Archive - August, 2010

Please Don’t Send Me To Africa!

August 30, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our Table, Across Our World, Swaziland with 0 Comments

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!

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It’s about so much more than purses!

August 26, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World, Timbali with 2 Comments

This is a story about Jabulile, a woman full of talent & grace in the midst of circumstances you & I can only imagine. The story is written by Julie Anderson. Julie’s bio is after Jabulile’s story . Some of you will be interested to know that Julie went to school in St. Paul & ministered in Minneapolis as well. God led her to Swaziland, as you will read below. She then started Timbali Crafts to help the women of Swaziland. Here she shares the story of Jabulile, one of 90 women who craft the purses we have all come to love!

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 1st 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).

What a picture of patience and perseverance. We’re hoping that now we can come alongside Jabulile and provide the rest of what she needs to get a new home. Pastor Walter (the main Pastor AIM works with in that area of Swaziland) was with us and said that the men from their church could volunteer their time to build, if we could help finish buying the supplies. Just that morning in his sermon he had said, “If you see something that needs to be done, do it.” “Now we will put it into practice,” he said. I just talked to Walter again today, and he said the men of the church have already started digging the foundation of the house.

The estimated cost for buying the rest of the materials for Jabulile’s house is $1500.

If you’d like to donate toward the cost of building a house for Jabulile, follow this link: https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=swazi&multi=
(Choose Swazi Craft Co-op in the drop down menu, and put Jabulile’s house in the comment section)

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

My name is Julie Anderson and I’ve been on staff with AIM since 1996. I grew up in Cherokee, IA, and attended college at Northwestern College in St Paul, MN. After graduating in ’94 with a BA in Bible and Graphic Design I worked as a graphic designer and youth worker in Minneapolis for 2 years. During that time I took my youth group on a mission trip to Matamoros Mexico with AIM and was hooked. After 6 years on staff with AIM based in Mexico and leading trips all over Latin America, I went graduate school at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I received my MA in Spiritual Formation and Discipleship in ’04and then headed off to Swaziland where I’ve been since September 2004. In January ’05 I met my beautiful daughter Nosipho Elizabeth (Ellie) at the government hospital in Mbabane, Swaziland. I started fostering her March ’05 and the adoption was complete in June 06. Currently I am heading up AIM’s women’s ministry in Swaziland, and have started Timbali Crafts as an income generating opportunity for women. I desire to see the HOPE of Christ transform this hurting nation!
If you would like to support the women who make Timbali Purses & carry a piece of Africa with you, please click HERE – Timbali Purse MarketPlace to order yours!
Shine On Sisters!
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My big thingy.

August 9, 2010 in Across My Heart, Across Our World, Swaziland with 6 Comments

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!

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