30 Days of Thanks: Day 9

Day 9 and I am thankful for J. David and Jana Panther. David was a wonderful pastor who I miss all the time. I wrote about him a few months ago after his passing. [link] I am so thankful that God led my family to our church!

Last night, David's beautiful wife Jana had the courage and strength to be obedient to a calling - to share a part of her journey -  the year long battle they faced and the 5 1/2 months since. Not afraid to be transparent about her fears and pain, but brave enough to face those fears. A great woman of faith, who hasn't lost sight of who God is even in her darkest days. A great example to us.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 8

Thankful to know so many people who are so generous with their gifts. Giving their time, skills and talents, and their offerings.

Our world is so busy. We expect everything to happen now. For rewards now. If we order something today, we want it tomorrow. If our children join a sport, they are pushed earlier and younger, more and more. We make jokes that we're the teen taxi.

All of that strips away energy, and keeps us focused on ourselves. So it's a great blessing to be surrounded by people who like to give. They restore my energy, and remind me that it's a blessing and a joy to give.

Last night I was blessed to spend the evening with families who gave up their time to pack shoe boxes. We held our annual Operation Christmas Child packing party, and we packed more than 225 shoe boxes of gifts. Thanks to those who helped. That's more than 200 children who will feel your love and the love of God!





To know a bit more about Operation Christmas Child, see my previous post.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 7

I have always been aware how blessed I am to have been born in a free country, that by providence I was born somewhere that I am able to vote, pray, speak out.

As I said a few days ago, giving thanks for what we have can bring compassion for others for what they don't have.

More recently this issue of freedoms and providence has been pressed on my heart. From my visit abroad. From reading. From speaking online with people in countries where they live in fear every day for being known as Christians.

More and more I read of murder, flogging and persecutions of our brothers and sisters around the world. My heart cries out to the Lord for them, for Him to give them strength and courage, to know He is with them. And I pray for the enemies that beat them down, for their hearts to be softened and for them to have mercy.

Today, Thursday November 7, there are diplomatic talks between the new Iranian president and world governments. Please pray for those talks to include discussions about the treatment of Christians, and for the release of those imprisoned simply for professing their faith in Christ.

One such man is US Citizen, Pastor Saeed Abedini. He was imprisoned in 2012 and was recently moved into a very dangerous prison. He needs our prayers. His family needs our prayers.

You can learn more about Saeed at https://www.facebook.com/PrayForPastorSaeedAbedini
You can also sign an online petition, requesting that our government continue to seek his release.
http://beheardproject.com/saeed

30 Days of Thanks: Day 6

Electricity. It is the best. I'll add indoor plumbing and hot running water to that. 

I might be married to a modern pioneer, but that's how close I like to get to oil lamps and boiling water over the fire.

The other night we had a power outage again. Jason is a light sleeper these days and he woke up around 2:30am when he felt something was a little different. Maybe it was because the underlying buzzing of appliances was stilled. Or the bathroom nightlight and the LED alarm clocks and outside lantern went dark. Or the fact that my dog was pacing up and down, panting with worry that something was different.  Either way, it woke him up and he woke me up so I could use my cell phone as an alarm clock in the morning.

I got up to dig out candles and flashlights - they were not in their usual place and I knew I'd have to get Jess up early for school so she'd have extra time as she stumbled around in the pitch dark. I briefly debated throwing her in the car and driving to the Y to use their lights and showers.

Jason was much more enthusiastic and said it was an exciting challenge. I debated thumping him for being cheery at daft o'clock in the morning. And I groaned when I realized I wouldn't get to have coffee in the morning from my automated coffee pot.

I dislike unexpected power outages immensely. More so when it's pitch dark outside and I have to be moving around. Even more so because our well pump stops working so we also have no water. But I knew I'd have to keep my grumbles to a minimum if I wanted to limit the drama of a 14 year old girl who would not be able to take a shower or use her hair dryer.

As 5am rolled around, Jessica sat bleary eyed, staring at me with hope to find a solution. I paced around, and grumbled very quietly. And like that... click.... the lights kicked on, appliances whirred to life, the hot water steams from the shower. The drama was limited to just moments, after all that.

I give thanks for this modern marvel of electricity. Oh, how being without it for a short time (the most I have gone without was 12 days) makes me see the huge divide between the lives of those who have it and those who don't. How different so many small activities become when one doesn't have hot water, or a light to flick on.

30 Days of Thanks: Days 4 & 5

Day 4: Always grateful for the opportunity to work. Even Monday mornings!

I have been extremely blessed to rarely be out of work and I give thanks every time we get good orders to keep us working! Though the jobs I've had haven't always matched what I would want, my mum always taught me that it's a person's backbone, not background, that builds them and that there's nothing beneath me but the ground...

Source: Holypoll

Day 5. I am grateful to have people who love me enough to hold me accountable.

And then to forgive me when I carry on anyway in my own way and mess up.

And then wait patiently for me to eat my humble pie.

If you'd like to join in "30 Days of Thanks", use the image (right click, save) on your blog and link back here!
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30 Days of Thanks: Days 2 and 3

DAY 2:
Thankful for being able to contribute. Whether it's through giving, sharing, working, gifting, or being exhausted giving up 10 or 11 hours to work at a swim meet.
Glad to be able.


DAY 3:
Thankful for these mild weather days!! 
We've hit some low 30's in the mornings, but back to 50s and 60s in the daytime. It's November in Pennsylvania. I will take it and be thankful!

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30 Days of Thanks: Day 1

From Marcia Furman

I think it's easier to be compassionate about anything when you have a thankful heart. The times I feel less compassionate, well they tend to be the times when I am grumpy or feeling entitled to my comfort or my judgments.

So focusing on our blessings is a wonderful way to also remind ourselves our fortunate we are... and then we can have a deeper heart for those who struggle or who have bigger needs.

For the past few years on Facebook, I've joined friends with 30 Days of Thanks - each day sharing something I am thankful for. This year, I'm bringing it to the blog!

Day 1:

In moving to USA, I adopted two new holidays. In UK, Halloween is hardly observed at all compared with USA, and they don't have Thanksgiving - there is a 'Harvest Festival Week' of giving food, but it's not a set holiday to celebrate.
I am a little fascinated at what y'all do for Halloween but I am not too upset that my kids are now a bit old for it.

On the other hand, I LOVE Thanksgiving. It's a beautiful holiday, and so today, my November 30 Days of Thanks begins with that - this is my 10th Thanksgiving holiday in USA and I look forward to it more each year, a holiday for everyone of every age and culture. 

 If you'd like to join in "30 Days of Thanks", use the image (right click, save) on your blog and link back here!
Then leave a comment below with a link to your blog!

Operation Christimas Child - International Compassion

I seriously adore this picture. It makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. Laugh with the joy he feels. And weep because he has so little that this box of little toys and a tube of toothpaste has so much meaning to him. 

This is from Samaritan's Purse. In those boxes in the photo are small gifts, toiletries and perhaps some school supplies. And a booklet containing an eternal gift of the Gospel. Amongst other aid, Samaritan's Purse deliver gifts to kids who would have very little during the Christmas period. In total they have delivered 100 million shoeboxes to children around the world! But there are billions more to reach.

Want to help?  

It doesn't cost a lot. Shopping frugally (sales, clearance sections, dollar stores, with coupons), you can fill a shoebox and pay for the shipping for around $30 or less. That's about half the cost of an X-Box game that some people have as a side gift for their kids at Christmas. Just sayin'.

In fact, get the kids involved. Give them $20 to fill a box with items on the list below. Then as a family, pray for the child that will receive it.

You can also make things to go in the box!  I have been collecting craft ideas on Pinterest. This is an awesome way to get kids involved, or hold a small craft party.

How does it work?

Basically select a boy or girl, then pick an age group and you fill up a shoebox with small age appropriate gifts.

I keep boxes under my bed all year and add to them as I see things on sale and also when I stop by shops like Dollar Tree, the One Stop at Target and 5 Below.  I also hawk the clearance bins at Rite Aid and other places.




Necessities:

• soap/ toothbrushes/ toothpaste/ washcloths, lip balm
• school supplies, stickers, picture books for little kids, coloring books & crayons 
• kleenex, wet wipes, first aid kit, flashlight
• comb/ brush
• socks and underwear, hat scarf and gloves, t-shirts, PJs (size up if unsure)
• sunglasses, ball caps, scarfs
  
  Fun things to include

• small toys, playing cards, Happy Meal toys, toy cars
• yo-yos, penny whistles, harmonicas, slinky, travel games
• hair things, toy beads, friendship bracelet
• flashlight & batteries, small sewing kit, solar calculator
• stuffed animals and Beanie Babies, dolls
• Jumping ropes, Jacks, chalk 
• Chewing gum, Mentos

There are a few things that you should not put in there and they will be removed at the collection center:

NO War related items (toy guns, knives, soldiers, etc.) Your gift may end up in an orphanage of a war-torn country. Those kids do not need reminders of war and violence!

NO Liquids (shampoo, glue, nail polish, etc.)
NO Medicines (vitamins, drops, etc.)
NO Glass or breakable items (mirrors, china dolls, etc.)
NO Chocolate or perishable food items
No Used or worn items - I know we all like to donate our kids' old toys, but these kids won't be getting anything else. New or unused is best.

Anything with a flag: In some countries it may be illegal to have anything with a foreign/ US Flag. Or in a country with rebel militia, this could cause problems for the child.

What to do with your box?

Each box requires a $7 donation inside to go towards delivery. 
You can mail them (see link) or find a local church or other collection point.  To find out more, check out the Operation Christmas Child website.

If you can't afford to fill a box, you might find a local center who need volunteers for one of their packing parties, or who would be very happy to accept any small items that you can provide. Handmade items are fine, as are cards and notes.

Rest for the weary

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

I am drawn to this scripture right now. It sits on my heart, waiting for me to act.

Are you weary? Are your shoulders heavy with the weight you carry? Of a job. Of illness. Of your family troubles. Of worry for your children?
He will take it and He will lovingly place His yoke over your shoulders, and gently, humbly guide you.

Sometimes it takes boldness to trust. Jesus said it only takes the faith the size of a mustard seed to move a mountain. You just need a little - but real - faith in Him to trust that He can do so much when all we have to give is so little. That this verse is true - we can come to Him exhausted and He can restore us.

And how can we turn that into compassion? If we are willing to trust Him for our rest, for His gentle guidance, His loving course corrections, to take our worries and stresses, how can we do that for others?

Is your home a place of rest from a wicked world for your children? Is it a place where your spouse is free from more burden? Are you guiding them to Him, or do you add yet more for them? Is your workspace free of worldly gossip, and instead a place where co-workers can rest in your humbleness?

It takes boldness of faith to know that compassion isn't weakness, that it won't make you a doormat. That the yoke He offers gives humble correction and gentle reproof. That when we are required to give the same to someone else, we can do it with the same loving and gentle way He does for us.

[Photo by Jason in Honduras, 2013]

Not my will, but yours, be done

When I was an agnostic, I was pretty much the center of my story.

A truth: You don't need to be a Christian to have a cause. Without thinking of God, I still gave to charities that I liked. I volunteered each week at a charity store for years. I made sure to get my pets from a rescue shelter. I shed tears for victims of tornadoes and famine. I had groups in society I liked to champion: the underdog, usually. The people who are overlooked.

I used to love doing those things because 'Good Deeds' aren't the sole property of Christians.

But I was still the center of my story. I got a pat on the back for doing good. And I had a line in the sand. A big thick line between what I would and would not do. Who I would and would not help.

Don't get me wrong: I still have a line in the sand. But God is helping me blur the line, smooth it out so there's no distinction between what I will do and what I should do. 

Having God helps us go that one step further. Then one more. You see, God calls us to love and pray for our enemies too, not just our friends and neighbors or the underdog!  It's not the easiest thing in the world, loving those we don't like, or those who do much wrong. It's not easy at all.

Source unknown

In the book of Luke, when Jesus was in the garden shortly before His arrest, He prayed to the Father. He knew the sacrifice He was about to make. He knew the plan all along, and He was ready for the torture and horror that His sacrifice would be. Yet, as He was also fully human, He looked to the Father for an option.  

“Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”  Luke 22:42

In His anguish Jesus sweat blood. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.

Often we don't want to consider what God is asking of us. It's too hard, too uncomfortable, too much like someone else's problem. But Jesus was here to tackle our problems. Our writhing, steaming mess of sin. For a moment, He asked the Father to perhaps reconsider the plan, all the while saying 'I will still do whatever you ask of me.'

Even as a Christ-follower, I fall into my human heart; I become the center of my story all too often. One thing I have learned is that when I start my days with God in the center - through bible reading, listening to worship music or a sermon on the radio, it reminds me that I am not the star of my story. It is, and always was, about Jesus Christ.

When the most important Being in the universe is at the front of my mind and all my thoughts, it makes it so much easier to be humble. To put someone else first. To hold my tongue when I am irritated. To help someone I might not even like. To pray for someone who took it all from me. To expect nothing back. To remember that when my will clashes with the Lord's, that I need to let mine go and pray to do His will instead.

Manuelito Project - fun!

Bold compassion comes in so many forms, and very often it's just about love. About a big smile. About fun. Here are a few pics that just warm my heart from our trip to Honduras. You don't need to go overseas for this. Any city or small town has kids that need compassion. They might be the kids that you normally don't talk to, or you tell your kids "Be thankful you are not in their home."
They are the kids that are often overlooked or looked down on.

These guys never turn down a chance for a game of soccer!

And the kids thrill for the pinata!

Making rubber band bracelets

Dancing! Our team join in!

Compassion in Words

Words are powerful.

They whisper "I love you." They make hearts soar. They let us share secrets with someone a thousand miles away. They change minds. They make laws. They command armies.

The right words can end wars.

Positive words inspire and bring joy.  Negative words - through gossip, complaining, arguing, demeaning - break morale, bring us down, drain our spirits. 

I find writing to be a much safer medium. I can filter the rash thoughts, re-check them, wait until I am calm to see what I really think. The delete button is a gift. With the spoken word, they can be said in a heartbeat, and though they can be forgiven, they are not easily forgotten. I am not alone in my struggle to tame my tongue, and to stop mean and rude words passing my lips when emotion rises. But even with the safety of a keyboard, the internet and social media is filled with lies, gossip and bullying from many who don't make great use of that time lapse between thinking something and blurting it out.

The bible has plenty of advice and warnings on taming our tongue. James puts it rather bluntly, doesn't he?  The bible is clear that harsh words, cruel words, deceitful words all need to be stopped. And James tells us, if we don't control this, then all the other religious efforts we make are worthless. Indeed, if the most important commandments are about loving God, our neighbors and our enemies, what place do thoughtless words have?

I have meditated a lot on the difference between reacting versus responding.  When we react to a situation, we let our feelings take control, and feelings often lie. They are temporary, and as we calm down or take a moment, those feelings often change. What we said fifteen minutes ago no longer feels right.
Conversely, when we respond to a situation, we think about what we will say, what will be helpful and how it will be received.

An example:  A friend complains about her job for the 5th time this week. A reaction would be, "Why don't you quit then? All you do is complain about it." A response would be, "I'm sorry you've been so unhappy at work lately. What's been bothering you? Maybe we can think of a solution."
A teenager blurts out an angry swear word about his best friend. A reaction would be, "Don't use that word in my house!" A response: "That's not like you to use such a horrible word.  What's made you so angry?"
(An apology and change might come more easily when he feels heard and understood.)

Oh, easy to say as I sit and type, right? After your own stressful day, dealing with other people's stress, negativity, tension, lies, cussing, bullying and so on can just be too much. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is pretty good at helping us in these moments. These moments can be an invitation to lean into Him for guidance, wisdom and self control.

So, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I vow to try:

To respond with love.
To think about each reply before I speak it.
To pray for someone who needs encouragement.
To remind someone they are loved.
To remain silent if my words are not helpful.
To let them know, this is temporary. Better is around the corner.
To share a blessing of encouragement.
To offer to listen.
To offer a kind truth to a lie.
To use words only for good.
To tell someone I value them.

How else can we use our words for compassion? What will you change?

Butterflies

A few weeks ago, I took a walk with some ladies at church. We were having a monthly women's ministry get together and we began with a 1 mile walk. It wasn't just any walk though. We had to walk the first 5 minutes in silence.

Silence. 20 or 30 women. Walking for 5 minutes in silence. We were put to the test in about a minute when 2 joggers ran towards us and said hello. We couldn't respond. I could almost feel the energy from the group as they strained to stifle the manners of a reply!

I was quite amazed at how quickly the 5 minutes went by. In the first moments, I noticed the trees. I thought of their longevity and what had they lived through; were they oblivious or did they notice everything?

I spotted two pale blue dancing butterflies, flying by, flirting with each other perhaps. I thought about how God created them, how He provides for them. And they know nothing. They live so simply, they know nothing of drama, sorrow or heartache. They don't know how to lie or cheat or steal.

Source http://www.dailylifeverse.com/posts/2013/02/matthew-6-26

I thought of how God provides for them, and how He provides so much more for us. And how He has given us the emotions and capacity that allow us to feel the drama, sorrow or heartache  of life. How He gives us the skills that we sometimes use for lies and cheating and stealing.

The butterflies don't know all that negative, yet nor do they know the opposite extreme either: love, joy, warmth.  He gave us the whole spectrum. All of it! Oh, how we don't use all that He has given, and yet He still gives. How we dwell on the downs it brings, and allow them to swallow the joys.

Sometimes it seems so much simpler, that life of the butterfly. But He didn't intend that simplicity for me, or for you. He wanted you to feel the emotions, to turn heartache into compassion, forgiveness and action; to use pain to learn; to use our skills for good.

Bold compassion often comes from the drama or the heartache or the pain. How can we deeply care about someone without putting our hearts on our sleeve and making it vulnerable? How can we really help if we don't deeply care? He cares. He built us to care. He made the butterflies sweet, gentle and light in heart, but He made us for so much more.

Mission preparations: Next time, I would...

Hindsight is great but late, so better than gaining your own is getting someone else's hindsight before you need it!

This is a post for those things that, while we were away, we'd say, "Next time I do a mission week, I will....."
If you are going on a mission trip and making preparations, I hope this helps!

> Learn more Spanish.
Developing relationships with the kids and people you are working with is an amazing step. Speaking their language can only help with that! I had a little app (available at Amazon for Android) that would translate both ways - you could speak into it and it would respond. That was helpful but doesn't compensate for real conversations.

> Take more activities for the kids.
At the Manuelito Project we were given a lot of time to spend with the kids, often in small groups. Sports provided a great way to interact with many kids, but not all. Crafts, toys, song and dance is another way. Preparing some in advance (cutting shapes) is good.

> Take something for the first night.
We were tired by the time we arrived, after being up through the night, traveling then touring the place, and awash with emotion, there's not much energy for the first night. Not much is expected - after we arrived and took a tour, the kids at MP presented to us and then we hung about. This would be a great time for an opening night game or small party!

> Be prepared to lead a church service.
We were asked to do that on our 2nd day. We were able to hand the message part of that to Rob, a preacher on our team, but if we hadn't had Rob, we would have had to do it. Next time I'd take a lesson from a Sunday school class. We also had a great book of devotions and songs provided to us by World Gospel Mission so we had the hymns to sing. A CD to go with it would have been great!

> Take more of each item for the kids
We knew how many kids lived on the project, and we thought ahead to take something also for the child of the US missionaries. We didn't think about kids of the other staff that might live on site or visit a lot, or just general visitors, like siblings of any of the kids. So I'd take at least 6 to 10 more of everything.

Supplies: coming soon.

Anything else? If you've been on a mission trip and felt there was something you would take next time, what would it be?

Being the light

We talk often of 'being the light in the world', or being the 'face of Jesus' to someone. To many people, they are just words, or something to try to remember but so often forgotten.

Tonight, the two recent mission teams from our church gave presentations about their trips. We talked, showed photos and we answered questions. Running out of time, I didn't get to share a story that reminds me to always try to be the best light I can be.

Maria is in her early 20s. She's studying to be a teacher, and volunteers at the children's school. Maria was once a street kid. At 3 or 4 years old, she would be sent to the streets to beg. She needed to raise $1.50 for her mom to pay the night's rent, and if they missed the rent, they'd spend the night sleeping on the streets. For years, this is how they lived. Maria's mom had more kids and Maria learned to take care of them.

During that time, when Maria was on the streets begging and looking for ways to make a few dimes, she would see a little girl walking to school. The little girl wore a uniform and she walked across the park each day, holding hands with her mother, going to school. For years, Maria watched that child and wanted to be that child. She wanted nothing more than to go to school, the same way that little girl did.

School isn't a 'given' where Maria lives. Less than 10% of the kids might get to 4th or 5th grade, if they even get the chance to go at all. Maria didn't get the chance. She started to ask her mother, could she go to school? But Maria needed to earn money for rent, so the answer was always no, she couldn't go to school.

Eventually, Maria heard of a project that would give her a home and an education, and after more begging, she finally got permission to move from her mother and go to school. By then she was a pre-teen and entering first grade. She worked hard, she got her sisters into the project with her and now, in her twenties, she is getting her own teaching degree. What a story!

Matthew 5:14

But she remembers her inspiration, a child that she saw each day, walking to school. That young child grew up. They never met face to face so she never knew that she inspired someone and that inspiration changed someone's life. Instead of growing up on the streets, Maria had a home. Instead of repeating the life of others before her, having 4 or 5 babies by her mid 20s, she was in training and, helping others do the same.

We never know who sees us, who is inspired by us. It's important to always be the light even when we have no idea if anyone is watching.

[image source]

Post Mission Thoughts

We were wondering the other day, what did our 13 year old daughter get from the trip? 

If you were to ask her, she might get a little self conscious, wondering what kind of answer you expect and not wanting to be 'wrong'. Her real answers come during chats in the car or from under a fitting room door as we shop for back-to-school clothes. She explains that she doesn't want to waste her chances and opportunities, she looks at the future of some and then at her own, and she realized how much she has ahead of her. Doesn't want to miss a chance that God puts before her.


I have also been asking myself the same question. I was already very aware and compassionate about the poverty in the world. I have a bleeding heart for the unfortunate, and an anger for the corruption, and though I believe that much of life is what you make of it, there are many victims in the world who just don't have the ability, strength, vision or know-how to change anything.

I questioned how some things never change. Modern methods taught - faster, cheaper, easier - yet people resort back to what they know. In a country where 90% of the population don't have get beyond 4th grade education, is it surprising that the toll of poverty makes people seek comfort in their old ways?

What vision is there for 1,800 people who live in a garbage dump? Not just visit the dump, but live there. What do they know of outside and the potential opportunities that await them? What do they know other than the dream of being the garbage truck driver - the best option they see in life, instead of being in one of the gangs that run the place? That is, if they live to see adulthood.

A crippling law in Honduras is that it is almost impossible to own land, even if you 'buy' it. It all belongs to the government. You can own a house but not the land it is on. El Sembardor (a school and farm) was set up in the 1940s and grew to be a 2,000 acre farm that has educated thousands of children that would have otherwise had no education. For decades, they struggled with the fact that they couldn't have full rights of the land. They frequently battled squatters that would try to take hundreds of acres at a time.
It took about 50 years to be granted full domain rights by the government. The most shocking thing about this is that when the government changes, those rights are taken away again and the application process (and money!) begins again. This is so for everyone in the country, rich or poor.

These are the kinds of things that gave me a greater understanding of how difficult it is to succeed in a country like that, even if they wanted to. A better grasp on why they cannot always help themselves.

Before I went I was already aware of my blessings and how fortunate I am. But what it did was make me aware that I don't make the most of them. I am not always a good steward of what I have. My time, energy, health, opportunities allow me to do much more than I actually do. Only my focus, attitude and priorities stand in my way.

I feel God's nudge frequently. It's that voice that tells me, why aren't you helping? Or, go over and talk to that lonely person. Or, I gave you a blessing, why aren't you using it?

Sometimes our fear of man strangles our fear of God. We become more afraid of what someone will think of us instead of what God thinks of us. More afraid of being told no than thanks. More afraid of our friends questioning us with what are you doing? I have been guilty of that more than once. I repent of my fear of what the world thinks, and promise to try to only fear what God thinks of my actions and my outreach. 

A new command in loving

Too often, I hear non-believers say, "I don't understand you Christians. Jesus was about love. Why do Christians judge and criticize so much?" Indeed, this was one reason I stayed away from church for so long: the perception of judgement and hypocrisy. As Christians, we want the love of Jesus, it makes us feel good. But our sin nature often means we don't always give the love that He commands of us.

 At the Last Supper, Jesus said: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." - John 13:34-35  

When we went to Honduras, this verse was on the back of our t-shirts. What does it mean?  In our society, we think of love as something we feel. It's a warm and fuzzy feeling associated with romance or family bonds; how we feel about our children; how Hollywood and books tell us we should feel about our spouses, forever and ever, Amen. Or until we don't feel so warm and fuzzy anymore, and the world tells us to quit while we are ahead and move on.

So, when Jesus tells us to love everyone as He loved us - and we know He loves us greatly - we can struggle with that. We look at some of the unlovable around us and think, "but...."
Each of us has our own group of society that we don't feel warm and fuzzy about. It might be addicts, the homeless, gang members, thieves, people with different political beliefs, bullies, gossips, liars, victims, cheats.

Do you think of one of those groups and feel something very different to warm and loving feelings? Does Jesus even expect us to feel for them as we feel for our nearest and dearest? or was He talking about something else?
I sometimes class this as "Jesus-sized love" - that it takes His heart to love the unlovable. But that's a cop out. And Jesus said so, when He said "If we love only those who give us love, what is so great about that kind of love?"

So what do we do with that? 

"As I have loved you, so you must love one another." 

As I have loved you. Right there, Jesus is telling us how to do it.  Love is a verb. To love, to act, to do....something. The Gospels are filled with His instruction on how to love that way, both directly stated and demonstrated in the way He treated His disciples, friends, neighbors, strangers and enemies.
He loved by teaching, forgiving, serving, humbling Himself, giving hope, encouraging, chastising, correcting, explaining, healing, sharing, praying for them, sacrificing, helping, showing mercy, giving second chances.

Not by sitting back and feeling noble feelings. His love is an action.


The Apostle Paul gave us a great summary in 1 Corinthians 13. This is often read at weddings and quoted on Facebook on Valentine's Day, so again misinterpreted as something we feel or we are to get from others. Read it, even if you know it by heart.

"Love is patient, love is kind. 
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  
 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Now re-read it but where there are spaces, insert your name.

________ is patient, ________ is kind. 
________ does not envy, ________ does not boast, ________ is not proud.  
________ does not dishonor others, ________ is not self-seeking, ________ is not easily angered, ________ keeps no record of wrongs.  
 ________ does not delight in evil but ________ rejoices with the truth.  
________ always protects, ________ always trusts, ________ always hopes, ________ always perseveres.

 
How did you do?  Repeat it thinking of how you behave towards your spouse, then your family and friends. Then try it with one of those groups in society that you might not like.

When I do this exercise, it never fails to show me where I need to do some work on myself, both with my family and friends, and with strangers.

A week in the life of a team member at Manuelito Project

I wrote this post for general info, and for anyone who will be visiting the project for the first time. Although our team was really well prepared before we left, there can be anxiety when facing the unknown so this is really to help eliminate one of the unknowns!

As I mentioned in a previous post, you can join a team in one of several ways: join a specialized team through WGM or Hope Teams, example VBS, construction, medical or go with a team from your own church/ family that is more general. We did the latter so that's what this post will cover, but if you are visiting the Project with another type of team you will still find some information useful.

Typically the project takes 2 teams per month, with a 1 week break in between each group. Standard size seems to be around 12 people. Given that the project receives so many teams through the year, often the planning for the work is done very close to the time of your trip. Unless you are in a specific work team (example, VBS) then the work your team does may be determined by the team before you. This means you may not know exactly what you are doing until the week before you go when planning is done and supplies purchased. The project does get a list of your skills (from your application) so that will be taken into account.

Installing a steel mesh covering over
a food storage room

We were told we had a certain amount of leeway with our activities, too. If we saw a need that we could work on, then we could do so as long as budget allowed. One example is building the footbridges: in the rainy season, ditches to the school and the soccer field make it difficult to get around, so we built a couple of small footbridges to get across.


Teams are housed for the week in a team building with one male and one female dorm. The dorms have bunk beds in one large room, and a bathroom with a few toilet cubicles and a couple of showers. The showers are mostly cold, although that might change as this is a very new building and we were only the fifth team to use it.

Arriving at the Project

Our group arrived on a Saturday, and the weekend is fairly typical with no school or work going on. We started off from the airport with a stop for food (American fast food) then traveled the 1-1/2 hours to Talanga by bus with the US missionaries, Justin and Ashley. After getting settled, we took a brief tour, had orientation, dinner then we had introductions from the kids in the dining hall.

Sunday is a day of rest and play. Church service is on site. We were asked to lead the service so we used a few hymns in Spanish from our missionary devotions book and one in English. A few of us gave testimonies and Rob gave a short message, all translated by Justin. They love music so they also had their own time of worship music.

Sunday on the project is a great day to hang out and play with the kids. They love soccer so it's a great ice breaker. We also had a game of kickball, and took out some crafts to the dining hall.

A game in the hall

Brayan teaches the girls another version of the 'cup song'

Monday through Thursday: Meals run at 8am, 12pm, 5pm. The teams eat first, then the children arrive for their meal. I think our first meal was the same as theirs but after that we had something different. School runs from 7am to 1pm so this was our time for work projects.  We usually worked until mid or late afternoon and since we were also painting the kitchen (which is used all day), some stayed up till late, painting after the kids went to bed.

Monday: Tour of the school

Tour of the school. Jer 29:11

The afternoons & early evening are a great time to spend with the kids. They have time for chores and homework and sometimes other activities like dance lessons, but there are always some around with free time.

Evenings: During the week, curfew is at 8pm so it's back to the dorms for devotions and time to relax. Or blog. Or look for bugs.

Friday:  A short day. Work or visit the local town/ hill depending on the schedule. After lunch we left for Tegucigalpa, after a trip to Valle de Angeles. In Teguc, we stayed at the WGM guesthouse (hot showers!!), took a tour of the city by mini-bus (too unsafe to walk), ate at a safe restaurant (armed security and cameras) and wound down before our flight on Saturday.

If you are visiting for the first time, I hope you find this useful. We'd be happy to answer any questions, so feel free to leave them in the comments below or contact us.

How to join a volunteer missions team

If you are looking to be boldly compassionate and join a missions team as a short term volunteer there are many ways to go about it, and various organizations that can help you. I am just highlighting a couple.

• Through church (your own or another)
• Through WGM (1 week to 3 years)
• Through Hope Teams International
• Through other organizations

WGM and Hope Teams can help you join another team if you don't have one to go with. Groups might be general in experience, or they might have a specific focus, example medical or dental teams, construction crews, VBS (vacation bible school) teams. We were a general team.

Preparation - we used this book: Successful Mission Teams: A Guide for Volunteers. It's out of print but you can get second hand one copies online.We also spent time building teamwork and spiritual and emotional preparedness. If traveling to a place very different from home, research the area and culture ahead of time.

Finances - A week in Honduras can be $1800, further afield could be a lot more. This covers airfare, food, lodging and materials for projects. In our case, the lodgings were on site and so the money benefited the charity directly. Bigger projects may obviously cost more, depending on materials.
Additional costs might include passport & vaccinations. 

Churches may sponsor you, and fundraising is a great way to get the community helping. People donate money or goods to take with you and it's a wonderful way to forge relationships between your home church/ town and the mission project in another town/ state or country. Anything extra raised by our team went directly to the kids/ project for materials, kitchen equipment, fun stuff for the kids.


Background checks are often needed, especially if working with children.

True Beauty Tips

Source: CupCakeMonster2

Yesterday I posted about the story of a pastor who lived homeless for a week, and how an incorrect story circulated the internet, causing arguments over the validity of the story - all the while distracting us from the truth and the great valid message it teaches.

While I was researching that, I came across a poem that gets misquoted but has a great message of true beauty. It is often mis-attributed to the beautiful Audrey Hepburn. In reality, she didn't pen this but she did quote it often as a favorite of hers.

Time Tested Beauty Tips by Sam Levenson

For attractive lips,
Speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes,
Seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure,
Share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair,
Let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise,
Walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things,
Have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed,
And redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand,
You will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands;
One for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

How far does your compassion go?

The purpose of this blog is two-fold: to share our experiences of stepping out in faith from feeling compassion to acting upon it, and secondly to encourage others to do the same.

This week, a story has circulated the social media world. It was a great story about a new pastor of a church challenging the compassion of the congregation. He dressed down as a homeless person, mingling with the congregation before the church service to see how he was received. Then when the new pastor was being introduced, he shocked all by going up to the altar, reading from Matthew 25 (from which this blog sub-heading is taken) and revealed himself as the new pastor.
The sad thing about this story being circulated is that it is apparantly a fake story. The named pastor (Jeremiah Steepek) with the quoted congregation of 10,000 cannot be found. A pastor of a church of that size would surely be found in a directory somewhere. Around the arena of the internet, onlookers scoff at the gullible for believing and at Christians for being immobile.

So the message gets lost. Oh yes, nice in theory, but see: it's not true.

But isn't it?  Was it, perhaps, just a great story that someone felt the need to exaggerate for a point?  Because there is a rel story here. True and confirmed.  The congregation might be 200 instead of 10,000 but if enough report it then it gets the message to tens of thousands.

The real story can read in The Tennessean, of a Pastor named Rev. Willie Lyle of Sango United Methodist Church in Tennessee. Rev Lyle felt convicted that he was to live out what he preached, and for one week he lived as a homeless person: sleeping on the streets, getting food as and when he could in the same way as any other homeless person.
On the morning of his first sermon, he propped himself under a tree on the lawn of the church. He was unwashed, unbrushed and covered in a large overcoat.

The article doesn't state how he made a grand entrance, but he began his sermon in the same attire. From the article,

the sermon title was “The Least Used Parts of the Body” and based on I Corinthians 12:12-15. According to Pastor Lyle, “Often the least used parts of the body are the ones that mean the most, like our heart and mind. We need to understand that there are no small or least used parts in the body of Christ.
“Too many of us only want to serve God one hour each week. That doesn’t cut it. That is not God’s plan.”

As he preached, his daughter and daughter-in-law brushed his hair, cleaned up his beard, helped him change his shoes, took his overcoat and he donned his tie and suit jacket. He transformed from pitied or frowned-upon homeless man to respected pastor with the message - don't just talk about it. Be part of the solution. Do it.


Why anyone felt the need to change the story, the name, the location, the great details, I don't know. It does nothing but detract from the message; gets non-believers mocking that we have to make something up perhaps, and makes believers turn away embarrassed. So let's move on. I won't dwell on the schemes that cause division but look at the solution, plan it and do it.

Who will join in being part of the solution? Being the church? Taking the one hour a week on a Sunday and turning the world's stage into a 24/7 mission field?

Word of the year: Do

At the beginning of this year a number of people in our church selected a 'word of the year' for themselves. The word was to be something to focus on and act upon, and at the end of the year assess how they did.

My word was do.

Do.  Not "think about it", "talk about it", "dream about it", "plan it". Do.
Giving up the over-thinking, talking, dreaming, planning cycle I had gotten into for a few years, do seemed a little bold to me. What if there were things I couldn't do? Or turned out to be a bad idea?  Or I had to do something I didn't like? Despite my concerns, I felt compelled that do was the word.

Do boils down to obedience because I know full well there are plenty of things I should not do or just don't want to do. Was I going to practice discernment to weed out the dreams that were futile or meant for someone else? To put aside the many things I do selfishly? Open my heart and mind to being lead by something bigger than me? Would I relinquish the control of my ambitions and my plans and to trust in Jeremiah 29:11-13?

Do, then. Seek with all my heart and trust that the plans of the Lord are far greater than mine, even when I don't see that.

If I look at the trip from the point of view of "great plans", for some people God's plan might not seem better than my usual July plans. For the past few years, our week off work looked like this: Beach. Fun. Great food. Lazy days. No work. Reading time. Sleeping late. A glass of wine on the porch in a rocking chair. Amusement park. Sand and the ocean. Sounds like a great plan for a week long trip, right?

God's plan for 2013's week off work: Get no sleep for 36 hours. Get up at 6:30am every day. Take icy showers, if and when the water is on. Stay on your feet all day and get swollen ankles. Don't leave the secure compound. Withstand spiritual attack. Share bunks with 8 others. Stay up through the night to pray for the sick ones. Experience the beautiful smiles of strangers. Their hope in you. Hugs, because your smile brightened their day. Tears, because your heart broke for what breaks His. Joy, because you followed a nudge to overcome shyness, to speak to a stranger and listen to their heart. Because you gave a little girl a goodnight hug when she has no mama to do it. To have your own teenager ask, Can we do this again next year instead of the beach?

Several people have written to me recently saying they have been inspired by my family for taking this trip. I think it's great that they are inspired, but I cannot take the credit. We were simply being obedient. We had hopes for our trip, and we got so many blessings and rewards that I am still counting them. It doesn't feel selfless or generous when we surely received more from it than we put into it.  

Do has been my word this year and so far it's working out well for me.

Random thoughts and facts about the Manuelito Project

Over the coming weeks, we will share more about the project, our thoughts about it and about how we feel about the place, the mission and the kids. If you'd like to be alerted, you can sign up for email updates on the sidebar.


Overall we had a fantastic week at the Project. Although several of the team did get sick, we do believe that we were in the center of spiritual warfare. When you are doing great things for God, letting Him lead you, you can be sure that the enemy will try his best to sway you or stop you. But we didn't allow doubt to creep in and we had prepared ourselves spiritually in advance for something that would stop our work. After a night of praying over the sick members, I was really sure that we were doing God's work and we continued on!

A little more about the place. This is not an orphanage in the traditional sense of the word; it is more of a children's home. Most of the children do have at least one living parent, but due to abuse, neglect or homelessness the children found themselves either in Child Protective Services or the Project. CPS in Honduras is not a place a child would want to be. More on that another time!

The Project is on a plot of land around 40 to 50 acres, some farmed, some with animals. It is fenced in with a security gate and guard for protection. There are several buildings: boys and girls dorms, a school, a kitchen and dining hall, the new team building with office/ mini store for t-shirts and new clinic (not yet open), the director's house and the house of Justin & Ashley - the US missionaries.

The kids share the soccer field

The school has concrete floors and barred windows but they have no glass. Wind and rain can enter the windows. There is a high metal roof, but the side walls of the classrooms have no ceiling so there is noise from room to room. They have a small library. The kids are mostly keen to learn, but many have learning disabilities or behavior problems due to emotional or physical need. Although we had raised money for a new ceiling, the recent decision was made to put the money into a new school which will break ground in their next dry season.

While we were there we saw much activity. School runs from 7am with devotionals until 1pm. Although the project is home to 37 kids (max 40) it also educates another 23 from the poorest homes in town. The town kids eat breakfast and lunch there. After school they do homework and school projects, wash their clothes in the outdoor concrete pilas, take dance lessons from a local boy who visits or play soccer or other games. 
The boys are more outgoing. This seems to be cultural: boys get introduced first, get served dinner first. They are the leaders.

Washing dishes after dinner

Kids will turn anything into a playground!

Climbing on the back at every opportunity

In addition to kid activity, there was labor going on the new clinic, some farming, grass cutting. This is done by hand with machetes. Sand was delivered for cement by ox and cart, though bricks came by truck. The land is flat but filled with hidden holes and ditches. The kids seem to know exactly where to walk. Unsuspecting visitors can find themselves up to their knee in a hole.

As visitors from advanced countries, we may scratch our heads at some things. Some Hondurans prefer a machete over a lawnmower. Time is not important. I didn't see a clock for 7 days. Their ways are not ours, and while some ways could certainly be improved, other elements where preferable. I began to like not knowing the time. A conversation & developing relationship was more important than being on time to the next event. While I may not want to give up the courtesy of being on time, the lesson that relationships are more important than anything else is a lesson not to be missed.

Honduras child sponsorship

I will be posting more about the Manuelito Project, the kids and the impact it had on us over the next weeks. If you don't want to miss a post, sign up for email - see the sidebar for details.

In the meantime, you can get involved with the kids without leaving home! The kids always seek sponsors. You can help for $30 a month or more. The money itself gets pooled to cover the financial needs of supporting the child (it costs around $2,000 per year per child), but you pick a child to support directly with letters and prayer.
If you cannot do anything monthly, there is an option for one-time donations also. 

To do so, visit Hope Teams: http://www.hopeteams.org/#/child-sponsorship/honduras

Final morning in Talanga

A brief post as we are in a hurry... the bracelets are made by the kids, sales of these and t shirts benefit the kids directly with something fun. This week they saved for a trip to the water park.  Took a walk up a local hill to the cross statue. The kids ran up the 250 steps. I slumped my way up.  Took a little trip into the local town (pink store) where we bought baskets and trinkets. Between us we spend only $64 but the little old lady was in tears and came out for a group photo.  Sad farewells.... beautiful smiles and big hugs. Love and prayers. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android