KidZ Ministry Equipping Conference Uganda 2012

What a great 2 weeks it's been! I just got back into Zimbabwe from trips to South Africa and Uganda where I partnered with KidZ At Heart International to train children's workers. I was very blessed to spend time with Charlotte Moore of KidZ At Heart and her sweet 4 year old daughter Ruthie in Johannesburg the first week of my trip. We spent some time seeing the sights (Nelson Mandela's house in Soweto and petting lion cubs at a lion park) and then I got to meet with some of the South African KidZ at Heart trainers. It was a precious time for me.

From Johannesburg I traveled to Kampala, Uganda to meet up with the KidZ At Heart team of 5 from the USA, Canada, and Zimbabwe. We were hosted by Micah and Grace Rwothumio of University Community Fellowship Church for 9 days. We spent a whole week putting on training workshops from 9 am-1 pm at the church for the children's workers of Kampala and surrounding areas. What an amazing time it was! I thoroughly enjoyed leading the 60+ attendees in workshops that will make their children's ministry more effective. The people of Uganda were so very grateful and some of the nicest people I have ever met. They have a hunger to learn and to serve. On the last day of the workshops the teachers brought kids from their community and did lessons based on all they had learned that week. How sweet it was seeing them applying all they had learned!

During the conference I met a very special girl named Vicky. You know how there are some people you meet that you just automatically connect with? Well, that's how it was for me and Vicky. I met her on the first day of the training. She was immediately friendly and we built a friendship from the start. Vicky just graduated high-school and leads the children's ministry at her church in Kampala. She has attended KidZ at Heart workshops in the past and is very talented when working with children. It just makes my heart smile to think about her future because I know she is going to do great things for God's kingdom. I'm SO very blessed to have her as a new friend!

Here are a few tidbits that I learned while in Uganda:

• Uganda is very different than Zimbabwe!


• Traffic in Kampala is some of the craziest I've seen.


• They have a deep red dirt all over the country.


• They have the best bananas and they make MANY different dishes with bananas.


• The people are some of the friendliest I've ever met.


• Speed bumps are on a whole other level in Kampala!


• The source of the Nile River is in Uganda (I got to take a boat ride on the Nile!).


• Uganda landscape is rolling hills and lush.


• There is actually a rainforest in Uganda (I got to go to this also).


• They have boda-bodas everywhere, which are motorcycle taxis.

On our last day in Uganda I got to visit one of Watoto's villages and their baby home which was a real treat. This is a home for abandoned babies. Watoto is doing an incredible job helping the children of Uganda.

In just 2 days I leave to go to Swaziland to start the Global Leadership Academy. I have a nervous excitement for what lies ahead!

Thank you all for your prayers and support.

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)

A boy named Talent

I'm meeting so many wonderful children here in Zimbabwe. A few weeks ago I went with Auntie Feli to an impoverished area on the outskirts of Bulawayo. Auntie Feli helps sponsor a little girl there and she wanted me to come and meet these precious children. A special lady named Auntie Jane has really helped these kids by helping them to stay in their community even though they are all orphans. The grandparents and widows of the community have taken these kids under their wings to provide for them so they don't have to be separated from their friends and neighbors. We arrived in the afternoon to 30 expectant children excited about their Christmas party! It's very customary for the children to sing songs once you arrive and that's what they did :)

Something about this particular area and kids party really tugged on my heart. The majority of these children have HIV Aids. They have hardly anything, not even clean clothes. This party was a MAJOR blessing for them. It would be the only Christmas meal they would get (chicken and rice) and the only Christmas gifts they would get. Thinking about it breaks my heart. The kids even prepared a drama skit for us. This skit really informed me of the reality of their lives. The skit was about a young couple with a young teenage daughter. They dramatized about the young daughter being sold by her parents to a man that ended up abusing her and having HIV Aids. I was crying by the end of it because it hit me that THIS is what so many of the children here deal with.

I also met an 11 yr old boy named Talent. Something about this young boy just really spoke to my spirit. His smile was contagious and I could tell that there was something different about him. I asked Auntie Jane to tell me more about him and I found out that he was born with polio, that he's an only child that lives with his elderly grandparents, and that he also has some mental handicap issues. In my heart I knew I was meant to help sponsor Talent. At first Talent was a bit unsure about the attention I was giving him. I'm sure he was thinking "Who is this strange American woman that keeps taking pictures of me?" lol!! He warmed up to me and by the end when I was leaving he gave me a huge hug goodbye, he was SO happy! He couldn't wait to go home and show his grandparents all the goodies he got at the party.

All of the kids were very excited and happy and blessed that day. But I left even more blessed because I went and I met these wonderful children who had so much love to offer. I can't wait to go back again and again to visit with these kids and to see Talent again.

Praying you have a blessed New Year!

-Shannon

Donation Details:

Online Donations: http://www.worldoutreach.org/ Click Donate and Select my Name, International and USA cards accepted

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

Michelle

Salibonani! (Hello in Ndebele)

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas from Zimbabwe!!

It's been a great few weeks here full of Kids Christmas parties, Kids Christmas Carols, and church services. After visiting our church campus Masvingo, we also held Kids Christmas parties at 3 other locations: Simbomvu, How Mine, and Newmansford. Between all of those, we reached close to 1000 children! It was such a joy for everyone involved. I personally loved being able to teach the children many kids songs with dance motions :) And I can't wait to share more with them in Celebration Kids. I also heard that Pastor Dixon brought a powerful word in Jacksonville and over 600 kids from Zimbabwe are now sponsored through Mission of Mercy. Go God!!!

I wanted to share with you also about a girl named Michelle that really touched my heart. On Saturday evenings we always have church service at our How Mine campus. How Mine is a gold mining community we minister to. How Mine is an impoverished area where there is much oppression. The kids there crave love every chance they can get. This past Saturday I arrived early to help set-up and in walks this precious little girl who I later discovered is named Michelle. You see, she was very shy. But she immediately clung to me throughout the whole night. She came straight for me, stood beside me and held my hand. She looked at me from time to time and just smiled. I would ask her questions but she was either too shy to answer or didn't speak good English. I taught her how to play patty cake with her hands, she loved that! The littlest of things made her smile. When we did worship, she looked at me and followed my every dance move. Then after the service she came to find me straight away. You see, I didn't do much, all I did was show her attention and love and told her that Jesus loves her. But this meant the world to her.

There are so many "Michelles" out there that just need love. They need the love of Jesus. They need to feel valued and appreciated. If I can simply hold the hand of a child in need and tell them they are loved and that Jesus loves them then I feel I am doing what God has called me to do.

Will you pray about making a difference in the life of an African child? Your prayers and financial giving allow me to minister to children daily.

I am very blessed by my family, friends, and support team. I love you all!

Blessings in Christ,

Shannon

Donation Details:

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

Or Mail Checks to: World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91)

Masvingo!!!

I'm SO in love with Africa! It's so beautiful here, the countryside is beautiful, the people are beautiful, I feel at home here. I'm settling in well so far here in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. My Celebration Zimbabwe family is taking good care of me. On Wednesday we welcomed a team from Life Church of Omaha, Nebraska that traveled here with Dan Ohlerking of Children's Cup. The team of 15 is an awesome bunch and so super excited to be working with the kids! And we are so happy to have them here!

On Thursday we traveled to our Masvingo church campus (about 4 hours away by bus) to kick off the Kids Christmas parties. I love Masvingo! It's been 2-3 years since I was last there and it was so great to be back there with Ps Samson and the children. We held 2 Christmas parties for the children at 2 different schools, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Wow, what fun!!!! At the 2 parties we had about 675 children! Go God!! The parties were divided into different stations of the kids to rotate to. We has face-painting station (Linda, you would have been awesome here doing that!!), sack-race station, soccer station, water-slide station, dance station (that's where I was all day!), Nativity drama station, memory-verse station, and bouncy house station. These African children were SO happy and seeing there smiles was just priceless. All the kids want to give you high-fives and get their picture taken. It just brings me such joy. I feel extremely blessed to be here with the children. They mean SO much to me.

Like I said I was at the dance station all day. I must have danced for 6 hrs straight! Everyone kept saying "Where do you get the energy Shannon?", and I say it's all from God! These kids can seriously dance, I mean seriously dance! I learned some African dances and then I got the opportunity to teach the kids 2 songs with dance motions that I know. I taught them Hillsong's "Take it All" and "Mighty to Save". They are such good learners. They have such excitement for dancing and singing, I love it! Hearing them shout "Take Take Take it All" at the top of their lungs I know just makes God smile so much. And it makes my heart smile everytime I think about it. It's their new favorite song now. I even heard some of the children afterwards walking around saying "Take Take Take it All!".

It's all about Jesus. That's why we do this. The kids have fun at all the different game stations but teaching them the love of Jesus is the most important thing. After the game stations we brought all the kids together for a lesson about the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. Then all the children got presents (jumpropes and bracelets for the girls, and bouncy balls and balloons for the boys), and they then got to eat a wonderful meal of chicken, rice, and cabbage. This means so much to them. The children here will be talking about this for days!

When the day was over my feet hurt, my body was exhausted but it didn't matter. It was all worth it for the children and for Jesus! It brings me such joy! I spent the 4 hr ride home happy in my heart and ready to go back again and again.

Tonite is Ignite youth rally and tomorrow is another 2 Christmas parties for the children at Sibomvu and How Mine. So excited!!

Be Blessed!

Shannon

Donation Details:

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

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

I made it to Africa!!

It's Sunday December 4th, 2011 and I'm sitting here at Auntie K's house (Kaluba, one of our Celebration Zimbabwe ladies that I love so much!) in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It's kind of surreal that I'm actually here in Africa, that just 2 days ago I was in the USA and now I'm here. Amazing what air travel can do, take you half way across the world!

God is good and He really was protecting and blessing me on my journey here. Got to JAX airport early Friday morning and first person I meet is a girl traveling on the same flight as me to Johannesburg. Go God! I know God put me in her path for a reason since it was her first time to Africa and I helped her along the way. All flights were very smooth, and on the long flight to Africa I got seats open next to me, double score!!! Awesome! And a flight that was supposed to stop and refuel halfway thru (or so I thought) didn't even stop so it made it seem like the flight wasn't as long. Now that's God! The connection thru Johannesburg went super smooth and on my flight to Zimbabwe I met some missionaries from Charlotte, NC and got connected with them as they work with children in Zimbabwe often. Best news of all, ALL my luggage got here safely and on time! Nothing damaged, nothing stolen!! That is unbelievable. All my prayers along with friends and family's prayers really paid off. God keeps giving me peace through this whole journey.

I was greeted at the airport by many of my Celebration Zimbabwe family. Was so good to see so many familiar faces. I've gotten settled in with where I'm staying also. I'm staying with Auntie Feli (Felicity) and she just moved into this great apartment flat that is so spacious and comfortable (pics to come soon). The Zim ladies welcomed me Saturday evening with a wonderful feast of food (barbeque chicken, rice, pasta with beef and cheese, salad, butternut squash (Lizzie, I know how much you love that!!) and banana bread with ice cream (so much for losing some weight here, lol!) and I just keep feeling very blessed! God even brought rains to cool off Bulawayo on my first few days (it's very hot here these days). I slept like a rock my first night and resting as much as I can because this coming week we will be busy with many Kids Christmas parties.

Today (Sunday Dec 4th) I went to Celebration's Central Campus and got to see so many of my Celebration Zim friends. And I got to see some of the kids and I can't wait to spend more time in CK Kids and teaching them some of what we do in the USA with CK Kids. I especially can't wait to teach them the CK good news! Pastor Albert preached an amazing sermon to kick off the Season of Hope and it really spoke to me. He talked about what hope is and what it isn't and what we need to have hope. Our anchor needs to be Christ. Without that anchor when storms come they will blow us down and that anchor won't stick. My prayer is always that I can have such a strong trust and faith that when the struggles and storms come (and they will) my anchor in Christ will hold me firm and strong.

When Pastor Albert and so many saw me today they said "Welcome Home." And it does feel like home and I know even over more time I will start to settle into the groove of things.

More blogs and pictures also to come soon.

I'm so thankful for everyone in my life, my friends, my family, my financial and prayer partners, and most of all JESUS.

Until next time.

Love to all- Shannon


Donation Details:

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

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

Gearing Up

As I gear up for leaving for Africa (Dec 2nd!) I have so much to give God the praise for! I have that nervous excitement of the unknown. It's hard to believe that I leave in just over a month and a few weeks. So much to do before then but I know God will help me get it all taken care of. I want to share some of the praises with you :)

God's Timing: I give praise that God is setting me up for a WIN by putting GLA (Global Leadership Academy in Swaziland with Children's Cup http://www.childrenscup.org/ ) in my path. GLA is going to give me the African ministry experience and hands-on training like no other. For 10 months I will be partnered with an African ministry student, serving and learning side-by-side. I am very excited about getting to know all the GLA leaders and all of the interns as I know they will become like a family to me. I will gain all the ministry and leadership skills I will need before transitioning into Zimbabwe. God is GOOD!! I'm ready for the adventure! I'm seeking God and believing I will do the absolute best I can.

I get to spend Christmas with the Zimbabwe kids and my Celebration Zimbabwe family!: I'm SO looking forward to being in Zimbabwe during the Christmas and New Years holidays. I will have the opportunity to help with the Kids Christmas parties; I can't think of a better way to celebrate Christmas! The children will get an experience of a lifetime! They will get to have fun, play games, worship, eat goodies, and learn the story of JESUS! And most of all the kids will have HOPE. I also can't wait to see all of my Celebration Zimbabwe family, it's been too long!

I have the wonderful opportunity to travel to Uganda in January to help with a Kidz Ministry Equipping Conference: I'm VERY excited about this opportunity to help train Children's Workers in Kampala and give them the tools they need to have a dynamic and effective children's ministry. http://www.kidzatheart.org/

God has blessed me with an AMAZING support team and a wonderful sending agency! I truly know that I would not be able to step into my calling without the help of the people God has placed in my life. My financial supporters and prayer partners are the true heroes and I don't take them for granted. They are the hands giving and I am the feet going. With only $500 more in monthly support to raise, I'm in awe of God's blessings. And I'm also very blessed to have World Outreach http://www.worldoutreach.org/ as my sending agency that manages all my support money coming in, I couldn't do it without you guys!!!

My car is paid off! And my parents are buying it before I leave :) : This is going to bring in some extra cash to go towards my upfront expenses.

I have an incredible travel agent, Pam Kindsfater, of My Mission Travel! http://www.mymissiontravel.com/ Pam, I seriously couldn't do it without you! Thank you for getting me the best deals, researching all the different baggage rules, and going over and beyond for me! With so many different travels in just a period of 2 months (Zimbabwe, Uganda, Swaziland) you are a SUPERSTAR!

I get to celebrate with my friends, family, mentors, and support team before I go! Save the date: Saturday November 19th, 5-7 pm at Celebration Midtown Annex. Food and drinks will be provided. Hope to see you there!!!!!!!!!!!

Wondering how YOU can help?

-Prayer for time-management as I gear up to leave; that I can get everything done I need to. Moving country is a big task! lol

-Give. I need to be at 100% goal before I go. Monthly partners are especially needed. Donate Online at http://www.worldoutreach.org/ Just click Donate and Select my Name. (USA International Cards accepted) OR Mail checks to World Outreach Ministries, P.O. Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 (designate for Routzahn, Fund Code #91) Also needed, Walmart and Target gift cards.

-Prayer for airfare expenses to Uganda. We have researched and an inter-Africa flight from Zimbabwe to Uganda is almost as much as traveling from the USA. The lowest we have seen is $1200. Pray for airfare to go down quickly or for the extra finances to come in so I can purchase and go.

-Prayer for me as I leave my friends and family and walk into the unknown. Pray calmness and peace over me.

-SPREAD THE WORD! Do tell your friends and family how they can be part of this ministry to the children in Africa :)

Love u all! Shannon

Swaziland to Zimbabwe

What a journey it has been so far on my way to Africa to do full-time ministry and God just keeps surprising me! The journey we plan isn't always straight but usually has many twists and turns. It's trusting God in those twists and turns that ultimately matters. As I continue to wait on God's timing, several opportunities have opened up for me to be even more prepared to be effective in the ministry to the hurting and orphaned children in Zimbabwe. I still firmly believe that God's plan for me is Celebration Kids Ministry in Zimbabwe but I also know His plans and length of time to get me there are far better than what I may think. As Pastor Stovall says "The longer you wait on something, the greater the blessing will be!" God is equipping me every step of the way.

The great news is that I will be on the ground in Africa by December working with the children and obtaining lots of hands-on experience in working with veteran children's ministry workers that are ministering in the same flow as the calling God has put on my life. Celebration Zimbabwe is working closely with Children's Cup (http://www.childrenscup.org/), an amazing organization that brings hope and the love of Jesus to hurt and forgotten children. Children's Cup is is an American organization that has been ministering to hurting children for the past 20 years in both Africa and Asia. My first trip to Africa was to Swaziland to work at the Children's Cup Carepoints where they feed and minister to the children. It was here that got confirmed my calling to Africa. So it's not a big surprise that God would bring Swaziland, Africa back into my journey. This is going to be a huge win for all of us in that I will get a lot of exposure to African culture, will get essential ministry and leadership experience, be close to Zimbabwe to travel there often, and work with the Kids Clubs in Swaziland as well as work on bringing a child sponsorship program to Zimbabwe. I truly believe that this time in Swaziland will be an important stepping stone toward my ministry work in Africa.


So here is the journey God has me on over the next several months (and of course this can always change, and I will update everyone if anything does change):

September 2011: I have the awesome opportunity to attend a Kidz at Heart conference. Kidz at Heart is focused on international kids ministry and this will be a great tool for when I'm in Africa. http://www.kidzatheart.org/, I will also be equipping our St. Augustine Celebration Kids campus to bring kids service to the next level.

October 2011: Preparation in Jacksonville, FL, continue helping Celebration St. Augustine campus with Kids Ministry.

November 2011: Preparation in Jacksonville, FL

December 2011: I will depart for Zimbabwe to help with Kids Christmas parties and work with the Celebration Kids ministry there.

January 2012: Zimbabwe and a 2 week trip to Uganda with Kidz at Heart to help put on a KidZ Ministry Equipping Conference in Kampala. This mission trip will give me hands-on experience in training African volunteers in Kids Ministry and doing international Kids Ministry specifically to Africa.

February 2012: Travel to Swaziland, Africa to start the 10-month Global Leadership Academy and work with Children's Cup.

I currently need just $500 more in monthly support to be at goal. Will you consider becoming a monthly supporter? For as little at $10, $25, $50 or $100 a month you can help get me fully funded. See donation details below.

I'm VERY excited about what God has in store and so thankful to you for helping make this dream a reality! Your blessings do not go unnoticed.

God Bless, Shannon

Donation Details:

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

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