VOLUNTEERS STORY WALL

Jordan’s Story of Volunteer Service

​What a privilege it has been to volunteer with Hands and Feet International once again and provide trauma informed training to support the iHub Africa organization. Our team consisted of three trauma trained professional certified counsellors, me, Robin McColl and Debbie Will.

Our volunteer time started during Covid and over a two-year period we corresponded by email and met in regularly scheduled zoom meetings with iHub leaders and facilitators. Last summer, the idea to come in person and offer more in-depth trauma training began to germinate. Our heart intention was to provide a trauma informed framework for the iHub leaders to facilitate better learning outcomes and to understand and implement additional resources for students seeking a better life despite all the obstacles they needed to overcome. During the following 10 months our team worked towards developing a tailored training curriculum and providing trauma related resources that would not only address the universal responses and effects of trauma but also appropriately respond to South African cultural and historical considerations.

As with all missions, it is never just a one-way interaction but a two-way transformation. It was so good to meet in person and see the amazing leadership team of iHub and get to know their hearts and be a part of the amazing work that they are doing preparing young people for a future full of hope and possibilities and to offer our deposit into that beautiful and complex puzzle.  Our time in South Africa also, not coincidentally, provided an opportunity to meet with ministry leaders in Hillsong Africa and to share a portion of our trauma training and resources with them as well which was a wonderful experience meeting with extraordinary hearts.

I would encourage other individuals who have professional expertise and are looking for ways to serve to consider becoming involved in this incredibly purposeful organization which not only seeks to train students for the hope of a better life but provides an environment that facilitates healing and growth.

Our time in South Africa would not be complete without commenting on our most generous and gracious hosts Andy and Sonya Boettcher. Getting to know both Andy and Sonya and the heartfelt work that they are involved in from iHub, Living Color, Hillsong Africa initiatives and Hands and Feet International as well as many more and to see them in action and in heart was truly inspiring. We were so well taken care of; we were guided in learning more about the culture, the people and had the opportunity to experience parts of this beautiful land and were well utilized in our short time in South Africa. They were a blessing to our team, and it was my observation that their lives are genuinely lived as a response to love, love for others and most especially in their relationship with God. I am so grateful for our time with them and for their care. May God continue to bless them in all that they do and in rest when they need it.