Africa.

I knew two things about it as a kid.

{And I use the word “knew” loosely!}

1. It was big &  had millions of hungry kids who never heard about God. (Remember me telling you how my dad would cry when we watched the “Feed the Children” infomercials?)

2. I should never go there. I mean, there is even a song written & performed by Scott Wesley Brown called Please Don’t Send Me To Africa! Here’s part of the song.

Please don’t send me to Africa

I don’t think I’ve got what it takes

I’m just a man, I’m not a Tarzan

Don’t like lions, gorillas or snakes

I’ll serve You here in suburbia

In my comfortable middle class life

But please don’t send me out into the bush

Where the natives are restless at night

……

I’ll see the money is gathered

I’ll see that the money is sent

I’ll wash and stack communion cups

I’ll tithe eleven percent!

I’ll volunteer for the nursery

I’ll go on the youth group retreat

I’ll usher, I’ll deacon, I’ll go door-to-door

Just let me keep warming this seat!

It was all done in good fun, but Africa was clearly a difficult place that only the flakes would dare go (that had no sense at all!)

Know what? I have no sense at all.

I even remember journaling something like, “Lord, I’ll be the crazy one to go to Africa if that’s where you want me.” I wanted so badly to serve God & do whatever He wanted. And “if Africa is the worst place on earth where they don’t know about God, well, I’ll go anyway!”

At age 13, I laid on my pink pillow, on my pink bed, in my pink room, and I begged God, “Lord, Here am I! Send me!” just like Isaiah the prophet. Of course I had NO IDEA what I was saying – only that I wanted to make a difference.

Know what? Until about a year ago, I did not remember this. I was reminded of my prayers when I read Tom Davis’ book, Red Letters, that opened my eyes to the TRUE Africa. Uh-oh! So God had taken me seriously all those years ago, “I’ll EVEN go to Africa, God!” Who knew!

He still hasn’t come through on the ‘don’t let me get fat’ prayer.

Here is the Africa I now long for. In less than three weeks, my prayers to go to the ends of the earth will be answered! And God orchestrated it all. I am humbled & so thankful.

“Africa is amazing. Africa is a million and one things. It is a land of contradictions, and a land of great controversy. Africa is more diverse than any other place on the planet. It has experienced the greatest combination of foreign thievery and foreign goodwill. It is plagued with individuals who are hurting, dirty, and dying. It is plagued with rich leaders. It is strong, joyful and resilient. Africa is filled to the brim with song, dance and soccer. It fills your lungs with life with every burnt breath. It fills your eyes with tears with every sight. The sun blazes, the rain pours. It has more sky than your eyes could possibly take in. Africa is humbling. Africa rips the heart out of your chest and buries it in the rich red soil, knowing that you will someday return, to see the growth. And there is no doubt it will grow. Africa is dangerous, welcoming, and addictive. It is prosperous. It is poor. It is all too overwhelming. Africa knows the value of friendship. Time is not money in Africa. And money goes a long way. Africa holds a mirror up to your soul – letting you see all your selfish desires, and not letting go, until you’re completely broken.” Unknown!!!

So Moms, don’t let go of the things God put in your heart long ago! Recall those innocent prayers of doing whatever, whenever God wanted. And listen to your kids’ desires & dreams – my parents never once told me I wouldn’t go to Africa. They let me dream until I moved onto my next big idea.

Of course, our children’s’ lives will take many turns, but I encourage you to stir up those innocent dreams in yourself & your children – even if it takes you half way around the world!

Nothing is too big for God – not even Africa!

SOS! Shine On Sisters!

Jabulile's home (notice the cement blocks on the left)

Sunday after church we visited Jabulile’s house. Jabulile has been part of Timbali Crafts since the beginning. She was abandoned 6 years ago when her husband decided to take a 2nd wife and she now lives by herself on a small piece of land in the rural area where AIM works.

When Jabulile first started living on the land (technically owned by her husband but culturally he has to allow the 1^st wife to live on his land) it was still overgrown with trees, brush, etc. Jabulile cleared the land herself, and was able to piece together a small house  made from sticks, mud, cardboard and some scraps of corrugated metal.

It is literally falling down. Jabulile can’t even sleep in her house at night for fear of what might happen if a strong wind came up or if someone broke in. Every night she sleeps at her friend Juliet’s house (another Timbali woman) down the road.

Jabulile has been saving for three years for her home!

We went to Jabulile’s house to see her home in hopes that we can start making plans to build her a new house. She’s told me before that she has purchased some supplies for the house, but I was so surprised to see the piles of concrete blocks stacked around her house. For three years Jabulile has been saving money from what she receives from her sewing for Timbali Crafts and she has been able to purchase 600 blocks-half of what is needed to build a small two room home (w/out water or electric).

Juliet was also with us during our visit. What was so beautiful to me was seeing how excited Juliet was for Jabulile. Juliet has her own struggles. Her husband, who had also abandoned her several years ago for another woman, died and left her to pay for all of the burial and funeral expenses. There was a legal battle over which woman would receive the husband’s death benefit from his employer. Juliet was homebound for several months for the obligatory “time or mourning” until the matter was settled and the husband could be buried. Finally, Juliet received the death benefit and was able to pay for the burial and funeral, and build herself a new house! Juliet has seen the Lord sustain her and provide, and now she is rejoicing in hope with her friend.

So many of the Timbali women have stories similar to Jabulile’s and Juliet’s. Another woman has had 4 family members pass away since the beginning of the year. Another talked with me about the anger she struggles with because her husband has at least 7 children with other women, two of which have been abandoned by their mother and are now living in her home and she is now their care giver. These situations are almost unimaginable to me, but pretty much the norm for women here. These ladies are of course, notperfect, but I’m always amazed at the way these ladies persevere, even smile in the midst of hardships, and serve others everyday. Please keep praying that God would be their source of strength and encouragement!!

~~~~~~~~~

Julie & daughter Ellie

We lived in Colorado for six glorious months last year. It was an adventure in so many ways and thank God they were mostly positive adventures.

Shortly before we moved, Grandpa & Grandma came for a visit. We went on several adventures with them, one being Whitewater Rafting down the Colorado River. They bought T-shirts for our boys, who also braved the rapids. The back of the shirts say

Row, Row, Row Your Boat...

Row, Row, Row your boat

Gently down a raging,

bone-crushing

Life threatening

Class V stream,

Merrily, merrily, merrily

Life is but a dream!

An adventurous twist on the old nursery rhyme. My boys have sang it many, many times since our visit from Grandpa & Grandma.

The Bible is full of adventure. Did you know the disciples took their own turn at a Class FIVE stream? Yep… I think they were way cooler than we give them credit for.

John 6:17-19“…And it was already dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.”

Seriously, they rowed about three or four miles in the dark, raging, bone crushing sea storm waiting for Jesus. I read that this may have taken them nine hours! They kept rowing, and rowing, and rowing, until their Savior appeared.

If I’d been in the boat, I’d have been like, “Okay. I’ve had enough. You guys are ridiculously diluted if you think Jesus is gonna show up now! Seriously, He’s probably snoring under a fig tree somewhere waiting for us to get rid of our stupidity. Lets use the brains God gave us & get this boat to shore before we all DIE!” just before passing out.

If they had listened to me, we all would’ve missed the miracleS.  But FINALLY in the darkest, stormiest hour they saw Jesus walking on the sea. Jesus showed up when the storm was at its worst and when they realized it was Him, their Savior, they willingly received Him into the boat.

When Jesus got into the boat, “immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” Jesus walking on water gets a lot of hyped attention in Christian circles. It’s like no one notices that He also TRANSPORTED them & their boat to EXACTLY where they needed to be. Jesus was the original Spock! Beam me up, Scotty!

I’ve got a few of my own storms going on right now. How about you?

I encourage you no matter how dark it is, how hard the storm is blowing… KEEP ROWING!!!! Row, Row, Row your boat gently down the raging, bone-crushing life-threatening class FIVE stream! Jesus is there with you, even though you don’t see Him. He knows the perfect time to intervene. Have you noticed it’s usually at the last possible moment – when circumstances look the worst & impossible?

So keep rowing when you’re tired & think you can’t row anymore!

Keep rowing when you’re hungry – the Bread of Life will satisfy you!

Keep rowing when family & friends have started swimming for the shore!

Keep rowing – your Savior is on His way & your miracles are in the making.

Shine On Sisters!

It seems like forever since my last blog post! Wouldn’t you agree? Have you been having Moms4Change withdrawals?

Not to worry, I’m still here & keepin’ it real. {it rhymes… almost}

I was convinced this is what people thought about when I was talking... or plotting how they could make their escape...

I have this thingy. This thingy has followed my since I was a little girl. No it’s not a butt wart. {sorry, I had to say it!}

The thing is the fear that people really don’t care. Sure they ask, but they really don’t want to hear what I have to say. I just KNOW I’m wasting their time, so I try to summarize how I’m doing & what I’ve been up to {usually stumbling over my words & not making any sense} then quickly change the subject to them. I do this alot. It’s my hang-up. It’s my thingy.

There are times when I’m really comfortable with someone that I will open up & share the details of my life, but it’s rare. And I find 97% of people don’t press for more. {yes, I took a poll} They are content with talking about themselves, which confirms my belief that I am not worth their time. And consequently it’s a big pet peeve of mine when I see someone who only talks about their self-absorbed life.

I’ve become my biggest pet peeve.

Yep. In the past few months, thanks to blogging & our upcoming trip to Swaziland, I’ve become that person. The person who talks & talks & talks, whether you want to listen or not. How did this happen?

I’ve been talking & fundraising for our missions trip to Swaziland in September EVERY WAKING MINUTE OF EVERY DAY! At least that’s how it seems.

Side story: I even find myself dreaming about fundraising ideas – like the one where I organize a circus carnival complete with acrobats, creepy clowns & elephants in our .21 acre backyard – all so our Beveni kids can have school supplies. It’d be great dream except somehow I end up owing money instead of making money because I can’t bear to charge people to have fun!

I actually am enjoying fundraising mostly because I have something I believe in, that I’m passionate about. And for ONCE I don’t mind telling people! I just KNOW if people hear about Swaziland and the immense needs half way around the world that they too will become passionate enough to help CREATE change.

I just know if they come to understand the reality that a 15 year old is middle-aged in Swaziland they won’t be able to turn a blind eye. I just know it… so I talk, and talk, and talk… usually long after their eyes have glazed over. But it’s worth it because enough people are actually listening, supporting the cause  & letting the realities penetrate their hearts.

Romans 10:14 says, “How, then, can people call on someone they have not believed? And how can they believe in someone they have not heard about? And how can they hear without someone preaching?”

Fundraising gives me an opportunity to be a VOICE for the voiceless & gives the listener an opportunity to believe in someone they have not heard about before- the Swazi people.

Yeah, when we arrive on Swazi soil, we’ll preach the word by loving & serving them. But I’m talking about preaching the TRUTH to my sphere of influence here in America – that there are real people with real needs RIGHT now in whom WE can make a difference! So I talk, and talk, and talk…

For once in my life, I feel no measure of guilt for talking, and talking, and talking, and for now sharing the needs of the Swazi people. I no longer feel guilty for raising money to go to them in FIVE weeks, to hold the 4 year old who’s parents have abandoned him or died, to play with the 12 year old who now must take care of her siblings, or to cook with the Go-go’s for 132 kids morning & evening. I am excited to provide an opportunity for YOU to be a part of something greater than yourself, just as I have been given that opportunity.

Besides the birth of my children & my wedding day, I can think of no greater joy than doing to what I’m doing right now.

I WANT that SO badly for each of you reading this – that you would experience joy that can only come from knowing God is using you to bless others. He looks past our inabilities, our fears, our shortcomings, our past failures.

He takes our hand and says, “Look! Look at the plans I have for you! I have created your hands to serve the needy, your arms to hold the lonely, and your voice to declare freedom those who are enslaved. I have given you talents & abilities not for your own glory, but to be used as a vessel for my glory to shine through.”

So whatever your thingy is, don’t let it hold you back from making a difference in our world!

Sorry if this post was too long! LOL!

Shine On Sisters!

John Maxwell – The Power of Words on a Page John Maxwell posted this yesterday & I thought I’d share it with you. It seems fitting after our Beveni Outpouring 72 campaign.

Nineteenth-century writer Walt Whitman struggled for years to get anyone interested in his poetry. He became very discouraged. But then he received a note that read:

Dear sir, I am not blind to the worth of the wonderful gift of Leaves of Grass. I find it the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed. I greet you at the beginning of a great career.

It was signed by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I can’t help but wonder what might have happened to Whitman had Emerson not invested in him by writing those kind words. That note must have been like fresh air to Whitman, who breathed in its encouragement and was inspired to keep writing.

You don’t have to be a professional writer like Emerson to make a difference in someone’s life. Just taking the time to write a note of encouragement is evidence of your willingness to invest in that person.

from 25 Ways to Win with People

I honestly enjoyed the planning & execution of Beveni Outpouring 72. I love when a team comes together, dedicating themselves to a higher purpose, outside of their own benefit. If you aren’t familiar with the Outpouring 72, Read This Post. Basically we took 72 hours to infiltrate all of the Facebook & Twitterdom worlds, asking everyone to give to 132 kids at our Carepoint in Swaziland who need some basic supplies such as Tylenol, band-aids, school supplies, shoes, etc. 72 hours to raise $7200.

Well we didn’t meet our goal by the end of hour 72, but we did raise a proud $2300! Like one of my friends said, that $2300 more than the Beveni kids had before the weekend started. Hope has been created and word has been spread about their needs!

But off & on I would find myself fighting feelings of discouragement that more people didn’t give. If you’d like to read how ashamed I was that I google, ‘how to get people to give to online charity‘ read this brief post Confessions of a Fundraiser.

You know how God helped me through? He helped me through you! Through the givers!

Here is a sampling of emails I received from people who took the time to encourage me along with their donation!

• Hopefully it’ll help you reach your goal! Thank you SO MUCH for your willingness to step into the unknown, leaving what many of us would consider your safety zone, and embrace the adventure that God has provided.
• And bless you for your sweet and compassionate heart!!!
• Keep up the spirit!  Have a great evening!
• Great Job! Your generosity will be no small thing to the children of Beveni!!!!
• I was thinking about you and wanted to say how impressed and proud I am of you with all your work your doing with raising money. Please tell me more about your trip your taking to Africa. Also I am very impressed with your mom blog. You are very encouraging to me on many days.
• Thank-you for all you are doing for these kids in Swaziland!! You are such a Blessing!
• I just wanted to tell you how much I’m enjoying your Moms4Change blog and following the Beveni Carepoint happenings on Facebook. What a great thing you have going with Moms4Change. Sounds like an awesome group!
• Any there were more!

Encouraging words are like a breath of fresh air just at the right time ~ just ask Whitman or myself!

Find someone in your life today that could use some encouraging words. Call or write them a note telling them how proud you are to be their friend!

Shine On Sisters!

Wait back this blog train up – did I just say pocket books? I must have suddenly warped to 1953 when women called purses pocket books. Let me start that thought again!

Then God sparked the idea for Beveni Outpouring 72. $7200 in 72 hours for Beveni kids’ supplies. And the needs are being fulfilled! Our Beveni Team (you’re on the team, too) is raising the money to buy the supplies….

• Guilt – not gonna go there.
• Pressure – here either.
• Happiness – happy people give more. It’s a fact. Trust me. I don’t know what site I read it on, but a study was conducted sighting that happy people are 40% more likely to give than those who aren’t happy. Duh.

• It’s there is a need that you can fill – money goes FAR in Africa!
• You have a happy heart!
• You want to spread that joy to others!

Ps. I hope this doesn’t take away from those who have given during our first 48 hours of the Beveni Outpouring 72. I’m so thankful that you stepped up to the plate! I just had a few discouraged hours and decided to blog about how God got me through it!

$7200 in 72 hours for Beveni

Finally! I can announce what I’ve been so excited about! I teased on a Facebook post two days ago that my excitement was almost palpable & I still have people waiting to hear!

As of tomorrow morning we begin Beveni Outpouring 72.

But first… I have to tell some quick background for those who aren’t yet familiar with Beveni.

What’s a Beveni, you ask?

I’m the sponsorship coordinator for the Beveni Carepoint in Swaziland, where we have sponsored a young lady for over a year now. In fact, at the Beveni Carepoint 132 children receive care including food, education, emotional support, and medical attention if necessary.

There are over 20 carepoints like Beveni in Swaziland – all begun by Children’s HopeChest Ministry. The Carepoints are funded through churches & people desiring to see these kids find hope & safety & love where they live. Beveni is the only Carepoint that is not funded by a specific church, but simply through a group of online, like-minded individuals who have taken up the cause to help the kids find love & hope.

Most of the 132 kids are orphaned due the AIDS pandemic, but all are vulnerable & deal with issues children should never have to deal with. In fact, the life expectancy in Swaziland is only 32 years old.

A 15 year old is considered middle-aged.

~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~     ~~~~~

Beveni Outpouring 72 is simple 72 hours set aside to raise $7200 for Beveni kids!

We are part of a team who is going to serve at the Beveni Carepoint in Swaziland September 18^th-29^th. We have a huge opportunity to get the kid & the caregivers some much needed supplies – things you & I take for granted.

° Basic medical supplies – Tylenol, cold, allergy meds, first aid needs

° School supplies – pencils, crayons, paper, rulers, mathematical drawing sets, flashcards, music cd’s & a carepoint boom box, etc.

° Personal items – soaps, deodorants, toothbrushes/paste, shirts, socks, shoes

° Fun! – soccer balls, jump ropes, dolls, card games, candy

There is a potential for us to ship the medicines & first aid supplies through a great humanitarian organization. The shipment leaves the US very soon. Thus the need for a 72-hour campaign. For the rest of the supplies, we will buy them in Swaziland and hand-deliver them to the kids & the Carepoint leaders! This will also help the local businesses & economy.

So Friday morning (this morning!) the Beveni Outpouring 72 begins. And by Monday 8a.m. Monday morning, I expect that we will have EXCEEDED our goal!

We WILL raise $7200 in 72 hours for the Beveni Carepoint. Do you want to help create hope? Of course you do! Give what you can, but give from your heart!

It’s simple. Here’s how…

READY… SET… CLICK! SHARE! PRAY!

1. CLICK on this link to HopeChest.

CLICK HERE TO GIVE TOWARDS BEVENI SUPPLIES

2. Indicate the $$$ you wish to give  Your gift will be tax deductible.

3. **VERY Important** in the NOTES section write: BEVENI SUPPLIES

4. SHARE this information on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, with your church, your friends, and your kids…  ALL WEEKEND LONG!

5. PRAY that God blesses this event of outpouring. Pray that He also provides an outpouring of hope to our kids at Beveni, their families & all those involved in serving the kids in Swaziland. And pray that He blesses those that give!

HopeChest won’t have the totals processed until mid-next week. So do me solid & email me at danielle.moms4change@gmail.com to let me know how much you were able to give towards Beveni Outpouring 72. Names will not be shared, only dollar amounts.

I will keep a running total on Moms4Change Facebook Page as well as my personal FB page. So stay tuned, cuz we’re about to be a part of something BIGGER THAN YOU & I!!!!

Shine On Sisters!

Danielle Brower

ps. Shout out to ZekeDesigns for the graphics & logos! Holla! You can find them on facebook HERE!

I just have to give a shout out to God!

HOLLA!

And another shout out to His people who stepped up & stepped in to sponsor the six Beveni kids who once again needed hope in the form of financially support as well as hope to know that God sent someone to care SPECIFICALLY for them!

HOLLA!

I want all our sponsors & supporters to know how blessed I am.

On behalf of all 132 Beveni kids I say THANK YOU!!!!

The Missing Peace!

They screamed. I screamed. We all screamed…

Not for ice cream, though I could’ve used some today. My kids fought most of the afternoon about one thing or another – who tooted on who, who’s turn it was to pick up the dog poop, who stole money from the Monopoly bank, etc. etc.

But did I come to the rescue with laughter or a calm attitude? Nope. They were screaming at the each other, so the obvious answer was for me to scream louder, right? So I screamed, “PEACE!!!!”

All I wanted was for them to get along & play Monopoly peacefully. I could think of no other word (okay, well, I could, but PEACE is what came out, thank God!) Unfortunately my scream scared my seven year old and made him cry all the harder & louder. Ugh. I wanted a do over. And the only way to get it was to create peace – not just scream about it.

Ever have a day like that?

~~~~~

Peace.

An amazing word that nearly evokes a sigh of relief when spoken (not screamed). A word that seems to breath hope at its very mention. Peace. We long for it. We seek after it. And many times we are left questioning, “Why don’t I have any?”

In this world we live in, how can we truly ever have peace or hope of peace? Won’t there always be conflict & turmoil? Won’t there always be famine & disease?

Yes. It’s true. But true peace does not come from everything in our lives being perfectly in order. Nor does it come from being accepted or being popular.

Do you hear that?

You will NEVER achieve peace if you are looking for some outside force to bring it to you.

Success.

Relationships.

Sex.

Donuts.

Money.*

Peace comes from within. You may have heard that before, but are you living as if you believe peace comes from within or without?

God’s peace is not a promise of the absence of turmoil, but a promise of peace during crisis & chaos. I can think of no greater comfort than knowing that God’s peace is available to me regardless of my circumstances.

Isaiah 53 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Did you catch that? It was Christ’s punishment that brought us peace. We already have peace because of His suffering & His punishment.

So how do I live according to that peace Christ died for?  And how do I communicate that peace to my children without duct taping their mouths? (Did I just write that?)

• Seek the Giver of Peace ~ “Turn away from evil & do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” Ps. 34:14 – Action is required when pursuing peace.
• Release the Care ~ “So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you.” 1 Peter 5:7 I love that God is careful with me. He is tender with me as a mother is with her newborn baby. He loves & holds us close.

Corrie Ten Boom said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrows; it empties today of strength.”

• Create an Attitude of Thankfulness ~ your attitude determines your altitude. Find the things & people in your life that you can be thankful for in the midst of a difficult time. We don’t necessarily thank God for the turmoil or chaos or disaster, but we thank Him in the midst of it, knowing that He says all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
• Don’t Give Up ~ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Your story, God’s story through you, IS NOT OVER!!!

So today I hope you are encouraged to seek & stir up the peace that is already within you.

When you are stressed & ready to duct tape someone’s mouth shut, how do you respond?

SOS! Shine On Sisters

*not listed in order of importance, mind you

If there’s one thing we humans all have in common… no matter our social status or our geographical location… can you guess? That’s right! (I knew I had smart readers) We all will eventually come to the end of our life on earth. It’s a fact. There’s no way around it. God did not create these vessels called physical bodies to live forever.

For Christians, we know that our spirits live on forever. But sometimes I think that the knowledge of a ‘higher life’ hinders us from really fostering the heart & will that it takes to show people we care. We hinder ourselves from  making a true difference in the lives we touch here on earth, in these earth suits, ‘cuz well, real life begins in heaven, right???? Wrong.

It counts. Now.

Today.

This is Real.

How do you want to be remembered when your time on earth is done? What will the people closest to you say about you… not just at your funeral, but in the months & years that come after your death?

I’ve been following Todd Smith’s blog & Facebook page for a few weeks now. I find he’s very insightful in many ‘little matters’. I read his blog post today & wanted to share it with you. After reading it, come back here & lets discuss it.

What Will Be Your Legacy? | Little Things Matter.

What’s one thing you want to be remembered for? And how are/have you made that a reality? I think we can all learn a lot from this & from each other.

SOS! Shine On Sisters!