AFRICA IN 3 WEEKS!

Hi Friends,
Hope this finds all of you well! I just wanted to pass on a little update! I mentioned in my last update that there where plans to head back to Africa. Well, here they are!Thanks for having a look at my blog!
On Feb. 13 I'll be heading to South Africa and Mozambique to continue our work with Ten Thousand Homes. We are still pioneering quite a lot of initiatives such as plans for clean water, nutrition, and various education programs.
We'll also head to Mozambique to meet with a couple in Maputo to see about putting up a new care center that will help provide for orphans living on the streets.
I'm still currently in the process of raising the funds. If you are interested in being involved either by praying or giving, please the click on the large photo below to read more specifics.
Thank you so much for your willing to consider and pray. It is no mystery that I could not do this without all of you. I can't thank you enough.

Your Friend,
Dave Henry

NOTE: If you would like a tax deduction please make checks out to YWAM and send to:
YWAM Tyler
Attn: Accounting
P.O. Box 3000
Garden Valley, TX 75771
(just put a note in specifying the check to me)

If you are not interested in a tax deduction you can send a check to made out to me and send it to the address on the photo of my newsletter.

Life is Fragile

Hi Friends,
Well it’s 2 weeks into my month in Africa, so nearly the half way point. It’s been a an interesting 2 weeks. The first week was a YWAM conference with over 200 workers from all over southern Africa. It was great to see a broad range of diversity from around the world as well as from all over Africa. I’m always blown away when I see the diversity of God displayed in His Creation and see the unity that comes to belonging to family of God regardless of color, culture, nationality, or economic status. It’s a beautiful thing!

My time so far as also been a bit surreal. During my first week here I learned that my grandfather, Ambrosio Bosquez, passed away in Piedras Negras, Mexico. It was a bit tough to be away from my family for the time of grieving and remembering him together as a family. Fortunately my mom and dad were able to be there to represent my brother and I, since we’re both overseas at the moment. My brother and I were fortunate enough to see him together last May, I think I knew in my heart that would be my good bye to him. I’m sure he’s enjoying his new home.

Being in Africa always seems to put me back in touch with how fragile life is, thus making it that much more precious and making me realize how valuable people are, whether I recognize their value or not. I get that feeling of fragility with news about my grandfather, but also when I’m about 10 feet from an elephant that was tearing apart a tree. (yes, that did happen about 3 days ago).

Thanks again for your prayers, friendship, and love. It’s priceless.

Your Friend,
Dave

Home

Hi Friends,
Happy Belated New Year to all of you. Hope that your holidays were full of good food, good friends, and good time with family. Have you happened to make any New Years Resolutions yet?

Anyway…Home.
I’ve been thinking a lot about home lately. What it is? Where it is, and what makes a home? I think about it a lot because my lifestyle and the nature of what we do in Africa in regards to the orphan and the widow. And I’m finding that most people are either trying to get back home or find a new one.

Thinking about this makes our name, “Ten Thousand Homes”, so much more meaningful for me. A home is a place to belong, more than simply a place to live and redefines what it means to be an orphan (not just losing your parents). Africa’s orphans need home. Not just 4 walls and a roof, but a place to belong. A place to be loved, to be safe, and to inherit more than they thought possible. Orphans are often just surviving, often afraid to dream or risk because of what it will cost to do so. This was never more evident than when I stayed with the orphan headed household in August. It seems the more and more people I meet, the more I realize how much the role of home plays in all our lives - our sense of belonging.

Several years back I was in Ireland I saw a little piece of graffiti. I had to photograph it. And it has always stayed with me. “Home is not where you live, but where they understand you.” Home gives us a place to belong. It is a huge part of every person’s identity and makes all the difference in how our lives impact the world, the poor, & the needy.

How do our lives create home for others?

Your Friend,
Dave Henry