Community & World has been in contact with Rachel Smith and Clara Everts Quinlan, who grew up in Hope Church and currently teach in Colorado. We asked Rachel and Clara to describe their plans to you; Hope Church is offering financial support and individuals may choose to, too.
It seems only a few moments ago that Rachel Smith and I (Clara Everts Quinlan) were scrunched up in a pew together in our itchy wool Christmas sweaters, listening to the Candlelight Service message or chiming along in the youth bell choir. Of course, there are also the memories of the two youth groups ”“ Fish Club and High Hopes ”“ that truly shaped our passionate and adventurous Christian spirits. From Habitat for Humanity in West Virginia to soup kitchens in inner-city Chicago, from caroling at Freedom Village to scaling peaks with Larry Mulder and his hiking gang on the Appalachian Trail, we owe much of our character and friendship of 20+ years to the community that raised us in Hope Church. Currently, we both teach at separate charter schools in Colorado ”“ Rachel focusing on drama and literature with her zany middle schoolers; and I concocting team-building and leadership opportunities at
my high school.
We return now, in this letter and initiative, to our church roots in West Michigan. This summer, with the support of our Christian community, we anticipate serving for 3-6 weeks in Moshi, Tanzania, teaching English to youth at the Kilimanjaro Orphanage Centre. Hope Church has graciously sponsored us through their mission opportunity initiative; as you consider your charitable contributions this year, we hope you might consider donating to this multi-faceted cause.
Best to start at the beginning lest you all believe we’ve gone mad and picked the most random place on earth to serve! As a few of you know, I traveled last summer to Africa. Specifically, I ascended my first Seven Summit, Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, with a longtime climbing partner ”“ no small feat in the face of extreme altitude, food-borne illness, freezing temperatures and, of course, lost luggage with all my creature comforts (read: turkey jerky and vitamin jelly beans). My next mountaineering goal, in the year 2012, was Aconcagua in Argentina; yet, within twenty-four hours in this developing country just south of Kenya, I knew God wanted more for me besides the next summit.
As I walked around the rural city of Moshi on the rest day before the mountain, something shifted inside of me. The reality around me was riveting: emaciated cattle grazed in open-aired living rooms and women fought for eggs freshly laid by chickens in the dirt streets. Stray dogs panted on the side of the road or, if dead, were scavenged for meat by whoever was lucky enough to be nearby with a knife. Children ran after us, some convinced we were nyeupa malaika (“white angels”) and some howled scared because they have been told, generation after generation, to never trust the whites. Our local guide, Agrey, told us to keep in mind one thing: as Americans, we would be treated as the transient rich in a country convinced they had nothing to give in return. Knowing this social pattern, I soon recognized it in each interaction: Africans were gracious, vibrant, sincere ”“ and painfully appreciative for the smallest coin we might offer.
Yet, only two weeks later, I had determined that Tanzanians might be the strongest Christians I’ve met yet. They give freely, stop and hug each friend and family member they come across, focus on others and the community first, live humbly, and appreciate each day as if it might be their last (and with an average life span of 42, this makes sense). Upon completion of my trip, my understanding of a calling beyond adventure, beyond the next summit, beyond a mere real-world connection curriculum I teach, had solidified. I returned to the United States with a fire in my well-fed belly. Babbling rather incoherently to my best friend, Rachel Smith, over the phone the day I returned, I claimed I would return and serve. I would help empower change and hope in a distraught land full of people who could teach us all something about living. Perhaps I would even move there and live in a dirt hut! Rachel, wise as ever, told me to wait a few months and reassess before making any rash decisions.
It’s been a few months, and the passion remains ”“ better yet, my best friend wants to join the cause! Since my departure, I’ve communicated with the business men and women I met, and they have made a direct appeal for service and investment toward Tanzanian children in need. Both English teachers of various age levels, our mission is clear: to strengthen the English literacy of Tanzania’s younger generation at the Kilimanjaro Orphanage Centre, sponsored by Zara Tours, the local company I employed to climb the mountain. Why teach English instead of financial aid? Medical help? Merely shipping educational supplies? Beyond the direct request of my Tanzanian connections, consider the following statistics:
- On the Human Development Index (life expectancy, literacy, education, child welfare, standards of living), Tanzania ranks 151st out of the 172 countries in the world ”“ only one ranking above Sudan.
- Economy is based on exportation of local agriculture (70%) and tourism (30%). Both categories require a fluency in English to break into the global market.
- English is often a native Tanzanian’s third language learned after a tribal language and Swahili.
- English is considered the “university” and “rich man’s” language since a teenager must pass the Standard 7 English Exam in order to enter secondary school and, consequently, the sustainable-living job market.
- Education is compulsory for only 7 years and up to the age of 15; many drop out before due to family needs and emergencies. If a student were to stay in school for 7 years and pass all classes, he would reach the equivalent of the USA’s 5th grade.
And finally, the statistic that has helped us hone into something our two small sets of hands can affect:
- Tanzania’s population exceeds 35.9 million, 15.9 million of these children under the age of 15. There are over 2 million orphans among these children and the only education they can afford (or travel to) occurs on orphanage grounds.
In my brief sojourn in Tanzania as a tourist, I especially made a strong connection with Zainab Ansell, owner of Zara Tours, the local guiding company I chose to ascend Kilimanjaro. Zara Tours is one of the only companies that guarantees humane treatment of all porters and guides on the mountain, and is in desperate need of additional help in mountain medical training and supplies. My first thought was to return with Rachel and serve toward this cause. However, once Zainab learned of our backgrounds as teachers, she pointed us to the Kilimanjaro Orphanage Centre.
As one of the only female entrepreneurs in the country, Zainab founded and supports this Christian organization through monthly donations; she believes strongly in its ability to change the face of Tanzania’s most at-risk young citizens. The orphanage boasts only one teacher, one doctor, and several widows acting as matrons. When Zainab realized we were serious about serving at this organization, she offered us the following in support:
- A two-bedroom apartment (including electricity!)
- Airport shuttle service
- A free stay at the Springlands Hotel (where I stayed previous to the mountain ascent)
- Lunches while on site at the orphanage
We hope to offer the following as teachers and servants at the orphanage:
- Differentiated, modified English language instruction based on needs of each individual orphan
- Offering practice for the few advanced students who might be lucky enough to qualify for a university education in Dar es Salaam
- As many English language learning supplies as possible (flashcards, learning games, CDs, etc.)
- A willingness to help out with odds and ends around the orphanage campus
To learn more about the orphanage and its needs, feel free to explore via the web.
We require $5000 to aid this developing country and its at-risk youth from within; on charter school paychecks, we simply can’t afford this alone. However, we are seasoned teachers, can learn Swahili in a short time, and we have a summer break to give. From a generous donation of grandparents and a grant from Hope Church’s Community & World, we have raised just shy of half the money already without any direct appeal. If you’ve read this far, it certainly has been gift enough. However, as you consider your charitable contributions this year and into the 2012 year, please consider this cause. Tax-deductible donations can be made through Hope Church (designate for Tanzania Orphanage). If able to go, we hope to give back to the Hope Church community with the following:
- Updates on the Hope Church blog during our trip when internet is available
- A presentation upon our return that celebrates the world missions’ initiative
- Connections and possibilities that might blossom into a high school missions trip Rachel and I can lead in the future, thus supporting the commitment to serve for the next generation
Ultimately, we wish to be the sort of Christians who support a struggling nation on its own terms; we desire to be held accountable as Westernized citizens with the responsibility to act; and we want to believe that two people really can make a difference in God’s world. As one of Rachel’s favorite leaders, Gandhi, writes, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” We hope you might be able to help us in this cause. Please look for our photographic, detailed display this winter in Hope Church’s Gathering Area for more specifics; also, feel free to write us with any questions/concerns as you consider your support [use the contact form on this website and your message will be forwarded].
Blessings for the New Year,
Clara Everts Quinlan and Rachel Smith
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 (NIV)
“Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)