Thursday, January 28, 2010
Flights booked . . . check!
A year ago we booked a couple one-way flights to a business event that ended up being cancelled, so eventually the airline graciously gave credit to those of us in our office who were in this predicament. It was very frustrating to us at the time, but God had a plan! We certainly did not know then that Haley would need to fly to and from Global's headquarters in Texas this summer to meet up with the team who will be traveling to Africa with her. This expense was going to be over and above the $5,000 she needs to raise, so we were hoping that it would work for her to use this credit. We knew we had a year to use it or lose it, so I've been checking flights almost daily for the last month or two in an effort to get the best deal and have been working with Global to make sure we were picking just the right flights. Not only was she able to use our credit but another couple generously donated their credit as well, so booking her flights can now be checked off our list, and it cost us very little cash outlay today! I can't help but praise the Lord for working out this detail for us and am reminded of the verse found in Romans 8:28: "And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A Prayer Answered!
Every year since we've been in Bettendorf, our school's start date has moved up a day. This school year started on August 10, so we have been fearing that this coming school year would start on August 9, which would be just four days after Haley arrives back home. Beth had told us that it took her a good three weeks to really want to interact much with people again when she came back last summer, so naturally we've been a little concerned about the potentially short transition time for Haley. We have been praying that the pattern we've known would be changed and that school wouldn't start until August 16. I just checked the school district's website, and our prayers have been answered! Praise the Lord!!!
Monday, January 11, 2010
"It Pretty Much Ruined My Life Forever . . . But In A Totally Good Way!"
When our family was back in Pella for Christmas, Haley met up with her friend, Beth, who she will be going to Africa with next summer. They pulled into my sister-in-law's driveway late on a cold Saturday night, and immediately I called and texted Haley and asked her to bring Beth inside so I could reacquaint myself with her and get a picture of the two of them for this blog:
For the next hour or two, we pummeled Beth with all kinds of questions because she had been to Uganda last summer. We discussed packing ideas, sleeping conditions, and bathroom concerns. We learned that when in Africa, you eat what Africans eat, even if it's fried grasshoppers or a fish on your plate with its eyes staring at you. She shared with us the extreme importance of submitting to your leaders' authority at all times and how strictly that is enforced for the sake of the missionaries' safety. Miracles are witnessed in Africa, but much demonic activity is also present and witnessed as well. A comment was made by Beth that if you're not called to go to Africa, it is not wise to go. As soon as she said that, my heart welled up with fear and the question of "How do we really know that Haley was called?" started to consume me, but immediately there were looks and comments between the two of them that assured this mom's heart that these two girls have clearly been called to go.
Finally, Beth was sharing her own personal story with us, and she made a comment that was still on my mind the minute I woke up that next morning: "It pretty much wrecked my life forever . . . but in a totally good way!" That has played over and over in my mind ever since then, and it has really caused us to think and pray about the long-term effects of what this trip will mean for not only Haley but our family as well. How will she transition back into the materialistic culture of the United States after spending two months in a culture of extreme poverty? Beth shared that a year's salary there is typically $300 and that it takes $36 a year just to pay for one child's education, which is really hard to attain for those children who were forced to kill their parents and who are now orphaned or being raised by aunts and uncles or whoever will take them in. How will Haley come back and possibly be thrown back into her public school environment and her role as a swim team captain possibly just four days later and be expected to relate to all these teenagers who haven't seen and experienced what she has seen? The new school calendar for 2010-2011 is supposed to be posted on the website today, and my prayer is that school won't start on August 9 as we fearfully anticipate but August 16 instead. She'll need all the acclimation time she can get! How will Haley react to innocent comments made by our own family when someone complains about the food on their plate or doesn't understand why they can't get the new pair of jeans they think they need? Will she be able to sleep peacefully at night, or will visions and stories of horror lurk in her mind forever? Ultimately, will she continually be drawn to helping people across the world, or will she somehow find satisfaction in doing the Lord's work right here in Iowa or at least in the United States?
All of these things have been rather heavy on my heart, but God in His infinite wisdom has made a point of reconfirming in my heart that she is doing exactly what He wants her to do. Last week I picked up the book, "The Dream Giver," by Bruce Wilkinson that I had been in the process of reading since before Christmas but had set aside for the last month or so. The whole time I had been reading it, my mindset had been on our own personal journey that we've been on in our business, but lo and behold, when I got to the last chapter or two, the author's words brought me to tears as he shared his personal dream of helping orphans in Africa. Then this morning I went to Beth Moore's website, and lo and behold, her daughter Amanda's blog entry brought me to tears as she shared a meaningful message that ended with her new awareness of the child soldiers in Africa. I knew right then and there that it was finally time to publish this blog entry of my own that had been swirling around in my head since Christmas but not until I prayed about it first. Lo and behold, when I opened up my Bible, these were the verses that were emphasized for today's reading from Genesis 26: "I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, regulations, and laws." How amazing is He that He would set that verse right in front of me today?
Once again, we are reminded that our God is totally in control. We are so honored to be His servants, His hands and feet, even if it means "totally ruining our lives forever." His ways are good all the time!
May I end this by humbly asking for prayer? Haley has not only been feeling very overwhelmed with her schedule for this new semester, but now some of the things that we have been putting off till after Christmas need our attention. We need to start checking into the shots she needs, we're looking into flights to and from Texas, and we're continuing the search for just the right bedding options that can be easily and lightly packed but that will keep her warm when she's tenting in the middle of Zambia's winter season. It's not like she can just go to Wal-Mart and pick up something different once she's there, so we need to make the right choices on this end. She still needs to raise about $4250, so we're praying for wisdom in how to most effectively do that and for soft obedient hearts to respond to God's nudgings. Finally, she'll be taking a class called "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" at our church every Sunday afternoon January 17 through May 9. This will add to her stress load, but she's very excited to have this opportunity at such a perfect time. Our hope and prayer is that it will give her much insight and knowledge as she prepares for her trip.
Thank you so much for reading this and caring for us. May you sense God's presence and peace in your own life today!
For the next hour or two, we pummeled Beth with all kinds of questions because she had been to Uganda last summer. We discussed packing ideas, sleeping conditions, and bathroom concerns. We learned that when in Africa, you eat what Africans eat, even if it's fried grasshoppers or a fish on your plate with its eyes staring at you. She shared with us the extreme importance of submitting to your leaders' authority at all times and how strictly that is enforced for the sake of the missionaries' safety. Miracles are witnessed in Africa, but much demonic activity is also present and witnessed as well. A comment was made by Beth that if you're not called to go to Africa, it is not wise to go. As soon as she said that, my heart welled up with fear and the question of "How do we really know that Haley was called?" started to consume me, but immediately there were looks and comments between the two of them that assured this mom's heart that these two girls have clearly been called to go.
Finally, Beth was sharing her own personal story with us, and she made a comment that was still on my mind the minute I woke up that next morning: "It pretty much wrecked my life forever . . . but in a totally good way!" That has played over and over in my mind ever since then, and it has really caused us to think and pray about the long-term effects of what this trip will mean for not only Haley but our family as well. How will she transition back into the materialistic culture of the United States after spending two months in a culture of extreme poverty? Beth shared that a year's salary there is typically $300 and that it takes $36 a year just to pay for one child's education, which is really hard to attain for those children who were forced to kill their parents and who are now orphaned or being raised by aunts and uncles or whoever will take them in. How will Haley come back and possibly be thrown back into her public school environment and her role as a swim team captain possibly just four days later and be expected to relate to all these teenagers who haven't seen and experienced what she has seen? The new school calendar for 2010-2011 is supposed to be posted on the website today, and my prayer is that school won't start on August 9 as we fearfully anticipate but August 16 instead. She'll need all the acclimation time she can get! How will Haley react to innocent comments made by our own family when someone complains about the food on their plate or doesn't understand why they can't get the new pair of jeans they think they need? Will she be able to sleep peacefully at night, or will visions and stories of horror lurk in her mind forever? Ultimately, will she continually be drawn to helping people across the world, or will she somehow find satisfaction in doing the Lord's work right here in Iowa or at least in the United States?
All of these things have been rather heavy on my heart, but God in His infinite wisdom has made a point of reconfirming in my heart that she is doing exactly what He wants her to do. Last week I picked up the book, "The Dream Giver," by Bruce Wilkinson that I had been in the process of reading since before Christmas but had set aside for the last month or so. The whole time I had been reading it, my mindset had been on our own personal journey that we've been on in our business, but lo and behold, when I got to the last chapter or two, the author's words brought me to tears as he shared his personal dream of helping orphans in Africa. Then this morning I went to Beth Moore's website, and lo and behold, her daughter Amanda's blog entry brought me to tears as she shared a meaningful message that ended with her new awareness of the child soldiers in Africa. I knew right then and there that it was finally time to publish this blog entry of my own that had been swirling around in my head since Christmas but not until I prayed about it first. Lo and behold, when I opened up my Bible, these were the verses that were emphasized for today's reading from Genesis 26: "I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, regulations, and laws." How amazing is He that He would set that verse right in front of me today?
Once again, we are reminded that our God is totally in control. We are so honored to be His servants, His hands and feet, even if it means "totally ruining our lives forever." His ways are good all the time!
May I end this by humbly asking for prayer? Haley has not only been feeling very overwhelmed with her schedule for this new semester, but now some of the things that we have been putting off till after Christmas need our attention. We need to start checking into the shots she needs, we're looking into flights to and from Texas, and we're continuing the search for just the right bedding options that can be easily and lightly packed but that will keep her warm when she's tenting in the middle of Zambia's winter season. It's not like she can just go to Wal-Mart and pick up something different once she's there, so we need to make the right choices on this end. She still needs to raise about $4250, so we're praying for wisdom in how to most effectively do that and for soft obedient hearts to respond to God's nudgings. Finally, she'll be taking a class called "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" at our church every Sunday afternoon January 17 through May 9. This will add to her stress load, but she's very excited to have this opportunity at such a perfect time. Our hope and prayer is that it will give her much insight and knowledge as she prepares for her trip.
Thank you so much for reading this and caring for us. May you sense God's presence and peace in your own life today!
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