This post is written by Deborah Lange. A 20 year old missionary living in Sierra Leone, Africa.
In all our efforts, support, and work in missions I want to remind everyone that our biggest challenge and struggle is not fighting AIDS, and it’s not illiteracy, and it’s not even poverty. Our biggest struggle; our battle is against the spiritual forces of darkness. This is not a ‘force’ like the famed Star wars movies forces, with white robes and light sabers.
This is a real war. In the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:12-13 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
I saw this in a powerful way recently. On February 23rd 2010 I traveled with a caravan of others; my friends, Pastors, worship leaders, engineers, mechanics, musicians and a group of the children from the Orphanage – this was a group of men and women both young and old who were prepared to be used by God for mighty things in Jesus’ name and to restore Christ’s light to where darkness had spread.
We were headed to the Sierra Leone Province of “Mile 91” for a Christian Crusade. ‘Mile 91’ village was nearly completely saturated by the Islamic faith having over thirty Mosque buildings and only 3 Christian churches. Even with several attempts in the past by different Christian groups, because of the heavy Muslim influence there had never been a successful Christian Crusade.
But God had a change in store for ‘Mile 91’. Light was about to shine and prevail.
The day I arrived we had a large rally until night fell with hundreds of us walking the streets, riding motorcycles and buses, and singing and shouting announcing the Crusade that was taking place on the following three nights.
Over 15 different Churches and one of the largest Christian organizations in Eastern Sierra Leone sent Pastors and people to join us for this Crusade.
I was not only the only white person in the area but I had no idea what to expect, I had never been first hand a part of anything like this before. God was preparing to show me new heights of his power and magnificence.
Upon arriving I could feel the oppression of the spiritual darkness in the air. The Pastors and Leaders were very straightforward and precise; we were invading demonic areas and encroaching on land controlled by darkness. Jesus would be victorious but we must be prepared for a struggle in the process. Multitudes joined in on praying, worshipping and fasting for the next 3 days while God worked wonders in this village.
Each night nearly 4,000 Africans gathered from all over, some came out of curiosity, some for healing, some in support and some in protest. But all that came heard Jesus Christ proclaimed and worshipped.
Each time we gathered together we worshipped, danced and sang out praises to Jesus Christ for hours, read over the microphone a passage of scripture and then the designated Pastor preached to the people. Followed by sharing the gospel and then watching thousands each night come forward to accept Jesus and surrender their lives to Him. The night was ended in an intense time of prayer over the sick, the lame, the blind, and the lost.
What was said and what was done did not bring the miracles I’m about to tell you, Jesus Christ being alive and active in Mile 91 and listening to the cry of help and healing from his people brought about the wonders that took place.
During the prayer time mighty things happened. Cripples walked, blind received sight, demons were driven out of people, and many other healings took place.
Ya Aminata Kargbo, who had been unable to walk for ten years, threw away her wheel chair after Jesus healed her. Rugiatu Bangura who had been blind for two decades received sight and Fatmatas tumor on her side disappeared while being prayed for. Over 100 people were delivered from witchcraft and demons during the Crusade.
God is a God of miracles, and He chose to display his power in such a way last week.
Above all the wonders and miracles; the heavens rejoiced at the over 8,000 that came forward and surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ.
You must understand, in this community taking Jesus as Savior does not mean merely giving up drugs, stopping cussing, or going to church. These people are risking persecution, rejection, and death threats when they bear the name of Christ.
I’ve experienced in a new way the reality that nothing is impossible with God. Please set aside your pre-conceptions of how you think Jesus works, forget your denominational background for a moment, or maybe your past experiences of false representations of Christ at work in our lives and let me tell you plain and simple what I saw happen in a village dominated by Islam in the poorest country in Africa.
There were hundreds of desperate needs and lost souls with no physical or human way of helping them, Jesus was called on and His name was exalted and healing and salvation took place, and in response Jesus was worshipped and glorified by all.
Men and women of ‘Mile 91’ that were crippled or sick are now walking and leaping on the streets testifying to Christ’s healing and salvation.
This battle was won, but the war we are facing in this world against the forces of darkness is not over yet. Please join me in praying for the people of ‘Mile 91’ pray for the faith and perseverance and physical safety of the new Christ-followers, pray for the pastors who are now responsible for discipling and training the thousands of converts, and pray that no matter what comes the gospel will be spread, darkness will continue to decrease and Jesus will get all the glory.
To the Mighty name of Jesus Christ be all glory, honor and praise forever and ever.
( (((Due to extremely slow internet and limited access, pictures will be posted later!)))
This post is written by Deborah Lange who is living in the Wellington Orphanage as an in-house tutor for the children.
1 John 4:11-12 “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
In the month noted for “love” let us all not forget the greatest love and Lover of all. Only because of Him are we able to love others always and endlessly. Living in Africa this year I have learned so much about true love. God has given me opportunities to love His children and His people every day and every moment in new ways.He has enabled me to love others more than I thought possible. To love when it hurts; to love when I feel I have no energy; to love those who reject love; love the old, the ugly, the disabled; to love without tiring! Because He loves me without tiring!
I praise God for Romans 5:5 “God has poured His love into our hearts, by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven” I rejoice that He pours His love into me daily so that I can pour that same love into others. God gave me the chance to love many for Him this month. To love the old man who needed a hug and smiled when I greeted him in his tribal tongue; to love the Muslim teenage girl who had a very swollen hand by praying for her and finding medical treatment; to give the love of a Mother to the girls at the Orphanage who get sick or scared during the night and come knock on my door needing comfort; to pray and encourage the single Mom whose home was burglarized last week.
God blesses me with the chance to love them in the name of Jesus. If I could share anything about the surroundings here at Wellington Orphanage it would be to tell you about the love that is shown day in and day out. During the classes I teach every day, one of the subjects the children do is scripture memorization. This month they are memorizing 1 Corinthians 13 ‘the chapter on love’ these Children love like I’ve never experienced. They are filled with God’s love and give love in so many ways. In 1 Cor. 13 it says how our faith, prophesying, prayers and giving are all useless without love. Many people that come to this Orphanage are inspired and amazed at the Pastors and children’s faith, giving, and answered prayers. As I’ve studied this chapter and spent more time here I’m convinced they have all those spiritual things in abundance because above all else they LOVE others tirelessly!
Oh that I would learn to love and serve always, not thinking of my own comfort but caring most about the comfort of Christ and those around me. 1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! I praise God daily for the love of so many of you are praying and giving for Sierra Leone, for the Orphans, and for my teaching with the Education Project. Through your giving and praying you make it possible for me to be here; loving in the mighty name of Jesus. Without HIS love, all else is meaningless. Please take time now to rejoice and rest in His mighty love that He pours into our hearts!
By HIS Love,
Deborah
This is a poem written by Michael Smith and Oxygen for Organizations
I just returned from Sierra Leone on the west coast of Africa. I thought you might enjoy how I tried to make sense of what I experienced.
When you See, When you Smell, When you Feel
Ten o’clock at night.
I can see expansive galaxies in the night sky that remind me of how miniscule is
our presence in God’s creation.
My senses are cocooned in 80 percent humidity producing a constant stream of condensed sweat that
rivers down my back in the 85-degree night,
a teasing breath of breeze promises little relief,
the not quite deafening sound of a diesel generator drowns the yapping and
occasional howling of stray and unwanted dogs.
I could find some comfort if only the breeze would be just a bit more willful.
Then the smell of a constant stream of fermenting human waste that flows in
open gutters would move up the bare mountain
on which sits the home of children left orphaned by a vicious war.
A conflict of vague substance but sharp blades and amoral bullets
The war is over,
but it isn’t.
Left are
children without fathers to hold them,
babies without mothers to give them their breasts,
mothers without legs to carry babies wrapped on their backs to
introduce them to life,
fathers without their hands to build futures for their families.
Maybe more than that, left are a people who live with little,
have little and have for too long known even less.
I am at an orphanage in Sierra Leone being a drop-in father for adolescent girls and young boys who
want to be treasured but don’t have the words to ask.
I am part of a group of Americans who are bringing some desperately needed emotional and financial
resources out of our overflow to a people who have no
flush toilets,
cold air,
flowing water when you turn on the tap
because there is no tap,
refrigeration
because there is no electricity,
few (very few) paved roads,
doors and windows;
not to keep the weather out, but the poisonous snakes that
want to share their beds,
an emergency room if the unexpected and possibly fatal happens,
not even a doctor to prescribe some simple antibiotics to resolve
a little boy’s kidney infection (really).
It’s not an environment friendly to humans.
But Freetown,
the capital of this small and ignored country,
is home to 2 million of them.
Jesus said that what you do to the least of these, you do to him.
This then, is where Jesus lives and there are a lot of them.
Their eyes are open invitations to know their souls.
Their arms welcome you without expectation.
Their smiles are the artwork of their hearts.
To the uninitiated it is hell.
But.
Look, you will find pockets of heaven.
Lighted candles drive out darkness.
Each evening the expected darkness returns.
But the survivors are relentless;
more candles are lit.
Maybe soon shadows will be rare.
The sparks that light the torches
only need small encouragement to attract more to do the same.
It is easy for us to participate.
We have to suffer very little to light a lot of candles.
Children need to be held.
Minds need educating.
A little cash ($50; it’s a loan, it gets paid back to use again) starts a business that feeds a family,
not for a day,
but for a lifetime.
It’s true, I have seen it.
When you see,
when you smell,
when you think,
when you feel.
You won’t not want to help.
Write me and I will tell you how to give just a little from the overflow of your cup that will make you the hands and heart of the great God of creation who lives in Sierra Leone.
michael smith, 28 ne 28th st , oklahoma city, ok 73105. michael@intendtolead.com
Cristy Cash, Crystal and I (Shanna) are having a night or worship/ministry/prayer for women next weekend. The three of us have been praying and preparing for this night. Cristy sent an email to Crystal and I. I HAD to share it with ya’ll. If you will read all the way down to ‘Thing 2′ you will see how this ties into orphans and widows…and us. May you understand more of the power of God’s healing love in the lives of these two groups…and in our own lives. 
(I have taken the liberty of highlighting my favorite parts 
)
Hi sweet Girls! OK-I am starting to prepare for our amazing upcoming night with God and I wanted to just share a few things that God has been showing me. I am not totally organized yet on how it fits together, but you two know God when you hear/see him so I think you will pick it out and I hope it blesses and encourages you both as you prepare!!!
So I have been in this new season for me – motherhood – that is rather challenging. I am not able to function at as high a level as I would like and I get discouraged. I don’t sleep very well at night, so when I go to work the next morning (I am ALWAYS late – I have come to grips with that ) I am not as “smart” as I was. Solutions don’t come easy. I rely on God, but sometimes he “let’s me down” because I needed a world’s answer – not a heart answer .I am not as tough as I think I should be – but probably tougher than I give myself credit for (people say). I fight depression – I have for years. It’s the last nagging fruit of my sinful self-centeredness and immaturity. I am trying very hard to focus on staying away from that darn pit – no, that scary chasm – that can pull me down and waste as much as an entire weekend – which I so looked forward to.
I pull this schedule for too long and then I get into a “hole” or as my sister Melinda would call it “a place” . Girls – let me tell you I am healthy enough these days to know what to do, but sometimes there is just no knowledge that can pull you out! The deficit is hard to recover.
The awesome news is – God is so good. He has given me a toolbox. Sometimes the tool is like needing oxygen when there is no air – I must desperately fend off panic and calmly and quickly work the latch on the box to find it and pull it to my lungs so that I can have the air I need to survive. But I do it! He helps me! I could have never done that 6 or 7 years ago – in many situations I could not have done it last year. There is no doubt he gently leads me along. He is so sweet. He always lets me see how my faith and effort were part of the equation so we can look at each other and smile when we accomplished something only the two of us can fully appreciate the difficulty of. 
But I fortunately or unfortunately have seen His Glory and I want nothing else . I know the value of a mother, of a friend and a wife. I know the value of godly leadership in a secular workplace and how rare and precious these things are – that the world tosses their value aside and that a willing worker has to sow in tears sometimes to reap in joy. 
God has taught me how to be music into others’ lives – and I have to do it – because it is right and fun and it is a luxury to be that to Him and to others. I want everyone to know my little family joyfully makes this sacrifice to the Pearl of Great Cost and that WE are His pearls of great cost that He rejoices in his sacrifice.
My Lord is a Pearl of Great Cost – to me. It costs my comfort and restraint in a world where I could probably be more and have more than I do.
• There is encouragement for those who have made sacrifice without yet reaping the joy!
o Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn away to false gods. Psalm 40:4
o Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence O Lord. Psalm 89:15
o I have told you these things so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
o And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:7
o Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4
o When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? Psalm 56:3,4
o Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. O my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Psalm 146:1-2
God has recently shown me a few things through a devotional book called “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young, through Jerome’s January 15th blog entry and just through my own mini-crises of emotional pain (He seems to allow this prior to times of worship so I will be able to connect and understand.)
• Thing #1:Thanksgiving is like a fight to the throne of God. It is how we unite with God in His sovereignty over a trial. It is the lethal blow to the enemy in spiritual warfare. It is a gentle shortcut Jesus provided to being ok. It is a sacrifice that He does not underestimate. He knows how we get shut down emotionally and thanking is so difficult. He sees the offering through tears and he will honor it. There is power in accepting each day as it comes and searching for God’s blessings in the difficulty.
o Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thess 5:18
o Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of any kind. James 1:2.
• Thing #2: I understand why the widows and the orphans. (this is just one dimension – I may be totally off base, but I think there is something to this!)
o These two groups are groups many of us think we can’t identify with. I know I have not been able to. I tend to be less patient with this group because they are so darn needy! (insert ironic sarcasm here)
o BUT we all are or have been this. It represents our time before Christ was Lord of each part of our lives – and I suppose we never leave these groups since He is always transforming us to his image. Some people here on earth represent these two groups literally, but we are all a part of them.
* The orphan is someone who has never known the hand of provision, or personal undivided love. The orphan has never known a parent who creates an environment solely for supporting their personalized developmental needs and lays out a path for their successful future. The orphan has never known the love of a mother or a father.
I have seen how powerful this love is in an instance from when Jackson was in the hospital. When he was born, he didn’t have lungs yet – just sacs that would form into lungs. It was a struggle to keep his blood saturated with oxygen – and when he was upset or uncomfortable which was much of the time, his saturation went down. He had to be given strong pain management drugs to keep him sedated and sleeping so he could be calm enough to take in oxygen. Alarms sounded often since his saturation would go down to 70 – sometimes 58% levels. 
When he was 5 and ½ weeks old, I got to hold him for the first time – his mother for the first time could provide direct love to him through touch. I held him on my chest with his tiny ear to my chest and the ventilator in his tiny mouth. Almost instantly we saw the physical result of that love. My heart beat into his ears, his temperature regulated on my skin and his blood saturation level pegged the top of the chart at 98 and 99%! He was calm and happy and so was I. Like when we and God hold one another like this. 
o The widow is possibly more painful. She has known the tender love of a husband and had a life – then at the point when her needs are growing and not shrinking – the hand of love is removed from her and it is not there. It is not there. Instead she can see all the dreams of her future going away and look back on a life of preparation and be blind to the fruit. Dangerous loneliness creeps in and threatens to steal, kill and destroy.
o God has so much compassion for these two groups! He does not want us/them to be destroyed! He wants us to thrive and he knows they need so much support! It is a miracle to love these two groups because it is dependant on God being present in our lives to love them. That’s why it is an awesome act of God when we love and serve and support them!
Anyway – that is my long rambling I just wanted to share. Love you!
This is an update of our last mission trip from Sherri Drwenski who is part of the leadership team for the Education Project in Sierra Leone.
Dear friends,
Our flight out of OKC was delayed for hours which caused us to miss our connection in London. We ended up spending an extra day in London and flying out Wednesday evening traveling through Nairobi, Kenya, with a stop in Ghana before finally making it to Sierra Leone!
The church service on New Year’s was lively with so much joy it was hard to contain! At midnight, everyone wishes you well in addition to saying “I hope you change.” I have to agree with that statement. I really hope to change! I think one of the biggest things that I came away with this trip was that it isn’t about me or my plans to make things happen in Sierra Leone! In fact, God doesn’t even really need me, but allows me to have a part in this work because He is good. Two of the main things I set out to do were sidelined and there wasn’t a whole lot I could do about it. 
This is very frustrating for my American mindset, but really a commonplace thing in Africa. I had to tell the Lord that I didn’t want it to be about me and confess that I was sorry for where I did make it about me. The books that I had gathered for the tutoring program didn’t arrive with our team, but only came on the evening we left. And the library books for the senior secondary school that were sent in the last container were mistakenly taken by Njala University with the books donated to them by OSU.
In a country with no libraries, it’s not too hard to understand why these books weren’t returned when someone noticed that they were all marked clearly “Wellington Sr. Secondary School Library”. In fact, I learned that the only library in the country was vandalized during the civil war and books are just too expensive to replace. So it was with a very discouraged heart, that I realized the room that stood ready to be stocked with hundreds of books donated by friends had only encyclopedias and a few other books that somehow made it to their location. The pastors felt the loss greatly when it was understood the books were gone, but I assured them that God was able to replace the loss and provide them with a library. These are men that have faced death at firing squads and have depended on God for their survival and the survival of the 90 children they took in with no means. How can I be discouraged about such a small set back? My God is able and mighty and nothing is too hard for Him. When the library is completed, we will able be able to look at how mightily God provided. They have a vision for this library to not only serve the Senior Secondary and Junior Secondary students, but they will also open up the library to university students and others to bless the community around them. So I am once again humbly asking for book donations.
We had the wonderful privilege of traveling with two amazing women, Shanna and Deborah. Deborah is staying for the next six months to tutor the children in reading and math and really be a mom to them. We had an amazing time getting the children into groups and starting the reading program. She is going to be such a blessing to them, and I’m excited that she gets to continue the good work started by Amy Kernal. Shanna has been to Africa four other times and loves more than any person I know. I literally asked God to help me love deeply like her all those around me. Every time I turned around, she was praying with someone, or studying the word with children, or just loving on someone.
We were there with another team from Dallas and had the incredible opportunity to take part in a community outreach. The children of the orphanage sang and performed for hundreds of people, while we got the chance to serve meals to those who came. We rarely see people who are truly hungry. We talked about it later with the older children and described all the ways that people can get food in America. There are no food stamps or food banks or soup kitchens in Sierra Leone. So when the word goes out that the church is serving a free meal – not just rice, but rice, meat, and something else I couldn’t identify, plus a cold beverage – the people came. They sat patiently while we handed out meals. But as time went on the children in the back of the room started to get panicky about not getting a meal. They began to mob us as we served, making it almost impossible. We kept assuring them that they would get a plate, but that didn’t help. They only knew that they were hungry and we had food. The orphans served food and drinks to those around them. Isn’t that just an amazing thought! Orphans, who are usually at the bottom of the totem pole are serving others. We felt that Jesus was right there in the midst of these people caring for their needs and making sure they were fed.
The whole trip was filled with ways that God showed us each day, all day His faithfulness and provision. But one of the most amazing things that happened while we were there is still hard for me to believe! A group of us were walking down the hill with Pastor Hassan in the lead. A lady called out to him from in front of her house, and he walked over to talk to her. When he came back to our group, he said that she had just given birth on Christmas Day to a baby girl and their imam had told them that it was a sign that the baby should be blessed in the Christian Church! This family was Muslim!! The mother said that she had a peace about that and asked the pastor if they could bring her to the church. Pastor Hassan, who himself was raised Muslim, told the family that this happened because God wanted them to accept Jesus Christ. The father said he wasn’t ready to do that yet, but would allow his baby to be blessed in the church. Well, sure enough, just two days later, this woman came to church with her very small baby. She sat next to us at the front of the church through the service. Then the pastor called her to the front of the church where she sat with her baby. He told the whole congregation her story and how God used this baby to bring this family to know about Christ. He spoke directly to the baby, blessing her and when he asked the baby’s name, the mother said it was “Christiana”!! He gave the mother a bible and asked her if she would teach her child about God and raise her the way God wanted her to. The woman agreed she would and the church then blessed her with an offering. The pastor’s quiet, but very strong faith never wavers from the truth that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no man comes to the father except through the son. Oh, for boldness like that!!
My dear, sweet husband is called “a hard-working man” by all the children and adults at the orphanage. 
Hassan Oxford, his right-hand man at the orphanage, said that he is a man of works, not words. He works from sun-up to past sun-down on things that need fixing. He repainted chalkboards for Deborah’s tutoring and at the senior secondary school. He cleaned out the generator tanks that were contaminated with water and bolted the generator down so that it could be outfitted with a muffler he brought. He fixed the always breaking-down chairs and tables at the orphanage. He and two other men made a table for the kitchen ladies from pallets. They had nothing to set food off of the ground on. He made a cover for the water tank on the roof that was open to birds and bugs. He and his crew sprayed the orphanage three times for cockroaches. I have to think that this helped, but it seemed to make them only go running everywhere! He was also seen fixing lockers for children or anything else they brought to him that needed fixing! And one of his main jobs was to make sure that Deborah was set for her stay. He installed new mosquito screens on the windows and door, hung her mosquito net, built her a shelf, and sprayed her room for bugs! He loves all the children so much that it is very hard for him to say goodbye without tears. 
They love their Papa Greg and how hard he works for them! In addition to all this, Greg met with the Minister of Works and Infrastructure with Pastor Hassan to show him the bridge plans and to further the work that Crystal and Mike Webb are doing to build a bridge in a very remote village. The minister was an amazing man that has a passion for bridge-building in his country and cleared the way for 4-HIM’s new construction company, “Nehemiah Construction Company” to be licensed to begin the work. And last but not least, Papa Greg was given the privilege of preaching at church on Sunday and also sharing the word with the children during several devotions.
I know this is a very long at this point, but I have to share one more thing that the gave me so much joy! I feel like it was such a gift from God. I worked in the library at the orphanage to reorganize the books over several days and had many helpers and visitors. When the children came in, I would ask them to tell me about what they had read in the library or what their favorite books were. I had so many children describe to me their favorite books, even pulling them off of the shelves to show me. One girl pulled off of the shelf a Christian U.S. History textbook. This seemed like a very unlikely “favorite book”, but she showed me her favorite part. It was a section about how John Wesley came to America and shared the gospel with American Indians. This same girl told me that she wanted to be a journalist and write a book about the war. I was then able to show her books on the shelves that others had written about wars. I showed her Anne Frank’s Diary, Zlata’s Diary (a 13 year old’s diary about the Bosnia War), and also showed her Corrie ten Boom’s book written from prison. I encouraged her to read these and write her book! 
Isn’t it amazing that God loves these children so much that they have a wonderful, small library in their orphanage, in a country without libraries. And God is using these resources to build up these Nehemiah’s so they can in turn restore their country!
Thank you again everyone who shared in this with us through your encouragement, prayers, and support. God is good all the time!
Love,
Greg and Sherri
Yesterday someone asked me, “How did your wife’s trip go?” The question caught me a little off guard. You see this person was not looking for a ‘good/not good’ response. They wanted to ‘KNOW’ how it went. After past trips I was able to answer this question with quick, powerful stories. One time I was able to say, “4 babies that were going to die, lived instead.” Another time I was able to say, “A whole polio village that was starving (in Sierra Leone there are no emergency food stamps) was provided with food for the rainy season.” This time I could not think of a big story so I just said, “Good.” Many people have questioned me about why people go on these mission trips. It is not always easy to quantify. Many people think it is not a wise use of money. For most trips at least I can tell these people, “Well, she (using gifts donated by friends) fed a whole village and saved a few babies. Is that enough for you?” But that is not the real value of any of her trips. I think this trip has really shown the most important of all the reasons that she goes. This reason is ‘simply to share a bottle of water.’
Later that night as we were going to bed Shanna brought a stack of letters the kids wrote to her into our bedroom. She has been reading 2 of them a night to me. I was really tired this night and put up a little bit of a fight. She told me it would only take a few min so I agreed just to pacify her. One letter really stuck out to me. One of the girls wrote her saying how special a walk they took together was to her. The girl specifically thanked Shanna because as they walked and talked Shanna shared her bottle of water with her. The girl said, “No one has ever show me love like that.” Wow! “No one has ever shown me love like that!” What???
>
I realized that I had heard at least 20 kids say basically the same things to her in letters I have read. “When you shared your food with me…When I asked you to do a bible study with me…When you held me when I cried…When you took care of me when I was sick…When you bought me clothes in the market place…When you wrote me a letter and sent a picture.” No wonder probably about 30 to 40 of the kids call me Dad now even though most have never talked to me. I am going to be honest, when I go I will want to stay at the Hotel. When she goes she stays in their rooms with them. When I go I will give them food. When she goes she will share a plate with them. What most people do not understand about orphans is that their greatest desire…the pinnacle of their desire is not for food and water. The pinnacle of their desire is for SOMEONE to provide food and water. If they were hungry and you gave them the choice of food or to be held what do you think they would choose? If they were sick with a fever and you give them a choice between a bottle of water and someone to hold them and pray for them (as Christina Parker did and almost lost her life doing it) what do you think they would choose? Why does Shanna raise $3600 to leave her kids and life for weeks at a time? Why doesn’t she just send all that money over in cases of food, drink and medicine? I will tell you why…because IT IS MORE IMPORTANT for her to share one bottle of water as she walks and talks with a girl who does not have a mother. It is more important for her to sit and hold a girl as she cries and recounts the story of her parents’ deaths. It is more important for a little boy to be able to show his friends his ‘Mom Shanna’ and brag about how she comes 5-6 weeks every year to spend time with him.
Let me tell you who my God is! He is THE GOD that will travel thousands of miles and spend thousands of dollars to share a bottle of water with an orphan! He is THE GOD who will hold a child with TB even though it will almost kill Him. He is the GOD who will leave his own spouse and children so he can Love those who have no family! How my heart burns for Him! How beautiful HE is!
You see, Shanna did many things on her trip. She helped with the education program, she clothed many of the kids and she provided food for the hungry but the most important thing? How did her trip go? What is the greatest thing she has ever done?
‘SHE SHARED A BOTTLE OF WATER WITH JESUS’
Was it worth the $3600 that was given? Was it worth 2 weeks without physical contact (you know what that means)? Was it worth my kids having to suffer a little? Was it worth…is it worth risking her very life? Is it worth risking my kids maybe living with no mom? HELL YEAH! If He risked the cross for me…and I believe that…why would I not risk anything just to give him a drop of water? Why would I not show others a love they have never seen? It will all be worth it to hear someone say to me, “No one has ever shown me love like that.”
Our oldest Africa son Solomon is in his second year at Njala University in Sierra Leone. His best friend is Desmond. Together these two are going to change their nation to the glory of God. I will write more about these two precious ones later, but for now I will let you read a recent email exchange between Desmond and I:
Desmond,
Thank you for all the time you spent with me while I was in Africa. Thank you for seeking the Lord with all of your heart. Thank you for being a constant source of love and encouragement for my sweet son Solomon. I feel so blessed and proud to be connected to your life.
You are an amazing young man. I want to tell you some reasons why I am proud of and why the Lord is proud of you through some of the things I observed about you on this last trip.
The first thing is the testimony of how you sought the Lord with everything in you when you wanted to switch course studies. You sought His face and did not give up. You knew that He had the power to act in your behalf and you trusted him in this. The joy that you had when He granted your requested was so precious! I KNOW that He rejoices over you and takes great delight in you…because you take such delight in Him.
I loved that you were content to just sit and be with us. Even if we weren’t directly interacting with you. You were with us to give and not to receive. The few nights that Solomon didn’t come to the home, you came anyway and sat and talked with me…you could have stayed with him because I know you love him and also desired to spend time with him. Thank you for spending time with me in his behalf. You are a great friend to him. Being a good friend is difficult and rare. It is hard to not try and see how we can get fulfillment from our friendships instead of how we can give.
It was worship to the Lord that you sat and spent so much care and time making the ties for dad Jerome and papa Greg…the jewelry for me and Mama Sherri and the necklass for Micah. I want you to know the tie, and the jewelry you made this time and last time are some of our greatest treasures. It is so special to me that you made something with such love and thoughtfulness. I love the jewelry you made more than my most expensive piece of jewelry that has been bought in America. Thank you!
I know it was difficult and a sacrifice to type up the laws. It was so special that you had two copies made and bound for me and Crystal. I know this was not a small or easy thing for you to do. It was a labor of love. Please know that these laws are precious to me. I am so proud of you and Solomon for creating them. They are a treasure to me!
Thank you for the rich spiritual conversations that you had with me about the scriptures, the things of the Lord. Those conversations strengthened my faith and have brought me closer to the Lord.
Thank you for your joy. Your sacrifices to spend time with me. Thank you for the way you love and serve Solomon. Thank you for the way you have accepted me into your life and made me feel special and loved.
I want you to know I feel as if it was a gift from the Lord to meet your family. I felt it was a great honor. The love you showed your mum when we went to your house was so precious. The way you showed her affection and honored her with your words was amazing. She is so blessed to have you as a son! I want you to know it is very difficult to be a mum and raise your children in the Lord, it can become so discouraging at times, you wonder if you are doing a good job and want to please the Lord. You loving and encouraging your mum and praising her, honoring her, being affectionate toward her, gives her the strength and encouragement to continue seeking Him and leading her children in the Lord. God is using you in her life.
I love that you are seeking to honor him by being steadfast in your studies. I know that you know the Lord is going to use you for many years to come to change your nation and even the world to make an eternal difference.
Even though you did not sleep the last night you came back to the home and stayed with me until I left. I know you were very tired. Your sacrifice was such a blessing. Your presence was a comfort.
Desmond, during my time in Africa the Lord has used you in immeasurable ways to bring me closer to the Lord and to encourage me to continue to believe that He will do greater things in my life, in Sierra Leone, in America. He has used you to remind me that He is taking care of Solomon, serving him through you in my absence. He has used you to remind me that investing in the lives of those He has called me to is my highest calling…and that there is an eternal difference being made.
I love you!
I love Solomon, more than I have words for. I know that you are one of the most important parts of his life. I feel so blessed that we too are connected as one family. Thank you for loving him so much. Please continue to encourage him and love him deeply in my behalf…in the Lord’s behalf. Your love and encouragement play a BIG role in God’s plan for his life. Please continue to pray the Lord would bring him to America soon. My heart aches so much for him to be here with us.
I love you and am counting the days until we are all together again as one family.
Give my love to your mum, dad and brothers. Tell your mum that her love for the Lord, her husband and children has made a great impact on me. She will reap a harvest for many years to come for her love and faithfulness. She is beautiful inside and out. I will write her and send a letter with the next team.
Desmond, thank you again.
Your life has eternal value and you are precious to the Lord, so precious.
Pray He makes a way for me to return soon! Keep seeking Him with your whole heart. He is our great reward, our greatest Treasure. He is all we really need. He is more than enough to keep and sustain our lives!
Keep reminding Solomon of God’s love and mine.
I love you!
Mum
(I am so sorry for crying so much when I left. I was trying not to…it is just so difficult. When I am there I grow so much more deeply in love with each visit and so there is pain at the thought of being separated for months. But as always He brings comfort joy and strength to last between each visit. He also somehow grows and strengthens the relationships even though I am not physically with those I love so much. This is a miracle that only He could perform in the human heart! )
I love you and will see you soon!
Mum
Hi Mum
Thank you very much for appreciating the time we spent together, and for the good dialog that we got. No need to say thanks because I did what I did out of love, the love for God, you and Solomon. I was so excited for your arrival here in Sierra Leone so it was my place for us to have good time.
How were Dad Jerome and the boys when you got back? I know they were missing you a lot. I’m so glad Him and Micah love the gift that I made for them.
I’m also glad that you love what we did to the laws, had Crystal get her own copy? I only hope she loves it just as you did.
As you are aware Solomon has set off for his campus, to prepare himself for the exam forth coming. He is going to start his exam on the 25th of this month, my own time table for the exam is not yet up, but hope to be very soon.
I was so sad seeing you both leaving, I did not wanted you both to leave at all. I was really enjoying the time that we all was having together as a family, they were my best moment, especially the night that we stood up till 4:30 in the morning, I love the conversations that we had that night. I pray that the good Lord that we are serving will bring us together again as one family.
Mum is extending her thanks and appreciation for the gift that you bought for her, she really love’s it and like putting it on each and every other day. She loved the conversation that you both had as two mothers and she keeps on talking about it. She really appreciate that you endeavor to come and see them on your arrival here in Sierra Leone, and she hope that God will make it possible for such things to happen again.
Mum, I want to thank you for the time that we had when you were here, I want to thank you for walking all the way down to see my family and had a good chat with them, and most of all I want to thank you for the money that you left with me, I really appreciate it. I used the money to buy my statistics material to prepare myself for the exam, as I’m a little bit behind, so I need the materials to close the gap between me and my colleagues.
Once again I say thank you very much for all that you did.
My greetings to the entire family and friends, I love you all.
Stay bless
Love always
Your Son
Desmond
I am back from Sierra Leone. By the grace of God I am settling back into my American life. This transition is always unique for me. I don’t think it is ever easy.
I am not sure where to start so I guess I will start from the beginning.
We missed our flight in London and had to stay the night at a hotel. We had to take two extra flights and go through many extra hours of travelling starting the next evening. We finally arrived two days after we were supposed to. I can now say I have walked on the land of Kenya…if walking from the airport to the airplane counts
This whole process forced me to depend on Him. I was discouraged. I was heart sick. I did not want to be in London. I did not care about seeing Big Ben or St. Peter’s Cathedral. At that moment I didn’t care about the opportunity to learn about London’s rich history. I wanted to see Pastor Hassan’s face and hold my African sons hand on the drive to the orphanage. I wanted to walk up the familiar hill to the home. I longed to see beautiful African women with babies tied to their backs while they carried bowls of bread on top of their heads. I wanted to be greeted by 90 orphans smiling faces. I wanted to sit and hug my African sons and daughters and have them tell me about how they are doing in school, what they have been reading in the bible, how their lives have been during our 5 month separation. I wanted to spend every waking moment of the 10 days I had been planning with the ones I love. God has His own way. God has His own timing. God has His own plan. So I chose to trust Him.
In looking back I know the Lord used the extra travel and missed planes to prepare me to do His will while I was in SL. He used the extra time and the fatigue to allow me to be emptied of myself, to be weak so I could experience more of His strength. In my emotional and physical weakness I cried out to Him. Through this He revealed many things in my heart. Things I needed to let go of…ways I wasn’t trusting Him. He brought me near.
I secretly think He stretched out the days while I was there. It did not feel like we lost two days. In fact it felt as if He multiplied every day we were in country. The days were long and they were full. Full of His love, His purposes, His voice, His breath, His joy, His sorrow, His wisdom, His counsel, His will.
Like never before I felt as if this must have been the culture Jesus walked in while on the earth. I reflected on all I have learned about His life through the gospels. I am certain if He were here today He would be walking among the poorest groups of people in the world…giving the willing ones a spiritual richness…living water.
At one point we were telling Pastor Hassan we wanted to understand the culture of Sierra Leone so we could best minister to the children. He told us we only needed to read the bible to understand his culture. This has stood out in my mind. If I want to understand Jesus more…the compassion He had, I need to understand the culture He lived in, the people He walked among, the struggles they faced. What better place than Sierra Leone, Africa, the poorest, most undeveloped nation in the world.
Each time I go, I understand a little more. Each time I go, I feel a little closer to Jesus. I know God has ordained for me to live here, in America, for such a time as this. I know that He is has also purposed for me to walk among those He walked among, and to have an opportunity to pour into their lives so I can experience more of His compassion for others…even more of His compassion for me.
The first night I laid on my bed trying and write out all the ways I was grateful for finally being with those I had longed to see. My prayer of thanksgiving turned into weeping. I could not stop my tears. I was faced with my weakness, my sin, my tight grip on my own plan. I remember telling the Lord how sorry I was for all the ways I don’t trust Him, for all the ways my sin and my selfishness affect others, for all the ways I try to control and have my own way, for all the ways I rely on my own strength instead of His. I told Him I just wanted Him to have his way. I realized that I am dust and He doesn’t need me to accomplish His will. He is God. He is sovereign. He is the One in control. I told Him how humbled I was that He would use me. ME…of all people….to love and serve these precious ones. I told Him how I felt unworthy and yet loved deeply all at the same time.
I did not fully understand where the tears were coming from. I just know in that moment I was broken, and I felt His compassion for me. I felt Him comfort me, reminding me that He sympathizes with my weaknesses, and like Him, like the body of Christ in Sierra Leone, He wants me to learn obedience from the things I suffer. This is His love for me. He had given me a glorious opportunity to become like Him in my brokenness.
This was the foundation He laid for the trip. He built on that foundation for the next 8 days. Pray I can put into words all He wants me to share. There was so much. At the end of each day I would marvel at ALL He had done. It was miraculous. It was as much a miracle as giving sight to the blind or turning water into wine.
I see Him a little more clearly now. Pray that I will ponder all these things in my heart. Pray every ounce of love He poured into me there I would pour back out here. Pray I would seek Him more than ever because I have seen His love and compassion in a new way. Pray I would live only to do His will!
Over the next few posts may you enjoy hearing about the beautiful people of Sierra Leone and may you hear God speak to you through their lives as He has to me.
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Crystal blogging here from the almost Dec. 26 trip to Sierra Leone:
Yesterday I should have been traveling up the Sierra Leonean coast via speedboat with my beloved friends, Pastor Hassan and three of the older boys, including my African son Moses from the orphanage, whom I wanted to experience first-hand the planning and progress of our bridge construction project.
Our destination was the small northern village of Rookbop. This tiny place has been made infamous in the whole of Sierra Leone for the violence that occurred last April when a mob destroyed a newly built church and community center for a cash reward offered by Hezbollah. 
Several months prior water wells had been installed by a 4HIM team that had changed the countenance and health of the village from despair and disease to hope.
The message of Christ was spreading with the fresh water that flowed in the village – both washing over them with the power to clean, heal and revive the spirit.
Our objectives for Rookbop this trip were to review on-site the engineering plans of a local firm along with an Oklahoma-based road and bridge construction company that had collaborated on in order to build a bailey bridge in to the village – a bridge that will provide Rookbop adequate and modern infrastructure to access to the rest of the world.
And Rookbop, able to grow large amounts of food, stands ready to bring its plentiful rice to the rest of starving Mama Salone should the bridge be built.
Today, we were supposed to travel back to Freetown and meet with the government’s minister of public works to obtain their approval for the bridge plans and learn what may be available, such as heavy construction equipment, for aiding the project.
After the meeting I had planned to spend the next several days basking in the company of all the Wellington orphanage children – talking, laughing, listening to new songs they’d learned… Lemon and Teresa constant by my side holding my arms and giggling about whatever ridiculous Americanism I was unwittingly performing for them. Praying with little Kadiatu before she went to sleep and having her interrupt, “In Jesus’s name!” after every phrase I spoke over her.
Instead I’m at home still in my PJs trying to make sense of the last three days and what possible goodness God could bring out of missing this trip.
On Saturday at 5:00 a.m. we arrived in the OKC airport and begin a series of delays and travel mishaps that would land us stuck at the JFK airport a day later with no possible way to Sierra Leone that wouldn’t cost us another $15,000 to get there in time or a cheaper option (shelling out another $3,200) that would get us there so late we would only have three days on the ground.
We came to the conclusion it was best to stay the night in NYC and go back home. We reasoned it was better to keep the unused portion of our tickets toward a later trip that would allow us adequate time to accomplish all that is needed and more time with the children.
My friend Stephanie, who was traveling with us to Africa for the first time, would have been robbed of the full experience of AFRICA with this three-day jet-lagged cameo. I felt it unfair to ask her to shell out more money to do so.
I cannot begin to tell you the level of cool indifference and incompetence of every airline that marked every leg of the trip save the last exchange with this heavenly airline angel, who miraculously got us home at no additional cost – a total 180 from what we had been told were our options just 24 hours before.
My last conversation with an airline worker just before we gave up on getting to Africa went something like this. “Our only obligation to you was to get you to New York City. Our contract with you ends here.”
My reply. “So it doesn’t matter both of your flights were delayed by five hours which caused us to miss our international connection? You don’t feel any obligation to help get us on another flight?”
“No. Our contract ended with you here. We don’t have to do anything.”
I’d like to tell you my first thought was “Praise God! He has a plan even though we don’t understand why this happening… and Jesus bless this airport worker and rescue them from their path of eternal damnation which they are so obviously plunging headlong into.”
I actually began to feel hot defiance toward God more than anything. My honest attitude was, “What is the deal God? Why are you doing this?”
“Really Lord? You’re going to let this crap-head airline employee and delayed flights get in the way of spending time with the children? You really aren’t going to rescue us so we can accomplish an important milestone on a bridge that may help reduce starvation? You’re really not going to let Stephanie see and experience her dream? You’re going to deny her the wonderment and the healing of walking through the world’s slums and feeling how alive Christ’s spirit is in depths of poverty?”
The overwhelming disappointment from the realization that God wasn’t going to smooth our plans and make a way for us just didn’t make sense to me.
While defiance and rebellion are some of my biggest character flaws, my biggest sin often is my reaction when I don’t get my way. And I was not getting my way.
We ultimately decided we should at least spend a day in New York and see some sites, possibly a show and go back home on Tuesday.
The next morning we went to a different hotel in Manhattan in the heart of all the buzz and excitement of the city that doesn’t sleep.
Traveling to New York has been another life-long dream of mine and for whatever reason I hadn’t made it there yet in my travels. I never thought it would be under these circumstances.
So I found myself thinking, “Okay God, I feel tremendous guilt for thinking about enjoying Broadway, shopping and food – but you are the one who didn’t make a way for us to get to Sierra Leone.”
This dialogue continued in my heart the whole time we were in NYC, “God you know how busy my schedule is. You knew I felt anxious about leaving my business and all that I have going on right now to squeeze in this trip. I did my part. I put all of that aside to go do your work in Africa. And you dropped the ball.”
I mean – how wicked is my heart!
I wish I could tell you I wasn’t being such an obnoxious baby before God about it all – but for the sake of honesty that is really where I was.
So I was a little ashamed when within a couple of minutes of exploring New York City, I became fully enraptured in the busy streets, the sheer number of people, tower after tower of lights, the shops, the Bergdorf Goodman window displays, the way energy radiates and bustles from sensory overload, which keeps you oblivious to the cold…
New York was everything I had ever read about in a Fitzgerald novel or seen in a movie or imagined in my mind… and the pain of not going to Africa eased as I settled into this attitude of “I’m going to have a good time if you won’t let me have my way, God.”
Our hotel happened to be a block from where the Broadway musical “Fela!” was playing. Not knowing a thing about the man Fela Kuti – who he was or what his music was about, I couldn’t tell if the signs and posters outside the theater meant it was gay theater or just a show full of really elaborate costumes.
But Stephanie had the inside scoop from a friend who lives in NYC, who said it was worth seeing so we bought tickets to the 7:00 p.m. performance.
Little did I know the show was about the life and music of Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, a Nigerian born musician and activist who invented the sounds of “Afro-beat” and suffered greatly at the hands of his government for speaking out against their evil oppressions.
I have never seen or heard anything like it.
Imagine dozens of women in head to toe African regalia and painted faces furiously dancing, while surrounded by an explosive and thick kind of jazz made of barrel-chested djembe drummers and saxophone players churning out songs like Water Get No Enemy that decry poverty and corruption with lines like “If wata’ kill yo’ child, na wata’ you still go use.”
It was an unbelievable performance about the life and music of man that captured the essence of Africa. And it absolutely pierced my heart with grief in missing Sierra Leone.
(As a side-note, I couldn’t help but think about how many stiff necked and dour church-goers would immediately dismiss Fela, likely unable to think past the necessary finger pointing over the fact he had 35 wives and ultimately died of AIDS.)
For me though, I know it was the heart of God speaking right to my defiant childish mind.
“I AM Africa. I AM the Lord over Africa’s beauty. Africa’s music. Their culture. Their passion. Their struggles. Their restoration. I AM.”
Blessed conviction.
The arrogance of thinking I know what my role and calling is in Africa. I don’t even KNOW Africa.
I don’t begin to understand its rich inheritance. Its aching heart from centuries-long struggles. Its exploitation. Its oppression. The endless beauty and hope that continuously springs out of her people as they soldier on in life under conditions that most of us will never understand.
But the great I AM presides over it all.
I was bringing my useless sacrifices and offerings of achievement and responsibility before the Lord, and stomping around about how I made time out of my schedule to go to Africa.
Reality is my talents and my efforts are so fragile and pale apart from Him. They are weak enough to be thwarted by a single wrinkle in an airline schedule should God allow it.
So I am reminded if we are fortunate enough to be even a slight mention in His work of restoration to the nations, we should ever be still before Him – in any difficulty or any disruption – and know that He is God. And when we are not. In His mercy He will remind us of our smallness, and relieve us of the weight of our “achievement.”
God, in the face of my disappointment and temper tantrum, did something else for me through Fela. It set my longing and desire for Africa on fire again at a deeper level.
I am so unbelievably privileged to set foot on her soil and serve the Lord in Sierra Leone. I welcome every set back and every obstacle. All of it plunges me deeper into the heart of God over one of the most heroic battles to push back darkness that exists in all of creation.
Christ is all.
I have been trying very hard to not blog about Africa so that everyone would think I have a normal, American life. But this morning my heart is FULL of many things concerning the people of Sierra Leone. I am still in awe that the Lord has allowed me the opportunity to visit this little country on the coast of West Africa…that He has allowed me to walk among these precious people who have not been overlooked by Him. He knows each one by name…created them with His own hand and lives to pursue them with His love.
While I have a wonderful life here in America, a part of my heart is always in Africa. I do not go on mission trips and then simply return to my normal American life with little thought of those I left behind. I can’t…not even if I used every ounce of strength to try. My heart and mind are constantly flooded with thoughts of my African family. There is a continuous, dull ache because my American and African families are not together on one continent. I doubt this ache will ever go away. I’m not sure Jesus wants it to.
Each time I visit Africa my eyes are opened more, my heart is broken more, and my resolve stronger than ever to let God use me to bring relief and deliverance for these precious ones. Like Esther, I want to have the courage to use my royal, American position for such a time as this. I desperately want to be one of the ones He chooses to bring hope and healing to these sweet people.
I do not deserve to be used for anything. I am weak, sinful, insecure and the list goes on…but I am willing. I am willing. I don’t have much to offer, but I want to be used. I don’t have much strength, but I want to fight. No, I do not have much, but what I do have I humbly bring before Him and ask Him to multiply it for the good of these people and the glory of His name. I am desperate to be emptied of myself so that I can love more lavishly and live more deeply.
What is the point of living this life if we are not investing in eternal things? I am not asking this from a position of authority, I am asking this from the position of a student who is learning, every day, what it means to deny my flesh, take up my cross and follow Him.
He is teaching me, through His word, through brokenness, through failure, through my relationships, through the times I have alone with Him that the point of this life is to do His will.
He is a mystery. His will is not.
Scripture is clear what our purpose is and it resonates in our hearts if we listen to His still small voice on the inside…if we open our eyes to the needs all over our world. We are called to love the hurting. Reach out to the lost. Nurture our children. Honor our spouse. Clothe the naked. Feed the hungry. Bind up the broken hearted. Fight for justice. Love Him and our neighbors, even our neighbors on the other side of the earth, with all our heart mind and soul.
This is simple. This is also difficult.
It is one of the most difficult things I have ever had to learn to do…harder than breaking my drug addiction or walking out of the strip clubs. But it is also the greatest source of joy I have ever known. I have found more purpose in abandoning myself to Him and allowing Him to love through me more than I ever imagined.
This is our God. A mighty warrior. A humble servant. A just ruler. A defender of the weak. A loving parent. A faithful friend. Yes, this is our God.
I was created in His image. I want to do what He did when He was on the earth. I want to live to do His will for the glory of His name. I do not want to live for selfish gain. This will no longer do. The conflict in my heart is too great. He has won me over in the most wonderful way. I am His. Fully His. Living to do His will.
So off to Sierra Leone I go….again…in 26 days and counting.
Pray for me to be emptied of myself and to love deeply.
