We Can't Do It Alone

The CarePoints cannot do or be everything for a child. We try to do as much as we can to nurture the children who attend. We want them to know God, know they are loved, that they are special but also to care for their needs. We offer free preschool, free meals each day and regular visits by our medical staff. But is it enough? Sometimes it is not. Sometimes we work with other agencies and churches in an area to minister to a child or family in need. Shelly Magongo and her two siblings are one such family.

Shelly is 12 years old and attends a local school and is in 4^th grade. She is a good student which is significant once you see all the obstacles she has overcome. When Shelly was an infant her family came to Swaziland from Mozambique. She has no extended family here and has never returned to Mozambique to know any family there. 3 years ago Shelly’s mom passed away. Earlier this year her father became ill. Without asking for help she looked after him and cared for her younger sister, Nanusha who is 7 and younger brother, Bruno who is 6. The local Baptist Church they attended reached out when they were evicted and let them stay in a small room on the church property. Nothing fancy but four concrete walls to give them shelter during the cold winter.

Before their father became ill the CarePoint had encouraged him to let Nanusha and Bruno attend the CarePoint preschool program. They had never been in school before. Shelly had graduated from the program 2 years earlier when it was preschool through grade 2. The father agreed and Nanusha and Bruno have excelled. Just over a month ago, Shelly’s father passed away. Our facilitator worked with the local church to try and make a plan for the now child headed household. Shelly, 12 years old, is now the head of the home. The local church is providing shelter and Children’s Cup is helping with food. Both parties are helping with love and support and checking in on them regularly. The death and situation has been reported to the Mozambique Embassy and they are looking for relatives in that country. We are trying to keep the family living locally until the end of the school year in December so Shelly doesn’t have to repeat the 4^th grade and the other two can finish preschool and be ready for first grade.

We praise the hands on ministry and love of the local church in ministering to this family! We praise God for our devoted CarePoint staff who go above and beyond the ordinary and shine God’s light in their community!

Please lift this family in your prayers! Pray that extended family can be found that is safe and loving and know God. Pray Shelly can finish the school year strong and also rely on God to give her strength and direction for her future!!! If she gets to stay locally, she is a perfect candidate for our scholarship program next year.

Thank all who support Children’s Cup and help us partner with local agencies and churches to help those in dire need!!!! We cannot do what we do here by ourselves, we need local agencies, churches, and  you helping us from where you are! Thank you so much!

I Don't Belong On A Pedestal!

Worked on the holiday Monday so getting to enjoy a Friday off. It is cold and rainy and the electricity was off most of the morning. Electricity is back on and having a hot cup of tea now. After having a little pitty party first thing, I had a nice quiet morning of sorting through things and reading. I want to share some food for thought from Max Lucado. He's discussing the story about Mary and Martha. He's talking about Martha. We know it all too well. We know the personalities (I am definitely a Martha.) But I found the insight of how the enemy uses our ministry to turn our eyes from Jesus very thought provoking and so true. How often do we give credit to others of what should go to God? As you read this, realize I should not be on a pedestal and neither should you. Our work should point others to God not ourselves!

"As she began to work for Him, her work became more important than her Lord. What began as a way to serve Jesus, slowly and subtly became a way to serve self.....

I know what it's like to set out to serve God and end up serving self. I've labored long and hard over sermons only to have my feelings hurt if the aren't complimented. I've pushed myself deeply into a manuscript only to catch myself daydreaming about the postpublication compliments. I've spoken to conference audiences about the sufferings of Christ and then gotten frustrated that the hotel room wasn't ready...

Satan knows that. This tool of distortion is one of Satan's slyest. Note: He didn't take Martha out of the kitchen; he took away her purpose in the kitchen. The adversary won't turn you against the church; he will turn you toward yourself in the church. He won't take you away from you ministry; he'll disillusion you in your ministry.....

 By the way, this story could easily have been reversed. Mary could have been the one to get angry. The sister on the floor could have resented the sister at the sink. Mary could have grabbed Jesus and dragged him into the kitchen and said, 'Tell Martha to quit being so productive and to get reflective. Why do I have to do all the thinking and praying around here?'

What matters more than the type of service is the heart behind the service. A bad attitude spoils the gift we leave on the altar for God."

May my ministry only reflect Him more, not me. When you see me, I pray that you see so much of God that you forget I am there! That is my goal. That is my heart. I fail often, just like Max was saying. I can get caught up in the praise, the hugs, the spotlight all too often. But that is not what it is all about.

God, guard my heart against desiring the praise and attention. May my service be sincere and for you alone!

It's Relational!

As I was reading my Bible today about Martha and Mary in Luke 10, I continue to ask God to help me have a Mary heart and not a Martha’s to do list.

What a friend I have in Jesus! Sounds so simplistic, so old fashion but without the relationship, He is either a genie in a bottle or a judge. I want the friend. I want sit at His feet, lean against Him and breathe and feel His heartbeat.

I was reading a book “Same Kind of Different As Me” by Ron Hall & Denver Moore. I keep rereading a paragraph near the end of the book (several years after Ron has lost his wife).

“The pain of losing Deborah still brings tears. And I cannot mask my profound disappointment that God did not answer yes to our prayers for healing. I think He’s okay with that. One of the phrases we evangelicals like to throw around is that Christianity is “not a religion; it’s a relationship.” I believe that, which is why I know that when my faith was shattered and I raged against Him, He still accepted me. And even though I have penciled a black mark in His column, I can be honest about it. That’s what a relationship is all about. Still I can’t deny the fruit of Deborah’s death---Denver, the new man, and the hundreds of men, women and children who will be helped because of the new mission. And so, I release her back to God.”

In the end, it won’t be about what I know about the Bible or what tasks I have done. In the journey and in the end, it is about my relationship with my Lord. Up or down, happy or sad, giddy or mad, understanding or in complete confusion…..He is there. I am in awe to be where I am in this journey!

I trust Him completely!!! If you do not have a relationship with Him, I encourage you to get down on your knees or sit in your favorite chair and ask Him for that! He’s there, He’s listening. Ask Him to make Himself real to you in a way that you can feel His presence. Any honest words will do. And then just share, whether it is your fears, your shattered dreams, your pain….Then listen, let Him show you the next step and follow Him willingly, whether that is excepting Him as your Savior in an intimate not religious way, or taking steps of faith that you feel He is telling you to do or releasing your emotions on Him. It is okay, He’s the best!! You won’t be sorry to be His friend!!! I’m sure not!