Christmas Memories

As I look back at my Christmas' past I remember fondly of the trees, the stockings, special gifts, traveling to relatives, family Christmas Eve bingo ( a Sparks family tradition), grandmother's home made rolls & fried okra, talent shows (a Chesterman family tradition), and birthday parties for Jesus. What do you fondly remember?

My more recent Christmases have changed. Being on the other side of the ocean and away from family, winter snow, commercials and sales my holiday focus has changed and I am grateful to God for it. I don't want to diminish Christmas traditions or family gatherings, I do cherish them but I also love that here my life and Christmas has become much more basic. My focus can now be more centered on our Savior and His birth. He left glory; heavenly hosts singing holy, holy holy to come to earth. To a simple, stinking stable with no red carpet or royal greeting. To save those whom would never fully understand Him. Those that would not recognize His glory but persecute and eventually crucify Him. And He loved us so much, He loved me so, much that even if it was just me He would have still done it. Unfathomable!

 As "Christmas Day" has now passed, I remember the truth we shared with the children at the parties. 

You can trust God ....no matter who you are, where you are or what your circumstances!

I can celebrate the joy of your Savior even without a Christmas tree or presents or family or snow! I wish you a belated Merry Christmas and may you relish the reason for the season, Christ our Lord and Savior, and trust Him and His daily presence in your life!!!!

Note for those that have visited Swaziland before: The pictures above come from the parties at Mangwaneni, Mbekelweni, Mayenjane, Section 19 and two new sites in South Africa-Badplaas and Mahushu.

Taking the Wheel

A lot of things are happening in my life since I was in the states. God continues to grow and stretch me. Over the years submission has been a key area of needed growth. I like to be in control but that is not always how God sets things up. The visual illustration God has given me on submission is that I am the passenger in a car. I am not the driver.

As long as the car is going where I want to go and is taking the route I would take, no problem. I can be submissive. Actually the definition of submission is "To yield or surrender (oneself) to the will or authority of another." So when you are in agreement with the direction of things there is nothing to yield so I really was not needing to be submissive. But what about when I feel we are going the wrong direction or worse yet, going to be in an accident? I would take the wheel and get us back on course. . . . . my course.

What God has taught me is that it is not a matter of control as much as it is a matter of trust. If God's plan is to put someone over me, then do I trust His plan. Do I trust that He watches over me even if we take a wrong turn? Do I trust that maybe it is not about me, maybe He is growing and stretching the driver and when I reach over and take the wheel I prevent that growth? I think that is what happened in my marriage. Do I trust God even if His plan means we do have the accident? Maybe I will grow going through it, or maybe I'm to minister to someone else during it or maybe I will never understand it. But I am learning to trust God and His plan even when I don't get to do the driving! Does that mean I need to be a silent passenger? No way, communication is key! But it does mean that I can still trust that God has my back when I am under the leadership He has put in charge. When I am obedient to what God tells me to do (which occasionally might be to grab the wheel--but only occasionally) and to trust Him that He will ALWAYS be there with me!

Where is God leading you? Is the road leading you to places you never expected? Do you trust Him? 

God has done some remarkable things in and through me the last 5 years when He led me to Swaziland. Now as the road curves slightly and He directs the path of Children's Cup to take me to South Africa, I go trusting that He has even more amazing things on the journey!!!!

Flashback!

5 years ago today was my first day with Children's Cup! What an adventure it has been! How blessed to have God use me and grow me and stretch me beyond anything I could ever imagine!!! As those of you who knew me before I came to Swaziland will agree, being a missionary was NEVER on my radar! But I can honestly say I do not even slightly regret being obedient when He called me! His plan is so much better than my plans have ever been. As my future changes and I continue to be obedient to Him I'm sure the journey ahead will only get better! For now, enjoy some flashback pictures of the last 5 years. It has been pointed out that the longer I am here the shorter my hair gets.---Not sure if that is true but I did have a wild hair day in the second pic! LOL!

Ephesians 3:20 “Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”

Team Work

Sorry for the lack of posting. It is a busy time of year. I have just finished helping host my second team in 5 weeks. Teams are so vital to the ministry here. Teams usually help on the ground in some manner. The October One Child Matter Team (formally known as Mission of Mercy) helped with beautification at two of our projects and sponsors got to meet their child face to face. 

Then there was the Medical Mercy team of doctors, nurses, dietitians and others who just left. 

They treated 1,111 children and community members in a 5 day period!

They touch lives. They let children know they are special for someone to come halfway around the world to see them, touch them and love on them. 

 For the team, they not only get the satisfaction of helping someone but of seeing ministry first hand. 

You can read about things but until you are on the ground seeing with your own eyes the smiles of children with bare feet or torn cloths, hearing the children sing or play with your own ears, smelling the smells of a life of poverty, and feeling a child relax in your arms as you love on them, it is only stories.

For teams that come, it becomes an experience that will make an imprint for a lifetime, on both sides of the world.

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!