We are just about to leave NY 6+3 Milan
We will land Sunday AM and spend the night just north of Verona
Monday we go to the slab factory and then fly out that night to Addis Ababa
God is good to let us be His ambassadors
Worship well tomorrow
9/19/09
The Trip begins.
The prince of this world does not want any of us to be doing things for the King of Kings. I often forget that Satan's power is not even close to that of our Father's. When we are doing God's work, in God's way, there will always be opposition.
Travel is romantic up until you leave the house and it doesn't gain the romance until you get back home; everything in between is work, especially if you are trying to do some sort of ministry.
Please don't stop praying for us and for Michelle as well. There was a video released on the 16th slandering her work in Ethiopia and even the Ethiopian government. It is interesting that it released so close to the time we are leaving, but light and darkness have no union and maybe this trip is hitting a little too close for comfort for Satan. I can only pray that this is the case.
So, little sleep already, couldn't check in to the flight last night, wrong hotel-twice- and the journey begins. But, you know what? God is good and we must find our delight in Him. And these are simply light and momentary afflictions compared to the weight of glory that awaits us and this is amazingly comfortable compared to what the Ethiopians have every day.
We have to get ready to go to the airport. Thanks for all you encouragement.
Travel is romantic up until you leave the house and it doesn't gain the romance until you get back home; everything in between is work, especially if you are trying to do some sort of ministry.
Please don't stop praying for us and for Michelle as well. There was a video released on the 16th slandering her work in Ethiopia and even the Ethiopian government. It is interesting that it released so close to the time we are leaving, but light and darkness have no union and maybe this trip is hitting a little too close for comfort for Satan. I can only pray that this is the case.
So, little sleep already, couldn't check in to the flight last night, wrong hotel-twice- and the journey begins. But, you know what? God is good and we must find our delight in Him. And these are simply light and momentary afflictions compared to the weight of glory that awaits us and this is amazingly comfortable compared to what the Ethiopians have every day.
We have to get ready to go to the airport. Thanks for all you encouragement.
9/18/09
Random Thoughts before the trip
I just had my last night of sleep in my own bed for close to 2 weeks. Thinking about the trip is sort of ominous. I have traveled to many different places; all over the US, Europe, Brazil, Japan and India. I can't remember the last time I felt this uncertain of what the journey would hold.
I talked to Michelle yesterday and she told me that we would be driving about 5 hours out of Addis Ababa to a small town named Soddo. This is apparently going to be our hub. From Soddo we will drive another 1-1/2 toward the villages but will park the car and walk another hour-ish to the village. I asked "why are we walking so far, when we have a car?" She said, "There are no roads".
When was the last time you went to a "town" but had to walk the last hour? That is certainly different than anything I have experienced in America, or anywhere else for that matter.
Please pray for us as we go that we would be a light to those we come in contact with. Everyday, here in America, we are lights, but most of the time I am not thinking about that. I don't have any idea of the spiritual condition of the people we are going to see. We will see their financial condition, but as physically poor as they are, if they have Christ they are much better off than the wealthiest person you and I know here who is without Christ. If they don't know Christ they are doubly cursed.
This will be very difficult for me to see and my sweet wife is much more tenderhearted than I am. Pray for her that she might be able to remember that God is good, even as He allows some to be in these kinds of conditions, He also brings many to repentance.
Pray that we would be an encouragement to some along the way and that we would find ways to serve others as we are away. What a weighty task; to minister in some lasting way to those who have so little. How can anything really last in this part of the world? How can we make a difference that will not be gone with the first meal?
God's Amazing Grace to us is so Long and High and Wide and Deep, that it leaves me shaking my head. May His love be shed abroad in our hearts as we go to share The Hope with others. The vanity of this life will come into much clearer focus while we are on this trip. The need for a Savior should always be in clear focus. I need the Gospel just as much as these people we are going to see.
Can you imagine the gap between an Ethiopian village and the splendor of Heaven? The comparative difference between here and Ethiopia is really small in light of what Heaven is going to look like. Our fanciest dinner here is going to look like a village "meal" when compared to Heaven's feast.
Just some random thoughts this morning as I am preparing my heart to start this chapter/page of our life.
I talked to Michelle yesterday and she told me that we would be driving about 5 hours out of Addis Ababa to a small town named Soddo. This is apparently going to be our hub. From Soddo we will drive another 1-1/2 toward the villages but will park the car and walk another hour-ish to the village. I asked "why are we walking so far, when we have a car?" She said, "There are no roads".
When was the last time you went to a "town" but had to walk the last hour? That is certainly different than anything I have experienced in America, or anywhere else for that matter.
Please pray for us as we go that we would be a light to those we come in contact with. Everyday, here in America, we are lights, but most of the time I am not thinking about that. I don't have any idea of the spiritual condition of the people we are going to see. We will see their financial condition, but as physically poor as they are, if they have Christ they are much better off than the wealthiest person you and I know here who is without Christ. If they don't know Christ they are doubly cursed.
This will be very difficult for me to see and my sweet wife is much more tenderhearted than I am. Pray for her that she might be able to remember that God is good, even as He allows some to be in these kinds of conditions, He also brings many to repentance.
Pray that we would be an encouragement to some along the way and that we would find ways to serve others as we are away. What a weighty task; to minister in some lasting way to those who have so little. How can anything really last in this part of the world? How can we make a difference that will not be gone with the first meal?
God's Amazing Grace to us is so Long and High and Wide and Deep, that it leaves me shaking my head. May His love be shed abroad in our hearts as we go to share The Hope with others. The vanity of this life will come into much clearer focus while we are on this trip. The need for a Savior should always be in clear focus. I need the Gospel just as much as these people we are going to see.
Can you imagine the gap between an Ethiopian village and the splendor of Heaven? The comparative difference between here and Ethiopia is really small in light of what Heaven is going to look like. Our fanciest dinner here is going to look like a village "meal" when compared to Heaven's feast.
Just some random thoughts this morning as I am preparing my heart to start this chapter/page of our life.
9/17/09
Adding to the Herd in a BIG way.
Anyone who says God is not alive and working is crazy. He works in the most crazy-amazing ways.
Many of you have given so generously and sacrificially, it blows me away. I just sit here, in tears, when I think about the financial place some of you are in and you still have trusted God to care for your needs and given out of your poverty. I don't know how God will bless you, but if we have given with the right heart and motive, He promises to take care of us.
That being said, would you please tell us, in whatever fashion you desire, what amazing thing God does, so we can be encouraged.
It was very hard for me to have to say that I totally messed up the amount of each donkey. I really didn't want to let anyone down that maybe they had given "less than an entire donkey" or even a smaller part, but I had to do it.
God is so kind. He took something that I could not do well and made it into a sweet offering. Yesterday we received a single donation for the donkeys of $5000. This is on top of everything you have given. With this money we should be able to negotiate the price down, as we should be a good customer. I am not exactly sure where this takes us, but wherever it is, it is much more than we had when we started and God will be shown great for His provision of those who have so little in Ethiopia.
I am having a hard time with the fact that we get to be the "flower delivery people". What an immense privilege. Thank you all for caring so much. May God RICHLY bless you for your gift. It really is going to be amazing to watch God work.
When I talked to Michelle about this gift coming in we also talked about ways to encourage the people that are going to receive these animals to think about giving back to their own people because of this stewardship opportunity. This would be kind of like a living, micro loan. If these animals do really change their lives so much, then how can they spread that help out to those around them? I am not sure exactly what that will look like but hopefully was can have some of those discussions while we are there. Pray that God would give us wisdom to know what to suggest so that this can come about.
We only have 2 more days here and then we are off. There is much left to do here. Please pray for Teresa that she would be able to get what she needs to get done before we are flying out. There will be much "emotional roller coaster riding" on this trip so please pray that God would work His perfect will in our lives while we are there that He would be most glorified in the outcome.
What a great God we serve. Can you believe that we get to serve HIM? We could be living in the tents of the wicked, but instead we get to call Him Abba- Daddy. Pray for us that we would be pure ambassadors for Him.
Many of you have given so generously and sacrificially, it blows me away. I just sit here, in tears, when I think about the financial place some of you are in and you still have trusted God to care for your needs and given out of your poverty. I don't know how God will bless you, but if we have given with the right heart and motive, He promises to take care of us.
That being said, would you please tell us, in whatever fashion you desire, what amazing thing God does, so we can be encouraged.
It was very hard for me to have to say that I totally messed up the amount of each donkey. I really didn't want to let anyone down that maybe they had given "less than an entire donkey" or even a smaller part, but I had to do it.
God is so kind. He took something that I could not do well and made it into a sweet offering. Yesterday we received a single donation for the donkeys of $5000. This is on top of everything you have given. With this money we should be able to negotiate the price down, as we should be a good customer. I am not exactly sure where this takes us, but wherever it is, it is much more than we had when we started and God will be shown great for His provision of those who have so little in Ethiopia.
I am having a hard time with the fact that we get to be the "flower delivery people". What an immense privilege. Thank you all for caring so much. May God RICHLY bless you for your gift. It really is going to be amazing to watch God work.
When I talked to Michelle about this gift coming in we also talked about ways to encourage the people that are going to receive these animals to think about giving back to their own people because of this stewardship opportunity. This would be kind of like a living, micro loan. If these animals do really change their lives so much, then how can they spread that help out to those around them? I am not sure exactly what that will look like but hopefully was can have some of those discussions while we are there. Pray that God would give us wisdom to know what to suggest so that this can come about.
We only have 2 more days here and then we are off. There is much left to do here. Please pray for Teresa that she would be able to get what she needs to get done before we are flying out. There will be much "emotional roller coaster riding" on this trip so please pray that God would work His perfect will in our lives while we are there that He would be most glorified in the outcome.
What a great God we serve. Can you believe that we get to serve HIM? We could be living in the tents of the wicked, but instead we get to call Him Abba- Daddy. Pray for us that we would be pure ambassadors for Him.
9/15/09
Please Join Us
In the Gospels Jesus taught the disciples about fasting. It was not that the had never considered fasting because they had certainly heard of fasting from Ezra, Nehemiah, Ester, and David, Jeremiah, Joel and Daniel, to name a few. Jesus was telling them "When you fast", not IF you fast." Jesus made the assumption that they would fast. He was just going to give them some guidelines to follow in the times they were fasting.
The Pharisees heaped up extra burdens so that no one could possibly keep up with all they we trying to require, like fasting 2 times a week. Is this what God required of them; fast 2 times a week? On the other side of this coin is "Is my fasting null and void if anyone knows I am fasting?"
For sure Jesus is expecting us to fast when we are coming into a situation that requires much of God's work to be done on our behalf. We can demonstrate to God that we are serious about our endeavor if we not only pray fervently, but also fast. Jesus fasted. The disciples fasted. The early church fasted when they were making decisions that were crucial, or when they were sending someone out on some missionary journey. Do you think their instruction was, "Don't let anyone know that you are fasting"? I think many of the people that were close to them not only knew they were fasting, but were fasting along with them.
Jesus teaches us that we are not to go around looking like we are fasting, trying to get attention for our fasting. Don't walk around acting like you're starving and when some one asks " are you ok?" tell them, "Oh I am fasting". Jesus' point is that we will fast and people may find out that we are fasting, but don't try to show off your spirituality by broadcasting that you are fasting, so you can get "spiritual points" like the Pharisees.
Jesus is not telling us to stop fasting, as much as "stop acting like the Pharisees who do everything to be seen by men". It is ok to be seen by someone, but don't fast for the sake of being seen. Don't fast as some religious calisthenic to show off how spiritually fit you are, like some sort of spiritual push up contest, "I fasted for xx days- what about you?"
With that being said I would like you to consider fasting at some point in time from now until we return from Ethiopia. We will physically be in Ethiopia from the 22nd-the night of the 28th, but doing this before we leave is also perfectly ok.
I will not tell you what my fasting plans are or what yours should be. I will tell you that it may be difficult to skip a meal, or meals, but Jesus was expecting that we would fast about something, and Jesus was more than a little concerned for those who can not help themselves. He literally came to earth because He was so concerned about those who could not help themselves-sinners.
The kids we are going to see on our trip have probably never known a time when their bellies were full more than a day or two in a row. For us, "starving" is when it is 2 o'clock and our normal time to eat is noon.
This will not connect our hearts more with the Father, as He sees our seriousness about this undertaking, but it will also help us to relate to the people pf Ethiopia. Can you imagine the idea of "normal" being that each section of the family only gets to eat every 3rd day? The reason they don't sit down to eat together, as a family, may be because there is often not enough food to feed the entire family at one time; not that both parents are working late tonight to get a bigger ....
So, please join me in fasting either for a meal/meals and pray in that time that;
God would allow us to be used by Him in some way.
We would have our eyes opened and our hearts prepared to see and understand what He would have for us.
We would be an encouragement to other believers while we are away- both here and over there.
In our going others may desire to go, or help go, as well.
Our affections would be hot for God and our view would be increased as we see what He would have us to see.
While we are there we will be able to share the Truth of God's love to those who need to hear the Gospel and maybe they will "hear it for the first time" because they are seeing it lived out. Everyone needs the Gospel- even and especially believers. We need to preach the Good News to ourselves everyday, and we need to live the Gospel so others will see what The Gospel does.
God's will would be done in our lives as it is continually being done in Heaven and that His name would be high and lifted up.
Those who have given sacrificially would be blessed by our Father who gives back in ways we can't even imagine.
We would grow closer to Him as we see ourselves in the eyes of the orphans. We, who are saved, were all once orphans BUT GOD adopted us into His family. Jesus, our Big Brother, not only loves us but He laid down His life for us, so that we could come into the family,
We learn what God would have us to learn and that we will be able to convey the need to those interested in helping when we return.
We would have wisdom and discernment to know if this is a good fit for our youth ministry to take a short term missions trip here.
God would be glorified in using these tools that are not sharp and are broken down and old. That He would delight to give increase as we decrease.
We are not the heroes of this story and our desire is that God would be pleased with our offering of ourselves as we go. Please pray, and fast-if you are so lead- to that end.
If you would like to add something to this list feel free to post a comment.
The Pharisees heaped up extra burdens so that no one could possibly keep up with all they we trying to require, like fasting 2 times a week. Is this what God required of them; fast 2 times a week? On the other side of this coin is "Is my fasting null and void if anyone knows I am fasting?"
For sure Jesus is expecting us to fast when we are coming into a situation that requires much of God's work to be done on our behalf. We can demonstrate to God that we are serious about our endeavor if we not only pray fervently, but also fast. Jesus fasted. The disciples fasted. The early church fasted when they were making decisions that were crucial, or when they were sending someone out on some missionary journey. Do you think their instruction was, "Don't let anyone know that you are fasting"? I think many of the people that were close to them not only knew they were fasting, but were fasting along with them.
Jesus teaches us that we are not to go around looking like we are fasting, trying to get attention for our fasting. Don't walk around acting like you're starving and when some one asks " are you ok?" tell them, "Oh I am fasting". Jesus' point is that we will fast and people may find out that we are fasting, but don't try to show off your spirituality by broadcasting that you are fasting, so you can get "spiritual points" like the Pharisees.
Jesus is not telling us to stop fasting, as much as "stop acting like the Pharisees who do everything to be seen by men". It is ok to be seen by someone, but don't fast for the sake of being seen. Don't fast as some religious calisthenic to show off how spiritually fit you are, like some sort of spiritual push up contest, "I fasted for xx days- what about you?"
With that being said I would like you to consider fasting at some point in time from now until we return from Ethiopia. We will physically be in Ethiopia from the 22nd-the night of the 28th, but doing this before we leave is also perfectly ok.
I will not tell you what my fasting plans are or what yours should be. I will tell you that it may be difficult to skip a meal, or meals, but Jesus was expecting that we would fast about something, and Jesus was more than a little concerned for those who can not help themselves. He literally came to earth because He was so concerned about those who could not help themselves-sinners.
The kids we are going to see on our trip have probably never known a time when their bellies were full more than a day or two in a row. For us, "starving" is when it is 2 o'clock and our normal time to eat is noon.
This will not connect our hearts more with the Father, as He sees our seriousness about this undertaking, but it will also help us to relate to the people pf Ethiopia. Can you imagine the idea of "normal" being that each section of the family only gets to eat every 3rd day? The reason they don't sit down to eat together, as a family, may be because there is often not enough food to feed the entire family at one time; not that both parents are working late tonight to get a bigger ....
So, please join me in fasting either for a meal/meals and pray in that time that;
God would allow us to be used by Him in some way.
We would have our eyes opened and our hearts prepared to see and understand what He would have for us.
We would be an encouragement to other believers while we are away- both here and over there.
In our going others may desire to go, or help go, as well.
Our affections would be hot for God and our view would be increased as we see what He would have us to see.
While we are there we will be able to share the Truth of God's love to those who need to hear the Gospel and maybe they will "hear it for the first time" because they are seeing it lived out. Everyone needs the Gospel- even and especially believers. We need to preach the Good News to ourselves everyday, and we need to live the Gospel so others will see what The Gospel does.
God's will would be done in our lives as it is continually being done in Heaven and that His name would be high and lifted up.
Those who have given sacrificially would be blessed by our Father who gives back in ways we can't even imagine.
We would grow closer to Him as we see ourselves in the eyes of the orphans. We, who are saved, were all once orphans BUT GOD adopted us into His family. Jesus, our Big Brother, not only loves us but He laid down His life for us, so that we could come into the family,
We learn what God would have us to learn and that we will be able to convey the need to those interested in helping when we return.
We would have wisdom and discernment to know if this is a good fit for our youth ministry to take a short term missions trip here.
God would be glorified in using these tools that are not sharp and are broken down and old. That He would delight to give increase as we decrease.
We are not the heroes of this story and our desire is that God would be pleased with our offering of ourselves as we go. Please pray, and fast-if you are so lead- to that end.
If you would like to add something to this list feel free to post a comment.
9/14/09
Wash your Car with a Shovel
Have you ever had a tool that was broken, held together with wire,had a flat tire on it, or just didn't work like it was intended? Often, if I have one of those kinds of experiences I just want to throw that tool away and get another one that actually works well.
Well I never really feel like the precision tool I want to be. I need to be sharpened all the time, I need the rust knocked off of me everytime I am used, the cleanliness of the pot is less than desirable and yet for some strange reason, of which I am delighted, God still chooses to use me. I can't imagine the frustration that He would have to go through if He were not perfect and knew that all the mess was going to turn up something good in the end.
If I were Him I would want to start all over with a tool that wanted to actually do what it was made for, not one that was trying to try to be a shovel when the intention was for me to be a hose. Both of those have specific purposes and both are very useful but have you ever tried to dig a hole with a hose or wash your car with a shovel?
Isn't it awesome that God uses broken, dull tools to bring about change in the lives of others? I am so glad that He can use this tool and get some use from it. I am also very glad that He has a plan for the work He is going to do with the tool and somehow this tool is exactly what He wants to use.
Well I never really feel like the precision tool I want to be. I need to be sharpened all the time, I need the rust knocked off of me everytime I am used, the cleanliness of the pot is less than desirable and yet for some strange reason, of which I am delighted, God still chooses to use me. I can't imagine the frustration that He would have to go through if He were not perfect and knew that all the mess was going to turn up something good in the end.
If I were Him I would want to start all over with a tool that wanted to actually do what it was made for, not one that was trying to try to be a shovel when the intention was for me to be a hose. Both of those have specific purposes and both are very useful but have you ever tried to dig a hole with a hose or wash your car with a shovel?
Isn't it awesome that God uses broken, dull tools to bring about change in the lives of others? I am so glad that He can use this tool and get some use from it. I am also very glad that He has a plan for the work He is going to do with the tool and somehow this tool is exactly what He wants to use.
God Working some more
After a crazy weekend of a birthday each for Teresa and Kimmy, gathering up all that has been donated to the kids and packing and unpacking to see what we need to make weight, making a tally of all the dollars donated this weekend and watching God work, today starts the last week of work until we leave.
God truly is the Provider and He is working amazing things through His people.
We received another $950 dollars this weekend from those around GBC and that does not include those who are donating on line and I can't see it. This should take us to around $2500 plus the web funds. Even with the "increase in price"this is amazing. God is working in His people.
Stories from the field should be amazing as we watch God work. So many have given sacrificially and God loves those that have a heart for those who can not take care for themselves. Like us- who were dead when He made us alive- and He did not leave us without Himself.
I did want to tell you that I had a lady come up to me and would like us to look for a 7 year old child for their family to adopt. I really was not expecting that, but I can't keep up with Him.
Also, we are over the amount we can take on the plane, without a fee, but God is apparently working that out as well. There is a man who goes to our church who is a pilot and he is going to ship the excess over on Fedex so we can just take the normal amount and everything else will be sitting there waiting for us when we arrive. God had it all figured out. Isn't that awesome?
Amazing things happening- keep praying that God would be pleased to show how great He is in this situation.
God truly is the Provider and He is working amazing things through His people.
We received another $950 dollars this weekend from those around GBC and that does not include those who are donating on line and I can't see it. This should take us to around $2500 plus the web funds. Even with the "increase in price"this is amazing. God is working in His people.
Stories from the field should be amazing as we watch God work. So many have given sacrificially and God loves those that have a heart for those who can not take care for themselves. Like us- who were dead when He made us alive- and He did not leave us without Himself.
I did want to tell you that I had a lady come up to me and would like us to look for a 7 year old child for their family to adopt. I really was not expecting that, but I can't keep up with Him.
Also, we are over the amount we can take on the plane, without a fee, but God is apparently working that out as well. There is a man who goes to our church who is a pilot and he is going to ship the excess over on Fedex so we can just take the normal amount and everything else will be sitting there waiting for us when we arrive. God had it all figured out. Isn't that awesome?
Amazing things happening- keep praying that God would be pleased to show how great He is in this situation.
9/13/09
What Can I Say?
After posting "So Stupid" last night our door bell rung at 10 and one of the people who already has given above and beyond came over and dropped off an entire donkey. Now I am not only stupid, but I am dumb founded.
It was hard for me to get to sleep, which is very unusual for me.
God does work in the craziest of ways and He is impossible to keep up with. I like to be the one who is ahead of the giving curve and try to think of unique and surprising way to bless people, but God is infinitely better at this game than I am.
I was talking to Michelle the other day and Kingdom Kids has a financial need, that I will not go into details about, because that would blow God's cover when He provides in some crazy way. I told her about Anne story. She was told that her insurance was not going to cover her chemo therapy sessions, which were $60K each, because the new chemo was not FDA approved. Through a crazy string of "Only God" events, a friend offered to allow she and and her husband to use his entire portfolio so they didn't have to sell their house to pay for the treatments. In the end, the insurance company president called her at midnight his time and told Anne that they would cover all of it. That was the really short version.
Michelle told me that we should pray, but maybe we could get the number of the guy with the big portfolio and ask him to help. The awesome part is that we who are His children already have the number of the One with the big portfolio. Not only that, He is intimately acquainted with our situation and His portfolio never is depleted. We just need to ask and wait on Him to do His will in our lives. Please pary that God would provide for KKAM for this need.
Sometimes He answers in a totally different way than we are thinking and sometimes He makes us wait much longer; maybe that is so there is no other way out except His way. In whatever form the answer comes we need to make sure we are thankful for His care and that we give Him the glory for working on our behalf.
Imagine what kind of financial issues you would be contemplating if you had Bill Gates as a dad. My car needs new tires and I don't really have money set aside to cover that. I need a couple hundred dollars. Maybe I'll ask dad. I wonder if he would mind giving me a couple hundred bucks. I just asked him last month to give me $300. Maybe I'll get another part time job instead of asking him. I don't want to be a burden to him, he gives me stuff all the time.
Oh but wait- his portfolio is in the billions and he gives to people all over the world by the hundreds of millions, so I guess $200 is not too much to ask.
Oh but wait- our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. In His "account" is the entire universe. He provides for every living creature on the planet and I am His child. He sends rain on the evil and the good. He allows people to succeed and fail and only He can make someone prosper in their way. Maybe I should just ask Him and quit worrying about it. Humm.
It seems so clear when you write it, but why do we always go through those kinds of exercises in our minds before we ask Him? He wants to take our burdens away. He wants to be our Only Hope of delivery. He wants to treat His children in the most amazing way, but we seem to always be trying to work it out ourselves before we "burden" Him. It is no burden for Him; it His delight to be THE Provider.
You can probably tell I hit a nerve, with myself, as I am writing. God's funny like that.
So trust Him with your cares and concerns and watch Him work. No I mean really watch. You will be amazed as you step back and watch Him line out every single detail, even the ones you didn't even know were part of the puzzle.
Ps. 31:19Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
Notice He does this goodness in the sight of the children of mankind. Unlike us, He does all He does to be glorified. He wants and deserves to be lifted high. He is the best and He is jealous about His glory. We should not only give it to Him, but we should delight to make His deeds known to all the people. His praise should continually be on our lips, because we can't stop thinking about all that He has done on our behalf.
It was hard for me to get to sleep, which is very unusual for me.
God does work in the craziest of ways and He is impossible to keep up with. I like to be the one who is ahead of the giving curve and try to think of unique and surprising way to bless people, but God is infinitely better at this game than I am.
I was talking to Michelle the other day and Kingdom Kids has a financial need, that I will not go into details about, because that would blow God's cover when He provides in some crazy way. I told her about Anne story. She was told that her insurance was not going to cover her chemo therapy sessions, which were $60K each, because the new chemo was not FDA approved. Through a crazy string of "Only God" events, a friend offered to allow she and and her husband to use his entire portfolio so they didn't have to sell their house to pay for the treatments. In the end, the insurance company president called her at midnight his time and told Anne that they would cover all of it. That was the really short version.
Michelle told me that we should pray, but maybe we could get the number of the guy with the big portfolio and ask him to help. The awesome part is that we who are His children already have the number of the One with the big portfolio. Not only that, He is intimately acquainted with our situation and His portfolio never is depleted. We just need to ask and wait on Him to do His will in our lives. Please pary that God would provide for KKAM for this need.
Sometimes He answers in a totally different way than we are thinking and sometimes He makes us wait much longer; maybe that is so there is no other way out except His way. In whatever form the answer comes we need to make sure we are thankful for His care and that we give Him the glory for working on our behalf.
Imagine what kind of financial issues you would be contemplating if you had Bill Gates as a dad. My car needs new tires and I don't really have money set aside to cover that. I need a couple hundred dollars. Maybe I'll ask dad. I wonder if he would mind giving me a couple hundred bucks. I just asked him last month to give me $300. Maybe I'll get another part time job instead of asking him. I don't want to be a burden to him, he gives me stuff all the time.
Oh but wait- his portfolio is in the billions and he gives to people all over the world by the hundreds of millions, so I guess $200 is not too much to ask.
Oh but wait- our Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills. In His "account" is the entire universe. He provides for every living creature on the planet and I am His child. He sends rain on the evil and the good. He allows people to succeed and fail and only He can make someone prosper in their way. Maybe I should just ask Him and quit worrying about it. Humm.
It seems so clear when you write it, but why do we always go through those kinds of exercises in our minds before we ask Him? He wants to take our burdens away. He wants to be our Only Hope of delivery. He wants to treat His children in the most amazing way, but we seem to always be trying to work it out ourselves before we "burden" Him. It is no burden for Him; it His delight to be THE Provider.
You can probably tell I hit a nerve, with myself, as I am writing. God's funny like that.
So trust Him with your cares and concerns and watch Him work. No I mean really watch. You will be amazed as you step back and watch Him line out every single detail, even the ones you didn't even know were part of the puzzle.
Ps. 31:19Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
Notice He does this goodness in the sight of the children of mankind. Unlike us, He does all He does to be glorified. He wants and deserves to be lifted high. He is the best and He is jealous about His glory. We should not only give it to Him, but we should delight to make His deeds known to all the people. His praise should continually be on our lips, because we can't stop thinking about all that He has done on our behalf.
9/12/09
I am SO Stupid.
Well, I feel pretty stupid, but I know that God knows exactly what is going on.
Somehow, along the way I mis understood the charge for the donkeys. They are NOT $50; they are either $175 or $200. We haven't got the final price.
Sorry to all of you who took me at my word, it had no intention of misleading you. If you are all still on board we will just continue the contribution but we will just have to purchase less donkeys than I had hoped.
I talked to Michelle and asked her what we should do, buy goats for more people and just a few donkeys and she thought that we should continue on with donkeys, as others have put up dollars for goats to be delivered on our trip.
We still have raised close to $2000 and so we can get 10 and that is 10 more than were available to needy families before we started. I am taking this as both a lesson in humility and a lesson in seeing that God is the One who cares for His people, not me.
I truly was hoping we could get at least 20 donkeys and with my wrong math we would have had 40, but God knew exactly what was happening all along and I will have to trust that the sacrifice that all have made will be a sweet aroma to Him.
Again, sorry for the misunderstanding. If you want to "un-contribute" please LMK and I will get the dollars you donated back to you before we leave and I will take the blame and not be upset with you.
Somehow, along the way I mis understood the charge for the donkeys. They are NOT $50; they are either $175 or $200. We haven't got the final price.
Sorry to all of you who took me at my word, it had no intention of misleading you. If you are all still on board we will just continue the contribution but we will just have to purchase less donkeys than I had hoped.
I talked to Michelle and asked her what we should do, buy goats for more people and just a few donkeys and she thought that we should continue on with donkeys, as others have put up dollars for goats to be delivered on our trip.
We still have raised close to $2000 and so we can get 10 and that is 10 more than were available to needy families before we started. I am taking this as both a lesson in humility and a lesson in seeing that God is the One who cares for His people, not me.
I truly was hoping we could get at least 20 donkeys and with my wrong math we would have had 40, but God knew exactly what was happening all along and I will have to trust that the sacrifice that all have made will be a sweet aroma to Him.
Again, sorry for the misunderstanding. If you want to "un-contribute" please LMK and I will get the dollars you donated back to you before we leave and I will take the blame and not be upset with you.
9/11/09
More news on the Herd
Is. 58 is full of promises, from God, to those who desire to help the poor, needy and afflicted. God's desire is that we be looking for opportunities to meet the needs of others who are being taken advantage of by evil people, or who just plainly can't help themselves. In this passage we are His hands and feet and He expects us to do something, whatever that might be.
For sure our trip is not going to cure the starvation problem in Ethiopia, but by God's grace and many people' sacrifice, we can at least do something. "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin". Jn. 4:17. Jesus is not asking us to cure all the world's problem; He is the only One who can do that. He is simply telling us to do the right thing when He gives us the opportunity. Here is another example of God's amazing work in the lives of those around us.
One of our students came to me yesterday and told me "I just got my paycheck and would like to donate the entire check to buy donkeys."
I am completely blown away. So many people, who often don't have much themselves, are sacrificing so much for the poor. There are many things young people can purchase with their money today and they decided to give the entire check. WOW!
I am having a hard time comprehending what God is going to do on this trip. I am feeling the weight of making sure that my heart is right before Him because with this kind of sacrifice on some many other's part, what does He plan to do. I certainly don't want to be the one who grieves the Holy Spirit and diminish His working through so many here.
Currently, we have to be close to 20 donkeys-maybe more, though I am not the one keeping the tally on what has come in; that is Kimmy. We are supposed to have money to us by Sunday, so it will be fun to watch God work the next few days. We just have to have the money over to Spokane soon so they can call ahead and have the social workers working on the selection process before we arrive and have the proper number of donkeys ready for pickup.
Please start to pray with us that God would work mightily through our weakness. That He would be most glorified because of the work HE is doing in lives both here and there. That Teresa and I would have our hearts knitted closer to Him as we watch Him work. That our hearts would be appropriately moved and our vision expanded. That God would show off His greatness in such amazing ways and that we would be able to recount these things to everyone around us and that His great name would be lifted high in the hearts of His people and even the minds of the ungodly. That the world would have to sit up and take notice of how great our God is because there would be no other explanation except for God doing the work.
We are not praying for safety, because God is in complete control and maybe He doesn't want us to be safe. Maybe He wants to take us somewhere we have never been before and show the world His power in some crazy way. I am not trying to put us in harms way, but after Grant's event I am not convinced that the safe way is the way that God always has us going. May He be glorified in us as we trust completely on Him.
So pray that His will would be done in our lives and that we would rejoice as He works in and through us, whatever that may look like. Easy-ish to write, much harder to do when the time comes. He is AMAZING and we are privileged to be His servants.
For sure our trip is not going to cure the starvation problem in Ethiopia, but by God's grace and many people' sacrifice, we can at least do something. "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin". Jn. 4:17. Jesus is not asking us to cure all the world's problem; He is the only One who can do that. He is simply telling us to do the right thing when He gives us the opportunity. Here is another example of God's amazing work in the lives of those around us.
One of our students came to me yesterday and told me "I just got my paycheck and would like to donate the entire check to buy donkeys."
I am completely blown away. So many people, who often don't have much themselves, are sacrificing so much for the poor. There are many things young people can purchase with their money today and they decided to give the entire check. WOW!
I am having a hard time comprehending what God is going to do on this trip. I am feeling the weight of making sure that my heart is right before Him because with this kind of sacrifice on some many other's part, what does He plan to do. I certainly don't want to be the one who grieves the Holy Spirit and diminish His working through so many here.
Currently, we have to be close to 20 donkeys-maybe more, though I am not the one keeping the tally on what has come in; that is Kimmy. We are supposed to have money to us by Sunday, so it will be fun to watch God work the next few days. We just have to have the money over to Spokane soon so they can call ahead and have the social workers working on the selection process before we arrive and have the proper number of donkeys ready for pickup.
Please start to pray with us that God would work mightily through our weakness. That He would be most glorified because of the work HE is doing in lives both here and there. That Teresa and I would have our hearts knitted closer to Him as we watch Him work. That our hearts would be appropriately moved and our vision expanded. That God would show off His greatness in such amazing ways and that we would be able to recount these things to everyone around us and that His great name would be lifted high in the hearts of His people and even the minds of the ungodly. That the world would have to sit up and take notice of how great our God is because there would be no other explanation except for God doing the work.
We are not praying for safety, because God is in complete control and maybe He doesn't want us to be safe. Maybe He wants to take us somewhere we have never been before and show the world His power in some crazy way. I am not trying to put us in harms way, but after Grant's event I am not convinced that the safe way is the way that God always has us going. May He be glorified in us as we trust completely on Him.
So pray that His will would be done in our lives and that we would rejoice as He works in and through us, whatever that may look like. Easy-ish to write, much harder to do when the time comes. He is AMAZING and we are privileged to be His servants.
9/10/09
Do Donkeys come in Herds?
I called Michelle, from Kingdom Kids, yesterday and was relaying what is happening this week over here and how we are preparing for the trip, as she is going to meet us in Ethiopia. I am really excited to see God's hand at work in the lives of those over here, even though they are not traveling with us-physically.
I told her that I was concerned that there may not be enough donkeys to go around if people give at this pace, even though there is only just over a week until we leave. I asked her what has been her experience in the past with taking donkeys. She gave me the run down.
She will tell the people there ahead of time how many donkeys are needed. In turn they will not only get them delivered to a central area, but the social workers from the villages will interview different families to see who will be most benefited by receiving a donkey. This is very important as we would not be able to tell who is really in need just going into a village.
She said that one time previously they had taken 20 goats, which are less expensive, but that donkeys are really the most valuable. She also said that we need to be prepared for the most amazing day of our lives.
The people come to the designated place to receive their donkey and they interview them and take pictures and videos as the blessings are given to their new owners. She said that we will never forget this day. Also, she said that if there were 100 donkeys given they would not run out and there would still be a need.
So "thank you" to all who have already given so generously to the people who you don't know. We will try very hard to get you all pictures and videos and to relay the stories well when we return. I am feeling a not a little pressure to not only share the stories with you but to also, in some way, convey the goodness of this back to you. I am not sure how I will do that, but know that it is on my mind already.
I want to share another short story about generous giving. I was talking with a group yesterday and one of the people had already decided to give a 1/2 of a donkey. We joked about which 1/2, front or back, right or left. I was telling the others about the program and the immense blessing it is to these people. I am excited about any dollars that come in, as every dollar helps. I finished my story and didn't really think much more about it.
I returned a little later to see that there was $50 rather than $25. I asked this person what had happened. They said, "Well, we have a date night fund and after hearing the need and how much this could benefit others I decided to use entire fund, rather than just part. They need it more than we do". WOW!
I am not God and I have stopped trying to figure out His ways, but I can't wait to see what He will do in this situation. I have heard it said that you can't out give God and I totally believe it, but He "repays" in the most amazing ways.
If you are one of these stories, when God gives back to you, please LMK what happens so I can share that story as well. It is true that we can't out give Him, that He doesn't need our money- He owns it all anyway- but the Lord loves a cheerful giver and He loves to take care of His children, and so often He gives back in a totally different way than we have given. It will be fun to watch Him work.
I told her that I was concerned that there may not be enough donkeys to go around if people give at this pace, even though there is only just over a week until we leave. I asked her what has been her experience in the past with taking donkeys. She gave me the run down.
She will tell the people there ahead of time how many donkeys are needed. In turn they will not only get them delivered to a central area, but the social workers from the villages will interview different families to see who will be most benefited by receiving a donkey. This is very important as we would not be able to tell who is really in need just going into a village.
She said that one time previously they had taken 20 goats, which are less expensive, but that donkeys are really the most valuable. She also said that we need to be prepared for the most amazing day of our lives.
The people come to the designated place to receive their donkey and they interview them and take pictures and videos as the blessings are given to their new owners. She said that we will never forget this day. Also, she said that if there were 100 donkeys given they would not run out and there would still be a need.
So "thank you" to all who have already given so generously to the people who you don't know. We will try very hard to get you all pictures and videos and to relay the stories well when we return. I am feeling a not a little pressure to not only share the stories with you but to also, in some way, convey the goodness of this back to you. I am not sure how I will do that, but know that it is on my mind already.
I want to share another short story about generous giving. I was talking with a group yesterday and one of the people had already decided to give a 1/2 of a donkey. We joked about which 1/2, front or back, right or left. I was telling the others about the program and the immense blessing it is to these people. I am excited about any dollars that come in, as every dollar helps. I finished my story and didn't really think much more about it.
I returned a little later to see that there was $50 rather than $25. I asked this person what had happened. They said, "Well, we have a date night fund and after hearing the need and how much this could benefit others I decided to use entire fund, rather than just part. They need it more than we do". WOW!
I am not God and I have stopped trying to figure out His ways, but I can't wait to see what He will do in this situation. I have heard it said that you can't out give God and I totally believe it, but He "repays" in the most amazing ways.
If you are one of these stories, when God gives back to you, please LMK what happens so I can share that story as well. It is true that we can't out give Him, that He doesn't need our money- He owns it all anyway- but the Lord loves a cheerful giver and He loves to take care of His children, and so often He gives back in a totally different way than we have given. It will be fun to watch Him work.
9/9/09
Generous Poverty
2 Cor. 8:2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints.
Today was an amazing day in the life of the trip.
We have a family that responded to the request for a donkey. This is a family that the dad works 2 jobs and is trying to make ends meet. They have been using some extra money for gas and food and when the donkey request came over the email they looked at their finances and decided they could do 3.
They said they had been trying to really look at the difference between needs and wants and their last paycheck was larger than they had thought it would be, so they wanted to use this extra money to help those who are in far worse shape than they are.
God is really going to make this fun. I'll keep you posted.
Today was an amazing day in the life of the trip.
We have a family that responded to the request for a donkey. This is a family that the dad works 2 jobs and is trying to make ends meet. They have been using some extra money for gas and food and when the donkey request came over the email they looked at their finances and decided they could do 3.
They said they had been trying to really look at the difference between needs and wants and their last paycheck was larger than they had thought it would be, so they wanted to use this extra money to help those who are in far worse shape than they are.
God is really going to make this fun. I'll keep you posted.
Packing
Kimmy sent out an email yesterday to her contact list about purchasing donkeys for the people in Ethiopia. So far it has been met with huge success. She sent it out in the afternoon and by the evening there were already people who are going to help with 4 donkeys, and it seems the list is going to get much longer.
People desire to help, especially when they know it is a manageable task and that their efforts will not get messed up before it gets to where it is needed. This seems to come from having someone on the ground that they can trust to ensure their contribution is being handled correctly. No one wants to give to some big organization that absorbs all the funds and life giving support is swallowed up in bureaucracy. Hopefully we can change that in a small way this trip.
This seems to be tricky with a lot of government agencies. Also, think about the people who work for the agencies that are setting out the needs. I was looking at well drilling practices in Ethiopia last night and was struck by the fact that I would like to help in some way, but I am not a well driller and even if I were in America, those practices may not be the best techniques in Africa. What do we do?
There are many different ministries that supply water to Africa in the form of local wells and tapping into their resources, no pun intended, is not only smart but good stewardship. I will try to talk about this with our host as we go driving around so I can learn more and tell you all what that might look like.
We are getting close to having all the "gifts" collected up. As they come in I am reminded about how much we have and how little that is required to really change their lives. None of these things are even remotely lavish. I guess crayons would be the closest thing to it, but these type of things are requested because the kids don't have the tools to hone their fine motor skills. They have balls which work their large muscle, but now they will have tools to work the small muscles. I never really thought about that before preparing to go someplace like this. We have so much that we take for granted.
People desire to help, especially when they know it is a manageable task and that their efforts will not get messed up before it gets to where it is needed. This seems to come from having someone on the ground that they can trust to ensure their contribution is being handled correctly. No one wants to give to some big organization that absorbs all the funds and life giving support is swallowed up in bureaucracy. Hopefully we can change that in a small way this trip.
This seems to be tricky with a lot of government agencies. Also, think about the people who work for the agencies that are setting out the needs. I was looking at well drilling practices in Ethiopia last night and was struck by the fact that I would like to help in some way, but I am not a well driller and even if I were in America, those practices may not be the best techniques in Africa. What do we do?
There are many different ministries that supply water to Africa in the form of local wells and tapping into their resources, no pun intended, is not only smart but good stewardship. I will try to talk about this with our host as we go driving around so I can learn more and tell you all what that might look like.
We are getting close to having all the "gifts" collected up. As they come in I am reminded about how much we have and how little that is required to really change their lives. None of these things are even remotely lavish. I guess crayons would be the closest thing to it, but these type of things are requested because the kids don't have the tools to hone their fine motor skills. They have balls which work their large muscle, but now they will have tools to work the small muscles. I never really thought about that before preparing to go someplace like this. We have so much that we take for granted.
9/7/09
Generous, Sacrificial Givers
Our list is filled except for the lap top and the Ipod and we will have to see what happens in this situation over the next 2 weeks.
Yesterday I was totally blown away by 2 sets of people.
In the morning I was approached by a man who gave me 2 offering envelopes and the writing was obviously not from an adult. The outside said, "The Weinberg's trip to Ethiopia". In opening the 2 envelopes there was $1.50 in one and $2 in the other. I know these 2 boys and am so encouraged that God can work in young hearts to give sacrificially for people they will almost certainly never meet. Sure the dollars are not gigantic, but in light of the need is there any amount that could be more than a drop in the ocean? It is not the amount that we give that makes the problem go away, it is the fact that we are willing to do whatever we can, in whatever way, that God sees. He is not expecting 2 young boys to defeat hunger and death, but He is pleased when they give for those who don't have as much as they do.
In the evening I received a bag of formula from a couple, and there were a lot of cans in it. I know this formula is expensive, but my estimate was half the actual price. The awesome, humbling things about the entire situation is that these people have not had work for 2 months.
This reminds me of 2 Cor. 8 and the Macedonians giving out of their poverty, and their abundant joy in giving to others even though they didn't have much themselves. God loves a cheerful giver. He promises to care for us and that is generally seen most evident when we will step out in faith and do the hard thing.
"Thank you" to each one of these and to all the others who have given that I may not know the story. God knows and He is The Rewarder.
Yesterday I was totally blown away by 2 sets of people.
In the morning I was approached by a man who gave me 2 offering envelopes and the writing was obviously not from an adult. The outside said, "The Weinberg's trip to Ethiopia". In opening the 2 envelopes there was $1.50 in one and $2 in the other. I know these 2 boys and am so encouraged that God can work in young hearts to give sacrificially for people they will almost certainly never meet. Sure the dollars are not gigantic, but in light of the need is there any amount that could be more than a drop in the ocean? It is not the amount that we give that makes the problem go away, it is the fact that we are willing to do whatever we can, in whatever way, that God sees. He is not expecting 2 young boys to defeat hunger and death, but He is pleased when they give for those who don't have as much as they do.
In the evening I received a bag of formula from a couple, and there were a lot of cans in it. I know this formula is expensive, but my estimate was half the actual price. The awesome, humbling things about the entire situation is that these people have not had work for 2 months.
This reminds me of 2 Cor. 8 and the Macedonians giving out of their poverty, and their abundant joy in giving to others even though they didn't have much themselves. God loves a cheerful giver. He promises to care for us and that is generally seen most evident when we will step out in faith and do the hard thing.
"Thank you" to each one of these and to all the others who have given that I may not know the story. God knows and He is The Rewarder.
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