Project Canaan, and Eswatini, have captured my heart. I have known about Heart for Africa since John and Tracye McCarthy made their first visit to PC twelve years ago. Khutsala ornaments adorn my Christmas tree every year and I’ve made a few small gifts to support the organization. But after joining Heart for Africa as Director of Operations in late January, and spending time at Project Canaan in March and July, my passion for bringing HOPE in Eswatini has going from yebo to YEBO.

I’m a firm believer that my work is my worship, and I’ve always wanted to work with organizations that have a purpose – that would lead to changed lives. I’ve spent much of my working life in non-profit organizations. The great thing about working in a non-profit, at least for me, is that you often get to wear a lot of hats and in my previous roles I’ve gained a wealth of experience in human resources, employee benefits, fundraising, event planning, budgeting, management…the list goes on. I spent seventeen years with an organization focused on discipleship in the workplace, and I loved it.

And then God closed that door. And after a year of doing non-profit consulting with a mentor of mine, He opened the door working as an account manager with an employee benefits insurance broker. I was mostly miserable. I learned a lot, but it was a long, hard season. I struggled with the lack of purpose I felt in that job. And after four years, God opened another door…

The job was Director of Operations for a start-up company producing fishing lures, but the company had a mission focus: creating jobs for women who had been victims of trafficking. When I met with the founder, I told him I didn’t know anything or care about fishing, but that I was passionate about helping change lives. But, as start-ups often go, things got tough, and the mission focus got lost in the struggle to keep the business afloat. One person after another left, but I felt the Lord telling me to stay. It was hard for a lot of reasons. Chief among them, some people thought I was being foolish. And I felt foolish, but I believe that I was being obedient.

Finally, just before Thanksgiving last year, I felt the Lord release me. I was having dinner with Tracye the next week, and told her God was moving me on, and asked her to pray with me about what was next. The week after that, John emailed me the job description for the newly created operations role with Heart for Africa and asked if I would be interested in applying. A month and a few interviews later I had a call with David Bryant and he offered me the job. It was the easiest YEBO. I believe that God had me waiting those long, often discouraging, months and years to prepare me for Heart for Africa.

I was excited about so many parts of the role, but very much looking forward to visiting Project Canaan. Even though I had seen pictures, watched videos and read Janine’s books, I wasn’t really prepared for what I saw when I arrived in the middle of March. Shortly after my arrival I was talking with David, and he asked my thoughts. I didn’t have the words. All I could say was that this – Project Canaan and being a part of what God is doing through Heart for Africa – is a dream I didn’t know I had.

Those two weeks in March were a bit of a whirlwind. The first week I joined a team of wonderful women who came to serve and minister to the staff, in particular the Aunties who so faithfully take care of the 420+ children living on PC.

My second week I spent time with each of the leaders and senior supervisors, attempting to wrap my head around the scope of all that happens on Project Canaan. I also got to spend more time with the kids. I went knowing I was going to love them, but had no idea how much. Leaving on Good Friday afternoon to head home was made easier only because I knew I would be back in July with the volunteers coming for Camp Canaan.

My excitement to return to PC was amplified by having my youngest daughter, Emily, on the trip. We joined a small team who arrived early.  Emily is a dental hygienist, so she worked in the dental clinic the week before Camp Canaan. I can’t tell you the joy I felt seeing her not only use her gifts to serve the kids and staff, but to watch her heart and passion for Project Canaan grow. To watch her dream about what could be done to serve the children and staff through the dental clinic by providing preventative care – and the role she would like to play in that…proud doesn’t begin cover it.

That’s what I saw in the other young people who were also on the trip. Several of them shared how their perspective on their own problems had shifted after being on PC and visiting the community on church and homestead visits. I watched them playing and cuddling with the toddlers or dancing with the kids during Camp Canaan, building relationships.  Every one of them expressed their desire to come back next year. To see our kids live beyond themselves and follow God-given dreams…it’s what we pray for our kids, isn’t it?

If you’ve ever thought about joining us on a trip, I say, “What are you waiting for? Say Yebo!” And bring your kids. Come and go with me. You’ll never be the same.

One of my friends said it best, responding to a video Emily posted: “You will never be the same after this encounter. You have been ‘gloriously ruined’ by the gospel of Christ and by all His beautiful image-bearers you met on your journey.”

Being a part of what God is doing in the lives of the staff and children at Project Canaan IS my bucket list. I want to be there every time I can.

It is the dream I didn’t know I had. I am “gloriously ruined,” and I couldn’t be happier.

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned to me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling other the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:24 NLT

Pamela Schreiner, Director of Operations Heart for Africa