This night as I sink tired, yet comfortably, into bed I am overwhelmed by all those whose place of rest is so uncomfortable.
This night some sleep too hot, so hot it takes your breath away. Yet others sleep too cold. Some too dry, their bodies parched for clean refreshing water. Others too wet, the rain soaks their roof and walls and beds...takes away their comfort and threatens their safety. But their exhaustion drives them to sleep...but I imagine it's a fitful sleep. Sound sleep interrupted by questions of safety and wondering...wondering what tomorrow will bring and what will fill the empty bellies of the children.
So this night, overwhelmed with gratefulness for my safe and comfortable bed, I am reminded of my need for mercy. Why I have the safety and the comfort I do not know.
I am also overwhelmed with gratefulness that my acceptance by Creator God is based not on my work or my righteousness, but on the perfect righteousness of Christ. His perfect, saving, redeeming sacrifice.
So while I rest in being a child of the most high God through faith in Jesus Christ and nothing more, I am reminded of His words, "to whom much is given, much more will be required."
So this night I find myself sinking into my safe, comfortable bed begging that HE will allow me to be spent on behalf of those who are hurting - that they may know His redemption, not only in their hearts but in their lives.
Lord Jesus, have mercy.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Growing ministry in Haiti
Just last week, World Orphans secured a location for our new guesthouse in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. With the introduction of the Haiti Orphan & Vulnerable Child Program (OVC) we saw a need for an inviting and restful place for the visiting church ministry teams to stay.
World Orphans desires that this guesthouse be a place of rest, connection, support, encouragement, nurture, and preparation for service.
Through the generous support of one of our churches we have a beautiful home leased to serve as our Haiti Guesthouse but we need to raise $8,000 to secure a generator, create a secure environment, buy appliances for the kitchen, get furnishings, and the various other items needed.
We have a team arriving at the guesthouse on June 11th ready to put in the work to make this place a temporary home for our first mission team that will arrive on the 18th.
You can not only give a gift online, but on our new World Orphans web site you can create your own fund-raising campaign that lets you make a customized fund-raising page, set a monetary goal and then just share the link with all your friends and family and ask them to help you meet your goal.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Partnership Question
My recent trip to South Africa was wonderful. It's always encouraging to spend time with our church partners and see how God is using them to care for their communities. And I learned a lot that will help me do my job better, both for our Mobilization department and our Biblical Family Care department.
But this is my big take away. I watched the western church we were with ask wonderful questions and think about the longevity of their relationship with our partner in South Africa. I watched them think through how they could serve the church in South Africa, and how they could learn from the church in South Africa. At one point during a meeting with church leadership someone said it would be great to have a time of training where the western church trained the South African church using their strengths, and the South African church trained the western church in their strengths. I love it. That's exactly why we work to create partnerships.
As I processed our trip and thought through how I would explain our time there, I realized a lot of our time was spent seeing the life of the church and it's members and what their ministries entail.
Then I asked myself this question: If this church from South Africa came to visit my church in New Jersey, how would we spend our time? What would I show them to say, "this is who we are - this is what we are about"?
So that is my question for myself and for you - if a believer from another part of the world came to visit you - how would you spend your time? What would you show them to say, "this is me - this is my church. This is my ministry - this is the ministry of my church"?
This is what I saw in South Africa - what would South Africa see if they visited us?
Families in the church doing foster care
Orphans being cared for in a family-style home on church property.
Land purchased by the church to build another church and a school to serve an unreached community.
A church-run school
Small business, micro-enterprise encouraged and helped-along by the church
A woman who makes jewelry to help support her family - she patiently showed me how she makes the jewelry
A woman the church works with who cares for orphans and the elderly and runs an affordable day-care for struggling families working to feed their children
Land given to the church by a member of a community who is hopeful the church will bring not only the Gospel, but also jobs and education to her struggling, rural community
A bakery on church property - selling affordable bread to those in the community and giving bread to those in surrounding communities as a way to meet a physical need and share the love of Christ
Wagon of Mercy distributing bread
And the of course it's always nice to see the beauty of God's creation wherever you visit...
But this is my big take away. I watched the western church we were with ask wonderful questions and think about the longevity of their relationship with our partner in South Africa. I watched them think through how they could serve the church in South Africa, and how they could learn from the church in South Africa. At one point during a meeting with church leadership someone said it would be great to have a time of training where the western church trained the South African church using their strengths, and the South African church trained the western church in their strengths. I love it. That's exactly why we work to create partnerships.
As I processed our trip and thought through how I would explain our time there, I realized a lot of our time was spent seeing the life of the church and it's members and what their ministries entail.
Then I asked myself this question: If this church from South Africa came to visit my church in New Jersey, how would we spend our time? What would I show them to say, "this is who we are - this is what we are about"?
So that is my question for myself and for you - if a believer from another part of the world came to visit you - how would you spend your time? What would you show them to say, "this is me - this is my church. This is my ministry - this is the ministry of my church"?
This is what I saw in South Africa - what would South Africa see if they visited us?
Families in the church doing foster care
Orphans being cared for in a family-style home on church property.
Land purchased by the church to build another church and a school to serve an unreached community.
A church-run school
Small business, micro-enterprise encouraged and helped-along by the church
A woman who makes jewelry to help support her family - she patiently showed me how she makes the jewelry
A woman the church works with who cares for orphans and the elderly and runs an affordable day-care for struggling families working to feed their children
Land given to the church by a member of a community who is hopeful the church will bring not only the Gospel, but also jobs and education to her struggling, rural community
A bakery on church property - selling affordable bread to those in the community and giving bread to those in surrounding communities as a way to meet a physical need and share the love of Christ
Wagon of Mercy distributing bread
And the of course it's always nice to see the beauty of God's creation wherever you visit...
Friday, April 23, 2010
Local Care
The unfamiliar sound of cars brought her out of her hut when we were still far off. She stood outside as we drove past. With a hand motion out the window of the car, the pastors wife assured her we would stop on our way back. I imagine she spent the next few hours waiting and preparing for our visit. When we made our way back to her and entered her hut it was obvious she was excited for our visit. We spent a few minutes visiting. We thanked her for the orphans she has taken in to her home and presented her with some bags of food as a token of our gratitude. She tried to hide her disappointment as the pastor's wife asked her to share the food with others since we didn't have enough to go around...promising that more would come soon. We prayed for her, asking God to bless and protect her - to provide for her and her children. And then we said goodbye. She quietly sat down on her bed - our long awaited, special visit was over already. My heart broke as I watched her gently sit down with a wave goodbye. Most days she works hard and struggles to get by with few special moments. Our short visit and small gift didn't feel like enough. And it wasn't. The only reason our visit was good and helpful is because it was in the context of the local church. There will be more food and more visits even though our team left. The pastors wife regularly visits the rural mountain community, spending time with the women and connecting their jewelry business to a larger community. The local church in that South African town is committed to being involved in that rural mountain community. They have hopes for a church and a school, business opportunities that will make life better for everyone. Our visit was part of a much larger context of local care.
I am very grateful for the time I had in South Africa. I am encouraged by what God is doing through the church. I am humbled and challenged by how much my brothers and sisters are doing with very little resources. And I am again reminded why I am excited about World Orphans. Apart from partnering with local churches, Western influence (yes, even biblical, Christ-focused influence) is too isolated. But a World Orphans partnership that connects a church in the west with a church in the developing world for a long-term relationship isn't isolated, it's in context. We as westerns get to see and be a part of what God is doing around the world...but to people that we meet it's not just a random moment and then we are gone. Meeting people as we travel is a moment when we get to point to the local church that is not going anywhere. Praying, distributing food, giving gifts to children, thanking people caring for orphans, sharing the Gospel...it's all in the context of the life and ministry of the local church - day-in and day-out.
So I am grateful for the 10 days trips. I am grateful to be a part of mobilizing the western church - allowing people to see what life is like outside America and how alive and passionate followers of Christ are all over the world. And I am challenged. The reason a 10 day trip makes sense is because it's in the context of the day-in and day-out ministry of the local church.
What about the day-in and day-out here in America? While there may not be entire communities living without electricity and running water and the streets aren't filled with AIDS orphans...who are the lonely, hurting, tired, hungry people in your day-in and day-out that you can consistently reflect the love of Christ to?
I am very grateful for the time I had in South Africa. I am encouraged by what God is doing through the church. I am humbled and challenged by how much my brothers and sisters are doing with very little resources. And I am again reminded why I am excited about World Orphans. Apart from partnering with local churches, Western influence (yes, even biblical, Christ-focused influence) is too isolated. But a World Orphans partnership that connects a church in the west with a church in the developing world for a long-term relationship isn't isolated, it's in context. We as westerns get to see and be a part of what God is doing around the world...but to people that we meet it's not just a random moment and then we are gone. Meeting people as we travel is a moment when we get to point to the local church that is not going anywhere. Praying, distributing food, giving gifts to children, thanking people caring for orphans, sharing the Gospel...it's all in the context of the life and ministry of the local church - day-in and day-out.
So I am grateful for the 10 days trips. I am grateful to be a part of mobilizing the western church - allowing people to see what life is like outside America and how alive and passionate followers of Christ are all over the world. And I am challenged. The reason a 10 day trip makes sense is because it's in the context of the day-in and day-out ministry of the local church.
What about the day-in and day-out here in America? While there may not be entire communities living without electricity and running water and the streets aren't filled with AIDS orphans...who are the lonely, hurting, tired, hungry people in your day-in and day-out that you can consistently reflect the love of Christ to?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
World Orphans in the News
Check out our Press Release on Yahoo!
You can support our work in Haiti by clicking "Buzz up" at the bottom of the article, posting a link on your facebook page or blog and emailing to your friends
Other ways to support the long-term relief effort in Haiti:
- Sign up for church, organization, or individual involvement at http://www.haitiorphanrelief.org
- Put a HORT badge on your Website and/or Blog (found at top of post)
- Blog about Haiti and HORT as the most effective, scalable response (churches here, partnered with churches there . . . for the reunification, rescue and care of Haiti's orphans)
- Join the HORT Facebook Page at: http://www.facebook.com/haitiorphanreliefteam?ref=mf
- Invite all your friends to the HORT Facebook Page
- Put the HORT Facebook Page link on your personal profiles, pages, and groups
- Comment on Facebook updates at the HORT Page
- Visit the blog and/or Facebook Page of Paul Myhill, president of World Orphans for regular updates...and leave a comment! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paul-Myhill/165526949753 and/or http://www.facebook.com/paul.myhill?ref=profile
- Subscribe to Paul's blog at http://www.abandoned-orphaned.com for more info and daily updates
- Twitter to www.twitter.com/haitiorphan
- PRAY!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Caring from a world away
How do you begin to think about or respond to the crisis the Haitian people face as a result of the recent earthquakes?
How do you begin to think about the vast amount of suffering that exists around the entire world, for that matter?
The situation in Haiti is devastating and it's urgent. But reality is that most of the world faces challenges and suffering beyond what we as westerns can comprehend.
How do you respond from a world away?
As a follower of Christ I find myself thinking about it in these terms. Everyone who follows Christ is part of God's family. How does family respond when someone is hurting...they work together to care for one another. And wait, as followers of Christ we are called to love and care for everyone - what does that look like?
World Orphans exists so that believers around the world can be in relationship. So we can begin to know one another and function like the family that we are. We may not all be in the same place, but we can work together to care for one another.
Here are some steps we can take to respond to Haiti specifically...or anywhere:
1. Some people are able and will give money to provide resources and equip those doing the hands-on work:
Click here to give to Haiti specifically or World Orphans in general
2. Some people are able, have the opportunity, and will actually go:
Click here to learn more about and support those going to train and equip churches in Haiti
Click here if you are interested in traveling with World Orphans
3. Want to have real, lasting give-and-take relationships where you are giving and serving as well as being challenged and growing yourself?
Click here to contact World Orphans about getting your church involved in a Church-to-Church partnership
How do you begin to think about the vast amount of suffering that exists around the entire world, for that matter?
The situation in Haiti is devastating and it's urgent. But reality is that most of the world faces challenges and suffering beyond what we as westerns can comprehend.
How do you respond from a world away?
As a follower of Christ I find myself thinking about it in these terms. Everyone who follows Christ is part of God's family. How does family respond when someone is hurting...they work together to care for one another. And wait, as followers of Christ we are called to love and care for everyone - what does that look like?
World Orphans exists so that believers around the world can be in relationship. So we can begin to know one another and function like the family that we are. We may not all be in the same place, but we can work together to care for one another.
Here are some steps we can take to respond to Haiti specifically...or anywhere:
1. Some people are able and will give money to provide resources and equip those doing the hands-on work:
Click here to give to Haiti specifically or World Orphans in general
2. Some people are able, have the opportunity, and will actually go:
Click here to learn more about and support those going to train and equip churches in Haiti
Click here if you are interested in traveling with World Orphans
3. Want to have real, lasting give-and-take relationships where you are giving and serving as well as being challenged and growing yourself?
Click here to contact World Orphans about getting your church involved in a Church-to-Church partnership
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Trash can dignity...
It was the end of 2002. I was home for the holidays visiting my parents and I went into the city (the only city you refer to as "the city" in northern New Jersey...New York) with a friend.
We had a fun day just wandering around, taking in the sights, oohing and aahing over the Christmas decorations.
We were in Penn Station waiting for the train to take us back to my parents house. We were just standing there chatting and both happened to see this...
An older man, probably homeless, was going through a trash can. He was holding a cup or can that had liquid in it. A group of teenage boys walked by and one of them hit the cup so that it splashed on the man and got him wet. The boys continued on their way laughing. The man looked up and saw my friend and I watching him -he calmly said, "that wasn't very nice." We shook our heads saying, "you're right, that was not nice of them." And that was it.
On a somewhat regular basis I cry myself to sleep thinking about that man....and write this through tears as I think about him. I am sad that he didn't have a table to sit at and sad that I don't know what happened to him. And I am deeply grieved that my compassion for him stopped at a kind look. How I wish I could do it over...walk up and put my hand on his shoulder and tell him I'm sorry that those boys were so rude and thoughtless...maybe have a meal and get to know him a bit - take the opportunity to affirm his dignity and reflect to him the Gospel love of Christ. (And maybe give those rude boys a piece of my mind for being jerks - but I digress...)
I am so excited about World Orphans model of caring for orphans around the world by connecting churches here with churches there, supporting and equipping the local church around the world. I firmly believe in the model and am honored that I get to work hard to see that it played out.
But the face of that sweet man that I can see so clearly in my mind implores me that it can't stop there. Praise God that our hearts break for orphans around the world, and praise Him that we can be involved in what He's doing to care for them. And I pray that our hearts will also break for the broken and the hurting that we see as we're out and about - as we go to the store, coming home from work, taking the kids to the park...
Lord give us eyes to see and give us boldness to respond to what your Spirit wells up in our hearts...may the Gospel be reflected in our lives.
We had a fun day just wandering around, taking in the sights, oohing and aahing over the Christmas decorations.
We were in Penn Station waiting for the train to take us back to my parents house. We were just standing there chatting and both happened to see this...
An older man, probably homeless, was going through a trash can. He was holding a cup or can that had liquid in it. A group of teenage boys walked by and one of them hit the cup so that it splashed on the man and got him wet. The boys continued on their way laughing. The man looked up and saw my friend and I watching him -he calmly said, "that wasn't very nice." We shook our heads saying, "you're right, that was not nice of them." And that was it.
On a somewhat regular basis I cry myself to sleep thinking about that man....and write this through tears as I think about him. I am sad that he didn't have a table to sit at and sad that I don't know what happened to him. And I am deeply grieved that my compassion for him stopped at a kind look. How I wish I could do it over...walk up and put my hand on his shoulder and tell him I'm sorry that those boys were so rude and thoughtless...maybe have a meal and get to know him a bit - take the opportunity to affirm his dignity and reflect to him the Gospel love of Christ. (And maybe give those rude boys a piece of my mind for being jerks - but I digress...)
I am so excited about World Orphans model of caring for orphans around the world by connecting churches here with churches there, supporting and equipping the local church around the world. I firmly believe in the model and am honored that I get to work hard to see that it played out.
But the face of that sweet man that I can see so clearly in my mind implores me that it can't stop there. Praise God that our hearts break for orphans around the world, and praise Him that we can be involved in what He's doing to care for them. And I pray that our hearts will also break for the broken and the hurting that we see as we're out and about - as we go to the store, coming home from work, taking the kids to the park...
Lord give us eyes to see and give us boldness to respond to what your Spirit wells up in our hearts...may the Gospel be reflected in our lives.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Lord, what can I do?
On the eve of celebrating Christ I find myself with mixed emotions. I love that we set aside a special time to celebrate His birth, yet I long to always be in awe of the humble way He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many...
I am so grateful to be with family... that we'll enjoy giving gifts to each other and that yummy meals will fill the day in this warm, comfortable home. And at the same time my heart is breaking for the countless people around the world who are not even safe and cared for on this day...preparing to celebrate is about the farthest thing from their mind.
The ever-present tension of enjoying and being grateful for what I have while wanting to extend the love and care I have been shown to others...
While the story that follows is not a traditional Christmas thought...it's very Christ-honoring so I think appropriate to share.
A friend of mine, Christina*, lives in France and is part of a group of believers who are reaching out to women who have been trafficked and forced into prostitution.
Last weekend they went out at night to give Christmas chocolates to the women working in a particular district as a way to break the ice and get to know them. By going out regularly to the same area, they hope to build relationships and trust with these women to then help them as needed.
In two hours they met 19 prostituted people - they were from Brazil, Romania, Nigeria, Croatia, Chile, Bulgaria, Ghana and one from France...the women were thankful for the Christmas chocolates.
There was one girl in particular that Christina feels burdened for, I'd like to introduce you to her now. She is about 18 years old, short and has a wonderful smile. The language barrier made communication between she and Christina a challenge, but the girl had a genuine smile the whole time. In 40° weather, her bare legs were covered in goosebumps and she fidgeted, shifting her weight from one leg to another, as she shivered - and yet she smiled. She gave the standard line many of them are told to say: she'd been in France just under three months (the max time you can stay without legal paperwork) and said she'd be going home in 15 days. However, as she said it, her eyes teared up. She smiled and said, "Life here is good for me." But that time, her beautiful smile was forced and broken.
My heart aches for this young woman and the men, women and children who are being mis-treated, have no family, or don't get to be with them. And at the same time I am thrilled that Christina and many others are reaching out.
Lord, what can I do? Who can I give Christmas chocolates to? I know there are people all around me, please give me your eyes to see...
*Christina is not her real name
I am so grateful to be with family... that we'll enjoy giving gifts to each other and that yummy meals will fill the day in this warm, comfortable home. And at the same time my heart is breaking for the countless people around the world who are not even safe and cared for on this day...preparing to celebrate is about the farthest thing from their mind.
The ever-present tension of enjoying and being grateful for what I have while wanting to extend the love and care I have been shown to others...
While the story that follows is not a traditional Christmas thought...it's very Christ-honoring so I think appropriate to share.
A friend of mine, Christina*, lives in France and is part of a group of believers who are reaching out to women who have been trafficked and forced into prostitution.
Last weekend they went out at night to give Christmas chocolates to the women working in a particular district as a way to break the ice and get to know them. By going out regularly to the same area, they hope to build relationships and trust with these women to then help them as needed.
In two hours they met 19 prostituted people - they were from Brazil, Romania, Nigeria, Croatia, Chile, Bulgaria, Ghana and one from France...the women were thankful for the Christmas chocolates.
There was one girl in particular that Christina feels burdened for, I'd like to introduce you to her now. She is about 18 years old, short and has a wonderful smile. The language barrier made communication between she and Christina a challenge, but the girl had a genuine smile the whole time. In 40° weather, her bare legs were covered in goosebumps and she fidgeted, shifting her weight from one leg to another, as she shivered - and yet she smiled. She gave the standard line many of them are told to say: she'd been in France just under three months (the max time you can stay without legal paperwork) and said she'd be going home in 15 days. However, as she said it, her eyes teared up. She smiled and said, "Life here is good for me." But that time, her beautiful smile was forced and broken.
My heart aches for this young woman and the men, women and children who are being mis-treated, have no family, or don't get to be with them. And at the same time I am thrilled that Christina and many others are reaching out.
Lord, what can I do? Who can I give Christmas chocolates to? I know there are people all around me, please give me your eyes to see...
*Christina is not her real name
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Celebrating Adoption...
November is National Adoption Month, with National Adoption Day coming up this Saturday, 11/21/09....setting aside time to celebrate adoption.
Here are some questions to get you thinking about how you can celebrate adoption - not just this Saturday or this month, but all the time.
Always reason to celebrate this...
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." - Ephesians 1:3-8
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." - John 1:12-12
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." - Romans 8:16-18
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1
Praise the Lord!
Here are some questions to get you thinking about how you can celebrate adoption - not just this Saturday or this month, but all the time.
- Do I consider myself a follower of Christ? Praise God that I can be His child because He has adopted me into His family because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!
- Do I know anyone who has adopted a child? How can I look for ways to encourage them in their journey of parenting adopted children?
- Do I know anyone who is adopted? When can I make time to spend with them and ask about what it's been like?
- Do I know anyone who is planning to adopt? How can I support them emotionally, spiritually, and/or financially?
- In what ways can I generally be more encouraging and supportive of adoption on a daily basis?
Always reason to celebrate this...
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." - Ephesians 1:3-8
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." - John 1:12-12
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." - Romans 8:16-18
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" - 1 John 3:1
Praise the Lord!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
World Orphans in Iraq
Are you interested in what God is doing in Iraq? Know someone who is? Please CLICK HERE to read a letter and invitation from the President of World Orphans.
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." - Matthew 9
"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." - Matthew 9
Monday, October 26, 2009
Faith like a child...
Dear Kate,
Today our class learned about "telling and giving." Our story told us about Paul and Barnabas going to Antioch to tell the people there about Jesus. Many people in Antioch became Christians because of Barnabas and Paul telling them of Jesus' love for them. Then, Agabus visited this new church in Antioch and he told them there was not enough food for the people in Jerusalem and throughout the Roman world. The Christians in Antioch wanted to help, so they gave their money to the church in Jerusalem.
The children in our class also heard about your work with World Orphans. They decided they wanted to give money to you so you and other missionaries can continue to go and tell the orphans about Jesus, and buy them things they need.
In Jesus' Love,
The River Oaks Community Church Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday School Class
Matthew 18:1-5
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
Today our class learned about "telling and giving." Our story told us about Paul and Barnabas going to Antioch to tell the people there about Jesus. Many people in Antioch became Christians because of Barnabas and Paul telling them of Jesus' love for them. Then, Agabus visited this new church in Antioch and he told them there was not enough food for the people in Jerusalem and throughout the Roman world. The Christians in Antioch wanted to help, so they gave their money to the church in Jerusalem.
The children in our class also heard about your work with World Orphans. They decided they wanted to give money to you so you and other missionaries can continue to go and tell the orphans about Jesus, and buy them things they need.
In Jesus' Love,
The River Oaks Community Church Pre-K and Kindergarten Sunday School Class
Matthew 18:1-5
1At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Food for Thought...
October 16th was World Food Day and October 17th was World Poverty Day.
I would ask you to take a minute and look at these slide shows...think about how we as Americans eat in relation to how people around the world eat:
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1645016,00.html
It's a hard thing for me. I love to cook. I love to eat good, healthy food. I like to make special meals to celebrate people. I think sharing a meal is a God-ordained, powerful way to build relationships. However...I also realize that most people in the world have so much less food than I do.
I want to (and learn more to) enjoy the food I have been given, praise God for how He provides for me, my life to be about sharing with those who don't have as much as I do, and pray that I will continue to trust His goodness if a day comes when I don't have enough...
Thoughts?
I would ask you to take a minute and look at these slide shows...think about how we as Americans eat in relation to how people around the world eat:
http://www.time.com/time/
http://www.time.com/time/
It's a hard thing for me. I love to cook. I love to eat good, healthy food. I like to make special meals to celebrate people. I think sharing a meal is a God-ordained, powerful way to build relationships. However...I also realize that most people in the world have so much less food than I do.
I want to (and learn more to) enjoy the food I have been given, praise God for how He provides for me, my life to be about sharing with those who don't have as much as I do, and pray that I will continue to trust His goodness if a day comes when I don't have enough...
Thoughts?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Too much...not enough...
Water is so...unique. That's not really the word I'm looking for, but can't think of another one.
It can be so calm and beautiful, and it can be raging and ravaging.
Right now there are parts of the world that are too dry and in desperate need of water. And simultaneously there are places where the volume of water is destroying homes and lives.
So as you sip water today, be reminded to pray.
Pray for those in need that they will have clean water to drink and rain to cause the crops to grow. And pray for those who are flooded - that God would rescue them and help them trust in His goodness in the midst of unexplainable devastation. And pray for all of us, everywhere - whether thirsting for water, drowning from the excess, or have what we need and don't really think about it. May we all thirst after the Living Water that never runs dry...
It can be so calm and beautiful, and it can be raging and ravaging.
Right now there are parts of the world that are too dry and in desperate need of water. And simultaneously there are places where the volume of water is destroying homes and lives.
So as you sip water today, be reminded to pray.
Pray for those in need that they will have clean water to drink and rain to cause the crops to grow. And pray for those who are flooded - that God would rescue them and help them trust in His goodness in the midst of unexplainable devastation. And pray for all of us, everywhere - whether thirsting for water, drowning from the excess, or have what we need and don't really think about it. May we all thirst after the Living Water that never runs dry...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Close to home
We all need to know that trafficking is going on all around us.
Lord Jesus, have mercy and show us who is around us that we can speak up for.
My husband drives through Newark everyday and goes to school one town away from East Orange.
Lord Jesus, have mercy and show us who is around us that we can speak up for.
My husband drives through Newark everyday and goes to school one town away from East Orange.
Woman describes journey from Africa into human bondage
Wednesday, September 16, 2009- The Star LedgerJoe Ryan - Star Ledger Staff
Vida Anagblah said she was a teenager when a prosperous merchant came to her West African village and offered to take her away to a nearby city and teach her a trade.
With nine other children, Anagblah's parents had no money for school. So they sent the girl away with the woman, Akouavi Kpade Afolabi, hoping she, too, would find prosperity.
"She said she was going to buy me a sewing machine," said Anagblah, who was the first alleged victim to testify yesterday on the opening day of a trial in federal court in Newark where Afolabi is accused of running a human trafficking ring.
Authorities say she smuggled girls from Togo and Ghana to New Jersey and forced them to work without pay in hair braiding salons in Newark and East Orange.
Most of the alleged victims were uneducated and spoke no English. To control them, prosecutors say Afolabi used fierce beatings, threats of voodoo curses and draconian rules, which included forbidding dating or telephoning Africa without permission.
"You work every day. You don't make friends. You don't call home "¦ and if you disobey you get beaten," Nancy Hoppock, deputy chief of the U.S. attorney's office's criminal division, said during her opening argument yesterday.
But Afolabi's lawyer, Olubukola O. Adetula, urged jurors to listen skeptically to prosecutors.
The lawyer has argued the girls were, in fact, paid. They were not forbidden from making friends -- they worked in public salons, Adetula said. As for calling Africa, the lawyer said it is complicated to reach a village where the nearest telephone is miles away.
The attorney described Afolabi as a benevolent mother figure, who once adopted an infant abandoned outside her home in Togo. The girls, he said, she treated like daughters. "She took them in. She took care of them. Clothed them. Housed them," Adetula said.
Afolabi sat quietly during the arguments, wearing a yellow floral print shirt and black slacks, which concealed the shackles binding her legs.
She was arrested in 2007 along with her former husband and son. They have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit forced labor. Both told a federal judge that Afolabi, who has been in custody since her arrest, was the group's ringleader.
Prosecutors say the group manipulated a visa program to slip up to 20 girls and women into the country, ranging in age from 10 to 19. If convicted of forced labor, Afolabi faces up to 20 years in prison, said Shana W. Chen, an assistant U.S. attorney.
During her testimony yesterday, Anagblah, now 24, recalled Afolabi's large, two story house in Lome, Togo's capital city. There were about seven other girls living them when Anagblah arrived in 2000. They worked six days a week selling jewelry in the market, and they were forbidden from talking to men, Anagblah said.
She testified that when Afolabi suspected her of breaking that rule, the defendant tied five mango switches together and ordered the girl onto her knees.
"She beat me all over my body," Anagblah said.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Browsing...for children?
Being that we just moved to New Jersey, I was online looking for volunteer opportunities in our area. Somehow I ended up on the Department of Child and Family Services website.
While we're not in a position to adopt at the moment (Chris is in school full-time, I'm working full-time, we're living with my grandmother and there's not much extra space) we are excited about adopting in the future. So...just for kicks I decided to click around some of the adoption links on the website.
It was devastating and I haven't been able to stop thinking about them. There they were, posted online like items to be shopped for. Pictures, names, birthdays and "a brief description".
Almost all of the children were older teenagers, almost all of them had extreme challenges, and many of them had severe physical disabilities and/or medical conditions. And almost all of the descriptions said something along the lines of, "...what he really wants is to find his forever family where he will be loved and cared for."
Aside from the fact that pictures, names and birthdays on the internet seems like a security issue...it is heartbreaking and I have no idea what to do. Will we ever be in a position to adopt an older child with severe medical conditions?
I don't know what to do, I don't know what to suggest, and it makes me so, so sad...
But I do know this. Along with the children on the NJ DCS website, there are countless opportunities for all of us to care for people around us who are hurting.
At World Orphans we are working on a resource to help families and their young children care and advocate for the orphaned and abandoned in their community and around the world.
So I hope to soon be able to point you to a specific resource. But in the meantime it starts with just looking around, asking the Lord to give us eyes to see those who are hurting. The children in foster care, the elderly person who lives alone, the kid at school who no one talks to, the lady at church who always sits by herself.
Matthew 25:40 "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Lord please, help us hold our schedules and agendas loosely so we can be available to show your love to those around us...please.
While we're not in a position to adopt at the moment (Chris is in school full-time, I'm working full-time, we're living with my grandmother and there's not much extra space) we are excited about adopting in the future. So...just for kicks I decided to click around some of the adoption links on the website.
It was devastating and I haven't been able to stop thinking about them. There they were, posted online like items to be shopped for. Pictures, names, birthdays and "a brief description".
Almost all of the children were older teenagers, almost all of them had extreme challenges, and many of them had severe physical disabilities and/or medical conditions. And almost all of the descriptions said something along the lines of, "...what he really wants is to find his forever family where he will be loved and cared for."
Aside from the fact that pictures, names and birthdays on the internet seems like a security issue...it is heartbreaking and I have no idea what to do. Will we ever be in a position to adopt an older child with severe medical conditions?
I don't know what to do, I don't know what to suggest, and it makes me so, so sad...
But I do know this. Along with the children on the NJ DCS website, there are countless opportunities for all of us to care for people around us who are hurting.
At World Orphans we are working on a resource to help families and their young children care and advocate for the orphaned and abandoned in their community and around the world.
So I hope to soon be able to point you to a specific resource. But in the meantime it starts with just looking around, asking the Lord to give us eyes to see those who are hurting. The children in foster care, the elderly person who lives alone, the kid at school who no one talks to, the lady at church who always sits by herself.
Matthew 25:40 "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
Lord please, help us hold our schedules and agendas loosely so we can be available to show your love to those around us...please.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Forgiveness...
As we seek to engage the orphaned and abandoned around the world who have been sinned against in horrifying ways I cannot really grasp, I long to keep this biblical view before me. For myself and for those who have been hurt that I have the honor of knowing and caring for...
From Ken Sande:
From Ken Sande:
To understand what forgiveness is, we must first see what it is not. Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is an act of the will. Forgiveness involves a series of decisions, the first of which is to call on God to change our hearts. As he gives us grace, we must then decide (with our will) not to think or talk about what someone has done to hurt us. God calls us to make these decisions regardless of our feelings--but these decisions can lead to remarkable changes in our feelings.
Second, forgiveness is not forgetting. Forgetting is a passive process in which a matter fades from memory merely with the passing of time. Forgiving is an active process; it involves a conscious choice and a deliberate course of action. To put it another way, when God says that he "remembers your sins no more" (Isa. 43:25), he is not saying that he cannot remember our sins. Rather, he is promising that he will not remember them. When he forgives us, he chooses not to mention, recount, or think about our sins ever again. Similarly, when we forgive, we must draw on God's grace and consciously decide not to think or talk about what others have done to hurt us. This may require a lot of effort, especially when an offense is still fresh in mind. Fortunately, when we decide to forgive someone and stop dwelling on an offense, painful memories usually begin to fade.
Finally, forgiveness is not excusing. Excusing says, "That's okay," and implies, "What you did wasn't really wrong," or "You couldn't help it." Forgiveness is the opposite of excusing. The very fact that forgiveness is needed and granted indicates that what someone did was wrong and inexcusable. Forgiveness says, "We both know that what you did was wrong and without excuse. But since God has forgiven me, I forgive you." Because forgiveness deals honestly with sin, it brings a freedom that no amount of excusing could ever hope to provide.
Food for Thought
Praise God for his gracious gift of forgiveness to us! The Scripture says "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Eph. 4:32, emphasis added) You will probably have an opportunity to extend forgiveness this week. When you do, try to remember what forgiveness is not, and fix your eyes on the full and gracious forgiveness that God has given you in Jesus Christ.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Lovingly challening thoughts...
An email from a friend...
As we spent time in I Corinthians 3 and 4 this morning, we were reminded to build with gold, silver and precious jewels; not hay and straw. It's possible for big events and splashy programs to be nothing but straw. How do we keep Jesus out in front of all we do?
I'd like to hear how you do this in your own lives. How have you managed to keep Jesus at the center instead of on the side?
A blog from a World Orphans colleague:
I wept this morning as I sat in the London airport surrounded by the trappings of this world – the duty free liquor shops, the endless rows of high priced jewelry & chocolate shops, realizing that my 1 much desired latte would have paid 1/2 a month’s rent for people I visited in Muthare slums this week.
A message from a pastor...
"No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light." Luke 11:33-36
As we spent time in I Corinthians 3 and 4 this morning, we were reminded to build with gold, silver and precious jewels; not hay and straw. It's possible for big events and splashy programs to be nothing but straw. How do we keep Jesus out in front of all we do?
I'd like to hear how you do this in your own lives. How have you managed to keep Jesus at the center instead of on the side?
A blog from a World Orphans colleague:
I wept this morning as I sat in the London airport surrounded by the trappings of this world – the duty free liquor shops, the endless rows of high priced jewelry & chocolate shops, realizing that my 1 much desired latte would have paid 1/2 a month’s rent for people I visited in Muthare slums this week.
I continue to pray that God would let my heart be broken for the things that break His heart, and that He would change me to be more like His son Jesus Christ – a compassionate, self-sacrificing servant, who considers others as more important than himself (philippians 2:1-8), and who loves his neighbor as himself, to be able to say as Paul did that to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
A message from a pastor...
"No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness. If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light." Luke 11:33-36
“Be careful!” This is the only imperative in the text. Be careful what you see! Be careful what you regard as bright and attractive and compelling. If it is not Christ, you will be filled with darkness—no matter how bright it seems for a season. Candles seem bright until the sun comes out. Then they are useless and put away.
Christ is the glory we were made to see. His light alone will fill us and give the light of life and meaning to every part of our lives. And when that happens, we ourselves will shine and give off the rays of Christ. “If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.”
Lord, open the eyes of our hearts to see the supreme greatness of your wisdom and power. Make our eyes good. Heal our blindness. Fill us with the all-pervading, all-exposing, all-purifying, all-pleasing light of your presence.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Why World Orphans?
If you are reading this you are probably interested in caring for orphans in one way or another. You may be thinking that there are a lot of organizations out there and wondering what sets World Orphans apart.
Some may say I'm biased about World Orphans as an organization because I work for them, but I'm not so sure. I am beyond grateful to work for them, but that is because I'm passionate about seeing orphans rescued. Not only is that what World Orphans is about, but they are about rescuing orphans while building up the local church so that each child, each church, and each community (both here in the west and internationally) is impacted by the Gospel of Christ. As an organization we work hard to do that with compassion and integrity in a way that maximizes each moment, each dollar and each ounce of energy
In a nutshell, World Orphans exists to partner churches in the West with indigenous churches around the world (mostly in 3rd world countries) who are caring for orphans.
Why is getting involved with churches around the world important? Because...there are over 143 million orphans. And in the past hour…
Some may say I'm biased about World Orphans as an organization because I work for them, but I'm not so sure. I am beyond grateful to work for them, but that is because I'm passionate about seeing orphans rescued. Not only is that what World Orphans is about, but they are about rescuing orphans while building up the local church so that each child, each church, and each community (both here in the west and internationally) is impacted by the Gospel of Christ. As an organization we work hard to do that with compassion and integrity in a way that maximizes each moment, each dollar and each ounce of energy
In a nutshell, World Orphans exists to partner churches in the West with indigenous churches around the world (mostly in 3rd world countries) who are caring for orphans.
Why is getting involved with churches around the world important? Because...there are over 143 million orphans. And in the past hour…
- 1,625 children were forced to live on the streets by the death or abuse of an adult
- 1,667 children under the age of five died from malnutrition and vaccine-preventable diseases
- 115 children became prostitutes
- 66 children under 15 were infected with HIV
- 257 children were orphaned because of HIV/AIDS
- Join the World Orphans facebook page by clicking HERE
- Read the World Orphan blogs - this link will tell you when people update
- Sign up to be on World Orphans mailing list by clicking HERE
Friday, July 17, 2009
Personal Update
Sorry for the lack of blogging in the past few months. My husband Chris and I are moving to New Jersey. Literally...we're leaving in a few hours. Chris is going to Seton Hall University to get a masters degree as a physician's assistant. And the big bonus, I'm from New Jersey so we're going to live with my grandmother and be near all of my family. We are very excited, but also very sad about leaving the community we have here in Tennessee. I hope/plan to blog more in depth about this transition, but at the moment I'll just say I am so very thankful for the de-centralized model of World Orphans that allows me to continue the work I do for them from New Jersey. I packed up my office here and I'll settle into my grandmother's attic and continue plugging away. I am so, so thankful. So until we're there and settled...may the peace of the Lord be with you.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Dead or Alive?
I have had two conversations just in the last 72 hours that both involved friends saying something along these lines...
"I am starting to see the reality of what life is like for people in most of the world and I don't know what to do....it feels like I could just lose it at any minute....what do I do with the fact that there are children dying of hunger and I throw away leftovers...what do I do with the fact that there is so much suffering and I watch people spend so much money on clothes???"
To both of these dear women I encouraged them to keep struggling, and to be willing to share the struggles so that more people are aware of the realities.
Be honest about the fact that you can't just sit back - can't ignore the war, the hunger, the sickness, the abuse, the injustice...
I think that as our children, families, friends, co-workers and neighbors watch us wrestle with how to live our lives in light of the realities around the world - I believe we can help each other to be alive.
In scripture God has strong words for the church. He says: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!" - Revelation 3:15
We have GOT to wrestle through this together and not let each other be lukewarm. There is such joy in living the hot, alive, joyful life that Christ calls us to. But...it's not easy and it's not comfortable. That's why He created us to function as a body - we need each other to walk to challenging, messy, fantastic adventure that He has called us to.
There are no easy answers or solutions - I think the only "answer" is to wake up each day and ask God what He has for today. What does the abundant life Christ calls us to look like for today? What does is look like to lavishly reflect God's love to the people in your life? What does it look like to give sacrificially to help meet the needs that exist around you and around the world?
"There is a sort of dead-alive...people about, who are scarcely conscious of living except in the exercise of some conventional occupation...They have dwarfed and narrowed their soul by a life of all work, until here they are at forty, with a listless attention, a mind vacant of all material for amusement, and not one thought to rub against another while waiting for the train." -From 'An Apology for Idlers' by Robert Louis Stevenson
Will you choose to be alive? Awake to the sin and the hurt and the pain and the suffering...and in being awake and responding to that, there is such great joy, glory and delight because Christ is Redeemer!
"I am starting to see the reality of what life is like for people in most of the world and I don't know what to do....it feels like I could just lose it at any minute....what do I do with the fact that there are children dying of hunger and I throw away leftovers...what do I do with the fact that there is so much suffering and I watch people spend so much money on clothes???"
To both of these dear women I encouraged them to keep struggling, and to be willing to share the struggles so that more people are aware of the realities.
Be honest about the fact that you can't just sit back - can't ignore the war, the hunger, the sickness, the abuse, the injustice...
I think that as our children, families, friends, co-workers and neighbors watch us wrestle with how to live our lives in light of the realities around the world - I believe we can help each other to be alive.
In scripture God has strong words for the church. He says: "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!" - Revelation 3:15
We have GOT to wrestle through this together and not let each other be lukewarm. There is such joy in living the hot, alive, joyful life that Christ calls us to. But...it's not easy and it's not comfortable. That's why He created us to function as a body - we need each other to walk to challenging, messy, fantastic adventure that He has called us to.
There are no easy answers or solutions - I think the only "answer" is to wake up each day and ask God what He has for today. What does the abundant life Christ calls us to look like for today? What does is look like to lavishly reflect God's love to the people in your life? What does it look like to give sacrificially to help meet the needs that exist around you and around the world?
"There is a sort of dead-alive...people about, who are scarcely conscious of living except in the exercise of some conventional occupation...They have dwarfed and narrowed their soul by a life of all work, until here they are at forty, with a listless attention, a mind vacant of all material for amusement, and not one thought to rub against another while waiting for the train." -From 'An Apology for Idlers' by Robert Louis Stevenson
Will you choose to be alive? Awake to the sin and the hurt and the pain and the suffering...and in being awake and responding to that, there is such great joy, glory and delight because Christ is Redeemer!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)