Follow Up to Last Post: Upward Soccer 2008

Well, I asked for prayer this morning, and here’s what happened.

First, my son showed up home 5 minutes after his game was supposed to start, getting his game and sis’s picture time mixed up –I was late, too.

Next, I got there and  Josh had locked his keys in his car and forgot to bring the newsletters from the church. 

He went and got them. 

Then, pictures weren’t scheduled for the kindergarten league.  Came up with a solution for that. 

Next, game times were scheduled to over-lap–they handled it. 

Personally, the fields were very wet and I had on sandles (ones I had to scrape dog poop off of before I left the house after stepping in it last night…what’s that SMELL?  Oh, it’s me.  Nothing like the prospect of sharing the word of God with the strong smell of dog poop following you.) 

I still had my head held high.  I was ready. 

As I jumped puddles (literally) across the field, I fiddled with my keys–breaking off my special keychain cross Stacey gave me in my birthday card last year. 

I started to melt a bit.  Love that leather cross.

At that point, I saw Chris…walked a bee-line there and said, “I think you should start praying.”

He laughed and said, “Why, what’s going on?”  He was coaching, so I gave the Reader’s Digest version, but I made sure to tell him that my cross just broke.  (I think I can glue it…maybe).

Then, I remembered that I forgot the sunscreen for my red head–couldn’t find any anywhere. 

The newsletters showed up, and I made rounds, all went well.  Even some more rough looking men have come out this year, one perhaps drinking a non-soda substance (just a hunch) I saw reading it from start to finish.  Praise God.

I asked the kids to have no injuries or melt-downs today because it was an important day.  The did well.  Praise God. 

So, while I don’t know much about whether decisions were made today (I share the plan by newsletter), I saw a lot of people reading, and several told me today they enjoyed the newsletters.  A few I’d asked to pray as I walked by would give me cheerful words like “I know God would bless His work!”  Love those people!

Huge blessing:  my mom was led leave her work outside, check her computer this morning, and come lay hands on me.  No make-up, un-prepared…just obedient. 

That’s my mom. 

She even had a long distance wedding to go to today and everything. 

Meant the world.  I was charged back up. 

Made it through two more games, great weather. 

Boy Wonder cooled off from his game in the van. 

But, after the games, as I sighed that it was over and we’d made it, I realized he turned the key the wrong way for accesory.

…click, click, click.  Dead.

Thank goodness Coach Jarod knew how to jump a car and I had fresh cables somebody got up in a car kit for Christmas (I’m thanking my brothers, but don’t know for sure).  

I’m in good spirits–heaven knows missionaries around the world face much bigger obstacles than I did today. 

But, I’m writing just to let you know that when you try to do something rather simple in His name…expect a WILD kind of day, but a lot of fun blessings, too! 

Then, Sonic got the same plain hamburger order wrong THREE TIMES.  (But we are still thanking God for Sonic today).

Keep praying for these people.  One lady told me she enjoyed it, planned to read it again when she got home, and would ask me if she had questions later.  The one I had on my heart wasn’t there today.  I’ll have to try again.

I Need Your Prayers–Saturday

Ever Stretch Yourself? I think my skinny jeans should fit today, I’m stetching myself so much.  You know, wake up sick to your stomach, feeling a weight that you know shouldn’t be there, but you can’t help it, because it’s so important?

Today is the day I walk across the fields for the Upward soccer games and put the plan of salvation in the hands of the adults for the first time this season.  About 125. 

We’ve never had a result in soccer from the simplified ABCs version, so I took it just a little more personal a route this time.  I hope it connects with someone–specifically, with one I’ve been praying for.

Pray for strength and boldness for me. 

When I woke up, I walked by the computer, and a verse I was meditating on last week was up.  Why…I don’t know, I didn’t pull it up before I went to bed last night.  I must have closed a program and had this minimized behind it… 

“…at work within US,

to HIM be the glory IN THE CHURCH and IN CHRIST JESUS.”

I had written it out for myself.

My husband once taught that when he gets all the glory, it doesn’t matter if we fail or succeed.  We stand nothing to lose.  Might as well pour it all out.  No holds barred.  Lord, give me your eyes, your heart, help my kids (the hub has to work today…keep them uninjured and in good spirits).   

Be God.  Also, may the power of Jesus bind the enemy from those three fields and from anything that would keep those away who need to hear. 

Bring pray-ers out today. My writing deadline fell so late this week because Thursday was so full that I didn’t get to ask for prayer as much as I like to.  I know I can’t do it in my own strength.  I need your prayers…

 

 

Good News in the Morning

Domain: 4stepstogod.mobi
Name: XXXXXXX

City: XXXXXXXXXX

State: XXXXXXX
Residence: Guyana
Age: 18-25
Gender: Female
Tell us about your spiritual journey: I just prayed to receive Christ as my Savior for the first time
Comment/Question: 

———–

Domain: 4stepstogod.mobi
Name: XXXXXXXXX
City: XXXXXXXX

State: XXXXXX

Residence: Qatar
Tell us about your spiritual journey: I just prayed to receive Christ as my Savior for the first time
Comment/Question: 

——————

This morning, like most, I’m greeted by exciting news!  Both of these decisions came by cell phone. 

This morning, I will be the first, and perhaps the only, person to send a message saying, “Welcome to God’s kingdom!  You’ve made the best decision of your life.  I know I’ve never regretted it.  Here are some tools…”

Praying about joining?  You won’t regret it.  

Here’s how:

They need to apply at GMOJoinUS.com (click on Volunteer then click the Application button at the bottom of the page). 

If you would like to be part of my community after your four week training period:

 On the application they are asked where they learned about this and they can put your name and say they want to be in your community.  They are asked for two spiritual references, if you want, one can be you and one can be someone else.   

Every community I’ve been part of (3-4 now) is great!

China Earthquake: You can help!

An earthquake in China leaves countless dead.  Children at schools destroyed.  We await the tolls.  Me, with chills running down my arms. 

Just last week, a Cyclone in Asia left even more dead (Myanmar Cyclone: Relief Assessment Begins) with  latest death tool at 22,000, with another 41,000 missing.  Families grieve.  People across the globe ask, “Why?  If there is a God, how can he allow such devastation?”  People need clean water, sanitation, and shelter.  Disease begins to run rampant among the grieving survivors.  We mount efforts to help them. 

But, there are others hurting and wondering.  In times if international disaster, around the globe people begin ask questions:  “Where is God?”  “What would happen to me if a natural disaster struck?”

Online traffic to spiritual sites to share the gospel go way up in these times.  People are looking for truth, hope, comfort.  They are open to hearing about Jesus, who is the source of all hope. 

Would you consider sharing hope?  Click here to help with online counseling  with Campus Crusade for Christ’s Volunteer On-line Missionary hotline.  It’s one of the most fulfilling parts of my day.  It’s manageable, and you won’t regret it.

 

Thinking About It?

I hope that you will check into sharing your f*aith-walk here with people seeking around the world.  The door is WIDE OPEN!

I cannot imagine another way, at this stage of my life, to go to Africa, Asia, all over the world.  It is such a unique way to “go into all the world”.  It’s an unbelievable opportunity for anyone who feels led, however, there are some hard questions as you sign on, asking you to be an authentic disciple, solid in your own walk and commitments before you join on. 

Check out the post below for more details, don’t be afraid if God is leading.  You won’t regret it.  Ask me any question on your mind about it.  I won’t try to talk you into it, but I will talk to you about it if you are interested.

Me, today?  I’m painting.  I just got the rollers washed out (for the millionth time, it seems) and it’s 1AM.  I’m feeling snack-y, again.  The smell of paint must bring it out of me.  Felt God speaking to me, teaching me, tonight as I painted.  I love the Holy Spirit in us who teaches us as we work–makes it such an intimate joy to work together. 

Tonight’s thought as I paint:  a strong desire for “one solid color”…nothing peeking through, sticking out, or overlapping.  One.  Only one.   Covering all else until it is all we see is One and only One.

 

Whereby, I Interview Myself

You’ve asked some good questions about being an online volunteer M*ss*ionary.  I’ll try to answer them:

EXAMPLE

———-

Domain: jesus2020.com
Name: XXXXXXXXXXx

City:XXXXXXXX
State: New York
Zipcode: 11715
Residence: USA
Age: 18-25
Gender: Male
Tell us about your spiritual journey: I just recommitted my life to Christ
Comment/Question: what was jesus’ life like? 
i accepted god into my life since i was 12 and he has really helped me in life.

————————–

They come from all over the world…amazing!  Isn’t it?

Were you nervous at first?  Yes.  I was so nervous that I do something to mess up.  I didn’t.  And the staff is great at encouraging.  It is one of the most fulfilling parts of my day.   

When:  Anytime.  It is my “coffee time” most mornings or my bedtime wind-down time.  I count it as part of my time with Jesus as I minister to and pray for others around the world with needs, questions, and concerns.  As I talk with them, I review scriptures to send to them, applying them to people’s daily situations.  Some respond, others do not. 

Time:  I’d say I generally answer an average of 10 per day, in about 10-20 minutes.  But, you can give whatever time you think you can consistently give.   

How do you know what to say?  There are pre-form letters that come up for each person which you can modify to make it easy to get started.  I use them often.  or if I’m short on time. 

Who writes in?  All kinds of people. 

What if I can’t answer a questions?  There is a “reassign” button.  

Do you get to win people to Christ?  Yes.  I’ve even led several people to Christ on-line this year, a great experience.  Others are follow-ups to sites like www.4stepstoGod.com who’ve already made decisions by reading scriptures on-line and need to know how to live a full life in Christ to protect them from other teachings!

Do people across the world have computer access?  Many do at the schools or workplaces, or pay for computer time.   We are now also getting the gospel message to people by cell phone, responding by computer.

How long have you volunteered?  About two years.

Are there language internationally?  Many people around the world who use the net know English!  Very cool.  

How do you deal with other faiths?  Answering them kindly, with truth and grace is better than fears of doing it wrong and not sharing Christ at all. 

What do you do with questions you can’t answer?  Seasoned volunteers are always available.

What if I need to be away from the computer?  Take breaks!  Your assignments can be re-assigned…but, I have answered emails on vacation…I love it that much.  It’s refreshing to see people seeking Christ.  Personally, I also don’t like to lose long relationships with people while I’m away…often they are at “critical points”, and I enjoy continuing to finish out what was started.

Who are community leaders?  They are all great to work with.  They answer any questions, send you emails and tips, encourage you in your own faith-walk, and visit the boards/forum to help answer questions.  They make sure all is well with your group, and provide a level of oversight to make sure people are getting Bible-based advise and counsel. 

Can you be my community leader?  It’s possible right now.  I’m working on my first group now–sign up before I get too full. 

Do you receive training?  Yes, initial and on-going by on-line videos, web conferences, and emails.  But, it’s not time consuming.  It’s efficient and to the point for when you have time.

Culture/differences:  You are more alike than different if you both use the web.  And, there are always training and tips to help you improve.

Email me or comment if you have other questions or are interested in trying it!  It’s free evangelism opportunities.  How can a person resist? 

If you want to try it on your own, here’s the link:  (you’ll need a good reference to sign up):  Becoming an email volunteer.  There are many who need Jesus…we need your skills and gifts!

Maggie

Amazing

Got this from Dori Cook today.  She was right…it’s a “wow”.

If you have trouble with the play button, click here.

Missions–What’s It Really Like?

Take a moment and write your missions history.  What are the influences on your life for missions?  Do you give to missions offerings and pray for missionaries?  Have you been involved in mission action projects or in short-term mission trips?

Bro. Ray over at The Well has been revved up on missions this week.  He asked us these questions, and it would take a lot more than a comment to answer them.  I thought I’d take it on this morning in a quick writing session before a full day with Upward to close out our season.  It’s a lesson assignment, so MUCH longer than my normal posts.  It may be more for me than for you…assignments usually work that way.  Seems like a trip down memory lane…

Bro. Ray said:  ”Begin to prepare for the future and how God can use you.”  I thought that was funny because my experience is that you always feel completely unprepared for what lies ahead of you when you get involved with missions!  I guess I realized today the double-sided coin: missions has prepared me for life as much as my life has prepared me for missions. 

Key words I would use are are availability, calling, commitment, attitude, and willingness. 

As a grade school student, I went to a GA, or Girls in Action, camp, when we moved to Illinios for a year.  At that camp, I committed my life to God for full-time service. I wanted him to have all of me for use, whether that meant formal missions or…whatever.  The later things God called me to in my life did not seem to mesh with my earlier commitment initially, but mentors helped me realize it is availability God wants from us…an open slate for Him to fill in however He wills.  My husband and I still dream of doing more formal missions work at some point.

Earlier in my life, I spent most summers in high school with Mike Brady calling me up on the phone with his “more cheerful than life” voice acting like the thing he was putting together was the most elite organized endeavor and he needed the best of the best.  Of course, we were all sold.  We got there to determine no one had thought of the Kool Aid, kids weren’t informed that we were coming, we didn’t know the schedule or what we were doing… basically, we were winging the whole thing!  Augh!  But, you know what?  The amazing thing to me was that the kids loved it, we were blessed, and it was a hit.  Kids were won to Christ. 

• We often let our need for planning stop us from getting anything done. 

We’d show up at the housing projects in town, knock on doors, and tell them we were about to have a puppet show and some games and COOKIES and would they like to come?  Kids poured out like ants on watermelon.

Only, it wasn’t time for the cookies yet! 

And it was July.

101 degrees or so as I recall.

And we had HOT, HEAVY, puppets to deal with, and a curtain and some PVC we didn’t know how to put together.

Did I mention none of us had ever really PERFORMED a puppet show before? 

One lady coached us, dear that she was!  “You can do it!  Isn’t this fun?”  as we complained about the weight, and the blacktop and not knowing what we were doing.  It was epic. 

• In missions, we can sometimes let lack of experience keep us from doing what needs to be done.

Despite our feeble attempts at humor and organization…the kids LOVED it.  The ate up the attention.

• With missions, your something is sometimes better than the nothing that’s already happening.  Just care about people.

We sat down with old VBS materials, no cork boards, no fancy materials or decorations…just maybe some simple paper flyers with the times of our meeting on them.  We simply told them a Bible story…one like Noah and the flood. 

• With mission you don’t need expensive materials

This was my point of shock–THEY HAD NEVER HEARD ABOUT NOAH AND THE FLOOD BEFORE.  From the mountains of Eastern KY, to inner city Miami to the North of Conneticut, one thing was a constant, a glaring, heart-wrenching reality.  These kids had never heard the stories I’d heard so many times I was growing SICK of them.  Never.  They did not know who Noah was, or Moses, or even {gasp} JESUS.  They didn’t know who Jesus was.  They may have heard his name somewhere, once.   Just really let that sink in.  The US.  Close to us.  South of us.  North of us.  They have no idea.

INNER-CITY MIAMI MISSIONS

For the two week Miami trip, I went to help with music, which I had some prepration for.  I was most nervous about the medical preparations about not touching people with open wounds and things.  At that time, HIV was at the height of it’s scare and it was new to all of us.  A third of the kids had been exposed to HIV we were told.    

The first day of the Miami mission we were overwhelmed to realize we didn’t have enough classes for the bulk of kids who came.  I was asked, “Do you think you could teach a class by yourself?”  Cringing, no supplies, no materials, no help for a week with inner city, potentially HIV infected kids in an unfamiliar environment, locked in a church literall with chains around the doors.  Whew. 

I said “Yeah, I’ll try”. 

That’s why I gave two weeks or so of my summer, right?  Might as well jump in!

I recall that my first day, I was dealing with an emotional event within the team.  Put stressed, tired, and emotional people together and you are going to get some firecrackers going off, let me just say!  I was prayerful!   Kids poured in…fourteen or so.  The first day, the only idea I had was “salvation bracelets” with beads on some yarn.  Anything!

• Emotional events happen on missions teams due to stress.  You have to learn to stay focused.

That first day went well, or so I thought.  I made it through the day with no major ordeals.  The kids were a little high strung, but okay.  At pick-up time, I met a Haitian mother in the stairwell who’d gotten past the guard at the door.  She started pointing to his wrist in a rather animated fashion saying “Voodoo!  Voodoo!  No!  No!  NO!!!  YOU VODOO!” 

She was afraid I’d cast a spell on her son.  Great.  She wouldn’t bring him back, she said.  I tried to explain, but the language barrier was just too much.

I was afraid they’d fire me that day.  But, they said, “That’s part of it.  We don’t know what will hit people the wrong way.  Just keep going.  You’re doing great.”  I didn’t get into trouble.  No one reprimanded me.  Some prayed for me and even cried with me…we were a team.  What hit one of us hit all of us.

That particular project did not translate well cross-culturally.  And, sorrowfully, I could not bridge the language gap well enough to help her understand.  I did not know how many mom’s she’d talk to or if we’d have a class at all the third day.  I was exhausted.  It took us an hour and a half one way to get there in the heat and rush hour traffic.  Oh, I prayed!

• Even with preparation, you never really know how people will react cross-culturally.  Keep trying.

The next day, the rest of the children did come back!  In fact, numbers went up some.  I was so relieved that I still had a job to finish.  Yet, that day brought more challenges. I had two boys in my class who made such trouble fighting that I had to send them home.  HOME!  I wasn’t even sure I could do that,  or if they could get out of the building.  But, the left and went somewhere.  I was hoping I wouldn’t get in trouble.  They seemed pretty free-floating kids anyway.  And I prayed.

They did not return that next day.  I was heavy-hearted over them.  And I prayed for their salvation.  The day after that, they did return.  Cookies and crafts, and basketball…who can resist?

• Children respect you more with clearly defined limits.  You can’t teach if you can’t get control of the group.

I still helped with music some as a support, but as it turned out, there was an old lady in the church who had ALWAYS done the music and sang her songs.  If I’d refused my new assignment and done only what I was ready for?  I would not have had a job at all.  Glad I didn’t stick to “my area”!   She was about 90 years old and looked like Mother Theresa to me.  She knew these kids.  And SHE sang Jesus Loves Me!  She stuck when them.  They knew He must love them, too.  She WAS a living Jesus to them already.

• Be willing to shift areas to those who are more skilled or fit better than you.  It’s not the place for “I wanted to…” or pride.

The Haitian children had lovely braids, and big smiles.  They giggled a lot.  The girls rubbed my hair ALL the time.  They would say over and over, “I love your hair.  It’s so soft. I wish I had hair like yours!”  I’d always particularly hated my hair–I think most teenage girls do!  Miami humidity didn’t help.  They made me smile.

This is the inner-city church where we served.  The pews are NOT padded.  They didn’t seem to mind.  (Photo courtesy of Leslie T., resident team photographer).

• You always bring back more than you take with you to mission work.

I had to deal with one scraped and bleeding leg from basketball on the courts.  I remember the walk to the First Aid box and asked for bandaids and antiseptic and the look I got as I did.  I said, “I know what to do.”  I cleaned the dirt and gravel from the wound, applied the ointment, then the bandage.  I loved that child.  And that love took care of my fear.  What I dreaded happened, and I had a peace and a calm that it was worth it, whatever happened.  I had gloves.  When I went to wash my hands, I breathed deep and I prayed.

EASTERN KY MISSIONS TRIPS

Later we went to the mountains of Eastern KY.  I went several years, I can’t remember how many.  At least two.  I was prepared to do music and help with crafts at an air conditioned church.  We didn’t know we were also needed to go up into the mountains to assist another group with a two day BBC (Backyard Bible Club). 

The roads!  Mercy.  Narrow with no shoulder, winding, up, up, up, up, higher and higher into the tops of the moutains where the air was thin and I learned about antihistimines.  I remember the man who drove, though I won’t state his name.  He wasn’t very fond of the brake!  The children came… from where?  I have no idea. 

The locals knew where they were – all I know is, they came on foot to a little flat area.  It was between two mountains where there was a river in between and a high, narrow, swinging foot bridge across it, quite a few boards broken out and loose.  The boys in the group learned from local boys to swing the long bridge over the water.  They, of course, scared us girls out of our senses!  

• Keep safety and people’s limits in mind when you play practical jokes.

I say that jokingly here, but I’m also not kidding.  When people stay upset for days over a practical joke, it drains energy from the team. 

 

(Me on piano; our own Michael T. leading worship in the morning, Hyden Baptist.  After lunch, we went into the mountains for “Backyard Bible Clubs”.  I had never played for a group before this time.)

(Both of us leading silly VBS songs at the church.  Neither of us had ever led groups in song before this time, but they had no one.  We had fun, and were usually hoarse for the day afterward.  They LOVED to sing!  We did it twice, to open and to close.)

At the Backyard Bible Club up in the mountains, I literally had nothing.  Not a book.  Not a piece of paper.  We sat in something like a baseball dug-out and I told a Bible story. We played some games in the dirt…they loved it.  The very next day I told them about Jesus and what he did for them.  When I asked if they wanted to be saved and have Jesus for their friend for their whole life, as their Saviour, all but one of my seven or so students raised their hands, all at the same time, rather seriously.  I thought, “This can’t be right.”

I was so shocked that I went out and talked to the leader before praying with them.  He said, “Lead them in the prayer.  They are old enough.  They may not get another chance where they are.  Leave the rest to God.” 

• Sometimes, we can only plant seeds.  But, someone must plant.  We pray for the water-ers and the harvesters who come behind.

Wow.  Well, later, I was so burdened I could not sleep that they had no one after I was gone to strengthen them.  I wished there was a “Phase 2″ to follow up when we go in like that.  But, I was told “you planted a seed”, that is all you can do.  We pray for God to water it and make it grow.  I still pray for those groups of kids today from time to time. 

NEW ENGLAND MISSION TRIP:

My Junior year we did so much work my parents claimed I was never home.  They were right!  I kept thinking, “Why would I want to stay home?”  But, now that I’m a parent, I understand that!  We went on a trip to the New England states.  We helped a church survey the community, led a Backyard Bible Club, and hosted fun activities in the evening for the local youth group to try to ignite their fire for the Lord in their church, and reach out to some neighboring people in the community as I remember. 

We’d been trained to go door to door and do surveys.  We did it mid-day in the summer, it was hot, and finding people home was a problem.  When we did, not many were open to strangers.  Of those who would talk to us, maybe 10-15 a day, we found that most in that area had a Catholic background and said that they had “a close relationship with God”, yet most went to church 1-2 times a year– at Christmas and Easter.  They did NOT consider church attendance important.  That information was startling to us.  

On a practical level, it did not take us long to realize that a team worked better pairing guy-girl both for safety and reception, rather than what came naturally for us.  That was a new bonding experience for the group to be willing to pair off and work together when we were used to picking and pettiness!

• Teamwork and practicality take a team from petty to productive. 

We stayed with host families in all of these trips.  They were all kind and sweet, gracious, and quirky, but, we quickly grew to love them, and they us.  

TODAY:

So, where does all that leave me today?  A year or so ago, Bro. Ray challenged us to pray at New Year’s time for opportunities for evangelism.  I began praying for things that would work with the other assignments and priorities God seemed to have already given me.   

Not long after, I read on-line in a blog about an opportunity to do on-line follow-up with people who’d just made decisions on the net for Christ.  It was with a respected ministry I trusted and knew of.  It sounded cool, but the timing wasn’t right.  I put it on the back burner.  A few months later when my kids were all in school, I looked into it, talked with Bro. Ray, and decided to give it a shot.  It’s been a great learning experience.  I’ve been caught of guard with it and have needed counsel and prayer on several occasions.  But, I needed as much from it as I’ve given to it.   I needed help sharpening onversational skills in helping people open up about spiritual things in the context of the needs in their life and it’s been great for that. 

Miracle of miracles, last week I was informed I have one of the highest response rates in my community, and was asked to help contribute to a letter that went out on how to improve response rates.  God is good!  But, boy!  I still have MUCH to learn. 

I am now a “follow up” person needed in the chain. 

• Some plant, some water, some harvest.  Every step is indespensable.

The computer is limited, yes…but it also has it’s advantages.  It takes away the language barrier (most of them can read English better than they can speak it).  Also, I’m available to them 24 X 7 through times of crisis. 

There is growing opportunity and technology using local churches and even cell phones for areas across the world where computer access may still be limited.

Our Upward programs are another area where I have tried to stretch myself.  Writing Upward Soccer devotionals and evangelism messages has been very challenging not only to get written, printed and delivered, but to learn to connect with people meaningfully on the field each week for five or six hours in the Spring.  If you want to learn to walk up to strangers and try to witness using paper, this is the way.  You have to learn to smile and connect or the time is wasted, however. 

Missions…it’s not being given a title or a job or a role.  It’s saying “here am I, send me” and meaning it. It’s filling holes.  It’s staying out of the way when you aren’t needed.  It’s doing things you don’t know how to do and trusting God with the results.  And all of that is hard heart work.

• Mission doesn’t HAVE to take a lot of money, just contacts and willingness to go. 

It DOES take a few super-dedicated people to cook and do crafts and help organize housing and transportation and be responsible for the safety of people. 

• It’s worth it. 

There are many hours you seem to be doing nothing, and some hours when you are in a total whirl of activity.  There is often a LOT of improv!  You learn to not have an agenda, to be ready to make anything work, to constantly work on relationships, to have thick skin.  Whether serious or foolish, everything you do can open people to receiving Christ, playing ball, playing cards, including people in your work you don’t know.  Plans fall through, new ones have to be made.  There is sickness.  And lots of driving.  But, through it all, people come to Christ, somehow.

I hope you will consider showing up, learning to make yourself available, fill the gaps, serve, whether you feel able or prepared or not.  God will plug you in where you have strengths you didn’t know you had.  He equips us and makes us enough through Him.  Commit your life fully to him, and try to say “yes” to Him when it’s your turn.  Be open to being stretched in VBS service, in opportunities to tell stories, in opportunities to become comfortable with all age groups, and all types of people.  Teach Sunday School.  Visit nursing homes.  Practice caring for people and serving with people.  In that, you become ready for missions, wherever you find yourself.  God WILL use you, and teach you… through it all! 

Updates on Kenya 1/2008

Update from South Africa from Adele’s Blog Simplicity

 

I’ve been following the news in Kenya as closely as is possible with limited Internet access. Things aren’t looking up. I am anxious to be back in Kenya to do the work God has called me to do. However, at this stage, it is burdensome for our Kenyan leaders to have more wazungus around that they have to be responsible for… And so I will continue working from South Africa until I get the green light. I’ve posted a number of updates on the ELI blog today. Please be sure to read those and pray for Kenya. Today and the next 3 days are critical days! Parliament opens today, and the opposition have called for 3 days of protests from tomorrow till Friday.Please pray that God will give the ELI directors wisdom in how to deal with the situations in their communities. News is starting to come of staff having lost loved ones brutally, of friends who lost their property, of distrust in the communities… I do not believe it is God’s will that hundreds are dying innocently, and hundreds of thousands being displaced. I do not believe that it’s his will that patients who’ve been receiving treatment for HIV/AIDS should risk growing resistant to drugs due to not having access to their anti-retroviral treatments. Please pray that God will bring beauty from the ashes in Kenya! (Isaiah 61:3)

Continue to pray for Kenya and friends there. 

I also just ran across a DIGG link from EMinistryNotes where people are posting on a Google Map incidents of rioting, killing, starvation, etc., as they run across them or hear of legitimate accounts.  Here’s the Google map link.

Prayer Requests

Pray for Adele, my blog-friend, a missionary to Kenya.  If you haven’t found Adele yet, her blog, pictures, and life are such an inspiration.  She is currently safe with family in South Africa, but it is hard for her to be transplanted and uncertain, worried about her friends in Kenya with political unrest, fires, destruction, riots, protests, damage to buildings, facilities. 

While I’m here, I have another young friend in Christ also requesting prayer very often for the country of Ethiopia…for spiritual eyes to be opened, hearts to be softened, the truth to set people free. 

Join me in prayers for these.

Visit Kenya

If you haven’t read Adele’s blog, “Simplicity”, she has a great post today on the initiation rites of some young warriors she saw passing by her place in Kenya today.  A great read from an anthropological standpoint as well.  

Blogging Took Up All My Words…Apparently

Well, if you think the last couple day’s post have been a change of wind, they have!

I found that I was using so many of my “words” online that I really didn’t have much to say by the time The Hub got home.  My laughs were used up, and my words were gone, and he’s been so busy this fall, it didn’t matter.  It was helpful.  Now…it matters.  It’s nice to be missed, however, I have some restructuring to attend to.

Having comments turned off has made me appreciate the conversation of my family more.  I have a broad circle of friends here!  It’s great to know you can sustain me in tough seasons, and this summer and fall were hard in a number of ways.  We continue to face challenges even now. 

Tonight, I even watched a movie mid-week with The Fam:  The Santa Claus.  I laughed my head off.  Nope, I’d never seen it before.

We started some Christmas giving tonight…my daughter bought us all presents today at the school store with her character counts money!!!  She came home steathily, wrapped them like a pro, and delivered them tonight, not able to wait!  It was so sweet.  Now, that is holiday spirit…spontaneity and love and sacrifice.  What a sweetie!  I got a Mozart tape.  I will enjoy it.  She asked if I would share it with her.    That’s my girl.  The others got Christmas ornaments, very nice ones, outdated from card store editions.  We LOVED them. 

I bought some a Christmas card stamping kit today at Rite Aid.  The delightful little fun stamps turned out to be a bout 25 cents a piece, so I just couldn’t resist the urge to make a few cards, though I generally like store bought.  We got a card making kit last year, and Golilocks and I made a few during a snow day last winter.  Thought I’d see if I could churn a few more out.  It was fun…a change of pace.   They have 2-3 more if you want to look…the stamps were nice.  $10 for the kit.  I usually don’t like wood block kits, but as they are all Christmas and fit in one tidy box, I can store them away after the season with ease. 

I ordered a few gifts online today.  Lovin’ the online gifting. 

I am staying caught up…read through Ezekiel 25 today.  Man.  Weirdness there.  I don’t guess I’ve ever read all these prophets, much less straight through.  It’s having a bit impact on me.  Mainly, in terms of my sense of what is important to God:  the poor, the needy, the orphan, the widow, and keeping him first at heart.  Those issues are repeated by the prophets like a parents talking to a teenager:  over, and over, and over, and over.  I realize that I have not kept the things most important to the heart of God close enough to my heart.

Also emphasized is the discipline of God.  He said in the last chapter I read, “I had covered your sins, but your rebellion made me remember them all”.  Isn’t that how it works with most of us?  Character breeds trust–lack of character destroys it.

Also, the huge enemy of our souls:  pride.  Pride in beauty.  Pride in wealth.  Comfort.  Plenty.  Coveting other nations, other ways, other loves.  Not caring for our children enough, and their spiritual heritage.  Oh Lord…we have much work to do. 

Well, that’s all for today.

Thanks for your blog-ship!  (Comments are dis-abled intentionally for this post.    Blessings!!!)

This Week I Led a Hooker to Jesus

Thunder roared at I typed that.  Which was a little awesome.   My new p*orn friend, pole-dancin’, drug-addicted, hopeless, suicidal, guilt-laden, happens-to-be-Muslim friend just received Christ as her Lord and Savior. 

After talking to her extensively this week about God’s love for prostitutes for the “unloveable” (as she described herself), she asked about 30 minutes ago “How would I go about following Christ?  How do I become a Christian?  Would I still be a Muslim?”

I explained as gently as I knew how, how she could receive Christ, and sent an example prayer personalized for her situation.  She shared with me this week that even her mother had told her many times she was a failure, and that she wishes she’d never been born. 

She just emailed back through CCC’s ARC email system and said, “Okay…I did it!  I guess I am no longer a Muslim and will probably get kicked out of my house!”

Wow. Jesus loves her so much.

Celebrate with me today, and continue to pray for my young friend as you have this week.  Thank you so much.

Usually, I get to encourage or guide people who’ve already just received Christ, but rarely do I get to lead one to Him myself…such an awesome privilege. 

Guys, there is no better way to use a computer.  Take advantage of all the tools God has given us to lead others to Him. 

It’s simply amazing to me. Would you consider becoming an email volunteer also?

Starbucks Christianity

Interesting article called Starbucks Christianity over at Christianity Today.  Check it out and discuss.

~Maggie 

Christmas Card? Already?

 

I received my first surprise Christmas Card today!  More incredibly, it was from a new friend named T**** in Ethiopia. 

Last week, I received a surpise eThanksgiving card, from A******* in Romania.  Praise God for the internet and the ability to help encourage lonely Christians abroad!

Both ladies I am attempting to walk in long-term discipleship using ARC (automated response center) through Campus Crusade for Christ.   CCC will soon be starting coaching to help people do assisted Bible’s studies also.  I am interested.  I so want to see the word of God make a real difference in the lives of people who may have found Christ, but need to relearn so much of “religion” for Him to make a real difference in their lives and witness.  So rewarding to see people from other religions come face to face with the truth of God’s word for the first time! 

 Today I responded to my 230th request by email since September through various Campus Crusade websites running Arc Assist at their response mechanism.  There have been about that many replies.

It’s simply amazing.  Would you consider becoming an email volunteer also?