W
hat do Livingstone, Zambia and
Winter Garden, Florida have in
common? Your first thought might be
the tropical climates, which may seem
like it during our Summer months,
but thankfully it’s something far
more pleasant. It’s a lovely young lady
named, Erin Van Allen. Even though
Livingstone and Winter Garden are
geographically almost 8000 miles
apart, they are both very close in Erin’s
heart.
Profile
Erin’s heart is a big place, which she
shares with family, friends, members
of her church and the children she
looks after, as a nanny. She maintains
her strong Christian faith, by attending
Celebration Orlando Church and
embracing the path of mission work,
that she feels God is leading her down.
Michelle L. Curtis
ERIN
VAN
ALLEN
32
|
WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE
|
This past September, she took a two-
week trip to Livingstone, Zambia and
spent time at the Kwathu Children’s
Home and surrounding community.
There, she met the founders of the
Kwathu Children’s Home, Agripa and
Jeanette Phiri, and developed a bond
with them immediately. Agripa and
Jeanette encouraged Erin to return to
become a part of the tremendous work
they are doing for children that have
been infected and affected by HIV.
Kwathu is a non-profit, community
faith-based home in Livingstone
which provides shelter, education,
psychosocial support, life skills to
vulnerable children in a healthy, stable
& safe environment.
Erin explained that she felt a strong
connection to Agripa, Jeanette and
everyone at the children’s home, and
it wasn’t a question of if she would
return, it was when. While there, Erin
assisted with almost every task at the
children’s home, stepping up to help
in any way she could. The ages of the
children vary from 3 to 17. Some
DECEMBER 2017