ At Heart International exists to equip people to reach and teach kids for Christ within their own culture. I will be a MobiliZer with KidZ At Heart while being based in Africa, mainly in Kampala, Uganda, and South Africa. A MobiliZer is the point person for successful launch of short-term teams for the purpose of equipping people within their own culture to teach kids for Christ. We have teams for 2013 going to countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Cameroon, Tanzania, Honduras, Philippines, Latvia, and the list goes on and on. I will also go on many of these short-term trips in Africa to help with training, help coordinate KidZ ministries in East Africa, conduct follow-up with churches throughout Africa as they implement KidZ training elements, coordinate with KAHLA (KidZ At Heart Leadership Academy) leadership team in Uganda, and be with the children as much as possible!

I believe this is an exciting opportunity for all of us in order to reach kids for Christ. The world's 2.2 billion children need to know, love, and follow Jesus. Will you be part of helping the 2.2?


Please pray. This is a major transition and will require many details and decisions about relocating to East Africa. Will you consider praying for me regularly if you are not already doing so?

Please give. I'm currently in need of more monthly support. Will you consider joining my monthly support team or increasing your monthly amount? Or perhaps you would like to give a one-time donation? While I transition back into Africa and into my role with KidZ At Heart, my donation system with World Outreach will stay the same (see details below).

Please go. Please consider joining one of KidZ At Heart’s short-term teams to any of the East African locations I will be MobiliZing. I’d love to have you with me in Africa!

For more information about KidZ At Heart check out our website at www.kidZatheart.org

Be very blessed!
Shannon


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/donations  Select my Name. The system can process USA & International cards. You can also set up automatic Monthly Gifts if you choose the "Monthly" option.

Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Tutoring, Cows, Love, and Much More

I’m now in my 6th month of Global Leadership Academy here in Swaziland, Africa as I prepare for ministry full-time in Zimbabwe. God definitely put this internship along my path in order to do a deep work within me so I can be as prepared as possible for the journey ahead of me. I’m absolutely certain of this. I’ve had the time and solitude needed to examine areas in my walk with the Lord that need to be strengthened. What God has been showing me most of all is his great desire to be loved above all else. To put it simply, God just wants my love over everything else in this world. And He wants my love by showing complete surrender, absolute trust, faith, and obedience. And to be planted firm in these things God has to make us walk through them. It’s the only way He can truly teach us. And that’s what He’s been doing for me. And as painful as it may be sometimes, I’m so eternally grateful to Him because I know I’m being strengthened for what lies ahead. This internship is a blessing; I see God’s hand all over it.

My room in my rondavel at GLA campus has one of the best views. It looks out to surrounding mountains, a beautiful lake, and cattle grazing. One night I couldn’t quite get to sleep because there was a cow that just kept mooing. It just wouldn’t stop. I asked my roommate Goodness if she heard it and why it was being so loud. She laughed and said that the mother cow was mooing because she had lost her calf and was trying desperately to find it. I know absolutely nothing about livestock but living in Africa has me learning all kinds of new things. When the mother cow would moo then you could hear faintly in the distance the calf mooing back. The calf and mother cow did this all night and into the morning. The mother cow was in such distress because she couldn’t locate where the calf was. Later in the morning the mooing stopped and I believe she found her calf. Why I’m telling you all of this is because it got me thinking about God’s love for us. Just like the mother cow, God won’t stop calling us until we are all found. He doesn’t want any of us lost. I was brought to tears as these cows searched for each other. My roommate probably thought I was crazy crying over these cows but I was learning a much deeper lesson in all of it.

The past few months I’ve had the great opportunity to tutor with a 10 year old boy named Bongiswa at the I Am Not Forgotten Home next to GLA. Every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon a group of us interns go over to help some of the kids with their homework. I’m not quite sure how it happened but a few weeks into it Bongiswa asked me to help him. So we’ve been practicing spelling in English, writing skills, and math. It’s a good thing I’m helping a 10 year old because math was never my best, lol! Several weeks after tutoring Bongiswa I got interested in what his story was. Why was he at the I Am Not Forgotten Home? So I started asking him questions. Bongiswa is very quiet and sweet. But he talks when you ask him things. I asked him how many brothers and sisters he has and he told me 11! I was shocked! He started laughing. That’s a lot of siblings. He said he has 6 brothers and 5 sisters. I then asked him if he had parents and he said that he has a father. I didn’t ask him more about his family because I didn't want to bring up any hurt feelings. But I did speak with Thombie, the house mom, and she said that Bongiswa's dad had 12 children from 12 different women and that Bongiswa's mother passed away and then his father didn't want to take care of him anymore. It always breaks my heart to hear this but I know that Bongiswa has a loving home now with Thombie and the other kids. Some things I learned about Bongiswa: he is super smart, his favorite thing to do is read, he likes playing soccer, and his favorite colors are yellow, green, and white. I know this boy has such a bright future ahead of him. He's very well-mannered and smart. He's been a joy to be around.

I want to also share with you how your support money has been helping while I'm in Swaziland. You are such a blessing to many people both in Swaziland and Zimbabwe!

- With your financial help you are providing me with the preparation I need for full-time ministry in Zimbabwe. Global Leadership Academy is just the place for this.

-We have been able to help some of the young girls at Healing Place Church in Mbabane go to youth camp this summer.

-We have been able to bless the interns considerably by getting them a birthday gift when it's their birthday. This may not seem like a big deal but it definitely is. Most of the interns have never recieved a birthday present in their whole life. It's been a joy seeing them so happy and excited on their special day.

-We have been able to buy some clothing and special gifts for Sibonelo and Bongiswa.

-We have been able to pay school fees for the boy I met in Zimbabwe in December named Talent.

I want to thank you for your continued prayer and financial support. I couldn't do it without you and I'm very thankful!

Until my next post :)

Be Blessed!
Shannon


To Donate Online:
http://www.worldoutreach.org/ Click Donate and Select my Name, USA and International Cards Accepted


Or Mail Checks to:
World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Meet Sibonelo

Meet Sibonelo. This precious little girl has stolen my heart with her affection and her sweet smile. From the first day I went to Children's Cup carepoint Mbekelweni, she hasn't let go of my hand. I carry her in my arms just about every minute, give her piggyback rides, and I look into her beautiful face as she falls asleep in my lap. Sibonelo is 3 years old and her love is contagious. I recently started asking the teachers at the carepoint more about this little girl and her story is one I just had to share.

Sibonelo is part of the "I Am Not Forgotten Home" in Mbekelweni; which is right next door to GLA campus. "I Am Not Forgotten" started in 2008 when a teacher at one of the carepoints named Mage Peggi started taking children home that had nowhere to go. She cared day after day for the orphans in her community and the amount of children she cared for kept growing and growing. The idea for orphanage homes branched out from this because her home started to not be big enough to hold all of them. God moved in the heart of a generous donor in the USA who visited Swaziland and the "I Am Not Forgotten" homes (3 in total so far) were able to be built. The Mbekeweni home was built 1 1/2 years ago and Mage Ntombie is now the caregiver at the home for 9 children ranging in ages from 3-15 years old. Ntombie has an incredible heart and is now a mother to the motherless.

When sitting down with Ntombie to find out about Sibonelo's story I could tell I was about to hear a heart-wrenching story but I had to know. Sibonelo was found as an infant at her step-grandmother's house sitting in the soil filthy and crying. She had nothing to eat so she was eating the dirt to stay alive. Sibonelo is a double orphan. Her parents abandoned her and Ntombie believes at least one of them is deceased. She was left in the care of her step go-go (grandmother) but unfortunately her step go-go didn't care about her. Sibonelo is one of the thousands of children in Swaziland that is HIV positive. Because of this, her relatives discarded her. When Children's Cup found her they took her to the hospital and she was nursed back to life and got her the medicine she needs to survive. Not only did they save her life, but they brought love back into her life. The love of Jesus. Today Sibonelo is full of life, a bundle of joy to be around! She no longer has to look for something to eat. Everyday she can come to Mbekelweni carepoint for rice and beans or porridge. At home she gets to eat eggs and bread for breakfast. I'm told she loves to be carried (I know this firsthand!), she loves sweeping the yard, playing marbles, and playing with toys and dolls.

Sibonelo has brought joy into my life. I'm blessed that I get to love on her each week. She has also really humbled me. There are so many days during the internship that my selfishness takes over; when all I want are the luxuries of the USA (things like going to the movies, going out for sushi, going thru McDonald's drive-thru, you get the jist) and then it hits me and I'm brought to tears. I remember Sibonelo, I remember the children I play with each day and how little they have compared to so many. And I pray to God that He will forgive me of my selfishness, that the joy that these little ones around me have will come into my heart and envelop me, that I can humbly be Jesus' hands and feet everyday. It's a hard thing to die to your flesh but I'm learning so much from the children around me.

I'm blessed and thankful that God has brought me here to Africa. There truly is no other place I'd rather be.

-Shannon


Donation Details

Online: http://www.worldoutreach.org Click Donate and Select my Name, USA and International Cards Accepted

Or Mail Checks to: World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Swaziland!! GLA Happiness :)

Sawubona! (Hello in SiSwati),

Greetings from the Kingdom of Swaziland! I've now officially been in Global Leadership Academy (GLA) for 1 month! It's a great feeling and I can say that I'm very blessed. I now have a family of 21 other interns and 10 GLA staff leaders; a mix of Swazis, Congolese, Tanzanians, Zimbabweans, and ME, the one and only American intern. I'm being immersed into African culture and it's preparing me well for my ministry work that lies ahead in Zimbabwe. I can see this very clearly and I'm thankful that God is putting me through this process, as hard as it may be. The days are long and the work is hard but I will gladly do it for the Lord :)

So what is Global Leadership Academy like? It's challenging but REWARDING. For the next 10 months I will be intensely studying the Bible and what it means to be a Godly leader, I will be communicating and living with Africans every day, I will be serving in every and any capacity for the Lord at Healing Place Church Swaziland and at Children's Cup carepoints with the children. I will be part of Kitchen Krew at the campus, working in the garden, helping tutor children at the "I am Not Forgotten House", doing hospital ministry, helping lead Scripture Union and Morning Assembly at a high school near our campus, leading worship at HPC's youth called 412, helping with Kids Power Camps and HPC children's ministry called KFC (not the chicken but Kids for Christ!), and the list goes on and on..... sounds busy huh? Well it certainly is!

I've been blessed with a wonderful roommate named Goodness (see picture above). Goodness is a Swazi and she's around my age. We get along great! I'm having so much fun learning SiSwati phrases and learning SiSwati and Shona songs. I actually got to lead my first Shona song this past Friday night at HPC 412 youth. I loved being able to usher people into God's presence through worship and I was told I sounded like a true African when singing it :) Coming up I will be spending more and more time helping HPC's children's ministry and working with the children at the carepoints. I simply can't wait because as you all know Children's Ministry is my passion and my calling. I'm looking forward to the day I'm in Zimbabwe full-time helping lead Celebration Kids Ministry. I know in my heart that all of this preparation is going to be SO valuable to that ministry.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to thank all of my financial and prayer partners. I simply could not be here without you and I'm forever grateful. Your giving is changing the lives of African children; they are being VALUED, LOVED, and EMPOWERED, and most of all they are learning the love of Jesus.

As I proceed with GLA I'm asking for prayers in the following areas:

-That God would continue to do a work in all of us interns; that God would keep stretching and molding us into the Godly men and women He has called us to be.

-For physical, mental, and spiritual strength as I go through GLA.

-For peace when I'm missing friends and family in both USA and Zimbabwe.

-For my next steps into Zimbabwe full-time.

-And for my ministry financial support. I'm still in need of more monthly supporters.

God Bless!
Shannon


Donation Details:

Online: http://www.worldoutreach.org Click Donate and Select My Name. USA and International Cards Accepted.

Or Mail Checks to: World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (Designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)