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I wrote about watching “The Lost Boys” documentary in my second blog entry. It was special to read today that one of those lost boys, a 6yr. old at the time of fleeing Sudan, is chosen to carry the American flag at the Olympic Games. Lopez Lomong is 23 yrs. old now and a middle distance runner who became a U.S. citizen back in 2007. Read the story: Former ‘Lost Boy’ to lead U.S. Olympians in Beijing
I was moved to write the following poem back on March 14, 2005 about the Darfur, Sudan situation:
Darfur, Sudan
A Storm of violence arises
A form of silence demises
The trek of refugees seek a refuge now
The wreck in degrees seen, – a huge town
Walking against the wind blown with sand
Stalking tense toward men, women, and children honed to be
banned
Forced to move on without food, water, or home
Course through desert clout, rude and hotter from which to roam
So uncertain the destination, leapt for rope of some intervention
No pertinent information except for hope of freedom mentioned
Christians, God’s own, to reach them with love in deed shown
Mission, Jesus alone, to teach them in Word inspired from
above to be sown
Far more, to the Lamb
(Approximately 2.5 million people have been forced away from their homes and an estimated 300,000 have died during the conflict in Darfur.)
I then read about Steven Curtis Chapman, who is interviewed by Larry King and can be seen tonight, concerning orphans, the tragedy of their daughter, and adoption. Read the story: Our Tragedy and God’s Love for Orphans
How precious is their family who seek to honor God and bring Him glory. They are truly being a voice for orphans in promoting God’s heart for orphans to be loved, provided for, and ultimately adopted into His family through His Son JESUS… Learn more about their ministry: Shaohannah’s Hope
Kristin gives voice for orphans on ABC News. Way to be, Kristin! You can donate on the Faith West Academy website to Kristin’s Miracle House.
You can now find out more on the Family Legacy Missions International website about Kristin and the outreach to Africa’s orphans as well as to donate to this worthy and noble cause.
Kristin Elizabeth Elliot responds to God’s heart with hope and faith to one day have a home built for orphans in Africa. I read Kristin’s story and how wonderfully she has become a voice for orphans. At 18 years old and facing a rare type of cancer, she was approached by Make-A-Wish Foundation and asked what she wished for. She wanted a home built for the orphans she had visited once before on a mission trip… Awesome! What a blessing it is to give and a blessing she is for the orphans. Way to go, Kristin. Thank you for being faithful to God and an inspiration to all. Let us hold our sis up in prayer and God’s will be done for the orphans.
In spending time in the Word, I read in Psalm 48 how God is worthy of our praise for He protects, defends, saves, provides, and guides. I give thanks for His unfailing love!
Our kids are back with us. I drove half way to meet my parents who took care of them for 2 weeks while Tami recovered from surgery. I enjoyed the eight hour round trip while listening to Air 1 -a Christian alternative radio station. Getting to hear new songs I haven’t ever heard lead me to focus on the LORD and get caught up in worshipping Him. Refreshing!
The desire to have our kids with us grew stronger once my daughter, Joy, expressed with tears the need to come home with 5 days left to go.
Tami definitely needed the recuperating time though. She experienced months of sickness and depression. She conceived in December. She faced what we thought was a miscarriage in January and still may have had one if there were twins. She was continuing to have severe pains and went to the doctor. It was discovered that she was still pregnant and an ultrasound 2 days later confirmed it. We had a healthy baby!!! She went to another hospital for further tests and a tumor was found on her ovary that was twisting it. She called me after 1:00 and was going to have outpatient surgery at 4:00. I called Pastor Chris and other family friends to pray during this time. God answered and Tami’s surgery was successful and the baby was alright through all of this stress. I’ve used the term “whirlwind” to describe it all.
I needed time too in order to unwind. I tried to take care of everything relying on the LORD for help and often crying out to Him. Working, letting Tami rest, taking care of the kids moreso, and upkeep of the house became more difficult and took a toll as the months went by.
How I need my helpmate and thankful to the LORD for her! We enjoyed time just the two of us -actually having more lengthy conversation and a few dates going out to eat. We watched some movies that were inspiring: The Ultimate Gift, Amazing Grace, Glory Road, Born into Brothels documentary and God Grew Tired of Us documentary. It was a bit different from the norm of Veggie Tales and Little Bear.
In God Grew Tired of Us , the portrayal of the Lost Boys of Sudan is told where approximately 25,000 boys flee from the genocide taking place at the time. Tears welled up in my eyes before even pushing play in seeing the boys walking while one in particular limps along holding a stick for support. Only about 12,000 make it on the trek of 1,000 miles into Kenya through the desert without food and water while facing dangerous attacks from lions. Some of the boys are chosen to come to the U.S. to make a living. It is extremely moving to see one of them, who thought his parents may not be alive, reunited with his mom after 17 years. His name is John Dau and was a leader in charge of over 1,000 boys while fleeing Sudan. One of his jobs was to bury those who died along the way. He is now a director of his own foundation to improve healthcare and education in Sudan. He is a strong voice for orphans and the poor and needy.
I was so excited to finally see my children and eager to bring them home after they were only gone 14 days. In this short period of time away from them, I now appreciate each one moreso and choose to be intentional of showing my love with arms wide open ready to give hugs or hold them close offering encouraging words and a listening ear. God is bringing about needed change in me to become consistently patient and kind again rather than so easily angered, frustrated, and harsh in my tone. I love that God the Father, is merciful, abounding in love, full of compassion, and slow to anger. I need that from Him and so do my kids…
I’m reminded of a time before when the expectant hope of seeing my family grew so intense. On a trip home from Quito, Ecuador where I had spent 15 days at a camp for handicapped and orphaned children, I wrote this in anticipation:
Reunion
I look forward to seeing my wife and daughter again.
May I anticipate with a growing expectant hope of Christ’s return more so even…
When I see my wife coming, I’ll go to embrace her showing
appreciation and knowing she loves me better than a friend.
may it be a glimpse of the precious encounter with the Savior
glowing as the author and perfection of love greater than anyone
sure to gladly rend.
Then I see my daughter running while flowing
with excitement to speak “I love you” and “I missed you” rejoicing
when I look into her eyes and see her smile as I bend down to pick
her up holding her once again ready for any needs to tend.
May this represent a glorious reminder of the Father’s bestowing
acceptance of His children welcoming them home as a treasure
more abundant than the ocean and more awesome than the
mountains proven to be faithful, full of grace, merciful, full of
compassion, mighty to save and strong to defend, the heart’s hurts
and soul’s wounds to mend in a joyous family reunion we’ll attend
made and kept forever in Heaven.
Most orphans are not able to reunite with their parents who have either died or abandoned them. Reuniting into the ultimate family of God though is possible through Jesus Christ who longs to care for each one in being their Good Shepherd.
“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” John 14:18
David, a man after God’s own heart, made sure an orphan named Mephibosheth was well taken care of and shown unconditional love. David responded to the orphan’s feelings of worthlessness and handicapped condition with provision for: a family in being welcomed and accepted, food in getting to sit at the King’s Table all his days, a home in restoring land back to him, and help from having servants to meet his needs. Mephibosheth then had his own family. God is awesome in His wondrous works to reunite lives into His family through the ultimate gift of His Son. Let us give thanks for the grace and mercy He has shown in reuniting us to Himself. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever… Psalm 107:1
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31: 8-9
Treasure Orphans
like air in the lungs
a part of me that God fills within
Pleasure in having given
aware that with them I walk among
a start to meet needs that God instills in a vision
Measure of His daughters and sons
care about whom the world shuns
a heart which pleads that God will empower the decision
I’m inspired once again to move forward in the calling God has given me to be a voice for orphans… You can read poems I’ve written concerning orphans on the Poems page within the K.O.R.E. (King of kings Orphan Reach Evangelism) website. It is now time to do something new. So, here starts blogging… “I commit this to You, Lord, that You may encourage and equip those who want to do Your will in response to the needs of the least of these. To You and You alone be the honor, glory, and praise… in Jesus name, amen.
“Reflecting upon this wondrous gift of salvation given by God through His Son Jesus Christ during the Easter celebration brings me gratitude for forgiveness of sin by His blood shed on the cross and for a hope and future because He is risen. Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, is the One who makes all things new. Jesus has given me new life, my wonderful wife/helpmate/best friend -Tami, our gifts of precious children -Joy 6, Josiah 4, Jeremiah 2, Jacob 2, a 13 week old on the way, and purpose in being a part of supporting orphans. Giving to this cause has been a wondrous blessing for us over the past 4 years and continues to be… Across the vast expanse of ocean, past cultural boundaries, and beyond tribal tradition from rural villages in India are the orphans, pastors, teachers, and widows who make up our extended family.
There are so many orphans here and all around the world in great need of being reached out to with the love of Jesus. God is moving mightily in His people to respond to their cries and continues to call out more to be involved in this work of His love. You may ask, “what can I do?”
*First, believe in God to do immeasurably more than you can think, ask, or imagine… (having faith in what He alone can do pleases Him)
*Next, bring yourself before God in prayer and ask Him to enlarge your heart for orphans, to give you insight and wisdom on how you are to be involved, and to have a willingness to be an answer to a need they have utilizing your God given gifts & talents and/or through practical giving… (being with Him, delighting yourself in Him, involving yourself in what He cares about pleases Him)
*Then, begin to seek God for direction to an existing ministry or an open door for a new one you’re to start in order to support one or more orphans. (committing what you do to Him, trusting in Him, and being a doer of the Word pleases Him)
Jesus said in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Let us know how God is working in your heart, any ministry to orphans you’re a part of, and the wondrous works He has done. If you need prayer, we would love to come alongside and pray for you…
