Learning to Love the Little Years

There’s a Cabbage Patch baby doll lying on the end of our bed, dressed in my 3 year old’s pajama shorts that reach up to her little cloth neck.  As I make up our bed, I find toy food everywhere underneath our sheets-a plastic apple here, a donut there.  A little stuffed Disney Lady is sweetly sleeping in Daniella’s crib with a toilet paper holder over her mouth as a pacifier.  Minnie Mouse is tied on the swing on Abby’s little playground.  Somewhere from the back of the house you can hear a faint “Mommy!  Mommy!”  I almost trip as I stumble over Little People scattered over the floor.  I look down at my arm to find something brownish green stuck there-is that dried baby food or poop?  I take a quick whiff....whew, it’s just prunes.  One thing is for sure;  in fact it is unmistakable; this is a home of little ones.  

It’s the age of tea parties, my Little Ponies, Disney Princesses, Veggie Tales and Curious George.  I walked into our living room the other day in between our language classes to find Abby camped out on her bed sheets on the floor playing. She exclaimed,  “I’m a spy monkey like Curious George, Mommy!”  In the mornings, she can be heard singing from her bed “The Itsy Bitsy Spider”, “You Are My Sunshine”, or “The Alphabet Song” in a LOUD voice.  She is just getting into playing dress up which is, let me be honest, quite fun for me too.  (Maybe it is true that some of us are always kids at heart.)  

From the time Abby’s eyes spring open in the morning until her head hits the pillow at night, she is an endless ball of energy!  Being 3 years old is an exciting time where the world is an open frontier of endless possibilities just waiting to be explored.  If you have little ones then you know exactly what I mean.  It is amazing the amount of energy they have!  And although there is certainly time for them to be independent in their play throughout the day-it has a time limit.  Otherwise, you may walk into your toddler’s room to find she’s colored over every available surface or spilt water everywhere (and these are the mild surprises versus bigger ones such as your toddler trying to feed your baby or painting on the walls).  I’m astounded how Abby’s happy little world can fall to pieces if she falls and hurts her knee or steps on a thorn.  Bless her heart, it’s like her little world has ended and only a bandaid can make it better.  After all they do have special magic healing powers, you know.

And the questions!  Oh, the questions!  We can’t even get through a page in reading our books and Abby has a question.  And of course you know her favorite questions “Why?”  Why does the mouse want to color a picture, why is Papa Bear mad, etc......”  Some times I feel I can’t bear to answer another question. And what in the world do you tell your 3 year old when she asks, “Before you and Daddy met where was I?”  Oh man!  That question certainly isn’t in the parent handbook.  Yet I am so thankful for her curiousity and wonder and desire to learn and grow.  Her little eyes are so precious as  she looks up eagerly at me and Selvin as she learns timeless Bible songs with us like “Sing Hosanna” and “This Little Light of Mine”.  And who knew that “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” could have endless verses?!

Lord, renew my sense of wonder and innocence like this.  To see Your world with those eyes, to have faith like a child, where nothing is impossible.......

Abby so treasures her time with us as a family.  Every night she wants to know what we will do as a family that evening, will we read books or have a family movie night or family worship, or family game night.  It doesn’t matter what we do as long as we are together.  

Lord, give me eagerness and desire to spend time with You as My Father.  It doesn’t matter what I’m doing-whether it’s reading Your Word, praying, playing guitar, singing and worshipping, help me long to be in Your presence.  Help me and Selvin as our little girls’ parents to spend quality time with them.  To mirror Your love for them as we love on them.

There are some days (often many more than I’d like to admit) where I am just wanting to  have enough energy to get the girls down for bed that night.  But then I talk to my Mom or Dad and they remind me how fast these little years pass.  And then I realize I really do love these little years-I may not be naturally good at them but if I am working hard to rely on the Lord He will enable me to be just what my kids need at that moment of hurt or pain, He will show me how to laugh with them, how to love them and how to make them feel special.  

Motherhood has changed me so much.  I am not the same woman I was when I began and I am so thankful.  It is never pretty and I oftentimes dread the pain that’s coming as another layer of my sinful nature is peeled off.  

As I am learning how to serve my children during this season in our lives, during this ministry of motherhood, I have learned how selfish I really am.  How quickly I tend to get irritated or frustrated because things are not going how I want them to.  Abby is taking too long to do something that I could have done myself in no time.  Daniella is up at 2 am and not sleeping through the night once again. It’s times like these that the ugliness of my soul is truly revealed-where in the dark of the night when it’s just me and my crying baby and I’m exhausted. frustrated. absolutely fed up-my carnal nature rises to the surface and ugliness pores forth.  

I cry.  

I stare into the face of who I really am when all of my defenses are down.  when all my strength is dried up and I suddenly realize I have been trying once again to do this all on my own.  I have not cried out to the Lord for help FIRST.  

Oh dear Jesus, I am so utterly hopeless without Your saving grace.  My righteousness is like filthy rags.  Why do I do the things I don’t want to?  Why don’t I do the things I want to, that I need to?   Please forgive me for all the countless times I fail.  Help me to always run to Your arms.  You are my refuge and my strength, my ever present help in trouble.  Where does my help come from, oh Lord?  I lift my eyes up to the hills to You my maker!  I praise You that You never sleep nor slumber. You will set my feet on broad places and save me from my enemies-especially myself.  Thank You for Your endless, extravagant love and Your beautiful, unconditional grace!

Then there are the absolutely beautiful, picture perfect days of being a mother.   I watch Abigail running across the yard towards me, a big smile stretched across her face, her eyes lit with joy, her little legs running as fast as possible and her arms pumping to propel her along.  She says in her sweet little voice “Did you know I love you Mama?”  Or she’s standing in front of the mirror belting out the song “Let It Go” from Frozen.  

I hear Daniella say “Mama” for the first time.  I watch her wake up and the moment she sees me her face erupts in a beautiful, toothless smile.  She starts to crawl and the world changes as we know it.  Or having laughter overcome us all as Abigail and Daniella make each other laugh hysterically.  

And I am SO. GRATEFUL.  I am SO HUMBLED that God chose me to be a mother to these precious children.  My heart swells with love and tenderness.  It is my prayer that I will be ever humble as God teaches me so much about unconditional love, faith, hope, and joy through my kids.  I realize the wisdom from one of the books I’m reading that says my worst mistakes can double as some of my greatest parenting opportunities.  Oh how I cling to this hope! 

Thank You Lord!  May I die to myself each day as I learn how to be the mother You have called me to be.  It is so painful at times but so worth every tear and I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.  Thank you for Your promise in Psalm 56:8, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle.  Are they not in Your book?”  Wow!  These words give me life and awe me of Your divine power, love, and care for me.  Thank You Lord that You care so much for me.  Fill me up with Your love and overflow in my life so I can show others the hope and peace only You bring-starting with my family.

Joy Through Our Journey

Today we were at a church in a nearby town in South Sudan, out in the bush, planted by Pastor Moses a few months back.  Many of the believers were just baptized last week.  This is a very young church and it is SO exciting to be a part of the discipleship process and to know the potential that is here.  

It was a cool day, the wind was blowing and we sat on some makeshift wooden benches underneath towering trees.  I sat with the Dinka women and children, holding Daniella while Abigail played in the sand near my feet.  The Lord overwhelmed me with His presence and my heart overflowed with gratitude.  Peace and joy flooded my heart, mind, and soul as I praised God for the immense privilege of living here in South Sudan.  It has been quite a journey to get here yet the Lord has proven faithful each step of the way.  Even on my worse days He has always been by my side, carrying me when I didn’t have the strength to put one foot in front of the other.  Many days as we adjust to doing life here in South Sudan I feel like I’m barely keeping afloat, yet it is in moments such as this that I’m reminded I am RIGHT where God wants me to be.  THANK YOU JESUS! 

In many ways this baby church represents me as a missionary in South Sudan.  I am just a baby missionary, as far as being an international missionary.  I am learning how to balance my many roles as a Christian missionary-as a wife, mother, friend, sister, daughter, and team player on the foreign field. I am learning the languages-trade and heart languages.  Many days I feel like I am taking 1 step forward only to fall flat on my face the next day.  YET, thanks be to the God of all grace and mercy................

1. AM. CHANGING. I am GROWING. I can feel it in the deepest parts of my soul and down to the marrow of my bones.  Some days I look in the mirror and I marvel, I can feel myself changing, a little more each day.   The mirror doesn’t reveal these changes.  I am not the same person I was a year ago when I got on the plane leaving Georgia to move to Africa.  As I reflect back over this past year, I realize it has been THE hardest year of my life.  YET, it has also, by God’s grace, been the best in many ways.  We have lived in 5 different countries, been without a home for 13 months, had numerous transitions, and had a second child (just to name a few of our major life changes).  I have struggled with wanting to be in one place for more than 2 months at a time and wanting the constant traveling to be over.  We have struggled as a family-as husband and wife, as parents, and redefining our roles as the children of parents and the siblings we left back in America. We have been blessed to meet many new people with a few who have become close friends.   We have seen numerous people come to know Christ- seeing many be baptized into their new faith and have made lifelong friends.  I have been on the highest of mountaintop experiences and through some very low, dark valleys.  But I wouldn’t trade a moment of it for the Lord has truly given us joy through this journey.

Lord, as we embark on this journey of actually living here in South Sudan, You are beginning a great work in me, as our lives intertwine with the Dinka.  You began Your work here before we arrived-both in the lives of Pastor Moses and the new believers he baptized and in our personal lives as members of the Dinka Echelon team.  As I wake up each day and we are learning how to do life here-God, You are bringing so many ugly things in my life up to the surface-pride, impatience, selfishness, lack of grace and mercy.  I am glaringly deficient in so many areas.  I am very much aware of this fact.  It is painful and oftentimes these ugly things of the flesh rear their heads at the most unexpected times-catching me off guard and knocking me down.  They manifest themselves in many ways-my irritation and impatience at my family or team, becoming easily offended-ewwwww!  How I hate them!  But Lord, I pray You would continue to help these ugly things come up to the surface of my life so by Your perfect strength You can bring them out.  No matter how much it hurts, squeeze these fleshly things out of me like the infection of a boil and heal them.  Replace them dear Jesus with the fruits of Your Spirit-humility, patience and long-suffering, self denial, seeking the good of others first above myself, grace and mercy.  I thank You God that You who have begun a good work in me will be faithful to complete it!  You are EVER faithful!

I Heard the Bells

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will toward men

I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearthstones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep;
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

What a story this song tells!  It was written during the American civil war.  Stanzas 4-5 mention the battle times and are usually omitted from the hymnals.   In fact, I had never heard of them until I came across them online.  But I wanted to include them because they are so very relevant for the current situation here in South Sudan and in many countries on the African continent.  

With constant unrest always on the horizon here in South Sudan, a country barely 2 years old, the words of this Christmas carol bring new meaning to us. As the next few days pass, we, along with millions of other Sudanese wait to see what will happen.  The threat of civil war is very real.  It breaks our hearts.  To think about the incredible suffering that hundreds of millions faced during the past 22 years of war between the North and the South of Sudan.  To think about the millions of people who died as a result of it.  Most who DID NOT KNOW JESUS.  Most who had NEVER EVEN HEARD HIS NAME.  PLEASE pray earnestly for this country.  As of now, SS government officials are denying that the attempted coup in Juba had anything to do with ethnic tribal disputes between the Dinka and Nuer.  However, the Dinka and Nuer have a very conflicted past as rivals.  As pockets of conflict break out across other SSudan states it seems extremely probable that it is in fact related to the hatred between these two tribes.  More people continue to get injured or die as this situation stretches its violent arm across this new country-its evil fingers leaving blood in its wake.

As a team we are grappling with so many questions.  Why, Lord?  Why NOW?  Our house is ready.  We are ready to move in and get to work.   Ready to share Your Good News with the Dinka.  We are so close yet so far away because of this new security threat.  I mean, we knew it would be likely we would face political unrest because of the instability of this young country, to date the newest country in the world.  Yet we never expected to face it so soon upon our arrival in SSudan (only 1 month in), especially not now!  

We are earnestly seeking the Lord for His direction and His timing.  Earnestly counting the cost of our calling to the lost here in South Sudan.  The continual unrest of SSudan is one of the major reasons why the Dinka are unreached.    

Do we stay now, believing that the Lord has placed us here for such a time as this?  Or do we leave because it is not yet the right time and the Lord is thwarting our way?  Or if we evacuate, would we even be able to get back into SSudan?  Please join us in praying for these major decisions.  Pray for wisdom from our supervisors and our organization as they seek the Lord in this decision.  Every day is filled with much uncertainty as we grapple with these major questions.  We want to be wise and courageous.  Our go bags are packed if we need to evacuate quickly yet we are in the process of moving into our house.  We cling to this passage the Lord showed me just yesterday in our Advent Christmas devotional:

“I will climb up to my watchtower and stand at my guard post.
There I will wait to see what the LORD says and how He will answer my complaint...
I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear.
My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror.

I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD!  

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!  
The sovereign LORD is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

Habakkuk 2:1, 3:16-19

So we wait!  We have climbed up to the watchtower and we are standing at the guard post.  We will wait to see what the Lord says, knowing He will be faithful to answer with His perfect wisdom.  We will rejoice in the Lord!  Remembering in this Christmas season that He is the ONLY answer to a world broken, bleeding, and scarred by war and conflict that often seems unceasing and unending.  Even though a pending earthquake of civil war threatens the very foundations of South Sudan.  We will choose to hear the bells that ring, telling of Jesus, the hope of our salvation.   When despair looms on the horizon and it seems as if hatred between ethnic rivals will overcome peace. 

God will have the victory, as the lost come to know Him.  God is NOT DEAD,  He does NOT SLEEP or SLUMBER.  The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, good will to men!

Where Feet May Fail

You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery

In oceans deep

My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise

My soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand

Will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You’ve never failed and You won’t start now

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Hillsong, 2013

Wow!  The Lord has really used this song to minister to me the past month.  Since we got to the field, it hasn’t been easy.  But it has been worth it.  It has been a year now that we’ve been without a home, and the longest we have ever stayed in one place is two months.  On any given day my emotions can range from being on the mountain top to the lowest valley.  It has actually surprised me how they fluctuate.  I am learning more and more how I have to set aside my emotions and find my joy in the Lord. 

I am discovering that being obedient to the call is more than just going to the field.  It’s keeping the faith that’s the most difficult part of the test.  And we are being tested here in Africa.  It’s hard to keep my head above the waves some times- when the days are long and it seems as if the girls have been crying or complaining all day long.  When I am struggling to learn language and it seems I’ll never get it. When I hear yet another heart-wrenching story of how an African child has endured more hardship in their young years than I ever have in my entire life.  When I’m digging worms out from my body. When Selvin and I are being harassed by police on a daily basis. Being threatened to be shot by the military or enduring horrible, head pounding road conditions to get to our people group a mere 3 hours away from where we’re currently living. Being taken advantage of (with money)  because we are “kauja” (white). When we are faced with life threatening situations and fear grips me....my faith MUST stand no matter what the situation and circumstance.  

It’s days like this, really every day, that I have to remind myself.  I am His!  That will never change.  Nothing or no one can ever take this away from me.  The Lord has NEVER failed me and He won’t start now.  So I pray every day, even moment by moment, Spirit lead me.  I am calling on Your name, my Jesus! Take me deeper in my walk with you.  Make my faith stronger. I am begging you, strengthen me.  Help my trust to be without borders.  Help me to believe that nothing, absolutely nothing is impossible with You.  Help my feet to not wander and my eyes to stay focused on You.  

Oh Jesus, my Jesus!  My soul will rest in Your embrace.  

For I am Yours.  

And You are mine.

Praying for Rain in Kaabong

Simon Teko, Jeremy and Robert leading the prayer meeting for rain

Written June 6, 2013

Echelon Base Camp

Kaabong, Uganda

It is supposed to be rainy season here in Kaabong in the land of Karamojo.  However, the rains have not come for 2 months!  The Karamajong people are very worried because they had planted their crops at the beginning of the usual rainy season but since the rains have not come, the crops have not grown, resulting in starvation here.  The people have gone to witch doctors and made animal sacrifices-to no avail.  Our team leader Jeremy recommended to the local believers (specifically our 3 growing church planters Simon Teko, Ngloe, and Nalabae) that we gather and pray for rain.  So a call for prayer was sent out for people to join us at the rock (just up the drive way from our base camp and a local meeting place for the people) beginning a few mornings ago.  Jeremy opened up the prayer meeting by prophesying that God would send the rain TODAY if we prayed.  Selvin shared with me later that he had doubts when J proclaimed this and as they were praying he looked up and there was not a cloud in the sky-all sunny!  Simon Teko led them in singing some Karamajong Christian songs and Selvin said as they ended the singing he saw a small cloud rising in the east.  After the meeting our Echelon team sent out a call for prayer to our US partners through Facebook and Twitter.  And praise God within the hour He sent rain!

Karamajong women and children praising God for the rain!

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For the past 3 days we have gathered every morning for prayer at the rock.  All 3 days it has rained! So many Karamajong nationals gathered to pray.  Thank You Jesus!  You have been multiplying the number of people who come every morning since we started a few days ago.  I know many may come out of curiosity but for whatever reason, let them come so they can see Your mighty working power!  

It’s so sad to see how worried everyone is here because of having planted their crops that won’t grow without rain.  Everyone is hungry.  It breaks my heart and I don’t know exactly how to deal with the ever growing need.  Give me wisdom!

**************

The Karamojong have continued to meet and pray and God continues to bless them with rain.  Please keep praying for steady rains that soak into the ground so the crops can grow!  

Longolomoe (the widow who attempted suicide a year ago but God saved!)
She has been attending the prayer meetings.  Please pray for her salvation!

We are trying to provide supplemental work (like washing our cars) for our Karamajong Christian friends like Ngloe (he’s one of the national church planters in training and a language teacher).   The JIA (neighboring tribe who come at night to raid cattle, food, or goods) recently stole all of Ngloe’s remaining food and he has none to feed his family.  He shared with me yesterday that his wife is pregnant again like me.  I felt so honored that he told me this “secret” not normally expressed in African culture.

Selvin playing the drum during the singing!

God, I pray that we would be fervent in praying for rain and that we would teach the Karamajong believers this discipline and the necessity of seeking You and not the spirit world in desperation.  Isaiah (An elder and one of our friends who is interested in spiritual things but hasn’t made the decision to follow Christ completely) has been in the hospital for several weeks now very sick with malaria and is also suffering from a fall.  Previously before this sickness, Isaiah had sacrificed a bull under pressure from his people to try and cause the rains to come because he is the elder of this community.  

God, I pray Your power would continue to be revealed by sending rain and those who don’t know You would come to know You because of this provision in their lives.  I also lift up Isaiah and pray for healing and a saving faith to come to him. I pray for complete salvation in You and for him to be entirely separate from animism and synchronism.  Help Isaiah to see Your power through healing him and bringing rain.  I know that nothing is impossible for You!  

Abigail dancing while we praised God for the rain!  

The Dark Underbelly of African Life and Culture

This post is from the final days of our 40/40 training.  We had just finished our “home stay” time-a 3 day stay with a local Zambian family in their village.  We lived exactly like them-eating what they ate, bathing how they bathed, sleeping in the huts like they did, etc.  These are a few thoughts from our experience.

Written May 14, 2013

Zambia

40/40 Training

We are in our final days of 40/40!  Our debriefing time takes place at a retreat center in Zambia.  It is beautiful-with nice A/C rooms, warm showers, and a swimming pool! I had a pretty good night of sleep and a shower this morning-yay!  Lots of nice water pressure-a commodity in the land of Africa!  :)  This morning we have a time for a personal spiritual retreat. Abby is at “school” watching a movie (“The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”) and going swimming with the kids later.  She was so excited to go to school today!  

Bertha, me and Abigail

Bertha & Gersham, Selvin & Abigail, Melvin & Cynthia

I have giardia, ugh!  But just got started on meds so hopefully I won’t have it as bad as the first time I got it a few months back.  It’s a gorgeous day-it’s the fall season here in Zambia, so a little chill is in the air and it’s cold in the mornings and evenings. Lord, I thank You for such a beautiful day.  I praise You for our learning opportunity during our home stay this weekend at Gersham and Bertha’s house.  We learned so much about the daily life of Africans.  They were really hospitable and we really enjoyed getting to know their kids, Cynthia (6 years old) and Melvin (10 years old).  Cynthia was precious-she loved to sing and dance.  Her and Abby were really cute together-especially singing their own version of “Head and Shoulders”.  Bertha and Gersham have really struggled in their marriage and financially over the past couple of years.  But the past year they have really been seeking the Lord and plugged in with a local Baptist church.  They were so gracious to us-feeding us the best they had every meal and even offering us snacks in between (ground nuts boiled or roasted fresh from their fields and watermelon).  

God, help us to stay faithful in praying for them and even staying in touch the best we can.  Some of our most favorite times with them were eating together-sitting under the shade of a tree in their backyard on a bamboo mat.  My favorite was supper time as it grew darker and the stars began to come out.  Breathtaking!  The stars just seem more vibrant and beautiful here in Africa.  

Abby playing with the village kids

I think what stood out to me the most this weekend was getting more of a glimpse into the dark underbelly of African life and culture.  I am learning that it will take years to learn and even then there are so many taboos and secrets of Africa.  Even the pastors we spoke to in Zambia don’t always know who in their congregation still goes to see the witch doctor (unless someone else tells on them).  So they preach about it to their congregation often and trust in the Holy Spirit to move.  

From the outside looking into the Zambian villages it is really quite picturesque-cute little straw roofs placed on top of mud huts surrounded by animal pens (for goats, pigs, cattle, chickens, ducks, etc).  The dirt yards are always neatly swept and are set against the beautiful back drop of fields and trees that stretch on for miles and miles.  It’s easy to assume life is simpler here and in some minor ways it truly is because besides cell phones and radios there are no other technological innovations to distract. (We as a western culture can certainly learn from it in a number of ways.)  

But you live with the people for just a few days and you begin, just BEGIN to find out how hard life truly is here in Africa every day.  Cooking over a charcoal fire, toting water for everything from the bore hole, (used for cooking, bathing, drinking...) dealing with rats, snakes, ants and spiders in the small space on the dirt floor you sleep on.  It is hard, tedious work just to survive each day.  Besides this daily, consuming work you have the problems of sickness, disease, malnutrition, coming up with school fees for your children on your meager income, and the worry of a low crop yield because of little rain.  

Some of the village kids, Diliysio is in the very front (with the sucker in his mouth)

Bertha shared with me a few stories of kids I met during our home stay visit.  Diliysio is a little boy about 11 years old who was born with crippled feet-he walks on the sides of them.  His father is the head man of their village and a few years ago took a second wife.  She was jealous of his first wife and had her murdered.  Bertha wouldn’t share any of the details but when I asked her why that woman wasn’t in jail for her crime, she said it was because the murder was done by witchcraft.  God really drew this little boy close to my heart-he was over at our house all the time and went to church with us on Sunday.  (Bertha says he usually goes with them.)  It was evident he’s interested in spiritual things by his answers during the kids’ Sunday School class I sat in on.  We were able to give him a little card with a Bible verse on top and a sucker before we left their home.  Diliysio came back with the sweetest little note saying that he loved us.  Lord, please help us to be faithful in praying for him.  It was so hard to say goodbye to him.  

Abby, Cynthia, Regina (in tan shirt, green skirt) & other village kids giving baby dolls a bath! 

Then there was precious little Regina, about 4 1/2 years old whose mother had abandoned her and her 4 sisters when she was only a baby to become a prostitute.  Regina lives with her elderly grandmother.  She was such a precious little girl with big, beautiful eyes and a huge smile.  The Lord really drew my heart to hers this weekend.  She too was at Gersham and Bertha’s house all the time and she stuck close to my side during a memorial service we attended Saturday (for several hours).  Her and Abby became fast friends-tickling each other-so cute!  It was extremely difficult to say goodbye to her. I left a little card with a Bible verse with her as well with a note saying we’d be praying for her and Bertha read it to her.  

God, please help us to be faithful in praying for her!  You kept me awake last night really praying for her and orphans-Selvin and I both feel like for several years You’ve told us You want us to adopt.  We’ve always felt like we would come across certain orphans in our paths You would specifically put there for this purpose.  But we’ve never seriously considered the importance of being ready for this at all times because we don’t know when this will come.  Meeting Regina this weekend really showed me the urgency of this matter.  God, please give me and Selvin Your wisdom in this matter.  We want to be obedient-first by preparing, secondly by always keeping a watchful eye, and thirdly by being courageous and diligent in caring for orphans.  Give us Your wisdom from above!

The Presence of Asian Indians in Africa

This post is from the second half of our 40/40 training where we were in the rural city of Petauke, camping out in tents and using squatty potties.

Written May 4, 2013

Petauke, Zambia

40/40 Training

Our DFA (daily field assignment) today was to interview the local Zambians in the villages about medicine and health.  Selvin and I found it really interesting comparing their responses to the Zambians in the city of Lusaka.  Our best conversation today was with some women we shucked corn with-or I did :) I was trying to keep up with them so I got a blister of my left thumb, ha ha!  

We had a pretty brief conversation with them and they answered all of our questions.  Then they asked Abusa Giverson (a local Baptist pastor who was our helper the whole time we were in Petauke) if they could ask us a question.  We said sure-anything!  One of the women wanted to know where Selvin was from and if it was ok in his culture to marry a white woman.  (This question definitely surprised us!) 

Selvin was able to share his testimony with the ladies and how Jesus had transformed his life and shown him that He loves all people, regardless of race or nationality.  We asked the women what they thought about the Indians in town (there are tons of Asian Indians throughout a lot of Africa who are primarily Hindu or Muslim).  The Zambian ladies expressed how stingy they were and how they mistreated Zambians-a few of them knew from experience because their husbands worked for them.  (Asian Indians who live in Africa usually make up the wealthier class of society and are most often business owners.)  Selvin apologized for his people group and shared that the only thing that would change their hearts was the Gospel.  Then he encouraged them to pray this would happen and challenged them to be bold in sharing the Good News with them.  It was amazing to me because as Selvin shared this, the ladies acted as if this was a whole new truth to them because they had never met an Indian who was a Christian before.  God I pray You would continue to convict them to share Your truth with everyone.  We ended by praying with the ladies.

This is Abusa Giverson!  He rides his bike to the 5 church plants from the mother church where he pastors-sometimes traveling up to 50 km.  He was such an inspiration to us of faithfulness as a pastor doing whatever it takes to build up the kingdom of God.  Please pray for him and his family!