Up and Down and Back and Forth...

I got very excited about advocating for a partnering community through Children's Hope Chest only to allow myself to be discouraged by apathy and bureaucracy and a general disinterest even. Then I got excited again because there is a group who share the passion with me and are ready to do whatever it takes. As this roller coaster has continued, I have been able to share my experiences in Uganda with lots of people on the Internet and in person. Last week I was able to share with the kids at my church who attend AWANA. They have a large group portion of the evening where 3rd-5th grade come together and then K-2nd grade for a bible story or testimony or some practical application of what they are learning.

I had a slide show of the beautiful photos that Ria captured on our trip. I began with the passage I had recently been reading from Luke about the friends who took the time to get their paralyzed neighbor to Jesus for healing. Then I just talked the rest of the time about the children in Uganda, the things I saw, the basic need for food and clean water, and how everyone - even the kids listening to me could do something to help. The children were glued to the screens and it was not long before hands shot up in the air and the questions began. Can we send them clean water? Can we pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child? Do they not have shoes? Where did they get those "American" clothes? Why are children in Africa different than children in America? Do they go to school? What do they take for lunch? Why was she crying? and on and on...

The next day I received an email from our Children's Director about a family who has been struggling financially but that recognized the blessings we have because we live here in the US. She and her husband and two children were moved and are looking for ways they can be effective and help their neighbors.

Yesterday our Children's Director shared another story with me. On the way home after AWANA a mom was about to stop into McDonald's for a quick supper with her son. He became genuinely upset and told her NO, they had peanut butter at home and they should eat at home. She was very confused because McDonald's is his favorite place to go. He told her that he wanted to save money so they could give to the children who don't have any food.

Yes my eyes welled up with tears too.

So as I have allowed silly things to discourage me, God has steadily reminded me that I am not in control of this. I am simply a vessel with no engine of my own, moving forward by His grace and mercy. It has already been written that many will not understand what I am passionate about. They will not support me. They will even mock and try to destroy this mission. Praise God I am not alone. Praise God that He walks ahead of me and He will clear the path and all I have to do is follow. Praise God.

My sweet, dear, supportive, loving, God fearing friend shared this with me. I do not know the author but if I find it I will edit and give credit.

THE VISION AND THE VERITY

Called to be saints.

1Corinthians 1:2

Thank God for the sight of all you have never yet been. You have had
the vision, but you are not there yet by any means. It is when we are
in the valley, where we prove whether we will be the choice ones,
that most of us turn back. We are not quite prepared for the blows
which must come if we are going to be turned into the shape of the
vision. We have seen what we are not, and what God wants us to be,
but are we willing to have the vision "batter'd to shape and use" by
God? The batterings always come in commonplace ways and through
commonplace people.

There are times when we do know what God's purpose is; whether we
will let the vision be turned into actual character depends upon us,
not upon God. If we prefer to loll on the mount and live in the
memory of the vision, we will be of no use actually in the ordinary
stuff of which human life is made up. We have to learn to live in
reliance on what we saw in the vision, not in ecstasies and conscious
contemplation of God, but to live in actualities in the light of the
vision until we get to the veritable reality. Every bit of our
training is in that direction. Learn to thank God for making known
His demands.

The little "I am" always sulks when God says do. Let the little "I
am" be shrivelled up in God's indignation - "I AM THAT I AM hath sent
thee." He must dominate. Is it not penetrating to realize that God
knows where we live, and the kennels we crawl into! He will hunt us
up like a lightning flash. No human being knows human beings as God
does.

Blessings to you,
aMp