August 22, 2023 • 38 mins
Ever wondered how serving in a foreign land could change your perspective on life? Join us on this episode as we share about our trip to Zambia and discuss the experiences that shifted our family's outlook and ignited a remarkable journey of love and compassion.
This week, Tiffany, myself, and our twins, Parker and Presley, share heartwarming moments that left a permanent mark on all of our hearts. Tiffany and the twins unveil a more profound part of their journey, one that taught them more about themselves and left them longing for a return trip to Zambia.
This conversation isn't just about us and our experiences, however. It's about the children we met in Zambia - their resilience, their infectious joy, and the harsh realities they face every day. The small ways we could bring happiness into their lives made a massive impact on ours. If you've ever thought about sponsoring a child but had any doubts, this episode might just encourage you towards making that commitment! So, come join us, and let's make a difference together.
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Once you have sponsored a child, to receive your free book please email me at: info@andyhoward.com
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Buy the book on Amazon: www.amazon.com/When-Words-Dont-Come-Easy/dp/1955362084
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Learn more at AndyHoward.com!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to the when words don't come easy
podcast.
My name is Andy Howard and I amso glad that you are here today
, that you joined us.
It's always a blessing for asmany people as I can share hope
with and share Inspiration with.
That's what this whole podcastis about, and today is special.
Today I'm joined by my family.
(00:22):
I was gonna say my favoriteguests, but it's true, I'm
joined by my family, tiffany,but not just Tiffany.
You're gonna get to meet thetwins, parker and Presley, and
let me tell you that was noteasy getting them to come on
here, but they did that for meand well, maybe a slight bribe
as well to get them on here, butit's cuz.
(00:43):
Actually, they're passionateabout what we're doing and we're
reflecting back on our trip toZambia and getting to help the
kiddos, and so you're gonna hearit straight from them.
Right after this, we willactually Actually start off with
Parker first.
Yes, so stick around to the end.
I will even give you a chanceto be a part of this great
(01:04):
mission.
But all that more happens rightafter this.
What's up, everybody?
(01:26):
I told you I had some specialguests lined up today.
Here we go.
This is my daughter, parkerHoward and I'm gonna go ahead
and be honest with you.
We're probably gonna laugh alittle bit here, cuz she's been
laughing this whole time.
This is take 39 and I evencalled her Zumba a minute ago so
we had to edit that out.
But here we are no more edits.
This is live, real and uncut,so hope you like this.
(01:47):
So the reason I called youZumba we're gonna move back show
so much that was payingattention.
You just finished a production.
You were in the Lion King.
That's pretty cool, did theLion King in Dallas?
Here, you and your sister, andyou were actually Pumba, not
Zumba.
What was that like?
Getting to play, miss misterPumba?
(02:11):
It was fun it was fun all that,for it was fun.
It was fun.
It was fun getting to see youup there.
Look, you had a lot of goodchemistry with some of your
friends on the production andwhat was your favorite part
about just getting to be in alive play and playing a
character like that?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Just meeting a ton of friends.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, well, it has been a very busy summer for us.
The reason why we're here today, I wanted to talk about our
trip to Zambia, and I thinkthat's why I called you Zumba
Zambia.
For those who don't know,zambia is a country in in Africa
, and so we wanted to touch on afew of these this Memories to
(02:53):
reflect on how awesome it was.
It was one of my favoriteexperiences of my life Just not
only getting to go by myself,but getting to experience it
with my family, getting to watchyour joy and get to watch you
overcome some hurdles and fearsof your own doing that and
leading your own group of kids.
It was just really fun to watch.
But I do want to ask you whatsurprised you the most about
(03:14):
getting to serve in Zambia?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
It was fun and because I was scared earlier
because I had to do boys and Ihad to do my own group, so that
was scary.
But once I did it it was funbecause I have a ton of little
five year olds.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, and they're all looked up to you and respected
you.
And wait, just to let you guysin behind the curtain a little
bit.
What was going on when we wentthere?
We went as a in our mind,thinking we were a family
serving a group of ten.
In the night before, as we'regetting set up to start the week
, they're telling us how it'sgonna work and they're like Andy
, you'll have your ten, and Tiffyou'll have your ten, parker,
(03:55):
you'll have your ten.
And we were like what?
And then not only that, but youwere leading a group of boys
and you were so nervous, but Iwas so proud of you and how you
overcame that and got all theway to the end.
What was your favorite memoryof the week?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
So there's a thing called crazy Tuesday.
So every Tuesday there's ifit's your birthday in the past
Like week, you get to throwwater.
So at the water at somebody.
And at the very end our group,it was Emanuel's birthday and we
(04:32):
had to throw water at him.
But he didn't know it.
No, we had like a ton of bigbuckets of water.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
So you said that is awesome and it is its culture
there, for the way theycelebrate birthdays is they?
I don't know why they down they?
I didn't get the meaning behindit.
I did pick up on.
Every time it was someone'sbirthday, you would see him
walking around wet, so they getdumped the water on.
It's just a fun thing.
Maybe we should start that herefor your birthday.
(04:58):
No, okay.
Well, I do want you to ask youto share a story about one of
the children there that you willnever forget.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
So there's this little boy.
He's five years old and hisname is David and he's just
really precious and he's so cuteand tiny and I didn't really
get to see his mom but because Idon't know if he has one or not
, but they never really openedup that much to me.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
But In David and it is true, with him being five,
but over there, because they areso malnourished, they don't get
to eat and sometimes there's noguarantee that they have a meal
for the day.
So that's why this is soimportant to us.
But because of that, thefive-year-olds there look more
(05:47):
like, I guess, three-year-oldsover here, so they just look so
much more tinier and it's justsmall.
Let me ask what did you learnabout yourself while serving?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
That we get a lot and over there I never really knew
how bad it was until now.
It's like they don't have foodor water.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah, and we are blessed, and no matter where
you're at here in the States,you are blessed, and it was
Something I didn't realize, evenKnowing how blessed we all are.
But even when you start askingabout, well, what's the water
situation like in your home?
(06:31):
And they're like well, noteveryone is guaranteed to even
have water.
Some of them would have to goget a bucket of water.
Hopefully their friend or theirneighbor has water, or they had
.
So it's just we take so manythings for granted here, and it
is true it was so good.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
What do you want someone who is considering being
a sponsor to know that you'reguaranteed saving a life,
because they get a Fresh hotmeal every day and then you get
to go to school.
And in Zambia it's not likeAmerica, because all the kids
want to go to school.
Yeah, they want to learn, yeah,and not knowing like they won't
(07:12):
learn that.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
An opportunity to learn, an opportunity to
Opportunity, learn, anopportunity to for all the stuff
that comes with education, butalso I mean just guaranteeing
food, because they're guaranteedto get a nice meal at school
and then some of them it's saferat school than being at home,
so it's just very dangerous, forthey are in their community, so
Very cool.
(07:33):
Well, thank you for your timehere.
Part for anything you'd like toshare with the people before
you leave today.
That's all, folks.
We'll talk to you soon withanother guest here.
I All right here.
Special guest number two it's myother daughter she's not shy,
she's very outgoing, she's kindof like her mama in that respect
(07:53):
.
This is Miss Presley.
How are you baby?
Well, now she's getting shy.
She makes faces, but we wantyou to eat that microphone.
Be nice and loud for me, sotell me this you had a very,
very busy summer, so you were inactually two productions.
You were in the Aristocatsproduction.
(08:14):
Tell me how that went first,because that was your very first
production to do.
What did you think about thatone?
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Well, first I thought it'd be really scary, because I
haven't actually like ever beenlike spotlighted, like having
the spotlight and like sayinglines in front of like a lot of
people, but it was actually likereally fun.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Well, you did so good .
And then, to end the summer,you were in the Lion King.
You were Nala for those, isthat how you say it?
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Nala.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Nala and dad sucks at this.
So you were Nala.
I thought you were Nala, but Istill loved you anyway.
I was like that's my Nala.
People kept staring at me Well,that's the girlfriend too.
Yeah, so you had a very bigrole in this thing.
It was a big deal.
I was proud of you.
So what did you think aboutthat?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I didn't really like what I had to do, but I don't
know, it was fun because I gotto like I don't know, like I got
to scream my head off and likehave fun, I guess.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Well, there was one part where y'all were kind of
doing this circle dance thingbut your hands were about ten
foot apart.
I wasn't that close, but I knowyou were nervous about that
just because it was a boy.
But don't worry, I'd alreadygave him the Howard Stair
beforehand so he knew not to getany closer.
So, anyways, I am so proud ofyou.
We are talking about the tripback to Zambia and it was just
(09:39):
an amazing, probably one of thecoolest things I've ever got to
be a part of.
I wanted to hear yourperspective on it and just share
with us what surprised you mostabout getting to serve in
Zambia.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
What surprised me was definitely how outgoing some of
the girls were.
Like they like warned me thatthey weren't gonna like come out
if they didn't like know you, Idon't know if I like did
something or like I don't know.
They just all of them prettymuch came out and just told us
(10:13):
what they needed, prayer for andstuff.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Well, I think you just have a natural way of
making people feel comfortable,and I was watching how you were
interacting with the kids and itwas just.
It was as a dad.
It made me just happy to seeyou like that, and so we are
going to kick our live audienceup.
It's okay, it was.
It was Tiffany.
I would be honest it wasTiffany.
(10:37):
So, anyways, we're moving on toquestion number two what was
your favorite memory?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Well, every like every morning, when the kids
would come off the bus, theywould give you the biggest hugs,
like it was the first timeseeing you in a year.
And I don't know, it's just, Idon't think I've ever gotten a
big hug, or if, like 10 kidscoming up and trying to
basically push you down, Ialmost fell down.
(11:08):
I'm just gonna say that.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
It was special.
They made you feel very specialand you're trying to explain to
them that.
You know we're just normalpeople, but they were so
grateful for you coming overthere and so every time you're
right.
Every morning, when they wouldpull up off the bus, they would
just not just give you a hug,they would run to you and almost
knock you over.
So cool.
(11:30):
Why don't you share a storyabout one of the kids that you
will never forget?
Speaker 3 (11:36):
There was this one girl and her name was Jane and I
could tell like all the kidscouldn't really pronounce my
name.
I think it was like the R andthey all like, kind of like,
were talking to my translatorand we're like coming together
and I was so confused and Ifinally asked her what they were
(11:56):
doing and they said that it wasJane's idea to rename me in a
Zambia name and that was AuntieChikandi.
But they're what's that mean?
Auntie Love.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
That's awesome, auntie Love.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
There was this one time and she was yelling at me
like Auntie Chikandi, come here,come here.
And we bought them Barbie dollsand to play with.
When we were there and she cameand she was like calling me
over and I was so confused likesomeone got her.
But she was like so eager andshe just wanted to play with me
(12:31):
and like here it was like aBarbie doll and she's 13 years
old and here you wouldn't reallyget.
I'm 10, so I'm like three yearsyounger than her and you won't
really catch like an older girlif they're not related to you in
a way.
Playing with somebody.
And I was the whole week shewanted to play something and I
(12:52):
didn't mind, but I should neverhave like Parker, there's no way
she's gonna want to play withme and anyway.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
We're gonna have to bring Parker back to defend
herself later for sure.
Well.
Well, it was special getting tosee the kids react, and in some
of those kids I've never seen aBarbie doll before, so that was
very fun for them.
What did you learn most aboutyourself while getting to serve?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
I didn't.
I didn't really get knowinglike I knew I love teaching kids
and like hanging around andlike teaching them and stuff.
But I never really got, until Iactually did it, how much fun
it is to like do like churchcamp and dance with the kids and
(13:42):
run around.
So I never thought that I wouldlove doing this, which is I did
.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
You can be honest, because it's just you and me
here, but I was the best dancerthere.
Yeah, sure you're amazing.
It's not what you said at theplace, but I forgive you but
yeah, you was not proud of mydancing.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I was proud of myself .
I tried hard.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I will ask you the same question that we finished
with Parker with, and there area lot that may be considering
sponsoring a kid.
What would you tell them thatthey need to know to help them
sponsor a kid?
What's the big difference there?
Speaker 3 (14:25):
If you meet the kid in person, if you meet them
online, send the messages thatkid will never forget you.
Anyone never forget that kid.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Yeah, it's very special in that getting to make
an impact on these kids.
And what was hard was when itwas Friday.
They call it the day when theAmericans cry, and they're right
.
It's so emotional because youspent that whole week and you're
exhausted, but it's a goodexhaustion and, anyways, when
it's time to say goodbye for thelast time, it's hard isn't it.
(14:56):
Yeah, but we'll see them again.
We're going back next year andtaking some more people with us,
so we really want to impactthese sweet kiddos and their
families.
But, presley, thank you so muchfor your time.
Do you have any closing words?
You want to leave with thepeople?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
No, all right, I'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
All right, y'all.
So we're wrapping up thisspecial trip.
Special reflection back toZambia, brought in the big guns.
Now it's miss tiff and she gotto hear the kiddos.
What do you think about thegirls?
Speaker 2 (15:28):
It was great, I will say and we're going to talk
about a lot of things, butwatching our girls do this was
Truly the best experience of ourlives.
I mean, even if it was just usgoing, I would have said that,
but Seeing our girls like towatch parker and I know she
shared when she found out shewas getting her own Group I mean
she melted into the floor andhad this like it was a meltdown
(15:49):
the night before.
And it wasn't that she was.
She just was so scared I mean,these were boys and she was so
scared and we knew and we prayedand we told her, like god
orchestrated this, it was goingto be for the best.
And I will say that by the endof it, like literally the last
two nights, they balledthemselves to sleep.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
They didn't want to leave the game so Completely
flipped by the end of the weekand I was so proud of her as
well and she's just a naturallybetween the two she's naturally
a little more shy and, uh, shereally did well, so I was so
proud of her Overcoming a hugeobstacle.
So I'm gonna ask you the samequestions I asked the girls and
(16:27):
just like get your insight onall this.
But what surprised you mostabout getting to serve in it?
Zambia?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Um gosh, that's such a hard question.
You know, I knew going it wouldbe life changing.
I've done mission trips inMexico.
It's been a long time but Ihave seen.
You know how others live.
But I will tell you, going toZambia, I've never experienced
anything like that, like anymission trip I've ever went on
the poverty level that weexperienced in Africa.
Just, it's like you know, thesethings exist and, honestly,
(16:58):
this is why we're doing thispodcast, um, because you hear
that these things exist.
But when you look thesechildren out of eye and you know
that they have not eaten someof them, literally the most they
get is one meal.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Sorry, that's my daughter's feet.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
It's feed is done.
We will be back.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
We'll be right back on that thought.
Anyways, yes, she is.
Uh, we got one of our guestsstill with us live, and so
Peyton needed some help.
So, hey, this is it's all good.
So for me, uh, and I don't know, the it's something I learned
from serving there.
But what really hit me, thejust right off the bat, was the
(17:41):
first day.
They talked about how thesekids will most of wanting to get
to eat unless they have lunchhere, and so I was excited to,
you know, get to serve themlunch and see how their eyes lit
up.
Well, their eyes did light up,it was all the same, but it was.
It was very hard because theirlunch there and that's for lots
of reasons.
We could explain that, but weprobably should, so they under
(18:03):
four pieces of bread, and sothese are a lot of kids who
aren't used to even getting toeat.
So they got four pieces ofbread.
I had made me a peanut butterand jelly sandwich, and we ate
those every day, and that's justwhat they served there.
It's totally fine, well, andinto the kids even they're doing
that.
You're thinking, oh, I'm havingpvej today, and then you see
(18:25):
the kids just eating four piecesof bread.
I didn't want to eat my pvej infront of them, and so, with
that said though, but Most ofthose kids stomachs can't handle
Fats, sugars, all the differentprotein.
They're not ready for it.
So, and they do have a drink,though it's a I don't know how
you would describe a buttermilkdrink and they love it, they
(18:45):
love it, yeah, but it was morenutritious for them so and they
would have that and the bread.
but as they get better, thatwhat you are sponsoring, will
help them get more Nutritional,nutritional type foods as they
get into the school.
But just on the first day thatreally shocked me.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
It was really hard and and they did explain it's
not that they only want to givebread.
They used to and they startedthe camp years and years ago
they would give them likechicken and rice and these kids
would literally end up in likethe medic clinic because their
bodies could not handle it andbecause most of these children,
the only thing they eat it mostof them it's once a day and it's
called shima and it's like ourgrits.
(19:26):
I've actually served it to usto try, but it's literally
cornmeal and water and there'sno flavor and that's all they're
they eat.
So their bodies can handleanything else.
Uh, so that was.
That was super hard for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Well, what was your favorite memory of the week?
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Well, you know my children are only gonna give you
one, but I'm gonna give you alot.
You know I talk a lot, but justthe entire experience, I think,
walking in, even as an adult,the first day we knew the kids,
we could see them.
The buses were coming in andthey were all lined up and we
were walking towards them andwhen they saw us, I mean just
not even knowing us yet Likethey just latched on and they
(20:00):
literally almost knocked me over.
Um, because they're so excitedand this is like, for them, this
is the biggest thing they'llprobably ever do in their life.
So this is like winning thelottery to get the cup of this
camp.
Um, they know about these campsbut they get hand chosen to come
based on how bad their familysituations are.
So we knew that these are theworst of the worst and we
(20:21):
actually had one of the poorestcommunities, the community.
We were all very lucky that allof our kids came from the same
community, but it was actuallyit's the harsh crime rate
community in the area.
These children are scared tosleep and but just to see their
excitement and just to see theirjoy, even in the midst of
living In the hardestcircumstances, they don't know
(20:42):
any different and so to watchthem I mean I just pulled up my
videos of them and like to seethem worship and just to jump
and Like we would sit there forteaching and they would just
hold our arms, like they werejust so happy to play.
And when we brought out thelittle toys we had I mean a ball
like it their eyes lit upbecause they don't have these
things.
So it was definitely the joywatching them be so happy.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
It.
It wasn't very incredible forme and I shared this on another
podcast before, so if youHappened to hurt it before,
that's where it came from.
But there was a song called thefreedom song and I'll be honest
, I know my girls were giving mea hard time, but you rocked it.
I was uh Very nervous talk aboutparker being scared, like the
(21:27):
very first day we Went for ourmeeting I got I don't meet new
people, I don't, so I guessthat's where parker gets it.
But uh, I had to meet our twosponsors partners, that's what
they called them.
They were the ones that wouldhelp translate, because not all
the kids speak English most.
I'm sorry about 50, 50 do.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Maybe I'll explain that more in a minute.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
The ones that get to go to school, or have ever been
to school before, do learnEnglish, and so some do and some
don't.
But anyways, with that I had tomeet two strangers right away
and then they're starting toteach us these like kids dance
moves, like if you've ever beenthe camp, kids camp or anything
like that.
And I Did not really want to dothat, didn't feel comfortable,
(22:08):
but I promise these kids that'swhat I've played through.
I was like I'm gonna give themeverything I had.
So I did.
I may not have been the bestdancer there, but I tried my
best, I would say that and theydid.
They loved it.
And so this song, uh, and it'sin the middle of what?
It's their winter, but it'sstill very warm there.
I'm very 80s.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
But 80s feel really a lot there.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
So I just felt like it was beating down on you and
so, anyways, uh, we are doingthis song, I'm giving it
everything I have and I almost Iwas like, if that, if it can
just end, if this song does notend, I am gonna pass out.
Well, sure enough, the littlecamp, get the coordinator guys
whether like the dream team guys, whatever they're like one more
time, one more time, and theydid it again, and so we had to
(22:53):
do it all over again.
But it felt like a little pieceof heaven, all these little
kids Screaming at the top oftheir lungs, praising Jesus and
celebrating, and that's what Iloved the most.
But, uh, what's next for you?
What?
What would you say for someonewho might be on the fence on if
they should sponsor a kid?
Maybe they?
This is the first time to hearabout sponsoring a kid.
(23:14):
What does sponsoring a kid mean?
What's it do?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, so the ministry that we partnered with Is an
incredible I mean, it's anabsolutely incredible ministry
like I can't even Describe whatthey do, um, but basically, you
know, children in Africa, mostof them, have no food, they have
no education.
For them to go to a governmentschool in Africa it actually
costs money, which is insanebecause these people have no
(23:41):
money and as we drove throughtheir community, or they would
even explain that some of thepeople Used their kids to watch
other kids.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Yeah, so these kids might be five or six years old,
but they're watching a baby andso they can't afford not to have
them home, so they don't wantthem to go to school either.
So there's lots of, lots ofreasons that prevent it.
But, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Yeah, we, we took time to.
You're so blessed to get todrive through their communities
and you would literally see likefive year old Girls or boys
with babies strapped on theirback and Pretty much like.
Even in my group I had 10 girlsand none of them had a working
parent in the home, not one Um.
Most of them lived withcaregivers, because the majority
of these children are orphansor double orphans, meaning
(24:25):
they've lost one or both oftheir parents to HIV and so it
is.
So it's so bad.
And the kids that were in thecamp, they have checked to make
sure that if someone sponsorsthem, they would be able to go
to school.
So, yes, there are some thattheir parents don't want them to
go, but these children, theywant them to go.
And here's the thing, guys,when I we got to do a church
service when we invited theirguardians to come, and that was
(24:49):
probably the best day for mebecause as I would sit and hold
these women's hand and actuallythree women and our group came
to know Jesus that day.
But as I hold their hands andsay, what can I pray for you?
And every single one is that mychild would get sponsored, to
get fed Every day and to go toschool to have a better life.
Because in Africa thesechildren do not know English
unless they go to school and theonly way they can get jobs is
(25:12):
to have graduated school and tospeak English.
So these parents know if mychild doesn't go, they will
never get a better life.
And so, with sponsorship,you're sending a child to school
, and the schools that that afamily legacy has created are
phenomenal.
We, we toured two of theschools every there's a school
in every community and they'regetting incredible education by
(25:33):
teachers who truly care.
They get fed a reallynutritious meal.
That it's um, it's packed withprotein and carbs and fat, so
it's not just bread.
They're teaching their bodieshow to get more food and then
they actually will get to takefood home to their other
siblings and to their parents,and so they're getting school,
they're getting food, theyactually get access to medical
(25:53):
care.
They have medical care forthese, these children.
They shared a statistic with us, or a stat that kids will die
over 50 cents.
Like it could be that a parentneeds to get their child to a
hospital, but over a 50 centtaxi ride the child will die
because they don't even have 50cents, and so they're getting
access to medical care.
And guys like I can't imploreyou enough, like Until, we saw
(26:15):
what we saw until you look intheir eyes, and that's why we're
doing this soon, because wewant you to get a glimpse of
what we've seen.
And when you, these are God'schildren and as we would sit and
do these worship services, ohlord, you would see, these are
God's children that he died for,he loves so much and he is
allowing us to be their handsand feet.
And I want to say this I knowso many times people will say
(26:38):
yes, but in America there's somany people that are hurting and
I believe that and I want to beJesus hands and feet here.
But here's the difference thatwe noticed, and please hear me
we know people are hurting here,but in the united states of
america there is access, thereare homeless shelters, there is
A therapist, and there aren't.
There are ways that people canget help.
(26:58):
No, it's not perfect, we knowthat, but in africa there is
literally no other optionbesides us.
And so with us, we, wepersonally, we want to share
this.
We sponsored every child in allfour of our groups.
We made the commitment to 40students, that we will put them
through school and then weactually picked up a couple more
.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
There was two from the tree of life is what they
call it, yeah, I, tree of life.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
So the short version of tree of life is it's it's
like an orphanage For childrenin these communities that have
no one.
The family legacies desires tokeep families together, but a
lot of these children are inbroken homes.
The stories of abuse that we Ihad to take two of our children
To what was considered likeafrica cps because the stories
they were telling me of thehomes they were living in.
(27:42):
So when their homes like that,where they're very it's not safe
, they have a community, anorphanage would.
What had to were 500 childrenin it and we got to go and see
these children thriving, eatingthree meals a day, and we we
personally sponsored two of thechildren from there that we met,
um, and so that is an optiontoo to sponsor tree of life kids
(28:02):
.
They are more expensive becausethey're getting schooling,
lodging three meals.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Room and board, and just you know all of it.
Well, you probably.
I don't know if you can pickone, but can you share a story
of a moment with one of yourfavorite kids that you'll never
forget?
Speaker 2 (28:21):
It's hard because I look at their little faces and I
think three of them came toknow Jesus, which was so
powerful.
But it's hard to pick onebecause I truly loved all of
them.
They were all so precious andjust.
We did something calledrelation station where we got to
take each one of our kidsseparately and sit down and get
(28:43):
to know them and hear theirstories and just I can't even
begin to tell you, out of my 10girls, almost all of them had
lost, all.
None of them had a dadpresident in their life, whether
they lost him to AIDS or heleft, because a lot of these
dads will abandon their familiesbecause they can't take care of
them, they don't have jobs andso they'll leave, and so many of
them living with caregiversthat didn't even really want
(29:05):
them but really didn't have achoice.
I had one little girl who shetold me she wanted to go to
school because her mom wouldmake her leave every day,
because her mom, I think, wasmentally not stable and so our
mom didn't want her in the home.
So she was six years old, y'all, and she would send her away
and I would say, where did he go?
And she would say I would justgo to a friend's house and and
kids telling me they were scaredin their homes because they
(29:26):
lived in the highest crimecommunity.
We were driving through thecommunity and the bus was so hot
and so we had the doors, likethe windows, open and the bus
that they called them.
The partners, which were ourtranslators, asked us and they
stopped at a light and they werefreaking out, screaming at us
to shut the windows because theysaid people would literally
come through the windows tosteal from us.
(29:48):
That's how unsafe it is and sojust knowing that we can make a
difference in that I don't knowany other anything that is more
like Jesus, like that's whatJesus wants us to be.
And I don't know why we're allblessed to live in America, like
I don't know why, why we'rechose to live here and they live
there.
We're in a fallen world.
(30:08):
But as long as we know Jesusand have the resources, how
could we not help?
For literally around 40 dollarsa month, it could radically
change a child's life.
And I don't know about you, butI spend 40 dollars a month on
coffee like I can give up mycoffee if I have to.
And and now in our family, likeevery time we think of something
we want or our kids do.
(30:30):
Even our children will go, yeah, but whatever the cost of that
is, that could pay for anotherchild in Africa.
Yeah, like that's how committedwe are.
And not only are we imploringyou to sponsor, our goal is 100
children sponsor just this year.
They even called us yesterdayand left a message and they
thought they said wow, we didn'tknow you were going to sponsor
a small community, like becausewe, we didn't tell them.
(30:50):
But we came home and said we'regoing to sponsor all of them
and I want to go back next yearand get 40 more kids and sponsor
them too.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
That's what I wanted to say.
There's a chance and just reachout to me.
You want some information.
If you want to go next year, Ican tell you how to get plugged
in.
It changed our family's lifeforever.
But you can go.
You can start sponsoring kidsday and they would be in your
group next year, so you wouldactually get to meet them next
year.
(31:17):
It was a powerful, just apowerful week that there's no,
you can't put words.
It's kind of like taking apicture of a sunset and then
trying to explain how beautifulthe sunset was to someone who
wasn't there.
If you're not there, you don'tunderstand.
You just don't because you tryto, and not that you.
There's nothing, it's not yourfault.
You just can't see the bigpicture until you're there.
(31:39):
It was a powerful, powerfulweek and these kids moved me.
For me, I had went into itAmped up and ready, can?
I thought in my own mind's eyepicture on being so Just sad and
depressed and I thought I'mgonna have to pump these kids up
and try to encourage them.
(31:59):
But they were so happy and it'sbecause they didn't know what
they don't know.
They didn't know what they'remissing.
They were grateful for whenthey got the bread.
Even when I was, I felt badabout giving them four pieces of
bread.
I'm like this isn't?
Speaker 2 (32:13):
they were Grateful and we're so excited for it and
tell them not only the bread,but one thing was every morning
they would get an apple andevery afternoon they would get
an orange and what.
They would get so excited overthe apple.
And I remember one of ourlittle girls dropped it and she
didn't care when she picked itand she started eating it dirty
and I was like no, let me washit off.
And the partner said you know,they're so excited over that.
(32:34):
And I was like no, I mean, Ijust saw his food and they said
do you realize these childrennever get fruit.
The only time kids get fruit inAfrica is if they're in the
hospital and someone brings itlike we would bring flowers.
So for them to get fruit, itwas like the greatest thing in
the world God you know Harden isto get one of us to eat fruit
like we can get pretty even time.
It was crazy.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Well, it really was special.
In closing, is there anythingon your heart that you just want
to to end with any memory, anystory, or have you?
Have you got everything out?
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, I just Best experience our family's ever had
and that and we are committedto going back every year.
Like there's that if we canonly one trip a year, it would
be Africa.
Like I, I want to die knowing Imade a difference in this world
and there's, there's ways to dothat for sure, but if we can be
God's hands and feet to his ownchildren, and that they can,
because the truth is, a lot ofthese kids Don't know what love
(33:27):
is they really.
I mean, a lot of these childrenare double orphaned.
They don't know what love is.
They're being raised by auntsthat don't really even care
about them, some of them becausein some of these answers, they
can't feed them, so they don't.
They don't know what it's liketo have someone wrap their arms
around them and to feel loved.
And Jesus loves these kids somuch.
And like we can be that love tothem, we can show them Jesus
(33:48):
through our giving.
And what's great is, when yousponsor a child, not only are
you saying them to school andonly are you getting food.
You actually will get lettersfrom these kids once our kids
start school.
In December we will get lettersfrom all 40 of our kids and then
, like Andy said, if you go backyou get your same kids in your
group, so you get to haverelationship with them.
It's not just some bass on acard, you know.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
I'll be honest that no pressure here.
But I I I told the dude I leftthat next year we're gonna have
like just Howard week and hethought I was joking, which I
kind of winked at him.
But I am very serious that Iwould love for all of my friends
and Whoever may just bestumbling on this podcast if
you're listening you're a friendof mine I would love for us to
(34:29):
go and have that whole camp justto Just ourselves, to be able
to bless some kids and the poor,poor hearts into them.
But thank you guys so much forlistening.
I hope you'll pray about thisand and just know this is good
soil.
Yeah, so I would never tellsomeone to invest in a person or
a project.
(34:50):
That's not good.
So in fact I have talked toMario.
He's the.
I guess he called him the CEO.
He's over, he created it of afamily legacy and he is going to
come do a podcast for me, soI'm going to have him on soon so
you don't get to hear from him.
But uh, this is, this is a goodsoil.
So how do you sponsor?
There is going to be a link inthis podcast and we will also
(35:12):
Post it on my stories on myfacebook.
There's a link of how tosponsor.
If you could tell them Ifthere's a response to say with
no, they can email you it.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
What is your email?
And then?
Speaker 1 (35:24):
info at andyhowardcom .
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Email us if you sponsor a child, because we
really want to track who'ssponsoring, because we are
determined to get to our goal of100 children.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Yes, and again, I had said this in the past if you'd
like a signed book, I would morethan be more than honored to do
that and I was signed a bookand send it to you.
If you Sponsored a kid or ifyou talk to someone else in the
country, just send it to info atandyhowardcom.
And thank you, guys, so much.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Bye guys.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Wow, wasn't that so good?
And I hope.
I hope it came across the waywe tried to convey it, the
stories, the memories.
I hope it was as moving to youthe way we experienced it.
It's very hard, like I hope youfelt the wrongness of Tiffany's
(36:13):
tears even six weeks after,since we've been maybe longer
than that since we went.
But we are moved to health,these kids, and it's just so
special to us and I pray thatyou would join the mission with
us, that you would join on boardwith us how you can help, even
(36:33):
if you can't.
Man, we completely understand.
I would never ask anyone to dosomething that they cannot do
and I'm praying for you.
If you're not in a spot rightnow where you're financially
able to help, I'm praying foryou and I, god understand I get
that a lot and it makes me feelbad.
(36:54):
When I send out the messages, Ido get a lot of requests saying
man, I can't even do it.
And it's not to make you feelbad.
I hope you understand that thisis for those who can.
There are people out there whocan help and that's who I'm
praying God will reach and evenif you can't help today, maybe
one day you will be able to help.
(37:16):
So just just hold on to that.
But just know that our heart iswith helping these kiddos.
So if you want to get on boardwith that and you need more info
again, come to info atAndyHowardcom and I will help
you with a direct link.
The link will also be on theshow notes of this podcast.
(37:37):
But also, let me know if you didchoose to adopt the kiddo,
because there's no,unfortunately, there's no way on
our end and it doesn't matter.
Just me personally, I wanted tohit a hundred kids.
That's what got laid on myheart.
But it doesn't matter as longas they're getting help.
But at the same time, it's funseeing all the people sponsor.
(37:58):
So if you did sponsor someone,let me know, shoot me, shoot me
an email there at info atAndyHowardcom and I will send
you a signed book as well.
Just cause, just cause.
It's small token bit.
Hope it will bless you.
If you want to find the bookand you hadn't got it yet, it's
at AndyHowardcom.
(38:19):
You can get on Amazon as well.
You can get it on Audible oreven on Kindle.
I thank you guys so much forlistening and please share this
with somebody who who you feellike it'll be a blessing to God.
Bless everybody.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
If this episode helped you inany way, it would mean the world
to me If you would leave areview and share it with
(38:41):
somebody else.
Thanks so much.
I'll catch you next time.
Welcome back to the when words don't come easy
podcast.
My name is Andy Howard and I amso glad that you are here today
, that you joined us.
It's always a blessing for asmany people as I can share hope
with and share Inspiration with.
That's what this whole podcastis about, and today is special.
Today I'm joined by my family.
(00:22):
I was gonna say my favoriteguests, but it's true, I'm
joined by my family, tiffany,but not just Tiffany.
You're gonna get to meet thetwins, parker and Presley, and
let me tell you that was noteasy getting them to come on
here, but they did that for meand well, maybe a slight bribe
as well to get them on here, butit's cuz.
(00:43):
Actually, they're passionateabout what we're doing and we're
reflecting back on our trip toZambia and getting to help the
kiddos, and so you're gonna hearit straight from them.
Right after this, we willactually Actually start off with
Parker first.
Yes, so stick around to the end.
I will even give you a chanceto be a part of this great
(01:04):
mission.
But all that more happens rightafter this.
What's up, everybody?
(01:26):
I told you I had some specialguests lined up today.
Here we go.
This is my daughter, parkerHoward and I'm gonna go ahead
and be honest with you.
We're probably gonna laugh alittle bit here, cuz she's been
laughing this whole time.
This is take 39 and I evencalled her Zumba a minute ago so
we had to edit that out.
But here we are no more edits.
This is live, real and uncut,so hope you like this.
(01:47):
So the reason I called youZumba we're gonna move back show
so much that was payingattention.
You just finished a production.
You were in the Lion King.
That's pretty cool, did theLion King in Dallas?
Here, you and your sister, andyou were actually Pumba, not
Zumba.
What was that like?
Getting to play, miss misterPumba?
(02:11):
It was fun it was fun all that,for it was fun.
It was fun.
It was fun getting to see youup there.
Look, you had a lot of goodchemistry with some of your
friends on the production andwhat was your favorite part
about just getting to be in alive play and playing a
character like that?
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Just meeting a ton of friends.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, well, it has been a very busy summer for us.
The reason why we're here today, I wanted to talk about our
trip to Zambia, and I thinkthat's why I called you Zumba
Zambia.
For those who don't know,zambia is a country in in Africa
, and so we wanted to touch on afew of these this Memories to
(02:53):
reflect on how awesome it was.
It was one of my favoriteexperiences of my life Just not
only getting to go by myself,but getting to experience it
with my family, getting to watchyour joy and get to watch you
overcome some hurdles and fearsof your own doing that and
leading your own group of kids.
It was just really fun to watch.
But I do want to ask you whatsurprised you the most about
(03:14):
getting to serve in Zambia?
Speaker 3 (03:17):
It was fun and because I was scared earlier
because I had to do boys and Ihad to do my own group, so that
was scary.
But once I did it it was funbecause I have a ton of little
five year olds.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Yeah, and they're all looked up to you and respected
you.
And wait, just to let you guysin behind the curtain a little
bit.
What was going on when we wentthere?
We went as a in our mind,thinking we were a family
serving a group of ten.
In the night before, as we'regetting set up to start the week
, they're telling us how it'sgonna work and they're like Andy
, you'll have your ten, and Tiffyou'll have your ten, parker,
(03:55):
you'll have your ten.
And we were like what?
And then not only that, but youwere leading a group of boys
and you were so nervous, but Iwas so proud of you and how you
overcame that and got all theway to the end.
What was your favorite memoryof the week?
Speaker 3 (04:11):
So there's a thing called crazy Tuesday.
So every Tuesday there's ifit's your birthday in the past
Like week, you get to throwwater.
So at the water at somebody.
And at the very end our group,it was Emanuel's birthday and we
(04:32):
had to throw water at him.
But he didn't know it.
No, we had like a ton of bigbuckets of water.
Speaker 1 (04:37):
So you said that is awesome and it is its culture
there, for the way theycelebrate birthdays is they?
I don't know why they down they?
I didn't get the meaning behindit.
I did pick up on.
Every time it was someone'sbirthday, you would see him
walking around wet, so they getdumped the water on.
It's just a fun thing.
Maybe we should start that herefor your birthday.
(04:58):
No, okay.
Well, I do want you to ask youto share a story about one of
the children there that you willnever forget.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
So there's this little boy.
He's five years old and hisname is David and he's just
really precious and he's so cuteand tiny and I didn't really
get to see his mom but because Idon't know if he has one or not
, but they never really openedup that much to me.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
But In David and it is true, with him being five,
but over there, because they areso malnourished, they don't get
to eat and sometimes there's noguarantee that they have a meal
for the day.
So that's why this is soimportant to us.
But because of that, thefive-year-olds there look more
(05:47):
like, I guess, three-year-oldsover here, so they just look so
much more tinier and it's justsmall.
Let me ask what did you learnabout yourself while serving?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
That we get a lot and over there I never really knew
how bad it was until now.
It's like they don't have foodor water.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah, and we are blessed, and no matter where
you're at here in the States,you are blessed, and it was
Something I didn't realize, evenKnowing how blessed we all are.
But even when you start askingabout, well, what's the water
situation like in your home?
(06:31):
And they're like well, noteveryone is guaranteed to even
have water.
Some of them would have to goget a bucket of water.
Hopefully their friend or theirneighbor has water, or they had
.
So it's just we take so manythings for granted here, and it
is true it was so good.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
What do you want someone who is considering being
a sponsor to know that you'reguaranteed saving a life,
because they get a Fresh hotmeal every day and then you get
to go to school.
And in Zambia it's not likeAmerica, because all the kids
want to go to school.
Yeah, they want to learn, yeah,and not knowing like they won't
(07:12):
learn that.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
An opportunity to learn, an opportunity to
Opportunity, learn, anopportunity to for all the stuff
that comes with education, butalso I mean just guaranteeing
food, because they're guaranteedto get a nice meal at school
and then some of them it's saferat school than being at home,
so it's just very dangerous, forthey are in their community, so
Very cool.
(07:33):
Well, thank you for your timehere.
Part for anything you'd like toshare with the people before
you leave today.
That's all, folks.
We'll talk to you soon withanother guest here.
I All right here.
Special guest number two it's myother daughter she's not shy,
she's very outgoing, she's kindof like her mama in that respect
(07:53):
.
This is Miss Presley.
How are you baby?
Well, now she's getting shy.
She makes faces, but we wantyou to eat that microphone.
Be nice and loud for me, sotell me this you had a very,
very busy summer, so you were inactually two productions.
You were in the Aristocatsproduction.
(08:14):
Tell me how that went first,because that was your very first
production to do.
What did you think about thatone?
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Well, first I thought it'd be really scary, because I
haven't actually like ever beenlike spotlighted, like having
the spotlight and like sayinglines in front of like a lot of
people, but it was actually likereally fun.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Well, you did so good .
And then, to end the summer,you were in the Lion King.
You were Nala for those, isthat how you say it?
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Nala.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
Nala and dad sucks at this.
So you were Nala.
I thought you were Nala, but Istill loved you anyway.
I was like that's my Nala.
People kept staring at me Well,that's the girlfriend too.
Yeah, so you had a very bigrole in this thing.
It was a big deal.
I was proud of you.
So what did you think aboutthat?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
I didn't really like what I had to do, but I don't
know, it was fun because I gotto like I don't know, like I got
to scream my head off and likehave fun, I guess.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Well, there was one part where y'all were kind of
doing this circle dance thingbut your hands were about ten
foot apart.
I wasn't that close, but I knowyou were nervous about that
just because it was a boy.
But don't worry, I'd alreadygave him the Howard Stair
beforehand so he knew not to getany closer.
So, anyways, I am so proud ofyou.
We are talking about the tripback to Zambia and it was just
(09:39):
an amazing, probably one of thecoolest things I've ever got to
be a part of.
I wanted to hear yourperspective on it and just share
with us what surprised you mostabout getting to serve in
Zambia.
Speaker 3 (09:51):
What surprised me was definitely how outgoing some of
the girls were.
Like they like warned me thatthey weren't gonna like come out
if they didn't like know you, Idon't know if I like did
something or like I don't know.
They just all of them prettymuch came out and just told us
(10:13):
what they needed, prayer for andstuff.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Well, I think you just have a natural way of
making people feel comfortable,and I was watching how you were
interacting with the kids and itwas just.
It was as a dad.
It made me just happy to seeyou like that, and so we are
going to kick our live audienceup.
It's okay, it was.
It was Tiffany.
I would be honest it wasTiffany.
(10:37):
So, anyways, we're moving on toquestion number two what was
your favorite memory?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Well, every like every morning, when the kids
would come off the bus, theywould give you the biggest hugs,
like it was the first timeseeing you in a year.
And I don't know, it's just, Idon't think I've ever gotten a
big hug, or if, like 10 kidscoming up and trying to
basically push you down, Ialmost fell down.
(11:08):
I'm just gonna say that.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
It was special.
They made you feel very specialand you're trying to explain to
them that.
You know we're just normalpeople, but they were so
grateful for you coming overthere and so every time you're
right.
Every morning, when they wouldpull up off the bus, they would
just not just give you a hug,they would run to you and almost
knock you over.
So cool.
(11:30):
Why don't you share a storyabout one of the kids that you
will never forget?
Speaker 3 (11:36):
There was this one girl and her name was Jane and I
could tell like all the kidscouldn't really pronounce my
name.
I think it was like the R andthey all like, kind of like,
were talking to my translatorand we're like coming together
and I was so confused and Ifinally asked her what they were
(11:56):
doing and they said that it wasJane's idea to rename me in a
Zambia name and that was AuntieChikandi.
But they're what's that mean?
Auntie Love.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
That's awesome, auntie Love.
Speaker 3 (12:10):
There was this one time and she was yelling at me
like Auntie Chikandi, come here,come here.
And we bought them Barbie dollsand to play with.
When we were there and she cameand she was like calling me
over and I was so confused likesomeone got her.
But she was like so eager andshe just wanted to play with me
(12:31):
and like here it was like aBarbie doll and she's 13 years
old and here you wouldn't reallyget.
I'm 10, so I'm like three yearsyounger than her and you won't
really catch like an older girlif they're not related to you in
a way.
Playing with somebody.
And I was the whole week shewanted to play something and I
(12:52):
didn't mind, but I should neverhave like Parker, there's no way
she's gonna want to play withme and anyway.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
We're gonna have to bring Parker back to defend
herself later for sure.
Well.
Well, it was special getting tosee the kids react, and in some
of those kids I've never seen aBarbie doll before, so that was
very fun for them.
What did you learn most aboutyourself while getting to serve?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
I didn't.
I didn't really get knowinglike I knew I love teaching kids
and like hanging around andlike teaching them and stuff.
But I never really got, until Iactually did it, how much fun
it is to like do like churchcamp and dance with the kids and
(13:42):
run around.
So I never thought that I wouldlove doing this, which is I did
.
Speaker 1 (13:47):
You can be honest, because it's just you and me
here, but I was the best dancerthere.
Yeah, sure you're amazing.
It's not what you said at theplace, but I forgive you but
yeah, you was not proud of mydancing.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
I was proud of myself .
I tried hard.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
I will ask you the same question that we finished
with Parker with, and there area lot that may be considering
sponsoring a kid.
What would you tell them thatthey need to know to help them
sponsor a kid?
What's the big difference there?
Speaker 3 (14:25):
If you meet the kid in person, if you meet them
online, send the messages thatkid will never forget you.
Anyone never forget that kid.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Yeah, it's very special in that getting to make
an impact on these kids.
And what was hard was when itwas Friday.
They call it the day when theAmericans cry, and they're right
.
It's so emotional because youspent that whole week and you're
exhausted, but it's a goodexhaustion and, anyways, when
it's time to say goodbye for thelast time, it's hard isn't it.
(14:56):
Yeah, but we'll see them again.
We're going back next year andtaking some more people with us,
so we really want to impactthese sweet kiddos and their
families.
But, presley, thank you so muchfor your time.
Do you have any closing words?
You want to leave with thepeople?
Speaker 3 (15:11):
No, all right, I'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
All right, y'all.
So we're wrapping up thisspecial trip.
Special reflection back toZambia, brought in the big guns.
Now it's miss tiff and she gotto hear the kiddos.
What do you think about thegirls?
Speaker 2 (15:28):
It was great, I will say and we're going to talk
about a lot of things, butwatching our girls do this was
Truly the best experience of ourlives.
I mean, even if it was just usgoing, I would have said that,
but Seeing our girls like towatch parker and I know she
shared when she found out shewas getting her own Group I mean
she melted into the floor andhad this like it was a meltdown
(15:49):
the night before.
And it wasn't that she was.
She just was so scared I mean,these were boys and she was so
scared and we knew and we prayedand we told her, like god
orchestrated this, it was goingto be for the best.
And I will say that by the endof it, like literally the last
two nights, they balledthemselves to sleep.
Speaker 1 (16:06):
They didn't want to leave the game so Completely
flipped by the end of the weekand I was so proud of her as
well and she's just a naturallybetween the two she's naturally
a little more shy and, uh, shereally did well, so I was so
proud of her Overcoming a hugeobstacle.
So I'm gonna ask you the samequestions I asked the girls and
(16:27):
just like get your insight onall this.
But what surprised you mostabout getting to serve in it?
Zambia?
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Um gosh, that's such a hard question.
You know, I knew going it wouldbe life changing.
I've done mission trips inMexico.
It's been a long time but Ihave seen.
You know how others live.
But I will tell you, going toZambia, I've never experienced
anything like that, like anymission trip I've ever went on
the poverty level that weexperienced in Africa.
Just, it's like you know, thesethings exist and, honestly,
(16:58):
this is why we're doing thispodcast, um, because you hear
that these things exist.
But when you look thesechildren out of eye and you know
that they have not eaten someof them, literally the most they
get is one meal.
Speaker 1 (17:13):
Sorry, that's my daughter's feet.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
It's feed is done.
We will be back.
Speaker 1 (17:16):
We'll be right back on that thought.
Anyways, yes, she is.
Uh, we got one of our guestsstill with us live, and so
Peyton needed some help.
So, hey, this is it's all good.
So for me, uh, and I don't know, the it's something I learned
from serving there.
But what really hit me, thejust right off the bat, was the
(17:41):
first day.
They talked about how thesekids will most of wanting to get
to eat unless they have lunchhere, and so I was excited to,
you know, get to serve themlunch and see how their eyes lit
up.
Well, their eyes did light up,it was all the same, but it was.
It was very hard because theirlunch there and that's for lots
of reasons.
We could explain that, but weprobably should, so they under
(18:03):
four pieces of bread, and sothese are a lot of kids who
aren't used to even getting toeat.
So they got four pieces ofbread.
I had made me a peanut butterand jelly sandwich, and we ate
those every day, and that's justwhat they served there.
It's totally fine, well, andinto the kids even they're doing
that.
You're thinking, oh, I'm havingpvej today, and then you see
(18:25):
the kids just eating four piecesof bread.
I didn't want to eat my pvej infront of them, and so, with
that said though, but Most ofthose kids stomachs can't handle
Fats, sugars, all the differentprotein.
They're not ready for it.
So, and they do have a drink,though it's a I don't know how
you would describe a buttermilkdrink and they love it, they
(18:45):
love it, yeah, but it was morenutritious for them so and they
would have that and the bread.
but as they get better, thatwhat you are sponsoring, will
help them get more Nutritional,nutritional type foods as they
get into the school.
But just on the first day thatreally shocked me.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
It was really hard and and they did explain it's
not that they only want to givebread.
They used to and they startedthe camp years and years ago
they would give them likechicken and rice and these kids
would literally end up in likethe medic clinic because their
bodies could not handle it andbecause most of these children,
the only thing they eat it mostof them it's once a day and it's
called shima and it's like ourgrits.
(19:26):
I've actually served it to usto try, but it's literally
cornmeal and water and there'sno flavor and that's all they're
they eat.
So their bodies can handleanything else.
Uh, so that was.
That was super hard for sure.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Well, what was your favorite memory of the week?
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Well, you know my children are only gonna give you
one, but I'm gonna give you alot.
You know I talk a lot, but justthe entire experience, I think,
walking in, even as an adult,the first day we knew the kids,
we could see them.
The buses were coming in andthey were all lined up and we
were walking towards them andwhen they saw us, I mean just
not even knowing us yet Likethey just latched on and they
(20:00):
literally almost knocked me over.
Um, because they're so excitedand this is like, for them, this
is the biggest thing they'llprobably ever do in their life.
So this is like winning thelottery to get the cup of this
camp.
Um, they know about these campsbut they get hand chosen to come
based on how bad their familysituations are.
So we knew that these are theworst of the worst and we
(20:21):
actually had one of the poorestcommunities, the community.
We were all very lucky that allof our kids came from the same
community, but it was actuallyit's the harsh crime rate
community in the area.
These children are scared tosleep and but just to see their
excitement and just to see theirjoy, even in the midst of
living In the hardestcircumstances, they don't know
(20:42):
any different and so to watchthem I mean I just pulled up my
videos of them and like to seethem worship and just to jump
and Like we would sit there forteaching and they would just
hold our arms, like they werejust so happy to play.
And when we brought out thelittle toys we had I mean a ball
like it their eyes lit upbecause they don't have these
things.
So it was definitely the joywatching them be so happy.
Speaker 1 (21:06):
It.
It wasn't very incredible forme and I shared this on another
podcast before, so if youHappened to hurt it before,
that's where it came from.
But there was a song called thefreedom song and I'll be honest
, I know my girls were giving mea hard time, but you rocked it.
I was uh Very nervous talk aboutparker being scared, like the
(21:27):
very first day we Went for ourmeeting I got I don't meet new
people, I don't, so I guessthat's where parker gets it.
But uh, I had to meet our twosponsors partners, that's what
they called them.
They were the ones that wouldhelp translate, because not all
the kids speak English most.
I'm sorry about 50, 50 do.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
Maybe I'll explain that more in a minute.
Speaker 1 (21:47):
The ones that get to go to school, or have ever been
to school before, do learnEnglish, and so some do and some
don't.
But anyways, with that I had tomeet two strangers right away
and then they're starting toteach us these like kids dance
moves, like if you've ever beenthe camp, kids camp or anything
like that.
And I Did not really want to dothat, didn't feel comfortable,
(22:08):
but I promise these kids that'swhat I've played through.
I was like I'm gonna give themeverything I had.
So I did.
I may not have been the bestdancer there, but I tried my
best, I would say that and theydid.
They loved it.
And so this song, uh, and it'sin the middle of what?
It's their winter, but it'sstill very warm there.
I'm very 80s.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
But 80s feel really a lot there.
Speaker 1 (22:30):
So I just felt like it was beating down on you and
so, anyways, uh, we are doingthis song, I'm giving it
everything I have and I almost Iwas like, if that, if it can
just end, if this song does notend, I am gonna pass out.
Well, sure enough, the littlecamp, get the coordinator guys
whether like the dream team guys, whatever they're like one more
time, one more time, and theydid it again, and so we had to
(22:53):
do it all over again.
But it felt like a little pieceof heaven, all these little
kids Screaming at the top oftheir lungs, praising Jesus and
celebrating, and that's what Iloved the most.
But, uh, what's next for you?
What?
What would you say for someonewho might be on the fence on if
they should sponsor a kid?
Maybe they?
This is the first time to hearabout sponsoring a kid.
(23:14):
What does sponsoring a kid mean?
What's it do?
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Yeah, so the ministry that we partnered with Is an
incredible I mean, it's anabsolutely incredible ministry
like I can't even Describe whatthey do, um, but basically, you
know, children in Africa, mostof them, have no food, they have
no education.
For them to go to a governmentschool in Africa it actually
costs money, which is insanebecause these people have no
(23:41):
money and as we drove throughtheir community, or they would
even explain that some of thepeople Used their kids to watch
other kids.
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Yeah, so these kids might be five or six years old,
but they're watching a baby andso they can't afford not to have
them home, so they don't wantthem to go to school either.
So there's lots of, lots ofreasons that prevent it.
But, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
Yeah, we, we took time to.
You're so blessed to get todrive through their communities
and you would literally see likefive year old Girls or boys
with babies strapped on theirback and Pretty much like.
Even in my group I had 10 girlsand none of them had a working
parent in the home, not one Um.
Most of them lived withcaregivers, because the majority
of these children are orphansor double orphans, meaning
(24:25):
they've lost one or both oftheir parents to HIV and so it
is.
So it's so bad.
And the kids that were in thecamp, they have checked to make
sure that if someone sponsorsthem, they would be able to go
to school.
So, yes, there are some thattheir parents don't want them to
go, but these children, theywant them to go.
And here's the thing, guys,when I we got to do a church
service when we invited theirguardians to come, and that was
(24:49):
probably the best day for mebecause as I would sit and hold
these women's hand and actuallythree women and our group came
to know Jesus that day.
But as I hold their hands andsay, what can I pray for you?
And every single one is that mychild would get sponsored, to
get fed Every day and to go toschool to have a better life.
Because in Africa thesechildren do not know English
unless they go to school and theonly way they can get jobs is
(25:12):
to have graduated school and tospeak English.
So these parents know if mychild doesn't go, they will
never get a better life.
And so, with sponsorship,you're sending a child to school
, and the schools that that afamily legacy has created are
phenomenal.
We, we toured two of theschools every there's a school
in every community and they'regetting incredible education by
(25:33):
teachers who truly care.
They get fed a reallynutritious meal.
That it's um, it's packed withprotein and carbs and fat, so
it's not just bread.
They're teaching their bodieshow to get more food and then
they actually will get to takefood home to their other
siblings and to their parents,and so they're getting school,
they're getting food, theyactually get access to medical
(25:53):
care.
They have medical care forthese, these children.
They shared a statistic with us, or a stat that kids will die
over 50 cents.
Like it could be that a parentneeds to get their child to a
hospital, but over a 50 centtaxi ride the child will die
because they don't even have 50cents, and so they're getting
access to medical care.
And guys like I can't imploreyou enough, like Until, we saw
(26:15):
what we saw until you look intheir eyes, and that's why we're
doing this soon, because wewant you to get a glimpse of
what we've seen.
And when you, these are God'schildren and as we would sit and
do these worship services, ohlord, you would see, these are
God's children that he died for,he loves so much and he is
allowing us to be their handsand feet.
And I want to say this I knowso many times people will say
(26:38):
yes, but in America there's somany people that are hurting and
I believe that and I want to beJesus hands and feet here.
But here's the difference thatwe noticed, and please hear me
we know people are hurting here,but in the united states of
america there is access, thereare homeless shelters, there is
A therapist, and there aren't.
There are ways that people canget help.
(26:58):
No, it's not perfect, we knowthat, but in africa there is
literally no other optionbesides us.
And so with us, we, wepersonally, we want to share
this.
We sponsored every child in allfour of our groups.
We made the commitment to 40students, that we will put them
through school and then weactually picked up a couple more
.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
There was two from the tree of life is what they
call it, yeah, I, tree of life.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
So the short version of tree of life is it's it's
like an orphanage For childrenin these communities that have
no one.
The family legacies desires tokeep families together, but a
lot of these children are inbroken homes.
The stories of abuse that we Ihad to take two of our children
To what was considered likeafrica cps because the stories
they were telling me of thehomes they were living in.
(27:42):
So when their homes like that,where they're very it's not safe
, they have a community, anorphanage would.
What had to were 500 childrenin it and we got to go and see
these children thriving, eatingthree meals a day, and we we
personally sponsored two of thechildren from there that we met,
um, and so that is an optiontoo to sponsor tree of life kids
(28:02):
.
They are more expensive becausethey're getting schooling,
lodging three meals.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Room and board, and just you know all of it.
Well, you probably.
I don't know if you can pickone, but can you share a story
of a moment with one of yourfavorite kids that you'll never
forget?
Speaker 2 (28:21):
It's hard because I look at their little faces and I
think three of them came toknow Jesus, which was so
powerful.
But it's hard to pick onebecause I truly loved all of
them.
They were all so precious andjust.
We did something calledrelation station where we got to
take each one of our kidsseparately and sit down and get
(28:43):
to know them and hear theirstories and just I can't even
begin to tell you, out of my 10girls, almost all of them had
lost, all.
None of them had a dadpresident in their life, whether
they lost him to AIDS or heleft, because a lot of these
dads will abandon their familiesbecause they can't take care of
them, they don't have jobs andso they'll leave, and so many of
them living with caregiversthat didn't even really want
(29:05):
them but really didn't have achoice.
I had one little girl who shetold me she wanted to go to
school because her mom wouldmake her leave every day,
because her mom, I think, wasmentally not stable and so our
mom didn't want her in the home.
So she was six years old, y'all, and she would send her away
and I would say, where did he go?
And she would say I would justgo to a friend's house and and
kids telling me they were scaredin their homes because they
(29:26):
lived in the highest crimecommunity.
We were driving through thecommunity and the bus was so hot
and so we had the doors, likethe windows, open and the bus
that they called them.
The partners, which were ourtranslators, asked us and they
stopped at a light and they werefreaking out, screaming at us
to shut the windows because theysaid people would literally
come through the windows tosteal from us.
(29:48):
That's how unsafe it is and sojust knowing that we can make a
difference in that I don't knowany other anything that is more
like Jesus, like that's whatJesus wants us to be.
And I don't know why we're allblessed to live in America, like
I don't know why, why we'rechose to live here and they live
there.
We're in a fallen world.
(30:08):
But as long as we know Jesusand have the resources, how
could we not help?
For literally around 40 dollarsa month, it could radically
change a child's life.
And I don't know about you, butI spend 40 dollars a month on
coffee like I can give up mycoffee if I have to.
And and now in our family, likeevery time we think of something
we want or our kids do.
(30:30):
Even our children will go, yeah, but whatever the cost of that
is, that could pay for anotherchild in Africa.
Yeah, like that's how committedwe are.
And not only are we imploringyou to sponsor, our goal is 100
children sponsor just this year.
They even called us yesterdayand left a message and they
thought they said wow, we didn'tknow you were going to sponsor
a small community, like becausewe, we didn't tell them.
(30:50):
But we came home and said we'regoing to sponsor all of them
and I want to go back next yearand get 40 more kids and sponsor
them too.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
That's what I wanted to say.
There's a chance and just reachout to me.
You want some information.
If you want to go next year, Ican tell you how to get plugged
in.
It changed our family's lifeforever.
But you can go.
You can start sponsoring kidsday and they would be in your
group next year, so you wouldactually get to meet them next
year.
(31:17):
It was a powerful, just apowerful week that there's no,
you can't put words.
It's kind of like taking apicture of a sunset and then
trying to explain how beautifulthe sunset was to someone who
wasn't there.
If you're not there, you don'tunderstand.
You just don't because you tryto, and not that you.
There's nothing, it's not yourfault.
You just can't see the bigpicture until you're there.
(31:39):
It was a powerful, powerfulweek and these kids moved me.
For me, I had went into itAmped up and ready, can?
I thought in my own mind's eyepicture on being so Just sad and
depressed and I thought I'mgonna have to pump these kids up
and try to encourage them.
(31:59):
But they were so happy and it'sbecause they didn't know what
they don't know.
They didn't know what they'remissing.
They were grateful for whenthey got the bread.
Even when I was, I felt badabout giving them four pieces of
bread.
I'm like this isn't?
Speaker 2 (32:13):
they were Grateful and we're so excited for it and
tell them not only the bread,but one thing was every morning
they would get an apple andevery afternoon they would get
an orange and what.
They would get so excited overthe apple.
And I remember one of ourlittle girls dropped it and she
didn't care when she picked itand she started eating it dirty
and I was like no, let me washit off.
And the partner said you know,they're so excited over that.
(32:34):
And I was like no, I mean, Ijust saw his food and they said
do you realize these childrennever get fruit.
The only time kids get fruit inAfrica is if they're in the
hospital and someone brings itlike we would bring flowers.
So for them to get fruit, itwas like the greatest thing in
the world God you know Harden isto get one of us to eat fruit
like we can get pretty even time.
It was crazy.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
Well, it really was special.
In closing, is there anythingon your heart that you just want
to to end with any memory, anystory, or have you?
Have you got everything out?
Speaker 2 (33:05):
Yeah, I just Best experience our family's ever had
and that and we are committedto going back every year.
Like there's that if we canonly one trip a year, it would
be Africa.
Like I, I want to die knowing Imade a difference in this world
and there's, there's ways to dothat for sure, but if we can be
God's hands and feet to his ownchildren, and that they can,
because the truth is, a lot ofthese kids Don't know what love
(33:27):
is they really.
I mean, a lot of these childrenare double orphaned.
They don't know what love is.
They're being raised by auntsthat don't really even care
about them, some of them becausein some of these answers, they
can't feed them, so they don't.
They don't know what it's liketo have someone wrap their arms
around them and to feel loved.
And Jesus loves these kids somuch.
And like we can be that love tothem, we can show them Jesus
(33:48):
through our giving.
And what's great is, when yousponsor a child, not only are
you saying them to school andonly are you getting food.
You actually will get lettersfrom these kids once our kids
start school.
In December we will get lettersfrom all 40 of our kids and then
, like Andy said, if you go backyou get your same kids in your
group, so you get to haverelationship with them.
It's not just some bass on acard, you know.
Speaker 1 (34:09):
I'll be honest that no pressure here.
But I I I told the dude I leftthat next year we're gonna have
like just Howard week and hethought I was joking, which I
kind of winked at him.
But I am very serious that Iwould love for all of my friends
and Whoever may just bestumbling on this podcast if
you're listening you're a friendof mine I would love for us to
(34:29):
go and have that whole camp justto Just ourselves, to be able
to bless some kids and the poor,poor hearts into them.
But thank you guys so much forlistening.
I hope you'll pray about thisand and just know this is good
soil.
Yeah, so I would never tellsomeone to invest in a person or
a project.
(34:50):
That's not good.
So in fact I have talked toMario.
He's the.
I guess he called him the CEO.
He's over, he created it of afamily legacy and he is going to
come do a podcast for me, soI'm going to have him on soon so
you don't get to hear from him.
But uh, this is, this is a goodsoil.
So how do you sponsor?
There is going to be a link inthis podcast and we will also
(35:12):
Post it on my stories on myfacebook.
There's a link of how tosponsor.
If you could tell them Ifthere's a response to say with
no, they can email you it.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
What is your email?
And then?
Speaker 1 (35:24):
info at andyhowardcom .
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Email us if you sponsor a child, because we
really want to track who'ssponsoring, because we are
determined to get to our goal of100 children.
Speaker 1 (35:33):
Yes, and again, I had said this in the past if you'd
like a signed book, I would morethan be more than honored to do
that and I was signed a bookand send it to you.
If you Sponsored a kid or ifyou talk to someone else in the
country, just send it to info atandyhowardcom.
And thank you, guys, so much.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Bye guys.
Speaker 1 (35:52):
Wow, wasn't that so good?
And I hope.
I hope it came across the waywe tried to convey it, the
stories, the memories.
I hope it was as moving to youthe way we experienced it.
It's very hard, like I hope youfelt the wrongness of Tiffany's
(36:13):
tears even six weeks after,since we've been maybe longer
than that since we went.
But we are moved to health,these kids, and it's just so
special to us and I pray thatyou would join the mission with
us, that you would join on boardwith us how you can help, even
(36:33):
if you can't.
Man, we completely understand.
I would never ask anyone to dosomething that they cannot do
and I'm praying for you.
If you're not in a spot rightnow where you're financially
able to help, I'm praying foryou and I, god understand I get
that a lot and it makes me feelbad.
(36:54):
When I send out the messages, Ido get a lot of requests saying
man, I can't even do it.
And it's not to make you feelbad.
I hope you understand that thisis for those who can.
There are people out there whocan help and that's who I'm
praying God will reach and evenif you can't help today, maybe
one day you will be able to help.
(37:16):
So just just hold on to that.
But just know that our heart iswith helping these kiddos.
So if you want to get on boardwith that and you need more info
again, come to info atAndyHowardcom and I will help
you with a direct link.
The link will also be on theshow notes of this podcast.
(37:37):
But also, let me know if you didchoose to adopt the kiddo,
because there's no,unfortunately, there's no way on
our end and it doesn't matter.
Just me personally, I wanted tohit a hundred kids.
That's what got laid on myheart.
But it doesn't matter as longas they're getting help.
But at the same time, it's funseeing all the people sponsor.
(37:58):
So if you did sponsor someone,let me know, shoot me, shoot me
an email there at info atAndyHowardcom and I will send
you a signed book as well.
Just cause, just cause.
It's small token bit.
Hope it will bless you.
If you want to find the bookand you hadn't got it yet, it's
at AndyHowardcom.
(38:19):
You can get on Amazon as well.
You can get it on Audible oreven on Kindle.
I thank you guys so much forlistening and please share this
with somebody who who you feellike it'll be a blessing to God.
Bless everybody.
Thanks so much for tuning in.
If this episode helped you inany way, it would mean the world
to me If you would leave areview and share it with
(38:41):
somebody else.
Thanks so much.
I'll catch you next time.
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