Thursday, January 31, 2013
Beautiful Africa
As part of my job with BG, I will not only be blogging here, but also for Beautiful Africa. The link to that blog is http://blog.www.beautifulafrica.org/. Check out posts from Bryan and Anita Geurink (BG directors) as well as other volunteers of BG. My first post was today.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
"But by my Spirit"
Today was one of those days in Lesotho when I experienced every emotion one could think of all within an hour. It is so hard to express in a blog, so hang with me as I process this morning with you.
Last night, I was excited to bless the Geurinks with some babysitting, so Bryan and Anita could go on a date. Their relaxing date night turned into a long night at the hospital caring for a sick BG child. To read the story check out their blog (ourbeautifulmission.blogspot.com). This morning Bryan came over to ask my 2 roommates and myself if we wanted to head to the hospital to pray for the child that they brought there as well as the other two BG kids that were there.
On our way to the hospital, I had flashbacks of the first time I took a child to the hospital to seek treatment in 2010. Feel free to read the story here. I had to remind myself that the old hospital in Maseru, had been closed down and a new one was built that was a lot better. Driving into the new hospital I was more at ease by the security that checked cars coming in and out to make sure no one was taking unauthorized people and/or supplies out of the hospital. Walking into the facility I felt like I was in the United States. There was a gift shop, coffee shop, and registration area. The building looked like any hospital in West Michigan, so I was encouraged that our kids would be treated well. The reality is, the building may look nice and contain all the modern equipment we have in the US, but the fact is they lack individuals who know how to use it. As we visited the three sick children and prayed over them, my mind and heart became broken. The three children are very sick and in need of desperate prayer for God's healing to take over their little bodies. As we headed out of the hospital, a doctor stopped us and started talking. He said 100% of the children that are in their care are malnourished. He knew we were from BG and we could tell he was frustrated and we were too. The doctor went on to say that he didn't understand the people who would do this to their children. Once again my heart broke. The struggle some of the children have experienced in their short lives, astounds me. As a followers of Jesus Christ, we need to get down on our knees and pray for a change. We need to fight for these children.
As I was processing the hospital building, I thought of the body of Christ. We may look good, and have everything we need to change the outcome of lives, but if we are not using it, the newness of our body is no different than an old dirty, contaminated hospital. We need to lean on the word and trust in it's power. We need to learn and devour the scriptures and pray their power and truth over those in God places in our paths as well as those He places in the path of someone else. As the anger filled up inside of me, I was reminded of Zechariah 4:6, which says, "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord Almighty" and peace came over me. God is present in Lesotho. God is present ate BG. But Satan is also present in Lesotho as well as BG. The lives of the children cannot be affected because of Satan's plans. The power of the Holy Spirit needs to explode here and teach people that there is a better way to live and treat children. Individuals who come here to build beautiful buildings full of equipment, need to know that without proper training, the equipment is no more useful than a coat rack. As followers of Christ we need to serve with the power of the Holy Spirit. Our strength and efforts will not change the world, but the amazing fact is GOD'S WILL. With His dunamous POWER will can explode this world with the Truth of Christ. When the days become overwhelming and I am not sure wheat help I can offer, I need to remind myself that I cannot do anything, but God can and He is using me to bring hope and peace.
Please join me in praying for the children. They all are very sick and need God's miraculous healing.
Last night, I was excited to bless the Geurinks with some babysitting, so Bryan and Anita could go on a date. Their relaxing date night turned into a long night at the hospital caring for a sick BG child. To read the story check out their blog (ourbeautifulmission.blogspot.com). This morning Bryan came over to ask my 2 roommates and myself if we wanted to head to the hospital to pray for the child that they brought there as well as the other two BG kids that were there.
On our way to the hospital, I had flashbacks of the first time I took a child to the hospital to seek treatment in 2010. Feel free to read the story here. I had to remind myself that the old hospital in Maseru, had been closed down and a new one was built that was a lot better. Driving into the new hospital I was more at ease by the security that checked cars coming in and out to make sure no one was taking unauthorized people and/or supplies out of the hospital. Walking into the facility I felt like I was in the United States. There was a gift shop, coffee shop, and registration area. The building looked like any hospital in West Michigan, so I was encouraged that our kids would be treated well. The reality is, the building may look nice and contain all the modern equipment we have in the US, but the fact is they lack individuals who know how to use it. As we visited the three sick children and prayed over them, my mind and heart became broken. The three children are very sick and in need of desperate prayer for God's healing to take over their little bodies. As we headed out of the hospital, a doctor stopped us and started talking. He said 100% of the children that are in their care are malnourished. He knew we were from BG and we could tell he was frustrated and we were too. The doctor went on to say that he didn't understand the people who would do this to their children. Once again my heart broke. The struggle some of the children have experienced in their short lives, astounds me. As a followers of Jesus Christ, we need to get down on our knees and pray for a change. We need to fight for these children.
As I was processing the hospital building, I thought of the body of Christ. We may look good, and have everything we need to change the outcome of lives, but if we are not using it, the newness of our body is no different than an old dirty, contaminated hospital. We need to lean on the word and trust in it's power. We need to learn and devour the scriptures and pray their power and truth over those in God places in our paths as well as those He places in the path of someone else. As the anger filled up inside of me, I was reminded of Zechariah 4:6, which says, "'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit' says the Lord Almighty" and peace came over me. God is present in Lesotho. God is present ate BG. But Satan is also present in Lesotho as well as BG. The lives of the children cannot be affected because of Satan's plans. The power of the Holy Spirit needs to explode here and teach people that there is a better way to live and treat children. Individuals who come here to build beautiful buildings full of equipment, need to know that without proper training, the equipment is no more useful than a coat rack. As followers of Christ we need to serve with the power of the Holy Spirit. Our strength and efforts will not change the world, but the amazing fact is GOD'S WILL. With His dunamous POWER will can explode this world with the Truth of Christ. When the days become overwhelming and I am not sure wheat help I can offer, I need to remind myself that I cannot do anything, but God can and He is using me to bring hope and peace.
Please join me in praying for the children. They all are very sick and need God's miraculous healing.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
It is What It Is
I am back in Lesotho. With each trip I am amazed how peaceful my heart is here. It was a great feeling walking around the campus and having the staff yell my name, run to me and welcome me with hugs and dancing. The older children remembered my name and the little one line jokes we would say to each other. By the second day, whenever I walk out of my house or office I hear all the children call for me. Yesterday was my birthday and I was blessed by the Geurinks and my roommates with a good dinner and relaxing night watching the awesome African sunset.
This week we have had 2 boys reunited with family members. BG is a great place that has provided a home for these boys for a number of years and now one is in South Africa and the other is in the mountains of Lesotho. I pray that these boys continue to grow into the young men that God created them to be. I pray they remain healthy and strong.
The thing that gets me with each of my trips is that no matter how many people adopt children or how many children are reunited with their families, the orphan crisis is still VERY present in the world. My heart breaks for the few children who have been here for each of my trips. They deserve to have a family and as much as BG tries to be that family, it never can take the place of parents that love and raise children to be adults. At times it is overwhelming the amount of responsibility I feel to make sure these kids are treated as children not neglected children. With every high five, knuckles and hug I give, I pray the children know there are people in this world that love and care for them and see them through God's eyes.
My friend Lindy fought cancer with 5 little words, "It is what it is." Before I came to Lesotho I had a little wooden sign made with those 5 words on it and it reminds me each day to fight. The orphan crisis "is what it is" and it won't go away until Jesus comes back to save the world, because abandoning and neglecting children is sin and sin will not go away until we all reach Heaven. BUT that doesn't mean we should give up on the children. Each day I strap on my sandals, I pray that I can reflect the love of God to these kids, because that is simply what they are...kids. I pray that God gives me the strength and endurance each day to be obedient to His plan.
If I can fight the orphan crisis with the same strength, grace and humor that Lindy fought cancer, the world better watch out!!!!
This week we have had 2 boys reunited with family members. BG is a great place that has provided a home for these boys for a number of years and now one is in South Africa and the other is in the mountains of Lesotho. I pray that these boys continue to grow into the young men that God created them to be. I pray they remain healthy and strong.
The thing that gets me with each of my trips is that no matter how many people adopt children or how many children are reunited with their families, the orphan crisis is still VERY present in the world. My heart breaks for the few children who have been here for each of my trips. They deserve to have a family and as much as BG tries to be that family, it never can take the place of parents that love and raise children to be adults. At times it is overwhelming the amount of responsibility I feel to make sure these kids are treated as children not neglected children. With every high five, knuckles and hug I give, I pray the children know there are people in this world that love and care for them and see them through God's eyes.
My friend Lindy fought cancer with 5 little words, "It is what it is." Before I came to Lesotho I had a little wooden sign made with those 5 words on it and it reminds me each day to fight. The orphan crisis "is what it is" and it won't go away until Jesus comes back to save the world, because abandoning and neglecting children is sin and sin will not go away until we all reach Heaven. BUT that doesn't mean we should give up on the children. Each day I strap on my sandals, I pray that I can reflect the love of God to these kids, because that is simply what they are...kids. I pray that God gives me the strength and endurance each day to be obedient to His plan.
If I can fight the orphan crisis with the same strength, grace and humor that Lindy fought cancer, the world better watch out!!!!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Blessed
I am so blessed. The past few weeks I have been spoiled by friends and family who have shown me the body of Christ. Tonight as I prepare to head back to Lesotho, I continue to feel so much love and support. The emails, texts and Facebook messages are full of support and encouragement. I know God is smiling because of your acts of service.
Together we are the body. When one person leaves on a mission, we all take part in that mission. Thank you for joining the part God has placed in my path. My heart is at peace and very excited to serve Him by loving on the children and staff of Beautiful Gate. I am also humbled that He has chosen me for this. May He receive all the praise for the work He uses me to do.
My prayer is that I become invisible, so that He becomes visible!!
Monday morning I start the travel process and Lord willing, I will be in Lesotho around 8 am on Wednesday (1am in Michigan). Please pray that the flights go smoothly and my luggage is underweight (silly, I know, but important).
I will post once I am at Beautiful Gate.
Thank you all for being the hands and feet of Jesus to me through the dreaming, surrendering and planning of this journey.
Together we are the body. When one person leaves on a mission, we all take part in that mission. Thank you for joining the part God has placed in my path. My heart is at peace and very excited to serve Him by loving on the children and staff of Beautiful Gate. I am also humbled that He has chosen me for this. May He receive all the praise for the work He uses me to do.
My prayer is that I become invisible, so that He becomes visible!!
Monday morning I start the travel process and Lord willing, I will be in Lesotho around 8 am on Wednesday (1am in Michigan). Please pray that the flights go smoothly and my luggage is underweight (silly, I know, but important).
I will post once I am at Beautiful Gate.
Thank you all for being the hands and feet of Jesus to me through the dreaming, surrendering and planning of this journey.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
"To love another person is to see the face of God"
I can not believe I am less than 2 weeks away from getting back on a plane and heading over to BG. I have done this so many times, it feels so normal, but then I remember it is a longer trip and because of that, I have had a few moments of panic. Now that I am done at Starbucks and I am able to focus on getting the details done as well as school work and saying goodbye to those in my life, the reality has set in. This trip is not for 2 weeks and I will be missing things here.
I was at a friend's house last week and they were commenting on how many birthdays I will be missing while I am gone. I started to feel sad about that, but the fact is God has called me on this journey and there is no time for me to go that is better than another. The fact is I will miss things, but I instead of looking at the things I will miss, I am going to focus on the things I will be experiencing.
This week I went and saw Les Mis on the big screen. It is by far my favorite musical. I have seen it on stage many times and each time I am blown away with the story of redemption that it shares. I highly recommend it and hope you can find a time to go and see it. One of the last lines in the play says, "To love another person is to see the face of God." I can't agree more with this statement.
As I think of those that have supported me through this journey and the sacrifices they have made in love so that I can go be Jesus, I see love.
When I think of the children I will soon have crawling over my lap, chasing me around BG and snuggled in my arms, I see love.
When I think about the staff and the volunteers that put their own families on hold, so they can reach out to the precious children, I see love.
When I look into the eyes of new parents when they are about to meet their child or children, I see love.
To look another person in the eye and join them in the mission to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to those around the world, it is hard not to see love. Love is an amazing thing. As I sit here and think about where I will be 2 weeks from now, I am so grateful for love. Moving to the other side of the world is hard, but knowing the love of God will never leave me and the love of those I meet will be evident each day, the mission is easier to take on.
Above all, God is love, so loving another person, is loving God. And how can you not love the One who gave up everything for you to live a full life of purpose, joy and LOVE.
I was at a friend's house last week and they were commenting on how many birthdays I will be missing while I am gone. I started to feel sad about that, but the fact is God has called me on this journey and there is no time for me to go that is better than another. The fact is I will miss things, but I instead of looking at the things I will miss, I am going to focus on the things I will be experiencing.
This week I went and saw Les Mis on the big screen. It is by far my favorite musical. I have seen it on stage many times and each time I am blown away with the story of redemption that it shares. I highly recommend it and hope you can find a time to go and see it. One of the last lines in the play says, "To love another person is to see the face of God." I can't agree more with this statement.
As I think of those that have supported me through this journey and the sacrifices they have made in love so that I can go be Jesus, I see love.
When I think of the children I will soon have crawling over my lap, chasing me around BG and snuggled in my arms, I see love.
When I think about the staff and the volunteers that put their own families on hold, so they can reach out to the precious children, I see love.
When I look into the eyes of new parents when they are about to meet their child or children, I see love.
To look another person in the eye and join them in the mission to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to those around the world, it is hard not to see love. Love is an amazing thing. As I sit here and think about where I will be 2 weeks from now, I am so grateful for love. Moving to the other side of the world is hard, but knowing the love of God will never leave me and the love of those I meet will be evident each day, the mission is easier to take on.
Above all, God is love, so loving another person, is loving God. And how can you not love the One who gave up everything for you to live a full life of purpose, joy and LOVE.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
The Child Who Changes Eternity
A few years ago a good friend of mine wrote a beautiful Christmas song. The chorus of the song is as follows...
Oh come let us adore Him,
the child who changes eternity.
With the Angels sing glory on high,
for the same on earth shall ever be.
Hallelujah and Amen
All praise to the Father and to this child...His Son.
Today is Christmas, a time for people to come together and worship the Child who changed eternity. Without Christ, Christmas is really just another day. But because of the child in a manger, it is the start of our story. So many people, Christians included look at Easter as the start of their story with God. Easter is a great day, and it is the start of our Eternal life story with God in Heaven. Christmas though is the start of our fleshly, earthly life with Christ. Christ came to the world in the form of a baby. He could have come as a power warrior and quickly killed off all the evil in the world, but He came as an innocent child. Christ took on flesh, to show us that we have a story to share on earth and as we walk this journey in our flesh we must keep sharing how the King of kings left His throne for us and walked this earth as a testament to how we must live our lives full of grace and truth.
I am less than a month away from getting on a plane to Lesotho and continuing the journey God gave in October of 2009. Because of the desire God has placed on my heart to love all the children of the world, I will be leaving my "safe" lifestyle in Zeeland and jumping into a dangerous, radical, dependent relationship with God. Not everyone is called to do this. Some people's dangerous lifestyle is in Zeeland, some people it is in their house with their families and for some people it is on the other side of the world. Wherever your radical journey with God goes, you must take it. Jesus came to give us a full life (John 10:10), not an easy life or a safe life. Not living the journey or mission God has for you is not fully embracing the power of the manger and what it represents.
I will be taking off January 21 and Lord willing, getting to BG on the 23rd. BG and Lesotho are in hard place right now. Adoptions are closed and children are in need. BG is currently over it's maximum capacity, but how do you turn away a child who needs to be loved? Please be in prayer for the staff, the children, the director and myself as we strive to care and love these precious gifts of God. Please also be in prayer for the journey God has for me there. Everyday is full of unknowns and I want to be completely open to what God's desire is for me at BG.
If you would like to purchase my friend's song, you can at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robstamchrislowe. All proceeds will be donated to my missionary fund.
Oh come let us adore Him,
the child who changes eternity.
With the Angels sing glory on high,
for the same on earth shall ever be.
Hallelujah and Amen
All praise to the Father and to this child...His Son.
Today is Christmas, a time for people to come together and worship the Child who changed eternity. Without Christ, Christmas is really just another day. But because of the child in a manger, it is the start of our story. So many people, Christians included look at Easter as the start of their story with God. Easter is a great day, and it is the start of our Eternal life story with God in Heaven. Christmas though is the start of our fleshly, earthly life with Christ. Christ came to the world in the form of a baby. He could have come as a power warrior and quickly killed off all the evil in the world, but He came as an innocent child. Christ took on flesh, to show us that we have a story to share on earth and as we walk this journey in our flesh we must keep sharing how the King of kings left His throne for us and walked this earth as a testament to how we must live our lives full of grace and truth.
I am less than a month away from getting on a plane to Lesotho and continuing the journey God gave in October of 2009. Because of the desire God has placed on my heart to love all the children of the world, I will be leaving my "safe" lifestyle in Zeeland and jumping into a dangerous, radical, dependent relationship with God. Not everyone is called to do this. Some people's dangerous lifestyle is in Zeeland, some people it is in their house with their families and for some people it is on the other side of the world. Wherever your radical journey with God goes, you must take it. Jesus came to give us a full life (John 10:10), not an easy life or a safe life. Not living the journey or mission God has for you is not fully embracing the power of the manger and what it represents.
I will be taking off January 21 and Lord willing, getting to BG on the 23rd. BG and Lesotho are in hard place right now. Adoptions are closed and children are in need. BG is currently over it's maximum capacity, but how do you turn away a child who needs to be loved? Please be in prayer for the staff, the children, the director and myself as we strive to care and love these precious gifts of God. Please also be in prayer for the journey God has for me there. Everyday is full of unknowns and I want to be completely open to what God's desire is for me at BG.
If you would like to purchase my friend's song, you can at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/robstamchrislowe. All proceeds will be donated to my missionary fund.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Choose JOY
A close friend of mine, always signs off her emails, notes and cards by saying "CHOOSE JOY." My friend is someone who definitely chooses joy. Her fun loving, compassionate personality is contagious to those around her. She serves God in so many ways, to so many people she is the reflection of Christ. I know, because many times I have experienced the peace, love and joy of God through her and our conversations.
Lately my mind and heart seems like lion pacing around in it's cage. I am so close to reaching my $25,000 budget, but I am not there yet. I just want to know the date I will be leaving for Africa, but that won't happen until I am fully funded. I want to have a plane ticket purchased and I want to be able to start crossing things off my to-do list, but since so many of them are hinged on when I leave, I cannot. I am finding it hard to enjoy the Christmas, because I am so restless. I have not been choosing JOY.
Faith is an amazing journey. It truly is, as Hebrews 11 says, "Confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Taking a step of faith in any situation of life requires faith. Are you really going to let go of everything that is "normal" for you and run toward what God wants? Are you willing to let go of the things you can see, only to embrace the things that you can't?
Life in Lesotho is a lot like faith. The people of Lesotho do not know what will happen tomorrow. Will they have work? Will they be alive? Life at Beautiful Gate is faith. When you wake up and start work, you do not know how many children will be dropped off that day. Children that have been abandoned, lost or neglected. Children that have had a horrible start in life. You may have a to-do list of items to be accomplished that day, but mostly likely, you will not be able to accomplish any of it, because in Lesotho it is hard to plan ahead. The thing is, is that those in Lesotho have JOY. The children of Beautiful Gate children are simply children and when you walk out of a building you will hear laughter and JOY!
James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith requires perseverance." How does one consider a trial JOY? There are a lot of people in this world that are suffering. People that do not deserve the life situations they are facing, but they have no choice. The fact is no matter what we face each day...cancer, starvation, negative work issues, family struggles, etc., we do have a choice to make. We can choose to feel beat up and live a life of selfish desires or we can learn from the children of Beautiful Gate and choose JOY!!
I am surrendering the fact that I do not have a leaving date. I believe God will provide for the funds that are still need to be raised and I will have a leave date. I no longer want to be the caged lion pacing around worrying about life and the things in it that I cannot control. I want to be like the children at Beautiful Gate. I want to run and experience the NOW of life instead of trying to plan for the maybe of tomorrow. I want to soak in the time I have here and the people I share those moments with.
Above all, no matter what comes my way in the next few weeks, I am going to CHOOSE JOY!
Lately my mind and heart seems like lion pacing around in it's cage. I am so close to reaching my $25,000 budget, but I am not there yet. I just want to know the date I will be leaving for Africa, but that won't happen until I am fully funded. I want to have a plane ticket purchased and I want to be able to start crossing things off my to-do list, but since so many of them are hinged on when I leave, I cannot. I am finding it hard to enjoy the Christmas, because I am so restless. I have not been choosing JOY.
Faith is an amazing journey. It truly is, as Hebrews 11 says, "Confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Taking a step of faith in any situation of life requires faith. Are you really going to let go of everything that is "normal" for you and run toward what God wants? Are you willing to let go of the things you can see, only to embrace the things that you can't?
Life in Lesotho is a lot like faith. The people of Lesotho do not know what will happen tomorrow. Will they have work? Will they be alive? Life at Beautiful Gate is faith. When you wake up and start work, you do not know how many children will be dropped off that day. Children that have been abandoned, lost or neglected. Children that have had a horrible start in life. You may have a to-do list of items to be accomplished that day, but mostly likely, you will not be able to accomplish any of it, because in Lesotho it is hard to plan ahead. The thing is, is that those in Lesotho have JOY. The children of Beautiful Gate children are simply children and when you walk out of a building you will hear laughter and JOY!
James 1:2-3 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith requires perseverance." How does one consider a trial JOY? There are a lot of people in this world that are suffering. People that do not deserve the life situations they are facing, but they have no choice. The fact is no matter what we face each day...cancer, starvation, negative work issues, family struggles, etc., we do have a choice to make. We can choose to feel beat up and live a life of selfish desires or we can learn from the children of Beautiful Gate and choose JOY!!
I am surrendering the fact that I do not have a leaving date. I believe God will provide for the funds that are still need to be raised and I will have a leave date. I no longer want to be the caged lion pacing around worrying about life and the things in it that I cannot control. I want to be like the children at Beautiful Gate. I want to run and experience the NOW of life instead of trying to plan for the maybe of tomorrow. I want to soak in the time I have here and the people I share those moments with.
Above all, no matter what comes my way in the next few weeks, I am going to CHOOSE JOY!
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