The Blessing
Kuda Vana’s partnership with RDM has brought joy and Jesus through dance to each child in our care.
Redemptive Dance Ministries launched a chapter in Zimbabwe in early 2022, based at Kuda Vana Children’s Home. RDM’s mission is to provide a Christ-centered environment to learn the art of dance for the purpose of glorifying God, redeeming dance and the beauty of every human body for His kingdom.
RDM Zimbabwe’s local Director, Zimbabwean-born Lys Sheykhi resides in the community, and each Sunday she and volunteers from her church come to Kuda Vana to teach Bible study and dicipleship courses, as well as dance! The children at Kuda Vana really love the opportunity to engage with young people from the community, and their natural affinity for movement and dance has been harnessed into a beautiful expression of God’s love. They recently had their first performance at a local home for the elderly.
RDM Zimbabwe Dance Instructor Ashley Petros
This is why we were thrilled to welcome Heather Johnson, RDM’s Founder, to Kuda Vana this month to interact with the local team and kids! They conducted an RDM “Dance Camp” during the school holidays, which was a real treat. RDM Zimbabwe’s Dance Instructor, 18-year old Ashley Petros, wrote the following about her experience on Kuda Vana’s campus for Dance Camp:
The RDM Zimbabwe and RDM U.S. team finally meet in person at Kuda Vana!
“In my opinion, Kuda Vana Children’s Home is not a home for orphans, but it is a special place for special kids. Not special in their needs, but in their abilities. One dance camp, one weekend, was all it took to open my eyes to the reality l was missing.
It all goes down to a beautiful Friday afternoon when RDM Zimbabwe Director Lys, fellow Dance Instructor Tariro and I embarked on the anticipated trip to Kuda Vana. Above all we were all excited to finally meet RDM Founder Heather in person after what seemed like a decade of getting to know each other over Zoom calls! Amongst the three of us l think Lys was the most excited because as soon as she saw Heather, she nearly jumped out of her skin with happiness.
I realize that if there is love, then nothing can ever separate GOD’s people not even distance!
Of course, one of the first things we all did was share a meal and have some tea afterwards. In Zimbabwe, the most common tea is Tanganda, and that day we got to taste all these different teas from America that Heather and the Kuda Vana team had brought. The look on our faces was one to die for because never had we seen so many varieties of tea in a single container or even heard of them. I guess the tea was Tariro’s favorite beverage for the rest of the camp! This experience made me realize that in life it’s not the big things that matter but sometimes all it takes is a flavored tea bag! (Small details can give our hearts a lot of joy).
Sunday morning was filled with a great deal of excitement since it marked the beginning of the dance camp. I used to think dance was just a hobby or maybe something that people do to pass time but through RDM I got another perspective. It is not only about moving but it also includes listening to the music, syncing one’s body to the rhythm and most importantly expressing emotions.
My favorite part of the day was musicality and discipleship. I learned that the tongue has the power to build or destroy, it is very easy to hurt other people with our negative words but when we have to carry that burden it is difficult. To symbolize it, we each carried a heavy bag of rocks on a stepping stone course to show how bad words can hold us down and make life painful. We then practiced releasing the unkind words people have called us or said to us by throwing those rocks, and filling the space with the good that God sees in us by declaring us all his children!
RDM isn’t just about dance: it’s also about discipleship and growing in Jesus. Here, the kids practiced releasing the unkind words people have said that were stuck in their hearts, and replacing that space with the truth about who they are in Jesus.
There is one special incident that is still stuck in the depth of my heart. On Saturday I had my supper in House 2, and they welcomed me as if l was a part of their beautiful family. A while back l was feeling homesick but being there with them, I truly felt like l belonged. I will always remember the mouthwatering meal which was prepared by Mama Rose and the warm smile on Mama Thelma’s face. The kids help each other out, be it house chores or taking their baby brother to the toilet.
Kuda Vana has truly become a family for children who used to have no family. Maybe not today or even tomorrow but I know that the kids here will grow up to be game changers in our societies and country at large.
Just like music, there is dance in every single thing. Be it in chores or the way one walks we just need to realize it. Until now l used to look for happiness in big things but if the Mamas found happiness in getting their pictures taken, the kids found their happiness in our presence, Heather found happiness in finally meeting us and most importantly Tariro found his happiness in American tea, so why can’t I!”