A LIGHT IN AFRICA
"Go forth and let your light shine before men, that they me see your good works..."
A Light In Africa is an Non Government organization operating tirelessly in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and beyond.
A Light In Africa, founded by Lynn Gissing, has helped thousands of children in crisis in its 20 years of love and devotion to children who have had very difficult lives out in Tanzania.
Operating its numerous childrens' homes and outreaches, supporting the local community at large, including the local medical facilities,
A Light in Africa is such an important part of the lives of a great many children.
Currently guardian to over 150 children across 5 homes, the dedication and love of the founder affectionately known as Mama Lynn and the hard-working team, is providing a family home that is changing the course of each and every life blessed to be a part of it.
August 2024
Happiness is free, but priceless
The month of August 2024 will be remembered as a month of extremes: from hosting a group of students from Kibaoni Primary School in Maasai land, to organizing a most ‘spectacular’ party for staff and children, to making it just in time for a new baby to arrive in our family--this month has brought a time of great joy and priceless happiness.
Environment-Responsible Education for the Maasai Students
At the opening of the new school kitchen and water supply I promised the older school children that I would provide a coach for them to visit our Chemical Free Farm and Piggery and for them to glean information on water harvesting and Perma-Culture principles. I was also pleasantly surprised that the water tank that we had filled and was hopefully going to provide clean water for the whole school for 100 days when filled to capacity, was seen to have been used in a responsible way. So, dear friends, for just $100 for 100 days the whole school drank clean water instead of contaminated water from the river. Thanks to your Christmas funding, we have managed to help so many children and their community.
We divided the children into three groups and changed the groups every 50 minutes. The vet was on site to inform all the children about our piggery, another group was touring our vegetable areas, and a third group was preparing lunch from the vegetables taken from the garden. The teachers appeared very attentive and were delighted to haul stalks of heavy banana into the coach for all the children’s lunch the following day at the school.
I hoped the experience would increase the Maasai children’s mind set and show them a ‘different’ way on how to water harvest the little rain that they receive and instead of placing five maize seeds into one hole would understand it is one seed for one hole. The children also planted seeds in their plastic cups to nurture and later plant the trees at their school.
A Life Saved 20 Years Ago brings a New Life to the LIA Family
Jane was brought up by Light in Africa’s Children’s Home since she was 10 months of age. Her mother had locked her in their mud/stick hut and abandoned her. Neighbours heard her screams as she crawled into the smoldering fire. Her father, who was a poor farmer, was called and found her badly burned. He brought her to me, and I rushed her to the hospital for medical treatment. Jane stayed with us and grew into a lovely young woman. She was educated and trained in her chosen profession and then came back to be a staff member with Light in Africa. She has one child and was delighted to learn that she was expecting another baby. With two weeks before her expected due date, and no symptoms, and as I was travelling to the hospital to take a child for surgery, I ‘off the cuff’ suggested Jane should travel with me to the hospital. Thank goodness she did--eight hours after our arrival at the hospital she delivered her little boy. Mother and child are both doing well.
Spectacular Party!
The most unusual request that I have ever received was to organize the most ‘spectacular party’ the children and staff had ever had. So, with a ‘chunk of money’ I started the planning of this most ‘spectacular’ party. We met our friends from the USA for the first time who had arrived in Tanzania two days prior to the party date and had so generously made this suggestion and provided the funding. The Light in Africa Board members explained to our guests all that we had planned and what they should be prepared for--especially the fact that the Maasai were planning something very special for them. I did have words with our Maasai Chairman that our guests could not take a cow, or a goat, or any chickens back on the flight with them!!!! But would they listen to me?!!
All the children were in high spirits when our guests arrived for the party. Our four guests were led to chairs in the center of the court, and Chairman Vincent started his ‘thank you speech’ for the help the guests’ funding had made to the Maasai community. Our guests were dressed in Maasai shukas, and to my great surprise, the men were presented with the Maasai Warriors’ highest honour of a Rungu stick (which basically is to hit your enemies over the head with). The ladies were presented with a basket of Kilimanjaro coffee beans, and I could relax again when no cow arrived.
After the service it was the sports. The staff started it off with the egg and spoon race and then the sack race with all the children cheering for their staff members. Then it was the Tombola raffle where everyone received a gift (even if it was a ‘booby’ prize of a toilet brush). Two very large cakes – one with the American flag and the other with the Tanzanian flag-- had to be cut up later and taken to the homes for consumption as the children were too full from the feast where they were able to just help themselves.
The surprise for the children was when a local gymnastics team came along and performed their many stunts, even a child standing on a piece of wood with nails in it. I have to admit that I prayed the children would not try these fantastic bouts of agility as I watched some of our children trying to copy (I just have to say Hilda). That should bring a smile to our past volunteer faces. And then it was the ‘water fight.’ Our four wonderful guests were highly entertained by the antics of staff and children alike as each tried to pour water on the other. A wonderful, memorable day, to replace some of the bad memories and pain that the children had previously been subjected to.
From Mama Lynn, staff, and children of Light in Africa.
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June - July 2024
The Uhuru Torch of Independence was first lit on top of Mount Kilimanjaro on the 9th December 1961. It represents to the Tanzanian people a beacon of hope where there is despair, love where there is enmity, and respect where there is hatred.
Fifty-three of Light in Africa’s disabled children must have wondered what on earth was happening at their home as a ‘flurry’ of personnel invaded Honeycombe House and were actively changing their environment. Decorators were busy hanging materials of the national colours from the balconies – flower arrangements were being carefully displayed, social workers were ensuring that everything at Honeycombe House was picture perfect for the arrival of the Uhuru Torch of Independence which we had been privileged and honored to have been chosen to host.
Forty plus vehicles with a police escort arrived at our gates. Geoffrey Mzava (in charge of the torch) along with the District Commissioner the Hon. Fakj Lulandala and local dignitaries and leaders of Mirerani Township arrived to witness the daily work that Light in Africa has been involved in for the past 24 years -- saving and caring for children with disabilities.
Crowds gathered at our gate just to catch a glimpse of the proceedings as our Executive staff members welcomed the torch and the torchbearers. They explained that LIA was operating five homes in the area-- from a home for abandoned babies, to young toddlers, to boys’ and girls’ homes along with the disabled home. All the essential medical care, education from primary to advanced level, and all the welfare needs are provided for the children to ensure that they have the opportunity to grow in all areas of development. The staff were thanked and encouraged to continue the wonderful work that they are involved in helping the community care for its most vulnerable of children.
As Light in Africa is a non-denominational organization we are able to care for children from all walks of life and religions. We were recently blessed with the Muslim community providing ten goats for our freezer as they celebrated EID. The meat has lasted over four weeks with a saving on our weekly meat bill.
We are delighted that one of our young men who we have raised from a very abusive family has just passed to go to University. The career path that he has chosen is either to be an Immigration Officer or an Agriculturist.
I wrote in January that we had received so many more children into care that we were ‘stretched at the seams’ with a list of children waiting to be admitted. With this in mind, and in faith, we are expanding to a new district where all of our girls will be moved into a new rented home close to two new schools that they will start to attend on Monday of next week. We shall close Fleeze House, the home where the boys have lived for over twenty years, and they will move into the girls Gideon House. So, it has been a pretty frenzied week from entertaining the Uhuru Torch and now moving 94 children into different homes.
JUNE UPDATE
America, here I come!
Prior to leaving for the USA, I felt particularly weakened and wondered if I would have sufficient strength to endure the month-long trip with its speaking engagements and travelling commitments. I decided to claim and pray into Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me - (KJ) I was so pleased I did.
On arrival at Kim, Brian, and London’s lovely home in Newport Beach, I had a ‘cuppa’ and ‘crashed’. The couple had prayed that I would visit the USA, and their prayers were answered in a remarkable way. I was so exhausted from the long flights that I slept through two earthquakes of 3.5 and 3.6 magnitude on the Richter scale. I guess you could say that I had announced my arrival in America!
It was wonderful to see Jessica again who had flown in from Florida just to meet up with me. Jessica had been one of our returning volunteers until she married and now has two lovely girls. She took me shopping!!! I had never experienced anything like it before!! The booth that I was in looked like a dress and shoe shop with lots and lots of variations of different colors and sizes. What a wonderful and exciting day it was for someone like me, who lives very basically, and very rarely buys any clothes.
The following day we arrived at Helga’s house for an afternoon tea with a group of ladies, and some more of my story telling. And then it was off to the Queen Mary for an overnight stay on the ‘grand old lady of the seas.’
Next day it was a presentation and tea at my dear friend’s home of Paul and Sue Ellen who kindly initiated the ‘matching’ funds at Christmas and to meet with their two sons and daughter. The Holy Spirit was very present as I spoke, and one person I know had to go and hide in a closet as she was experiencing ‘fits of laughter’.
I was able to re-new my friendship with Kelly Bennett who is a well-known TV presenter and publicist with her organization called < www.BennettUnlimitedPR.com>who promoted the book that I had written and was now eager for me to get started on the next one and then promote next year.
On Sunday it was a church service at St. Andrew’s which always brings me great joy to hear the orchestra play such beautiful music. In the afternoon it was off to Scottsdale in Arizona to meet up with Lee and Nicole and their girls Ava and Rory who had many years ago adopted one of Light in Africa’s boys. Now Gifti is all grown up and enjoying success in the boxing ring. Then it was off on a train ride to see the ‘big hole’ of the Grand Canyon.
Lee had a working relationship with a gentlemen called Tony who through Lee, and the adoption process, had his interest in LIA piqued so he decided to take a two-hour flight to come over and speak with me about the work that I am involved in. After a couple of hours in discussion we then had a lovely lunch at a restaurant with Lee and the family.
A harp playing in the background, afternoon tea in a beautiful garden, fresh strawberries and cream with wonderful hosts, Patti and her husband--I sat and thought “this could easily be a taste of heaven”. Thanks to each and every one who made it such a perfect day, and one certainly for the memory box.
A presentation at St. Andrew’s bible group, which is the church that Joan Coleman attends who does such an amazing job in editing and posting all of my updates and arranges any donations to be forwarded into our account each month where donors are able to claim tax relief through her 501(c)3. It was a great time to meet and chat with the ladies all about the work of Light in Africa Children’s Homes. Pastor Julie and Elder Andy were present and we recalled the night a mini-typhoon hit the center and a tree fell on our car with a staff member inside. Thank God, a night like that has not been repeated!
Agoura Hills is where the driver dropped us off next to meet my dear friend Joni Erickson Tada who has a global ministry on disability. Joni has been wheelchair bound since a swimming accident in her teens left her a paraplegic. After lunch we made five videos together encouraging people to ‘get involved’ in volunteering; it is a great way to help change lives and have a positive experience. As a painter by mouth Joni kindly signed her book for our children.
Sincere appreciation to Joan’s husband Mark who entertained me with frequent meals at his golf club (the fish and chips were absolutely delicious) and all the wonderful people who hosted me in their homes and ‘fed me’.
Thank you to each and every one of you who made this journey such a blessing. ‘True friends are never apart, maybe in disatance but never in heart.’
A quick stop-over in the UK was to attend Mary Clark MBE’s 70th birthday party and to meet with her sons and friends who have supported my work for many years. This was my first party that I had attended in 29 years with like-minded people, so it was much appreciated.
Then back to a wonderful welcome from ‘Plum Pudding’ and the boys, girls, and staff who were all eager to see what gifts I had brought them. And then, it was back to work the following day.
May 2024 Update
The fruit of your own hard work is the sweetest. Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana. The smallest seed of faith is better than the largest fruit of happiness. Your life is the fruit of our own doing ….. Deepika Padukone
Dearest friends of Light in Africa Children’s Homes,
I am writing this month’s update from Newport Beach, California where I am being kindly hosted by Joan and Mark Coleman, their daughter Kim and her husband Brian. It has been 10 years since my last visit to the USA. I have tried to visit on two previous occasions, but it was not to be—it was not God’s timing. But after an awesome answer to prayer, I am once again enjoying the thrill of meeting all my old friends again and making new ones as I tell life stories of the children and miracles that occur as we work with the most vulnerable of children in our everyday life in Tanzania.
First, I want to bless and thank you all for the matching donations which have allowed me to help “little John”, the 3-year-old boy with the enlarged tumor on his face. We were grateful when we learned after the biopsy that it was not cancer which had previously been diagnosed….Prayer works. He has now had his surgery, and although there is scarring on his neck, the overall picture of a flat face where the tumor has been removed is wonderful to see. His mother was delighted and very grateful for your help for her child.
Joel, the boy with crooked legs who came into our care suffering from Ricketts, a problem from severe malnutrition, was trying to play football with the other children when he fell over and broke his leg. For $500 we were able to find an orthopedic surgeon who was able to place a metal rod in his leg. We are hopeful that we can do the same to his other leg after his recovery so that he can walk straight. A great outcome from an unfortunate injury.
I started the piggery two years ago with just ten 3-month-old piglets to help our un-academic disabled and able-bodied older children to learn a life-skill. God has blessed the work of our hands ‘mightily’. We were shocked and surprised to see ‘Miss Amy’ give birth to a large litter of multi-colored piglets including a totally black one, beside the mosaics! Questions ensued not only from the children but the stockmen as well as to “how is this possible when all our piglets are pink?” I felt like I was back giving lessons on the birds and the bees…such is the fabric of life and the melting pot of colors.
From Mount Kilimanjaro this month one can see the harvest of banana stalks piled high on lorries for distribution throughout the regions. The bananas are now ready for eating or for making into delicious culinary dishes. This month is called ‘ladies month' as due to the bountiful harvest the ladies are able to save some funds for the childrens' education and perhaps even a new dress! On our farm we grow red, green and yellow bananas for the children’s diets, which are high in protein.
More next month about my visit to the USA and the UK when I return to the children and Tanzania on 8th July.
Thank you all and may God bless you—always.
Mama Lynn, staff, and children of Light in Africa Children’s Homes
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March - April 2024 Update
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THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO LIVE: YOU CAN LIVE AS IF NOTHING IS A MIRACLE. YOU CAN LIVE AS IF EVERYTHING IS A MIRACLE...... Albert Einstein
Dearest friends of Light in Africa Children’s Home,
In just 9 months Tanzania’s climate has gone from a severe drought to intensive flooding with many souls losing their lives from roads being washed away to mudslides destroying lives, homes, and crops. As I write this belated update we are experiencing torrential rain. Our celebration to open the new Kibioni school kitchen had to be postponed due to the road being under water and our vehicles could not get through to the school, hence the delay in writing the update. Our staff are busy with packing and cleaning as the disabled children are preparing to be moved to a new location with the landlord demanding an excessive amount of rent which we could not pay. More on the move in my next update.
This month your ‘matching’ blessing which we received has paid for two operations. One operation was for one of our teenagers, who I will call Miss Pringle, who could eat box after box of crispy potatoes. She was admitted to hospital for an operation on her ‘weeping’ belly button. The second operation was for one of our retirees who arrived late at night in great pain and distress: after medical diagnoses she received an operation to remove a very large hernia. Our reward was nine avocados and a bunch of bananas from a very grateful widow. Thank you for your support. Little John, the boy with the swollen face, is to have surgery to remove the swelling after the trial of injections has failed. Prayers please for this little three-year-old who will also have to undergo plastic surgery. Your funds will also pay for Little John’s operations.
The children of Cannon Peter Hall Christian School in Grimsby, UK were very active making and selling items to raise funds for our children’s benefit. We thank the staff and the children for caring about us and our needs across all those miles, and I hope sometime in the future to be able to come to the school and thank you all personally with some letters of appreciation from our children.
With the purchase of 200 plastic mugs and a huge plate of food the children were overjoyed at our celebration to open their new school kitchen. With clean fresh water flowing from the poly tank and with the help of a Government Education Officer we declared the kitchen opened for use. Maasai mamas who had to walk many miles to fetch water from the river for the builder to construct the building, received a ‘thank you’ gift of $10 to their great delight. On your behalf, we received a gift of three small chicks and two young goats. We were blessed indeed.
A MIRACLE IS GOD DOING WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO. (Even if that means using a 5-year-old child): I was busy washing-up some pots at the sink, when Plum Pudding who was lazily laid on the sofa reading a book said, ‘The puppy has a ‘dodo’ in his mouth.’ I turned around to look at our two 4-month-old German Shepherd playfully bouncing around the room. Neither appeared to be in any distress so I returned to the pots. Five minutes later, Plum said, “God says” the puppy has a ‘dodo’ in its mouth. I dry my hands, pick up a puppy, open its mouth, and see a piece of cow bone stretched right across his mouth blocking his throat. ‘Oh, my goodness’ please, quickly go Plum, and fetch the vet who is looking at a pig on the farm”. By the time the vet arrived I had a pair of pliers waiting for him and he carefully extracted the tight bone along with a piece of meat which was attached which would have been hanging down the pups throat.
Amazing God.
January 2024 Update
ABHOR THAT WHICH IS EVIL, CLEAVE TO THAT WHICH IS GOOD. Romans 12:9
Dearest Friends of Light in Africa Children’s Homes,
We have started the New Year with an unprecedented number of new children being admitted into our care. From the police bringing two children who were abandoned at the side of a road, to 6 more being brought in by the social welfare dept., plus twin boys of 19 months. This has resulted in two of our homes being filled to capacity, and the search is now on for two more rented homes for our children, and more certificated staff. The carpenter is being kept busy making 11 new beds & cots. We have well over 150 children now in full-time care. LIA can only approach these new demands due to all of your generosity in giving funds for these precious children. Thank you.
Angel, the little girl from Iringa with Sickle Cell Anemia has just received medical treatment for her organs which are sadly being affected. Little John, the boy with large face tumor, does not have cancer according to his biopsy. Treatment by injections had to be delayed due to a low blood count and his malnutrition. He returns for treatment in 3 weeks. Stella. a little Maasai disabled child whom we have cared for 10 years, died this month. Our staff are feeling particularly saddened by this event as they feel her loss. For me, I know she is now without pain or distress smiling into the face of Jesus.
THE KIBIONI SCHOOL PROJECT:
It is always a delight for me when we welcome returning volunteers to LIA. Paul, who visited last year with Tegan and did an awesome project, brought along for the ride this time Daniel & Michael who all work for Ultra Furnishings in the UK.
We have had problems with the well as twice huge boulders have stopped the workers finding the water so desperately needed. A dynamite charge is going to be placed to blow the huge boulder which should allow the water to flow. Until these problems have been resolved, the Maasai mamas have had long exhausting journeys to the river to bring extra water for the kitchen build. The 5,000-litre poly-tank which will hold the clean water for the school children is already on the site. The roof is now on the kitchen, and the windows and the security of the site is next.
And now for some text and photos from the guys about their volunteering experience helping to demolish the old school kitche & the walls came tumbling down…..
TANZANIA VISIT: January 13-23, 2024
Tanzania… what a place, what a country, what a people, what an experience! From swimming in idyllic pools to knocking down an old “kitchen” ready for the building of the new one, to camping in the Tanzanian bush. I have had the absolute best experience of my life so far and I truly believe everyone should go help Light in Africa Children’s Homes. Just from the 10 days I spent there I have too many stories to include here.
Seeing all the children’s homes really puts things into perspective how lucky we are. Life really is a lottery, but with the help of LIA those unlucky enough not to be born in a well-developed country with well-established health care systems and abundance of food, they can live a happy life and not need to worry about where their next meal will come from or when if they could see a doctor.
Mama Lynn is a force to be reckoned with and if she makes a promise, she will see it through at all costs. The other mamas, Shazma & Gudilla who are just as strong, have made the experience and it was amazing to see how they always put the charity first and do all the can to help the needs of the children. Special ‘shout out’ to Moses, the chef extraordinaire, who provided much enjoyment always coming up with some challenge or other in the downtime we had.
It was a special experience, and I WILL at some point in my life return to further help out this brilliant charity.
PS.. Now I have seen the pure size and scale of Mt. Kilimanjaro I definitely want to climb that one. ….Paul, Daniel & Michael
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November 2023 Update
Sometimes, we become so busy in our daily lives that we forget to smell the salty sea!
Dearest friends of Light in Africa Children’s Homes.
It was raining quite heavily, and whilst out shopping I received a call from a caregiver that a 40 ft security wall has collapsed into a river. “What river?” I ask astounded. “We don’t have a river near the house.” “We do now!” replied the carer, and the line went dead. The first photo shows the collapsed wall and the surging new river. That night water started to drip through into the children’s bedroom from the flat roof of the house that we had rented for seven months. Three days later the second bedroom also had water pouring through. It was time to evacuate before the roof collapsed. I tore up the two-year contract in disgust that we had been rented a sub-standard house that the Landlord knew very well of all its serious problems.
But first…. to answer some of the questions that I have been asked about my month-long trip.
Q. Was it very uncomfortable for you in a tent at your age?!!! This was a two-edge sword. Yes, I did have an aching back in the mornings, but I would suggest that you all throw away your gym tickets and go camping, as I was really so much fitter on my return to our homes with crawling in and out of the tent and using muscles I had forgotten I had.
Q. What was your happiest memory of the safari? Undoubtedly, when Plum Pudding agreed to be piggy- packed on Mo’s back in the pool. It was sheer joy after all the trauma he had experienced from being thrown into the deep end of a swimming pool. He arrived home desolate and very upset when my other children vied for position to tell me all what had happened at the pool. He changed from his school uniform and fell asleep on his bed. On awakening he came to tell me that Jesus had sat on his bed and said “he had to hold his hand like this (he demonstrated to me) and that Jesus had said, not to be afraid”……what a loving experience from a loving God.
Q. What was the worst thing?
A. Looking so forward to eating a chicken pizza only to find the base had mushed carrots instead of tomato, and finding two small pieces of chicken, and being so hungry I ate it, complaining at every mouthful of how ‘horrible’ it was.
B. The second was ‘liquid’ brown water coming from the shower head at the cheapest hotel that we stayed in.
C. The third was drinking a ‘doctored’ watermelon juice and not leaving the hotel until the effects had worn off.
Q. Would I do the trip again? Sure I would! What is a little discomfort if it means 200 + school children have clean drinking water, and the Maasai mamas don’t have to walk 8 hours a day to fetch contaminated water from the river. From the trip we have raised sufficient funds to dig a well for them so their cattle won’t then die in a drought. Definitely a positive. Also, I was impressed that the Maasai leadership had a Lawyer write a letter to government leaders to say ‘how can they expect a 7-year-old child to walk 30 kilometres a day? They need a hostel for the children, or they have to break the law and not send the children to school. Impressive.
And now for the update on the three more serious cases we brought to the hospital in Dar for medical treatment. Angel, shown with her father, was found to be suffering from Malaria and undiagnosed Sickle Cell Anaemia—a very serious condition. She is now on a monitoring program for this illness and living under LIA care--another life saved. Jackson’s heel was on the front of his foot. He has had three plaster casts on and off and an operation to straighten his foot. Tumaini was the young girl that I believed God wanted me to help. When she was one year old someone poked a stick in her eye, and for fourteen years she never received any medical intervention. She was taken to the surgical theatre and two surgeons for one hour tried to make a pin hole through the muscle that had thickened and covered her eye. Sadly, the operation failed, and the surgeons could do no more. But……. Jesus the great healer has plans to heal this child’s sight. Everyday our children and I are praying for Tumaini’s sight to be restored. We believe in prevailing prayer. Will you join us ?
When the group of Maasai saw the Indian Ocean for the first time there were “shrieks” of delight and amazement. The following day they came to the hospital carrying 4-liter empty containers, (where they found them, I have no idea) and Moses was ‘urged’ to stop the car to allow them to fill them. It was really something to see this group of Maasai, shuka’s ( material) flying in the wind, running down the beach and straight into the sea. It was so thrilling for them. We take so much for granted we sometimes forget to smell the wonderful smell of the salty sea. On our return from six weeks of hospital appointments, I am given the request from a desperate father to help his 4-year-old daughter. The little girl has been diagnosed with cancer and is desperate for an operation. Funds from the matching donation will help this little girl receive the operation that she desperately requires. Thank you.
In March 2024 we are going to open up our farm and piggery to volunteers who wish to learn farming life-skills. These volunteer places are limited to 10 per month, and the volunteers will work beside our staff and trainees on life-skill and survival training. Families are most welcome.
Thank you, dear friends. May your Christmas time be full of love, joy, and happiness as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. Remember: The best is yet to come.
Mama Lynn - staff and children of Light in Africa’s Children’s Homes.