"The Boundary Lines Have Fallen for Us in Pleasant Places" (or God's Gift of Land)

The line from Psalm 16 captures how the team here at Wild Hope is feeling about a beautiful open 20 acre piece of land outside the city of Arusha. As we signed off on the purchase, our (almost disbelieving) minds were rocked by the fact that God has provided a piece of earth for our dreams to grow on.


(Staking the boundaries)

Let me go back...

Many of you will know that, from the beginning, Wild Hope has dreamed of a base called home where the fullness of life would flourish. Hardly daring to put words to it, we have hoped for a place to plant ourselves; a place where work, ministry, hospitality, training, demonstration projects and experiments can flow together to be a blessing here in Africa. In short, we dreamed of a retreat and training center with working gardens. In biblical terms, we have wondered if there was a little corner of Africa where we might live in Shalom with the land, each other, the community and our Creator.

Big dreams for a little team!

God must be a big dreamer too :-)

Somewhere along the way during this last year, He has sent us a small group of amazing partners who decided that they would like to see this thing go forward. To our own great shock and amazement, God allowed Wild Hope to recently pay cash for 20 acres of African soil.

This land is surrendered to our Maker. He is the one who provided the finances, led us to the plot and walked us through the weeks of dialogue and discovery with the local community.

We at Wild Hope are willing tenants, hoping to honor Him in the way we care for this piece of earth and the neighbors He has given us around it. Smile with us about this: all our neighbors are Maasai :-) They are quite surprised to find two families from the United States who speak their language (!) coming to join them in their community. As for us, we are happy to oblige.

Obviously, there is much to be done. First up on the to-do-list is to drill for water. We are praying we find good water and soon!

In time, as funds are adequate, we will begin to build. We will build our homes, a gathering place where we can teach and train, hospitable quarters for future teams, and gardens that utilize the earth in a Creation-honoring way. These are our initial dreams, but we know that more will unfold as we begin.

Please join us in celebrating this gift of land. And pray with us that it truly will be a place from which life springs forth.


The Wild Hope Team on the land


Looking out toward some of our neighbors

We Are Thankful (and Our Hats Are Off To...)

There is much to be thankful for this year!

We have some very special news about "the land" but that will have to wait till next week.

Today we just want to say a heartfelt thank you to Byron's dad, Oscar Borden. Oscar worked for 12 years in East Africa. Though he moved away many years ago, his heart and mind still carry a love and concern for this place.

Recently, Byron was telling his father about the lending base we want to raise so that we can increase the number of micro-loans to our African friends. Wild Hope wants to start with a dedicated $30,000 for this express purpose.

Oscar lives on very little at his home in Florida. He cares for others, tends to his work, and visits Byron's Mom in the full-time care unit where she lives.

Not long ago, Oscar wrote us to say that he had a CD coming due and he wanted to cash it in and send the whole sum to our lending-base fund.

This little note is just to say "Thank you, Oscar!" We wanted to honor you for giving the very first $1,000 to what we fondly call The OCB--or Oscar Clarence Borden-- Fund :-)

We are inspired by you!

A BIG Thank You!

Big thanks to our wonderful friends at 24-7 Prayer!!

Every year at the global gathering of the 24-7 family, there is a raucous auction, done with great celebration and hilarity, that raises funds for someone who is close to the movement and in financial need. This year it was decided that half of whatever was raised would be sent to Africa via Byron and Lisa so that we can assist an old Maasai woman who is like family to Wild Hope.

Ngoto Milai sold most of her cows to educate her children. Sadly, the local school was so under average that her children never scored well enough to go on and complete their high school education and they have never been able to find paying jobs. Her last couple of cows died in the drought a few years back. When Byron was in her area some months ago, his Maasai Mom asked him if there was any way we could help her begin some sort of small business so she could provide for her children and grandchildren.

Everyone was shocked and delighted when the auction raised $2,000! You would have been shocked too, given that the items sold were things like a spiral notebook decorated with photographs and jar of home made jam :-)

With the $1,000 that we have for this dear Maasai mother, we will be able to help in two significant ways. First off, a gift of goats or a couple of cows will be a huge blessing. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, we have enough in hand to set up a small business co-operative with this lady and a few of her friends who are in similar circumstances.

We are absolutely thrilled we can bring two forms of assistance with this one wonderful gift!

And by the way, Lisa put one of our Christmas stars, made by Wild Hope Artisans, in the auction and it sold for 50 euros. That's $70 and that's a record for a Wild Hope Artisan star!

Oh and PS... If you hear a rumor that Lisa was called upon during the auction to enter a Flamenco Dance-Off (the crowd pooled their resources and paid 100 euros to see the contest) then we thought we'd better let you know that, yes, it's true. She danced her little heart out :-)

October Hurries On By

Family...

The Wild Hope Moms (Lisa and Tammy) have been in full-on home school gear around here. The kidlets (aged 17 down to 8) are faithful and (almost always) sweet students. Of course, no one is perfect! And we moms admit that it can just as easily be one of us who is feeling cranky and less than inspiring.

Still, we are thankful for a good start to the school year and we celebrate with a welcome break. Chase turned 15 at the beginning of the month and this weekend sees most all the crew off on a camping trip to Lake Natron. Poor Sianna had to stay home with a fever :-( At least she's with her excellent mom, Tammy. Tammy was staying home anyway because the Russell family are raising four puppies that lost their mama! Phew! It's a lot of work but, oh my, those puppies are cute (and healthy!)

A place to settle...

Byron and Peter have spent hours and hours and days and weeks, scouting out land, leads to land, rumors of land and plots of land. Wild Hope is dreaming of a place to do demonstration gardens, house teams, do training, build residences etc. There has been much activity around this dream in the last few weeks but no official news quite yet. Please pray! We'll let you know as soon as there is something to know :-)

Sales up for the Artisans...

The cool of July and August has pretty much faded and we are into warm October days. There is a buzz of activity toward the Christmas rush on our Wild Hope Artisan products. Warm weather and Christmas go together for us and Christmas means a lot of sales for the project. It's very exciting to see eager shop owners making orders these days. We are thrilled to see the hard work of the women Artisans being appreciated and valued and purchased.

New ideas and plans bubble along and we take steps toward making things happen. These are good days. So much hope!

PS: The latest on Sianna is that she has Scarlet Fever. Goodness! We're praying for good recovery and that it doesn't move through all the kids...

A Little Dinner Party

On Tuesday night we threw a little dinner for the Nyota Football Club boys. Out of respect for Ramadan, we ate late and had a nicely reserved kind of gathering.

Still, there were plenty of smiles as Coach Toby passed out prize shirts to different players who shone at the tournament a few weeks ago.

How blessed are we to get to come alongside these young men in an effort to face and overcome the challenges of their situations?

Hint: Very Blessed!

Artisans on the Silver Screen :-)

The Wild Hope Artisan Project



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Wild Hope's good friend, Jenelle, has been visiting here in Tanzania for the last three weeks. One of her helpful projects has been to edit together this 2 min video about The Wild Hope Artisans. The idea was to have a brief visual to tell people who purchase these products in the U.S. a little more about the partnership we have with these Maasai women.

We are blessed indeed to be a part of empowering these friends.

Enjoy! (And thank you so much, Jenelle!)

Chickens and Champions

Wild Hope's adopted football team (soccer to those of you who live in N. America) is all about chickens and champions at the moment :-)

As you know, we are partnering with these young men from an economically challenged area of Arusha because we are so impressed with their determination and self discipline in sports as they seek a way to rise above the challenges of the circumstances they live in.

The latest with Nyota FC is that they have launched a chicken rearing project with a micro-loan from Wild Hope. Byron and Peter have helped them with their plans, looked at all the angles with them and generally been there to advise and encourage. Now the first batch of chickens have been raised and sold and the second batch are housed in the hen room where they cluck their way to chubbiness.

Profit from the project will help with team costs for things like new cleats, transport etc etc. The team here at Wild Hope is proud of the guys for their creativity and hard work in this.

We're also proud to say that the team just won the cup in a local tournament sponsored by our friends at Young Life. Yesterday afternoon we watched the Nyota boys pull off a 3-0 victory in the final match. What a rush! The guys danced after every goal and the crowds of kids who were there to watch went wild!

Later, as we crammed into the tiny passage way outside the hen room, (this area has become the club house!) we told them what great examples they are to the young kids growing up around them. Holding their big trophy cup up high and singing their victory songs, the team looked to us like the champions of the world :-)

A Safari for the Heart

The entire Borden Family, the entire Russell Family and the entire Summer Team went away for 8 days together! There were 18 of us on the road through dust and ditches, forests and mountains, volcanoes and rivers, plains and lakes, friendships, studies, prayers, sharing, service, times of great adventure and times of quiet awe.

The combination of learning, giving, working, serving and adventuring combined with the beauty of Creation, turned our hearts toward the Creator in new and deeper ways.

This really was a journey for our hearts!

Thanks for prayers!

Photos: Jesse Borden

Sore Hands and Good Times

Our summer team spent the day at the home and farm of Alfonse and Rose and sons. We worked until our hands were covered in blisters in an effort to bless their farm, bless their lives, and serve in a practical way some of those God has given us friendship with.

Rose cooked up a hot lunch and sharing food together in the shade of their garden was filling in more ways than one.

When we pulled away the sun was pushing low toward evening and we were tired but exhillerated. Mount Meru looked stunning in the golden shades of the late afternoon and we felt the joy of serving, even in our weary muscles.

Wild Hope's Newest Wheels (or Boys Love Cars!)

Wild Hope's second vehicle has (finally) cleared customs and is sitting (happily) in the driveway at Byron and Lisa's house.

We are all extremely thankful that we were recognized as a non-profit and granted duty-free status to clear this 4x4! Had we not been, the duty would have been about $25,000. Yikes!

Millions of hugs in thanks to all who gave to buy this vehicle so that the Bordens can get around and do their job here in Tanzania. Millions!

The Borden Boys have been getting the roof rack attached and generally giving the car the once over in order to prepare her for her first safari beginning this Thursday. We're taking our Summer Team and our Deep Level Discipleship on the road!

Every prayer for safety is well appreciated.

We go out in joy, being led forth in peace.

The Latest Around Wild Hope

Wow! Everyone around Wild Hope has been on the move in a big way!

Peter and Tammy and their crew (AKA The Russell Family) were in the States for two months. They were in and around LA and up to Canada, over to Colorado and back again before landing in Nairobi last Saturday night. After such a wonderful season in Tanzania, they had much to share and they had a great time connecting with people and telling them Wild Hope stories in person ☺. God so blew them away with the supportive enthusiastic response that greeted them everywhere they went. They were blessed up one side and down the other as they racked up the miles.

Byron and Lisa and their crew (AKA The Borden Family) finally left the States and arrived here in Tanzania mid-May. These first weeks have been absolutely packed full of the details of immigrating, house-hunting and general settling. Phew! They are totally relieved to be here and to have found a house to move into. Life is starting to feel sort of normal to them as they unpack those boxes of familiar household things shipped from Portugal months ago.

We have a summer team that just arrived! Six young people from Portugal and/or Santa Barbara are with us to experience God in new ways, grow, get their heads and hearts challenged and their hands dirty as they help out. We are really looking forward to this time together seeking God, volunteering in different service oriented ways and experiencing the fullness of what the Lord has in store for this summer.

We’ll catch up again soon. I hesitate to say, “When things settle down,” but I think you know what I mean ☺

Photo taken by Jesse when the summer team hiked the gorge.

Introducing... Our Site!

Tadaaaaaaaaa!

Wild Hope has a Brand New Website.

A million thanks to Trevor Borden for designing and building our simple and lovely site.

And hats off to Skyler Russell, the young man behind the camera for almost every photo. Beautiful pics!

Nets to the Rescue!

Wild Hope was given a generous donation that allowed us to purchase 250 very special mosquito nets.

These nets are actually infused with a mosquito repellant so that they physically protect the area they cover while also driving other mosquitoes from the room.

Malaria is still the number one killer disease in Africa. Recent studies show a deadly link between malaria and HIV/AIDS because each disease weakens the body, making it easier to contract the other.

We were so pleased to distribute these gifts. It's always a joy to make an immediate difference :-)

Artisan Project Grows!

The lovely ladies brought their lovely work by the donkey load!

Tammy and Wild Hope's dear friend, Julia Veenstra, spent the weekend together working on new product ideas, quality control, and other areas of training.

Remember back in December when we were projecting that the project would soon be helping more than these six original ladies? Well there are now 32 additional Maasai women benefiting from our Artisan Project.

God is good! Hurray!

Chase's Perspective

Just to refer you to Chase Russell's blog Superman Digital Movement. With such a great title you might get the clue that Chase is a creative and fun 8th grader and his take on what's going on in Tanzania is fresh. Having just read his three most recent posts, we thought you might enjoy hearing from one of the younger members of the Wild Hope community.

Enjoy!

Lots of Gear!

Wild Hope was just given 250 nice soccer jerseys, plus LOTS of shorts, socks, warm-up outfits and goalie gear!

The lovely Lynzi Blacker of u2u donated what she had collected from the AYSO league in Santa Ynez Valley so that we can outfit future teams!

The photos above show our Small Nyotas before uniforms and after :-) These uniforms were brought over in a separate donation by another group. Now we have matching sets for an additional 8 teams, and many more in mixed batches.

We are so thankful to Jez and Lynzi at u2u!

God is With the Poor

Just to share this clip of Bono accepting his award from the NAACP a few days ago.

Wild Hope won't be getting an award or an ovation. Still, we are proud to take our place among those who have committed their lives to bring hope in Africa.

Why? Because we believe in the call of Isaiah 58 to spend ourselves on behalf of others. This is OUR calling. Insignificant as we might seem in the face of the crisis in Africa, we respond.

We know that God is in this because, as Bono says in his speech, "God, my friends, is with the poor and God is with us if we are with them."

That's where we want to be.

Work Permits and a Red Moon!

Peter's email yesterday said "I've got your work permits in my hand!"

This was definitely the best news of the day :-) We Bordens (still in the States preparing to move to Tanzania) hooped and hollered and then sighed one big sigh of relief.

Wild Hope had been notified that our work permits were approved some time ago but then there were a few little complications. I will not elaborate except to say they were par for the course. They were enough to make us hold our breath and pray quite a lot.

And the red moon?

Many of you will already know that a strong part of the vision of Wild Hope is to receive teams of young people into our community and allow them to participate with us in what God has led us to be involved in there in East Africa. We know that Africa has so much to give and we are thrilled to be a part of bridging Africa with Europe and the States. We are very pumped to be able to pour into these teams during the short time that we have them with us.

One of the networks God has tied us into is the 24-7prayer movement. With 24-7's emphasis on prayer, mission and justice, we have like hearts and minds. If you are not familiar with this wild and wonderful movement, please check them out and please read Pete Greig's book, Red Moon Rising, about what God is doing in this generation. (And while we're at it, let us also recommend Pete's new book, God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer. It's really good!)

Well, all of this is to say that we're excited to be on our way to join the rest of the Wild Hope family in Tanzania soon.

Peter and Tammy said that on the night of the day that he recieved our work permits they looked out and noticed a big red moon rising. A lunar eclipse has painted the moon and while we're not saying it MEANS anything, maybe we shouldn't say it was just a coincidence either. Whatever it was, it certainly made us smile :-)

Oh Lord, thank you for letting us be a small part of your big plans to bless Africa!

(Photo by Jeremy)

ABC

The young shepherd boy's face broke into a brilliant smile as he handed Peter his crooked herding stick. Peter had jokingly asked him to give the stick to him in exchange for something that he might like from the big city, Arusha.

Holding the stick, Peter now asked him what it was that he wanted from the city. "A book," he said immediately. Surprised, Peter asked him if he knew how to read. "No," he replied, "but I want to learn". Peter promised him that he would bring him a book.

As the boy ran off to attend his now wandering goats (with his single piece of worn cloth tied neatly over his right shoulder) Peter couldn't help but smile. That small boy on the dusty plains (with a huge desire to learn) is the future of Africa. Wild Hope is now talking with the elders of his village about just how the close to 200 children there can get the education they need. Our prayer is that that little boy's trade of a herding stick for a book will be the beginning of the equipping of a whole new generation in that area.

Education is key for transformation in Africa!

Recently, when we asked a high level government official how Wild Hope could best serve the community, we were told that thousands of elementary school graduates are not able to attend high school simply because there is not enough room in existing classrooms. "Anything you can do to help with this problem will be a greatly appreciated help."

In Wild Hope's first short year in Tanzania, we've had the pleasure of providing 3-Phase electricity to a local high school and a protective building for their water pump so that they could pump water to the school. We have led several weeks of after school programs in local schools, provided math curriculum to the Engewua Primary School, built on-going partnerships for development with several schools and donated sports equiptment to two others. Additionally, we have assisted the Joshua Teacher's Training College with teaching and the provision of electrical back-up systems to ensure internet connection for the teachers and students at their colleges.

We are delighted to see educational initiatives going forward and greatly blessed to be a part of them!

Big Party for Small Stars

Wild Hope proudly sponsors the Small Nyotas (Small Stars) soccer team of Arusha.

These guys from the struggling neighborhood of Unga play on an under-17's league team coached by a dedicated and very-young-himself local.

We love that involvement on the team is giving these young men a sense of self respect and self worth, a new level of personal discipline and something to look forward to and be proud about. We love the way we see this team being used to raise the standard of hope in the community. We love that we helped to sponsor the East Africa Youth Football Tournament and our Small Nyotas came in 3rd place!

Picture it: one day you're on a rag-tag team in mismatched t-shirts playing in one of the worst areas of town. Not too long after coming into relationship with Wild Hope, you have uniforms and you're playing in a beautiful and impressive stadium, taking third in a major tournament!

Most games are still played on the haphazard field down in Unga, but we're seeing good stuff happen on this team.

A few weeks ago Wild Hope celebrated with them by throwing them a Soccer Banquet at a local restaurant. Peter wrote that they had a blast! Skyler printed team and individual photos for everyone and there were t-shirts for prizes.

Keep the Small Nyotas in your prayers. They live in a community ravished by HIV/AIDS. We want to see their whole lives transformed and there's only one way to go.... Up!