GO! Australia in Fine Fashion

GO! Australia in Fine Fashion

Wow! it's been a whirlwind first week here in Brisbane for our team. We've tried to update our activities via Facebook, but our long days/evening schedule has hindered blogging up to this point.

Ann Street Church

We made it here with no worries, surprising our missionary (Daun) with her father (Don)!  It was great to see her stunned expression at the airport as he came out the ramp! More than anything throughout this week, we've been impressed with the need and opportunity for relationships.  The young people of the Ann Street Church are so open for friendships, and those connections matter to them.  People with whom we've come into contact are also open to finding more about us and connecting with us on some level.  These opportunities are abundant and fairly easy to negotiate- something all of us are able to do!

Community BBQ

We've been to an island off Brisbane's shore with the church, visited a zoo, cleaned and begun repainting Ann Street's Fellowship Hall, eaten kangaroo, served a Community BBQ (like our Community Supper), dined at the Pancake House in the city at midnite, attended a farewell service for Ron Tatum (visiting for a month from Southside Christian Church in Inglewood), and prayer walked in the city...just to mention a few things. Tomorrow (Sunday), Mike will preach a combined service (Ann St. regulars and their Korean church), then we'll pack up and head to Eidsvold, a small, predominantly aboriginal community 6 hours from here.  Chances are there'll be no way to blog there, so we'll catch you up on our return next Thursday.  Meanwhile, thank you for your prayers and love (keep 'em coming!), and enjoy a few recent snaps:

Daddy Don

Luke the artist

Josh and St. John

Alexis and the Ann St. mob

Work crew gettin' it done

In 'N' Out training pays off 

Beach bunnies!

Mike keeping an eye out

We've experienced a lot in a short time, and there's more to come!  Pray for opportunity and boldness as we represent our God here.  We love you all
!

a voice in kenya

I heard God's voice today.

Our devotional booklet has focused on learning to hear the voice of God, and I've been working on that during the trip. Before leaving for home visits this morning, I asked God specifically to help me hear his voice today.  Our visitations to Tumaini kids and their families took us to a number of homes, some of them with very little.  But one was different than the others.

Louise is a grandmother raising her two grandchildren, Rachel and Wambua, because their mom died several years ago through HIV AIDS.  Dad's still around, but is sickly and probably has the disease as well.  In addition to this loss, Louise has lost other children, one who died giving birth and others to AIDS.  She is a faithful believer, a widow, and probably more than 70 years old.  She struggles just to make sure her family is taken care of.  And Tumaini helps.

Her home consists of a few brick and mud structures that appear little more than small storage sheds.  But she and the kids have used them for shelter since last April.  It was during heavy rains then that another small brick and mud structure in which they were sleeping began to collapse.  Some of the walls gave way in the downpour as the children began screaming, "We're dead! We're dead!"  Somehow, walls that should have fallen on them didn't and they were spared.

As Louise shared her story and we surveyed the half-collapsed home, Stanley said quietly to me, "Tumaini doesn't typically involve itself in building homes, but I believe God wants us to rebuild this one."  It was then God spoke to my heart and said, "You- you and people you know- make sure this home is redone and this family is safe."  I stood there quietly considering the situation.  How could we not?  I acknowledged what I believed I heard, told Stanley what God had laid on my heart, and asked how much it would cost.  He said he would have estimates and a man ready to begin in a couple of days, but he thought it should be about $700.  I calmly thought, "Our missions budget can probably afford that." 

Then I heard God's voice again. "No," he clearly told me, "Not just from your budget. I want greater awareness and ownership from others.  I want you to ask and involve people." 

Really.  That's what he told me.

So there it is.  I believe with all my heart God heard my prayer this morning and spoke to me.  It's not exactly what I was expecting (I'm not sure just what I was expecting), but he spoke.  And I'm kinda excited, because he's either spoken, speaking, or going to speak to someone else about his or her part in this.  If you think God might be speaking to you, let me know.  Soon.  More rains are on the way and this family needs assistance before something else falls.

It's not about the money.  It's about listening.  And responding.  I'm trying to hear him and follow what I believe he's saying to me.  It's not always easy.  Too many voices, too many distractions, too much talking on my part.  But I know something for sure tonight.

I heard God's voice today.

tumaini...it's all about hope

It's 2:30 a.m. and I'm awake.  Preparing for our early morning flight that will take us (eventually) to Kenya.  That's where we'll spend the next couple of weeks working with Tumaini International Ministries.  Tumaini, founded by Stanley and Rose Mutunga, is a Kiswahili word that means hope.  Their focus is to come alongside AIDS orphans, through sponsorship, education and encouragement, and walk with them in their journeys toward adulthood.  These kids have lost one or both parents to AIDS, and usually live with grandparents, other relatives or friends.  Life is hard at best, and sponsorship ($35 monthly) makes the difference between failure and success for hundreds of children, both young and old.

We'll leave LAX at 8:00 today and touch down in Nairobi about 7:30 Wednesday night (11 hours ahead of LA time).  All Thursday and Friday morning will be in this capital city of 4+ million, as we will visit different ministry sites in one of the largest slums in Africa.  Then Friday we'll travel 2-3 hours south and east, to the small community of Masii, where Tumaini has its offices.  Doctor Ron Jurgensen (my favorite dentist!) is with us again and we'll pull teeth for a week for those who'll walk for hours just to sit in his chair and find the relief his skills can bring.  We'll also visit some of the children that our church sponsors, as well as meet with the new church there as they are designing strategies for planting a church in the nearby city of Machakos.  It promises to be a great couple of weeks.

Our team of seven includes KACC and Parkcrest Christian Church (7th St. campus, Long Beach), and our desire is to continue to partner with Parkcrest in this ministry of compassion and church planting.  Please pray for us as we travel, adjust, connect and serve.  Pray for divine appointments with those who need to hear good news, and for boldness to share.  Pray for unity within our team a life-changing experience...for Kenyans and Americans alike.

I recently read some words in Psalms that spoke to me in a fresh way about Tumaini:

He [God] raises the poor out of the dust,

And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,

That He may seat them with princes-

With the princes of His people.

                                          Psalm 113:7,8

Tumaini's work has lifted hundreds of children and adults alike from the dust, from life's ash heap, and is even now preparing a new generation to sit with leaders and movers of their land.  Because they're giving an opportunity to those who needed it.  Because they're giving compassion and care to many for whom no one else cares. Because they're giving a vision to many who had lost sight of their futures.

Because they're giving hope.

Beyond...Nine Days in March!

It's coming! That's right, the time of missions emphasis at our church kicks off this weekend. Beyond...9 Days in March! is a time to learn more about what God is doing around the corner and around the world, and just what that means to us. Our theme this year is A House of Prayer for all Nations (Isaiah 56:7), reminding us of our need to seek God in prayer for the fulfillment of His Great Commission. There will be many special opportunities for us to discover what God is doing, and one of the many highlights will be the chance to rub shoulders with most of the 41 missionaries and missions organizations we support as a church. Here's a thumbnail sketch of some of what will be taking place:
Saturday/Sunday, March 7/8-
- Kick-off weekend with great worship, visuals and message from Pastor Shane;

Monday, March 9-
-"Have a Missionary for Breakfast!"- a free super breakfast prepared and served in our Fellowship Hall (8:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m.), where our missionaries will join us, share with us and answer questions.

Tuesday, March 10-
- Our Young at Heart (10:00 a.m.), Women's (7:00 p.m.) and Men's (7:15 p.m.) Bible Studies will have missionary guest speakers.

Wednesday, March 11-
- All-Church Global Gathering! At 5:30 pm, the In-N-Out truck will be here to serve a great burger dinner ($3 cost). Our 7:00 p.m. program will include a special performance by the International Children’s Choir of Long Beach, as well as introduction of, and prayer for our missionaries. Special focus will be given to our local workers.

Thursday, March 12-
- A special Women's Ministries meeting/brunch honoring our female missionaries. Begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends by noon. Joy Daniel of Hyderabad, India will be our guest speaker.

Friday, March 13-
- 7:00 p.m. Friday Night at the Movies, a time to share a great movie and snacks with family and friends. And it's all on us! (with childcare!)

Saturday /Sunday, March 14/15-
- Services with our missionaries or representatives present, along with their displays and information. So much to see and do!

In addition to these events:
- The lobby of the auditorium will be open each night from 9:00-11:00 for prayer. We’re encouraging our people to come at least once during the nine days, even for 15 minutes, to offer prayers for missionaries, as well as for the global situations.

Join us if you're in the area (315 S. Knott Ave., Anaheim, CA) and pray for us if you aren't. This is a critical time for us as we seek to grow in our understanding of the partnership we have with God's global plan. Pray that He would open our hearts, challenge our lifestyles, and bless our efforts. And that we would take what He shows us and go beyond these nine days...

...to a world in need of a Savior.

my unsettled soul

It's been a tough week in my spirit. I returned Sunday night from a four-day trip with a ministry team from our church. We were in eastern Arizona, serving on the San Carlos Apache Reservation. This trip always hits me differently than others. We had a great time (21 of us in all) working with the Arizona Reservation Ministry, and coming alongside them as they pour themselves out for the Apache people. We assisted in the construction of homes on the reservation, played with kids, and tried to make connections with those around us. The experience is always a positive one, and is of great value. But it always leaves me unsettled and bothered. Maybe more than anywhere else I go.

The level of despair and hopelessness that exists in this location is beyond measure. It's difficult to describe the intensity of the factors that block the way of any person, young or old, succeeding here. Unemployment on the reservation stands at more than 75%. More than half the homes have no running water or electricity. Alcohol consumption is rampant, as are drug usage and dealing (meth and coke being the preferred choices). Gangs are so prevalent (Bloods and Crips- can you believe it?!) that everyone, youth and adult alike, are afraid for their safety. When the sun sets, everyone retreats inside. It's not safe to be out.

There's little or no hope in young people's hearts for their futures. One of greatest cultural influencers is MTV. Many of the young people emulate what they see there, almost none of it positive. Abuse in all forms is high, and little of substance is done about it. It's as if invisible bars exist on the borders of the land, restraining those within, and withstanding those without. With the exception of Haiti, there may be less hope here than anywhere else I have been- and that includes the slums of Nairobi, Mexico City and Manila.

Each time I visit San Carlos, my heart is ripped out a little more. I don't have a lot of answers- just a mixed bag of feelings, emotions and frustrations. How we allow such despair in our own land- and especially toward those we've historically treated so poorly to begin with- boggles my mind and makes my heart scream. But why do we expect our government to fix things? Didn't it actually create so much of this? I'm convinced that change will only happen when we- people like you and me- take it upon ourselves to do something about it. And until we do, the San Carlos Apache, and countless others like them, will continue down a ragged road of hopelessness and destruction. But does it really matter to us?

If you just knew some of the people at San Carlos, you'd know that it should.