Outreach group expands into Africa
By Joanne Fox, Journal staff writer | Posted: Monday, July 14, 2008
Jeanne Buser of South Sioux City, right, greets residents of Adura, Africa, with the sign and word "Marla," the African word which loosely translates to "Hello." Buser and others traveled on an outreach mission. (Submitted photo)
SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Jeanne Buser recalled growing up in a family of 10 and hearing her mother say, "Clean your plate. There are starving children in Africa."
Now she knows for a fact that's true.
What began as a small group of friends looking to help those less fortunate has now traversed two continents and an ocean and initiated a relationship with a small tribal community that is literally starving.
Buser explained that she was feeling that "empty-nest syndrome" in 2005 when her four children were out of the house and began looking for something at which she could use her talents, besides those she honed in 31 years of day care.
"I wasn't sure what those talents were, but I asked the Lord to guide me," she said.
The call came from Burt Heithold, associate in ministry at First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City, who told Buser their mutual friend Jim Kelly had a house he wanted to use to help down-and-out folks get back on their feet.
"I had been soul-searching for something to do and saw 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' and there was a woman who was using her house to house kids," Kelly explained. "I had been soul-searching for something to do and we had an empty house -- not being rented out -- and I thought, 'Why not do something like that?'"
"I always had a vision to do prison ministry and specifically help guys who need a place to stay after they're released," Heithold said. "I've always had a passion for that and welcomed Jim's offer."
"Did I know anyone?" Buser recalled of her conversation with Heithold. "As a matter of fact, I did."
The woman was divorced and in search of a place to stay, but as it sometimes happens, Buser's friend and the house were not to connect. Instead, Buser called the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and asked for a client who might need a place to stay.
The homeless woman was able to move into the house and "to this day, we remain great friends," Buser said. "She eventually married and moved on."
Based on the success of that situation, the Outreach Ministry -- as the core group was calling itself -- went in search of its next individual to help, and Kelly now had a second house.
"This time we learned of a convicted felon who had served prison time, but wanted to get on his feet," Buser said. "That worked out well, too."
It was the third party that led to the Africa trip.
Gatluak Diew walked into First Lutheran Church because he was hungry, Buser said. Diew, his wife, Niabiel, children and nieces and nephews had arrived in this country from Sudan.
"Their apartment had become infested with bedbugs, he told us, and they desperately needed a place to live," Buser said.
The Diews moved into one of Kelly's houses and the Outreach Ministry worked with them, as they had with the previous homeowners.
"I got to know Gatluak and Niabiel and he told me he was returning to Africa for the first time in 15 years and invited me to go," Kelly said. "I thought that was something I'd like to do."
"Jim came into a parenting class my husband, Ned, and I were teaching and said, 'Gatluak's going back to Africa. We need to go.' I knew he was right. We needed to go," Buser said.
"When Jim mentioned it to me, I knew we had to grab this opportunity," Heithold added. "I knew we could not let this opportunity go by."
Joining them was Buser's daughter Rachel, a recent graduate in journalism/English from the University of Nebraska-Omaha who decided to write about the trip and the Diew family. The group landed in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia May 24.
"Nothing prepares you," Buser said. "I thought the capital would be civilized, but the poverty was already evident."
"I had read a lot of books prior to the trip and I was still shocked at the Third World situation," Kelly said.
But it was nothing close to their destination of Gambela, Diew's home community, or Adura, an African village of about 500 people who were suffering from malnutrition.
"We raised about $2,500 and spent it on cornmeal for the village," Buser said. "They were literally eating the leaves off the trees.
"But despite the poverty, these people are very happy, loving, spiritual and family oriented," she added.
"I was also impressed how very hospitable they were," Heithold noted. "It's not all doom and gloom."
"Two things struck me," Buser continued. "We open our refrigerators and find 15 things to choose from. These people pray for one cup of cornmeal a day to stay alive. Yet, while we were there, they took the time to celebrate our visit and make us feel welcome."
Kelly said it was Diew's idea to establish an Adura Foundation.
"When he suggested it, I said, 'What are we waiting for?'" Kelly noted.
Their hope is to continue getting food to the village, but also to raise enough money to have a well dug. Buser said an attorney is assisting the group in the necessary paperwork to become a 501(c)3 foundation.
The Outreach Ministry has another family it is ready to help -- a young couple who are out of work. They will be ready to move into the house in August, Kelly said.
"This has been so satisfying," he said of the results of getting people back on their feet. "And the best part is you get to know these people and become friends with them."
Outreach information
Those interested in more information on the Outreach Ministry or Adura Foundation may call Burt Heithold at First Lutheran Church, 3601 Dakota Ave., South Sioux City, at 494-5461 or visit www.firstlutheranssc.org.
Now she knows for a fact that's true.
What began as a small group of friends looking to help those less fortunate has now traversed two continents and an ocean and initiated a relationship with a small tribal community that is literally starving.
Buser explained that she was feeling that "empty-nest syndrome" in 2005 when her four children were out of the house and began looking for something at which she could use her talents, besides those she honed in 31 years of day care.
"I wasn't sure what those talents were, but I asked the Lord to guide me," she said.
The call came from Burt Heithold, associate in ministry at First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City, who told Buser their mutual friend Jim Kelly had a house he wanted to use to help down-and-out folks get back on their feet.
"I had been soul-searching for something to do and saw 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' and there was a woman who was using her house to house kids," Kelly explained. "I had been soul-searching for something to do and we had an empty house -- not being rented out -- and I thought, 'Why not do something like that?'"
"I always had a vision to do prison ministry and specifically help guys who need a place to stay after they're released," Heithold said. "I've always had a passion for that and welcomed Jim's offer."
"Did I know anyone?" Buser recalled of her conversation with Heithold. "As a matter of fact, I did."
The woman was divorced and in search of a place to stay, but as it sometimes happens, Buser's friend and the house were not to connect. Instead, Buser called the Council on Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and asked for a client who might need a place to stay.
The homeless woman was able to move into the house and "to this day, we remain great friends," Buser said. "She eventually married and moved on."
Based on the success of that situation, the Outreach Ministry -- as the core group was calling itself -- went in search of its next individual to help, and Kelly now had a second house.
"This time we learned of a convicted felon who had served prison time, but wanted to get on his feet," Buser said. "That worked out well, too."
It was the third party that led to the Africa trip.
Gatluak Diew walked into First Lutheran Church because he was hungry, Buser said. Diew, his wife, Niabiel, children and nieces and nephews had arrived in this country from Sudan.
"Their apartment had become infested with bedbugs, he told us, and they desperately needed a place to live," Buser said.
The Diews moved into one of Kelly's houses and the Outreach Ministry worked with them, as they had with the previous homeowners.
"I got to know Gatluak and Niabiel and he told me he was returning to Africa for the first time in 15 years and invited me to go," Kelly said. "I thought that was something I'd like to do."
"Jim came into a parenting class my husband, Ned, and I were teaching and said, 'Gatluak's going back to Africa. We need to go.' I knew he was right. We needed to go," Buser said.
"When Jim mentioned it to me, I knew we had to grab this opportunity," Heithold added. "I knew we could not let this opportunity go by."
Joining them was Buser's daughter Rachel, a recent graduate in journalism/English from the University of Nebraska-Omaha who decided to write about the trip and the Diew family. The group landed in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia May 24.
"Nothing prepares you," Buser said. "I thought the capital would be civilized, but the poverty was already evident."
"I had read a lot of books prior to the trip and I was still shocked at the Third World situation," Kelly said.
But it was nothing close to their destination of Gambela, Diew's home community, or Adura, an African village of about 500 people who were suffering from malnutrition.
"We raised about $2,500 and spent it on cornmeal for the village," Buser said. "They were literally eating the leaves off the trees.
"But despite the poverty, these people are very happy, loving, spiritual and family oriented," she added.
"I was also impressed how very hospitable they were," Heithold noted. "It's not all doom and gloom."
"Two things struck me," Buser continued. "We open our refrigerators and find 15 things to choose from. These people pray for one cup of cornmeal a day to stay alive. Yet, while we were there, they took the time to celebrate our visit and make us feel welcome."
Kelly said it was Diew's idea to establish an Adura Foundation.
"When he suggested it, I said, 'What are we waiting for?'" Kelly noted.
Their hope is to continue getting food to the village, but also to raise enough money to have a well dug. Buser said an attorney is assisting the group in the necessary paperwork to become a 501(c)3 foundation.
The Outreach Ministry has another family it is ready to help -- a young couple who are out of work. They will be ready to move into the house in August, Kelly said.
"This has been so satisfying," he said of the results of getting people back on their feet. "And the best part is you get to know these people and become friends with them."
Outreach information
Those interested in more information on the Outreach Ministry or Adura Foundation may call Burt Heithold at First Lutheran Church, 3601 Dakota Ave., South Sioux City, at 494-5461 or visit www.firstlutheranssc.org.
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Gatkuoth Tim wrote on May 4, 2009 11:32 AM:
May God bless the founder and make them healthy and help them finished what they intend to do as well.I was born in Adura and now in Addis Ababa university studying Civil engineering.Hope to join you now and the future!
Gatkuoth Tim "
Lynn B wrote on Jul 14, 2008 8:26 AM: