Affordable Green Art, Theatre, Photography, Crafting for a Cause, Spoken Word, Gardening, and Theatre Tech Courses for kids in Charlotte!

I am flying off to Africa tomorrow, but in the meantime, I need to tell you about something awesome a great pastor at The Grove Church started a few years ago with an amazing group of friends.  We started an after-school, arts ministry.  We have offered the following classes to kids in our neighborhood and all throughout Charlotte for affordable prices!

Photography

Gardening

Theatre ( In the past we have done Lion King, Wizard of Oz, Glee, and Annie Performances!)

Theatre Tech

Mad Science

Creative Writing

Crafting for a Cause

Unspoken Words(poetry and spoken word! Awesome!)

Teaching several of these courses is one of the most rewarding and satisfying things I have experienced in life.  The kids are a joy to teach and I adore meeting them and spending time with them.  In one of my classes the kids were so excited to be there, and referred to it as "art club" and invited and told their friends about it.  No matter what kind of day I had, I was inspired to spend time with them and just.... create!  and grow! 




Anyway, registration is going on now! And I just wanted to get the word out so we can add some new faces to our classes and spread our ministry even further.  

We don't look at it as us offering you a service, we are delighted to reach out to you, and see what we can both learn from each other.  NAM is for children, but we have considered doing adult workshops and classes in the past, and we know that we have SO MUCH to learn from the kids!!!  We are interested in meeting the whole family.


Classes are at The Grove:  http://thegrovecharlotte.org/




Here is registration info and information on our program and classes we are offering this semester: http://thegrovecharlotte.org/youth/neighborhood-afterschool-ministries/



We cannot WAIT to meet you!!! Excited!!

HEADED TO UGANDA!!!!

It's official.  When I am not around children, I am not as happy.

Psalm 127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

I am now 26 years old and my nurturing, adventuring, mothering side has fully revealed itself. : )

I am heading out on more missions!!!!! Thank you again to all of you who have supported me in every way in my missions to Mexico, Bolivia, Rwanda, and Cameroon, and now I am headed back to beautiful Africa. You who support me are my lifeblood, my angels, my saviors. THANK YOU!!!!! 

When I first returned from my trip to Harvest Children's Home in Cameroon this past February, I was miserable to wake up to a quiet house.  I missed being awoken by excited, energized children running about laughing, playing, singing and squealing at 5am.  I miss the sounds of chickens and goats, and the smell of fire as well, but that's a while other post right there.

Anyway, I am THRILLED to announce I am heading back to AFRICA!!!!!!!!!

First I am headed to UGANDA.  Then I am headed to RWANDA.  Then I am headed to TANZANIA.  Then I will be back in the states, planning a wedding (YAYYYY!!!) and teaching green art and gardening for an after-school ministry.(love it)

TRIP DETAILS:

I am traveling with my favorite non-profit, 

Orphans to Ambassadors

[ http://www.orphanstoambassadors.org/ ]  This organization implements sustainable technologies in orphanages around the world to vulnerable children in refugee affected areas.  My fiance is the project leader for this trip and he is AWESOME at his job.

KASESE, UGANDA-Fair Earth Children's Village

[Project Summary]

Fair Earth Children’s Village is an orphanage for abandoned and vulnerable children in Kasese, Uganda, a rural town in western Uganda, near the Democratic Republic of Congo border.  Fair Earth cares for 55 boys and girls.  Currently Fair Earth is addressing many needs by providing the following:  education and vocational programs, feeding, medical care, shelter and clothing to the children. Fair Earth is already practicing simple sustainable measures including a 5 acre vegetable garden they share with a sister NGO where they grow corn, sweet potatoes and fruit for the children.  Although they already understand the importance and practice of sustainable measures and efficient systems their current water source, supplied from the town is terribly expensive costing nearly $1,300 USD per year. We hope to provide them with an 8,000 liter rainwater harvesting system onto the children’s dormitory building to increase the children’s water access and security as well as preventing premature erosion to the dormitory buildings. Our project will increase their financial sustainability by greatly reducing their water expenses by approximately $700 - $1,000 USD per year.

Intended results

● Fair Earth Children’s Village  - The project will address and improve the living conditions of abandoned vulnerable children in Kasese, Uganda.  A rainwater harvesting system will give the children of Fair Earth increased access to water for bathing, cleaning and for the livestock.  Provide instruction for children and staff of orphanage to install, operate, and maintain the rainwater system.

● Kasese, Uganda – With the new rainwater harvesting system in place the orphanage will be a source of innovation and hope for community members and entrepreneurs to learn best practices and techniques for starting their own rainwater harvesting initiatives.

● Orphans to Ambassadors International – This organization will have a better understanding of the installation and operational intricacies of the sustainable technologies involved in this project.  By documenting lessons learned from this project, the overall knowledge of installation and operational requirements of each component will be enhanced and contribute to more streamlined project implementation in future projects.  

Then.... after Fair Earth, we are headed to

Rwamagana, RWANDA-Institute for Women's Excellence

IWE women's boarding school, (Institute for Women's Excellence) where we will be visiting to check on projects we did last May.  We implemented a Chicken Coop, 2 High efficiency Rocket Stoves, and we installed Rainwater Harvesting Systems on this campus.  We will be checking on our sustainability projects to see how they are working for the facility, and we will be discussing with the staff current and future needs, and discovering areas where they may need more projects in the future.  

Can't wait to see these lovely girls again!!!
Next, we are headed to

Nazareti Center, Ngara, Tanzania
[Project Summary]
Nazareti Center is an orphanage for abandoned and vulnerable street children in Ngara, Tanzania, a rural town called Ngara in Northwestern Tanzania, near the Rwanda and Burundi border. Nazareti is an all boys orphanage and cares for 28 boys. Ngara, Tanzania was a hosting site for refugee populations in the past two decades.  Refugee affected areas like that of Ngara, Tanzania experience a higher than normal rate of street children (orphans) from overflowing refugee camps plagued with an abundant number of children orphaned due to violence in conflict 
zones.  These children migrate to the streets of nearby villages and towns to seek a better life where some end up in locally or internationally run orphanages.  

Due to the typical remoteness of refugee-affected areas, these orphanages are underfunded and over utilized, most are unable to operate at a level more appealing than life on the streets.  These orphanages are presented with a unique problem that goes unnoticed and understudied.  This high number of street children affects the community in ways such as higher petty theft,  increased child drug use, and child related sex trafficking.  For example, in Kibondo, Tanzania,  children were migrating to the verandas of local houses to sleep at night for fear of being attacked by wildlife at night.  

Most street children are shunned from the local villages and are viewed as a nuisance instead of an opportunity.  A unique opportunity exists in refugee-affected areas, where resource depletion and environmental degradation has plagued these refugee hosting communities since the arrival of refugee camps.  These areas are more interested and committed to sustainability than most major cities due to the direct and drastic impact environmental degradation had/has on their community.  Couple this with students trained in sustainable development practices and renewable energy technologies and you have an opportunity for a true grassroots movement that empowers orphaned children and initiates environmental preservation.

Currently Nazareti is addressing many needs by providing the following:  education through local school sponsorships and vocational programs, feeding, medical care, shelter and clothing to the children. Nazareti is already practicing simple sustainable measures as a result of the Orphans to Ambassadors project with them in June 2011.  Now Nazareti Center has a major rainwater harvesting system in place along with 2 fuel efficient rocket cooking stoves.  Although they already understand the importance and practice of sustainable measures and efficient systems their current rainwater system needs to be expanded to accommodate for their water needs. We hope to expand their current rainwater harvesting system onto the administrative and meeting buildings to increase the children’s water access and security as well as preventing premature erosion to these buildings, recently constructed in 2006.  Our project will increase their financial sustainability by greatly reducing their water expenses. 


● Nazareti Center – The projects will address and improve the living conditions of abandoned vulnerable street children in Ngara, Tanzania.   An expanded rainwater harvesting system will give the children of Nazareti Center increased access to water for bathing, cleaning and for their livestock.  Orphans to Ambassadors will provide instruction for children and staff of orphanage to install, operate, and maintain the system and lead activities for the children while teaching sustainability education lessons.

● Ngara, Tanzania – With the expanded rainwater harvesting system in place the orphanage will be a source of innovation and hope for community members and entrepreneurs to learn best practices and techniques for starting their own solar power initiatives.

● Orphans to Ambassadors International –  This organization will have a better understanding of the installation and operational intricacies of the sustainable technologies involved in this project.  By documenting lessons learned from this project, the overall knowledge of installation and operational requirements of each component will be enhanced and contribute to more streamlined project implementation in future projects.

My Contributions to this trip:

• Photography and Video documentation at Fair Earth, IWE boarding school, Nazareti Center, and any other orphanages or children's homes(potential future projects) we may visit on the trip.
• Sustainability Education Curriculum I will be teaching sustainability lessons to the children at Fair Earth children's home about what sustainability is, our projects and how to care for them, and how sustainability is important to their daily lives. 
• Team Member As a member of the Orphans to Ambassadors team I will be working with the team and locals on construction and implementation of our projects, as well as any other needs that arise on the trip. 
• LOVE Let's face it, love is my biggest contribution.  I most definitely will fall head over heels for these vulnerable children (as I always do) and love them with all of my heart for as long as I can.  It is important to me that they know they are important and loved, and deserving of the opportunities we present to them in our work.   

please consider supporting me in this journey!!!!!  Every penny makes a difference, not only in my life, but in countless others who will be affected by our work!  

support me here:(http://www.gofundme.com/3qntrk)
please share with all of your friends, family, and networks!! THANK YOU!!!! Have a BLESSED DAY!! : )

Durante el Segundo y tercero Dia Bolivia 2011

7/1/11 mission with Children's Impact Network

     It already feels like it has been a week and we just arrived.  So much has happened.  Of course beautiful Ricardo was the 1st one to greet me when I got off the bus again.  It was dejavu from last year.  But more familiar and comfortable.  He is a lost angel.  I love him so dearly.  I'm so thrilled that we were able to bring so many supplies!





We were able to bring tons of school supplies, construction/work project supplies, and school uniforms!  Being part of a team in advance before you get to the site definitely has advantages, and in this case a big one was all the supplies we were able to collect and get donated.

Day 3:  7/2/11

     Devotions with the Colombian team was magnificent!  truly magical.  In some moments God simply drops all our guards and we become unbelievably comfortable and entranced by how majestic the current moment is.  I absolutely adore worshiping my Lord and Savior through song and instrument, and in my car, or the bath, or home alone while cooking, I am GETTIN IT!! but when I am in a crowd I have this strange anxiety and paralyzing shyness that always keeps me very quiet and reserved.  Every once in a while God will break through that paralyzing cloud, I forget everything but the current emotion, and I let it go.  Only every once in a while.


I love Ricardo.

And we had a blast at the park.  Broken toys to prove it!

Played Frisbee and flew kites, played cards and chess and ran around crazy and took a million pictures.

 Somehow I can't get tired of the fish eye effect.

Or taking photos.



What if I treated everyday like this,

even in America,

what if I acted as if my daily life was an exuberant adventure

and was excited to capture every moment on film

 as I do on these trips?




Life is a trip.

 The air feels different here and I don't think it is just the elevation.  I told everyone on the team I had a soul mate when they kept trying to set  me up with hosts and such.  It felt so good to be honest about it.  I miss him.  No idea where he is or what hes doing.  probably something epic. in the Congo? Rwanda? Tanzania. *sigh.  I simply cannot wait to see that face again.  It's weird to think that last year I watched the newlyweds and couples glazed on the bus and held my breath so I wouldn't cry because I missed and craved him so.  

This year he knows my feelings much more accurately.

I remember wishing he was there last year.

It was so deeply stabbingly painful.



We were going separate ways on separate paths and I wanted him to want to share my path.

I believe we have made a sort of path together in ways, but we are still continents apart at the current moment.

 Last year I craved his companionship more than I ever have while in Bolivia, and this year its even more but in a different way.

Then, I couldn't see a clear vision of us in the future, years, months, even days down the road, and I eyed the couples with envy as they smiled and stared into each other's pupils while pickaxing or riding the bus as if a magical Narnia was within their lovers skull.

It hurt deep down in my stomach as they prayed together and fell asleep on each other's shoulders.




It was refreshing to see these examples, to see this Godly young love up close, and to want to be a participant in this intriguing, mesmerizing partnership.  Now, I can see us in the future, I can picture us, and it is so beautiful, I am so impatient.

I always want the end result, and I forget to appreciate the process.  I see the destination, and I ignore the journey because I. Want. To. Be. There. and I want to be there now.  I want to be the best Christian, the best wife, the nicest person, the best activist, the smartest woman, but I want it all now and I don't want to wait.

But this is foolish.  I think every morsel and ounce of the journey with you would be euphoric and worth cherishing.
Even this emptiness and hardened pain in mi corazon.  Maybe absence does make the heart grow fonder.  Here we are again.
On separate continents in July.
I feel that this isn't the only time I will miss you and go through this in our lives.
I feel you missing me too.
This has happened before, It's happening now, and it will happen again.
Thank you God for the ability to feel.
To feel pain, longing, worry, closeness, to be able to feel someones heart from across the globe.
To really know someone and feel competent in understanding the essence of who they are despite distance.
I think we are going to make it.
For a long time.
The couples on the trip this year are also inspiring.
I love community and learning from others and their beautiful examples.
Maybe we will be one of these inspiring partnerships one day. : ) 

     I really love these boys and feel God on and in my heart.  I loved church.  It was so magical and holy.  John preached and my Spanish is awful but I could sense and feel the emotion in both his words and in all the souls throughout the room.  I caught bits and pieces of his message and was able to translate scripture in my Spanish English bible but I got the major points to be discussing the boys at the Bolivia Life Center and how their lives have been really difficult, but also how the people in this church have also led difficult lives and endured many struggles.  I could just feel a passion and compassion for all of the boys and for all of these beautiful strangers in the church and my emotions were sort of washing over me in an overwhelming manner. I could not stop uncontrollably crying and during a worship song, the elderly woman beside me who had also been crying just embraced me and gave me one of the hardest most powerful hugs I have ever received.  I didn't understand much she was saying other than Praise God and I love you, but the feelings I experienced I will never forget.  She was an absolute heavenly angel and I left her a rather impressive tear-puddle on her sweatered shoulder.  I needed that hug so badly in that moment and didn't realize this until mid-embrace.  Moments of absolute love and compassion with strangers always rejuvenate my faith in our absolute God.  I could feel that though we were strangers without many obvious similarities, we had each experienced much pain from the world, and also much love and healing from the Lord.  It was a comforting, sweet moment.

Thanks God!
Stephanie Mauvlyn Braun

*I had a pretty emotional week this current week in America, and I thought of this woman today, and wished I could redo this hug and this moment again.  Such a beautiful memory.  I hope to see her again in the future.  Even if not on Earth.  For now, I will hug her via prayer.