Grateful Acknowledgements

As this year draws to a close, Brett and I would like to take a moment and say some very BIG THANKS to some really great people...

Jim*** and Linda

Jeff and BJ

Shorty and Patty

Todd and Laura

Michael and Laura

Robin and Anita

Danny and Sarah

David and Shirley

Lisa

Barry and Glenda

Salisbury Christian Fellowship

Jill

Francis and Betty

Brent and Annette

Ken and Kay

Nick and Tiffany

Jack and Debbie

Jay

Anthony

Betty

Bruce

Your financial gifts throughout this first year were amazing. We told you that we were called to go and you not only supported us in prayer, but you also gave us gifts to help sustain us. Thank you for trusting us to do what God has called us to do! We realize that when you start naming names, you may miss somebody. If we missed you, please forgive us! ***For the use of the truck and trailer! God paved the way!

Pastor Brandon and our RWOC family

Thank you for your continued prayer support and for releasing us to the call of God in our lives. There have been many times this year that I've had to remember what you said when you sent us...right when the string has been stretched to it's max, is when the archer "kisses" the bow and then the release. I know many of you reading this may not understand that statement, but believe us, we do! We are so grateful that you allowed us time to share our hearts!

Joe and Melissa

Thank you for taking care of all our "stuff" here. We can not express how blessed we feel knowing that you've got us covered here. We realize it's a lot, but knowing you're handling it, means we can rest and know that it's being done right.

Mark and Arretha

Thank you so very much for letting us borrow a car and taking care of the gas while we were here. That was awesome! Being able to get around and not shuffle cars between people is a true blessing!

Pastor Chris and High Rock West

Thank you for allowing us to come and share our hearts about Ten Thousand Homes and the passion we have for our corner of South Africa! Also, thank you for the Operation Christmas Child outing. I know you may have thought I was a little crazy, just remember, I get it from my dad! 

David and Kim

Thank you for inviting us to your small group! We feel like we are now family with John, Janet, Maria, Chad, Riley, Reagan, Jimmy and Wendy. Thank you all for filling a suitcase for the children that we serve every Wednesday! Reagan, when I think about your prayer, I still tear up! Riley, I can't wait for the children to see your picture! 

Dee Ascuye

Thank you for inviting us to speak at your small group. It was such a great time getting to see the ladies and being able to tell a few stories about what God is doing in South Africa. Thank you to all the ladies that pray for us each and every day, this is beautiful to know! Also, words will never be able express how much we loved the gift! I haven't used it yet, but I've got some shopping to do on iTunes!!

Salvation Army

Thank you for giving us an opportunity to share our hearts about South Africa!

Granite Quarry Elementary School

Oh Wow!!! I had such a great time sharing the differences between the United States and South Africa! Thank you so very much for that opportunity! To the teachers...thank you for letting us wind your kids up on the last day before Christmas break and thank you for all you do.

Erwin CYC

Thank you Maria Freeman for inviting us to come and share with the CYC. Our time may have been short, however, I believe with all my heart that God revealed some things to those young people that day!

New supporters

Many of you may have met us briefly at RWOC, High Rock West, or through one of our family members, yet you have still chosen to support us and our passion for South Africa. We do not take that lightly! THANK...YOU!!!

Leonard and Carol...better known as Dad and Mom

From the time we said we're going, you've supported us. You have given above and beyond anything that we could have expected. We are so grateful that you flew us home this year so we could spend it with family. Thank you for our new "toys!" You've made our lives so much easier with the purchase of these items. SO..MUCH..EASIER!! Thank you for a bed to sleep in, a hot shower, and for getting up and making breakfast. Mom, you've set the bar really high for me to jump when we get back! We love you both so very much for ALL you've done!

Michael, Laura, John, Milo and Hannah

Thank you for understanding this call on our lives and for releasing Mom and Dad...Bubbie and Pawpaw...to South Africa. Thank you for loving us. We miss you everyday, however, we know that when we're about God's business, He's about our business. 

Thank You God for bringing such wonderful people into our lives. Thank You for moving on their hearts to support us through prayer and through their finances. We are so very, very grateful for the many blessings You've caused to overtake us, both while we were in South Africa, and while we've been home. We pray a blessing on each and everyone listed here. We pray a blessing on their homes and their businesses. Your Word says give and it will given to you, good measure, pressed down, shall men give unto you. Overtake each one with blessings that they can not contain! 

In Jesus Name, Amen!

Leaving one home

...heading  to our other home. It's tough to say goodbye to those I've come to love with my whole heart, however, can't wait to love on my family that has had my whole heart for much longer. 

Our last day on base was filled with beauty as Kacy Chaffin told Mama Charity and her five sweet babies that thy are getting a house!!! 

This is family! Kacy is single and is trying to adopt Lifa. Mama Charity is a woman who's had a hard life and five beautiful children. For two years Mama Kacy, yes that's what the children call her, has been loving on and speaking life to Mama Charity about the goodness and the love of God. For two years Mama Kacy has been doing family...whether it's Sunday lunch or going to the hospital to visit Given after he was burned...they've been doing family. 

For so many, family are only your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles. However! If we believe in Jesus, then we are all a part of the family of God. 

Throughout this year I've watched Kacy be Mama Charity's family. I've watched her weep over Given, for too many reasons to tell here. I've watched her laugh with joy at the beautiful kids at Sunday lunch. I've heard the stories of baby poop all over her, heading to church, with nothing to change into. I've watched her do family when she had nothing left. Her capacity was shot. Her heart was broken and she was just plain tired and questioning her calling. AND YET!! Through all of it, she's leaned into God. She has leaned into Psalm 68:5-6 That days that God IS A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His dwelling place. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing. 

Yesterday, I was invited into the family. I know I could have walked in at any time, because the door is always open. However, I just didn't. I was going to stand in the background as a piece of artwork for Mama Charity's new house was being painted. I was going to just stand back, and allow the moment if being told she's getting a house, be between Mama Kacy and Mama Charity. 

In the depths of my heart I wanted to put my handprint on that artwork. I didn't want to stand back and watch, but I wanted to be invited in and I was. Kacy asked if I wanted to put handprint on the picture. Not until she asked did I realize this desire. That's the way it generally is, you don't realize how much you're missing out on something until you get to be a part of it. 

So I got to be a part of the announcement that Mama Charity is getting a house. I got to be a part of a dance party to celebrate. I got to be FAMILY. 

Everyday Life....

in South Africa IS so full of contradictions. You see, we live in a place where, just 10 minutes from our base is a place called Casterbridge. Inside this little area, I can have breakfast, being served by a wonderful waiter named Vusi, at Magnolia's, shop in little boutique shops that carry the latest fashions, get a chocolate shot, and, should I choose, get a manicure, pedicure, and massage. Then I can leave this quaint little quiet place, drive 5 minutes, and come face to face with utter poverty.

I've seen poverty in the United States. I've seen children who come to school and haven't eaten anything since they left school the day before. I've seen children that wear hand me downs because it's all they have. I've seen these things first hand in the US. But here...

Here...this poverty slaps you in the face. Here...it screams at you to notice. Here....well here...it's different. Here, we see children who haven't eaten for days. Here, we meet children who have no idea who their fathers are or where their mothers are. Here, we meet children that get dropped off with an their Go-Go or their Auntie so that mom or dad can go find work. Go-Go or Auntie may already be raising other children and there are just not enough hands, not enough love, not enough food to go around. Here...we just can't help every single child, every single child led home, every single Go-Go or Ja-Ja we want to help However!

Here...here we see that showing love and building relationships with who you can help means that they will learn to pass it on. Just like yesterday. Yesterday, two of our workers came to base very upset. They needed to speak with Kacy RIGHT AWAY. Our workers, Sifiso and Lucky, who we have built great relationships with, saw a little boy walking home from school with NOTHING on but his school sweater...full of holes...and his trousers...with a tear all the way down his right butt cheek, so every single step he took, his little butt could be seen. Sifiso and Lucky knew that we could help! How did they know? Simply because we've helped them and we've loved them. Kacy wasn't there, but Brett was, and after text messages and phone calls, a plan was made!

The plan? To take a few clothes to this little one at school and try to find out his story. So! With a bag of clothes in hand, some of which Sifiso bought from his home, Brett, Sifiso, and Lucky headed to Masoi to find a little boy with his backside hanging out. They went to the school and were able to find him and, after speaking with the principle, they took the assistant and headed to where the little boy was staying. 

His story is one that is all too common here. His mother died and the little boy was left with his Go-Go. He doesn't know where Go-Go is, because she said she was going to a funeral and she left him with a man that she had been seeing. This man, God bless him, has been doing all that he can for the little boy, but he doesn't have much either. This child has fallen, as so many of Africa's orphans have, through the cracks. We will be trying, in the coming days, to try our very best to seal up that crack. We will try with every fiber of our being and every resource we can use, to help this child find a home. We will try!!

One more quick word about Sifiso and Lucky! When asked "why did you do this?" They answered with their hearts when they said "We are community development. This is what we do!"

So here...right here in this world of contradictions...we smile, we hug and kiss sweet children, we provide food and clothes, we build forever relationships, and we love with the Father's love!

Thoughts from Quiet Time

I'm currently reading the Old Testament, the book of Exodus. These are some thoughts that have "JUMPED" off the page. Feel free to comment about any questions you see!

Ex. 1:12-13 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. 

      The more we, as Christians, are oppressed, the more the Word will multiply and spread? Is being oppressed by people worth the cost to spread the love of Jesus? I can say YES! Can you?

Ex. 1:17 the midwives feared God. 

     What did they know about the God of the Israelites that they feared Him? 

      What stories had they heard the Israelites telling about God and how He cared for the Israelites?

Ex. 1:20 God blessed the midwives with their own families. 

      The midwives, it appears, had faith in the God of the Israelites. 

Ex. 2:3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 

      Moses' mother's name was Jochebed. Her name means Jehovah Glorified. What faith she must have had in  Jehovah to be able to trust that her baby would be taken care of! Could you have put your child in a basket, in the Nile? I've seen the Nile, been in a boat in the Nile and I can say for absolute certain...it would take a GREAT faith for me to put my child in a basket and put them in the water with the hippos and crocodiles! 

      Moses' sister must have had great courage to approach Pharaoh's daughter and ask permission to find someone to nurse the baby. 

      Jachebed nursed her own child and, according to vs 9, Pharaoh's daughter paid her to do it! So God provided for Jachebed!

Ex. 3:8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

      The promise to be brought out was a promise before they were brought out! It was a promise before Moses even took the job. God's promises are for us at the beginning, middle, and end of our problems. They are His promise to us whether we believe them or not. Let's choose to believe. 

Ex. 3:22 Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians. 

      If they wouldn't have asked, they wouldn't have received? God was also providing for the next generation. Notice it says they will put the silver, gold and clothes on their sons and daughters. These same sons and daughters are the ones who got to go into the promised land!!

Ex. 9:20 Those officials of Pharaoh who feared the word of The Lord hurried to bring their slaves and their livestock inside. 

      Even in a pagan land, there were those that feared The Lord and listened to Moses. 

These are just some thoughts that The Lord brought out to me. I hope they spark some thoughts within you also! 

A teaser for the next blog....how would you react if you were invited to a Muslim home?

Do You KNOW?

Do you know that you are the disciple that Jesus loves? Do you know it deep in the very recesses of your heart? These are the questions posed to me yesterday, by my Father, during my worship time. I was listening to Great Is Your Love by Planetshakers when my Father spoke this to me...

Until you get a true revelation of how much I love you, and you realize that you are the disciple that Jesus loves, can you truly share the love of Jesus with the world? A professor understands what they're teaching. They know the subject inside out, upside down, forwards and backwards...they KNOW. You need to KNOW the subject of My love for you INSIDE OUT, UPSIDE DOWN, FORWARDS and BACKWARDS. YOU need to know that My love for you is greater than anything you can ever know. I live in you. ALL of Me lives in you. ALL of My love. ALL of MY peace. ALL of MY joy. ALL of ME! My LOVE for YOU is great. My love NEVER fails! My love is ALWAYS there for you.

Romans 8:35-39 Who (you and I are who's) shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced (are we really convinced?!) that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, (I think that covers anything that the world could throw at us or that we could ever do) will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Are you convinced yet that you are the disciple that Jesus loves? For out of the heart the mouth speaks and life and death are in the power of the tongue. When we speak out that we don't know or believe how big His love is for us, we are speaking death to something that God wants LIFE spoken to. No fear or shame can take that love away. Speak out! Speak out loud! SPEAK out until you KNOW it in the very depth of your being!!! I AM THE DISCIPLE THAT JESUS LOVES!!

Dreams and God

This week found me somewhat homesick. Oh who am I kidding...A...LOT...HOMESICK!!! Milo, my grandson, celebrated his first birthday and I missed it! There have been reunions, births, deaths, celebrations, etc. that I've missed since we got here and, for some reason, I felt it all on Monday and Tuesday. There were many tears and many "oh pitiful me" moments on those two days. However, as the week has progressed, God has revealed some things to me both through His Word and through loving on me in worship. I would like to share those things with you.

Tuesday night I had a dream that went like this...Brett and I were walking along and He kept going off and leaving me. I would tell him to wait, I'm slipping and I can't keep up, and he would just look at me and say "come on." Now if you know Brett, you know that this is not how he is with me. He's usually behind me making sure I'm not falling OR he's in front of me holding my hand to be sure I don't fall back. Back to the dream! After a minute, a strange man showed up and all I could say to him was "go away!" Now, there are times when dreams come from eating too much pizza and then there are dreams that you know God wants to tell you about. This was the latter.

I asked God what the dream was about and this is what He told me. You and Brett have different gifts. Brett's gifts and talents are being used in the physical and people can see what he is accomplishing. Your gifts are more in the spiritual. Encouragement is the gift that I've chosen to place in you. You hug those who are down, you give flowers, and you speak words of encouragement. Nobody else knows you're doing this except the person to whom you do it. Because of this, you feel that your not being seen. This is where the strange man comes in...this is the enemy trying to convince you that you're not good enough and that your gifts are not good enough. This, my beloved, is not the truth! I created you different and full of wonder. Get into My Word and remind yourself of what I say about you. NOT what the world says and NOT what the enemy says and NOT what your un-renewed mind says. Renew your mind to Me daily! Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. All that said, let me share with you what happened when I did start to renew my mind to what God says about me.

Wendy, I Am your strength and your song! I placed the song deep within you. It's from Me and I want you to sing and dance and trust that Father is right there with you. Father, Daddy, is dancing over you and I want you to dance with Me. Trust Me to lead. I know the way may be new and the steps unfamiliar, but when you learn it, the dance is beautiful. There will be dips but trust that I will not let you fall! You may feel like you're falling, but TRUST ME! There will be turns where you'll feel I've let you go, but know that I never let go of you and let you turn on your own, but I hold the very tips of your fingers like a ballerina! I've always got you! Trust Me to lead and then WOW! What a dance!! 

As for the song...you just need to open your mouth and sing My praise. The notes will come. They may be all over the staff but keep singing, don't stop! As you sing and continue to open your mouth with My praise, the notes will take their proper place in the staff and suddenly...Without warning...you'll begin to hear an amazing symphony and those singing with you will be an amazing opera of My love and joy in, not only your life, but also in the lives of those I've sent you to South Africa to serve. I am your strength and joy-don't lean into anyone or anything else. Allow Me to be your staff. Remember that in every opera there is joy and sadness, but during the sadness of your opera, you have a joy that does not leave you. The notes of peace and trust are sometimes the hardest to reach on the scale, but when I'm your staff and you lean into Me, then  you'll be able to reach them when others are struggling to find the note. Help them reach the note. Show them that I am the staff and, if allowed, I will arrange the notes of their lives and when they allow Me to write the music of their lives....WOW!! WHAT...A...SONG...

After the Lord showed these things to me, my mom sent me an SMS (text) that said she heard on the TV that Africa is the land of songs...OK Africa! Let's you and I sing for the glory of our God!

Renovations...

....both physical and spiritual have a lot in common! I believe there are around four steps to renovation....

1. Identify what needs to be done. 

2. Tear out anything that's not needed or wanted. 

3. Start rebuilding. 

4. Finished product. 

1. Identify what needs to be done. 

Here at base we are renovating the "big house."  This is no small job and a lot of prayer and thought have gone into it. There have been meetings on top of meetings to discuss what needs to be done and the best way to complete it. The whole house is getting made over. 

I believe God starts renovations on our heart the same way. These are not always renovations that we may want to do, never the less, when we meet with Him, and ask Him to reveal a place that we need His help with, He will reveal it! Let's use trusting Him as an example. If we grew up a worrier and our mom was a worrier and our grandmother was a worrier, God may begin to put His finger on that area and say, "do you trust Me?"  You can be "nope, I don't God. My whole family are worriers and I'm not going to change!" The Holy Spirit is a gentleman and He will not help you fix something that you won't identify as something needing fixed.  OR! Your response may be "I'm trying but I don't know how, show me." That second response, I believe, is what God wants to hear us say! It is allowing God to put His finger on an area, identifying the problem and wanting to fix it.  Now comes step two!

2. Tear out anything that's not needed or wanted. 

In the "big house" they have started this process, and just let me say, it's hard work! They are knocking out walls...pay attention!...tearing out the ceiling, ripping out the plumbing, and getting rid of ANYTHING that stands in the way of the renovations. 

Knocking down walls...ummmm...how many of us need to walk down some walls? How many of need to tear out our old thinking and grab onto what God says in His Word? We hang onto old hurts and those walls start going up. We worry incessantly and it becomes like an electrical wire...anytime someone speaks of something we worry about, we flip the switch and our energy starts running crazy and in places it's not supposed to go and electrocuting innocent bystanders.  Someone talks about someone who's hurt us and our plumbing starts gushing out all that hurt and soaking anybody thats in the way! In essence we've just built a house that needs God to help us tear out all the wires that spark, all the plumbing that gushes and all the walls that are built up that keep us from others. 

This is, I believe, harder than identifying the problem. This is the point where we have to decide what needs to stay and what absolutely must go. This is the point of no return. Once you smash that hammer through that wall, once you rip out that wire, once you smash that pipe...there's no going back! It hurts for awhile because you've become comfortable with your walls right where they are and you don't know what your room is going to look like if you tear it down. Thing is...once the wall is down, and all the mangled mess of wires and plumbing are gone, you realize the room is much bigger and brighter! You realize that God truly only wants what's best for you!

3. Start rebuilding. 

In the "big house" all the gutting is complete and now they're starting the rebuilding process. This is the slower part of renovations. To do things right and in excellence we need to take our time. We don't want to just slap up bricks haphazardly or not use the right wires to wire with. We want to do it right, so that, when someone comes to see the renovations that we've made, they won't go "ooook, did you do this yourself?" But instead they'll say " WOW!!! Oh my gosh you guys did a great job!" "I want to stay in the big house!"

Renovating our heart also takes time. It takes spending time in God's Word and in His presence. It takes surrounding yourself with people who will speak truth, in love, to you. It takes leaning into God, trusting that He has a much better house that He wants you to live in. He has a house where the walls breathe His very breath! The electricity that runs through it is that of the Holy Spirit and it is pure light! The house that God has for us has plumbing that is gushing with the blood of Jesus! The house that God has for us is fearfully and wonderfully made and there is no flaw found in it. It is the house that we run into and we say "WOW!! I want to live here!"

4. Finished product. 

The "big house" is not yet complete, however, one day we will be able to see a competed "big house." 

God is always working on our heart. He is always showing us, if we let Him, areas that need to be either tweaked or full on torn apart. Our Father wants what is best for us!

If you feel you are in need if renovation in any area of your life, I encourage you to...

1. Ask God to identify what needs to be done. 

2. Give Him permission to help you start tearing out what is not wanted or needed. 

3. Ask Him to help you start rebuilding by His Word. 

4. Know that the finished product is going to happen, it may just take a bit. 

Best Way

Hello blog readers!! Question of the day...what is the best way for to keep up with Brett and I an what we're doing in South Africa...blog, tweet, Facebook, email, a Facebook page like Hearts for ZA? Please respond this is important to us! Thanks!!

Spiritual Lessons in Nature

I'm going to start this post with a horrible thing that happened and the spiritual lessons that God showed me in the healing process. I'm going to be very transparent and, I hope, that you'll take something wonderful away from a horrible happening. Today started as any other day. I got up, I turned on the hot water in the shower, I stepped into the shower and grabbed the cold water knob and got the shock of my life! LITERALLY! 240 volts of electricity seized my body. Somehow...GOD...I was able to scream, which brought Brett running. Somehow...GOD...I was released from the hold before I lost consciousness. I will be honest, it scared the living daylights out of me. It took me nearly an hour to stop crying and that was only until someone asked "how are you." How am I?! Well...I'm living and that's good but I'm also terrified, angry, frustrated, and emotional! 

Now my days on Wednesday are usually spent out with some wonderful ladies getting food ready to feed children, but today that was not to be. God and I needed to talk!! My Father is good and the enemy is bad and I needed to hear from my Father. I'm so glad that my friend Kacy had the foresight to say "you need to stay back and you need to talk with God," because she was right! So I headed off to the Botanical Gardens, where I knew I could find a quiet place and lean into my Father and His love. I'm going to share with you some insights that He shared with me. 

It all started with this. I don't know if you can tell or not, but this tree has another tree, a different species, growing out of it. Now in the rain forest, this is not a problem because they feed one another. However, if you look at this the way the Lord showed me, you can see the following. First, we are the tree. We are to be like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper. Psalm 1:3 OR They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor. Isaiah 61:3b What the Lord showed me about this, and how it pertains to the events of the morning, is this...that second species is a parasite. It's not supposed to be there. It represents things like fear, anger, frustration, and unforgiveness. These parasites wants to suck out all the nutrients of the Word that have been planted in our tree. Nutrients like trust, peace, joy, and forgiveness. The thing about parasites is that they start out small and you hardly notice them but then, as time goes on, they start to grow and they start to make you question God's goodness, mercy, grace, love, compassion, peace, and joy. There's only one way to kill a parasite like fear and its to trust in the Word and the goodness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Only one way to kill a frustrated parasite and that's leaning into Gods peace. The ONLY way to kill any of the enemies parasites are through the Word of God! Lean into Him and His Word an the parasite must die because it can't survive on the Word!

Do you see the thorns that are on this tree?!?! This limb was hanging right where I needed to place my hand in order to cross over some wet stones. Had I not looked before I reached I could have punctured my hand. I believe The Lord was showing me to look before I just blindly trust someone or something. This branch represents those people that just want to puncture you and leave wounds instead of helping you through and over the slick stones of life. Be discerning of those that you trust with your whole heart. 

Stagnate water is dirty, smelly, and lifeless. I encourage you not to get stagnant in reading your Bible because that is where we learn the lessons of Jesus. Don't get stagnant in your prayer life because you don't know who your prayers are covering. Don't get stagnant in your giving, your worship, or your fellowship with other believers. If the enemy can get you comfortable, he will, and then suddenly you're stagnant and when you're stagnant you're lifeless. 

Be so full of God that you splash out on everyone around you the way a waterfall splashes over rocks. Be full of His joy, His peace, His love, His mercy...be Full of HIM...so that those around you can't help but get wet with Him. 

Last one!

This picture should be pretty easy to understand...the way of The Lord is the narrow way. This is the place where you must learn to follow Jesus and trust that He really knows where you're going. This is the place that, even when you have the fright of your life, you can say I WILL TRUST YOU!! This is the place where you lean fully into scripture like Isaiah 41:8-10 I pulled you in from all over the world, called you in from every dark corner of the earth, telling you, "you're My servant, serving on My side. I've picked you. I haven't dropped you. Don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I'm your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." Message

YWAM DTS WHITE RIVER 2013

What To Do?!

OK folks I'm going to need some feedback on this blog!! Things have been absolutely crazy since we got back and graduated from DTS. It's hard to believe that it's only been a month. So many great things happened on our outreach that I haven't even told you about and so many great things are happening right now that I haven't told you about. My issue is this...how do I balance telling you about the past AND fill you in on the future? Also!! Do you want to continue hearing about the outreach or are you more interested in what is happening right now? I need your feedback!!

I do want to give you a taste of right now. Brett and I will be working with the Community Development Team, which is lead by John and Carla Shaw. The CD team develops relationships in the community doing things such as feedings, tea time, and building homes. Our heart is all about relationship and getting those relationships to the point of family. John and Carla have been clear about mine and Brett's role for the next few months...watch them and see how they do it. In other words, take things slow and pay attention to how things are done. Their heart was not for us have to jump in and swim right off of DTS. Didn't happen!!

Last Wednesday, Sifiso, our newest home owner and worker on base, went to Carla and wanted to know if she could take Lizzy, his wife, to the dentist. Carla had just left base and was heading into Pretoria for our staff retreat. She sent me a whatsapp and asked if I could take her. "Yes we can" was our response. I say we because Brett and I are still learning the area and I needed him to go with me. We thought that maybe Lizzy just needed to have a tooth pulled and all would be well...NOT THE CASE! We got to the house and I knew as soon as I saw her that this was not going to be an easy visit to the dentist. The left side of her face was so swollen that it was actually moving down into her neck. Lizzy is very open and welcoming and I knew she was in a lot of pain when she just went and got in the car. No hug...no welcome...she was in terrible pain.

This next part has way too much detail to tell you, so I'm going to make it short and sweet. Went to dentist in White River. He saw her, took an x-ray, and said the following words..."she needs an IV antibiotic today and they may even admit her. This is life-threatening!" Life-threatening was not what we were prepared to hear. Took her to government hospital. Oh my! Can't even begin to tell you this chaotic story. Finally got back with the dentist there. Told him what other dentist said and his response was..."she just needs to take these oral antibiotics and come back Friday. She'll be fine until then!" I know we're not supposed to judge but, to me, he seemed uncaring and rude to her.

Now we have two completely different opinions! What do we do? How do we handle this situation? So glad we all have whatsapp on our phones! We were sending text like there was not tomorrow! Finally we came to a decision...take her to the private hospital. At the private hospital we had to wait about two hours in the Casualty, ER, until they called her back. Upon calling her back, they went right to work. She got three antibiotics and pain medicine through an IV. The Dr that treated her here was compassionate but firm about not ignoring swelling like this. He also said it was good that we brought her on in. The swelling could have choked her to death by Friday had we left it untreated. OK, then! Right decision made!

While Lizzy was being treated, Brett took Sifiso to get a few things that Lizzy would be able to eat and drink. While they were at the grocery store, Brett asked if the children like cereal. They have three precious children that have so much love to give! Sifiso said "they like Cornflakes" and so it was the big box! Finally all done at the hospital! Lizzy is pain free for a little bit and actually smiling. We got to the house and the children, who had been so concerned about their mommy, came running out to check on her. They wouldn't let go of her hand. It was beautiful! We put the groceries on the table and they were absolutely unaware of anything but their mom. UNTIL!! The big box of Cornflakes came in! Those kids eyes lit up like it was Christmas!! All three of them attacked Brett with kisses and hugs and THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

What can I say, except that in that moment, I knew two things...life is precious and even the small things can bring so much joy! To sum up our day...for about the equivalent of $200 two wonderful things happened...a life was saved and three children got to enjoy a great big box of Cornflakes! So for those of you who ask "what are you going to do in South Africa?" This is your answer!!

The Day of Excitement Continued!!

Ok, I’ve told you all about getting locked in the bathroom, the finding of a snake, and the adventures of getting stitches in your hand. Now, I’m going to tell you about what was going on with the rest of our team and with the family.

The excitement continued with the arrival of part of our team that had not been there for the first week. One of our team members, Sifiso, was having some problems getting his papers from the South African government. Because of this Sifiso, his wife Gugu, and their son, Christian were not able to begin our outreach journey with us. Today they arrived! However, the team was down in the field and they had no idea that they were there. Cut to the bringing in of the harvest.

This is the first time the family had planted the land and they had been praying for a great harvest. They got one! Because there was so much to bring in, our team paid for a tractor with a trailer to help bring it in. You could hear the family and the team singing and rejoicing all the way up the mountain! If we, as a team, had not been there to help them bring in the harvest it could have taken up to two months just to get the field cut, stacked, and separated. We did it in three days!! So of course there was great rejoicing!! I’m hoping that you can picture this in your imagination because right now there’s no data to upload photos. The team is all rejoicing over the harvest and they look up and see Sifiso, Gugu, and little Christian. Let’s just say that the noise level…oh I mean rejoicing…went up 10 octaves! Corn and pumpkins were flying everywhere. The team was hugging, the family was hugging, and everyone was singing and laughing! It was such a beautiful moment and to be honest, it made me cry. Of course, the tears were a mixture of rejoicing for the harvest, the rest of the team being there, and Brett’s cut hand.

Remember when I said I handle things good in the moment? Well the moment was over; it was time to fall apart. Here’s the place where I bare my heart and become very transparent. I truly was rejoicing about the harvest and the rest of the team being there, but I was also having a pity party.

What was I thinking?! My husband is off, somewhere in Africa, getting stitches in his hand with, what I hope, are clean instruments and I’m not with him! Not that I could do anything but at least he wouldn’t be alone. If it were me, he would be with me. Blah, blah, blah. All the negative thoughts I could possibly have are hitting my brain like a locomotive. At home I would have a cell phone and would be able to keep in touch with him, but here I have nothing. The team is out rejoicing like nothing has happened and I’m falling apart both inside and out. Lafo happens to see and, Lafo being Lafo, asked what was wrong. The tears fell even harder and faster and in the midst I was able to get out, “I’m really happy about all that’s going on but nobody has asked about Brett.” She looked at me with that what in the world are you talking about look and then said “what happened to Brett?” The team had no idea what had happened! They just knew that Petros has been called and needed to head back to the house. They thought he was in the room taking a nap. Of course when they found out they were shocked and worried about him, too.

This is that place where trusting in God crashes headlong into every negative thought the enemy can through at you and, you can easily get into a place of fear. It did happen to me and the only way I knew to move past it was to cry out to God and rest in His peace, so I did. I put my headphones on and listened/sang worship songs until my heart and mind were at rest in the Healer! My head knew that God was going to take care of Brett but my head and my heart had to get in the same place. We all have those moments in life. It’s what we do in the moment that matters. Do we continue to be afraid and let our mind go crazy with everything that could happen or do we go to the Word and rest in the scripture that says fear not? Here are just a few that give me comfort and I encourage you today, if you are stuck in a moment of fear, to read them over and over until you feel the literal peace of God that, HE HAS PROMISED, will transcend all your understanding!

 Psalm 56: 10-11 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Exciting Day!!

Raines, Brett and I all stayed back from the field today while the rest of the team and, all but three of the kids, went to finish the field. Sam, fifteen, stayed back with the younger ones and did the following…kept the fire going, washed dishes, filled the water barrels, and watched the younger ones…yes, he knows how to work! Our exciting day started as follows…

Since I didn’t go down to the field to work, I decided to have a hot bath. Let me describe to you where I took my bath so that a little further down you will get how funny things were. Petros and Elizabeth have three homes on their property. Standing down the hill and looking up you will see the following…right in the center is the main house, to the right is where the boys sleep, and to the left is where the girls sleep. Now, we girls take our bath in the girls’ house, makes sense, and the bathroom is on the backside of the house next to the field…I’m hoping you have a clear picture of this in your head. So! I went to the house, took my bucket bath, cleaned up my mess, and proceeded to unlock the door. Door WILL NOT unlock. Don’t panic! Just keep working the key, sometimes you just have to hold your mouth just right. Don’t panic! Take the key out, re-insert it into the key hole and try again, nope. Don’t panic! I know! Open the window, which opens onto a field, and yell for Brett. Brett! Wait a little bit, no response. Brett! Wait a little, still no response. Don’t panic! You’re just locked in the bathroom; eventually someone will miss you…won’t they?! BRETT!!! Still no response! At this point desperation is creeping in and I decide that if no one comes maybe I can fit through the window. Yeah Right!! DON’T PANIC!! Brett!! Raines!! Brett!! Raines!!  SOMEBODY…ANYBODY!!!! Finally, Raines hears me, goes to get Brett and I get out of the bathroom!! This is the start to a very exciting, interesting, hopefully never to be repeated day!

Our next excitement came in the form of a snake. Yes, a snake. Raines was cleaning up around some brick and stones that were on the property when he picked up a cinder block. Curled up all nice and cozy under the block was a cute little three foot snake. Praise the Lord none of the children had messed with the block and that Raines was the one that found it. As I’ve discovered since being in South Africa, Raines has a knack for finding and killing snakes. Or maybe I should say, snakes have a way of finding Raines and he has a way of lovingly showing them the doorway to heaven. You don’t mess around with snakes in Africa! You see a snake; you kill a snake…that’s the way it works! Ok! Snake dead, excitement over; let’s get on with the day. And please! No more excitement!

Not…going…to…happen! Raines had asked me to peel some potatoes for lunch, which I was doing, when Brett came out and asked if I would hand wash a few of his things, to which, I said “if you’ll peel potatoes, I’ll wash clothes.” OK! So, I’m getting some things together to wash, preparing to get the water in the buckets, when Brett comes up to me and says the following words…”we have a little problem.” I look at him funny and realize he’s holding his hand and blood is dripping from between his fingers. Now, when Brett Roseman says “we have a little problem” and not “just give me a band aid” I know…we’ve got a problem! He had decided to peel potatoes with his brand new pocket knife. Everything was going along just fine until he started to drop a potato. As the potato started falling, he tried to catch it—bad idea! The knife slipped and cut him right between his pointer finger and middle finger on his left hand. The cut was clean, thank God, but it was about 1” long and about 1 ½” deep. In the moment I’m pretty good at handling what’s going on and so is Brett. Our biggest issue was not knowing if he should go to the hospital or the private clinic in town AND if anybody could go with him. Raines got on the phone and called Petros, who had just made it to the field. Petros called for a bakkie to get him home so that he could help Brett with the particulars of where to go and how to get there. So we wait…

Finally a bakkie, I use this term very lightly here, appears and Petros gets out of the front. We hear him on the phone with Luciano, leader of the YWAM Swaziland base, and the following words are leaving his mouth, “this bakkie will not make it to town.” Ummm, ok, now what?! No problem! This will at least get us to the taxi stop at the bottom of the hill and we can take a taxi into town. Ok then let’s go. Brett, Petros and the driver all pile into the bakkie and down the hill they go. At one point, this is so much funnier when Brett tells it, Brett starts to realize that this bakkie is very quiet. Wait a minute! It’s not even running!!! It’s coasting down the hill!! You may not be laughing at this but, I’m telling you, if you could see Brett tell it you would laugh till you cried!! The adventure is just getting started! Finally get to the taxi stop and jump in a taxi. Need to stop here and describe the taxi to you. A taxi in Africa is generally a mini-van, driven by someone who may or may not have a legal driver’s license, and generally has a sign that says “maximum 14 passenger capacity.” Brett is seated on the back row of a taxi that is carrying 17 adults and 2 children, making a half-dozen or so stops along the way and is trying not to bleed on anyone. By the time Brett got to the clinic it had been two hours since he cut his hand.

Clinic time! Petros helps Brett get signed in at the clinic and the receptionist says “have a seat and the doctor will be with you shortly.” An hour later, the doctor appears and asks “what’s the problem” as they enter his office/examine room. Brett says “I cut my hand badly and need sutures.” They immediately turn and leave the room and the doctor directs him down a hallway, up a few steps, to a chair and says “wait there, while I have the nurse prepare a tray, and I’ll be right there.” Fast forward an hour…no nurse, no doctor and its lunch time. Brett had gotten to the point where he was looking around for someone to ask “where’d everybody go,” when a lady, who had seen him sitting there, said, “you’ve been sitting here awhile, who’s your doctor?” To which Brett answered “I don’t remember his name, oh wait, there he is now.” The doctor, who was finally walking up the steps, saw Brett and said, while slapping his forehead with his hand, “I’m so sorry, I forgot!” Enter the treatment room!!

The treatment room looked like a room from the twilight zone. Think 1940’s/1950’s! I think this is the place where his thoughts went to “Jesus, could You just heal me now, so I don’t have to go through this?” Nurse gets the tray prepared, doctor comes in, Brett shows him the cut and the doctor says “the knife must have been very sharp.” Ya think?! Brett sits on one side of the table, doctor sits on the other. Doctor numbs the area and Brett has to help move his hand around so that the doctor can stitch him up. It was an awkward place to have to put stitches. There were seven stitches, really needed nine or ten, and Brett made it all the way to five before needing to put his head down and not watch. He’s a tough fella! Doctor wraps it up and instructs him to come back Tuesday to change dressing and then Friday to have the stitches removed. “UMMMM, let me think about this…NO!!! I can change my own dressing and remove the stitches. I will not be coming back here!”

Stay tuned! There is so much more that happened on this day that I haven’t even touched on! 

More from yesterday!

Yesterday, I felt that I had come to a stopping place before I was actually finished with the day, so…I had a one on one time with Elizabeth that I would like to share with you. Elizabeth was sharing how there are times when she gets “weary in well doing.” So we decided to look up Galatians 6:8-10 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. I had taken a study Bible with me, and at times I wondered why! However, in this moment I understood the reason for this particular Bible. We were able to follow many references that were great encouragement for Elizabeth! When one is raising 18 children ONE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT!!

After one on one’s we had small group. Avelina led group tonight and she read from Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. She spent some time explaining the importance of looking on what is good in a person, in our day, when we’re working, etc. From here she decided to have the girls tell what made them laugh at some point in the day. Thinking about that evening makes me laugh even now. These girls are so shy when you ask them something that you pretty much have to prod them till they’ll start and then you can hardly get them to hush!! What makes it really funny for me is this…we can barely get them to start talking in our little group BUT get them in with the rest of the family and team and they’ll start singing at the drop of a hat! I should understand this as there are times when it’s easier for me to sing than to talk. This next part is directed at my family…STOP LAUGHING!!

 Friday, April 12, 2013

As most of you may know, I have, in the last year, been diagnosed with a severe peanut/tree nut allergy. This is an issue being that the staple protein in the house is, you got it…peanut butter!!I I tried my best to “roll with the punches” but this particular morning there was none doing. Brett and I were on breakfast duty and it was tea, coffee, and bread with jam, butter and peanut butter. Let me just say here that I do not suggest taking Benadryl on an empty stomach! I got the water boiled for the tea and coffee but that was it. Brett sent me back to bed! I finally got up at 10:15 and that’s because I made myself get up! Since I stayed back I was in charge of lunch…rice and one egg each. Was quite pleased that the rice turned out because I had to eyeball the water and the rice and that is just not my strong suit! The team got back right after the last egg was fried and so they were able to have a hot lunch after working in the field.

We had a bit of “down” time this afternoon, so many of the team did their laundry. No, we don’t have a washing machine and yes, we did it all by hand! In the evening we had our small group and Elizabeth gave her testimony.

Elizabeth married a man who up and left her with two small children. He left and just never came back. After being treated in such a manner, she decided in her heart that she would never marry again. Never say never!! She met Petros and, well…marriage! After they married Elizabeth got very sick. She could not keep anything she ate down or in and no one knew what was wrong with her. She drank all kinds of medicine and nothing seemed to be working. One day, as she was lying in the bed, she decided that she would not drink the medicine anymore. She laid in there and asked God to forgive her and she would serve Him. At that moment she felt the healing power of God touch her body. She knew right then and there that she was healed!! This is the place where she learned to trust God. She got up, went into the kitchen, and told her mom that she was going to the toilet…something that she had not had the strength to do in some time. Her mother tried to get her back to bed but she insisted that was going to go to the toilet. She walked out of the kitchen, down the hill and went to the toilet. She then proceeded to walk back up the hill and back into the kitchen. From that moment on she continued to recover and hasn’t suffered that illness again.

When she finished, I gave my testimony. The girls’ eyes just about popped out of their head when I told them mine and Brett’s testimony. If you don’t know it, please feel free to shoot me a message and I’ll share it with you. In the meantime, know this…I praise God daily for a husband that continues to love me the way Christ loves the church, with lots of grace and abounding mercy. Elizabeth thanked me greatly for telling the girls about my life and for encouraging them to wait for the man that God has planned for them and not to just settle on anyone that happens to come along.

Dinner time and family time came up next. We sang a song and everybody…Petros and Elizabeth included…danced! It was pretty cool, we didn’t understand the words but we sure did enjoy the dance. If I remember correctly it was about God’s provision. Who wouldn’t dance thinking about how God provides for us?!

One last little thought…we got to Swaziland on Monday and, even though we were in the same bed, we were separated by our sleeping bags. This was NOT working for me! I like to be able to at least touch Brett’s foot when I’m sleeping. I know it’s weird, but I’m sure I’m not the only wife that’s like this! Anyway!!! After much “I can’t sleep” from me, Brett fixed the sleeping bags so that my foot could touch his foot. I love my husband!!

More of the Outreach story

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The weather has turned off cold and rainy, so a trip down to work in the field is out of the question. Amazing how quickly it turned…yesterday we were in short sleeves and today we’re all in our coats! Our day was supposed to revolve around cutting more field and going to the church around 2:30 to spend time ministering to the children, instead it turned into going into town and then to the church. Before we headed into town we took some time to have a team meeting and talk about what had spoken to us during our quiet time. We all shared what God had shared with us, but Lafo had a beautiful word that I felt needed written down.

Lafo was reading in Matthew about the birth of Jesus. She talked about Herod and how he was threatened by the birth of Jesus because the wise men said He was to be the King of the Jews. A grown man was afraid of a child! One child shook up an entire kingdom. In the Old Testament Pharaoh wanted the midwives to kill all the male children so that the Jewish people would not multiply. Jesus told the disciples not to turn away the children and that we are to have faith like a child. Her words were beautiful and powerful. I guess the words that struck me the most were…to be a threat to the enemy is to have a child like faith… I’m going to leave that one right there and let you think about it.

After we had a little time as a team, we called Petros and Elizabeth in and spent some time encouraging them. The Lord took me to Ephesians 2:10 For we God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. The Lord had me share that He has prepared this work that Petros and Elizabeth are doing in advance of their saying yes. Not many people have the right kind of heart to take in orphans. The kind of heart that says “it’s not about getting government money, but it’s about giving an orphaned child a Christ-centered home. A home that teaches them their value, encourages them to do well in school and gives them a “mom and dad. That’s the kind of home these children live in with Petros and Elizabeth and it’s the kind of home every child deserves. This man and woman sacrifice so much for these children and, the beautiful thing is, these children know it!

After our time with Petros and Elizabeth came to a close, we headed down the hill to catch a taxi into town. I’m going to stop here and share something else that we talked about in our team meeting. We, as a team, had been spoken over that we “would lay hands on the sick and see miracles.” Well in order to see miracles by the laying on of hands, one must lay hands. When we were in town last, there was a woman that God moved on several of us to pray for. We didn’t. What stopped us? We could make many excuses like it was at the mall and I didn’t know if security might get called, I don’t speak her language or what if God doesn’t heal her. Thing is, those are exactly what I called them…excuses! So, today I decided that I would pray for her if she was there. I would grab one of the Siswati speaking members of the team and we would pray for her…no matter the consequence. She was there and we prayed. There was no instant healing but I believe we planted a seed and that God will send someone to water that seed and then someone else will get to see a harvest. That’s what it’s about in the Kingdom…doing what you’re asked to do in the Word and let God handle the rest.

Got back from town and had to head immediately up the mountain to church to minister to the kids. I will be honest, I was expecting about 50 kids and what I saw was about 120! We started by doing our joy skit. This is really a fun skit to do. It goes like this…one “little child” comes out with her “joy.” The “joy” is something that they really love, like a teddy bear. They walk around the stage showing everyone their “joy” and are so happy with their “joy.” In the meantime, the enemy is stalking around waiting to steal their “joy.” At just the right moment he grabs their joy and runs off. From here the “little child” starts crying about her “joy” being stolen. Enter the next “child” showing off their “joy” and the first “child” is trying to tell them about the enemy stealing their “joy” and that he’s coming to steal theirs too. You got it? There are tears about “joy” being stolen, of course the children in the audience are laughing at the antics on the stage and trying to warn the “children” that the enemy is coming to steal their “joy.” Enter the adult. The adult comes in, tries to figure what in the world is going on. You parents out there can picture this pretty good…chaos as every child tries to speak at once about the enemy that stole their “joy.” You finally get all the children settled down and begin to share with them about true joy. Jesus is our true joy; the other stuff is exactly that, stuff. Sitting here typing this, the Holy Spirit is sharing a word with my heart. Children wrap their world up in the stuff they own because it’s all they know. Adults wrap their world up in the stuff they own because they’ve worked for it and they deserve it. We love Jesus but He can’t take the place of our stuff. Our stuff brings us joy. Really?! Jesus is the joy giver. The joy that stuff brings is temporary, but the joy that Jesus brings is everlasting. Is your joy wrapped up in stuff or in Jesus? After some time of sharing how Jesus brings us joy, we asked the children if they would like to receive this joy in Jesus. I loved it when every single child raised their hand. Those of you who are saying “well they’re just children; it doesn’t mean they truly accepted Jesus.” STOP RIGHT THERE! Do not spend time judging, you are not the judge. I believe God planted a seed of love in their hearts and one day every single one of these children will meet me in heaven and say “I remember you! That was one great skit and on April 11, 2013, I gave my heart to Jesus and I’m so glad to finally get to see you again.” Amen!

Going to lighten things a little here…after we had finished ministering we went a little further up the hill to help the women who feed the children who were there, some of which had walked there from all the way down the hill where we cleared the field. They walk that far for school every day and get a meal at the church every day. On Thursdays the women fix these wonderful little things called fat cakes. It’s a deep fried ball of yumminess!!! One lady handed me three and I ate all three! A little later she patted my stomach and told me that eating fat cakes is what makes us fat…LOL! Of course I’m learning that in Africa for a woman of my age, who has had children, fat is a compliment and, kinda expected, so I’m good…well sort of!

Thank you for taking the time to read about journey and I hope you enjoy it enough to share it! Have a beautiful day!!

Just a thought..

The blog will be updated quite a bit in the next five days as long as I have Internet and I can get them to post. This will be a short moment out if your life but I hope you'll take the time to think about my thought. 

Sitting out on the front lawn waiting for the sunset, watching monkeys play in the trees, and about twenty different birds twittering away around me, and a sweet little kitty hanging out on my lap, I had this thought...why can we see the beauty in the differences of animals but not see the beauty in the differences of mankind? We see a lion, leopard, and cheetah all in the same day and we go "wow, all those cats are so very different! I'm so glad God did that!" We watch the Eukanuba dog show and find beauty in every dog they show, yet they are all so very different and yet we still say "thank You, God for your creation!" Now the moment you've been waiting for...why can't we look at each other and say those very same words?

Outreach...

Brett and I have been back from outreach going on two weeks and I’m finally at a place, St. Lucia Wilds, where I can take my time and begin to blog more about our outreach and the way God used us, corrected us, loved us, provided for us and those we served…basically what God did! I’ll be going all the way back to April 10 and my prayer is that you enjoy reading about our journey and that you take the time to share it with others.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Today we started having breakfast with the family…Petros, Elizabeth and all 16 kids! We had a breakfast of coffee, tea, bread, jam, butter, and cookies. Raines (pronounced Highness), our leader for this part of outreach, has prepared breakfast today. Now you may think it doesn't take much time to prepare coffee, tea, bread and jam. But let me take a minute to remind you that we are preparing for 27 people, there is no power, and we heat the water on a two burner propane stove. By the way, we have to get up at about 5:30 in order for this to happen AND we’re about 30 minutes behind the rest of the family getting up. Let me explain a little more here. At this home everybody works and I mean EVERYBODY! Every single member of the family has a job. One has to get up and get the fire started down in the “hot house,” which is where the water for baths and washing dishes is heated in a big pot. While that’s being done, someone has the joy of making sure others are getting awake and getting the buckets ready for baths. In the midst of all this, we’re in the kitchen trying to prepare breakfast. Ever heard of organized chaos?! This was it! As all the kids come in to have breakfast, its such fun listening to Raines ask if they want coffee/tea and how many sugars. Some of the kids, Grace, love about 4 sugars and Raines gives her a hard time! There is so much happening…kids eating, kids eating and getting ready at the same time, family jabber and joy! It makes getting up at 5:00 very worth it.

We have quiet time from 7:30 until 8:30 and then get ready to do ministry for the day. Today we’re not doing “spiritual” work but physical work. We are heading down to cut corn stalks in a field that Petros and Elizabeth have planted. Reminder here…Petros and Elizabeth live on the side of a mountain…walking down means, sooner or later, there’s a walking up! The walk down takes about an hour. The view is amazing but you have to be careful not to forget to watch where you’re walking at the same time…cow poop! I walk with Elizabeth and we just take our time, walking and talking about the Lord and her life. If I've learned one thing in life it’s that it’s important to follow the lead of the person who’s been doing this the longest. When Elizabeth didn't get in a hurry I knew I needed to pay attention! Our work waited for us at the bottom of the hill, across a road, and through a field. We finally got to our destination and got to work. Petros had already decided that we would work until about 1:00 and get as much accomplished as we could. We took that field by storm! The job was to cut down the corn stalks, saving what corn was on them, stacking the stalks and, in the meantime, keep an eye out for the pumpkin that had also been planted. There was laughter, there were tears, and there was fun. Going to be really transparent here…while we didn't know it at the time, this was also a time of learning how to squat to…well you know!! This lesson would come in very handy in Malawi, but you’ll have to wait to hear about that! The part of the field that we cut would have taken Petros and Elizabeth about three weeks to clear if we hadn't been there to help. It took us 2 ½ hours!! Remember when I told you what goes down the mountain must walk back up the mountain? Well it’s time! Took Brett and I about an hour and a half to get back…not because he walks slow, but because I do! Thing is, I was pretty pleased with the fact it only took that long since I was the oldest one there and that mountain was STEEP!!

Got back up the mountain and it was time for a bath. This should be interesting…two tiny buckets and me. There was a bit of a fight, I think the buckets thought they were going to win, but in the end I figured it all out! There was a bit of downtime and then we were heading down to a small group meeting. I was hoping that we were not going to have to walk back down and back up again and we didn’t. However! The small bakkie (truck) that picked us up was made for two in the front seat and we had three! Everyone else was stacked in the back of the bakkie…literally stacked! Down the mountain we go! When we got to the small group, we were ushered back to where they were meeting. There were stacks of shoes outside the door and we all took our shoes off and went in. This was not to be! The weather had turned cold and we were meeting in a room with a concrete floor. Before we knew it our shoes were being brought back in and we were being “loving” told to put our shoes back on. We tried to refuse but there was no arguing. I grew up the daughter of preachers kid/usher and for some reason I find it important to have an approximate number of those in attendance, so I counted…8 women and 33 children! 33 CHILDREN!! Talking with Petros on the drive back, I learned that many of the children that were there are actually orphans and they choose to go to this small group!

This group is studying the tenets of faith and the Pastor’s wife was trying very hard to get the group to answer questions about what they’ve been studying. I think they may have been a little intimidated with us there. We were asked to give a testimony and a word of encouragement. Ronny, one of our African brothers who comes from the local community Kabokweni, gave his testimony. He grew up without a father and he encouraged the kids to learn about God and make Him there Father. Ronny is very animated and he has such a way with the kids. They are just drawn to him and he ministers on their level in words they can understand. It’s quite beautiful. When he finished, I gave a word of encouragement from Jeremiah 29:11. It seems God gives me that scripture any time I’m in Africa and I believe He does it because He knows the people here need to be reminded that God is their hope and He has plans for them. There was a woman that I looked at, took her hands and told her “God has hope and plans for you.” She was so receptive! It was in that moment that I “felt” the Holy Spirit. Yes, I know the Holy Spirit is always with us, but there are those moments when “feeling” Him is so tangible! I believe that He wanted to do more in that moment but, I didn’t want to overstep my place. I believe He did a great work in her!

We head back to the house and get a few minutes of down time before we have our one on ones with the children. My one on one is with Domsile (pronounced Dom see lay). I haven’t quite figured out exactly which child belongs to Petros, which belongs to Elizabeth, which belongs to both or which ones are orphans and so I mess up with my very first question…is Elizabeth your mom? “No, my mom died in August. My dad lives in another town and, since he couldn't take care of me properly, I moved in with auntie and uncle.” At first I thought that would be it and she wouldn't care to talk to me anymore, but she continued to share her heart. She misses her mother greatly and the stories that her mother would tell her about life. She said her mom would tell her stories that applied to life and how to live a good life. She would tell her how important it was to focus on her studies and NO BOYS! I reminded her that she can always remember the stories her mother shared with her and that her mom would very proud of her. I also reminded her to focus on her studies and NO BOYS! She laughed, which is one of those laughs that make you laugh! From here we head to small groups with the girls age 15 and up. Raines has planned our every moment! LOL At small group we decide to talk about what we did today. We laughed as every one of them told every single detail of their day…even down to when they went to the toilet! We had to poke and prod to get them going, but they start LOOK OUT! You’ll never know what you’re going to hear them say!

After small group is dinner. Dinner is cooked the same way breakfast is and by oil lamp. I didn't write down what dinner was this particular night but I can say this...it was eaten as a family! Everyone comes together for dinner and family time after dinner. There's singing, dancing, scripture, and prayer. When is the last time you did this with your family? Imagine 16 kids and 11 adults doing "break one." This is something the family does that is similar to a hand jive! It starts with break one...easy enough. Break two...still easy. Break three...so far, so good. Break down...wait! What?! Show me again! Only took me almost the entire time we were there to get break down but the little ones do it like breathing! So much fun! Especially when the little ones look at you like you have two heads because you don't know how to do it! Lots of laughter!! After dinner and family time, the kids need to do their homework. Since there is no power, the kids also have to huddle around an oil lamp in order to do their homework. This may change!! Small tease!!

There will be more added as the next five days that we're in St Lucia pass by. There may two or three post a day but I pray you'll take the time to read all about us and our journey. If you would like to partner with us please follow the Donate link above. We truly appreciate any amount!

Malawi...a true adventure

We have been in Malawi since 10:30 pm last Sunday. There have been many adventures on this outreach! I'm not going to go into detail simply because I don't know how much time I have before Internet going, however, I am going to say please pray for us!! We are ministering at a church this morning an then we head to Lake Malawi for a few days down time. After that we will be in a village where their primary duel consists of nuts...allergic!! Pray Gods protection as we will be eating with those in the village. It's going to be a wild ride!!

News from Swaziland

I'm going to update you on what's been happening while on our outreach! Starting with Monday, April 8, 2013.

Today we are headed to Swaziland to spend some time with Petros and Elizabeth and their 18 children. Petros and Elizabeth run and orphanage of sorts and work under the YWAM name. They live on the side of a mountain in three different homes. IN one home, there is a living area where they meet every night to have supper, devotions, and prayer. Every night! There's a small kitchen and four other rooms. Petor and Elizabeth are in one with two of the smaller children, who usually sleep in the room Brett and I are in. The bathroom of the house is currently being used a bedroom for two of the boys and the other bedroom is where the girls are sleeping. The guys are staying in the next house that has two rooms and a "shower room." There is no running water so it's really a private place to take a bucket bath. The last house is where the girls sleep and it's laid out the same. It's incredibly peaceful and oh how you can see the stars at night! BTW, I had to go with Raines (Highness) to the grocery store to buy supplies for the team. What and adventure! Raines, Petros, Mzwandile and myself walked about 3k to the bottom of the hill to catch a taxi into Mbane. Talk about being the cream in the oreo! We then walked about 1 1/2 blocks to the Spar where we bought three shopping carts full. Now here's where the adventure really began. In order to get back we had to hire a car. The car was on empty and the check engine light was on...Big Bang Theory anyone! It was also low to the ground and  I couldn't imagine us getting to the house because of the road. We finally had to get out and walk about 200 yards to the house. This way he could get the car to the house. We didn't have lunch and supper was rice and spaghetti. After supper, we had a team meeting. I must be honest, it was hard for me to focus because of the clear sky and being able to see the stars so clearly!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Was awakened this morning by a rooster at around 4:30 am and then a giggling child around 6:00 am. The children were getting ready for school. One of the girls has to leave the house around 6:15 in order to catch a taxi to school. The rest leave between 7-7:30. When they all leave it's so quiet...at least until Raines gets up! LOL Learning to live with an outhouse and take a bucket bath! Today most everyone has gone into town, except Brett, Lafo, and myself. Lafo is a bit under the weather and we praying for her to feel much better. We've taken the day and enjoyed the quiet. Throughout the day, I've read the book of Matthew, took a nap, read some more, ate lunch, and written n my journal. Oh yes! I helped Elizabeth wash dishes outside. It's been so quiet I think we are overwhelmed with quiet, but in a really good way! Tonight we go to prayer meeting at church....can't wait! Church was beautiful! There were only about 25 there and 15 or so were from Petros' house. We prayed for the teenagers, cell groups, leaders of government, leaders of community and leaders of the church. We each have been given a list of things to pray over for the family but you'll have to wait to hear about that because I am running out of time!

How Does This Make You Feel?

I’m going to take you to a place today where I want you to use your imagination. I want you to think about how you would respond if this had been you. Ok? Ready? Here we go!

First, you find out that you are the result of a one night stand and when your father finds out your mother is pregnant, he runs away.

Second, you find out that your mother tries to kill herself and abort you by jumping from the roof of her house three times.

Third, you’re five years old and walking to school in the bitter cold. You have no shoes and the clothes you wear are thread bare. A school bus approaches to pick up the some children to take them to their school and you know it goes right past your school. So, you muster up courage and you ask for a ride to your school. The bus driver calls you a derogatory name and slams the door in your face, left to stand on the side of the road simply because you’re different.

Fourth, you’re now seven years old and a preacher comes to your home. You feel the love of God calling you to Him and you give your heart to the Lord. You don’t understand it fully, but you know something inside you has changed. However, two months later your mother dies. As she is buried, you want to die with her. You walk away from the grave telling God, ‘’I hate You, I hate You, I hate You.”

Fifth, you’re now ten years old. You have endured your father not wanting you and the death of your mother. You've also endured the death of the only person who truly made you feel valuable, your grandfather. You throw yourself into your studies, dreaming that one day you can become a lawyer or a traffic cop. You’re getting ready for school, when suddenly you’re taken away from your family by the farmer to work on his farm. No more school, no more dreams.

I’m going to stop here and ask the question again, how do you think you would feel if this were you? Do you think you would feel rejection, anger, hatred, jealousy? Now, I want to ask you this question…when and where do you think this story may have occurred? Please leave your comments, as I’m interested to see what they are. I will tell you the rest of the story at another time.

When God Moves!

Today’s blog is going to be long but I pray that by the time I get to the end, you will be rejoicing as much as we have been rejoicing! Brett and I have been experiencing so many things while we’ve been doing our DTS, but Sunday night and Monday morning we experienced something that neither of us had ever experienced. We saw with our eyes how God moves on people who are filled with compassion and the expectation of seeing God move.

On Sunday nights we have a time of worship for the entire base. Juanita, a member of the New Hope team, spoke on the importance of community and the common ground that we all share…first, at one time in our lives we were all sinners. Second, we are all covered in God’s grace. These are the two things that we all have in common. God created each of us, with all our quirks and talents, and when we look at each other, in the midst of our quirks, we should see Jesus and His grace. Powerful stuff!

After this, the leadership took us into a time of giving for the DTS students. Now let me stress this to you…the only people on base were DTS students, TTH staff, and the New Hope team…44 people and only 44 people. When the numbers owed were uncovered there was a collective “Oh my” that took place among many of the DTS students. Some of us owed for class time and outreach, and some of us only owed for outreach. I’m going to share these numbers in South Africa Rand and US Dollars so that you can see what God did.

Avelina…a cute, sweet, Texas girl with a heart for God who is in a time of learning to fly…R8740=$971

Sfiso, Gugu and little Christian…a husband and wife from Mbon, one of the communities we work in, who are running hard after God and just want to know what He has for them in their life...R30,000=$3,333

Ronny…A young man who is looking to improve His life and learn what God has for him, who also takes care of his mom. He is from another community we’ve worked in before, Kabokwani…R11,657=$1,295

Ncobile…A beautiful young woman who has worked at one of the former feedings, a mother of three, with wisdom beyond her years, 28, who is hungry for the things of God…R14,200=$1,555

Mimi…a beautiful wife and mother of 4 kids, who moved here almost two years ago to do ministry with TTH…R10,000=$1,111

Mzwandile…a wonderful young man who has a mantle of leadership on him. He is from Mbon and we have known him for two years…R19,250=$2,138

Rebekah…A young woman who is the daughter of missionaries. She grew up in Kenya and Zimbabwe and then moved back to the states. She has a desire to work with AIDS/HIV orphans using art therapy here in Africa…R12,211=$1,356

Lafo…This wonderful, Samoan young woman was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, actually worked and earned money to pay for her entire class and outreach. She didn’t want to lean on anyone and wanted God to know that Lafo could do it. God is teaching her so much about letting go of “I can do it myself” to “I trust you Father.”…R0=$0

Brett and Wendy…That would be us and you can read about us further in this blog…24,000=$2,666

The grand total of this is….R130,058=$14,425

That’s a lot of Rand and a lot of US dollars!!! You can see why there were many sighs when the amount was shown. Now that I’ve given you a very clear picture of how much money was owed and how many people were there to give, let me give you the totals that were on the board at the end of the night. Hold on now cause this is going to get good!!!

Avelina…$0

Sifiso, Gugu, and Christian…$0

Ronny…$0

Ncobile…$0

Mimi…R8,360=$929

Mzwandile…$0

Rebekah…$0

Lafo…$0 God showed her what she needed to sow into the outreach AND had her send a letter to her family about supporting outreach. There are things happening and when it all shakes out I’ll update!

Brett and Wendy…R16,560=$1,840

That’s a grand total of R105,138=$11,656! 44 People gave $11,656 towards 11 people going on outreach!! CAN SOMEONE STOP RIGHT NOW AND GIVE GOD A PRAISE??!!!!

Now, yes, the numbers went from a lot to zero in some cases and from a lot to a lot less in others but that’s not the biggest thing that God was doing! In seeing their numbers come down, these guys began to really understand how valuable they are to God.

Mzwandile said it showed him how much God valued him! In the African culture Mzwandile was not valuable. In Mzwandile’s heart he was not valuable. He didn’t think God valued him, but God showed him Sunday night just how valuable Mzwandile is to Him!!

Ncobile said the Lord told her to give all she had. Her response? She searched her room and all her belongings to give all that she had. She found R80, most of it was in coin. She was embarrassed to give the coin and so decided to ask Jaco, a new staff member, to exchange it for paper currency. This in itself is awesome because Ncobile, in the past, would only have gone to someone she was in relationship with, Carla or John, and asked for help. But on Sunday she turned to Jaco. Ncobile took her R80 and sowed it into someone else’s outreach. Wow! How many stories in the Bible does this parallel?! I believe that if the Bible were being written today then you would find the name Ncobile…obedient one. God showed Ncobile that He provides her every need!

Sifiso never thought that God would provide this kind of money for him. How could He? But now, Sifiso knows that God owns the cattle on a thousand hills what’s R30,000 to Him?!

Gugu got a realization that she really is important to God. That He does care about her and that He did create her wonderfully and full of gifts. God really does love Gugu. It became real to her.

It’s not about the money but what God taught them in the moment! He is provider! He is love! HE IS ABBA…FATHER GOD!!!

One last thing…Sifiso has been going to Home Affairs, trying to get his ID, for the last seven years. Every time he goes they tell him to come back. Every time he goes they tell him there’s no proof in their system that he was ever born in South Africa, therefore he doesn’t exist. Every time he goes he hits a road block of great proportions. If he doesn’t get his ID, he doesn’t go on outreach. So, outreach is paid for, now what? Will God continue to provide? These are the questions going through his mind. I know this because we’ve talked about it.

Tuesday morning we pray and believe that Sifiso is going to get his ID. We pray, believe, and declare that God wants him to go on outreach with his family. We start class. Sifiso has gone to Home Affairs. Time ticks by. Tea time comes and goes…no Sifiso. Lunch time comes…no Sifiso. Right after lunch Sifiso arrives…he gets out of the car and we are all trying to read the expression on his face…Yes or No? We start asking Yes or No?! He tries to hide the smile that is slowly coming to his face. He tries to “pull our leg” and say no but he can’t hide the smile that reaches his eyes! YES! YES! YES! I’M GOING ON OUTREACH WITH MY FAMILY!!

And so, the blessings of God continue to rain down on this family. God continues to say “I love you Sifiso and Gugu! I see you, I know you, and I’m here for you!” And we all begin to rejoice anew with our brother and sister. We rejoice for provision, we rejoice because in our doubt and unbelief He, God Himself, says “watch this!"