It was my intent to make one more picture post of Haiti... we'll see. I'm sure I'll be talking about it, before the day is through. I just love that place! Guess what? I'm going back in December! I already bought my ticket and everything! Somehow I managed to save a lot of money in just a few months. I can hardly wait.
I've become some sort of crusader lately. Sort of like I expected, going to Haiti was (selfishly) more about me than about helping those "in need." How much help can you give someone in 6 days? What kind of relationship can you establish in less than a week? I kind of just went along for the ride, and watched, and felt... For me, I intentionally went to find some kind of quiet... some solace from the "do" part of my life. We all know how busy moms are. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day, no matter how early one rises, (5 AM?) or how late one finally goes to bed. (11 PM?) What I needed was to be taken from my life, with its noise and constant chaos, and be stretched and forced to reckon with certain things in my life that were not helping the Kingdom. Or me. Or my kids.
I think that we all have "stuff" that we need to come to terms with. We have habits that make us comfortable, sinful attitudes that we don't realize are there, and that have become second nature to us, and we have personalities that can help us or prevent us from succeeding at living the way God wanted us to. That, and circumstance. There is so much happening in this world that keeps us from achieving what we were made for. And there is so much searching in all of us for what that is. Do you know what? I will tell you a secret... and thanks to Jesus for giving Peter and I someone who is very honest, and very wise, who shared it with us... you are living it! You can think about that... but God has placed you in YOUR life to do what YOU can do the best. What is it that excites you... what makes you "come alive?" Only you know, and only you can do it better than anyone. I'm chasing rabbits, like usual.
I sort of gave up on what my "calling" was/is. I don't think I even knew. I was discontent and tired, and lacking any sort of drive. I had no desire to do anything except place one foot in front of the other and just survive. I had no time or will to consider where I wanted to be, as a person. Just forget about even trying to achieve that. So, since I don't think I said in the last two posts, what Haiti was for me was a time out. A stop sign that brought me to a screeching halt, and God beating me back into His will. I was afraid, timid, weak, lazy... frail. Did I say this already? I feel like I have. I don't have enough brain space to remember what I already said before. And I conquered all of the things that have kept me from living for real. I got a passport! I flew on an airplane! I left my family waaaaay out of my sight! I made myself vulnerable to a lot of people I never would have trusted before! And I gave up trying to control my own life... the things I had no say over, the things that made me afraid to begin with. I woke up. So, just call me Sleeping Beauty.
What I can say is that here, in writing, it looks so easy. But it hurt more than anything. Its really hard to confront yourself and have to go home and make a change. And I can remember being so angry that I had to leave Haiti and actually go back to my life and do things differently. So, you know what? Going to Haiti made me confront stuff. And coming home made me confront stuff... and here I am now, stopping myself every single day from sitting on the sidelines and watching life blow past me. Now I'm for realsies in the race, doing it! I still get up earlier that a lot of people, and I still go to bed later than a lot of people, and my life is still pure, unadulterated chaos... but now I have a better perspective and I'm a little more realistic about how I use my time. Yay, for growth.
See? I didn't waste any time talking about the place that I love. Does anyone else cry a little bit when they open a deliciously humongous pot of rice and beans and smell the scent of Haiti? Or wish they could drink Creole sauce right out of the pan? I feel homesick for a place I've only lived in for a week. I am so glad my husband is willing to give up a week of the holidays for me to go back! And so grateful for the support of my children, who, even in their disappointment of me leaving at Christmas time said "Mommy! If you are going at Christmas, you can take everyone PRESENTS!!!" I am so proud of them. They even started telling me all the things that they have that I can pack in my suitcase for the kids at the orphanage. One day, I am going to bring them with me, and let them play with their new friends that they have never met. We are doing life with those Haitians now, and it feels so good that my whole family is invested in the well being of a world they have never seen.
So, what is the crusading part? Its a lot about Haiti... more about that later, perhaps. But I was referencing my life here in the USA. I came to a realization... after the whole entire hullabaloo over homosexual rights... they are calling it human rights. I'm not going to say what I actually think about that. We all have opinions, and we all disagree with someone else... and its a very real possibility that we will never agree with each other. Whatever. I'm secure in my thoughts, but this isn't about that. Don't miss my point... I'm already giving this issue more time than it needs. Guess what happened when gay people were made "allowed" to get married? We all forgot about REAL human rights. Like slavery. Like children being taken from their families and forced to do things NOBODY EVER should be made to do. We stopped fighting for the people who have no voice.
The kids have a book about the underground railroad... its a favorite of theirs, and it upsets me to read it, because we are learning about slavery as history, even though it is still happening. And I can barely choke the words out when they ask me (Every time... they know the answer, but they still ask.) if slavery is really gone. And we aren't just talking about sex trafficking. What about child soldiers? What about forced child labor... cheap clothes. I do my best to not contribute to a broken system, but I often times fail because I would rather be ignorant than heartbroken... but lets not forget, ok? In all the distractions of this world... the messy political system... lets not forget that sometimes things that seem like a big deal maybe aren't... or maybe they are, but we need to keep remembering the other things that are too. Remember those that have no voice... And do you know what? If you google "Trafficking in Haiti" the results are overwhelming. Haiti is just one small corner of the world. What about in my back yard... Denver? What about in your places... its everywhere, and we ignore it every day. And my question is, where do we go from here? Will we ever be able to overcome this injustice?
So, that, and body image. Nutrition... my daughters (and sons) are seeing unrealistic photos of people every time we leave the house. I showed them videos of the power of photo shop, and thank the Lord they got it! They see pictures now, and recognize that its not real... they (hopefully) stand a chance of making it through this life with a healthy perspective on what real, healthy people are supposed to look like...
Monday, July 6, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Bo Joint
So, as promised, a week or so later, here are some more pictures! Hoorah! I am going to try to find some from my favorite village, called Bo Joint... (Maybe my spelling is wrong...?) pronounced Boo Jwin. The people here were so very, very sweet. We played a game called "Little Sally Walker" (You know the game, right? You dance in a circle.) The little boys were so funny. And um, explicit. Haha. I'd be dancing with them, and then be like "Whoa! I had no idea a five year old would do that!" Boys are boys are boys... They shared Cacao with us, which is a funny story I will tell you, and sugar cane, which is another story I will tell you.
This is a Cacao fruit. It opens up, and inside are a bunch of seeds, like a pomegranate, but bigger. There is a white flesh covering the brown seed. You can suck the fruit part off of the seed, and spit the seed out. A few of us (Not me. I was warned before I did it...) Tried chewing the seed. Yuck! What did I do when I was offered some? I tried to take the spit out, sucked on seed from the wrong side of the shell! I was the subject of much laughter. I didn't realize why they were laughing, until one of the teenagers showed me what that side was for. Then we all had a good laugh together, and I took from the other shell. It was really good. I don't have a picture of the sugar cane... but, the story goes like this: When we arrived at the village, they were all sitting around eating it. We eventually asked for some (Not a rude thing to do. In fact, you can ask for anything. But, its also acceptable to say no, without explanation. A great practice I wish we adopted here in the U.S. ) Well, nobody wanted to share. So, we said "No problem, no problem..." BUT then they all went outside the tabernacle (The place they meet for church, sort of like a garage port...) and started EATING SUGAR CANE IN FRONT OF US! So we asked again, and again they didn't want to share. After a long silence, a little girl said "You want to buy?" And Mark laughed and asked her why she would try to sell it? As it turns out, there were some Blancos in the village a couple of days before who bought it... Mark said "No."
I am not going to get into all of the details of whether or not we should have bought it. We had good reasons for saying no. Yes, this is a country where this kind of thing CAN help them. But, we also had reasons for not. Primarily relationship. (At least, thats why I wasn't going to buy any.) Buying from them would have set us up just like all the other rich, white, Americans who come and purchase anything they want. This village has just been adopted by my church, Church Project Greeley, as our sister church. We are funding the construction of their church building, and supporting the pastor of this village. But more than throwing money at a situation, we went to create a RELATIONSHIP with them. We will go back there again and again and again. They needed to come outside of themselves and let us into their lives. The inner workings of their village.
Guess what? A teenaged boy went home and got us a couple of stalks of sugar cane. And he gave them to us. When we went the next day? They had a bunch for us. And they shared their bread. Possibly their weeks worth of bread, for us. I'd say not buying the sugar cane was a wise choice.
So, sugar cane is so, so good. You chew the stalk, and kind of suck on it, and then spit out the tough stuff. You only get the juice out of it. I began understanding how their lives go... they lack in a lot of "real" foods, and quite frankly, its so hot there you don't really feel like eating, but these fruits they have can level your blood sugar and keep you feeling energized.
This is a Cacao fruit. It opens up, and inside are a bunch of seeds, like a pomegranate, but bigger. There is a white flesh covering the brown seed. You can suck the fruit part off of the seed, and spit the seed out. A few of us (Not me. I was warned before I did it...) Tried chewing the seed. Yuck! What did I do when I was offered some? I tried to take the spit out, sucked on seed from the wrong side of the shell! I was the subject of much laughter. I didn't realize why they were laughing, until one of the teenagers showed me what that side was for. Then we all had a good laugh together, and I took from the other shell. It was really good. I don't have a picture of the sugar cane... but, the story goes like this: When we arrived at the village, they were all sitting around eating it. We eventually asked for some (Not a rude thing to do. In fact, you can ask for anything. But, its also acceptable to say no, without explanation. A great practice I wish we adopted here in the U.S. ) Well, nobody wanted to share. So, we said "No problem, no problem..." BUT then they all went outside the tabernacle (The place they meet for church, sort of like a garage port...) and started EATING SUGAR CANE IN FRONT OF US! So we asked again, and again they didn't want to share. After a long silence, a little girl said "You want to buy?" And Mark laughed and asked her why she would try to sell it? As it turns out, there were some Blancos in the village a couple of days before who bought it... Mark said "No."
I am not going to get into all of the details of whether or not we should have bought it. We had good reasons for saying no. Yes, this is a country where this kind of thing CAN help them. But, we also had reasons for not. Primarily relationship. (At least, thats why I wasn't going to buy any.) Buying from them would have set us up just like all the other rich, white, Americans who come and purchase anything they want. This village has just been adopted by my church, Church Project Greeley, as our sister church. We are funding the construction of their church building, and supporting the pastor of this village. But more than throwing money at a situation, we went to create a RELATIONSHIP with them. We will go back there again and again and again. They needed to come outside of themselves and let us into their lives. The inner workings of their village.
Guess what? A teenaged boy went home and got us a couple of stalks of sugar cane. And he gave them to us. When we went the next day? They had a bunch for us. And they shared their bread. Possibly their weeks worth of bread, for us. I'd say not buying the sugar cane was a wise choice.
So, sugar cane is so, so good. You chew the stalk, and kind of suck on it, and then spit out the tough stuff. You only get the juice out of it. I began understanding how their lives go... they lack in a lot of "real" foods, and quite frankly, its so hot there you don't really feel like eating, but these fruits they have can level your blood sugar and keep you feeling energized.
This is a river we stopped at for lunch one day, on the way to Bo Joint. It was in this beautiful jungle-y area. My friend and I were careful to point our cameras and our eyes in this particular direction, since there was a naked man bathing in the river behind us...
This is the truck we rode around on the whole week we were there. We sat in the back. If you look carefully you can see the benches. I liked to stand and hold the rail, because I could take in more of the sights and smells of Haiti. Plus it was more cooling to have the wind blowing in my face. In Haiti there are no rules on the road. There is a lot of honking (Just to communicate. Not like here, when you honk, you have rage.) There are many Motos... Motorcycles... driving between two cars passing each other, in either direction. We saw a couple of car accidents. Mostly involving tipped over trucks. There is a high rate of mortality when it comes to the road... People were piled on top of trucks, and they were especially skilled at fitting four people (Yes, I saw four people) on a moto, and sometimes they would be carrying live animals, like a goat, in a bag tied to the side of it. It was delightful. (I am being serious. Delightful.)
So, this is the last photo for today... the troops are getting restless. My day is calling. This, my friends, is the church they are building in Bo Joint. As you can see, it is in the newly developed phases... While the VBS team was there playing with the people the men went back to town to get some more brick... clearly its running low. When the truck arrived and we finished our activities the children RAN down the road, laughing, and excited, and started helping unload the block. There were little bitty things carrying these cement blocks... they have so much pride in their meeting place. Its going to be the central part of the inner workings of their village. A school, a place of worship, a meeting place for other functions... They were all so excited, and everyone wanted to pull their own weight when it came to finishing it. I saw another, recent photo this past Sunday at church. The walls are completed! I can't wait to go back and have church there, with my brothers and sisters of that particular village! (And, a side note... most places had septic bathrooms. At the very least, a covered hole. Here? Its really in the backwoods. We had none of that. A tinkle trip took a hike. It was very... freeing.)
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Awed...
So, obviously I've been back from Haiti for awhile. Oh, how I love that place... those people. They are so sweet, and kind. I don't even think I could tell you all about it here on the blog, or even if you were sitting right in front of me, and do it justice. I can say that I would go back tomorrow. Or today, if I could. And you know I'm going back there! A lot of my expectations were... shattered. I expected dirty, stinky, trashy... despair and hopelessness. But instead it seemed that everywhere I looked there was beauty. They burned their trash at night, and I would lay next to the open window trying to sleep and listen to the crazy roosters crow in the dark, and smell the scent of burning plastic and wood and paper... and I loved it. You couldn't go three feet without seeing some kind of animal. Goats were everywhere... Ha! It was hilarious. I love goats. And I got to eat goat. It was delicious. There were cows and pigs and horses too. Chickens. Free range chickens all over the place. I asked if people knew who the chickens belonged to, and the missionary (Rick) who lived there said "Yes. There aren't many property disputes. They know who has what, and they respect that." If only we could have that kind of attitude here, in a place where everything we want is almost handed to us... Let me load some pictures and tell you some stories...
This is the New Life Mission House. I woke up at 5 AM every day... an hour and a half earlier than what I did before I left... I surprised Mark, the team leader... haha. He came out in his boxers, not expecting anyone to be awake. It was hilarious, and a joke we carried on for the rest of the week. (I kept saying "Do you have any idea how many naked people I see every day?") He also got up early, and we drank our coffee (Mmmmm. Haitian coffee...) and did our own quiet activities until folks started stirring. A few of the days we had some great conversation about the culture of Haiti, and about ourselves. It was wonderful to be awake before the sun, and hear the sounds of the day stirring... Peace.
This is the New Life Mission House. I woke up at 5 AM every day... an hour and a half earlier than what I did before I left... I surprised Mark, the team leader... haha. He came out in his boxers, not expecting anyone to be awake. It was hilarious, and a joke we carried on for the rest of the week. (I kept saying "Do you have any idea how many naked people I see every day?") He also got up early, and we drank our coffee (Mmmmm. Haitian coffee...) and did our own quiet activities until folks started stirring. A few of the days we had some great conversation about the culture of Haiti, and about ourselves. It was wonderful to be awake before the sun, and hear the sounds of the day stirring... Peace.
This beautiful woman is Andina. She cooked for us, and cleaned too. She went to bed long after I did, and woke up around the same time... I would some out of the room, and sit at the table, and she would have the coffee brewing already. She would put it out, and wave at me, and say "Coffee, coffee!" I found out that it is rude to not greet eachother in the morning, so on the second day I found her in the kitchen and said "Bonjour, Andina!" She lit up... They loved when we tried to speak their language, and laughed when we messed up...
This is a typical meal in Haiti. Rice and beans. So, so good. We had rice and beans every day... our food didn't vary much, but it was delicious, and I never felt like I wasn't getting enough. We ate three meals a day, but most Haitians only eat once a day. I think its a cultural tradition born of poverty. Even the children took what they were given happily...
I loved this little girl... she reminded me of Delilah, with her sass and spunk... She lived at the children's home near where we stayed. It was exhausting being outside of my comfort zone, but every time we went to see the kiddos at the home I was excited and energized. They loved the attention and all the games we could play with them. We jumped rope, played soccer (They ALL adored soccer!) and even just sat and talked. Some of them can speak English, but try to keep it a secret. We would see that one of them was understanding more than they were letting on and we would say "You DO speak English!!!" And they would laugh and get embarrassed.
More of the Children's Home. The boys were so BOY! I have a soft spot for little boys. I love their hearts, and their gentle spirits that are hidden behind that rough edge... Boys in Haiti were no different. See that thumbs up? What a Prince... and they loved high fives and fist bumps, and secret handshakes. Throwing the ball, kicking the ball...
I can't help myself. Seriously. Aren't they the cutest? I left a huge chunk of myself over there... I spent a lot of time being humbled by these people. Even the children... And this sounds cliche, but these kids are the future of that wonderful country. I am honored, also, that I got to observe first hand how the Saints over there are pouring the love of Christ into these motherless, and fatherless... abandoned souls. They need encouragement, for sure, but can't you see the light in these precious babies? Its working!
This is a goat... that was given to Mark as a gift. We all know that in most foreign cultures its rude to refuse a gift, so he took it, and he went for a ride in the truck with us. Whats funny is we left him on the truck to eat at a restaurant, and he was still there when we came back. Respect. The goat was called Jason Shepherd. Ha. Inside joke... I am sure that by now he is in the missionary's freezer.
Okay, I'll end today's post on this one. This is a really special photo for me, because of the sign behind the kids. (In their lion masks they made for vbs...so cute!) That is a Church Project sign, just like the one we have here in Greeley, Colorado at my meeting place, and in Aurora, Colorado, and at multiple locations in Texas, and in Ohio? I think... And this was presented to this church while we were there... It says "Church Project, Biblical, Simple, Relevant" In Haitian Creole... There are churches in Haiti who are a part of the Church Project network. And we got to worship with the believers who attended this church, as well as another congregation... (That was the one thing I was the most excited about, meeting the Saints in Haiti. What a privilege to come to the throne of God with those warriors! I was not worthy of them... I can say that much.) I was just so excited to see a physical representation of what God is doing in my world... adding churches that I know to be doing work that I am also laboring in... in parts of the world that I alone cannot touch. We are all one body, and I was just so... I don't even know what word to use... humbled? honored? Awed! to be there to see that... And to be a part of a body of believers who are sacrificing in order to build a more lasting kingdom!
Monday, February 23, 2015
Countdown calendar
21. Haiti is located in the Caribbean.
Pray that people would see them as individuals, not just a group in a
certain place.
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20. Native Haitians were called "Taino," meaning "The
Good People."
Pray that we would still see the "good" despite the changes
that have taken place in history.
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19 The Taino called their land "Ayiti," meaning "Land
of Mountains." Now we call it "Haiti."
Pray for the people who live in the mountains, that they would be
ready to learn from us.
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18. Haiti is the most mountainous nation in the Caribbean.
Pray that we would be in good physical shape to climb the mountains.
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17. Haiti’s highest peak is the Pic la Selle at 8,793 feet
high. Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs is 14,114 feet high. Mauna Kea in Hawaii
is 13,796 above the ocean.
Pray that we will have energy to play with the children in the
mountains after we have hiked to the top of them!
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16. Haitians use a language called "Creole." This is a mix
of lots of different languages.
Pray that we would be able to communicate with the people in Haiti
clearly and effectively.
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15. Haiti's national sport is Soccer. Haiti first competed in the
national cup in 1974.
Pray that we would be able to have fun in Haiti!
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14. Only half of Haitians can read and write.
Thank God for being able to go to school and learn.
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13. A typical worker in Haiti makes $2.75 a day. A person in Colorado
earning minimum wage makes about $65.00 a day.
Thank God for all of the things that you have!
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12. Haiti has the highest percentage of orphans in the Western Hemisphere. (The side of the
world we live on.) Before the 2010 earthquake the number was estimated to be
430,000
Pray that we could share lots of love and affection with some of
these children.
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11. 7.3% of Haitian children die before they reach Simon's age. (5)
In America that percentage is 0 .7%.
Thank God for your good health, and the medical resources that we
have in America.
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10. Haitians enjoy cock fighting. They feed their roosters raw meat
and spicy peppers soaked in rum to make them tough. The winning rooster can
win up to $67.00 for just one game.
Pray that we would respect the cultural differences of this place,
and not impose our American opinion on them.
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9. Haiti is almost completely deforested because of competition over
land, charcoal mining, agricultural practices, and feral goats overgrazing.
Goats! I love goats! Pray that I get to see some!
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8. Deforestation has caused flash flooding and mudslides. Topsoil has
washed into the ocean, leaving muddy brown ring along the coast.
Pray that we would see the beauty in the people, and in the country,
despite the abuse it has suffered.
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7.Haitians primarily practice Catholicism. Others are Protestant.
Most of them practice Voodoo alongside these other religions.
Pray that Christians would respect the rich culture of this place,
while also clearly teaching about Jesus and the freedom he offers them.
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6. Haiti has an island called "Tortuga Island." Tortuga means "turtle" in
Spanish. It was a pirate stronghold
many years ago.
Pray that we would learn about the history of this nation while we are
there.
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5. Life expectancy in Haiti is 50 for men, and 53 for women. That is
about the age of Grandma and Grandpa.
Pray that people in Haiti would hear and accept the freedom of Christ
before their time on earth is over.
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4. The Citadel is a fortress located in Northern Haiti. I will be at
the same place as the Citadel.
Pray that we can use this part of history to share the love of
Christ. He is our fortress in the storms of life!
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3. I will be in a place called "Cap Hatien." It is also
called "Le Cap."
Pray that we are safe on the
airplane and during our stay in Cap Hatien.
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2. The nickname of Le Cap is Le Paris des Antilles. This means
"The Paris of the Antilles."
Pray that we
would also become fond enough of this country to call it by a nickname.
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1. Haiti used to be called "The Pearl of the Antilles by the
Settlers who lived there in the 1700's. It is now the poorest country on our
side of the world. (Western
Hemisphere.)
Pray that we would see the "Pearl..." in this place, and
offer it the riches of Christ.
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Saturday, January 3, 2015
Haiti and other news
See? I told you I would be back on. There's something about not being pregnant... or having a small baby to care for. Suddenly I get to sleep all the way through most nights, and I can take a few minutes for a cup of tea each day. My house doesn't look like a hurricane blew through it, and I can actually think through life in general. It also means I get to say what I'm thinking. So... my thoughts.
I can't actually remember when I decided that I was going to Haiti. (Only for 5 days... to me it feels like a huge lifetime commitment.) And I have made arrangements for someone I trust to take care of the kiddos while Peter is at work, and Peter has made arrangements to work for only a couple of days that week... The Lord has altered my way of thinking drastically. Sometimes you need to be shaken up a little bit. I like being comfortable. I like my current sleeping habits, I like that I own my house and don't need to pack my stuff every year anymore. I like warm showers, not being hungry. I like my bed... even just a year ago I was ready to do anything, and give up everything if that's what God wanted. Now... I have settled down and gotten complacent.
But maybe I just needed to take a break and catch my breath. You've read my blog, and you know what life was like. It was FUN... and we had a lot of ADVENTURES! This year we are getting ready. There is a secret thing we are headed toward this year that I can hardly wait to announce it... I was telling Sarah just a few months ago that we were waiting for God to say "go." Like a race. (Hebrews 12:1, after Paul tells of the faith of the past saints...) "Let us throw off EVERYTHING that hinders!" Just go read the rest! Oh, fine... I'll tell you! "And the sin that SO EASILY entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us! Let us FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS!" Have you ever read Hebrews? Its one of my favorites!
And she asked if we were on "get ready" or "get set." Ha. She is so sweet. We finally got a go... and I am so very excited! The reason why we finally got a go is because we were ready for it! My eyes were fixed on the "author and perfecter of my faith." Even just my committing to Haiti made me realize that there are people in the world who still have less. Much less. I cried when I found out that our plane was flying out of Denver at 1:30 AM... and when I heard that the shower is outside. And there's no hot water. And that we are staying in a dorm style mission house. These are things I don't want to give up for a blink... and things that they don't have EVER. But most of all I was upset because we are ONLY going for less than a week to help with orphans. Children without mothers and fathers. I wish I could bring them all home with me, because we have a big house, and lots and lots of love to give. I was upset because of my selfishness in resisting giving up things that aren't even actually needs.
So, here is some information about the country itself and those beautiful souls that reside there.
Haiti is a Caribbean country. It is actually in North America. The funny thing is when I was saying I wouldn't go to Haiti, my reason was that "It's on another continent. I would maybe go if it was in North America or South America..." Yeah. I thought it was in Africa. My geography is a little rusty. But its waaaay better than before my smartie pants daughter started school. She loves maps. So... you go to Miami Florida, and then fly over the (Atlantic) ocean past the Bahamas (South East?) and then land in Cap Haitien, at the very Northern tip of Haiti. That's where I'll be. I know its an extremely rough geographical description... but go look at a map. Its enough to get you started finding the place. You can look over this link to learn about the people my church is partnering with: http://www.newlifemissionhaiti.org/
The reason I thought it was in Africa is because of the African culture... and here's why. (A history lesson.) It started with Christopher Columbus. Then there was lots of killing and strife among the native people and the settlers... there was war happening between the Spanish and the Europeans, eventually leading to colonies being abandoned due to sickness and starvation and general upheaval. This is where the French moved in, and despite their colonies being destroyed multiple times by the Spanish, they resettled each time, eventually successfully. (1660, if any of you need a solid date.) So, from 1492, when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, until 1660, when the French ruled Haiti. (Now you'll never forget that important piece of history, thanks to my rhyming skills.) There was war. And another gem? 1751, earthquake and tsunami, killing hundreds. 1770, earthquake. Ok... I need to say at this point that I am skipping a ton of information in order to streamline this blog. This is all coming from Wikipedia, so you can go read the whole article if you need everything technical. I am headed toward a point, so I am trying not to make this a two parter.
Alright... where was I? Eventually these colonies, established in the Caribbean became very wealthy, due to Sugar, Cotton, Coffee, and Indigo. But, it wasn't due to the the settlers labors, it was because of the hard work of? Yep. Slaves. At one point in time, the number of slaves outnumbered that of the French, and because of the terrible treatment of the slaves they were constantly bringing in more from Africa... from many different tribes. Meaning that there were multiple languages and variations in religious beliefs. (But, always Voudou.) The settlers had to find a way to control their slaves, so they resorted to terrible punishments.
Revolution was inevitable, and it came in the year 1791. In 1804 after a lot of details I am skipping Haiti was established. They were in debt because of financial demands the French, British, and United States made (Because of "lost property.") Oh, if only the new Haiti could have placed a price on their suffering, their lives lost... in the quest for freedom. And if only they could have known where true freedom came from.
After this, there were laws put in place to prevent the white people from establishing any towns, and also an elimination of any inequality in skin color. All citizens of Haiti were to be referred to as black. That's not especially relevant, just interesting.
There is a long history of political struggle, and Haiti never really got itself going, so to speak. There were continued exports of Sugar and Cotton... but Haitians were typically employed as seasonal workers in Cuba, and there were not enough laborers home to work in their own country. When the Great Depression came along, their export prices dropped, resulting in violence. (Another fact? I just read a book with Sarah about World War II. The Great Depression was one reason Hitler was able to rise to power...I cried my way through a book designed for a 5th grader. Why is this world so terrible? And how are people capable of such evil?) So, now what I intended to be one blog is going to be two... or maybe three? Lets learn together.
Ok. Politics are really, really not my strength. I'm going to skip all of the details for now. But the fact is that there was war... and there is still fighting over democracy. People are still trying to gain control and take away the choices of the people. It is a country in need of peace.
And what have I even been talking about for the past couple of months? Where does all this come from? From Jesus! And what does most of the world believe? Children are our future... and guess what? I can't bring the Haitian children home with me... but I can love them while I am there! I can pour myself into them... pour Jesus into them, and maybe one day change will come for this precious country, because of the efforts of the saints who live in Haiti, and because of the efforts of the saints who can only leave their lives for a short time, or who can't go, but can give financially. Or who can cover those of us going with prayer... Another passage about running the race... About being poured out? Paul (An amazing guy. Can't wait to give him a hug... sit right next to him, hear his stories...) in writing to Timothy, says that one day people will find teachers who are just going to say what they want to hear. But, this is his charge to the believers.
"Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge the duties of you ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have FINISHED THE RACE, I have KEPT THE FAITH!" (2 Timothy 4:5-7)
I can't actually remember when I decided that I was going to Haiti. (Only for 5 days... to me it feels like a huge lifetime commitment.) And I have made arrangements for someone I trust to take care of the kiddos while Peter is at work, and Peter has made arrangements to work for only a couple of days that week... The Lord has altered my way of thinking drastically. Sometimes you need to be shaken up a little bit. I like being comfortable. I like my current sleeping habits, I like that I own my house and don't need to pack my stuff every year anymore. I like warm showers, not being hungry. I like my bed... even just a year ago I was ready to do anything, and give up everything if that's what God wanted. Now... I have settled down and gotten complacent.
But maybe I just needed to take a break and catch my breath. You've read my blog, and you know what life was like. It was FUN... and we had a lot of ADVENTURES! This year we are getting ready. There is a secret thing we are headed toward this year that I can hardly wait to announce it... I was telling Sarah just a few months ago that we were waiting for God to say "go." Like a race. (Hebrews 12:1, after Paul tells of the faith of the past saints...) "Let us throw off EVERYTHING that hinders!" Just go read the rest! Oh, fine... I'll tell you! "And the sin that SO EASILY entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us! Let us FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS!" Have you ever read Hebrews? Its one of my favorites!
And she asked if we were on "get ready" or "get set." Ha. She is so sweet. We finally got a go... and I am so very excited! The reason why we finally got a go is because we were ready for it! My eyes were fixed on the "author and perfecter of my faith." Even just my committing to Haiti made me realize that there are people in the world who still have less. Much less. I cried when I found out that our plane was flying out of Denver at 1:30 AM... and when I heard that the shower is outside. And there's no hot water. And that we are staying in a dorm style mission house. These are things I don't want to give up for a blink... and things that they don't have EVER. But most of all I was upset because we are ONLY going for less than a week to help with orphans. Children without mothers and fathers. I wish I could bring them all home with me, because we have a big house, and lots and lots of love to give. I was upset because of my selfishness in resisting giving up things that aren't even actually needs.
So, here is some information about the country itself and those beautiful souls that reside there.
Haiti is a Caribbean country. It is actually in North America. The funny thing is when I was saying I wouldn't go to Haiti, my reason was that "It's on another continent. I would maybe go if it was in North America or South America..." Yeah. I thought it was in Africa. My geography is a little rusty. But its waaaay better than before my smartie pants daughter started school. She loves maps. So... you go to Miami Florida, and then fly over the (Atlantic) ocean past the Bahamas (South East?) and then land in Cap Haitien, at the very Northern tip of Haiti. That's where I'll be. I know its an extremely rough geographical description... but go look at a map. Its enough to get you started finding the place. You can look over this link to learn about the people my church is partnering with: http://www.newlifemissionhaiti.org/
The reason I thought it was in Africa is because of the African culture... and here's why. (A history lesson.) It started with Christopher Columbus. Then there was lots of killing and strife among the native people and the settlers... there was war happening between the Spanish and the Europeans, eventually leading to colonies being abandoned due to sickness and starvation and general upheaval. This is where the French moved in, and despite their colonies being destroyed multiple times by the Spanish, they resettled each time, eventually successfully. (1660, if any of you need a solid date.) So, from 1492, when Columbus sailed the ocean blue, until 1660, when the French ruled Haiti. (Now you'll never forget that important piece of history, thanks to my rhyming skills.) There was war. And another gem? 1751, earthquake and tsunami, killing hundreds. 1770, earthquake. Ok... I need to say at this point that I am skipping a ton of information in order to streamline this blog. This is all coming from Wikipedia, so you can go read the whole article if you need everything technical. I am headed toward a point, so I am trying not to make this a two parter.
Alright... where was I? Eventually these colonies, established in the Caribbean became very wealthy, due to Sugar, Cotton, Coffee, and Indigo. But, it wasn't due to the the settlers labors, it was because of the hard work of? Yep. Slaves. At one point in time, the number of slaves outnumbered that of the French, and because of the terrible treatment of the slaves they were constantly bringing in more from Africa... from many different tribes. Meaning that there were multiple languages and variations in religious beliefs. (But, always Voudou.) The settlers had to find a way to control their slaves, so they resorted to terrible punishments.
Revolution was inevitable, and it came in the year 1791. In 1804 after a lot of details I am skipping Haiti was established. They were in debt because of financial demands the French, British, and United States made (Because of "lost property.") Oh, if only the new Haiti could have placed a price on their suffering, their lives lost... in the quest for freedom. And if only they could have known where true freedom came from.
After this, there were laws put in place to prevent the white people from establishing any towns, and also an elimination of any inequality in skin color. All citizens of Haiti were to be referred to as black. That's not especially relevant, just interesting.
There is a long history of political struggle, and Haiti never really got itself going, so to speak. There were continued exports of Sugar and Cotton... but Haitians were typically employed as seasonal workers in Cuba, and there were not enough laborers home to work in their own country. When the Great Depression came along, their export prices dropped, resulting in violence. (Another fact? I just read a book with Sarah about World War II. The Great Depression was one reason Hitler was able to rise to power...I cried my way through a book designed for a 5th grader. Why is this world so terrible? And how are people capable of such evil?) So, now what I intended to be one blog is going to be two... or maybe three? Lets learn together.
Ok. Politics are really, really not my strength. I'm going to skip all of the details for now. But the fact is that there was war... and there is still fighting over democracy. People are still trying to gain control and take away the choices of the people. It is a country in need of peace.
And what have I even been talking about for the past couple of months? Where does all this come from? From Jesus! And what does most of the world believe? Children are our future... and guess what? I can't bring the Haitian children home with me... but I can love them while I am there! I can pour myself into them... pour Jesus into them, and maybe one day change will come for this precious country, because of the efforts of the saints who live in Haiti, and because of the efforts of the saints who can only leave their lives for a short time, or who can't go, but can give financially. Or who can cover those of us going with prayer... Another passage about running the race... About being poured out? Paul (An amazing guy. Can't wait to give him a hug... sit right next to him, hear his stories...) in writing to Timothy, says that one day people will find teachers who are just going to say what they want to hear. But, this is his charge to the believers.
"Keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge the duties of you ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have FINISHED THE RACE, I have KEPT THE FAITH!" (2 Timothy 4:5-7)
Monday, November 24, 2014
GMO's And Other (Somewhat) Unrelated Topics
Ok. You guys are really lucky. I'm working on another post, and its not even December. Actually, I have a lot of thoughts here. Hopefully it will all make sense, because they are all rather unrelated to eachother. So, here goes.
Most of you know I'm a little bit of a weirdo when it comes to food. Call me a hippie. I blame it on my own personal health issues, and those of my sweet, hyperactive Sarah. If I am not extra careful, it makes me physically ill. So, I eat mostly vegetarian, preferably vegan... although I won't refuse a nice hunk of flesh every now and then. And seriously, who doesn't like cheese? So, maybe I don't do so well with the vegan thing. But I try really hard, because thats when I feel my best. And Sarah... When we finally took her to the doctor to get an official ADHD diagnoses we also considered getting her tested for tourettes. She had some pretty strange ticks. Eyes blinking, noise making, arms and legs twitching. If I'm not careful she gets ticks again, and they last awhile. So, we try to keep her as dairy free as possible, though I can admit that I also fail at keeping her away from that stuff. But additives, preservatives, artificial everything has been eliminated from our every day. Even when I bake I avoid all that crap. Exept for I also have a penchant for documentaries, and I'm working on one about GMO's... (Just so you know, a GMO is a Genetically Modified Organism... a living thing that has been altered from the very building block of its life to do something it could never do on its own. Goats that lactate spider silk protein... corn to produce a type of pesticide when eaten by a bug...)
Yeah. I'm going there. But only for a minute, and not to lecture you. Because I will be the first to admit that we've got a bunch of genetically altered food in our fridge. Remember the vegetarian thing? Yeah. A lot of fruits and veggies have been altered in a lab. The only way one can be guaranteed to have a completely GMO free product is to buy organic. I have heard many people tell me that its not more expensive to buy organic... but I know first hand that it is. So, when I buy organic food it has to be cheaper, if not the same as the "regular" stuff I get. Which rarely happens. And I've made peace with myself for that. Plus I have some opinions about organically grown stuff too... this isn't really a food blog. I just want ya'll to know what I've been up to, and in this case, GMO, organic, non-organic, non-GMO... I'm still learning. The point I'm trying to make is that these laboratories that are creating these seeds are becoming a threat to me. They scare me. Why? Because in the process of attempting to make a "more sustainable future" (I don't know... the verdict is still out on that one...) they are taking away my choice. If its not an organic food, then I can't be guaranteed that the product I'm buying is not altered. And you know what else? Every State is the U.S. that has tried to create policies requiring companies to label a GMO has been threatened with a law suit. Thats right. And it scares me, because it seems to me that its less about making a better future, and more about making money... gambling with my health, and not allowing me to make the best, most informed decision possible. I view these companies as oppressors, making my life more difficult. And, I am currently reading through Isaiah. Its a heavy book. Yeah. I've been busy. I've been working on this book for about 2 months, and have only reached Chapter 9... But this chapter is one of my favorites! Isaiah, written in the 700's B.C. has predicted the birth of Christ! Which some scholars THINK happened around 6-4 B.C. You do the math. It was predicted a really long time before it even happened.
Ok. My brain is kind of twisty. All of this stuff is connected in my head. I had a great convo with Peter about it on Saturday. It made sense to me, out loud. On paper? You'll have to let me know. So, Isaiah is talking to Jerusalem, because they have been involved in some pretty disobedient things. They are corrupt, and are coming upon judgement from God. Isaiah is just the messenger telling them what God says.But here's some good news, even just in Chapter 1. God says "I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your judges as in the days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. AFTERWARD you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. (1:25-26) Even after the destruction God will make them better. Jerusalem was also accused of these things, according to Chapter 5: Taking advantage of others, drunkenness, disregarding the consequences of sin, confusing moral standards, Pride, and Injustice. Sound like anyone you know? Hello America. And even though I know this is everywhere... in government, and in things even as small as our everyday lives... how small businesses are run and how people make their own personal choices, I can't help but draw a direct connection to the food I am eating with these sinful actions. We, as Americans, are making it okay for these companies to pretend to be God, and destroy the very things we were commissioned with protecting at the beginning of time. When I go to the store, I choose to be alright with GMO's, because I feel helpless to stop it. Sitting on my couch, watching a movie highlighting the "evils" of this practice, and near tears because "I can't do anything about it."
But in the middle of all of my feelings I read this, Isaiah 9:4... For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have SHATTERED the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Verse 6, just in time for Christmas: To us a child is born... he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be NO END! Read chapter 9. I paraphrased and picked... read it all. Whatever has got you thinking, struggling, crying... feeling helpless and hopeless, the answer is Jesus. Maybe right now we are in the middle of our own sin, our flesh warring against our spirit... and worried about the choices more powerful people are making... but just like so, so long ago... they were waiting for Jesus, now we are too! And there is hope.
Which brings me to my next thought. Haiti. Sometimes its funny how God works. This documentary I am watching (Going on 4 days now. It takes me awhile to finish a movie. Blame it on a short attention span. I can do 20 minute increments.) lists a lot of the countries that have refused GMO seeds and food products. Remember when Haiti went through all those devastating natural disasters? A GMO seed lab sent a bunch of seeds to them, so that they could rebuild. You know what the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere did? They burned the seeds. Those that did plant them ended up ripping them out of the ground, because they looked sickly and "unnatural." And do you know what else? You can't use seeds from a GMO plant the following year. You have to buy them all over again. Helpful. That was a little random. I'm still stuck on lab created food. Moving on, April... you made your point with that. I think I just wanted you to know how it was connected in my head. The funny thing about how God works is that not too long ago, guess what I decided? Its going to be legendary... Seriously. I'M GOING TO HAITI!!! In March, for a week! Hey, people. I'm terrified. I mean, scared you-know-what-less. But my church is organizing a trip, and even though my prayer was "You probably won't let me, God... but I am willing to go." He is letting me. Even though I made excuses, like, "I can help sponsor someone else to go, because I have my things here to take care of..." He is sending me. I am selfish and broken in so many ways, but he seems to think he can use me. Along with 9 other broken, imperfect people. Except here's the thing. I need some money. Oh... yeah. I'm also pretty shameless when it comes to this sort of thing. He is letting me be a part of SOMETHING. I don't know what. Maybe I won't change somebody else's life in a week. I can't help but think that its impossible for me to have an impact in such a short amount of time... maybe its for me... maybe God is going to change me. And you know what? He is letting you too! If you can send me money... please, please do. I am going to set up an online account recommended by my church for fundraising. You'll see links for that on fb. We are doing EVERYTHING possible to cut out all of our extras, and we have a significant amount already saved in a short amount of time. If you have zero dollars in your bank account at the end of the month... then you can pray, pray, pray. This is proving to be harder for me than I thought. My issues (we all have some weird quirks...) are definitely trying to take over. Control, fear, control, control, control... its all there. Pray for me, and lucky you guys are going to get ANOTHER awesome update from me with everything about Haiti I can find.
Most of you know I'm a little bit of a weirdo when it comes to food. Call me a hippie. I blame it on my own personal health issues, and those of my sweet, hyperactive Sarah. If I am not extra careful, it makes me physically ill. So, I eat mostly vegetarian, preferably vegan... although I won't refuse a nice hunk of flesh every now and then. And seriously, who doesn't like cheese? So, maybe I don't do so well with the vegan thing. But I try really hard, because thats when I feel my best. And Sarah... When we finally took her to the doctor to get an official ADHD diagnoses we also considered getting her tested for tourettes. She had some pretty strange ticks. Eyes blinking, noise making, arms and legs twitching. If I'm not careful she gets ticks again, and they last awhile. So, we try to keep her as dairy free as possible, though I can admit that I also fail at keeping her away from that stuff. But additives, preservatives, artificial everything has been eliminated from our every day. Even when I bake I avoid all that crap. Exept for I also have a penchant for documentaries, and I'm working on one about GMO's... (Just so you know, a GMO is a Genetically Modified Organism... a living thing that has been altered from the very building block of its life to do something it could never do on its own. Goats that lactate spider silk protein... corn to produce a type of pesticide when eaten by a bug...)
Yeah. I'm going there. But only for a minute, and not to lecture you. Because I will be the first to admit that we've got a bunch of genetically altered food in our fridge. Remember the vegetarian thing? Yeah. A lot of fruits and veggies have been altered in a lab. The only way one can be guaranteed to have a completely GMO free product is to buy organic. I have heard many people tell me that its not more expensive to buy organic... but I know first hand that it is. So, when I buy organic food it has to be cheaper, if not the same as the "regular" stuff I get. Which rarely happens. And I've made peace with myself for that. Plus I have some opinions about organically grown stuff too... this isn't really a food blog. I just want ya'll to know what I've been up to, and in this case, GMO, organic, non-organic, non-GMO... I'm still learning. The point I'm trying to make is that these laboratories that are creating these seeds are becoming a threat to me. They scare me. Why? Because in the process of attempting to make a "more sustainable future" (I don't know... the verdict is still out on that one...) they are taking away my choice. If its not an organic food, then I can't be guaranteed that the product I'm buying is not altered. And you know what else? Every State is the U.S. that has tried to create policies requiring companies to label a GMO has been threatened with a law suit. Thats right. And it scares me, because it seems to me that its less about making a better future, and more about making money... gambling with my health, and not allowing me to make the best, most informed decision possible. I view these companies as oppressors, making my life more difficult. And, I am currently reading through Isaiah. Its a heavy book. Yeah. I've been busy. I've been working on this book for about 2 months, and have only reached Chapter 9... But this chapter is one of my favorites! Isaiah, written in the 700's B.C. has predicted the birth of Christ! Which some scholars THINK happened around 6-4 B.C. You do the math. It was predicted a really long time before it even happened.
Ok. My brain is kind of twisty. All of this stuff is connected in my head. I had a great convo with Peter about it on Saturday. It made sense to me, out loud. On paper? You'll have to let me know. So, Isaiah is talking to Jerusalem, because they have been involved in some pretty disobedient things. They are corrupt, and are coming upon judgement from God. Isaiah is just the messenger telling them what God says.But here's some good news, even just in Chapter 1. God says "I will turn my hand against you; I will thoroughly purge away your dross and remove all your impurities. I will restore your judges as in the days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. AFTERWARD you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City. (1:25-26) Even after the destruction God will make them better. Jerusalem was also accused of these things, according to Chapter 5: Taking advantage of others, drunkenness, disregarding the consequences of sin, confusing moral standards, Pride, and Injustice. Sound like anyone you know? Hello America. And even though I know this is everywhere... in government, and in things even as small as our everyday lives... how small businesses are run and how people make their own personal choices, I can't help but draw a direct connection to the food I am eating with these sinful actions. We, as Americans, are making it okay for these companies to pretend to be God, and destroy the very things we were commissioned with protecting at the beginning of time. When I go to the store, I choose to be alright with GMO's, because I feel helpless to stop it. Sitting on my couch, watching a movie highlighting the "evils" of this practice, and near tears because "I can't do anything about it."
But in the middle of all of my feelings I read this, Isaiah 9:4... For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have SHATTERED the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Verse 6, just in time for Christmas: To us a child is born... he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be NO END! Read chapter 9. I paraphrased and picked... read it all. Whatever has got you thinking, struggling, crying... feeling helpless and hopeless, the answer is Jesus. Maybe right now we are in the middle of our own sin, our flesh warring against our spirit... and worried about the choices more powerful people are making... but just like so, so long ago... they were waiting for Jesus, now we are too! And there is hope.
Which brings me to my next thought. Haiti. Sometimes its funny how God works. This documentary I am watching (Going on 4 days now. It takes me awhile to finish a movie. Blame it on a short attention span. I can do 20 minute increments.) lists a lot of the countries that have refused GMO seeds and food products. Remember when Haiti went through all those devastating natural disasters? A GMO seed lab sent a bunch of seeds to them, so that they could rebuild. You know what the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere did? They burned the seeds. Those that did plant them ended up ripping them out of the ground, because they looked sickly and "unnatural." And do you know what else? You can't use seeds from a GMO plant the following year. You have to buy them all over again. Helpful. That was a little random. I'm still stuck on lab created food. Moving on, April... you made your point with that. I think I just wanted you to know how it was connected in my head. The funny thing about how God works is that not too long ago, guess what I decided? Its going to be legendary... Seriously. I'M GOING TO HAITI!!! In March, for a week! Hey, people. I'm terrified. I mean, scared you-know-what-less. But my church is organizing a trip, and even though my prayer was "You probably won't let me, God... but I am willing to go." He is letting me. Even though I made excuses, like, "I can help sponsor someone else to go, because I have my things here to take care of..." He is sending me. I am selfish and broken in so many ways, but he seems to think he can use me. Along with 9 other broken, imperfect people. Except here's the thing. I need some money. Oh... yeah. I'm also pretty shameless when it comes to this sort of thing. He is letting me be a part of SOMETHING. I don't know what. Maybe I won't change somebody else's life in a week. I can't help but think that its impossible for me to have an impact in such a short amount of time... maybe its for me... maybe God is going to change me. And you know what? He is letting you too! If you can send me money... please, please do. I am going to set up an online account recommended by my church for fundraising. You'll see links for that on fb. We are doing EVERYTHING possible to cut out all of our extras, and we have a significant amount already saved in a short amount of time. If you have zero dollars in your bank account at the end of the month... then you can pray, pray, pray. This is proving to be harder for me than I thought. My issues (we all have some weird quirks...) are definitely trying to take over. Control, fear, control, control, control... its all there. Pray for me, and lucky you guys are going to get ANOTHER awesome update from me with everything about Haiti I can find.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Hungry
In July I figured it was time to post again. That way I could feel accomplished by updating twice in a year, instead of only once. I sure do wish I could be one of those moms who updates several times a week with witty and encouraging remarks to the rest of humankind. Then someone would discover me and ask me to speak at some international women's conference, and I would be hailed as superwoman... capable of juggling many tasks, and still continue to feed my theological wisdom. Ha. I'm kidding. Sort of. Its funny how we are always grasping for more, and most of the time its for people to notice. There just isn't anything gratifying in doing things if nobody is going to see. And yet that's how it is. Mama's get up all night long, still waking as soon as the sun does, running to accomplish laundry, scrubbing toilets, preparing breakfast, and multiple other jobs that are just going to be undone by sundown. But you know what? Jesus sees, not just the mommy things, but the other things that make other people's lives better. My new quest is to set down my pride and to stop announcing to the world all these "things" that I need recognition for. I am trying to be a new, humble person. That's just a side note. I am so easily distracted lately. Another side note, now that I am not announcing things? I signed up for a mud obstacle run. Just a lil' ol' 5k. But it will be super fun! Sometimes the mommy things need to be set aside so that I can just be... not a mommy for an hour or two.
So, here's the whole reason of me updating. Something I've been thinking on for awhile now. Hunger. Did you know that there is a new term for the people who run out of food every month? Its called "Food Insecure." I think its ridiculous. Doesn't everyone run out of food? We do... but then again, maybe we don't actually run out. Now that I'm thinking about it, we just run out of food we actually want to eat. Its not ridiculous to run out of food all the way... that used to happen to us, but then Jesus would ask someone else to leave a box of groceries on our front step. We never knew which people were doing that. How did they know? Sometimes it was money in our mailbox... I'm digressing again. I'll get back to that.
A magazine I was reading featured an article on Hunger in America. (Maybe I should have specified this. I'm not talking about poverty in Africa...) So, one of these families they discussed included a little boy who refused his free breakfast at school, only to go home "starving" and begging his mom for corn dogs and tater tots. Um... is this hunger? If he was hungry wouldn't he eat the food in front of him? The article goes on to talk about how people with no cars continue to be hungry because they live a half mile away from the grocery store. Can't anyone walk? Bus? Catch a ride with a neighbor? Then what about the overweight issue? These families are unhealthy and obese, because they can't buy food? Families of 4 getting over 600.00 dollars in food stamps, and they are still "running out of food." This makes me angry on so many levels... but mostly angry because how many of you know your neighbors? How many of you know which of your co-workers, and even acquaintances are struggling with debt and cannot make ends meet? How often do we go about our day ignoring the people in the grocery store counting pennies to buy milk and diapers. What about those stressed out Mommies in line at the store? Could they be worried about how long this Twenty Dollars of food is going to last? Could a well timed smile, or a sweet word be all they need? How often do these "hungry" people hear words that will wash like cool water over their souls?
I think that the root of being "Food Insecure" goes much deeper than groceries, or money, or weight. It is more than just someone being too lazy (or tired... believe me, I know what its like to rather buy fast food than even bother to make peanut butter and jelly.) The root is that this world is hungry for something much deeper and more satisfying than a corn dog. These people need Jesus.
In our hungry days we didn't often worry about where our next meal would come from, because we knew that the One who numbered our days was carrying us. Each day came and went, and we were never lacking in the very things we needed to survive. If I know that truth, and Sovereign provided for even me, why would I keep that secret from someone else who needs to hear it? The world is walking in darkness, and the evidence is clear... people are filling the voids in their lives with cars, boats, huge houses, food in excess of what they need... and the bottom line is that the only thing anyone needs is Jesus.
Here is what I propose. What if we listened more carefully to what He is saying to us? How many times have I seen a mommy in need of hearing me say "You are doing a good job." How many times have I ignored Christ telling me to buy somebody's groceries? Why am I not asking the people I meet what their story is? What do they "need?" Because if I care enough to listen to what they think they need, then they will be more ready to hear what I know they need! You know those people with no cars? Why don't I offer to drive them to store, and go shop with them. And maybe then I can teach them to stretch their dollars, and probably even forge a bond... a friendship, with somebody else in this world, just trying to make it through their day... a lot like I am doing. When we tie ourselves to another human being, doing the same things they are trying to do, it makes all the work and pain in this world a little less painful.
Psalm 107: 8-9: Let them give thanks to the Lord for his UNFAILING love and his WONDERFUL deeds for men, for he SATISFIES the thirsty and fills the hungry with GOOD THINGS!
Psalm 146 (Read it! Its amazazazing!)
Matthew 5:6: Blessed are those who HUNGER and THIRST for RIGHTEOUSNESS for they will be filled! (This applies to us, Christians. What will we do about it?)
Matthew 15:32... I was just teaching the girls about this. Jesus didn't want to send the people away hungry! He filled their physical hunger, as well as their spiritual hunger.
Matthew 25:35... again, physical needs are important! And in some cases, they matter for eternity.
Philippians 4:12: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
What is the secret? Can we all say we have learned? Lets make this a quest, to discover that we can, in fact, "Do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13)
Amongst many, many verses regarding hunger... both physical and spiritual, do you know how the story ends? Or at least, the one involving our journey here through the darkness?
Revelation 7:16-17: Never again will they hunger, never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the CENTER of the throne will be their shepherd, for he will lead them to springs of LIVING WATER. And God will wipe away every tear from their eye.
So, here's the whole reason of me updating. Something I've been thinking on for awhile now. Hunger. Did you know that there is a new term for the people who run out of food every month? Its called "Food Insecure." I think its ridiculous. Doesn't everyone run out of food? We do... but then again, maybe we don't actually run out. Now that I'm thinking about it, we just run out of food we actually want to eat. Its not ridiculous to run out of food all the way... that used to happen to us, but then Jesus would ask someone else to leave a box of groceries on our front step. We never knew which people were doing that. How did they know? Sometimes it was money in our mailbox... I'm digressing again. I'll get back to that.
A magazine I was reading featured an article on Hunger in America. (Maybe I should have specified this. I'm not talking about poverty in Africa...) So, one of these families they discussed included a little boy who refused his free breakfast at school, only to go home "starving" and begging his mom for corn dogs and tater tots. Um... is this hunger? If he was hungry wouldn't he eat the food in front of him? The article goes on to talk about how people with no cars continue to be hungry because they live a half mile away from the grocery store. Can't anyone walk? Bus? Catch a ride with a neighbor? Then what about the overweight issue? These families are unhealthy and obese, because they can't buy food? Families of 4 getting over 600.00 dollars in food stamps, and they are still "running out of food." This makes me angry on so many levels... but mostly angry because how many of you know your neighbors? How many of you know which of your co-workers, and even acquaintances are struggling with debt and cannot make ends meet? How often do we go about our day ignoring the people in the grocery store counting pennies to buy milk and diapers. What about those stressed out Mommies in line at the store? Could they be worried about how long this Twenty Dollars of food is going to last? Could a well timed smile, or a sweet word be all they need? How often do these "hungry" people hear words that will wash like cool water over their souls?
I think that the root of being "Food Insecure" goes much deeper than groceries, or money, or weight. It is more than just someone being too lazy (or tired... believe me, I know what its like to rather buy fast food than even bother to make peanut butter and jelly.) The root is that this world is hungry for something much deeper and more satisfying than a corn dog. These people need Jesus.
In our hungry days we didn't often worry about where our next meal would come from, because we knew that the One who numbered our days was carrying us. Each day came and went, and we were never lacking in the very things we needed to survive. If I know that truth, and Sovereign provided for even me, why would I keep that secret from someone else who needs to hear it? The world is walking in darkness, and the evidence is clear... people are filling the voids in their lives with cars, boats, huge houses, food in excess of what they need... and the bottom line is that the only thing anyone needs is Jesus.
Here is what I propose. What if we listened more carefully to what He is saying to us? How many times have I seen a mommy in need of hearing me say "You are doing a good job." How many times have I ignored Christ telling me to buy somebody's groceries? Why am I not asking the people I meet what their story is? What do they "need?" Because if I care enough to listen to what they think they need, then they will be more ready to hear what I know they need! You know those people with no cars? Why don't I offer to drive them to store, and go shop with them. And maybe then I can teach them to stretch their dollars, and probably even forge a bond... a friendship, with somebody else in this world, just trying to make it through their day... a lot like I am doing. When we tie ourselves to another human being, doing the same things they are trying to do, it makes all the work and pain in this world a little less painful.
Psalm 107: 8-9: Let them give thanks to the Lord for his UNFAILING love and his WONDERFUL deeds for men, for he SATISFIES the thirsty and fills the hungry with GOOD THINGS!
Psalm 146 (Read it! Its amazazazing!)
Matthew 5:6: Blessed are those who HUNGER and THIRST for RIGHTEOUSNESS for they will be filled! (This applies to us, Christians. What will we do about it?)
Matthew 15:32... I was just teaching the girls about this. Jesus didn't want to send the people away hungry! He filled their physical hunger, as well as their spiritual hunger.
Matthew 25:35... again, physical needs are important! And in some cases, they matter for eternity.
Philippians 4:12: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
What is the secret? Can we all say we have learned? Lets make this a quest, to discover that we can, in fact, "Do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil. 4:13)
Amongst many, many verses regarding hunger... both physical and spiritual, do you know how the story ends? Or at least, the one involving our journey here through the darkness?
Revelation 7:16-17: Never again will they hunger, never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the CENTER of the throne will be their shepherd, for he will lead them to springs of LIVING WATER. And God will wipe away every tear from their eye.
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