Baby Joao's death

Joao died today.

I don’t understand why a child is born to suffer, only to die 9 months later. I don’t understand why his father has been allowed to experience the loss of his wife and child while the same virus that murdered his family  pulsates through his own body. I do not understand why people go hungry while others kill themselves by overeating. I do not understand why bad things happen to good people.  I don’t understand why so much grace has been abundantly poured out on me while others suffer. As you can see, there is much that I do not understand about this fallen world. 

Baby Joao a few weeks before he passed

There is evil, this I do know. I also know that despite this evil God is still good and loving. God sent his son because of his great love. He cares about his children so much so that he provided the ultimate sin offering, his son.  Through this we have the promise of eternal life, free from suffering.  One day all will be made right, babies will not die of AIDS, mothers will not worry about what they will feed their children and fathers will not mourn.  Until then we have a task, to make this great outpouring of love known. To care for the orphan and widow, to feed the hungry and uplift the downhearted. This is our responsibility as believers, we are the hands of feet of God.

There is a reason God has allowed me to experience what I have here. His extreme love and compassion for these people is evident through the people he has brought here to serve them. These believers have said yes to the call of Christ, to deny themselves, pick up their cross, and follow after him.  So where is everyone else? Where is the church? Christ’s bride has become complacent, self-consumed, lazy, and apathetic to the cries of the poor. She needs to be awakened.

What could be accomplished if the bride of Christ would grasp her lover’s deep compassion for the poor?

Joao's Story

Of all the children that have captured my heart here in Dondo, there is one that stands out.  It is not likely that this little boy will ever grow up to have a voice to tell you his story so I feel compelled to share it for him. I share it in hopes that it might spark something in whoever is reading this to help.

The first day I met Joao he was wrapped in blankets carried by his father to the nutrition center.  I commented to one of the workers that he must have been born just a few weeks ago. I was so excited to hold him! As I held him in my arms I knew that this was not a well-baby, his breaths were shallow and I could feel his bones under the blanket.  His father tenderly undressed him to put him on the scale, he weighed less than 8lbs.  His Dad looked at him with sadness in his eyes, I soon learned why. Joel is 9 months old and his mother died of AIDs soon after his birth. Both the child and the father have AIDS and are getting progressively worse.  

HIV can be transmitted from mother to child through birth or breast milk. The chances of the virus being transmitted this way are reduced to less than 2 percent if the mother is taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy.  The problem is that this medication is not available for everyone.  For those who are able to get the medication they often do not see the need to take it because the symptoms have not become life altering yet or they don’t know they have the virus. If babies who are born with HIV are not treated it is not likely that they live past their 2^nd birthday.  

But there is hope! There are organizations all over Africa that are dedicated to getting medication and education to people to stop the spread of AIDS.  CRI is one of them. Whether it is through prayer, money, time, talents or advocacy we can all be a part of not letting Joel’s story become any other child’s story.   

Joao and his Dad.

 For more info on how to help check out www.childrensrelief.org

"Only one thing is needed"

It’s been a great Sunday. I woke up early to spend some time with the Lord, it was much needed. In the busyness of things I have not spent as much time with the Lord as I crave.  I was reminded of a verse from Luke 10 that talks about Mary and Martha; Martha is so busy trying to please Jesus with her work, he says to her “only one thing is needed”. The “one thing” is what her sister Mary is doing, sitting at his feet.  So I sat at his feet today and it was everything I needed. I have to constantly remind the Martha in me to settle down and just bask in the opportunity to spend time with my God! There was a hefty price paid for this opportunity.  Then we went to Rose of Sharon, one of the other interns shared the message then we hung out and played games with the girls for a few hours.  

So! The schedule for this week, lesson Prep on Monday then teaching at the nutrition center tue, wen, and thru mornings.  I will be teaching on Malaria prevention this week! In the afternoons I will be doing home visits with Pascual and Josepha in the afternoons, they are two of the nationals that run the clinic, amazing ladies. During the home visits we will go to the houses of babies to check on them and see if the baby is thriving on the formula.  Then Friday I will spend at the daycare, Cresh. I may try and bring out some puppets! Then we will be going to a birthday bbq for the activistas of project life.  Project Life is a ministry that reaches out to people living with HIV. The activistas are truly the hands and feet of this ministry. They are taught a bible study and then go out into the biros and teach it to others. During the week they go and visit HIV positive people to pray with and encourage them.

To Serve the Least of These

We prayed, then headed over to the hospital with a bucket of soup and some paper cups.  There were women with babies tied to their backs sitting outside waiting for us. They solemnly followed us in as we set the soup on the table. A gospel message was shared and then the moms lined up to receive the soup.  As they unwrapped the babies and I got closer the sever emaciation became apparent. Two of the babies were unable to hold their heads up because of weakness. Their bones stuck out beneath their thin chalky skin. I prayed over them and then we moved on to the next room.  There were not many patients in the adult room; I got to share some scripture and pray with them.  To see such great human suffering that close is unexplainable. To touch the hand of a baby that has most likely known nothing but poverty and pain and know that you are completely helpless is tough to deal with.  How do you even begin to process that?

For anyone who knows me they can tell you about my deep admiration for Mother Teresa.  She spent the majority of her life caring for orphans and the dying in India. She truly lived a life worthy of Christ. I have always wanted to model my life after this great woman without truly grasping the reality of the work she did. This is not easy. The glorified version of my “dream” has been shattered and I am beginning to truly understand what it means to serve the least of these.

Rose of Sharon

Today we got to spend the afternoon with a group of young ladies through a ministry called Rose of Sharon. We painted nails for hours and several of us got our hair braided. The Rose of Sharon ministry has become one of my favorite times while here. It amazes me how much we connect with the girls even though we both only know a few words of the others language. We point and sign and laugh, it’s the best. Sometimes a translator is available and that opens up a whole new dimension of communication!  I love investing in these girls and look forward to encouraging them to grow closer to the Lord.  

Week One...

Well….To sum up this week is difficult. I have experienced more in this past week then I ever imagined possible. We landed in Beria last Thursday, as we drove into Mozambique the poverty was overwhelming. The first day we took a tour of Dondo and the CRI projects. I have seen numerous pictures and videos of people living in poverty but there is no comparison to being in the midst of it. As I walked through the village, seeing, touching and smelling, my senses were overcome by poverty and the consequences of it.

The next day I spent in the clinic observing. Baby after baby came in and tested positive for malaria, seeing their little bodies ravaged by disease broke my heart. So many of these diseases are completely avoidable; from a health educators prospective the lack of sanitation, proper nutrition and malaria prevention almost angered me. I also felt the weight of how massive the problem of poverty is. But there is hope, God loves the Mozambicans and CRI is doing a great job of making that known.

I have to constantly remind myself that this is not about me, the impact I make on this world is irrelevant as long as my life is a testimony of Christ’s saving power and his name is made known through my obedience to his will. I must accept that poverty will always exist and that this world is never going be perfect, not until Christ returns. As you can see I only got through two days, HA! More later.

Abandoning my Cause

“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”- Acts 17:24-25

Oh, how I have come to love and desire God’s word! Another scripture that I have been changed by recently is Acts 17:24-25. I look at all the suffering and poverty in the world and think, I will go, I will alleviate the suffering. This is my cause and God will help me to accomplish it.I have it all backwards! God does not need me! If he wanted to end suffering he would, he is all powerful. He simply calls me to be an obedient vessel. His glory is above all else, including my desire to see the needs of the helpless met. This is not my cause, it is Gods and I am simply allowed to partake in it.

Life is Kind of Sweet.

These past few weeks have been a whirlwind of busyness! After graduation, I went to Cincinnati to stay with a friend/NEW RA PARTNER! It was so great to spend time with her before we both went our separate ways for the summer. Then I came down to Sidney to stay with the Hookers for a week, which has been a huge blessing!  I got to see one of my best friends get married this past weekend. It was perfect!  I just flew back to VA yesterday and I’m staying with the AMAZING Grace until I leave on the 31st.  All the while I have been working on an 8 wk INFT class that I am attempting to get done in 2.5 weeks…this has turned out to be quiet a task! I am also working on lessons for Mozambique. 

The puppet ministry at church donated 13 puppets to take with me this summer!  I can’t wait to get over there and see how the kids respond to them.  I have a massive to do list that needs to be accomplished before I leave, but it will get done!

  

These past few months have been such a sweet time of life. It has been hectic and full of uncertainties, but I have experienced the great joy and freedom that is found by living in complete dependence on the Lord.  He is so good and I can’t wait to for him to wreck my world even more!

Let me tell you a story about Jehovah-Jireh.....

I found out Tuesday night that I did not make my deadline for raising support for the trip.  I had 2000 dollars that needed to be paid by Friday (today).  I was discouraged to say the least; I did not understand why God would give me such a passion and burden for something and not provide me with resources necessary to get there. I met with my leadership team and they prayed over me, my RA then made an announcement during hall meeting about the need. Soon the support began to flow in. Girls were giving donations all night and were on their phones with family and friends asking for prayer and support.  There were halls all over campus taking donations.  Over 1000 dollars came in that next day.  With only 898 dollars left as of yesterday, a church in NC committed to giving the remaining amount. I am now at full support!

This was an astounding outpouring of love and support on the part of my friends and the community of believers that I get to be a part of. The best part about the whole thing is that the Lords name was glorified! If the funds would have come in months ago there would not have been this many people involved and praying and allowed to see God work in such a huge way!  When I hit every wall and realized that there was nothing I could do that's when the lord stepped in to show me what he could do. He not only provided the money but he also taught me a lesson and glorified his name at the same time. He is mighty and deserves all the praise!

Isaiah 55:9 

 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Update #2

Fundraising is going slower then I intend, but God is faithful to provide.  The support letters were sent out.  Bracelets were ordered from threads of hope to sell; hopefully this will be a successful fundraiser.  There will be a table set up in the courtyard on v-day where we will be selling v-day treats and the bracelets if they get here in time.  Things have been so busy with school that fundraising has taken a backseat for awhile but now that the trip is getting closer it must become more of a priority.  Thank you all for your support and prayers!  Please be praying for the team as we continue to prepare for this summer.

Entering the Most Holy Place

Hebrews 9:1-15 has completely revolutionized how I approach God.  I have read over this passage of scripture several times each time reveling in God’s mercy and plan to redeem his children.  The first 7 verses explain the first covenant and the earthly sanctuary. It gives all the specifics of the temple, which may seem unimportant but these verses reveal how complex and specific the process of going before the Holy God was.  The first room was where the priest carried out their business but there was a second room that was separated by a curtain, this was the Most Holy Place which contained the ark of the convent (God’s presence).  Only the high priest could enter this room once a year and only by the means of a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of himself and the people.  Verse 8 begins to tell of new covenant, how Christ came in as the high priest to offer his own blood to make us clean so that we may enter into the Most Holy Place into the presence of God.  How often I have looked at prayer as a chore!? I get to come before God only because of the sacrifice that was made by Jesus; I get to enter the Most Holy Place!!

Hebrews 9:1-15

 ¹ Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. ² A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. ³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

 ⁶ When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷ But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. ⁸ The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

 ¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,^[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,^[c] so that we may serve the living God!

 ¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

Made in the Image of a Creative God

I have always felt the closest to God when I am outside basking in his creation.  I was thinking today about how creative our God is.  He could have put us in a barren field.  Instead he gave us breath taking mountains, fierce oceans, wide canyons, majestic glaciers….the list goes on.  It says in Genesis 1:27 that we are created in his image.  Have you ever thought of how we express creativity in light of God’s creativity? We have this perpetual need to decorate our surroundings. Look around you. Even our bodies are decorated according to the creativity we were created with.  Father, I am once again in awe of your character.