Connecting with Lesibovu - Part 3: A Sponsor's Story

I asked a friend and member of the Lesibovu Leadership Team to tell her sponsorship story. Thank you, guest blogger LaShea Wood!  As I sat and looked at all the profiles of children from Lesibovu who needed to be sponsored, I felt so overwhelmed. How could I pick just one child? There are so many in need there. Everywhere. My shoulders began to tense and my head began to ache as I looked through profile after profile. I began to pray for God's guidance and peace because the enormity of the situation hit me so hard. I didn't expect it. I've seen the ads and all the Facebook posts about orphans and HIV, but it never truly HIT me until now. I don't know why, but it didn't become real until NOW.... At first it didn't seem like much, "Ok. I'll sponsor a child. That's all I know to do!" Seems simple enough, but as I sat at the computer scrolling through page after page of children needing to be sponsored I couldn't pick one....just one. How is one suppose to make a difference?! The estimate is 143 to 210 million orphans in the world and I'm suppose to pick one!?  Well, I didn't. My son, Dylan, did. Children see in black and white. There is no gray area, no questioning. "Ok. We get to sponsor a child who may not survive and thrive otherwise!" He looks through a stack of Alli's photos from Lesibovu sitting on my kitchen counter and 5 minutes later says, "I want to sponsor that one." It's a photo of a small boy who looks 2 maybe 3 holding a bowl in nothing but a shirt. No shorts. No shoes. Just waiting for food. Holding his little bowl. He's beautiful. I told him to go ask his brother and sister if that's the one they wanted to sponsor (just knowing they are going to argue and fight over who they wanted to sponsor, but they didn't). They all agreed! If that's not a sign from God I don't know what is! All my kids agreed! That's huge! So we did it, I looked him up on the website and found his profile and there he was- "Lunga, male, 4". I thought to myself, "He's 4? He's so little." I entered all my info and it was done. He was our child! I looked through the rest of Alli's photos and found 2 more pictures of him. They are now plastered on my refrigerator and my kids talk about him as if he were a relative or friend.  A week later we got our full profile on Lunga in the mail. As I read his short profile, I was thankful to see his mother and father were still alive and she's his caregiver. I believe she's the one holding him in one of the photos on my fridge. He's got 2 siblings and walks 10-15 minutes to the Carepoint where he gets food. That doesn't seem to far away...or does it? I walk 10 steps to my kitchen for food: a near endless supply of goodies. He has to walk 10 minutes and that's so he can eat once a day if he's lucky. Some of these children walk 3 hours to the Carepoint. I also have a picture of Lunga standing in line for food, but it's a big cauldron of porridge and from what I'm told that's what they eat every. single. day. I don't know about you, but I don't call that "food". In our 1st world country, with our 1st world problems ("DirecTV isn't airing the game! Are you kidding me!") we can't even wrap our head around what that must be like. I know I sure can't. As soon as we got Lunga's profile, the kids immediately went to writing letters and drawing pictures for him. I sat at the computer twice to send a letter to him but couldn't. I didn't know what to say, then it hit me. He's only 4. He can't read it. Once I email it and it's translated, it's going to be his mom who reads it. The lady holding that sweet boy in the picture. Now all I can think about is being in her shoes and as I type the letter all I can picture is this mother who has no means of providing for her 3 children, who probably lives in a small hut of a home with a dirt floor reading my letter. Once again, my shoulders tense and my head begins to ache. What do you say to someone in such dire circumstances? I stared blankly at the screen. Please, God, give me the words to speak hope to this mother. That somehow I can encourage her. I want her to know that someone, somewhere cares for her and is praying for her and her family. That our God truly cares for them.  Sponsorship is not just about providing a child with food, education, shelter, etc. Sponsorship is about hope. It's about building a relationship with a child and their family. To be able to let Lunga and his family know that we are here, we care for them, love them, and are praying for them, gives them hope for a better tomorrow. At the end of my letter to Lunga (or his mother) I put this verse: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11  When you sponsor a child it is so much more than sending money to help a kid - imagine being that orphan or that parent or grandparent that receives that letter. When they find out someone, somewhere, cares enough to help them, you've given them hope and a relationship that can do so much more any amount of money can do.

Connecting with Lesibovu - Part 2: Local vs. International Missions

I love how as Jesus is preparing to leave the disciples at the Transfiguration, and prepares them for the Holy Spirit's coming, that they ask a question of Him. They're anxious to know when His kingdom will be established and  Jesus tells the disciples that only His Father knows the time. Then, He tells them - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)

An issue I wanted to address after hearing it mentioned a few times lately regards concern for local giving versus supporting foreign missions. The questions haven't been asked critically, but honestly, and I certainly do appreciate folks wanting to know how we can invest time and heart into a community across the ocean, when there are so many needs here in our own town. Our team is fully aware of local ministry opportunities, and thankfully, everyone who is serving on the Lesibovu Leadership Team already ministers within their respective churches or community.

Here are a few of the ministries in which our team already serves:
monthly feeding and visiting with homeless men at The Firehouse Shelter in Birmingham, working with a Chilton County based Ukrainian orphan-hosting ministry, pastoring a youth group, leading a college group Bible study, involvement in adoptive family ministry, leading adult small group Bible studies, and many more. The folks who are encouraging sponsorship of these children at Lesibovu already have shown their heart for giving to others here in our own Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria.

We do not intend to place the lives of African children above the needs of homeless men in Birmingham, or children in our own church's preschool ministry. They are all equally as needy for the love of Jesus, the power of hope, forgiveness, and the Truth of the Gospel.


However, there IS a difference. Here in Alabama, (especially the county in which we live) we have a pretty safe, easy-access to food/shelter/clothing world, even for those in need. There is public assistance for those who need food, shelter, and medical care. Even in rural areas, we are not far from churches with food pantries, social services that offer help with any area of need, and government programs designed to help those who are hurting or vulnerable. For children without parents or a stable home life, there is the Department of Human Resources, and they handle finding foster homes for orphaned or abandoned children temporarily, or even permanently. I know, because my son came into my family through this system. It works. He was never without care, and I am so grateful! I have a dear friend ("T") who grew up as an adolescent and teen in the foster system in another state. T's story is hard, and filled with pain. God beautifully redeemed those years and gave her a foster family that she says changed her life forever.

When we first discussed sponsorship, T was passionately concerned, hearing stories of neglect, abuse, and abandonment facing orphans in Swaziland. She was appalled at the dire circumstances many, many children face there, and was determined that her family would sponsor a child. A few days after we talked at length about Swaziland, she texted me late at night: 

"I just had a big revelation. BIG. I've always wondered why people go outside the US to adopt and for orphan care. Because I was a foster kid, my heart has always been here. It never EVER occurred to me that these kids have no advocate or no systems in place to care for them. Had I been somewhere like Swaziland, I may not be alive."

That is what drives us. We know there are instances where our system does fail, here in the U.S., but when is there no hope for an American baby to have care or a family? In Swaziland, it is the norm for children to go without. Their situation is dire. The UN Development Program says that this country will very likely be extinct by 2050 without dramatic intervention, due to the prevalence of HIV, poverty, and malnutrition.

The good news is that we know of the situation, God has given us much that we can share and so there IS hope. People with resources and education can make a difference. One very simple way to do that is through sponsorship. It doesn't cost much, and it multiplies greatly when your contribution is combined with the others from our Lesibovu community. Please consider how you can minister "the to end of the earth" by giving monthly to one of these beautiful children.

Ncobile, F12

Snakekelo, M2

Banele, M8

Connecting with Lesibovu - Part 1: Sponsorship

For $34/month, you can impact the life of a child at the Lesibovu CarePoint in Swaziland. I have been asked several times already what that money goes toward. Here is a breakdown of that money, so that you can see how much directly affects your sponsored child.

80% ($27.2 per child) goes to directly support the care of children at Lesibovu

 

-   50% of the 80% is material benefit (i.e. food, shots, educational support). This amount is where we can physically see the money directly at work.

 

-   30% pays for cooks, discipleship team members, social workers, letter writing translation, gas to get the food to the CarePoint, etc. The benefits are important, but not as visible since they involved others aiding the children and ministry.

20% of the $34 ($6.80) stays in the US to pay for employees and administration of Children's HopeChest. Their work here, spreading awareness of the needs throughout the world, and sharing with us at events like this three day launch weekend, are invaluable help to educate more people and involve more communities. 

That 50% going right back to the CarePoint is a great proportion of money invested in the lives of these children. That alone will make a difference as they receive daily balanced nourishment, when they previously hoped for one meal per day . However, they also will receive medical care, vaccines needed to fight common illnesses like tuberculosis, and help with school fees. In Swaziland, public school is not free, and uniforms are also required, which both are very challenging to families who are already overwhelmed with poverty. Education is a precious luxury that can change the course of many lives, but is not something to be taken for granted. I'm grateful CHC makes that a priority as well as feeding these children. 

Beyond the very important monetary investment, something even greater happens when the CarePoint is sponsored. Relationships are formed with missionaries who are involved with the CarePoint, and there is weekly, important contact with native Swazi adults who disciple the children and are consistently in their lives.  These discipleship team members are wonderful examples of the hope that sponsorship gives - some of them now have grown up seeing CarePoint support impacting their own lives, and have chosen to commit to education and ministry, giving back to their communities. We have seen firsthand how American missionaries are welcome and accepted. However, Swazis on the Discipleship Team are especially respected and make such a difference, as they truly realize the obstacles these children have ahead of them, and have shared similar circumstances. 

As much as I may passionately care for the children of Swaziland, I cannot relate to going hungry and walking hours to receive one bowl of food per day. I have never feared for a place to sleep, nor gone without clothing or clean water. Unfortunately, these issues are normal problems for Swazi children, and Swazi adults can truly relate to their struggles and are so vital to the ministry. We had the pleasure of spending time with several D Team members. Their joy was contagious, and their devotion to serving God by pouring their lives into the children at the carepoints was a beautiful thing to behold. 

$34 per month is a small investment if we can comprehend the eternal value it can have. It is worth inconveniencing ourselves out of a family meal eating out, or a few coffee treats each month. That money has measurable impact on children, and quickly, and Alli and I have witnessed it firsthand. Please pray that God will guide you in deciding if this is a commitment you can make, and join with us. I believe that you'll also be challenged and encouraged by the relationship that is built with your sponsored child. Correspondence between you will allow you to hear ways to pray for the child, how your investment is impacting his/her life, and may lead you to a visit to meet your child in person one day. 

The Moment We've Been Waiting For

This quote was posted on Facebook last week by one of the Lesibovu leadership. I love it and agree with it so much:

"Orphans are easier to ignore before you know their names. They are easier to ignore before you see their faces. It is easier to pretend they're not real before you hold them in your arms. But once you do, everything changes.” David Platt


Five months ago, Alli and I returned from Swaziland. Emotions we felt included:

elation, exhaustion, frustration, concern, joy, love, pain,

and above all, HOPE. 

We knew that our eyes were opened to something we could not forget. When a friend recently was researching the situation in Swaziland more on her own, I got hours of texts from her. Sobbing, angry, amazed that this kind of poverty, illness, and abuse is going on, seemingly unnoticed by the majority of the world. Her question was, "So now what? What do we do?!"

That's exactly how Alli and I felt. I described to my friend the incredible sense of being pulled toward a challenge and commitment we could not ignore. I told her there was only one thing we knew to do, so we were doing it. That one thing is to help find sponsors for a group of children at a carepoint that we visited. And today, we get to show you the profiles and the precious faces of 82 children who need support from us. 

...deep breath, tears of joy and amazement....

Please look at this link. Pray for these sweet kiddos, aged 2-15. 

So, what can you do?

• Please consider if you can sponsor one or more of them. 
• Share the link with people you know. 
• Join us this coming weekend, as we celebrate our friends' return to the US, and come visit with them, and see these profiles in person.

We will be hosting three events over three days. We tried very hard to make opportunities easy for you all to choose how you can be involved even during a busy weekend. We would love to see you, introduce you to our Swazi missionaries, the McAdams and Clyburns, and also Wil Crooks, from Children's HopeChest, and share a meal or dessert with you.

Details about the events: These are family friendly, easy events. You can drop in, visit, hear about the work HopeChest is doing, and have dessert on Friday. Same with breakfast Saturday. Sunday is a lunch just after our worship service, and since the time changes the night before, we will all be hungry and will eat immediately. Wil is going to share during the meal, so no one has to linger too long with tired little people.

11/2 Friday night: 7-9 pm Dessert and coffee bar (no charge) at The Church at Shelby Crossings, 532 George Roy Pkwy, Calera AL 35040

11/3 Saturday brunch: 9-11:30 am Breakfast buffet (no charge) at the Weatherly Clubhouse, 100 Wembley Way, Alabaster  AL 35007

11/4 Sunday lunch: 11:45 am -1 pm Lunch ($5 adults, $3 kids) at Shelby Crossings, 532 George Roy Pkwy, Calera AL 35040

You can also follow us on Facebook and keep up with the events here.

We are praying for God to prepare those willing to sponsor children, and that His goodness will be evident through the testimonies given. Thank you for your encouragement as we have anticipated this day for so long!

Why I'm SO Excited about November 2nd - 4th!

This post is my attempt at sharing the burden on my heart about Swaziland. I feel like I have talked with anyone who will listen, and posted on Facebook and blogged, and on and on, but that it's not enough. This is not about a humanitarian action, though it is that too. It's not about a bandwagon I've jumped on, though I sure am passionate. The reason is that children's lives are at stake.

Next weekend will be the culmination of what God has led us toward since Alli and I returned from our trip in May.  We will host three events over three days, to reach as many people as possible with the need of the Swazi people, and how we specifically can help the children there. This is an effort to reach out to our community, with a feasible way that folks here in Alabama can hear in person the impact of sponsoring children. We have the amazing privilege of hearing from Wil Crooks, who works with Children's Hope Chest, and his job is his passion. Speaking with him for a few minutes makes that clear. He helps churches and communities like ours connect with a care point to facilitate sponsorship.

Wil and his family

Steven and Amy

On hand at different times throughout the weekend will also be the precious friends who first really educated us on Swaziland and shared their hearts for the place they were going to make their home.

Allison and 2 carepoint children

I'm so grateful for the fact that God worked out details so they could be here for the weekend!

Here are the details on each event. We would love it if you could join us for at least one of them, and consider sponsoring a child at Lesibovu. $34/month is a life-changing investment. If you realize the great good that HopeChest does, and the way those funds truly go to support their community, $34 is such a small amount.

Feel free to invite anyone who is interested in orphan care, vulnerable children, Africa, or reaching those who need to be loved on with Christ's love!

Friday night free dessert/coffee bar -  https://www.facebook.com/events/340913202672303/

Saturday morning free come-and-go brunch - https://www.facebook.com/events/425091370887720/

Sunday lunch details - https://www.facebook.com/events/423276887721992/

Another view

I recently read an article by a new Facebook friend who is living in Manzini, Swaziland right now. I asked for her permission to share it because it touched me deeply. Kimberly shared her thoughts after working on the profile information for these children mentioned below, some of who walk three hours daily to get food. These are children from Lesibovu, children we met and hugged on in May, little ones who were scared of us, and big ones who held our hands and asked for photos to be taken with us.
These are the kids whom we are seeking sponsors for, beginning November 2!

I cannot imagine walking three miles for one meal. I surely cannot picture my 4 year old doing this every day. Yet, there are kids around the world so desperate for food that they really have no choice. We know of these children, and of this community, and we can help them. They have a pastor, a church building, and a few adults already willing to invest of their time and cook for them. However, they need more.

They need: 

- hope and the knowledge that they're loved and valuable.

- to know that there is a Sustainer who sees their hardship and their tenacity.

- to hear of the Savior who provides so much more than physical nourishment.

They are worthy of time, prayers, emotion, resources, and the efforts here, by some folks in Alabama, to try to make a difference, to give them opportunities to hear the wonderful news 

that He loves them, and we do too. 

Please read this beautiful perspective and pray for these children, and for the Lord to provide partners for their futures.

It’s Just a Three Hour Walk

by kimberly woolridge

I’ve been helping Adventures in Missions with some administration here in Swaziland. Doing admin can start to feel tedious and it’s easy to lose focus on the purpose behind it. However, I am realizing that I kind of enjoy doing admin, especially when God helps me see the impact it really has in a ministry.

One of the things I was able to help with was entering children’s sponsor profiles into the system for the new Lesibovu care point. A care point is a type of community center where often hundreds of kids come for a safe place to be during the day or after school. It’s also a place for them to get a meal and in some cases, get education if a school is attached to the care point. Lots of children and young adults from surrounding areas walk to the closest care point every week day. The children at each care point have papers filled out with all kinds of information about their families, schools, and homes. The profiled children are then put up for sponsorship by people all over. One of the questions asked during profiling is how long it takes them to walk to the care point. Many children walk only 10-30 minutes to get to their care point. As I was entering this information for the Lesibovu care point, I saw that most children don’t have too far to walk. But every now and then, I discovered that some children have to walk for three hours to reach their care point.

Did you hear me? A three hour walk. To a place where their basic needs can be partially met. A walk to a place where they can be a little safer. Each care point offers something, but even so, not all needs are met. My point is that many children walk barefoot, for three hours, to reach a care point that offers a little bit more than their families can. The Lord is using AIM to come along side care points and help support them. People here with AIM are getting to know the Swazi people in order that they can meet basic needs and also spiritual needs. It’s so important to meet physical and spiritual needs, and God is equipping his people here to do so.

When I saw that three hours, it really gave me some perspective. I’m still not sure how to connect how seeing that children walk for three hours fits with the importance of administration, but I know it does, and I’m trying to process it. But I do know that it hit me like a ton of bricks. There is purpose in the tedious.

 {originally posted at http://kimberlywoolridge.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/its-just-a-three-hour-walk}

First "Support for Swaziland" Night

I'm still on that mountaintop right now, after last night's event. We invited everyone we knew via this blog, facebook, and email, to join us to hear about Swaziland - what we learned while visiting, how God is working, and what we can do to help. We were hopeful folks would want to hear about our trip and the way we have been challenged since our experiences there. But, asking folks to come out on a Sunday evening is risky. We knew that. We just had prayed and that was the best and only date in the near future that would work.

Folks showed up! Over 70, plus a whole passel of children. It was such an exciting thing, to watch loved ones walk through the door. I squealed and hugged so many people from all periods of my life....Alli and I were very touched and feel very loved.

Sunday morning we were both super nervous and uneasy. We felt unprepared and incapable of truly communicating how important the topic was, and the weight of that responsibility was a burden. I had numerous very tearful moments. Thankfully James was able to talk sense into me, and friends loved on and encouraged us both, reminding us that God would equip and direct us. And, thankfully, He did and we were able to let Him strengthen us. Worship that morning in church was powerful and precious, as always. We sang this:

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God...
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/chris-tomlin-our-god-is-greater-lyrics.html]
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?

I cried more, realizing my own weakness, His great goodness and felt so silly, worrying over talking about something I think is important. If the children in Swaziland matter to me, how much more do they matter to Him? Then, I got home and checked Facebook. Guess what Alli had created and posted?

 

And with it, do you know what she wrote? 

"<3 Our God is greater. <3" 

Tell me God isn't aware of our fears and struggles, and doesn't work in beautiful ways sometimes, to just smack us in the head and say, "I KNOW. I get it. It's ok. Just relax...." Go ahead, and I'll call you a liar. :-) While I was singing and crying through this song in church, Alli was at home, posting this and typing the same words. God was reminding us and working on us both, and wow. He sure is awesome that way. 

Anyway, last night was so great because we did not want it to be about us. We wanted to share our passion for Swaziland and the beautiful, painful lessons we learned (and obviously are still learning) about trust and God's faithfulness. We just wanted to be useful vessels and do it in a clear, effective way, without sounding overly dramatic with some pretty hard material and facts. 

Thankfully, our sweet audience gave us wonderful reviews and apparently God did use us to explain the beauty and pain in the country of Swaziland. We had very exciting news to share also, and that got some folks FIRED UP!!

So, the news is not a shock to any of you who guessed what our prayer was as soon as we got home from our trip, but until we sought more counsel and support, we could not proceed. However, now we are ready to announce:

We are partnering with Children's Hope Chest to become a Connect Community with the Lesibovu care point in Swaziland.

What does this mean?

What will we do?

Can you be involved?

Great questions! Stay tuned, but you can check out the link above and pray in the meantime. Thank you for caring and loving us. Please pray for Lesibovu and that we are able to be used to impact lives there in long-term, practical, cycle-breaking, future-changing ways.

Support for Swaziland Night

Dear friends and family,

THANK YOU to all of you who have been so supportive these past few months. Through your financial gifts, items you sent to the children we visited, or words of encouragement and prayer, you blessed Alli and me as we traveled to Swaziland, Africa. Our trip was an amazing time of stretching, and our eyes were opened to how God is working in a lovely country, despite so many differences and hardships compared to our own world. It truly was a life-changing experience.

We would love to invite you to come hear about our trip, and what God is doing in Swaziland, plus some ways you can potentially be involved in the great ministry happening - here or there! We are going to have an evening devoted to stories, photos, video clips, and questions and answers next Sunday, August 26 at 6:00 pm, at The Church at Shelby Crossings. Childcare is provided and this is a casual event, with our taking turns sharing perspective stories and highlights from the time we spent there, and what we are still learning today, as a result of our trip.

Who should come?
We would love for you to come if:
- you have a heart for orphans
- an interest in missions
- a desire to help the ministry in Swaziland
- or if you just love us and want to hear how God used you in our lives as we went to Africa!

It is sure to be a night of laughs, maybe some tears, and hopefully, a time that will help demonstrate the light of Jesus despite dark times many in our world face every day.

We will also have more Timbali crafts like a number of you have purchased already, as well as other African art for sale, and all funds raised will go back to the ministry in Swaziland. There is a rumor we may even give a doorprize or two away! We would love to fellowship with you, and hug your neck for being a special part of our lives.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Hope to see you soon!  Alli and Jennifer

Settling and Reflecting, part 2

Sometimes I'm just really surprised by the sweetness of God. One example happened recently, and I'm still reveling in how specifically He answered a prayer I almost was afraid to pray. (If you have been paying attention, this is a recurring theme during the Africa trip. Yes, I am a little dense.)

Way back when Alli and I first started considering that maybe God was really telling us to trust Him and try to travel to Swaziland, we kept wondering what in the world we could DO there. We had the desire to go, just felt a bit ill-equipped to make much of an impact. Several encouraging friends reminded us of our passions and that the Lord could use those if He desired, and we were grateful to imagine the possibilities.  They said that maybe we'd do more once we got back; we had to go to be stretched and shown how it would change us, and then when we returned, we would be able to act and encourage others to as well. 

Our conversations and thoughts generally came back to these ideas:

What if the storyteller and writer wannabe in me actually got to hear a few 

Swazi testimonies and could write them down to come back 

and share with our American friends? 

How cool would that be?! How amazing would it be if Alli could take photos, 

something she enjoys so much, and then those photographs could be used to 

share the actual faces of people in Swaziland who need support and prayer? 

We even asked that ya'll pray we could do that in some way, back on this blog, in February. We dreamed and giggled over how we would just love that, and then scolded ourselves in the next breath over thinking WE could do something that would reach others. Then we'd admit that really, it would be God anyway, and we hoped He would let us be part of something super cool. We were dreaming on a more local level - like sharing with our girlfriends and families we know and love - not a big-scale TV broadcast or anything. We just hoped and thought and repeatedly said, "Who knows what He might do? Whatever it is, we can't wait to see!" 

So much challenged us in Swaziland that we really felt like was exactly for us - lessons we needed to learn and moments of trusting that were a huge part of the point of the trip. Sometimes we wondered if we were really actually sent to Africa to learn lessons we just had been blind to here at home. And, that would have been a huge answer to prayer in itself, if that had been the only things we gained. But, we sure did gain a lot more, and witnessed a world so different than ours that to this day, I still am perplexed by...the great disparity in lives here and our friends in a continent across the ocean. Processing continues, praying for guidance as we ask, "So now what?"

Then, the cool, surprise, dream came true. A new friend asked if perhaps we could write an article and submit some photos for an online magazine she helps edit.

!!!!!!! 

Can I just say that this pretty much rocked our socks off?!! I wish you could have seen how excited and giddy we were, and how it made both Alli and me teary multiple times. We hardly knew this young lady, didn't know she was an editor, and did not even have to ask for the chance to contribute. We were being given a neat opportunity, to share from our hearts, and whoa - the pressure to not mess up was also there too. We didn't want to blow that opportunity by saying anything frivolous, but how to summarize a life-changing week into 500 words or less was a daunting task. After piddling with it many days, and coming back and forth to it, trying to decide how to really explain the beauty of the Swazi culture and the faith of those people we love, and also humbly admit our own shortcomings and doubts, was complicated. And, it was a bit more than 500 words. Surprise! :-)

I'm so grateful that the editors had favor on me, allowed the whole article to be published, and that Alli's beautiful images grace the story we shared. Also, her word picture led me to the Scripture that then inspired the title and became the crux of the story I tried to convey. Thank you, wonderful friend! I'm especially glad that being asked to write about the trip helped me finally put words to the thoughts I had been struggling with. What a precious blessing and how amazed we are that again, God has been so generous to us. We are praying that others are touched by the story, but also that through this process, we are even further reminded of the knowledge we gained through a week in Africa. 

If you want to read the story, and see the images Alli captured, just click here. You should subscribe to MORF anyway, a wonderful periodical for parents of teens and workers in youth ministry.

Settling and reflecting, part 1

We have now had a few weeks to settle back into life here at home. Many times daily I am still caught up in wondering what is happening at a care point right at that moment, how MuMu is progressing, what adventures our friends have had that day, and what God is doing with all that we saw and learned. Thankfully, we are feeling more peaceful about major lessons we needed to learn and how God has revealed His amazing goodness in our lives. He is so patient to give us bits and pieces of truth about ourselves so that we aren't completely overwhelmed. Because honestly, this trip brought out some hard stuff.

I mentioned previously that one odd factor in the trip was the fact that just before we arrived, the internet went out at the McAdam's home. We weren't concerned and assumed it would be fixed quickly. Apparently not only is it true that this culture isn't usually in a hurry about much at all, there is STILL a problem and their internet isn't working correctly or often. Let me tell you, that was a struggle for us, to not be able to easily communicate with our precious families and friends who wanted to check in on us. We had been so dependent to tell everything we can to our friends. We love keeping people in the loop, and for something as big as this trip, we planned that we would be able to update them frequently on how God was working, what prayer needs there were, and just documenting the adventure in general.

Not being able to easily call home and communicate with our families, when we just knew we'd be able to Skype with them, was really painful. It was a huge lesson for us in trusting God was providing and meeting their needs, when we could not check in with them daily and make sure. Alli and I both hit a breaking point quickly with that, and our obvious struggle in realizing we couldn't care for these loved ones while across the world was one of the most humbling parts of the trip. There was some u-u-u-u-ugly crying and fit pitching on our part, I hate to say. I believe one of us said, "WHY won't He make the internet work? He could! Why can we not talk to and see our families?!"

Looking back, even a couple days into the trip, we had better perspective and could see how we were having to focus on the tasks at hand, and really just relinquish that desire to have some pseudo-control of our kids and husbands, or at least over conversing with them. That had to be part of God's timing, to narrow our gaze to Swaziland, and to not forget our families, but truly, let that worry go. They survived just fine, our kids hardly even struggled one tiny bit, and our husbands, friends, and family cared for them so well. We had nothing to fear, and God proved that He was their sustainer, without our help. ;-) That theme of sustaining proved to be a big recurring one throughout our time in Africa and applied to many situations. This was just the first aspect of it. 

We had prayed and asked you all to pray that during the trip, things wouldn't all go smoothly. We wanted Africa to change us - for the experience to be more than a cool trip. We wanted to submit to the Lord's will, and realize that He would allow trials and blessings both, that would give us needed stretching, and we were willing to accept that. It was still hard, but it really was what we needed. This short poem really summed up well how I feel about what seemed like a 'hardship' for us: 

Not grace to bar what is not bliss,
Nor flight from all distress, but this:
The grace that orders our trouble and pain,
And then, in the darkness, is there to sustain.  

John Piper

Getting there

We left for Swaziland on Mother's Day. Though that could've been hard, it was the best day for multiple reasons, mainly dealing with James and Dean's work schedules, and to maximize the time with the McAdams when they weren't hosting another team. We had worship with our church family that morning, then were blessed by their prayers for us and our sweet friend Rachel who was heading to Rwanda just after us. After running home and getting last minute items, we all arrived at the airport a couple of hours early for our flight. Though my goal had been to leave without our kids there to say goodbye in the airport, since I thought it would be more difficult, things just didn't work out that way. There was little drama, but it was painful for Elijah most of all, to say goodbye. The other kids hugged and were excited, but he was broken hearted and James had to carry him out sobbing. That was pretty tough, but once we were through the gates, Alli and I both could breathe a huge sigh of relief. We had no problems on the first leg to Atlanta, and then had such a brief time between boarding our next plane there, that we could barely get an iced coffee before taking off. We did meet a sweet Texan girl while waiting, who was a nanny in South Africa. First connection made!

I had a love/hate relationship with these informative screens.

Here is the little screen facing me shortly after leaving Atlanta. Ya'll, it was 15 HOURS of sitting, which is so-o-o long. Thankfully, it was already evening and we could sleep some. We were excited but also very tired from little sleep the night before, and were able to rest for several hours. Right on time, we arrived in Johannesburg.

So close!!

 

Our room at Airport Lodge

Amy and Steve had set up our hotel and driver to pick us up at the airport. We met Johan, an older "proper South African" gentleman who was kind and helpful getting us to our room for the night. We settled in, ordered takeout with help from the front desk "girlie" as Johan called her, and then paid to use internet. Electricity is a different current than here in the US, and so we had to use an adapter for Alli's laptop, and tried to call and Skype with our husbands and kids. It was a frustrating hour or so, and going on very little sleep, we were pretty delirious and goofy. Finally we at least let them know we were there and ok, but since I could not use my phone, we warned them we would probably have little regular contact if Amy's internet was down too. Little did we know... 

We slept reasonably well, and had a good breakfast the next morning. Another driver took us back to OR Tambo Airport for a quick one hour flight to Matsapha Airport. When we flew out of the city and saw the landscape change, and knew we were about to see our friends and those we loved, I really felt such joy and excitement. It was the moment we'd prayed for, for months and finally was almost here!

One week back in America

Faithful readers,

No, we haven't forgotten you, and yes, we really did return from Africa.

I have been putting off writing on this blog, not from lack of desire, but fear that I cannot really communicate well all that is in my heart. After a week home, we are still processing, pondering, and reflecting over the week we spent in Swaziland. Yesterday when Alli and I were talking, I said that every time someone asks me to share something about the time we spent there, God reveals another aspect of the trip to me that I had yet to put into words. I am sure there will be many posts to come, but for now, here are a few initial thoughts:

- Our time spent in Africa was all that we could have prayed it would be. We laughed, cried, experienced so much of the culture, and loved on lots of children. 

- The trip also contained surprises we hadn't expected. We had extremely limited internet and felt very removed from our families and the rest of the world. We were given great encouragement, when we planned to go to encourage others. We saw personal flaws we need to work on and God revealed attitudes He needs to change in us.

- We are compelled to make a lasting difference in the lives of the Swazi people and are praying that God will reveal His plan and guide our steps. We pray that we will be able to convey the great need to others, who will respond as they are led.

We are so grateful for the many of you who financially gave so this trip was a reality, for the encouraging words, and precious reminders that you were praying while we were gone (even if we couldn't see the Facebook posts!). We still are amazed every day that the Lord allowed us these experiences and look forward to sharing more with you soon.

Jennifer and Alli

Today!!

We are leaving this afternoon for Swaziland. I have nothing profound to say except that we are so excited, and ready to be there, and cannot wait to share with you how God works and continues to grow us through our traveling and the time we spend there. Please keep praying for us, and we will update as soon and often as possible. Facebook may be easier to post on, so check our page Support for Swaziland for updates too.

We love you and are grateful that many of you have consistently prayed for us for the past four months and reminded us of that fact. It has strengthened us when we needed it most, and our hearts are so very full.

Lots of love,
Alli and Jennifer

3 more days, and reality hits

The last few days have been full of some ups and downs. The reality of our leaving has hit our kids and some adults as well. Going sounds awesome, till we realize that means leaving! There have been some emotional moments on the part of multiple folks in both of our families. We know this is normal, and I'm honestly thankful we are struggling with mixed emotions, because it just means we care a lot about our families and hate to leave them for over a week. We also feel very determined to keep our commitment to go on this trip and do the best we can while in Swaziland, in giving of ourselves and serving, and working to gain information to share with others to hopefully lead to long-term support.

I think I need to remember how simple our calling (to love) is right now, when the details of packing, childcare arranging, and concerns about how it all will work out threaten to steal the joy of going on this trip. There is a simple reason we are going and there is a powerful God who has provided and will strengthen us to serve, and who will comfort and care for our families in our absence. His Love is so overwhelming that I realize all of my inadequacies will be nothing compared to His goodness, and will only make others more aware of how good HE is. I feel so very weak, so unworthy, so incapable of any good that will really matter. Doubts that we don't know what we are doing, that we shouldn't leave our families, or that God would be able to do more with others, keep running through my thoughts. Then, I recalled Paul's encouragement today and am striving to apply this Truth to my life.

2 Corinthians 2:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

This song below has been on my mind since my recent post, telling of the love Alli and I have received, which spurs us on to love others. Our precious students from our homeschool co-op were taught this song by our dear friend Casey Tatum and they performed it at the end-of-year program a few weeks ago. The words and music are beautiful, and the passion and visible love on these kiddos' faces just made Alli and me both cry. You'll hear us near the end as we realized the surprise Casey had included in the slides. :-) I needed to read these words again tonight, and am again grateful for how the Lord works and brings encouragement through His Word and dear friends as well. I hope this encourages someone else tonight!

Lyrics to "Love":
When our hope is hard to find
And our faith is in decline
We need a cause to stand behind - love
We all want the way it feels
Time it comes and time it steals
What remains, what is real - love

[Chorus:]
There is love
There is forgiveness
There is love in times of need
When life is cold there is a promise
You will never go without...
There is love

It heals the sick
Comforts the weak
Breaks the proud
Raises the meek
In this life no guarantees...

Love is the answer
Love will find a way
When we love one another
It's a brighter day

O-kwa-ga-la-kwe,
Ku-singa-byoo-na,
Bwe-twa-ga-la-na-o-lu-na-ku-lu-suu-fu

Exceedingly, Abundantly More

These past few weeks have been full of times where I couldn't help but think of this passage, over and over. 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,  

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

That's because He has done so much more than we did ask or ever imagine He would in preparing us, showing us His peace, and providing for our needs for our trip to Swaziland. In so many ways He has blown our minds and people have generously provided.

My goal for selling strawberries at Valentine's was to make the initial money for passport and I made over double that.

We hoped to take 30 dresses to the little girls of Swaziland, and asked folks to contribute if they could make them. We were given 138.

We specifically prayed for airline tickets to Africa to drop below $1800. They did, to an unheard of price of under $1500.

We said that we estimated expenses to be around $3000 each, and explained how we wanted to leave part of that money with the missionaries there, to use as they see fit for their ministry and to cover our food and lodging while there. God provided so much more that we will be able to leave a large amount of money with Allison and Amy, and are so grateful!!

We have asked for the process to be one that grew and stretched us and it has. It still is! Our faith has grown, our assurance that He is responsible for allowing and guiding us to go has clearly been shown, and our hearts have been so touched by the love we've received from believers who have helped us in many ways from asking how they can pray to giving sacrificially of their time and resources.

This trip is about Him. 

He has called us, He is providing so we can go, 

and He is due all glory and credit. Please pray that we honor Him with every word and action.

10 days

When we first started praying about this trip, I could not wait to actually go to Swaziland and it felt like we'd be waiting forever. Now it is almost here and I still can't wait, but am amazed at how quickly the trip seems to have approached. We have just ten days left before leaving. SO exciting!

Last night, Alli said something I told her I had to mention on the blog. We have smiled as people have asked many times what exactly we plan to do in Swaziland. We know their point is asking why we are motivated to go, and what type work we are going to accomplish, and what our goals are. We do have a reason to go and a goal, and it is all pretty simple.

Why? We were asked to go, so we are. 

What? We are going to love on people and show them the hope and love of Christ.

We do not consider ourselves gifted missionary material or ladies who have something to offer that others cannot. We really just are obeying a clear call, right now, to go and visit people who need encouragement. Alli said it well last night, "I am just so full of love and have to share it!" I feel the same way. That was why we initially became friends I think - our mutual love of people and sharing connections led to discussion and laughing and bonding very quickly. We also have been loved on so well, through many precious friends and family throughout our lives. When you are this full of love, it spills over, Alli says. I think she's right. :-)

We are just people-people. 

We love people from all over, every age range; of different heritage, beliefs, personality, and interests. We are those folks who annoy others with our large number of friends, with whom we really do keep up and communicate regularly. The purpose is not to merely have a lot of friends on Facebook (though we do have a LOT). We just genuinely can't get enough of sharing life with people. I cannot tell you the diverse group of friends Alli and I have between us, who we dearly love. It is a blessing to be able to share life with people who enable us to grow and stretch, because we are not all the same.

One of my favorite things in the world is to make friends, to get to know new people, and really connect in how we are the same or different, and to remember what they share. {Seriously, ya'll, I have bonded with folks I met and maintain a friendship with today, just because we clicked and we would've never met if they hadn't offered a fishpond on Craigslist! I love it when things like that happen!!}

So, this time, we will get to do that in another country, across an ocean, on a huge continent we have never seen. We just stay amazed and awed that we get to go do this.

1. Please pray that we will really be able to love on the McAdams and Clyburns and refresh them while we are there. 
2. Please ask God to help us show joy and hope to these precious children and the women who care for them. 
3. Please remember to pray for the many children in the local hospital who are hurting and alone, and that we can bring a little happiness to them when we visit.

We are so grateful for your prayers and know that the Lord really hears and answers.

Winners and Items Needed

Big thanks to our recent auction winners! Tara Murphy won the bath and body set, and Joy Liveoak won the scrapbook set. Also, we appreciate Phylis Otwell for donating both items.

More dresses have come in this week, thanks to a former missionary at our church. I can't wait to display and photo these amazing works of art! These are going to be some adorably dressed little girls!!

Another friend donated basic hygiene and first aid supplies. This will be a great help to the McAdams and Clyburns and the discipleship team in Manzini. Thank you!

A few items we are in need of, for those of you who have inquired about how you can contribute materially:

- space bags for packing dresses so that they take as little space in our suitcases as possible

- flexible, soft shoes for the McAdams foster daughter, who has cerebral palsy. She cannot walk, but since it is winter there, she needs shoes to keep socks on and her feet warm. If you have any Robeez or MiniStar type shoes that are very flexible and stretchy, in sizes 18 months or larger, we would be so glad to take these to sweet Mukelo.

- these are items the missionaries cannot get in Swaziland, which would be BIG treats for them:
decaf family size tea bags marshmallows, graham crackers, muffin/cake mixes, most anything Mexican (salsa, rotel, green chilis, jalapenos, corn tortillas), chocolate chips, 3x5 index cards


- funds specifically designated to purchase items in Swaziland for the care point children. We can buy things less expensively there, and shopping locally really benefits their economy. That also helps cut down on baggage restrictions. Money is much ssimpler to transport than actual shoes and clothing. :-) If you would like to designate a gift from your family, for needed items like underclothes, socks, and shoes, or for special treats for them (fresh fruit, for example), please just mark your donation so in the memo line. That money will go directly to the children we are visiting. You can still mail checks to us at church, so that you will receive a tax-deductible donation. The info is below.

We need all donations and money by May 5th, please. We continue to be so grateful for your prayers and support, and are humbled by your kindness and generosity.

Checks may be mailed to:
The Church at Shelby Crossings
532 George Roy Parkway
Calera AL 35040
memo: Swaziland - Allison and Jennifer OR Swazi carepoint children

Three weeks left

 It is hard to believe that we are at the three week countdown point! On the afternoon of Mother's Day, Alli and I will be flying out of Birmingham, on our way to Johannesburg, South Africa. We can hardly wait and are so grateful the time is approaching quickly. 

Here are a few updates:

We have now received even more amazing dresses to deliver to the team in Swaziland. One friend's church took up money and bought 40 dresses, and are also contributing money to help us with extra baggage expense if that is needed. We are very encouraged and touched at the ministry to us and our friends, by people we don't even know!

We continue to receive financial support and are blessed that many have been generous to aid us in getting to Africa, and are donating so that we may bless the missionaries' families, and also the economy of Swaziland, by purchasing needed items in country, which further stimulates their economy. 

Quick story for your entertainment and the sheer cute factor: 

My four year old, Elijah, has been lamenting the fact that he doesn't really have any money to contribute toward my trip. He will say at bedtime frequently, that he's sad, because he wants to give me "money for Africa." Today, while I was gone, James texted me to say that Elijah was excited since he'd found some change on the bathroom counter and was going to give it to me. Sure enough, as soon as I got home, I was instructed to close my eyes while he held his little hand out, and then told me to look. He was so very proud of that $.11 he found, and told me, "Look Mom! It's for your Africa trip!!" Whew, I was just blown away at his joy and enthusiasm and desire to help me. 

Many of you have given amounts of varying size, and they are all appreciated. Every bit goes to minister to a people in need, and we are tremendously grateful. Unless you have been in the position to raise support like this (I never have before), you cannot imagine how humbling and truly dependent on God it will make you, and also, how touching it is to have dear friends, and complete strangers, give you money. There are no words to describe how loved and encouraged we feel by each of you, who have prayed, emailed, and given items or money toward this venture. THANK YOU.

CURRENT ITEMS
A couple of reminders and new info too! Up for auction next are these two items donated by friends. You may bid below in the comments. We will take bids until midnight Monday night!

First auction item is this gift basket with nice bath and body products. This would make a great Mother's Day gift! It's from World Market and contains a sisal sponge, wooden massager, and nail brush with pumice stone, Sicilian Orange cream body wash, bar soap and bath salts in a cute basket.

 NO bids yet!

The next item is this great photo scrapbook and it is new with tags. The set contains over 125 stickers, 10 pages, and comes with 12 8" x 8" coordinating papers.
The bid on this set is at $15.  

The newest delectable treat created by loyal and amazing baker Krissy Cain. They're on sale now and also a great treat for Mother's Day. Chocolate chip cookie cupcakes filled with a white chocolate, peanut butter, nutella filling. They are so good! Only $20.00 a dozen or $10.00 for a half dozen. You can order these through thecupcakefairydelivers@gmail.com and she'll bring them to you if you're in most areas of Shelby or Jefferson County. Seriously, people? How can you resist that?!!