How do you make a love story of a couple that is so happy and so in love not barfable? Jake says it's when you don't make the story super rosey. But what if your story is rosey, thorns and all?
Here is what I would like to share...
For those of you waiting for your spouse, brains about to blow because of frustration and a hormones like fireworks...here is what I know to be true for me.
-Jake was a choice. He was not a mystical feeling or a super-spiritual emotion. The later things were somewhat present, but in the end I chose him and he chose me and we have continued to choose each other pretty much every day--like no cliche's, we really do choose each other.
-I thought I was ready to choose him before I saw his ugly side...you know when you are still high as a kite after a really long make-out session while you are dating. But I wasn't. It took both of us seeing each others ugly sides before we realized this: There is something incredible about first choosing someone out of your own decision (dating) before choosing them out of obligation (marriage).
-Both Jake and I had a amazing revelations before we married. The Lord gave Jake the 3 P's and myself the 3 A's. Cute, huh. Barfable, I know.
Jake was challenged to wait on marriage until he could do the following for his wife....1.) Provide for her. 2.) Protect her. 3.) Promote her. Sit on that for a minute...
In my quiet time with the Lord He very clearly spoke to my heart. "In the way that you have loved me, I want you to love him." He spoke 3 things to me. "Adore him like you have adored me." "Accept him for who he is like you have accepted me, even when you don't understand and it is not on a good day." "Advance him like you have advanced my Kingdom."
-Jake and I both chose to listen to people who's lives and marriages inspired us, individually before we even knew each other. From each person we gleaned the good stuff and were mature enough to realize that love doesn't come with an exact recipe, meaning we had to leave behind some of what we learned. And then when we finally found each other, we had to figure out how to, in our own selves, love each other in the most natural way to us.
Jake's pet name for me is Gorgeous. He wakes me up every morning with a kiss as he says, "Good morning, Gorgeous." Every. Single. Morning. I smile like a giddy school girl. He treats me with such respect all day, every day as if I really were the sun and moon and stars. He loves me just how God told me he would. He loves me just as He loves me.
My job at AIM is quite unique because I am a decision-maker. Before anyone can go on one of our trips they have to go through me and it is my responsibility to make sure they are ready to go onto the field.
It would be an easy job if Eve would have never eaten the apple. Unfortunately, our world knows good and evil and while reading through everyone's interviews and learning their stories, I see every bit of good and every bit of horrible. It is absolutely amazing to hear people's God-stories of restoration, salvation and how each one painted the portrait of their own life.
World Racers, Passporters, Ambassadors, Short-Termers, for any of our programs we send participants to the field to do something courageous, you know something out of the ordinary like actually help people. My favorite part about our programs is that we send people that have endured dysfunctional families with abuse that you don't want to think about. We send men and women that have struggled through eating disorders, sexual abuse or past circumstances of suicide attempts. We have the kind of people that were once in rehab centers and mental hospitals. And, we have people that have parents who are so in love and raised them in the best ways possible.
What happens when you send these types of people out to a world that looks just like them?
- Katie Way, on X Squad, shares about her time in Kenya
where in just one week her team saw people experience healing from
pain and illness, and about 100 people came to know Christ! Read
about it here: http://katieway.theworldrace.org/?filename=that-just-happened.
- During this week in India, Kaylynn Loveless and her team on A
Squad prayed for a deaf and mute woman to hear and speak...
and she did!
"My team circled around her and asked God to heal
this beautiful lady who was crying out to him. After saying a
short prayer our translator Agape asked her if she could hear.
The lady shook her head yes!! Praise the Lord she could hear!!
As a team we decided to pray for her voice again. While
praying for her you could feel the Holy Spirit in the circle.
After we prayed for her our translator asked her to speak, she
started off by mumbling some words. We started singing praises
to God and she started to match our pitches and speak. This
lady who couldn't hear or tell us what she needed prayer for
vocally was now listening to us worship and joining us in
worshiping our wonderful creator. Hallelujah!!!"
- David Gardner, B Squad, received a letter from a 14-yr
old girl he ministered to in Honduras. His heart is touched as she
writes to him saying how he has now become her "youngest father."
"My dad and I don't have a good friendship because
he doesn't have much love for me, but it's not important
because I have a lot of other fathers who have a lot of love
for me, like God in the sky, Tony (our ministry contact with
whom she lives), and you, [David], my youngest father. "
- Cody O'Donnell, from X squad, shares this week about a
day during door-to-door evangelism in Kenya when he met a woman
who didn't want anything to do with his team. After some
persuasion, she let them share about what they were doing and why
they were there. By the end of their conversation, he had received
Christ and was a new creation. Read below about just how powerful
and detailed the Lord is with His timing:
"She asked Jesus into her heart that day and we
prayed with her. We invited her to church and three days
later she came. After the service, she told us her full
story. She told us how she had used her last 250 schillings
to purchase poison in order to kill her 3 children and
herself. She was planning to do it the day we came to visit
her. She was crying and was so grateful that we had shared
Jesus with her. It showed up how on a day when we weren't
sure how much we were accomplishing or whether decisions about
receiving Christ were actually real or just an obligation due
to having Mzungus (white people) sharing with her. This
really clarified we were there for a reason and that meeting
people in these situations weren't just a fluke or luck. "
Everyone seems to want to know how Allan is doing. Maybe they are just being nice or have come to the realization that he is what I like to talk about. The answer is he is doing SuPuRb! Last year we hired a excelled learning teacher to help catch him up to the grade he should be in and whalaaa...he is kicking ass and taking names. Whoops, I said ass. He wrote us a letter that made me cry. Here it is if you are interested in getting your binoculars out and reading it. And yes he calls Jake, Jack. Love it!
It's a big thing to be called a mama, especially to a child who has been abandoned by his original. It would have been so easy to do what most people in the situation would do. I could have smiled at him, given him candy--and if I was the holy type--tell him that Jesus loves him. But on that day all of those things didn't make sense to me. It was the dang scriptures that I had read for years and the feelings that I would have when I would think about them. It was the day that I was sitting in the nose-bleed section at a Christian conference. There was a moment of silence and the pastor told us to close our eyes. Of course I didn't. I gazed at the vast crowd standing in silence. In the quiet I heard a voice deep within that said, "You are going to be a mother to the nations." I looked at the 1000's of people in the crowd and I said kinda foolishly to the voice, "Like, to this many people." All I remember hearing was, "More."
That "more" has had me thinking lately. I have never really had a problem with dreaming big and going for it. I've had several experiences like the one in the stadium and all of those are like monuments in my spirit. But I have to tell you...I'm as bored as a piece of grass. I've taken a good look at all that I have done and who I have had the opportunity to love on and I have to say I am left with a, "That's it..." I am almost 30 years old and I have one son who I pulled from a dump. 1 sex slave that I helped save. A few hundred people that I have helped release from fears and hopelessness. Maybe 1000 people that I have prophesied or spoken encouragement over, perhaps 1000 or so of people who I have prayed for healing (and they haven't been healed to my knowledge)...but what have I done if my promise is that I will be a mother to the nations...
Food for thought.
p.s. I have no idea why I named this blog popcorn. I went in a totally different direction than I intended. Whoopsie.
Ohh and here is a video that AIM made. I am a star...wa-ha-ha!
I am sitting at my desk at work. I need a 5 minute break from the bazillion phone calls so I check Facebook. The newsfeed has the photo album that I have been waiting--longing for: Pictures of 22 of our new kiddos arriving on the Farm from the streets.
When I was in Kenya last April I found this little fella', Elvis...high as a kite and begging for food...it was hard to see him in this situation. In this picture he is soooooo high, and was quite hilarious.
I took my other two little dudes off the street but I couldn't take Elvis--no sponsor... I didn't know what to do and quite frankly I was afraid that he was going to die. When I came home and went back to work I put his picture up as my desktop...
In between calls and whatever I was doing I would look at Elvis's picture and pray for him. "God keep him safe. Tell him we are coming." I would look at Allan's picture for inspiration. "Yes God, you answer prayers. You save your kids. Now save Elvis." And...He did.
The following timeline of pictures captures Elvis coming home...
This is what it looks like to be saved. To be spared from imminent danger. To be loved...
The car pulls through the big purple doors for the first time...
A warm welcome from mom and the kids...
An introduction to one of the women, Emma, who is going to learn your story and help you deal with what happened to you.
A few of the other kids who were saved.
A warm welcome from your new brother, Allan...
Group shot...
Family, food not from a dump, a bed....a home...It's all his!!!
This is Elvis a couple days after being rescued. Our
missionaries there are giving him lots and lots of candy to help them
through the detox. Pray for him, it will take a couple of weeks to get
it all out of his system. Don't you just want to wrap your arms around him.
Goodness gracious, I am mush...so unbelievably happy. Who wants to sponsor my baby? Okay, so maybe he is not a baby, but he is my baby. Who wants to write him letters, pray for him intentionally and provide for him? Contact me and I will hook you up.
I beat Jake to the mailbox today when we arrived home from the airport. He yelled, "What did we get" from the garage as he unloaded "little red" our beat up, please-retire-me suitcase. Bill, bill, junk, junk..."Newsletter from the Challenge Farm," I yelled back. I opened it frantically hoping that I would find a letter from my little guy. No letter but in the newsletter Cheri told the story of how we took Allan and Owens, the two young brothers off the street.
Later in the evening I finished all of my chores, including trying to revive my flowers for the um-teenth time and then I retired to Facebook where I saw this picture and haven't stopped tearing up since:
Not sure if you can remember these squishable cheeks, but this is Owens. I am pretty sure anyway. I could be his brother Allan, but the scar on his forehead gives me clues otherwise. In April he slept outside on the veranda of a supermarket huddled next to 20 other little ones. The night I found him he had a thin slice of flat cardboard to help minimize the chill. Now, just two months later, here he is...in school, learning. Do you understand the craziness of this? Unless a miracle happens, these kids die on the street and are thrown out like trash. He is a miracle.
As I clicked away looking at all the pictures, I gushed over all their smiles. Especially when I saw this one...
.
There are two points I would like to make about this picture. 1st...The holy one...it's a beautiful portrait of the modern day prodigal son. I know the parable didn't mention Coca Cola in it, but I am pretty sure it was served at the party. This is the type of picture that makes me grab at my heart and speak secret words of thankfulness to the Lord that are just between Him and I. 2nd...All you single ladies...don't know who this dude is or if he is married...but I am an awesome matchmaker...like real awesome. ;) Just sayn'!
Moving on...
This is Rikki, our youngest boy. He's four and pretty much the coolest thing since sliced bread. If you ever go on a trip with us be prepared to have your heart swept away by him...like seriously, the kid's got mad skills at wooing. Cheri evidently had a huge bash for all the kids where they all got to get dressed up. Here is our non-orphan, non-slum living child Rikki. Gush over him with me:
Cheri said he had tails on his coat and pretty much walked around all day like he was the shizzle. Speaking of Rikki....I need another $35/month sponsor for him. If you are interested email me.
Below are a few more pictures of our beautiful kids that know first hand what it is to be orphaned and then learn how to be a son and daughter. They are great examples to us as we walk out our daily lives with the Lord. Are you his orphan or His son or daughter? Do you beg for His attention and affirmation or do you know you are loved for who you are and not what you do? Do you sit at His table of provision or dig in dumps for scraps? We can't earn our salvation just like these kids can't. They are simply plucked, saved and given a choice to stay an orphan or become a son or daughter. Just like you.
I kinda wonder if they are doing the cha cha slide? I'm loving the cowboy hat!
Aren't are girls beautiful! I so wish I was there while they were getting ready.
Not sue what happened to Owens pants. I think he really likes pj
bottoms. Hilarious! Little Allan and Rikki are getting down! Can't
wait till I can dance with them.
Jake and I packed up the Honda and went to the beach last week. We needed a break. We go all over the world for our work, but the place where we melt right back into alignment with you know who is at the foot of the gulf on the soft white sandy beaches. There is something about sitting with my toes in the emerald waters and the scripture, "He holds all the waters in the palm of his hands" that sends my Spirit into orbit.
We had worked so hard and non-stop for a couple of months prior that upon our arrival, we immediately feel asleep--for a long time. It was wonderful.
In a quick trip to Wally world we made a mad-dash to the water noodle and sandbucket aisle. We came out victorious in our purchases and even found one heck of a kite to play with. Shamelessly, we were like school kids.
I made myself the foreman and interior decorator of our sandcastle and appointed Jake the facilities manager. He was thrilled. I quickly fired myself from being the foreman when I got tired of shoveling. I was so engaged with creating my outer window treatments that I didn't even notice that Jake had created a dual moat system that included a drain for the excess water--you know just in case. I think that was the point that it stopped being fun, so we got our water noodles and jumped the waves. Jake was a little distracted (for about an hour) as he continued to check on the status of his drainage system...but it was fun.
My biggest job is to use faith on a daily basis for everything. When I do that and stop putting my responsibilities and burdens first, amazing things absolutely happen. Ahhh....3 days on the beach, some clarity, new direction and a sun tan...that itches...but a suntan nonetheless.
It's strange really, to be a hero. When I look in the mirror I don't see a hero. There is no cape or side-kick. I can't scale walls or fly...and yet...I am and something tells me you are too.
Sitting in the back of a musty and dusty African taxi I watched as the illumination from nearby street lamps cast light on the miniature, smelly black body sitting on my lap. In my hands was another street child that I found, this one sleeping outside on a street corner holding a narrow piece of cardboard that he used as a blanket. I reached my hand around and placed it over his heart to see if it was beating wildly. He seemed fine. I gave him a kiss on his cheek and asked him where his mother was. Our taxi cab driver Wilson translated for us.
"She lives in the slum," he mumbled.
"Owens, how long have you been on the street." There was no answer. From the best that we could tell it had been about 3 months.
"Why are you living on the streets, Owens?" Another moment of silence.
Finally, he answered and very casually said, "Mum took us to town and told us to go find a church and she said they would help us."
My heart broke. I imagined the scene. Owens standing there in his action figure pajama pants and his Pirates T-shirt--completely abandoned. His older brother of only a year taking on the weight of provider, mom, dad, and everything else in between. Absolutely heartbreaking!
I asked my American friend, Karen who sat next to me for some wet-wipes. I scrubbed him down the best I could, turning every wipe nasty shades of brown and black. I had to be very careful with his arm because earlier in the week an old street man beat him so badly that he broke his arm.
After washing him down I held him tightly and prayed over him. Years prior I had practiced this often in my "prayer closet." I used to sit on my bed and rock back and forth, imagining a situation where I would need to use courage to actually make a difference in a child's life. I prayed that I would buck up to the challenge and not wallow in fear and confusion. The prayers were useful, because courage came over me when I had to make a decision concerning this little boy. And, my decision was to save him from a hopeless and destitute life on the streets. We were on our way to the Challenge Farm, a place of refuge and healing for these abandoned children. I continued to pray, "God, out of all the children in the world who need to be rescued, you chose this one. He must be special, God make him special." Then I prayed that we would find his brother the next day.
Owens arrived to the Farm where an awaiting Allan (my Allan) was excited to meet him. I told Allan earlier that day, "I found two boys that we are going to take off the street, Allan and Owens...do you think you can be a big brother to them?" Allan puffed up his chest and started pointing to himself, "This boy has my same name, yes, yes, I will take care of him." He was so honored!
Allan's latest picture taken by the amazing Karen Nickel
The next day our staff at the Challenge Farm took Owens to the hospital where they casted his arm. The following day they found his brother and rescued him as well. There was only one problem. Again, I had taken the boys off the street by faith. The Challenge Farm agreed to take them for the weekend and then bring them to a rescue center until they had sponsors. I was so scared that nobody would step up to the plate to sponsor them so I escaped from everyone and went to my room where I laid on my bed with my palms facing heaven. "God, these are your kids...you've got to do something." The following day, I received two emails from two heros that each picked a brother as their own child and...they each sponsored one with the full $200/month sponsorship!
So I don't wear a cape, but I am a hero. So are the two families that stepped up to take care of our new kids. So are you for reading this blog and doing something about the tragedy of abandonment that ruins these children's lives. Whether it is stepping up to help our children, or stopping and loving the one in front of you...you are a hero. I will do what is mine to do and let others do theirs.
I was telling little Allan, "Stay with your brother, stay together, don't take glue, we will rescue you. We will find a sponsor for you." I was heartbroken.
The Challenge Farm's Wish List:
Jake and I asked the Director, Sanyo to write out his biggest needs and then we promised him that we would do everything in our power to provide these things. If you are looking for an opportunity to give, here is a good one.
-Select the amount that you would like to give. -Click on "Enter a specific fund, ministry or missionary." -Type in "Challenge Farm" -Under the box "Child's Name/Additional Comments" please type the appropriate item you would like to purchase for our children. I have put quotations around the word you should put in this box." -Be blessed!!!
The Official Wish List: Feel free to donate the whole amount or towards any item.
1.) Mattresses: $25 per mattress "Mattresses" Exactly 100 mattresses are needed. We will be taking ~30 new kids off the street this fall and some of our current children need new mattresses as soon as possible. Some of the current ones are old, flimsy and don't provide much support.
2.) Blankets:$8.50 e. "Blankets"
We need 100 new blankets to keep our little ones warm.
3.) Bed Sheets: $7.50 e. "Bed Sheets"
We need 100 new pairs of sheets.
4.) Bunk Beds :$100per set "Beds"
We need 20 new bunk bed sets for our new children that we are taking off the streets this year. How exciting!
4.) Textbooks: $5 per text book "Text Book" We need to order 200 new text books. We have our own Government school grades 1-8.
5.) Paint the buildings:$2,500 "Paint the Buildings" Windows Replaced: $1500 "Repair the Windows" We have many, many buildings that need paint jobs and windows replaced. It has been a little while since this has been done. Since the recession we have had to focus on feeding the children and have had to hold off on repairs. But we are excited for someone to provide these things. 6.Grass Roofing for building:$2,500 "Grass Roofing" Our administrative buildings roof is leaking badly and needs to be fixed.
7.) Kitchen Floor:$1,850 "Kitchen Floor" Our kitchen floor is cracking. Help!!! Our kitchen is our lifeline!
8.)School Sweaters:$9 per sweater "Sweaters"
We need 60 Sweaters for the students attending classes at the Challenge Farm. The kids typically have one school sweater and it is that time of year to buy new ones.
9.) Play Sweatshirts:$5 per sweatshirt "Jumpers"
We need 100 sweatshirts for each of the kids living at the Challenge Farm. The children wear these mainly during rainy
season when it gets chilly. This will help prevent against sickness as
well.
10.) Play clothes:$10 per set "Home Clothes" We need 100 new sets. Our kids grow fast...probably like yours! Each set consists of pants and a t-shirt.
11.)Musical Instruments:$100 per piece "Instruments"
Guitars, drums, trumpets, french horns...the children have asked for a
variety of instruments. We have just hired a choir director who can
teach the children several different ones. If you have some hanging
around your house that you would like to donate let me know and we might
be able to fit them in the crate we are sending over soon.
(marisarodrgz@gmail.com)
11.) Spanish Language Materials: Donate materials (Email me @ marisarodrgz@gmail.com) One of our little ones, Daniel (on the left) brought a book to me that a missionary gave him a while ago. It was the Christmas story that was told in Spanish and English. He has been fascinated ever since and studies this book often. He is quite the linguist and has really learned quite a bit. In fact, he has inspired many of the other children as well and they all enjoyed saying, "Come estas" to Jake. If you have any Spanish learning materials that the kids can learn from they would LOVE IT! I can send it over with the next set of missionaries.
12.) Counseling Project: $29,000 (this will come in before the Fall 2011--that is what the Lord told me!) "Counseling Project" We have to provide more and more define counseling for our children. How do you cope with your parents leaving you to survive on the streets. How do you handle watching your parents wither away because of AIDS and then having to take refuge in garbage dumps? What do you do when you are sexually tortured, mentally abused and physically beaten? We have a lot of issues going on every day and only two brave women to counsel our children. The Lord kept me up for 3 nights and told me that he was going to provide trauma counseling for our children and that the funds were going to come through me. We have the plan, the people in place, a more-than-qualified person to manage the counseling project and now we need the last part of the plan--you to give. This is a great way to sow $$$ to help the children rehabilitate and eventually see them in Universities and fully re-entered into society. $30,0000 will cover 4 more counselors salaries for 5 the next five years. We are also in the process of writing a grant for other pieces of the project. So cool!
I pray that one of these items on the wish list has tugged at your heart. We are all believing that together we can meet these needs.
On my way to work I cried so hard my jaw hurt. I am trying to be reasonable and steady with all of the "things" that Jake and I have going on--but let's face it--I'm an emotional being and sometimes ya gotta just let-er out!
On January 1st of 2011, Jake and I made a decision to do what we are called to do...no matter what. It felt like we made a long grueling journey to the top of a mountain where we had too much time to think about the whata-coulda-whata's. When we arrived at the top we held hands...took a good look at each other like...are we actually going to do this, then...jumped, free-falling into our faith and God's promises over our lives.
Currently, what I (and consequently my awesome supportive husband) are called to is sitting behind a blockade...a wall that looks a little something like this...
I hear the "cheerleader" inside me say, "You see that barrier, that blockade...that impossibility...Go
break it!"
Behind the wall I am breaking down are 100 children who have been abandoned by the very people who were biologically created to unconditionally love them. Their inner wounds are exposed, their physical needs apparent and I AM NOT OKAY WITH THAT. In order to bring actual love and help to these kids I have had to basically dismantle myself and rearrange my life.
We spend hours on the phone, hours sending emails every week planning, researching and inspiring people to love these children. We pray the type of prayers over them that take courage on our own part. When I am driving in my car I will preach to myself aloud, inspiring my fake audience to get God's heart and love the one God puts in front of them. I cry every...single...time... because this is not a joke. I think about how sad I am when, as a 29 year old my mom doesn't call me for a few weeks. And then I think about how Allan has no family to go home to celebrate Christmas with, no parent to tell him that he is proud of him and that he is the best soccer play on the face of the earth. I AM NOT OKAY WITH CHILDREN BEING ABANANDONED and I know God isn't either.
I am tenacious in my efforts with the children because God is tenacious in his efforts to love me. My desperate hope is that Allan will one day get this. I hope he will see that even though mom and dad disposed him like trash, that he isn't trash to God...or Marisa.
The wall is breaking. Funding is coming in for the counseling project that will provide trained trauma counselors to deal with the kids attachment disorders, physical and sexual abuse and other traumas. If you want your fingerprint on this project send a $25, $50, $100 or $20,000 :) check/online donation here: In the memo line make sure to note, "Counseling Project."
We had shoes for the kids and then we didn't. I cried, I had to eat crow and email Cheri letting her know the donor fell through, cried a little more and then got over it. On a good note, the lady had a novel idea. She and all the ladies in her Bible study group were going to put boxes out at their workplaces and have people donate new shoes....flip flops, black leather shoes (for school) and tennis shoes (All sizes.) So...you might get an email from me at some point asking you if you will put a box out. FYI! Anyway...lastly...we also found a couple of grants that we are going to apply for. We will gather the info while in Kenya in a couple of weeks and then....we will see what happens!
I cannot reduce my faith to what my eyes can see. I will remain steadfast in my knowledge that my God loves these children more than I do, and that he will provide richly for their needs. Can I get an Amen!
This evening we drove through the hilly mountains of Chattanooga, Tennessee on our way back from a trip to see our friends and supporters. My hand in Jake's, some good ole' country music playing in the background and the beautiful sun setting on the back country hills was the perfect ending to such a meaningful weekend. We opened the windows, breathed in the sweet country air.....ummmmmmm.....and both said silent prayers. My prayer: Thank you Jesus for our peculiar lives.
Both Jake and I were raised in families with hard working, successful fathers. As young children we each witnessed our dads start with very little and work their way to the top of their companies with high character, good work ethic and all the while they were at all the wresting matches and debate tournaments. (I'll give you one guess as to which one of us was on the debate team and one guess for who the wrestler was.) We were raised with excellence, and that is a good thing because there are enough people in ministry that have big gifts but the character of a goat. It is both of our desires to do what we are called to do in ministry the way that we were raised to do it--excellence, intelligence, compassion, humility and honor.
We have tough jobs ahead of us. Bono hasn't completely fixed Africa and he's like...the shizzle! The other thing is that good character is learned, which means that bad character has to be worked out of us--not fun, especially when you are in leadership positions. But, what are we gonna do? We can't deny what we see and hear in our quiet times with the Lord. We have dreams that speak through megaphones, enough grit to get through the lean times, an abundance of joy, the overflow of love and so many people around us that are using their giftings to make our God-dreams happen.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for... We have seen the atrosities of the world and we have found it nearly impossible to remain silent. Every fiber in me hopes that my dream to provide amazing counselors for the Challenge Farm will come to pass. Every fiber within Jake hopes to equip the fieldworker with resources, supplies and funding to do their mission work with excellence and the right supplies. He is making that happen by bringing the right people to partner with us. We are so grateful for the monthly support, one-time gifts, prayers, songs, prophetic words, connections and encouragements. Without mentioning names, you know who you are, and we say thank you, be blessed and we love you. Collectively you have all covered us in every way imaginable and you make our peculiar lives reach the darkest places of the earth!
A few months after this documentary aired, I went to this exact spot and got to know these glue kids myself. Remember the toddler girl whose mother gave her glue to sniff, I held her.
So what do you do after you go to a place like this and see these things first hand.
Well...my best answer is...you change.
As you all probably already know, I was able to pull one child out of this dump and bring him to an incredible home called the Challenge Farm. But if you read my blogs and read the story about the child who followed us to the bus stop you would also know that the day I took Allan off the street was one of the worst days of my life because of a little 5-year old kid wanted to come home with me too. Long story short, I had to turn him away because I didn't have the funds. At that point I wasn't changed...I was extremely angry with God because these kids were in this situation.
I have been back from the Race for about 2 years. I do missions from a desk from 9-4:30pm at Adventures in Missions...but all of this doesn't satisfy the itching inside of me. It was like this five-year olds face was still in front of me...still telling me..."Auntie, I need to come home with you." And then he would make up new words like..."Auntie...there is more to life than you watching re-runs of Grey's Anatomy and House every night...I'm still out here and you are still capable of changing my life." He was a total comfort-killer! And yes...I might be qualified to go into a mental institute...just in case you were wondering. Before long, I had to address this issue.
So, Jake hung some white boards in our office and I started going crazy with my marker making plans...plans to fund Challenge Farm projects, plans to address the issues of some of our severely traumatized kids ...plans for better sponsor communication...plans, plans, plans.
And now...action! I'm just a semi-normal person (although that is debatable among some circles.) I like my TV time and my husband time--hoody hoo!, and my friend time, and it is so easy to get comfortable and let the world continue with it's injustices. But I thank God that he gave me this nameless 5-year old to haunt me. I thank him that he is able to turn this horrifying injustice around for the good because I love him. And...He has and he will.
For those of you waiting for your spouse, brains about to blow because of frustration and a hormones like fireworks...here is what I know to be true for me.
Jake was challenged to wait on marriage until he could do the following for his wife....1.) Provide for her. 2.) Protect her. 3.) Promote her. Sit on that for a minute...
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Sitting in the back of a musty and dusty African taxi I watched as the illumination from nearby street lamps cast light on the miniature, smelly black body sitting on my lap. In my hands was another street child that I found, this one sleeping outside on a street corner holding a narrow piece of cardboard that he used as a blanket. I reached my hand around and placed it over his heart to see if it was beating wildly. He seemed fine. I gave him a kiss on his cheek and asked him where his mother was. Our taxi cab driver Wilson translated for us. 
and his Pirates T-shirt--completely abandoned. His older brother of only a year taking on the weight of provider, mom, dad, and everything else in between. Absolutely heartbreaking!
Owens arrived to the Farm where an awaiting Allan (my Allan) was excited to meet him. I told Allan earlier that day, "I found two boys that we are going to take off the street, Allan and Owens...do you think you can be a big brother to them?" Allan puffed up his chest and started pointing to himself, "This boy has my same name, yes, yes, I will take care of him." He was so honored!
problem. Again, I had taken the boys off the street by faith. The Challenge Farm agreed to take them for the weekend and then bring them to a rescue center until they had sponsors. I was so scared that nobody would step up to the plate to sponsor them so I escaped from everyone and went to my room where I laid on my bed with my palms facing heaven. "God, these are your kids...you've got to do something." The following day, I received two emails from two heros that each picked a brother as their own child and...they each sponsored one with the full $200/month sponsorship!
So I don't wear a cape, but I am a hero. So are the two families that stepped up to take care of our new kids. So are you for reading this blog and doing something about the tragedy of abandonment that ruins these children's lives. Whether it is stepping up to help our children, or stopping and loving the one in front of you...you are a hero. I will do what is mine to do and let others do theirs. 
11.) 
The wall is breaking. Funding is coming in for the counseling project that will provide trained trauma counselors to deal with the kids attachment disorders, physical and sexual abuse and other traumas. If you want your fingerprint on this project send a $25, $50, $100 or $20,000 :) check/online donation 
ng we drove through the hilly mountains of Chattanooga, Tennessee on our way back from a trip to see our friends and supporters. My hand in Jake's, some good ole' country music playing in the background and the beautiful sun setting on the back country hills was the perfect ending to such a meaningful weekend. We opened the windows, breathed in the sweet country air.....ummmmmmm.....and both said silent prayers. My prayer: Thank you Jesus for our peculiar lives. 
We have tough jobs ahead of us. Bono hasn't completely fixed Africa and he's like...the shizzle! The other thing is that good character is learned, which means that bad character has to be worked out of us--not fun, especially when you are in leadership positions. But, what are we gonna do? We can't deny what we see and hear in our quiet times with the Lord. We have dreams that speak through megaphones, enough grit to get through the lean times, an abundance of joy, the overflow of love and so many people around us that are using their giftings to make our God-dreams happen.