So, I'm Turning 36 This Year

And I couldn't be more excited to share with you how I am celebrating this year!

Earlier this summer I had the opportunity to travel to Nashville and visit with several members of the B and H Kids team (a division of Lifeway) to talk about the possibility of some new things with Bibleman. Nothing is set in stone as far as that goes, but while I was there they showed me a new Bible they have called The Big Picture Interactive Bible. I.love.this.Bible. (My children both have one! In fact, I even use it during our worship service each week.) It has so many cool features. There's an app so you can scan pictures and learn more about the Bible and even some background information. Throughout the Bible, there are 100 scriptures highlighted to memorize, Big Questions are answered, Big Words are defined, and there are Christ Connections that show us how we see Christ in different books and passages of the Bible. It's great for kids and parents to use together, but also really great for kids to use on their own in their personal quiet time.

Then the Lord put something on my heart that just wouldn't go away. How amazing would it be to be able to put this Bible in the hands of children, right here in our own community, who most likely have no Bible of their own and no parent willing to read it to them? In fact, there may not even be a Bible in the home at all. Of course, if you know me, you know that I am thinking of our precious Afterschool Adventures kids. But, I knew that I couldn't afford to put this Bible in each of their hands myself, so I set the idea aside.

Then, I remembered my birthday. It was perfect! So, here's the plan:

I want to use my birthday to raise the funds to purchase these Bibles for each of our Afterschool Adventures kids. I am hoping that I can get 36 people to donate $36 each in order to purchase 36 Bibles. That is a few more than the number of students we currently have, but, that would allow us to have extra Bibles for any new students or any parents who may decide they want their own Bible, too. (And, it helps keep the "36" theme!) Even more exciting, I have a sweet friend who is going to donate 1 Bible for every 2 we raise funds for during this time. So, we really have the possibility of buying over 40 Bibles to be used right here in Hannibal! (The price of the Bibles may end up being a little less than $36 as I am working with the Lifeway store in Bridgeton, MO to purchase them there. So, I will purchase as many Bibles as the money we receive will purchase, even if it's more than 36, and any extra money once the Bibles are purchased will go into the Afterschool Adventures fund to help us purchase supplies needed to continue to minister to the students and their families.)

Through my time with Bibleman, and also many times since becoming a parent, the Lord has reminded me of His promise that His word will not return void. I know these kiddos may not understand every word they read, but I also know I serve a mighty God who has given us His Holy Spirit to instruct, guide, and convict, often times using His word. Just think what He could do with His word and these kiddos! I just. I can't even! I was really struck with the thought the other day that not only might this be the first Bible these kids own, it may be the only one they ever have. That made me even more anxious to get this fundraiser started.

So, from now until Oct. 20, I am hoping to raise enough money to buy at least 36 Bibles. Then, on my birthday, Oct. 29,  I'll be able to gather some friends and pray over these Bibles that will go to our sweet Afterschool kiddos. I know that's a lot of money and I know many people reading this probably don't know me or the kids who will get these Bibles, but I pray you will still be moved to help me reach the "least of these" here in my community with His word.

If you want to donate, but don't live in Hannibal, please contact me via Facebook for PayPal or mailing address information.

Raise Up in Me a Holy Passion

This prayer started Jen Hatmaker's life interruption. It's been reverberating in the back of my mind since I read the updated version of her book, Interrupted. I want to pray this prayer. I want to scream it from the mountain tops. But, I just can't make myself do it. What will it mean? What will happen? Where will I have to go? What will I have to give up? Who will I have to love in His name? Will my husband think I'm crazy? My kids? My parents? My friends? Am I strong enough to survive the answer to this prayer? So many questions. A heart that is pounding from fear, yet aching to go farther. I feel frozen, unable to truly live.

Then last night at small group, what ice breaker question did I get? "What are you passionate about?" I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time! My first thought matched my dear friend's answer when she heard the question, "What are you not passionate about?" As I waited for my turn to answer and thought about this, all I could think was, "I am passionate about so many things that it's really like I am passionate about nothing." Sort of like being a jack of all trades and master of none. I try to do so many things that it's like there's not one thing that my heart is fully in at any given time. I am feeling it as school starts this year. I love teaching my kids. I love what we'll be learning about this year (well, maybe not math.) But, for the life of me, I just can't get excited about jumping back in. Maybe it's because we just enjoyed summer so much and I don't want it to end. Maybe it's because I know that within weeks my daughter will pass me in math ability and I will have no idea how to teach her. I don't know, but the passion isn't there.

The most passion I have felt was just over a week ago in church when the praise team sang "Build Your Kingdom Here" by the Rend Collective Experiment. The moment I read the phrase "...refuse to waste our lives..." I lost it. Those words were the cry of my heart. Oh, Lord, don't let me waste this life on silly, earthly things that don't matter. Don't let me teach my children to waste their lives on those things. Don't let me teach other people's children to waste their lives on such things!

Now I sit with the question, "So, how do I NOT waste my life?" I don't have a to do list (and if you know me, you know that is killing me), but I do know this: loving others in His name is never wasting my life. The way I love my children and the way I love my kidz choir kids and the way I love the Afterschool Adventure kids may not look the same, but no matter how it looks, it requires me to be emptied of myself and poured out for Him. To be filled with the Spirit in order to serve others, in whatever way they need. It means serving the poor, the rich, the lost, the saved, the forgotten, the sick, the old, the young. It means being patient with my children, discipling and disciplining them in order to draw them to You, and being obedient in front of my children, no matter the cost. It means showing up every week to work with kids who may not remember my name, but they know that I love them and will be there for them every week. It means taking a sweet boy with us to Family Quest every week to make sure he's learning the truth of God's word. It means showing up to Kidz Choir every week, headache or not, to pour God's word into them as they learn more about Him and more about ways to truly worship Him.

Oh, Lord, help me to love well all I meet. Help me to love my children well every moment of every day that they may see You in me and desire to have You in their lives, as well. Help me to love my husband well so that he can be the leader in our home and continue to do the work you have set in front of him. Help me to love my church family well so they are taken care of and are able to serve others in Your name. Help me to love the lost all around me, regardless of their circumstance or station in life that they may see Your beauty and Your deep love for them and their deep need for You.

Oh, Father, RAISE UP IN ME A HOLY PASSION!

Interrupted and Overwhelmed

I just finished reading Jen Hatmaker's book, Interrupted: When Jesus Wrecks Your Comfortable Christianity for the second time. This was the new new, expanded version. I felt just as excited and convicted and overwhelmed as I did the first time I read it!

This book is really Jen's personal story of God interrupting her comfortable, affluent life by showing her the needs of the "least of these" around her.  She, her husband, and their three (at the time) children changed jobs, moved, and started a new church whose mission was to love and serve God with their whole hearts and lives out in the real world. (OK, there was more to it than that, but if I typed it here you wouldn't have to read the book!)

The first time I read this book I felt much like Jen, knowing there was more out there than I was doing or experiencing, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.  God used her pointing out Isaiah 58 to interrupt my life.  My time in the Word and in prayer should result in more than just me feeling better or knowing more about God, but me being more like God. It should result in action that benefits more than just me or my family.

This time, I read the book after spending this past year working with our church's new Afterschool Adventures program.  We hold this at the income-based apartment complex across the street from the church. I spent a year working with the "least of these" right in my own backyard.  I found myself wanting to shout AMEN to so many of the things she was saying.  While the parents have no problem sending their kids over to church with us for our Wednesday night dinner and Family Quest activities, we can't get those parents to cross the street for anything!  They just won't come to us, we must go to them.  While they live in our backyard, they really do live in a whole different world than we can even imagine.

I was especially drawn to and convicted her comments Matt. 25. Am I really ready to stand before Christ and hear what He has to say about what I did to the least of these?  According to His word, whatever I did to the least of these, I did to Him.  Ignore the poor=ignore Christ. Ignore the hurting=ignore Christ. Ignore the imprisoned=ignore Christ. Ouch! It reminded me that Sanctity of Human life is about so much more than abortion! It also opened my eyes to hard, yet often unseen work, of so many in our church body.  The school teachers, foster parents, adopted grandparents, who pour out their all for others, never asking for anything else in return.

And, men, don't worry.  While Jen is the main author, her husband, Brandon, does write in here as well. Every few chapters or so we get to see what was happening in his heart as Jen was going through this huge change in hers.

Jen's transparency and humor will make it really hard to put this book down. Especially if you are craving something more with Christ and the church, but you just aren't sure what it is!  I have the book and I am more than happy to start a waiting list for anyone here in Hannibal who wants to read it. Even though we aren't all called to start a new church, we are all called to love those whom God has placed us near, rich or poor, regardless of skin color.

Now, what to do with it? What does this mean for my life? My marriage? My family? I really don't know! I know that I will continue to be involved in Aferschool Adventures, but right now, I feel like that's all I know for sure. I want to BE the church. I want to love others as Christ loved them. I want to stop being selfish and love my husband, family, neighbors, and community with reckless abandon and in a way that screams Christ's name. I don't know what that means, yet, but I am so glad that my life has been interrupted and won't be the same.  I was so overwhelmed by this in church this morning as we were singing "Build Your Kingdom Here" by the Rend Collective Experiment. I couldn't hold it in or hold stay still. It was such the cry of my heart! Lord, build Your kingdom here, in my heart, in my house, in my church! Lord, lead. Lord, guide. Lord, teach and mold. I thank You for the changes in hearts and structure You are doing in our church. Help us to be willing to do whatever You ask, even if it means services look different, happen at different times or meet in different places. Move us to be a people in Christ and about Christ. Oh, Lord, revive us and pour Your Spirit out on us. I thank You that being the church looks different in each life so that the most people can be told about You. Show us how the McSmith house is to be the church, right where we are.

While a lot of this may be loving on the poor and the least of these in my community, it's about so much more than that. It's really about loving, period. Loving God and loving others, no matter who they are or where they are from. It means understanding that Sunday morning at 9:15 and 10:30 may not be the best times to gather if you want the lost to come and hear God's love for them with the gathered church. It means asking "them" to come to "us" just may not work and we'll have to do the hard and uncomfortable work of going to "them" and showing God's love to them over and over and over. It's not a one time thing. It's a relationship and relationships take work. That's why it's hard and uncomfortable. And that's why I know I will only be able to do it with God's help because it's certainly not something I would do on my own!

So, read the book. Ask God to show you what He would have you do. Then, go and do what He's asked!

Of course, I have to list some of my fave quotes (and it was really hard to choose...if you borrow the book from me you'll see lots of underlining!)

"Until we are compelled and contributing, we're settling for an anemic faith and a church that robs Christ followers of their vitality and repels the rest of the world...There is a call on our body that must be answered collectively."

"All of a sudden, I saw my exact reflection in Peter: devoted, but selfish, committed but misguided. And that is not going to be enough. It won't suffice to claim good intentions. Saying, 'I meant well' is not going to cut it. Not with God screaming, begging, pleading, urging us to love mercy and justice, feed the poor and the orphaned, to care for the last and the least in nearly every book of the Bible. It will not be enough to one day stand before Jesus and say, 'Oh? Were You serious about all that?'"

"This is what God taught me through Judas as Jesus' table, eating the broken bread that was His body: We don't get to opt out of living on mission because we might not be appreciated. We're not allowed to neglect the oppressed because we have reservations about their discernment. We cannot deny love because it might be despised or misunderstood. We can't withhold social relief because we're not convinced it will be perfectly managed. We can't project our advantaged perspective onto struggling people and expect results available only to the privileged. Must we be wise? Absolutely. But doing nothing is a blatant sin of omission. Turning a blind eye to the bottom on the grounds of 'unworthiness' is the antithesis to Jesus' entire mission. How dare we? Most of us know nothing, nothing of the struggles of the poor. We erroneously think ourselves superior, and it is a wonder God would use us at all to minister to His beloved."

I could go on and on, but, you should just read the book!!!

Lord, Thank You for Afterschool Adventures!

About a year ago I uttered a short prayer.  Admittedly, it wasn't a heartfelt prayer, but one uttered out of obligation.  Deep down, I didn't really even want it answered because I knew God’s answer would not be the answer I would want.  But, I asked it anyway.  And I was right, His answer was far different from what I was hoping it would be.

I uttered a prayer asking God to show me how to live out my faith while loving and serving others in front of and with my children.  Instead of the answer I wanted, a short-term mission trip serving orphans and people I would most likely never see again, He sent an email from Jennifer Humiston about an afterschool ministry that was starting in the apartments across the street from the church.  I had plenty of excuses why it wasn't a good fit for us, but God shot down every single one.  So, with much hesitation, I agreed to go help each Wednesday afternoon.  My life has been forever changed. 

Though it wasn't in my plan, I fell in love with these sweet kiddos.  God used them to change my life and open my family’s eyes.  God has shown me that I don’t have to travel to the ends of the earth to serve the “least of these.”  They are in our own backyard. He opened my children’s eyes to see that there are those in need right here in our own town.

I have seen, week to week, God’s promise that His word will not return void come to life in front of my eyes.  Though my children are not saved, God continually uses them to share the truth of His word with the little ones we bring with us to Family Quest each week.  Many of these children had never read a Bible and therefore didn’t know many of the stories and passages that we learned about each week.  What a blessing it has been to see my children’s faces light up with joy as they tell their new friends all the details they can remember about each story.  What joy it is the next week to watch those Afterschool children light up with joy as they tell us what they remember from the week before.  His Word is true and He is faithful!

God has reminded me how deep His love truly is for me every time I look into the eyes of a little girl who loves a parent with such ferocity, whose biggest fear is to be separated from them, yet this parent clearly does not love her back with this intensity and care. It makes no sense to me! But, it makes no sense that a Holy God, whom I have ignored and treated cruelly, would send His Son to die in my place while I was in the midst of such sin and hatred toward Him. God is so good!

This has truly been a way for me to live out and grow in my faith, witness and disciple my children as I live life obediently, and it gets them involved in their community and sharing God’s truth.  They see the same things we do each week; the highs, the lows, the frustrations, and it’s still their favorite part of every week.  They can’t wait for Afterschool Adventures to start up again.   They are just as invested in this ministry as I am.  We love it!  Kevin comes when his schedule allows, so it’s really a family mission for us. This is the living out of Matthew 25, “…whatever you do to the least of these, you do it unto me.” 

The Best $200 We've Ever Spent

Our pool pass.  Seriously.  Every year, as summer comes, I start the guilty feeling of wanting to get a pool pass for the summer.  While we do live comfortably and every need is met, $200 is still a lot of money to us. And, of course, my mind lists all the other things, far more important things, that could be done with that amount of money: support a mission trip, help stock the food pantry, feed a starving family for a month. The list could go on.  And the guilt just builds.

Then I start thinking of all the reasons that it's OK to spend $200 for our family to enjoy the pool each summer: we survived the school year, I spend 24/7 with my kids so surely I deserve some time where they can play on their own and I can read a book, PE hours.  I could go on with that list, too.

Then I have both of these seemingly unending lists and go back and forth and just don't know what I should do.  Then I buy the pool pass, despite all the guilt.  And while I enjoy each visit, I feel guilty about each one, too, seeing the faces of those I could have chosen to help if I had given up this one luxury.

This year, however, has been different.  Something I never expected.  As you know, I have been involved in our church's Afterschool Adventures ministry with the children in the apartment complex across the street from the church.  It's frustrating, rewarding, difficult, messy, fun, and pretty much beyond words.  I think we were all ready for a small break over the summer.  I never dreamed that I would actually get the chance to see, love on, and serve these kids over the summer.  At the city pool.  But, guess what, I have.

There are three families that I have seen several times at the pool, but one boy in particular that has been there almost every day that we have been there.  We'll call him Q.  He's actually the oldest child we work with and goes to youth when we come over for Family Quest.  Bless his heart, he tries so hard, but he just doesn't know how to behave, tell the truth, or deal with anger and frustration.  He's just never been taught.  But, he's been excited to see us at the pool each time.  He'll take small breaks from hanging out with his friends to come over and chat with me.  We don't talk about anything too deep, but just the fact that he'll come talk to me is enough to make that $200 pool pass worth it.

Please continue praying for this ministry, for these precious children.  They have suffered abuse and neglect that I have a hard time even imagining happens here in the US.  They are stuck in homes that are not good for them because the proof needed for them to be removed is nearly impossible to get.  Our hands are tied in that area, but we can cover them in prayer and pour as much of God's love on them as we possibly can in the short time we have them.  We have two families now that have moved and we don't know where they are.  They are two of our most loved families, and the two families most in need of God's divine intervention to save those kids from terrible things.  Please, pray with me that God will continue to bring people into those children's lives who will show them God's love, read them His Word, and be able to point them to Him in their difficult times!

If you are interested in helping with Afterschool Adventures or adopting a family for Family Quest, we would love to talk to you!  You can send me a message or contact Jennifer Humiston.

Praying For This Beautiful Mess

As we look ahead to the next year of Afterschool Adventures, would you join us in praying for the following things?  We thank you in advance!!

• Wisdom and Guidance: Please pray that God would show us just what we need to do with them every week.  In working with Family Quest, we try to do a service project and fun event each set of 5 weeks, plus we do a Bible story with them each week.  Join us in seeking God for what things He would have us do with them as we seek to have them serve and have fun each month.  Pray that He would give us the words we need to help explain to them the stories we read as we lead a devotion time with them each week.
• Behavior/Discipline Issues: As you can imagine, having that many kids in one place, there are definitely some behavior issues.  And, as you can imagine, when dealing with other people's children, knowing just how to discipline can be a challenge.  Please join us in praying that God would show us how to deal with each child as situations arise.  Pray that we will be able to show them that discipline, when done correctly, is for their good.  Pray that God would show us how to effectively teach them how to deal with frustration and conflict in a godly and wise manner.
• "Adoptive Families": Please join us in praying for God to send along some couples who would be willing to adopt these kids and take them to Family Quest.  This provides many benefits to the Afterschool kids (seeing a husband and wife working together properly, in-depth Bible study, learning scripture, etc), as well as those in our church (creates a mentoring/discipleship relationship, gets them involved in Kingdom work, positive impact in the lives of children who have very little positive impact, etc.)  Right now I am not sure how many couples we would need, but we'd be more than happy to pair up any and all we can!
• Afterschool Workers: We start each Wednesday around 3:30 p.m. over at the apartment complex.  While there we work on their homework, play games, do service projects, have snack, read Bible stories, etc.  We really could use more help there, from about 3:30-5:00.  If you have kids, bring them along!  It's been a great experience for my kids having to meet new people, learn to get along with people who don't live or act like they do.  It's also been a great way to teach them about serving others.  They are not only seeing me do it, but they are walking right along with me in it.  You're a college student?  Great!  We need your energy!!!!!  Please join us in asking God to send more workers.
• Home lives: Please pray that God would protect these children in whatever their home situation may be.  Some of them come from nice, loving homes, but several come from homes with parents who are rarely there, take little care of them, and move constantly in an effort to avoid DFS.  Most of us cannot even imagine the lives many of these kids are living.  I am thankful that several in our church have completed the classes to become foster parents and the reality hit me the other day that it is totally possible one or more of our kids could end up in their home.  The day may come when our Afterschool kids are living with some amazing church members, so I also want to ask you to lift up those who are foster parents/future foster parents.  Pray that they will have wisdom, discernement, and strength to love these kids as their own and fill them with as much God as they can while they are in their home.
• Bridging the gap with the parents: We have had a hard time getting the parents involved in much more than bringing or picking up their kids. Jennifer does have contact info for most of them and does a great job of keeping up with them, but we still have yet to really make a connection with them.  Ask God to show us who to reach them, love them, and serve them.  Ask Him to show us how to connect with them.  
• Encouragement: Pray that God would continue to encourage and strengthen all who are working with these kids.  It's hard.  Like, really hard.  And very messy.  Very, very, very messy!  It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.  Pray that He would remind us each week to spend time in prayer specifically for the kids we will be working with that day.  Pray that He would keep showing us the little changes and improvements that happen, even when we don't want to see them.  Pray that, if the time ever comes for any of us to step out, He would show that and we would be obedient. Pray that when we want to quit, but God has not told us we can, that He will give us the energy and passion we need to continue.
• The connection of Afterschool Adventures and Family Quest: Let's be real, at times, this is a challenge.  We are very protective of both ministries and our families.  At times, it seems like these two ministries are at odds and can never work together.  I think, however, that it's beautiful to see how God has grown and changed Family Quest over the years, and I think this is just another way He is growing it.  FQ has beautifully fulfilled it's mission to train and equip parents to disciple their children. And now we're adding the element of allowing the rest of the church to come alongside and use FQ as a way to mentor, disciple, and love on some kids who need it badly!  Please pray that, as both ministries grow and change, that they will continue to work together. Pray that all families, those that are biological and those put together through Afterschool Adventures, will continue to grow, learn more about each other, and come to love each other through this process.  Pray that there will be no conflicts and no judgments made from either side.  Pray that all involved in Family Quest have prayed to ask God what they need to do for their family and that they will then have the courage to follow in obedience with whatever He has asked their family to do.  Lord, move in mighty ways during Family Quest!  Most of the children attending FQ, both our church kids and the Afterschool kids, are lost and need to know their deep need for You as their lord, master, and savior.  Help them all to see that! Give the parents the words to be able to explain the hard things, to answer the hard questions, and to be real so their children can see You in their lives.
• Jennifer: Let's be honest, Jennifer does a large majority of the work each week and she is the one that stays in contact with the apartment manager and the parents.  She plans all activities and snacks and she's the one who does most of the discipline and comforting.  Pray that God would give her wisdom as she leads.  Pray that God will continue to give her energy and strength as she pours her life out with these kids each week.  Pray that God will show the rest of us how to support and love her as she leads.

Thank you so much for joining with us in prayer!  We have no idea which kids will be back next year and how many new kids we may have.  But, we have seen God's hand all over this ministry this year and feel confident He will continue to guide and direct as we move into year number two!!!

Lessons Learned From This Year of Afterschool Adventures

Well, we have closed the chapter on the first year of Afterschool Adventures.  I never dreamed that I would be so involved in something in which I hadn't really ever intended to participate.  It was all God getting me there, keeping me there, and leading and guiding our awesome leader.  It's had it's ups and downs.  And a HUGE learning curve.  I'm not sure any of us knew what we were doing when we started...not sure we really know what we're doing even now.  We have had no success getting the kids or their parents to church on a Sunday morning, but the kids' attendance and participation for Family Quest has only grown.  As we look ahead to our story time with them this summer and pray with nervous and excited anticipation for next year, I couldn't help but reflect on some things God used this ministry and these kids to teach me.

• Ministry is hard.  Now, I grew up as a preacher's kid, so I already knew this, but it was just reinforced this year.  It seemed that anytime we thought we had things figured out, it was all then thrown upside down and it felt like we were starting over.  Anytime humans are involved things are messy and complicated.  This was messy on steroids!  I'm still not sure I have all the relationships and families figured out.  Their lives are a far cry from the way I, or anyone else I know, grew up.  I really have no idea how to love on and truly reach these kids.  Each week I rest on the promise that God's Word will not return void.  I pray that He'll use those memorized verses, songs, and stories to grab their hearts, even in the darkest of moments.
• There is no worry that my little homeschooled kiddos are sheltered.  Especially after this year.  Thanks to the Afterschool kiddos my kids have heard some colorful language, lots of name calling, seen lots of anger on display, every possible bad choice in dealing with said anger, and they now know what DFS is and why there is a need for foster parents.  They didn't need to be in public school for any of these things, just ministry.  (But I am thankful they are there with me each week, seeing that others live a very different life than they do, learning to love and care for others, regardless of who they are or where they're from.)
• Prayer is needed work.  We couldn't do this ministry without prayer.  I know that Jennifer would tell you that our worst days came on the days we spent the least time in prayer.  In fact, prayer and preparation became so important that it's now an unwritten rule in our house that on Wednesdays school is done at lunch, regardless of what we've gotten done that day, so the kids can get in a good rest/down time and I can get a good time of prayer in specifically for that day's meeting and the students.  I'll admit, the control freak in me doesn't always want to stop if we haven't finished what was on my to do list for school that day, but I've seen how differently Afterschool goes when I prepare my heart and my kids' hearts, minds, and bodies this way.
• Messiness is beautiful.  I can't really explain it.  Most weeks we're all just a hot, glorious mess.  But it's also somehow one of the most beautiful things I've seen as God has S-L-O-W-L-Y melted some ice cold hearts as these kids begin to trust us and we begin to love them.  Admittedly, sometimes it's hard because there's little to no discipline we can give these kids to help them to truly have a change of heart along with their change of behavior, but every frustration, tear, and even moment of panic has been worth it.  We may never see the result of the work we are doing.  But, if God grabs hold of even one of their hearts, draws them to Him, and changes their lives, then He's also changed generations of families as they move from barely acknowledging Him to serving Him and training their children to do the same.  Generations.  
• People who only see a flight or fight response will only have a flight or fight response, even if they're in 2nd grade.
• I need to spend more time in prayer for our Christian public school teachers.  For 9 months out of the year, these kids spend the majority of their time with them.  It's hard to be with them for 2 hours, I can't imagine what it's like for 7, with 25 others thrown in the mix.  These amazing people are called to be salt and light, love on, care for, and encourage these kids who are so hardened by life.  I don't know how they do it!
• Sometimes, love is given because someone deserves it.  Sometimes love just makes no sense.  I've seen these kids, whose parents pay little to no attention to them, blow most of their money on drugs, discipline them in cruel ways, and can't even pay rent, love their parents fiercely anyway. They fear the day DFS knocks on the door and they will possibly be taken from their parents.  I'll be honest, I don't get it.  There's nothing about that that makes sense.  I know many of our foster families in town and they are so loving and caring and would do anything for these kids, but it's their parents they love.  It makes no sense.  But you know what, God's love for me makes even less sense.  How this holy God could love me when I lie to Him, ignore Him, constantly choose other things over Him, could send His Son to die in my place just to restore right relationship with me...mind.blown.  It makes no sense.  But, I am glad that He did it.  And I am glad for this weekly reminder of His love for me.
• Don't hate me for this, but my goal is no longer to merely get people to come to church on Sunday morning.  If that's my goal, then this ministry is a failure. We've tried to get them there.  We've failed in that every time.  You know what they need?  To know the truth of my Savior and their need for His salvation and to be loved here in a way that shows Jesus is real in my life and is real in theirs.  They need to know their need for forgiveness and redemption.  And this takes time.  Lots of time.  Lots and lots of time.  Like, I've come to accept that I may never see any of these kids or their parents in church on a Sunday morning, but they'll remember that God came to earth as a man and died on the cross for them.  One day when they're older and at the end of their rope, I pray they'll remember the scriptures they memorized and the Bible stories they heard and will turn to Christ.  All I can do is love them like Jesus and leave them in His hands. (Which is the same thing I have to do with my own children.  I don't know why I ever thought this would be any different!)
• Maybe a Saturday evening service isn't such a bad idea after all! ;)  People who didn't grow up in church don't get up on Sunday mornings.  It's a day of relaxing and sleeping in.  For many, Sunday may be the only day they don't work.  Especially if they work 2 or 3 jobs.  Getting them up and going on a Sunday morning has proven to be virtually impossible.  (Of course, part of this may be that we haven't truly let them see the joy of being in a church family, being loved on as a church family...they only ever see the bad side of churches, and who in the world would want to be part of that?!?!)  
• I desperately want my church family to fall as much in love with these kids and this ministry as I have. Yet, I also know that not everyone will.  I think most think it's a great and needed ministry.  Several have donated money or snacks for us to use each week.  But, my deep and honest prayer is that God will lead several couples to walk alongside us in this journey and adopt some of these sweet families. I pray that they will step up to take these kids with them to Family Quest each week where the kids will study God's word, see how the Word affects our everyday lives, and see how a loving, caring family can truly function.  They need this.  They need this desperately.  So, if you are a member of Calvary Baptist Church, keep an eye out in the coming months for some ways you can be involved in this ministry.  Pray and ask God how He would have you be His hands and feet with these families living so close to our church building.  

Lord, move in a way that I've never seen before as you grow and change this ministry. Give me Your eyes to see others and Your heart to love them.  Help me to live this in front of and with my children, that they might see You in all I say and do.  Use this time that my kids spend with these Afterschool kids to draw them to You.  Help all of these kids to see their need for Your salvation.

Unexpected Answers to Prayer

A while back (I can't remember exactly when...I'm nowhere near as good with dates and time lines as I was in my younger days) our pastor preached a sermon encouraging us to be about Kingdom work.  Now, I'll admit, when I first heard the sermon I was a little offended, as I felt like he kept making it seem that the only valuable Kingdom work were things you were doing outside the home.  As a stay-at-home homeschooling mom, right now, about 98% of what I feel God has asked me to do is inside my home.  So of course, I got a little perturbed by thought that my pastor was telling me that what I know is my calling is not Kingdom work. (Drama queen much!?!?!)  Of course, those of you who know my pastor know that he would never say that because he absolutely doesn't believe that, so after some discussion with others and chatting with the pastor, it was clear that his intent was that if we never get the Gospel out of the walls of our homes and churches, we are not fully living out what Christ has called us to do.  Yes, for most of us, our first mission field is the family that Christ has placed within our own home, but we can't just stay there.

I really had to think on this for awhile.  To be honest, it takes pretty much all of my time, energy, focus, creativity, and attention just to be pouring into my kids every day.  The thought of moving things beyond these walls was not only terrifying and overwhelming, it was tiring.  How in the world do I have time to pour into my family and others, too.  I was really struggling.

I am so thankful for the Godly and wise women He has placed in my life.  One of these women truly helped me to see that, part of discipling my children is bringing them with me as I minister and serve others.  I can't just let them hear about what I am doing, or watch from a distance, but they need to participate as well.  So, I began to pray about what I could do to serve those outside my home in His name, but could also include my children.  The Lord opened up several opportunities, that were very easy for me, when He led me to read Seven: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess with a friend.  We were encouraged to start going without certain things in order help those who were truly in need.  It was a way to live out Isaiah 58, a chapter God has used to really wreck me in the last 2 years.  Then he lead me to Reading for Refugees through His Voice Global.  What a great way for Sophie to really get involved in learning about the needs of others and doing a small part in meeting that need!  We've also been able to send shoe pieces and needed supplies to Sole Hope through birthday parties, Family Quest, and again this year as part of our Easter celebration.

I was loving this!  We were able to serve others alongside our children, while also teaching them God's word.  It was great.  But deep down, I knew this was not all that God was wanting me to do.  This was just a small step to show me that is is possible to serve God in front of and with my children, but it wasn't deep enough.  There was no stepping out of my comfort zone, it was really costing me nothing, and in all honesty, we had no "skin" in the game.  Not that what we were doing wasn't important or what God wanted us to do, but I knew that He wanted us to do more, closer to home, and be more hands on.

I began, timidly, and well, almost unwillingly, to pray and ask God to show us how we could serve others right here in our own community.  Not long after I began to pray about this, a couple in our church started a ministry to the children in the apartment complex across the street from the church.  They were meeting each Wednesday after school to help the kids with homework, play games, teach the Bible, and take them over to dinner and Family Quest at church when they were done.  As soon as I read the email, I knew this was what God wanted the kids and I to do, mainly because I couldn't come up with any plausible excuse why we couldn't help.  We are always done with school by the time we would need to be there and it was the perfect way to include my children in serving others and learning how different life is for others, even here in our own little town.

When I said yes and we started helping with Afterschool Adventures, I had no idea how much I would fall in love with these kids!  We have around 20 kids each week that come and hang out with us.  Many of these kids had never read a Bible or heard a Bible story before they came to Afterschool.  Now, they can answer just about any question about several different Bible stories, quote several different scriptures, and know that there are several people in their lives now who care about them and want to see them succeed.  They know who Jesus is and why He came to earth.  They know that He loves them and wants to have a relationship with them.

The Lord has also opened my eyes to the blessings He has given me as I look at the lives many of these children live. I can't even imagine living through even a fraction of the hardship many of these kids endure each day.  This makes our time with them that much sweeter, to both them, and us.  God is so good.  I am so thankful that He answered my prayer this way.  Both of my kids look forward to this time each week and I love to see the families that have stepped up to take these kids to Family Quest.  (But we could always use more families to take kids, so if you are interested, let me know!!!!)

Lord, thank You for the sermon that started all this thinking.  Thank You for laying this burden on my heart. Thank You for all the answers You've given in this area.  Lord, continue to give wisdom and guidance as we work with these precious children. Show us how to serve them and love them as You do.  Bring us those who want to walk alongside these sweet kids as we teach them Your Truth through Family Quest.

Thought I'd leave you with some pics of these amazing (precious, frustrating, hurting, loving....etc...) kids:

Celebrating Christ This Easter

I am so excited about what we'll be doing during Easter week to celebrate this year.  We'll be gathering with two other families to have a progressive meal that will remind us of what Christ did while on earth, what He is doing in our lives now, and showing our children how we can be His hands and feet in our world today.  It's sort of our version of a Passover Meal, sort of Family Quest style!  Not sure if that's a great description or not, but either way, I am super excited to do this.  I thought this might be something others would be interested in doing, so I'm posting here what we are planning to do so you can possibly tweak it to make it work for your family.  I'll do my best to try and remember to post about it once we've done it so you know how it went!  Here's our plan (those things written in RED are links to craft ideas):

At each house, before we eat, we will look at something that Christ did in the Bible, how He does something similar for us today, and something we can do to help us remember/help others.

House 1: Bread/Salad

We will look at one of Jesus' miracles, the feeding of the 5,000.  We'll talk about what he did that day (we've studied that several times just in Family Quest, so the kids should almost be able to tell the entire story for us!) Then we'll see if they can come up with ways that Christ still takes care of us today. One big way is that he still provides food for us everyday.  We will give each family (it will be faster than each child doing their own) a paper plate and some magazines (hopefully we can find lots with food in them) and have the kids look for foods that God gives us to eat.  They will cut out those pictures and glue them to their plate.  Then we will talk about how God can also use us to help provide food for others. One way we can do that is through the food pantry. Everyone will need to bring some items with them that can be donated to the food pantry. Then we can eat our bread and salad.

House 2: The Main Meal

Here we will be talking about Jesus washing the disciples feet.  We can read the story of Jesus washing his disciples feet.  We will talk about how Jesus tells us he was being an example of what he wanted us to do, serve others.  Then we will do this THIS CRAFT (we can do one per family again, or one per child.  This won't take as long, I don't think.)  Then we will talk about ways that we can follow Christ's example of serving others.  Tonight, we will do this by gathering supplies to send to Sole Hope, who helps to take care of the feet of those who have no shoes in Uganda, Africa. Here is their list of needed supplies (each family will need to bring a few of these items with them) for Sole Hope  We will then eat the meal.

House 3: Dessert

It will be at this house that we will talk about the crucifixion and resurrection.  We can use THIS to tell them about the cross. We are thankful that He went to the cross for our sins and even more thankful that He rose from the dead.  This is important for us today because, without the cross, we can't have a relationship with Christ. Then we'll do a painting on canvas similar to THIS , but we're going to try and put an empty tomb on there, too. One per family should be good. They can pretty much paint it anyway they want...when you peel off the tape the design will be there regardless of the other painting.  Then we'll have dessert (whoever does dessert can make THESE ahead of time).

Is it really April already?!?!?!

Where in the world has 2014 gone?  Time is just flying by!!!  I'll go ahead and apologize now, this post is going to be crazy and random and probably hard to follow.  I feel like that's been my brain for the last two weeks, so this will let you know how I've been feeling!  ;)

--Both of my children have birthdays this weekend.  Sophie will be 8 and Ethan will be 5.  Talk about time flying!  What a blessing both of them have been in our lives.  I am so thankful I get to be their mom and get to see them learn and grow everyday.  Sophie is such a loving, sweet, funny girl quickly becoming a young lady.  Ethan is a silly, loving, creative boy who will be a young man far before I am ready for that.  I love that I have the privilege to teach them so many wonderful things.  I love watching E as he is learning to read.  I love how excited he gets when he sees a word he recognizes or when he sounds out a word correctly.  I love the light Sophie has in her eyes when her next great idea pops into her head.  I love the stories they each tell and the wonderful way the play together (even though they don't always agree on what or how to play.) I also love how excited each of them get when they hear a scripture verse they've memorized in a sermon or in a song.  I love watching them sleep, cuddling up and watching a movie, and reading books together.  What a gift it is to parent these to precious children, even on the hard days.

--Easter is coming!  I am looking forward to celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ with our kiddos in a new way this year (more on that after, and I can include pictures!)  I am also excited (please don't hate me when I say this) that there is no Good Friday service at church this year.  This will be the first year we'll be able to celebrate this amazing, sad, cruel, necessary event of the crucifixion, just us and the kids.  Pretty sure there will be some What's in the Bible involved, but we have yet to fully decide what to do.  What an amazing thing to be able to celebrate our hope because of Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf.  How grateful I am that He sent Christ to take the punishment for my sins.  Lord, help me to teach this truth to my children.  Help them to see their need for Your salvation and grace in their lives everyday.  Help them to see their need for a relationship with You.

--I am thankful for a loving and caring church body.  I am thankful for friends who lift us up in prayer, love our children, and walk beside us in this crazy life here on earth.  I am thankful for technology that allows me to see friends far away, to get a laugh when I need it, to help others laugh when they need it, and helps me to minister alongside some of the best women I know.  I am thankful for the gift of prayer that allows me to seek God more deeply, plead on behalf of friends and family, and hear the voice of my Creator.  I am thankful for His word and that it is so readily available for me and my children.

--I gave up drinking anything but water for Lent.  I still have a few weeks left, but it has gone well so far.  I am so thankful that God laid this on my heart to do.  So many people don't have the option of running to the sink for a quick glass of water, grabbing that nice clean water bottle out of the fridge, brushing their teeth with water that won't make them sick.  How blessed I am that I can do all of those things and never even have to think about it or wonder if that water will be there tomorrow.  Lord, give me a burden for those whose stomachs are empty and need the basic necessities each day.  Show me how to love other by caring for their needs, loving them with Your heart, and showing Your love to them each day, here and around the world.

--It's been a lot of fun, and very therapeutic, to clean out our closets, etc, to give things away for a yard sale benefiting church members heading out onto the mission field. Even the kids have really gotten into it this time.  Sophie has a two-page list of things she wants to try and make/or sell so that she has money to donate to them, too.  I love her heart.  Some of her ideas are a bit crazy, but I love the heart behind it.  I pray that I don't squash that spirit of giving she has.

I am sure there are hundreds more things that I could share, but they wouldn't be all that exciting and you'd probably get bored reading it!  Looking forward to sharing with you our Easter celebration idea.  It may end up being a disaster, but we've had fun thinking about it and planning it!  Praying that God uses this to draw all of us closer to Him and to help us see our true, deep need for Him in our lives.

Water

As I mentioned in an earlier post, during Lent I will be drinking only water.  Clean water is something I take for granted every.single.day.  There are so many in the world who do not have this precious gift.  So, I will be keeping a tally of each glass of water I drink (I will do my best...and yes, this will also be a math project for the kids.  I thought that was a great way to involve them and be able keep them mindful of the gifts that we have been given, Who has given them, and what we can be doing for others with what God has given us.  And getting some school credit for it is just a bonus.)  For each glass of water we'll donate $.05 to the World Vision Clean Water campaign.  (You can find information about that HERE.)

I would love to be able to join with any others who would also like to donate to this fund at the end of Lent. If you want to drink only water along with me, that would be great, but you could also just make a flat donation or a matching donation.  I know this isn't for everyone, but I wanted to put it out there and give others the chance to donate.  It's pretty easy to give online, so you wouldn't even have to go through me to give your donation.

Pray about it and let me know if God lays it on your heart to join me in this effort!

A Little Help From My Friends

I wanted to let you know about an opportunity to help put shoes on the feet of people in Africa, while also providing work for women there, who make the shoes.

As most of you probably know, I hosted a Sole Hope shoe cutting party for my 35th birthday last month.  Sole Hope sent us patterns, we used old jeans and recycled milk cartons to cut out all the pieces that it takes to make the shoes.  These pieces will then be sent to Sole Hope where the women in Africa will be paid to make shoes out of them.  These shoes will be handed to adults and children once they have had the jiggers removed from their feet in hopes that the horrible diseases these bugs cause can be lowered.  Lowering the rate of these foot-related diseases dramatically improves the quality of life for those receiving the shoes.  Check out the pics from my party:

Here is my request: Sole Hope asks that those who host a party send a $10 donation for each pair of shoes that will be made from the patterns they cut out.  My hope was that we would end up with 10 pairs of shoes by the end of the night.  I was blown away when we completed 30 PAIRS OF SHOES!!!!  I am so excited!  Though, this does present me with a dilemma...the cost I need to send with the shoes is more than I was expecting or budgeting for.  The first 20 pairs of shoes have been covered thanks to the ladies who attended the party, monetary gifts I received for my birthday, and donations from some amazing people.  So, I still need the money for the other 10 pairs of shoes.  Would you be willing to donate just $10 for to help a pair of shoes make their way onto the feet of someone in Africa?  If you are willing, drop me an email or Facebook message and I'll get you the information you need to make out a check and my mailing address (if you're from out of town) so I can send the money in with the shoes. 

I feel so blessed to be part of this amazing ministry.  It is so much fun to sit and cut out these patterns.  I look forward to being able to do this as a family in the next few years (the kids are still a bit young to be able to do it correctly, yet.)  Thank you in advance to those who will participate.  We will never truly know the impact these shoes will have on lives there in Africa, from the ladies who will make the shoes, those who will give out the shoes, to those who will receive the shoes.  I just know God will do amazing things!

Fasting Fail

I must admit, today was a fasting fail.  I have tried to justify it to myself that I was on the road, not at home, with others who aren't fasting, and because I knew tomorrow was going to be a long, emotional day....but really...if I am going to be honest...it's just because I chose not to use self-control, because I decided to put my wants ahead of anything else, and I chose not to fast today.  I chose to ignore the nagging thought of children half-way around the world barely getting enough in their one meal today as I continually lifted food (that I didn't need and when I wasn't even hungry) to my mouth.  I chose to ignore the impulse to put down the chips, though I was eating them for the second time today, and pray for those around the world who would go to bed hungry this evening so they could give what meager food they had to their children in hopes they would live just one more day.  As I guzzled tea, hot chocolate, and soda, I pushed away the thoughts of those who would have to walk a day's journey (and usually it's children who do this task, meaning that they are missing out on an education in order to do this for their families) just to get enough clean water for their family for the day...not to mention all those who have no option for clean water and get more and more sick from drinking the dirty water that is their only option.  I am frustrated and angry with myself.  I am sick at my selfishness.  I am even more frustrated as I sit here and still contemplate excuses that will make me feel better about myself, even in this dismal failure of a day.  How will my children learn selflessness when all they see in me is selfishness and pride?  How will they learn self-control and self-discipline when all they see from me is laziness?  How will they learn to serve others and be giving if all they see from me is self-serving and no giving unless I am getting something in return?  Lord, help me!  Mold me!  Shape me!  Renew me!  Fill me with Your Spirit that those around me, especially my children see You and only You.  Lord, move my heart!  Fill it with You and remove the selfishness, pride, and laziness.  Remove any need for glory or fame that is not directed at You alone.  Let my children see You in all I do and say.  Lord, give me Your strength to complete this fast so that I may know You more, rely on you more, trust You more, and give more that Your name may be known throughout the world!

40 Days of Solidarity With The Poor

As part of my month of giving in October, we'll be doing 40 days of solidarity with the poor (on a slightly smaller scale than the book suggests) in order to spend less on food and give the extra money to a group that helps feed or provide clean water to those in need around the world.  I am thinking we'll go with Compassion International.  We toured there this summer and we were just blown away by all the amazing work they do in so many countries.

We won't be going down to one meal a day, as many of the poor are forced to do, mainly because that's not all that healthy, especially for the kids.  We will be doing our best to eat like the poor, both in the US and around the world.  Some nights we'll be doing $5 meals (huge thanks to Jessica Bonvillian for coming up with those for me) and some nights we'll pick a country and eat some of the things the poor in that country would eat.  I am going eat just breakfast and dinner and fast for lunch to pray for those in need and how our family can be part of the solution for the many, both in the US and around the world, who suffer from lack of food and clean water.  I will be drinking only water for the whole month (so, those of you who see me, you may have to remind me of this!)

Every Sunday is a celebration day.  This is to remind us that, as Christians, each Sunday is to be a taste of the greatest day on our calendar: Easter.  We are called to live lives of joy, not merely constant sorrow.  These feasting days are a reminder of that.  I was also challenged to invite someone to lunch each Sunday of the month (mainly because she knew that would be WAY out of my comfort zone.)  I am trying to embrace that challenge and face it head on, but I'll admit, it's not easy for me!

Here are some quotes from Chris Seay's book A Place at the Table: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor that really hit home with me. I can't wait to embark on this challenge.  There is a short devotion and story of some one's life, along with a way to pray, for each day to help get us through and see the truth of what those living in poverty around the world go through each day.  Lord, mold us and change us as we see the truth of poverty.  Make us more joyful and aware of even the smallest blessings each day.  Open our eyes and hearts to how we can help and give more of ourselves to those in need, both across the street and on the other side of the globe!

"God changes the world through humility and service."
"As we learn to march in step with our Savior, we find that our swagger gives way to a lowly and humble way of walking."
"We have allowed our love of freedom to become and excuse to live a life marked by self-absorbed consumerism."
"We often see ourselves most clearly in our children."  (Can I get a resounding AMEN?!?!?)
"The fact that God sustains our lives by a gift from His hand should cause us to stop everything and offer a sincere thanks, but so often we do not."
"The time has come to see the food set before us as manna--our miraculous provision for the day.  Certainly, if you haven't grown it, gathered it, transported it, frozen it, or packaged it, it is a miracle that it makes it to your table.  Avocados from Mexico become guacamole on a table in Minnesota in December?  Amazing."
"Feast days are a time for us to relax our fast and enjoy the extravagant grace of our Father."
"Ask God to transform your character in ways that lead you to be a person of humble strength like Jesus."
"Our goal is that our desires no longer drive our lives."
"Prepare for the unexpected."
"As we step into the wilderness, we will have to face many fears.  The world's economy drives people by fear.  God's way is to bring people comfort in grace and love.  May we lay down our desires and seek the heart of God...May He use this time to start and complete wholeness in our mind, body, and spirit...Be courageous, step out in faith, lay yourself down for 40 days, and see what rises in your life."

Reading for Refugees

 

I wanted to let you know about a program that Sophie will be participating in this summer, from June 1-Aug. 1, and let you know how you can help.  She will be doing the Reading for Refugees program (find information on it here: http://www.hisvoiceglobal.com/?p=2050) created by the missions organization His Voice Global (http://www.hisvoiceglobal.com/).  She has lots of books to choose from as her reading material, but she now needs sponsors who will commit to a PER PAGE price they would like to donate for her reading.  We will keep track of the pages she has read and let you know the total.  The money is due to His Voice by Aug. 15, so those of you who do not live in Hannibal, we will total the pages before Aug. 1 so you would have time to send your check. 

 

I am personally excited about this because it fits in with what our family has been doing the last few months as we have been fasting from some of our excesses and attempting to follow Isaiah 58, which instructs us to use our time of fasting to help others in need.  In June, we will be giving up the TV, so this is the perfect way for us to fulfill Is. 58 while we are not watching television.

 

If you would like to help us with this program, just reply to me and let me know what your PER PAGE READ pledge will be.  (FYI---she's a great reader and loves to read!)  Please do not feel bad if you cannot participate in the financial end of this program, but we would still love to have your prayers!  Thank you so much for thinking of us and for praying for us as we tackle this amazing project.

 

 

Answered Prayers

Well, I've been waiting all day to write this post...and in that wait came the terrible attack in Boston. It almost seems wrong to write a post rejoicing in answered prayers in the midst of such tragedy, but I must praise my God, regardless of circumstance.

Lord, thank You for answering prayers!  Thank You for answering them in Your time, even when it didn't match up with my time!

Almost three years ago Kevin and I went through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at church.  On one of the first nights they showed a video of a couple who had completed FPU and were so excited to say that they had been able to almost fully fund the adoption of a couple they met.  I almost couldn't breathe.  In that moment I knew why we were in this class.  I knew why the Lord was asking us to keep better track of our money and how it was spent.  I wanted to be like that couple in as many people's lives as possible. While we are open to the idea, neither Kevin or I feel like God is asking us to adopt, but we both want to help as many others as possible.  God has answered that prayer in many ways in these last three years.  Sadly (to me) the first few couples we knew that adopted we weren't really able to help financially, but with prayer and other support as we were able.  In the last year or so we've been able to help in many creative ways as the Humiston family works to bring their son David home.  Sometimes we have been able to give money, other times our stuff for a yard sale.  It has been so neat to watch as God has opened these doors for us, in many different ways.

About a year ago, God really laid on my heart the orphans of the world who are unable to be adopted, whether because of overwhelming government rules or because there is still a living relative who is unable to care for them, or because of any other reason.  I just wasn't sure how to go about getting connected to organizations that do this.  So, off and on for a year I kind of looked and did what I could through other orphan and widow organizations, still praying that God would open a door.  And boy, did He!  In just the last two months, I have had 4 opportunities to help those orphans who cannot be adopted.  Wow! 

The first opportunity came from Romania and two local missionaries who travel there each summer.  Not only are we working with the Humiston family to collect 300 pairs of glasses to help all of those in the community where they will serve, but we also have the opportunity to give to them out of the abundance of our closets.  We can take the kids t-shirts that don't fit and send them with Cristi and Michelle so that these children can get ONE new piece of clothing for the year.  Can you imagine only getting ONE new piece of clothing (whether brand new, hand-me-down, yard sale, basically anything new to you) in a year?  It breaks my heart that we have so much, they have so little, and on top of that they'll never know the love of a forever family.  It makes it that much more important they know of the Father who created them and loves them more than they could ever imagine!

My second opportunity came when the amazing and sweet Ben and Megan Craig were obedient to God's call and headed to South Africa to work with an orphanage there to see if that's where God wants to move their family indefinitely (He does, by the way, and I can't wait to see the awesome, only-God-could-do-that things He will do to get them there).  We were able to take the kids shopping and get some small items to send with them that the director there could use as birthday presents for the kids throughout the year.  Oh, how it brought tears to my eyes to have Megan tell me how excited the director is to see the kids flying their kites later in the year!  Man, I would love to see a picture of that!

The third opportunity is to help undocumented orphans in Haiti when a friend (who I've actually only met 2 or 3 times, but I worked for her husband on Bibleman and have been able to keep in touch with through Facebook) sent a letter letting me know that she and her son are headed to Haiti this summer.  Due to the earthquake and the total loss of government buildings and paperwork, there is now no birth certificate for the majority of the orphans there (not to mention there's probably no death certificate for those whose parents were killed in the earthquake). Then, as I was emailing back and forth with her to see what we could do for them, she let me know that she is now going twice, once in May to do a dental mission trip, and then again later this summer with her son through their church.  God opened the door for us to take our kids to the store once again and fill our basket with every travel toothbrush and toothpaste the store had (and I am not exaggerating when I say that!), fingernail polish, hair bands, brushes, etc. that would fit into the basket.  The kids are still talking about all the toothbrushes going to Haiti.  In fact, instead of doing Easter baskets for the kids this year, we filled a blessing basket as a family for Mrs. Kim and sent all of that stuff her way.

Our fourth opportunity came just this past weekend as the Watoto Children's Choir came to our church.  I am not sure that anyone who was there left the same (well, except for maybe Ethan, he doesn't like loud noises and he just kept asking if it was time to go home) after seeing the joy of Christ radiate from this group of children.  God has truly changed their lives and the people at the Watoto centers are doing what they can to raise these children to be the next leaders of Africa.  They are working to raise them to be leaders who love the Lord, love others, and rebuild Africa.  Wow!  So, none of those children will be adopted and moved out of Africa, but they can be sponsored in order to attend school and university to become true leaders.  Right now we are not in the position to commit to another monthly sponsorship, but we were able to give to them that night, and I am hoping to be able to go visit their baby center and do a mission trip there (as do several of the ladies in my church....and have no fear, I have already emailed them and am anxiously awaiting a reply!)

Lord, You are good!  You know all and You see all and You provide all.  I have no idea where this journey will lead us or how He will have us continue to support, advocate for, and love on this particular group of orphans, but I am ready to step out and do it.  In my own little dream world, our family would head out together once a year and go to a different place to get hands on to love on and minister to these kids and those who work with them...but I know that may not be what God is calling us to.  Lord, whatever it is you want me and my family to do, give us the strength to say, "Not my will, but Yours be done."  Thank You for these answered prayers on a day that seems so dreary and sad and hopeless.  There is still reason to praise You!

Lent Week 4

Has it really been 4 weeks?  In some ways it has crept by (I feel so out of the loop, want to see every one's pictures, hear all the amazing testimonies I know I am missing) and in some ways it has just flown by (how are we only 2 weeks away from Easter and 3 weeks away from the kids' birthdays!?!?!?!)  Anyway, here's what we've been up to!

Day 22:
We are slowly getting plans made for our glasses drive for the Romanian mission team that is heading out this summer.  Can’t wait to get the kids going on that!  Lord, help us to reach our goal of 300 glasses so these people will be able to read Your word and be changed forever.

Day 23:
I am really having a hard time getting motivated today!  This is the third day in a row Kevin and I have gotten up to exercise together.  I am so sore I can barely move!  The kids have already enjoyed a little more than an hour out in the snow (great PE hours, right?!) and it’s only 11!  I guess we’ll just wait to start school until after lunch today.

Day 24:
Man, today was a crazy day!  I made it out to church to make the copies of the James memorization cards to take to the Ladies in Purple conference in two weeks.  Cutting those sure took longer than I thought!  A huge thanks to Calvary for letting me print them there and to Beverly for laminating them for me!  Can’t wait to share them with the ladies!!!!

Day 27:
I am noticing it is getting harder and harder for me to get on and do these updates because, without facebook, I am getting on the computer less.  I am thinking this may be a good thing!  I have gotten way more housework done and spent some sweet moments with the kiddos.  I do, however, miss getting share and see all the things God is doing with those around me. 

We did our poverty meal on Haiti tonight.  I am just blown away by the poverty in that country.  To be honest, as I sat looking at pictures, it was almost hard to tell whether they were pre or post earthquake.  That is so sad!  We have some friends heading there on a mission trip soon and they will be working with an orphanage when they go.  Many of the orphans are those who were found living in the sewers, parentless, after the earthquake three years ago.  The saddest part, and the part the kids just couldn’t get over, is that these children are not adoptable because they are undocumented orphans. They will never know a “forever family” here on earth.  This is the second country we’ve learned about with children that will just never know a true earthly family and it breaks my heart.  Those are the orphans that I just want to reach out and love on and pour all I can out to.  Perhaps this is how God will use our family among the orphans of the world, I am not sure.  Once again, I forgot to take pictures, but it was a memorable night for all of us!  I think the thing that stuck out in their mind, other than whole families having to live in tents, was when we told them they could go play, but they could each only play with one toy.  We wanted them to know what it’s like to not really have anything, and we thought that would be a good lesson for them.  Oh, you should have heard the bargaining that went on!  In the end, they did it and were able to use their imaginations and have a grand time, but they won’t soon forget the night they only got to play with one toy!

Day 28:

I got  to work on our Christian Passover Meal that we’ll be doing for the first time this year.  I found two online that I liked and kind of combined them together into something we could use.  One of them has a study guide to do with your kids leading up to it, so I am excited to do that as part of school the week of Easter.  I am praying that God will use this to remind us all of His grace and love in becoming our Passover Lamb!

I leave one week from today for our next Ladies in Purple Conference!  I am excited!!  I get to see some amazing ladies I haven’t seen in awhile.  I love these ladies!  Of course, I have begun pouring over my scripts like mad hoping that I remember everything!  I am sure Kevin loves that he gets to sit here and run lines….but he is so good and does that with me! 

I do feel bad, however, because I am pretty sure I will be leaving him with the house in shambles!  We’ve had to move school to the middle of the living room floor because the school area flooded a bit in the big rain we had on Sunday.  So, Kevin will probably be having to rip out the flooring there (and maybe even some of the carpet) in order to fix whatever the problem is.  So, school is a little scattered at the moment…oh…and did I mention that he will be working full-time and doing school for me next week?  He must really love us!  So, I am trying to get school done and get “sub plans” done (ha ha!  Like I even know how to do such a thing!), which just makes things an even bigger mess!

Lord, lead and guide us as we look to being apart next week.  Give us all peace and rest in You alone.  Continue to show us how we can give to others out of the abundance you have given us.  Mold us and shape us.  Give all four of us a heart for loving on and sharing with others for the purpose of them coming to know You.  Give all four of us a desire to know more of Your word, know more of You, and to be more like You!


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