Dream Big

Who doesn’t have them? Dreams. I surely do. Dreams when I am asleep but also dreams for my life. Dreams, when I am asleep, are mostly funny but also very weird, haha. Dreams for my life are more serious, even though at times I have to laugh at my thoughts. What is your life dream? What do you hope and long for?

As a child I remember the dream I had to become a superstar, I wanted to be a part of a singing group and be famous (I defiantly can’t (!) sing). I dreamed of having all the barbies in the world to play with. I dreamed of becoming a maternity nurse and work with little children. But I also remembered the day I was sitting in the church, we went to an evening service and there was this woman sharing about her work in Curacao, what God was doing through her to reach those kids. I remember thinking “I want that, I want to be like her” but I was this shy, insecure little girl who was afraid of new things, (new) people so I defiantly didn’t see myself as qualified for something like that.

Now, years later, God has done great things in my life. I am no longer that shy, insecure little girl anymore. God has brought me to places I never dared to dream of. Visiting Zimbabwe in February 2018 was one of those places. I had the privilege to visit many schools and meet with the head of the schools, sponsor kids and some local people. What do they dream for? Well the children do have some of the same dreams, becoming the famous singer or this famous soccer player, but also have some longings of what I surely never had while growing up. There are children who are longing and hoping to go to school, hoping for a good future, hoping that their 2-hour walk goes without incidents and hoping that there would be someone who is willing to help.

Jonathan Children’s Trust is a non-profit organization created by a good friend of mine, Tapiwa Madzivanyika. He was born in Zimbabwe and lived there for about 25 years. He knows how some children, parents, and caretakers are dreaming for an education for their children. He knows the poverty and lack of good schools in Zimbabwe. That is one of the many reasons why he has started this organization to give children in great need an opportunity, a hope, a future and a good education. Going to school will not just be a dream but a reality where they can fulfill their calling.

Jonathan Children’s Trust has dreams too, hopes, missions, and goals. One of the missions is to give children an opportunity to learn, to grow and to develop themselves into confident men and women, who know who they are and know how they can use their knowledge to make a difference in their environment. To accomplish that, there are many things that need to take place. We need to acquire land and material to begin the building of a school in Gutu village. We need school supplies and furniture and all the help we can get to make this happen. It sometimes seems like a dream that’s too big, but I am excited to see how God is going to come through and show us how He will provide and lead us in the dream He has given us for this organization.

We would appreciate your prayers for wisdom and direction while we are starting the organization, praying for a land to build a school and prayers for financial support.

Please contact us if you would like to know more about Jonathan Children’s Trust, or click here if you would like to sponsor a child or offer financial support.

—Adrienne van Drunen, Missionary