Project Glory

Remembering Maria

2011-04-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

It seems fitting to remember Maria Mavuso during Passion Week. Maria went home to be with the Lord last month. She was a simple, uneducated widow who lived in desperately poor circumstances. Unlike some of the other SHBC volunteers, Maria spoke almost no English, so our previous mission teams weren't able to learn much of Maria's story. It turns out that she, like other SHBC volunteers, also had AIDS. We can only speculate about how she acquired the disease, but a likely scenario is that her husband, as is often the case with Swazi men, had multiple sex partners and brought AIDS home to Maria (and possibly other wives).

If I were in Maria's situation, I would probably stay home in bed, immobilized and victimized, allowing my family and friends to care for me. But Maria didn't allow her poverty, lack or education or AIDS to keep her from serving others. Every morning Maria got up, walked miles to collect firewood and water, then started a fire and cooked for hours so the Dwaleni orphans could have a nutritious mid-day meal. And in addition to these community orphans, Maria went to her simple home every evening and cared for two more children who had been orphaned by AIDS.

This Easter, as you think about the challenges you face which might be preventing you from living sacrificially, consider Maria and the sacrifices she made in spite of her desperate situation. When I think about Maria and the way she she lived, "being Jesus", she encourages me to do more of the same.

Mission work St Patrick's way

2011-03-17T10:16:00.000-07:00

In the late 4th or early 5th century, Patrick was growing up in an aristocratic family in what is now northeast England. At about the age of 16 he was captured by Celtic pirates from Ireland and sold into slavery. For about the next six years Patrick was a cattle herder for a prosperous tribal chief. During these years Patrick experienced three profound changes. First, during days in solitude in the beautiful wilderness he encountered God and became a man of prayer. Second, he developed a keen understanding of the Celtic peoples. Third, he came to love his captors and developed a deep hope that they would have reconciliation with God.

One night, after six years of captivity, a voice spoke to Patrick in a dream saying, “You are going home. Look! Your ship is ready.” The voice directed him to flee for his freedom the next morning. He awakened before daybreak, walked to a seacoast, saw athe ship, and negotiated his way on board.

Data for the next 25 years is sketchy, but we know that Patrick trained for the priesthood and served for years in a local parish. Then one night, at the age of 48 (past the life expectancy for a 5th century male), Patrick experienced another dream. An angel named Victor brought him letters from his former captors in Ireland saying “we appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.” Patrick interpreted this as his Macedonian Call” and proposed to his supervisors that he be sent on mission to Ireland.

This request and eventual mission was unprecedented, but persuading the Roman church created a significant challenge for Patrick. The reason for this was that the thinking of the Roman church at this time was that a people had to become “civilized” before they could be “Christianized” - - - and the Celtic people to whom Patrick had been called were, in the Roman mind, serious barbarians. They didn’t read or write, let alone speak Latin. They were tribal warriors who stripped naked and rushed enemies in battle, often decapitating conquered enemies. Some of their religious customs required human sacrifice.

But Patrick became an apostle in the truest sense. His teams would meet the people, engage them in conversation AND in ministry. They prayed for the sick, counseled people, mediated conflicts. They often engaged in open-air speaking, and regularly used parables, story, poetry, song visual arts and even drama. Ancient documents indicate that Patrick would receive people’s questions and respond collectively. Sound like someone else you know of? When people responded, the missionary team invited the barbarians into their life together. The Celtic people who joined life with Patrick’s mission teams did not have “conversion experiences” as we 21st century, western evangelicals understand conversion. Rather, as they shared life, day-by-day, people would eventually realize that they had gradually come to believe in the God of the scriptures and then chose to profess this belief through baptism.

Was Patrick’s method successful? Ancient documents report that Patrick’s teams planted about 700 churches, ordained perhaps 1000 priests. Within his lifetime 40+ of Ireland’s 150 tribes became substantially Christian. Many church historians believe St. Patrick to be Christendom’s most fruitful missionary of all time.

And his achievements included “civilizing” these barbaric peoples. He was the first man recorded to have spoken publically and crusaded against slavery. Through his influence intertribal warfare significantly decreased. His communities were known to be models of the “Christian way” of faithfulness, generosity and peace to all of the Irish.

Patrick's life and mission philosophy reminds us that we should be less focused on barbaric activities of the people around us, much more focused on simply "being Jesus" to and among them. After all, aren't we are all barbarians?

Taken from: Hunter, George G. III; The Celtic Way of Evangelism, Abingdon Press; 2000

A mutiny in the body?

2011-03-06T15:08:00.000-08:00

"At the central railway station in Madras, India, lay a beggar woman more pitiful than the others I saw there. She had positioned herself alongside the stream of passengers hurrying to catch their trains. Businessmen with briefcases passed by her, as did wealthy tourists and government officials.

Like many Indian beggars, the woman was emaciated, with sunken cheeks and eyes and bony limbs. But, paradoxically, a huge mass of plump skin, round and sleek like a sausage, was growing from her side. It lay beside her like a formless baby, connected to her by a broad bridge of skin. The woman had exposed her flank with its grotesque deformity to give her an advantage in the rivalry for pity. Though I only saw her briefly, I felt sure that the growth was a lipoma, a tumor of fat cells. It was part of her and yet not, as if some surgeon had carved a hunk of fat out of a three hundred pound person, wrapped in in live skin, and deftly sewed it on this woman. She was starving; she feebly held up a spidery hand for alms. But her tumor was thriving, nearly equaling the weight of the rest of her body. It gleamed in the sun, exuding health, sucking lie from her."

"Sometimes a dreaded thing occurs in the body – a mutiny – resulting in a tumor lipoma such as the one attached to the Madras beggar. A lipoma is a low-grade, benign tumor. It derives from a single fat cell, skilled in its lazy role of storing fat, that rebels against the leadership of the body and refuses to give up its reserves. It accepts deposits but ignores withdrawal slips. As the cell multiplies, daughter cells follow its lead and a tumor grows like a fungus, filling in crevices, pressing against muscles and organs."

"The cells function beautifully except for one flaw – they have become disloyal. In their activity they may disregard the body’s needs. And so the beggar woman in Madras gradually starved while a lipoma that was part of her engorged itself."

Last week, as I was again thinking and reading about the American church and American Christians, I was reminded of this story I read years ago from the book “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” by Philip Yancey and Dr. Paul Brand. Dr. Brand is known for his eighteen years of pioneering research on the disease of leprosy in India, and it was he who retold the compelling section above.

I wonder sometimes, as part of the universal body of Christ, if perhaps we have become a lipoma? Have we become adept at storing within our own ministries the kingdom resources at our disposal, while disregarding the needs of the larger body? Do we refuse to give up reserves to parts of our larger body that is starving, while we, as American Christian’s engorge ourselves spiritually? Something to think about anyway.

The Quest for Peace and Justice - Dr. Martin Luther King

2011-01-17T12:08:00.000-08:00

On December 11th, 1964, Martin Luther King addressed the Norwegian parliament in Oslo Norway in his Nobel lecture entitled "The Quest for Peace and Justice." On this day in America, as we celebrate the life and legacy of MLK, I share a few excerpts from this great speech, as it speaks as powerfully today as it did in 1964, about our responsibility as Christian people to the engage in the struggle of the "least of these."

"Some years ago a famous novelist died. Among his papers was found a list of suggested story plots for future stories, the most prominently underscored being this one: "A widely separated family inherits a house in which they have to live together.

"This is the great new problem of mankind. We have inherited a big house, a great 'world house' in which we have to live together - black and white, Easterners and Westerners, Gentiles and Jews, Catholics and Protestants, Moslem and Hindu, a family unduly separated in ideas, culture, and interests who, because we can never again live without each other, must learn, somehow, in this one big world, to live with each other. This means that more and more our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. We must now give an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in our individual societies.

"This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all men. This oft misunderstood and misinterpreted concept so readily dismissed by the Nietzsches of the world as a weak and cowardly force, has now become an absolute necessity for the survival of man. When I speak of love I am not speaking of some sentimental and weak response which is little more than emotional bosh. I am speaking of that force which all of the great religions have seen as the supreme unifying principle of life . . . .

"Let us hope that this spirit will become the order of the day . . . . "

What if gratitude was a verb?

2010-12-10T11:45:00.000-08:00

Last week on World AIDS Day I showed the film A Grandmother’s Tribe at our church, to a room of mostly Jr. High kids and a few adults. It is a story of two grandmothers from Kenya who are preparing for their Christmas celebrations and raising their grandchildren because their own children have died from AIDS. One thread that was woven through the movie, from the grandmothers and the grandchildren, even though they lived in terrible poverty with unbelievable hardship - - - is GRATITUDE. This really struck my CCC teammates, Dion and LJ, and they’ve been talking about it since; how little we Americans understand about how grateful we should be, how often we Americans seem to confuse wants with needs and are disappointed when we don’t have things that are complete luxuries for most people in the world (especially at Christmas).

Since the film’s showing numerous people have asked to borrow my DVD and have expressed that they want their kids to watch it so they will feel more grateful. I should be thrilled with this, more people spreading the word about the injustice and plight of people in Africa. Right? But for some reason this sudden interest in helping people feel more grateful troubled me. Thinking and praying about this unusual response for the past few days, I finally realized what is that is bothering me. GRATITUDE IS JUST A NOUN.

Webster defines gratitude as simply “the state of being grateful” and “consciousness of benefit received.” And while scripture is full of admonishment that God’s people should feel grateful and express that gratitude, there is also an admonishment that gratitude can be expressed with arrogance and hypocrisy. Consider Jesus’ story about the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector:

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:11-14).

Bill Easum, in his book Leadership on the Other Side describes how Israel allowed gratitude to turn into arrogance. He says “Over time Israel began to think of herself as being chosen because she was special. The difference between being special because you are chosen and being chosen because you are special is enormous. One is servanthood and the other is entitlement.”

When I was in 5th grade English I learned that a verb is an “action word,” and I think gratitude, in a biblical sense, should be a verb. Here are a couple of examples of when this was the case.

King David went to present an offering to the Lord, to express sorrow over his sin of counting the troops and his gratitude for God’s mercy. As he was going, Araunah the Jebusite saw the king coming, ran up and offered to give him the threshing floor and the grain for the offering. But David responded, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing” (1 Chron 21:24). When Jesus invited people to follow Him in a life for which they would “feel” immeasurable gratitude, He said “take up your cross” (Mark 10:21). When the apostle Paul challenged the Corinthians to feel grateful for God’s mercy he said, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices.” (Romans 12:1)

Paying for an offering, taking up a cross, giving a living sacrifice are all actions – VERBS. Yes, feeling gratitude is important. But I think that when we become satisfied with just feeling grateful, we are in danger of becoming like the Israelites or the Pharisees. On the other hand, taking action on our feelings of gratitude is the perfect protection against it.

So my prayer, for myself and others, is going to be that when something moves us to gratitude, whether it is a movie or a conversation with a friend or a delicious meal with family, we would assume that what we are feeling is a VERB, and ask ourselves what action God is calling us to take in response to the gratitude we feel.

If I had a sinus problem in Swaziland . . .

2010-10-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

. . . well actually, if I lived in Swaziland the odds are I wouldn’t know that I had a sinus infection. If I noticed a few symptoms, I wouldn’t think of going to the clinic for what seems like a minor discomfort. There would be no lab tests, no X-rays or CT scans. I wouldn’t worry about taking antibiotics too often and lowering my resistance; there are no antibiotics available. I wouldn’t be considering treatment options; there is no treatment and are no options. I wouldn’t learn how to rinse out my sinuses with warm, clean saline water; there is no clean water available and certainly no place to purchase a little product like a Nettie Pot. I would learn to live with the burning eyes, the green, smelly mucus coming out of my nose, the pressure headache. And as my life went on, if I experienced more pain and discomfort or perhaps even more serious issues like meningitis, brain abscess or infections in my eyes or scull, I would have no idea that these problems were connected to living with an infection that would have been easily treated in most of the world.

But I live in America, not Swaziland. I have no intention of living with the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. I find it unacceptable that an infection should reoccur 7 or 8 times a year, so I demand, and get, answers. I have access to expert ENT physicians (at Stanford today) and health insurance to pay for it. I have a job that provides me with “sick time” so I don’t have to lose income when I take a day for the Stanford consultation. I have a well running vehicle to drive myself there. Here in America it is relatively easy, via CT scans and exams, for the doctor to determine that surgery is required reconstruct my sinus cavity and make “space” so that fungal treatment can be effective. This morning, I’m grateful to God for his mercy; very grateful that I have access to expert diagnostic and medical care from Dr. Richard Demera in Fresno and Dr. Hwang at Stanford Medical Center.

But as I reflect on this contrast, I’m also sensing conviction that simple gratitude could actually be problematic. We were reminded at church a few weeks ago that first century rabbis would awaken each day and pray "Blessed art thou, O God, for not making me a Gentile, slave, or woman." Once realizing what I have access to, things that so many in the world do not, I’m sensing that if I am moved to gratitude alone it is like praying, “Blessed art thou, O God, for not making me a poor sick woman who lives in a country like Swaziland?”

I have no ability to provide ENT expertise to Swaziland. But I do have the ability to do something. I think perhaps this is what the Apostle Paul meant, when he asked us to reflect on God’s mercy:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1

Oh that our gratitude would move us beyond mere words to action.

Thank you Willow Creek Leadership Summit

2010-08-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

Friday August 6, 2010 - Two years ago today my life changed forever at the Willowcreek Summit. I had just returned from Swaziland, Africa, feeling called to continue serving there but frustrated that the local people we had come to love seemed unwilling or unable to participate in their own solutions. Volunteerism was nearly non-existent. Instead they seemed dependent on us (and other western help) to address the complex problems they faced every day. I sensed that the help we offered was not really helpful, at least in a sustainable way, but didn’t know what to do differently.

On this day I was sitting at the Willowcreek Leadership Summit waiting for the last afternoon speaker. Half-listening, I heard Swaziland mentioned and refocused on what was happening on stage. Dr. Arnau van Wyngaard was receiving the Courageous Leadership, award sponsored by World Vision and the WCA, for his work with Shiselweni Home-Based Care (SHBC). On that day in 2008 I first learned of SHBC and the 500 volunteer Swazi caregivers regularly visiting and providing care for their neighbors (about 1800) who were sick, many terminal because of HIV/AIDS (there are now over 800 caregivers and 2500 clients). While I had experienced frustration trying to find 8 or 10 people who would commit to feeding orphans or caring for the sick, SHBC had somehow recruited 500 volunteers. I had to learn more.

My own life has not been the same since that day. I went home that night and emailed Arnau. We developed an e-friendship and eventually determined that we would send a team to serve along side the SHBC caregivers, to encourage and support them in their work. Since then two groups from Fresno and one from Sacramento have traveled to Swaziland to encourage and equip these selfless Swazi servants. A ministry called Project Glory (www.project-glory.org) was born, headquartered in Fresno with the mission to support SHBC and match American sponsors (and friends) with individual caregivers. Arnau came to Fresno in January 2010 to help launch the ministry and share the vision of SHBC. In just over one year we have sent nearly $30,000 to SHBC. There have been several large gifts, but still a big percentage of the funds have come from individuals who support a caregiver with $35 per month, with their friendship and prayers.

Personally, my own life has been changed by coming to know these caregivers. So often in ministry here in the USA we (read: I), especially in the current economy, feel handicapped by a shortage of resources. In Swaziland I met people who are dedicated to serving and being Jesus to their neighbors, without ANY resources. What do you say to people who are sick and desperately in need of things you have no hope of giving them; food, water, medicine? You say what the apostle Peter said in Acts 3:6, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you.” Everyday SHBC caregivers give their feet as they walk dusty roads and goat trails to see clients. They give their hands and the healing touch as they massage arthritic joints or stroke someone’s fevered face. They give their voice as they pray and give the comfort of scripture to people facing illness and death. Like Peter, they don’t let a lack of resources keep them from being Jesus to their neighbors.

I’ll be forever grateful to the WCA and The Leadership Summit, because this event connected me to these wonderful people half-way around the world, and opened the door for me to serve along side them. What an honor!!

Wendi Hammond

Prayer for weary leaders . . .

2010-06-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

I read this on the "Lausanne Movement" blog this morning, written by Mary DeMuth, a missionary / church planter who now lives in Rockwell, TX. It lifted me, perhaps it will you also - Wendi Hammond

As a former church planter in France, I remember weariness. There were times I’d fly back to the states for writing related work. I could barely share my story without saying words like, "I feel like I’ve been through a war." We suffered greatly in every way possible as we worked to plant a church. We lived and breathed by God’s sufficiency. But underneath all that undergirding power lay the tenacious, persistent prayers of others.

When we left for France, our church’s global prayer team gave us a significant gift--a framed piece of rope. They said they were holding the rope for us, an anchor to our journey.

Hold the rope they did, as did so many others.

Today my heart is heavy for leaders who are weary and discouraged as we were. I remember the fatigue, the bone-tired wearineses, the discouragement. And I remember the deliciousness of discovering God’s sufficiency when we were weak. So in that spirit, may I offer up a prayer for you?
Dear Jesus,

We are a weary lot. Please lift our heads. Tuck your hands beneath us. Cradle us. Help us to see You in new and different ways today because of our weakness. Where there is dissention on our team of leaders, please bring unifying peace. Let forgiveness reign between us, and let it begin with us laying down our rights for the sake of Your Kingdom, Your glory. Forgive us for building our own kingdoms, for striving for numbers, for recognition, for finances. We choose right now to relinquish everything. Our hearts. Our wills. Our dreams. The way we think things should turn out. Instead, Lord, replace our broken hearts with Your beauty and power and might and perspective. Give us renewed lives. Give us wings like eagles. Give us the ability to lay down our lives for those who don’t like or love us. Give us the hope we need to see Your glory above our circumstances. Let our hearts rest in You, not wrestle with provision. We love you. We need You. We hope in You. We cry out to You. Heal us. Restore us. Rejuvenate us. Holy Spirit, breathe freedom where there’s bondage, hope where there’s hopelessness, peace where there’s discord. This is Your work for Your glory. Keep us neslted in Your grip.

Amen.

The Lazarus Effect

2010-05-26T08:15:00.000-07:00

I want to share a few thoughts with you about a new HBO documentary called The Lazarus Effect about the use of Anti-retroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS in Africa. But first, a few comments about the biblical story from which the title comes.

I think it is interesting that before performing the miracle, Jesus stopped in town to pick up the sisters, Mary and Martha, and the crowd of mourners. And he wasn't just looking for an audience; He was looking for partners! Consider His words starting in John 11:38: Then they came to the grave. It was a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. "Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them .

Jesus could have commanded the stone to move. In fact, a stone moving by itself might have made the overall miracle seem even more impressive! But He knew the impact of a miracle shared by an interdependent community, so Jesus made them partners.

But what he asked next would require more from them than simple stone moving. He would ask them to become humble, vulnerable and genuinely compassionate by getting dirty. Touching a dead person would cause them to become unclean, unacceptable themselves. Jesus knew this, yet in verse 43 He said: "Lazarus, come out!" And Lazarus came out, bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, "Unwrap him and let him go!"

Rereading this passage, it occurs to me that there are two types of Lazarus effects. First is the obvious and miraculous transformation in the recipient from the healing touch of Jesus. Less obvious but perhaps even more powerful is the transformation that happens in the hearts of the stone rollers and unwrappers. The biblical story ends with Lazarus out of the tomb, unwrapped and alive. We know what happened to Lazarus and can imagine how the memory of being raised from the dead changed him forever. What we don’t know is how those who participated in the miracle were different, yet I think it is fair to imagine they also were also changed forever. When we are willing to get dirty, Jesus uses us and changes us at the same time.

The HBO documentary, The Lazarus Effect depicts the miraculous transformation in AIDS victims, in just 40 days, from getting onto an anti-retroviral regiment that costs just .40 cents per day. As we learn how ARV’s restore life to AIDS victims, we also hear Jesus calling us again to become His partners; to roll away stones and take off grave cloths.

Watch this 30 minute documentary here: The Lazarus Effect

An Athiest on The Good Samaritan

2010-05-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

Self proclaimed atheist Peter Singer, Princeton University bioethics professor says this:

The path from the library at my university to the Humanities lecture theater passes a shallow ornamental pond. Suppose that on my way to give a lecture I notice that a small child has fallen in and is in danger of drowning. Would anyone deny that I ought to wade in and pull the child out? This will mean getting my clothes muddy, and either canceling my lecture or delaying it until I can find something dry to change into; but compared with the avoidable death of a child this is insignificant. A plausible principle that would support the judgment that I ought to pull the child out is this: if it is in our power to prevent something very bad from happening, without thereby sacrificing anything of comparable, moral significance, we out to do it. This principle seems uncontroversial.

Sterns sees a striking resemblance between Singer’s parable and Jesus’ parable of The Good Samaritan. I do as well. Singer goes on to say:

For the principle takes, firstly, no account of proximity or distance. It makes no moral difference whether the person I can help is a neighbor’s child ten yards from me or a Bengali whose name I shall never know, ten thousand miles away . . . Unfortunately, for those who like to keep their moral responsibilities limited, instant communication and swift transportation have changed the situation. From the moral point of view, the development of the world into a ‘global village’ has made an important, thought still unrecognized difference to our moral situation . . . There would seem, therefore, to be no possible justification for discriminating on geographic grounds.

(Quoted by Richard Sterns in The Hole in Our Gospel – Peter Singer, Practical Ethics, 2nd ed., Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 1993).

A history lesson

2010-04-13T07:02:00.000-07:00

Last week I had a short but interesting conversation about Africa with a friend. Reflecting back on the conversation now, it occurs to me that the perspective expressed by my friend might be one of many Americans. My friend, perhaps finally voicing a suppressed angst and cynicism about our work in Africa, said this (my summary):

“The fact that so much of the African continent seems to be caught in an endless cycle of disease, poverty, illiteracy and civil war is Africa’s own fault. The rest of the world managed to move through history learning how to overcome these things, and African people have had the same opportunity as the rest of the world to create their history. It is not our responsibility to rescue Africa from self-made problems, and doing so keeps Africa stuck in the cycle.”

I don’t feel surprised about this position. My own knowledge of history and my American patriotism caused me to feel the same way for many years. But I realize now that either I wasn’t paying attention in World History classes (which is very possible) or we skipped right over any history that included the continent of Africa. The fact is that I knew nothing about the history of Africa over the past three or four hundred years. I left school thinking that history only happened in Europe and Asia and North America, and I think subconsciously assumed a similar history for the continent of Africa. But the past four years, working in Africa, I have learned a part of history that has shocked, saddened and shamed me.

My friend is completely wrong. African people HAVE NOT had the same opportunities as the rest of the world to create their own history. In fact, Africa was robbed of this opportunity by Europe and the West. I now see history very differently and admittedly, because my heart is now interpreting it for me, I’ve become a bit biased. As I understand it now, this is the REAL story of Africa that I missed in school . . .

We all know that during the sixteen and seventeen hundreds, Britain and the U.S. Colonies were wreaking havoc on the African continent, building their own empires though the scourge of slave trade and slavery. Then, near the end of the 19th century, when the rest of the world was enjoying growth and expansion brought about by the industrial revolution, European powers, in what has become known as the “Scramble for Africa,” staked claim to virtually the entire African continent. Boundaries were carved up arbitrarily (and inaccurately) and new territories were created, ignoring traditional monarchies, chiefdoms and other African societies. These new boundaries cut through more than 190 culture groups and in other cases, diverse, independent and sometimes adversarial groups with no common history, culture or language were grouped to live together. Land and people were little more than bargaining chips, some taken by treaty but most by military force, in spite of resistance in nearly every African territory. Eventually more than 10,000 different African polities and one fifth of the worlds total land area became forty European colonies and protectorates. Only Ethiopia and Liberia escaped Europe’s exploitation and oppression, though Liberia had been colonized by the United States fifty years earlier, an ill-fated attempt to create a state in which to “dump” freed slaves following the Civil War, the results of which have been disastrous.

This European exploitation was short lived – as history goes – lasting only until WW1. African countries began seeking independence about the time Europe had more important issues to deal with. Having depleted the continent of many physical resources and used its people to build economic empires, Europe started leaving the colonies back in the hands of nationals who were poor and uneducated, largely unable to self-govern in the modern world, and setting the stage for the Africa of today. *

It is so easy for we independent thinking American’s to believe that we’re successful as a nation, as organizations or individuals because we started with nothing, and with the grit and determination which is available to every human being, made ourselves into something great. But the reality is, we’ve NEVER had NOTHING to start with. Furthermore, what we do have in the way of opportunities and resources, we have, frankly, because of our own sinful past as much as our hard work. Furthermore, there are some contexts in which no amount of grit and determination can enable a person to achieve even the most limited measure of success.

This attitude triggers one of two common postures related to the problems in Africa, neither of which is appropriate or biblical. One is the cynicism that was expressed by my friend, which causes us to thumb our nose and leave Africa to solve her own problems. The other, which often disguises itself as compassion, is to march over to help with pre-conceived “American” solutions, asking few questions, taking little or no time to observe, explore or learn.

A better and biblical posture is one of student and learner before we wash our hands of the problem or run to help. It is a posture that recognizes the playing field is not, and never has been level. It is humble and grace filled. It respects and honors nationals. It is about coming under and along side as a servant, rather than over, as an expert, a benefactor, protector and problem solver. Yes, the problems are complicated and Africans are not exempt from personal responsibility, but understanding history correctly is required if we hope to address the problems assuming a biblical posture.

* Meredith, Martin; The Fate of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence; Perseus Books Group; 2005; USA

Rubbing off . . .

2010-03-17T20:36:00.000-07:00

When I was a little girl, my grandmother’s house had white washed exterior walls and a courtyard with a fence that was also whitewashed. When my sister and I played in the courtyard the whitewash would rub off on our clothes. In fact, it seemed like just hanging out near the whitewash would cause it to rub off on us. We were pretty oblivious to the influence of the whitewash on our clothes while we were busy playing. It wasn’t until we came inside and were away from the courtyard that we noticed how the whitewash had affected us.

Isn’t how it is with things that rub off, good or bad? It’s not very often that we try to get something on us, it just happens. That is what happened to me last month in Swaziland.

JABU
Jabu is a caregiver who serves in the community of Dwalini. She and I spent several days together, working in the new storage unit and making calls on some of her clients. We talked a lot about her work. She described the kinds of things she may do for clients on any given day; praying and reading scripture, fetching water, helping prepare food, bathing, treating wounds, rubbing sore muscles, and sometimes going with a client to the clinic. Knowing that it would be expensive for them to travel by public transport to clinics, I asked Jabu about how she manages this. “We just ask one another. Sometimes if I don’t have any Rand, Alice or Happiness will help me. The next time I might be able to help them go with their client to the clinic.” This from a woman who probably lives, with her family, on less than $1 per day. Later, as Jabu and I were walking back to the church she asked me how much it cost us to visit them in Swaziland. I questioned telling her about the cost of a ticket to fly to South Africa from the USA, knowing that she would have no way to comprehend that amount of money. But I decided to answer her honestly, adding that even we “rich” Americans have to save for a long time and make sacrifices in order to come to Swaziland. After I answered her we walked for a few more minutes silently, and then Jabu turned to me and said: “We love you so much!”

THE BRA PARTY
Guys, please resist the temptation to dismiss this story, it’s worth reading. Before we left Fresno one of our friends encouraged us to gather up gently used, pretty bras to take over to ladies for whom wearing a bra is often a luxury. We posted it on Facebook just one week before we left and it went viral!! By the time we left we had nearly 350 bras, many brand new, and we had to leave some behind for lack of room in our bags. On Wednesday in Swaziland several ladies helped us set up a “lingerie department” in the new kitchen, tables with pretty bras set out by size. The caregivers had spread the word and by 1pm ladies started descending on our little store. We had the caregivers shop first, two bras per person. It was very fun helping them find a pretty, well fitting bras, and they were so happy. Then the masses flooded in. While some from the community were snatching up bras by the handful, our caregivers were buzzing around like well trained Nordstrom’s sales clerks, helping their friends find the one that fit perfectly and made them feel beautiful (anyone who has bought a bra at Nordstrom’s knows how a pampering sales clerk makes you feel). As I watched them I thought, “when servanthood becomes part of one’s DNA, it comes out in everything you do.”

THE RUB OFF
I know that Jabu was very encouraged by the time we had together. What she didn’t know was how much her serving spirit encouraged, challenged, and inspired me. I know that the Dwaleni bra store was a blessing to the ladies in the community, but our caregivers didn’t realize that watching them serve their friends was a tremendous blessing to me.

These were just days hanging out together in Swaziland, like our play time in the courtyard within the whitewashed walls. We didn’t have a strategic plan to rub off on one another; but we did. Reflecting on this, it occurred to me that sometimes I pass through life, encountering people and situations that SHOULD be rubbing off on me. On a mission trip I’ve stepped away from the day-to-day grind enough to be open to the influence God wants to have on me through others. Back home now, like when I came in from playing in the courtyard, I realize how Jabu and the caregivers have rubbed off on me. But when I move through life in a “business as usual” mode, I think sometimes have a Teflon coating that can repel the blessings, encouragement, inspiration, and challenge that should be rubbing off on me. So for the next few weeks at least, I’ve got my eyes peeled for whitewashed walls that should be rubbing off.

2010-03-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

Shelley, Patti and I just returned to Piet Retief and the home of our friends the van Wyngaards. We spent 5 days in the South African Cape teaching and talking about solar cooking and pasteurizing water using WAPI’s. The weather was cooperative and we actually cooked Mealie Pup perfectly, starting from cold water. Only an African woman knows what a big deal that is. Even though this area has sporadic sun in the summer, we determined that with just 100 days of sun per year (a very reasonable estimate), a family could save $1600 Rand by using solar instead of parafin or electricity, school fees for several children. Thanks to Grahamstown and Kirstenbosch Rotary clubs for hosting us and working to see that the introduction of this technology is helpful and sustainable.

It seems that after we left Laura and Kristen in Swaziland they had several great days making calls with caregivers, packing medical bags and finishing up the organizing of a storage container / supply room. It is difficult (impossible) to convey how much an American friendship encourages and empowers a local volunteer caregiver who is dedicated to serving his/her neighbour who is suffering. Maybe these words from Jabu can explain, excerpts from a letter she gave me to pass along to her American sponsors. I don't think she'd mind me sharing

“I am so very happy to get your letter and photo . . . I love you so much . . . I will pray for you every day . . . I am praying that we can be together again, chatting and sharing the word of God . . . I love you, I love you, I love you.” (yes, written three times).

Jabu then closes her letter with this verse (Ro 10:13-17) to encourage her sponsor:

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Jabu – yours are indeed the feet of Jesus, bringing good news. Thank you for allowing us to be your friend and partner.

Wendi

Laura - 27 February 2010

2010-02-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the delay in posting. We have no internet access to update, and can send updates only when Arnau travels here and then back to his home in South Africa. This week has been one of traveling to see people of the Shiselweni region of Southern Swaziland. Jeanet, a wonderful young pharmacist serving a one year missionary commitment with the Home Based Care project, and I have visited some of the more difficult clients. We have a 2 wheel drive Nissan Pickup, referred to here as a “Baakie”, to reach clients further out. With Jeanet’s careful driving, we have gone mud bogging on clay roads, driven over roads with grass growing several feet high and no longer visible, and up hills with no roads to park, climb through barbed wire and then hike on foot to the homesteads of clients. I don’t know how, but only by the grace of God we have not become stuck and stranded in the mud! One very precious man we visited, John, is single, in his seventies, and living on his own far out of town. He has a serious leg ulcer that has been in various stages of healing for several years. Jeanet, since she arrived in January has been going out to visit and do dressing changes twice a week. I have been able to visit him twice, and will see him again on Monday before I leave. He has a very small homestead but a beautiful garden that he is out in and tending to each time we arrive. He does this while on crutches, due to his wound and previously having his toes on that foot amputated as a result of his injury. Bamboo grows dense around his yard to serve as a hedge, and he as woven a fence with the reeds to direct the path in. He grows his own fruit, squash, corn and chickens so that he is self sustaining, but this also puts him in danger as neighbors know of his gardening skills and want to steal from him. On Thursday I took my Polaroid camera with me, and took a picture of my teammate Patti and I with John as a gift to him. The look on his face, of pure amazement, as he watched the picture develop was priceless. He had never seen a picture of himself, much less one that magically appeared before his eyes. The last two days we have had a good bit of rain, but it falls hard for a short period of time. The paths become quite muddy, so I pray they will be passable on Monday, and we will reach John one last time before I leave.

Half our team departed for South Africa yesterday, and Jeanet went home to South Africa for the weekend to see her mom for her birthday. Kristen and I stayed on and went out on “local” visits with 2 caregivers, Jabu and Maria. We used local transportation, a small van called a Combie. They are much narrower that a 9 passenger van in America, and are marked for 16 passengers. The one we travelled in had 18 passengers. The combies only travel on the tar roads, which are limited in the country. We had to walk quite a bit and wait quite a while before one stopped to pick us up. It cost 4 rand (about .60 US) each way. When we got off, we walked several more miles on clay roads and paths to see our clients. The Caregivers are a generous and dedicated bunch. It requires a great commitment to their neighbors to continually and joyfully serve. As we walked the paths, they sang with such beautiful voices. On our return to the church, Maria gave Jabu a 25kg bag of beans to take with us. She effortlessly placed it upon her head to carry. Kristen and I tried. I could hold it for maybe 3 seconds, without using my hands to hold it, and had a sore neck to show for it.

Missing eveyone at home. Give Camden a kiss for me! Love you all,

Laura

Quick Swaziland update

2010-02-25T23:17:00.001-08:00

We have a quick minute with internet access to update the blog.

Shelley, Patti and I left Laura and Kristen in Swaziland as we head to South Africa to work with two Rotary Clubs and do solar cooking training.

Not nearly enough time to tell about our time with the wonderful, selfless, sacrificial caregivers. More stories will come as time and internet access is available. The highlight perhaps, was the graduation of 42 new caregivers and the opportunity to wash the feet of the leadership team. Words cannot describe how I felt washing off the dust from miles of walking down dirt roads and goat trails to in hopes of visiting a stroke or AIDS victim. So humbling. Such an honor.

Pictures to follow. Pray for Kristen and Laura as they visit more clients and ready the store room with medical supplies. Pray for us as we have to opportunity to help people from black townships learn to save money and access safe water.

Wendi

February 2010 - Laura Clark

2010-02-22T12:23:00.000-08:00

The Swazi countryside is beautiful and green. This side of the country has rolling hills and small mountains covered with trees. It actually reminds us a lot of the foothills of Fresno when they are at their greenest in early spring, on a clear day, just after the rain. The weather has been warm, but tolerable. After a first day of rain, we have had sunny weather. Mornings are “misty” just like Fresno fog, but it burns off and clears up by 10, leading to a gorgeous day. The sunsets are just BEAUTIFUL! Today will be a day of organizing supplies into the storage container, and then going out on my first visit with the caregivers. I’m excited and looking forward to it. Missing everyone at home, but so glad to be here.

February 2010 - Patti Thornton

2010-02-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

Arnau picked us up for church this morning and as soon as we pulled in to park, the singing could be heard – so alive, so harmonic, so very moving. Kristen and Wendi were enthusiastically embraced with the genuine joy that indicates that friendships are being formed because of the shared passion for serving through the association of Shiselweni Home-based Care and Project Glory. Those of us who had not been here before were greeted with only slightly less enthusiasm so we felt very at home in a church far from our own. We enjoyed the music, Wendi’s sermon reminding all of us to be stewards of our blessings and to continually grow them through perpetual education and sharing. Surprisingly, young people far outnumbered older and there were no adult men attending today’s service. Most of the congregation walk up to several miles from their homes to attend, so church starts sometime after 11:00 a.m. when most have come in the doors. I like this schedule and the devotion of the people so devoted as to walk from early morning to attend.

After lunch, the caretaker who lives on the property where we are staying guided us on a walk through tall itchy grass, making a wide berth around the bee hives he has set up for honey production. We saw deep red dragon flies and swallow tail butterflies as well as 6 foot coleus plants, camellias, hibiscus, lilies and a pond. All tired and sweaty we came back for showers and a brief nap. While we were assembling WAPIs, our guide returned with a plate of roasted corn, a nice appetizer. He stayed to visit with us and candidly answered questions about being Swazi, a married man and father of a 3 year old daughter. He was engaging, educated in a private high school, and a factual source of information about the culture and how he believes AIDS can best be curtailed. His reply was that it is up to every individual to decide how to cope with sex, birth control, and AIDS but strongly pointed out that education was the key. He said there are people who firmly believe “condoms cause AIDS” and further, most don’t want to be tested, male or female, even though the AIDS testing is free. He pointed out the further complications of sex outside marriages, non-monogamous sexual partnering by both men and women makes solutions difficult to find..

February 2010 - Wendi Hammond

2010-02-22T12:19:00.000-08:00

A great trip has started for us.

Saturday we took Shelley to meet Tabitha, the little girl she sponsors from New Hope Orphanage. I’ll never forget driving up to see this little girl loitering by the gate. Shelley hopped out of the car and said, “Tabitha, its Shelley.” When she heard this, Tabitha leapt in the air and ran over to the gate. Their embrace was like the commercial with two star-struck lovers running toward one another on the beach, but with no corny overtones, just anticipation fulfilled beyond either’s expectations.

We left Shelley to visit with Tabitha and had Debonair’s Pizza with Bongani Dlamini, Swaziland YFC’s national director. We delivered to him a new (for him) laptop, complements of Johananson Transportation, which is going to empower his ministry greatly. I was excited to hear him report about how he is collaborating with other YFC colleagues from South Africa and Mozambique to host some “See the Story” events. This idea grew out of a conversation Bongani and I had last summer about what Fresno/Madera YFC is doing to tell our story better. Very fun!

Today was church. Oh how wonderful to see old friends and for Kristen and I to introduce Laura, Patti and Shelley to them. Many hugs and smiles. The music that comes out of the mouths of Swazi people always moves my heart. I know it brought tears to the eyes of my teammates who were hearing these angelic melodies for the first time. I was the preacher for today and talked about the parable of the three servants from Luke 19 and the importance of everyone “stewarding well” the things they’ve been given. My hope and prayer is that as I shared my gratitude for the equipping I’ve received from my pastor, mentors and teachers and responsibility to steward these things . . . members of the Dwalini church would sense the same gratitude for what they’ve received from Arnau over the years and a renewed commitment to invest what they’ve been given so that the kingdom can advance.

Another highlight of today was a candid conversation about AIDS and Swaziland with the young man who serves as a caretaker of the house in which we are staying. What a great glimpse into the heart and mind of a young Swazi person. Patti will share more about the conversation below.

Tomorrow we’ll split up. Three of us will visit caregivers in new community, share the technology of solar cooking and water pasteurization using WAPI’s. The weatherman is predicting a hot, sunny day. Two will remain behind to begin organizing the medicine and clothing in the donated 40ft. container, a big job, but one that will make a tremendous difference for the caregivers as they come to get supplies to carry out their ministry.

Thanks for your prayers. More later.

safe and sound

2010-02-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

Arrived in South Africa. Last of our internet access for a while. Wonderful lunch with the van Wyngaard family. Beautiful day. Tomorrow making lots of connections in Manzini, including with our friend Corine. Sunday Wendi is preaching (I'll take prayers). We'll each write some reflections after a few days and have Arnau post for us. The van is leaving for Swaziland . . . .

Off we go . . .

2010-02-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday five of us from Fresno will travel to Swaziland and South Africa. Our hope and prayer is that our presence will equip and encourage people who are committed to their own communities and their neighbors. On this trip will be; Shelley Verwey, Laura Clark, Kristen Nitz, Patti Thornton and myself (Wendi Hammond). Here is a recap of our plans:

We will be showing local people technology provided by the Rotary Club of Fresno (here) which will enable them to prepare food and pasteurize water with solar. Pasteurization is verified using a little device called a WAPI (Water Pasteurization Indicator). On this trip we will take 250 of these little devices over, made by students from Fresno Pacific University and Fresno Christian High School. Water can be pasturized in simple bottles painted black and placed in the sun, but is expedited when used with a solar oven like the one Alice (above) made last year.
We will be taking letters to caregivers of Shiselweni Home-Based Care from their sponsors in Fresno, CA. Sponsors provide financial support to help them better serve, along friendship and encouragement. I can’t wait to deliver messages from American friends to some of our faithful caregivers. You can learn more about SHBC here (http://www.shbcare.org/) or about sponsoring a caregiver through Project Glory here: (http://www.project-glory.org/).
Along with sponsor letters, we will take several hundred bras for women who hike many miles to visit clients, but for whom wearing a bra is a luxury. Thanks ladies from Fresno!!
Laura, who is a nurse, will visit some of the clients whose conditions are particularly difficult or beyond the capacity of the caregivers. Laura will be able to provide treatment and while doing so, equip caregivers to better care for these clients going forward.
Shelley will get to meet Tabitha, the little girl she sponsors at New Hope Orphanage (http://www.newhopeswaziland.com/)
I’ll be delivering a laptop to Bongani Dlamini from Swaziland Youth for Christ, donated by Johansan Transportation in Fresno, CA.
Mostly, we hope that our visit will honor and fulfill the things that are most important to those of us who are part of Project Glory’s ministry. These are:

Project Glory is about Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:16. We are about actions that point to Jesus, and pointing to others whose actions point to Jesus.
And we are about supporting those who serve others. We have observed and learned, in part through our own mistakes, that much of the mission work done in the developing world fails to empower people to serve their own neighbor, and can in fact, rob them of the initiative to do so.
Finally, we are about Africa, Swaziland in particular. We believe that the solutions for Swaziland must come from Swaziland. We also realize that people living in abject poverty, with the highest HIV/AIDS rate in the world (nearly 40%) need help discovering and then facilitating their solutions.

We hope that you will keep up with us on our blog (http://www.swazi-team.blogspot.com/). We hope you will pray for us and for the wonderful caregivers of Shiselweni Home Based Care

Sightings

2010-02-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

There is a little red hawk that I see on my way to work. He sits on the top limbs of a dead tree or a street light along the junction of southbound highway 41 and westbound 180 (Fresno residents will know where I’m talking about). I first spotted him about 6 months ago. After that, I started looking for him every day, right after the McKinley exit. I keep watching until my exit; Blackstone / Belmont. I find him about half of the time, and because I find him so regularly, I expect to see him. I assume he’s somewhere nearby.

He convicts me. I wish that I was as regularly on the lookout for God’s work. Is it because I’m not as expectant? Does my lack of expectancy keep me from spotting God’s work that is often right in front of my nose? I think that can be changed by intentionality. I’m not looking for my feathered friend by accident. Every day I choose to look for him. I can make a similar choice to look for God as I move through my day.

One week from tomorrow five of us will travel back to Swaziland and also South Africa. We will walk dirt roads and goat trails with people who, day-after-day, are serving and caring for their HIV positive neighbors. I’m hoping (believing) that they will spot Jesus in us; I know that the people they serve spot Jesus in them Jesus in them, day-after-day . . . week-after-week.

At least a few times we will post our “sighting” here, so you can celebrate with us and pray for us. Please check back regularly.

Wendi

Beyond the disaster

2010-01-21T07:47:00.000-08:00

This week we’ve been glued to the television, watching reports about the tragedy in Haiti with our friend and ministry partner from Swaziland, Arnau van Wyngaard, who is in Fresno. We invited him here to provide him the opportunity to tell the story of Shiselweni-Home Based Care and the tragedy unfolding every day in sub-Saharan Africa because of HIV/AIDS. There is a tension in my heart while I watch the situation unfold in Haiti with Arnau here. We believe that God provided the opportunity for him to visit us so that our families and friends would become more aware of both the grave situation and the tremendous work being done by local volunteers. We still believe this. But while my own heart is breaking about the situation in Haiti, I am also concerned that the crisis is overshadowing the opportunity for Arnau to share the story of Swaziland . . . and then I feel guilty that such thoughts cross my mind.
Earlier this week my friend Don Simmons posted this link to a blog called “Aid Watch” and this thread about issues related to relief in Haiti. I think the author of the thread makes some good points, but was particularly interested in two comments that followed the post.

One commenter wrote this: “It struck me how many people I know that have never taken any interest in the developing world or even local community service, who muse over just going to Haiti to ‘help.’ Suddenly everyone is a superhero in disguise who, when finally moved to care – consider themselves potentially indispensable in a context they know nothing about! It truly seems that those outside of the industry presume that there is no training, logistics, experience, nor skills required to ‘help’ if they were to feel like it. If it’s so easy, why have they never bothered to ‘save people’ til now? Disconcerting.”

A little harsh, but she made a point that I do resonate with a bit. We human beings seem to rally during a tragedy of great proportion and then become quickly lulled back into complacency. But today while we watch the death toll go up in Haiti, 6500 people will die of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa . . . and again tomorrow . . . and the next day . . . and the next. Today 6000 children will be orphaned because of AIDS. Yesterday the news showed a 9-month pregnant Haitian woman who was using a day’s wages to take public transport to a place where she could get medical care, an every day occurrence in Swaziland where I work. Within a few months the human causalities from the AIDS pandemic far outpaces those from this Haiti crisis, so I can see how the poster above came to her opinions. But the person who responded to her makes an even better point I think:

“In disaster there is the awakening of compassion in the otherwise self absorbed…not to be dismissed but nurtured by those who work the fields. Disasters such as this anywhere in the world stirs compassion. The slightest hint of wanting to help should be an open door to instruct on how best to help…it is not ‘where have they been up to now” that is in question . . . it is ‘where do they wish to be in the future’ once the enlightenment of compassion in them awakes.”

AMEN and AMEN. I love this posture. I’m glad that the news streams into our homes making us aware. Yes. Respond to Haiti. Affirm those who feel compelled to respond. Help them find ways to act on what is stirring in them. Use also the open door for conversations that challenge, explore, inform, encourage, equip, help people move from complacency to action, day-after-day, month-after-month, after our television screens are once again filled with meaningless news and “reality” TV.

Christmas Paradigms

2009-12-25T15:33:00.000-08:00

Webster defines paradigm as: A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline.

I think that paradigms are difficult to change, mostly because we don’t realize that we have them. I think that the way I view reality IS reality, and it never occurs to me that reality might be different. In fact, perhaps our paradigm can only change when we are shocked and rocked out of our reality by some kind of outside force.

The reality of Mary and Joseph was of a traditional betrothal period and a wedding celebration, then children and life as a humble family living in Nazareth. It certainly didn’t include a pregnancy before they had sexual relations. Why would it? But finding herself pregnant while a virgin rocked Mary’s paradigm.

The reality of so many of the Hebrew people of the first century was that a messiah would come to rescue them from the oppression of Rome. And even though Jesus told His followers many times about how scripture was to be fulfilled through Him, their realities didn’t include the kind of Messiah He was to become. But thankfully through His life, death and resurrection, Jesus managed to rock the paradigm of many. And thankfully He is rocking paradigms still today.

As I sit here on Christmas day I’m pondering my own paradigm about Jesus entering this world. I wish that I knew where my own “assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitute the way I view reality” are off. Today (and tomorrow and every day), I need Jesus to rock my paradigms the way He rocked Mary and Joseph’s; and the shepherds who heard the angels declare His birth; and the three kings who saw the mysterious star; and later Zacchaeus when Jesus showed up for dinner; or the woman when she was rescued by Him from certain stoning; or the blind man who said “all I know is once I was blind and now I see:” and so many others.

Come King Jesus, and rock our paradigms today.

Wendi

We can help others

2009-12-08T14:25:00.000-08:00

"In the English language there are orphans and widows, but there is no word for the parent who loses a child", Jodi Picoult (My Sister's Keeper). Of course, there are thousands of these around the world, but in Africa in particular there are so many gogo's (grandmothers) and grandfathers, magas and babas who have lost their children to HIV/AIDS and now are in charge of caring for the children of these lost loved ones. Sometimes we think that this is yet another problem that is just to big to make a dent in, that there is nothing we can do that would help..... but we are wrong if we think this, because even to be a friend to one of these left behind ban lighten their load.

World Aids Day 2009

2009-12-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

Today is World AIDS Day. HOW each of us participates in this event is personal. THAT we participate should be a given. Here are a few participation suggestions:

Buy something from Product RED and help provide ARV's to Africans suffering from AIDS. A quick trip to Starbucks will work, or find other RED partners here.
Dedicate some time to pray specifically about this pandemic.
Read passages about Jesus’ encounters with the sick. Try these: Matt 8:5-13, 9: 25-34, Mk 1:29-34, 5: 21-43, Lk 13:19-17.
Meditate on Jesus’ instructions to us, His followers, in Matt 25 about we are to respond to the sick, hungry, thirsty and in great need.
Set aside some time to search the web and look for reading that will help you understand more about AIDS. You can find two great articles by our partner, Dr. Arnau Van Wyngaard: here and here.
Download these great free resources from World Vision, the WCA and Fuller Seminary: here.
Have some intentional conversations. In the lunch room or around the dinner table, ask some questions and see where the discussion goes. Here are some discussion starters: "Why does God allow an incurable disease to ravage innocent people," "Why should we become involved when often the African governments are corrupt and uninvolved," "What kind of 'help' is most likely to make a real difference."

The main benefit of World Aids Day is that millions of people around the world will pause, think and pray about what we can do to make a difference in this pandemic. I believe that those of us who approach today asking questions, desiring a different world and willing to be part of making it so, just might have their own lives changed forever.

Wendi Hammond

How do those we are "serving" feel???

2009-11-21T22:05:00.000-08:00

I am a veracious reader, and love to read books about Africa, both fiction and non-fiction. I have read 4 of the books of the series by Alexander McCall Smith called The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. These are quick and easy books to read, but will give the reader a real feeling about the culture and feelings of people in Africa in general. Although the books are written about a woman, Mma Precious Ramotswe who lives in Botswana, and loves her country very much, I believe the insight one gets from these books can be applied to most rural African countries. In "The Tears of a Giraffe" Mma Ramotswe thinks this about people who come to Africa with the intention of "helping" the people there......"there is nothing wrong with these people-they were kind people usually, and treated the Batswana with respect. Yet somehow it could be tiring to be given advice. There was always some eager foreign organization ready to say to Africans: "this is what you should do", or "this is how you should do things". The advice may be good, and it might work elsewhere, but Africa needed to find its own solutions."

I can't say that this is how all Africans feel about "western" help, but it certainly gives me something to think about in terms of serving the beautiful and gracious people I have come to know and love in Swaziland. It reinforces the work we are doing with the Sheselweni Home Based Care group, a group of over 700 volunteers who are already serving their neighbors in southern Swaziland. (www.shbcare.org).

Sandi

How should serving feel?

2009-11-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

I’ve been working in some sort of volunteer management for the past 10 years. For most of these years my mantra has been about the need for leaders to invest in and equip those who serve on their teams, and that failing to do so is really nothing more than using people.

I still feel this way, but I’ve lately become troubled by another leader perspective which I’ve noticed, something on the other end of the spectrum; working hard to see that volunteers “feel really good” as a result of their experience. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes people will feel great after serving, and should. When someone they’ve been ministering to finally decides to follow Jesus; when team efforts result in a goal reached. These things feel great, but there are other feelings that a volunteer should be experiencing.
When we try to insure that volunteers have a “feel good” experience, I fear that we are getting into the Holy Spirit’s territory. Sometimes serving in a kingdom calling will feel awful, will produce anguish and pain and tears. And I’d go even further. If the person serving never experiences such feelings, I’d question whether they are fully engaged with God in kingdom business. Consider these “feelings” expressed by the apostle Paul (emphasis added):

His agony over what was happening in Corinthian church: I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

His painful longing to be with the Thessalonians: But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us. For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

What emotion should surface in someone when a volunteer comes face to face with injustice? How should someone emotionally process the realities of cyclical poverty or generational crime? How should it feel when someone who has been genuinely loved and cared for discards the caring efforts and violates trust? I propose that real kingdom engagement will regularly produce emotions like anger, frustration, desperation, despair, disappointment, sorrow.

When Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6 got difficult, when He laid out what it was going to “feel” like to follow him, many turned back and didn’t follow any longer (vs. 66). But knowing full well how it was going to “feel” to engage with Him in kingdom ministry, yet Jesus’ prayer for us was that we might have “the full measure of my joy within them.” (Jn. 17:13). He experienced incomprehensible joy, which He offers to us, but only as we fully engage. We can’t have one without the other.

We make a serious mistake if we create ministry experiences that intentionally keep people at an arms distance, if we don’t help them engage fully, relationally and yes, painfully. Protecting people from the anguish of service robs them of the full measure of Jesus joy.

Are we making a difference?

2009-11-03T07:57:00.000-08:00

About a week ago it was “Make a Difference Day” around the U.S, the national day of service. People are encouraged to join together; invest time and talent in their communities. This is a great idea. People are encouraged to engage, to step outside of themselves, link arms with others and spend a few hours “making a difference” in their community. This day has the potential to foster new friendships and partnerships for ongoing volunteer engagement. It has the potential to really “make a difference” in the lives of both the one served and the one being served. But I’m wondering, after observing activities in my community, exactly how is that potential realized?

Here’s what I observed. About 400 volunteers filled the neighborhood around my office, which is downtown in a low-income, plighted neighborhood. Most residents are renters. Most homes and apartments are run down and unkempt. The day started at the local elementary school, where a new section of sidewalk is going to be put in by volunteers in a few weeks (on “Serve Fresno Day”). Our mayor was there to kick off the festivities. She asked the approximately 50 children how many go to this school. Just a few raised their hands. Then the children present, almost all from north, suburban schools, got to decorate tiles that would become part of the new sidewalk at the urban neighborhood school. Throughout the day volunteers in bright green shirts cleaned up our streets, pulled weeds, participated in some needed repair projects. For local residents, from what I saw and heard from participants, it was pretty much business as usual for a Saturday (except I did notice a few more yard sales in front yards).

So after observing some of these activities today first hand in my community, I was left asking myself some unsettling questions. What do residents think when people they’ve never met converge on their neighborhood to clean up trash and pull weeds they’ve been walking past for a year? And what happens inside the heart of a volunteer after they spend hours cleaning up the streets for people who are wandering by, watching them work?

I still have more questions than answers, but when I reflect on the kind of volunteer service that I am sure DOES make a difference, a few things do come to mind:
• It is service that does things WITH rather than FOR people
• It is service that allows people to interact and begin relationships
• It is service that is ongoing, will be sustained or continued by the recipient when the volunteer service provider is gone
• It is service that has the potential to keep growing. There is a way for the friendships that have been sparked, between volunteer and agency or client and volunteer, to continue, to grow, to multiply and become more relationships, more volunteer hour, and deeper commitment to community and kingdom.
• Finally, it is service that is disturbing and unsettling (I’ll write about this in my next blog post)

For volunteer service to “make a difference,” in the church, local community or on the international mission field, what characteristics do you think must be present?

The Monkey and the Fish

2009-10-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

A typhoon stranded a monkey on an island. In a protected place on the shore, while waiting for the raging waters to recede, he spotted a fish swimming against the current. It seemed to the monkey that the fish was struggling and needed assistance. Being of kind heart, the monkey resolved to help the fish.

A tree leaned precariously over the spot where the fish seemed to be struggling. At considerable risk to himself, the monkey moved far out on a limb, reached down, and snatched the fish from the waters. Scurrying back to the safety of his shelter, he carefully laid the fish on the dry ground. For a few moments, the fish showed excitement, but soon settled into peaceful rest.

- An Eastern parable, from the preface of The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third-Culture Church by Dave Gibbons

Ouch!! This story was very convicting to me in regard to my work and ministry. How many "problems" have I attempted to solve that aren't really problems? How many times have I had answers before ever asking a question? How often have my good intentions done more harm than good? Anyone else? How so?

Greetings to the Shiselweni Caregivers

2009-10-11T07:03:00.000-07:00

The words of the Apostle Paul to the dear brothers and sisters in Thessalonica also reflect Project Glory’s heart for the Shiselweni Home Based Caregivers (adapted from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3, 8-9, 11-13)

We are writing to the Caregivers in Shiselweni, Swaziland, to you who belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May God give you grace and peace. We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And now the word of the Lord is ringing out from you to people everywhere, even beyond Nhlangano and Swaziland, for wherever we go people ask us about you and we tell about your faith in God, about the wonderful welcome you gave us and how you have turned away from selfish deeds, but instead serve the living and true God by serving your neighbors who are sick and in need.

May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

They didn't know what they were doing right . . .

2009-09-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday my pastor (Jeff Harrington – Central Community Church) preached on Matt 25, the parable of the sheep and the goats (vs 31-46). He pointed out something about the sheep that I’d never considered before.

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

The sheep had cared for the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the sick and the prisoner simply as part of who they were, followers of Jesus. Apparently they didn’t get up in the morning and say “I’d better do some good today.” Caring for others was so natural to them that they didn’t even recognize it, or at least they didn’t recognize how different their actions were from the actions of the goats, those who were not caring for others.

Indeed, here in America there are many Christ followers who volunteer significant time and treasure. But we seem to be so aware of our “good-doing,” certainly I am of mine. Being aware of my good-doing helps me feel better about myself. I think this the problem with so much of western mission work today, especially short-term missions. We tend to make our plans through our own paradigms of what will help the hungry, thirsty, sick and imprisoned. We then march off to some community in the developing world, spend a few weeks “doing good” for the poor people, and return home feeling good about ourselves, but often having not really helped the people we went to serve.

But Jeff pointed out that Jesus seems to want our “good-doing” to be less strategized and organized (not to say that having strategy and organization is bad). The benefit of being the kind of sheep that are simply doing good as they follow Jesus, is that we’ll naturally filter our actions through the paradigms of those we serve, instead of our own, because that is what Jesus did.

The Shiselweni Home-Based Caregivers I’ve come to know in Swaziland are just these kind of sheep. They seem surprised by how amazed we are with the way they, who are so needy themselves (certainly by our standards), selflessly care for their neighbors. I think Jesus wants them to be our teachers. It’s not just that they show us we should be willing give of our time more generously, but that we should do so more naturally, like sheep who “don’t know what they are doing right,” so that the king will say to us “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (vs 33).

Wendi

I Will Not Trust in Princes . . .

2009-09-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

I’ve never read that phrase from scripture the way I read it last week. Psalms 118:8-9: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

In the context of this passage, the Psalmist clearly is speaking about his own anguish, reminding himself as he penned these words that only God is faithful. He needed to remember God’s faithfulness in the face of terrible human opposition. He was crying out for deliverance.

I am so independent and self-confident. I may be (am often) tempted to rely on myself and my own resourcefulness to solve my [perceived] problems, rather than relying on the Lord. This is how I’ve been admonished by these words in the past. But I live in American and face nothing close to what the Psalmist would have experienced in his day in regard to opposition. And add to that, I’m generally a political conservative. I certainly might depend on my own resources and “good ole’ American ingenuity” to meet MY OWN needs and solve MY OWN problems. Heaven forbid that I rely on princes [read – the government or outside organization] to take care of me. That is welfare, right?

This week God worked on my heart through this passage. I think that I and we in the American evangelical church HAVE been relying on princes, not with regard to our needs but rather with regard to our RESPONSIBILITIES. How often do we see those in need and “rely on princes” simply by our unwillingness to actually jump into the fray. In our churches, we sometimes “rely on princes,” the church organization, to be responsible for the real dirty ministry – that’s why we giver our tithe, right?

Through the lens of my conviction, Psalms 118:8-9 reads this way: It is better to serve others as our Lord did than to trust in man to care for them. It is better to help my neighbor as the Lord commands than to rely on princes to help them.

I think that my admonishment from this passage comes in part from watching people in Swaziland who get this. In a country that has an abundance of resources available from international funding, NGO’s and compassionate westerners, my friends from Shiselweni Home-Based Care (http://www.swazimission.co.za/) and the Rotary Club of Matshapa have simply decided not to wait for these “princes.” Their sleeves are rolled up and their hands are dirty. They give their time and from their own limited resources to help their hurting neighbor. Oh that I can someday learn to serve like these sisters and brothers.

What do you think? Too much liberty taking from scripture (that's not what the Psalmist or the Holy Spirit intended)? Am I off base in my thoughts about how often we abdicate our responsibility to "princes?" I'd like to know your thoughts.

Wendi

9/11 and Facebook

2009-09-11T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today, like so many Americans, I am feeling a bit melancholy. I believe this is the correct word for today. Incarta Dictionary says it means “a thoughtful or gentle sadness.” This isn’t the same kind of sadness that engulfed us in 2001. On that day we felt anguish, horror, fury, many other feelings. [What did you feel that day?] In 2001 we were not able to go on with our day or even our week. We were stunned. We were sick. We couldn’t function. It took a while before we could get back to business as usual, but eventually we did.

At church we’ve just finished studying Luke. I missed a few Sunday’s so finished reading on my own this week, chapter 24, including the story of the road to Emmaus. Some new insights opened up as I read this familiar passage, which I will write more about later. For today I include the reference because I think these two guys were feeling the way we were feeling on 9/11/01. They couldn’t talk about anything else except what had happened to Jesus, their hoped for, counted on king. They were confused about the far-fetched story that Jesus was now alive again. Then a fellow traveler interrupted their thoughts, took them back farther, helped them understand how the tragedy (the crucifixion was a tragedy AND a triumph) was part of God’s redemptive plan. The lights went on for them and their thinking changed. We only know the name of one (Cleopas) and we don’t hear anything about these two fellows again. But it’s fair to assume that eventually their lives were back to normal. A casual perusal of church history demonstrates that [although the course of history did change] there was a lot of life for regular people, including Jesus’ followers, that DID NOT change after His death and resurrection.

We all thought life would be completely different after 9/11. We thought that WE would be different, would think differently, would make different choices. We thought we would become more outward focused, think about ourselves much, much less and others much, much more. I know I did.

That is where Facebook comes in. I love Facebook. I love keeping up with people I rarely see and learn what people are doing. Just last week I had lunch with an old friend who I haven’t seen in years, but learned that she’d be in town because I’m friends with one of her friends on Facebook. Wonderful!!!

But I have to admit that I do have some frustrations with Facebook. I think that sometimes it feeds our natural human tendency for narcissism. It tells us that the world revolves around what we are doing every minute. When we constantly think about what WE are thinking and doing every minute, it’s hard to think about what someone else is doing or not able to do. Our human brains can pretty much concentrate on only topic at one time. It’s hard to think about the problems and struggles and injustices faced by people we don’t even know, but are (or should be) connected to (as we were with so many on 9/11/01) when we are trying to formulate our next “status update” about our own problems, struggles and injustices.

Okay . . . now I’ve probably offended some of my own Facebook friends. Some might “de-friend” me. Jump in and comment if you disagree (or agree). But sorry, today, on 9/11, I just had to get these Facebook feelings off my chest.

And for so many of you who are acting on your melancholy feelings; who are using your status update to remember, reflect, and challenge each other. Thanks. After 9/11/09 I hope I really can be a different person.

Wendi

Allegra-D

2009-08-21T22:48:00.000-07:00

I take this drug to help me with allergies and sinus congestion. I’ve been taking it since 2006 and it costs me $25 per month, although the retail is $138. This is one of five different prescriptions I take to help me with sinus and respiratory problems, a retail total of nearly $1000 per month for which I have a co-pay of $25 each. This week, the day after writing the blog post below, I tried to fill my prescription for Allegra-D. The pharmacy clerk told me that my cost would be $67. I objected. “No” I said, “my co-pay is $25.” The clerk politely told me that this is the price my insurance company gave this time, and so I would need to take it up with my insurance company. I left in a huff (poor sales clerk). The next day I called my insurance company. After five futile minutes of attempting to persuade them that THEY had made a mistake and needed to call my pharmacy to rectify the problem, I learned that this drug was now in a new category. It used to be a formulary drug, covered in full by my insurance, and now, all of a sudden, is considered non-formulary, not covered in full – for any of a number of reasons – none of which mattered one bit to me. I complained to the insurance rep about my coverage. I complained about the money-hungry pharmaceutical companies. I told him (like it mattered) about how many different prescriptions I take and how I simply couldn’t afford to pay $67 for Allegra-D, even though within two fillings we will have met our annual out-of-pocket maximum and then will then pay NOTHING for any prescription for the rest of 2009.

And then I hung up the phone and Jesus nudged me on the shoulder. We had a little walk to the woodshed (ouch – I’m still stinging). I was reminded of all my options. Let’s see. I could take one month to see what happens if I don’t take Allegra-D. Maybe I don’t need it anymore. I could try an over-the-counter alternative, something similar but much less expensive (even less than $25). I could call my doctor and see if there is something else he could prescribe that is on the formulary list. Or I could pay the $67 – if it really matters to my health I can certainly afford the extra $42 for one or two months.

As I write this, I realize that I have at least four different options, none of which seemed reasonable while I was talking with the pharmacy clerk or the insurance rep, because, after all, I’m ENTITLED to have my Allegra-D, right?

The attitude of entitlement isn’t an African or American problem. It certainly isn’t a problem demonstrated only by the poor and foreign to the middle and upper classes. It is a human problem. This selfish nature in each of us cries out about our rights. It is narcissism in its finest and I wear it well. It seems I had better examine my own entitlement attitudes before being too critical of the entitlement attitudes of my fellow Americans or my Swazi friends, who, by the way, have no health care options when their noses are stuffy.

Wendi

When help isn't helpful

2009-08-18T23:37:00.000-07:00

Last week a friend from blogsphere asked about Swaziland in an IM conversation. He said “what did you learn?” I told him that I’d learned tons and that I was going to blog about my learnings. I realize as I begin to do so that it will take more than one post to describe it all, mostly because it is still unfolding. I’ll start today with this one: SOMETIMES HELP ISN’T HELPFUL.

Before going on this last trip, during and since coming home, whenever my thoughts turn to Swaziland (which is very often), I have found myself in the middle of a tension. The tension looks something like this:

On the one hand I am overwhelmed by the abundance here in America; my ability to solve every problem with the snap of my fingers or the swipe of my credit card. When I linger very long in this train of thought I begin to feel ashamed of myself and critical of people around me because we lack appreciation and in spite of our abundance, still want more. And when my memories of Swaziland surface, I am equally overwhelmed by the desperation of the people and the seeming powerlessness of so many to do anything about their own situations. Children, the elderly and the infirm, who cannot see to their education or food and clean water or basic health care, even when they are desperately ill. If I stay too long in this train of thought I feel like I must do something - - - anything, from my abundance to help solve the problems in Swaziland.

And then other memories from Swaziland surface. Memories of disappointment about previous efforts to help, gifts given and services offered that have not been sustained for even a few months, much less years. And even more disappointment that some friends have abused our trust, been dishonest about their own need or intent to use our gifts.

When the tension pulls my pendulum to one side I get frustrated that we (and western aid) have created among developing people an entitlement mindset. And I also feel some resentment that people who freely take our help seem unwilling to help themselves or their neighbors. But then the tension pulls my pendulum to the other side, I feel angry that in a world where so many have so much . . . there are still people dying for lack of clean water or basic health care.

I must admit that I have been feeling a bit jaded watching the news and listening to the uproar about the issue of health care reform in America. First I think, “shame on people for feeling entitled, demanding so much health care when so many in the world can’t get an aspirin to ease the pain of their arthritis.” And then I am convicted, “shame on me for judging, I have good health care, I purchase hundreds of dollars of prescriptions every month for just a few dollars and can go to the doctor whenever I sneeze. Where is my compassion for other Americans who have the best health care in the world in their backyard but they cannot access it.”

Newscasts have recently told the story of Remote Area Medical Foundation (RAMF, see news piece HERE ), a non-profit that provides free clinics for uninsured and under-insured. The implied message (as I hear it) is that the existance of RAMF is evidence of the need for public health care. If all of RAMF's clients were covered by some kind of public system, RAMF wouldn’t have to provide these services. Really??? Why not consider that the inherent good will of people could (should) be leveraged as part of our system. Let's empower the one who is caring for his neighbor instead of building another public system that would eliminate the need for people to care for one another, perpetuating the attitude of entitlement and dependency.

Just as RAMF is made of up people who are standing in the gap for people who lack access to health care in America, so the Shiselwini Home-Based Caregivers are standing in the gap in Swaziland to care for their neighbors affected by AIDS and lack of access to health care. You can read about their work HERE or (if you are a Facebooker) join the new Facebook group HERE and learn about coming along side and helping these caregivers help their neighbors.

Perhaps both governments could do things to make health care more accessible (certainly the Swazi government could). But to make improvements so that programs like these where neighbor helps neighbor are not needed – HEAVEN FORBID!!

To summarize my rambling thoughts. . . Help that robs people of the desire, the ability, the skill development needed to serve their own neighbor isn’t helpful. Neither is help that will cause people to depend on us (to fix the well when it breaks, build the next house, pay the next semester’s school fees, etc.). Furthermore, help that comes from people who have pre-determined the solution before fully understanding the problem (from someone living it) isn’t honorable or respectful, but it is arrogant. On the other hand, help that comes along side desperate people who are seeking (and finding) their own solutions and are already demonstrating service to their neighbor is encouraging, empowering and sustainable. And the best news is that it is very possible to help in this way, but for Americans, it will require searching and willpower, because of our propensity for quick answers and for building things, fixing things and solving problems. The search and patience is well worth it. I promise.

Wendi

Trip memories

2009-08-01T13:22:00.001-07:00

Kids share a bowl of pup and waiting for a taxi

An adventure without power and our team with graduate caregivers

Melissa with Letaro and the team at The Luke Commission

The team at the game drive and Swazi kids who love Americans

Harriet

2009-07-29T00:34:00.001-07:00

Laura and I are in Madrid for a long layover, thinking about grabbing the metro to take a little trek into the city. But wandering the streets of Madrid doesn't sound nearly as inviting right now as grabbing a kombi and wandering dirt roads, visiting homesteads with caregivers, Swazi heroes who give time day-after-day to care for and love their neighbors who are suffering.

On our last day Kristin and I visited with Nomsa and Zandile, the three generation of Harriet, Else and Khanysile, who has a 2-year old son (and whose name also happens to be my Swazi name). Harriet is a stroke victim who cannot walk any longer and whose facial muscles are also paralyzed. There is little for the caregivers to do for her but encourage and love. We read some scripture, prayed and sang. As we said goodbye we gave each woman a hug. When we hugged Harriet she grabbed our hands to her face and struggled to form her frozen lips into a kiss. In Siswati she thanked us over and over for coming all the way from America to pray for her. My own heart swelled as I thought about Swazi volunteers doing this day-after-day, asking nothing for their time, paying taxi fees from their meager income, even sometimes giving from their own limited food supply to those they care for.

Each teammember experienced similar emotions as we traveled with caregivers by foot and kombi to visit their clients( BTW, a kombi is an African taxi filled with people, bags of corn and rice, even chickens). If our time in Dwaleni encouraged these heroes to keep on keeping on, then it was worth it.

Please join us in praying for them.

Stay tuned for more as we process our time in Swaziland.

Wendi

Hobbes the zebra

2009-07-22T13:41:00.001-07:00

You know you are in Africa when you look out the window and there is a zebra outside.

I am in love.

We’ve had a bit of variety in our outings the last few days. Monday we met up with the Luke Commission, a medical team that goes out to remote areas and gives medical care to those who need it, along with HIV testing and vision testing. The highlight for me, once again, was the children. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I pointed my camera at the crowd of kids gathered to the side. A few moments later I realized that every time my flash went off the crowd inched closer and closet to me. Before long I was SURROUNDED on all sides by them, and every time I took a picture they all would raise their hands and cheer! The coolest thing about the day was that we had the privilege of being able to hand out Christmas boxes from Samaritan’s Purse. Although it was a little strange to see Christmas wrapping paper at the end of July, it made no difference to the kids as they ripped open the boxes and pulled out all their new treasures. I wish I had put down my camera and handed out a few boxes myself, but I couldn’t stop taking pictures of their precious faces! I thought about the boxes that my friend and I had packed two years ago, and it was incredible to see the end result of it. I will never let another Christmas pass without packing another Samaritian’s Purse Christmas box!

Yesterday we went to the Hlane reserve, and got up close and personal with some of God’s most incredible creations. I felt like I had jumped through the TV and into the Discovery Channel. Amazing! Rhinos, giraffes, elephants, a lion, impala, nyala, hippos…my childhood dream of an African safari has been fulfilled.

Last night we stayed at the Mananga Lodge. Although our farmhouse is quaint and wonderful, it was nice having the luxuries of more modern facilities for a night. (Well, as luxurious as you can get in Swaziland anyway). And of course, we got to meet Hobbes, the owner’s pet zebra. I can now say that I have officially pet a zebra.. yet another dream come true! I’ve decided I want one of my own. He is the sweetest little guy, and he comes in and out of the buildings as he pleases. I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know he’s a zebra. This morning Bree and I were up early, and took a stroll around the grounds in our pjs, and chased after some very strange birds (which looked more like walking mushrooms than birds).

Today we will be visiting Herefords, which is were the Hope Rises team has gone in past years. I can’t wait to meet more new friends! Time to get ready!

Melissa

Church experience

2009-07-22T13:40:00.000-07:00

Only one week left to go. We have seen so much, yet so little. Church on Sunday was amazing. As we sat among a church body of friends and potential friends thru the crowd rang out a voice so beautiful and so pure. It was that of a young 17 year old and as she sang out chills rang from my head to my toes. She is small and young but when she sings to Jesus I’m convinced the heavens still to hear her lift up a joyful and desperate cry. What an amazing young girl. I thought such talent is hidden here. Just as I began to think of how I could find a way to get that sound onto a CD or into the world and feeling like there is some injustice done due to the fact that that sound isn’t being shared with the world showing his glory, I felt him quicken my heart to his voice. “That sound can raise the dead its true but I get all that. That voice that beauty Stills the heavens and that sound is bringing me glory right here for such a time as this. She brings encouragement, hope and joy to her people. It is a sound unique to her nation for her nation, for such a time as this.” I am reminded at how human I am and how often my thoughts and my intentions are not always in line with what HE is doing. I repented and sat there in awe of his creation that morning feeling lucky to have been able to witness something so pure and lovely. Yesterday we went to a small shopping area and saw some fun things and to a Game Park to see wild animals, again causing my heart to be still and at peace just being able to be so close to his creation. To sit there, wind in my face looking out at Africa and its creatures was just so incredibly breath taking. So I’m now being called to breakfast so as I enter a new day and another week with such a beautiful people here in Swaziland My eyes and ears and heart are open to hearing him and watching him move and I’m looking forward to seeing what he has in store for our team this last week we are here!.

Bree

Luke Commission and game drive

2009-07-22T13:38:00.000-07:00

It’s been a great weekend and beginning to a new week. We had a wonderful time at church; beautiful music, wonderful message, gracious people. Monday we joined a Luke Commission rural clinic in a very remote area. It was dry and barren, and about 10 kilometers off the tar (paved) road. It was hard to believe that families were living in this area, much less children going to a school. It was great to see these people receive medical care. The highlight was handing out gift boxes from Samaritans Purse. Children leaped and yelped with joy as they open their boxes. Most didn’t have any idea what to do with the box, having never received a wrapped gift in their lives. The Youth for Christ dance and drama team joined us again and entertained the children and people who were waiting. It was wonderful to connect with YFC halfway across the world, committed as we are to reaching lost kids with the message of Jesus.

Yesterday a trip to the market and game drive. Gifted artisans making a living selling their craft. I love watching them work and having the opportunity to purchase items I know were made by Swazi people.

On the game drive we were able to spot giraffes, elephants, antelopes, rhinos, hippos, and a male lion out for an afternoon stroll. All beauties for sure, but that lion wandering around was the highlight.

Today we head to Herefords to visit our friends from previous years. We are very excited to see them and introduce them to new friends from America. At the same time, we visit them with bit of sadness because we’ve come to learn that some have taken advantage of our generosity in the past and have not maintained the work we tried to help them start. This experience, and working this summer with Swaziland Reformed Mission – Home Based Caring, has taught us many lessons about better ways to help people in Africa who are facing such terrible challenges. These lessons, and the friendships we’ve formed in Herefords may help us work there in a more effectively there sometime in the future. And Nomsa Mamba – Herefords shining star and tireless servant, is modeling servant leadership day after day. Bless her!!

Wendi

Using a camera to God's glory

2009-07-17T10:01:00.001-07:00

I honestly did not know what to expect when I came to Swaziland. I had been told that I would fall in love with the people, but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. Yes, I fell in love with the men and women that I met. But it was the children who captured my heart. It began with the little granddaughter of Shorty, crawling around under the table and pews as she translated. It grew as Bree, Em, and I took pictures outside with the 3 or 4 children that were outside the church. But it absolutely exploded when I saw the stampede of children run across the field towards us when they saw our digital cameras. They swarmed around us, laughing and smiling and motioning for us to take their pictures, squealing and giggling with delight as we showed them the images on the back of the cameras. They were so beautiful, every single one of them! Nothing, nothing could have prepared me for this…me, of all people, falling in love with children!

That’s not to say that the adults mean less to me. They are in every way just as beautiful, and in many ways, just as childlike and precious…every one of them was warm, kind, loving, and excited about the things we were teaching. As the rest of the team worked with the people to build solar ovens, I did my best to document everything with my camera. I felt a little useless not helping, and I struggled with that for a little while. But I realized that God gave me a gift, and finally, I was in a position to be able to really use it for Him, for His work, and for His glory.

I can’t wait to see what more God has in store for my heart.

Melissa

Building relationships in Swaziland

2009-07-17T10:00:00.001-07:00

So we have been here for about two and a half days now and have seen a lot of things. It’s different here, obviously, and as a team we are getting to know each other more and more. Today we had a chance to go out into the community with the caregivers in Dwaleni. Along the way we met a man, who was sitting on a mat outside his hut. He was in pain, thin, and his feet were very swollen. He doesn’t want to go to the clinic where he can get help. The language barrier has been a challenge but even so, it takes no words to see someone that is in pain nor does it take any words to read the face of a man such as this. Walking back from the visit I was contemplating how much I had no right to complain that I’m in pain or have had no sleep when this man lives like this 24/7 and I get to go back to a house with running water, electricity, and the ability to take a pain killer and even a sleeping pill to help ease my slight discomfort. Then this young girl came running up and decided to attach her self to me. I think she was about 12 and from what I gather, is alone. She is not in school which here we have been told is a sign of an orphan. I can’t help but remember my self at that age and I can’t imagine living like she does.

These care takers of the community have such big hearts. They care deeply for their people and want to do something to make a difference. The way they show the love of Christ is very hands on, and speaks so much about the very core of the heart of the Father. We have not done much by our standards but I’m sure we will never know just how much a simple smile, a hand shake, a hug, or even just a gentle touch truly means to them. Nor are we fully aware of how God can use those things to encourage, strengthen, and even bring a little joy to their day. So in all I’m doing I’m trying to remember that it’s not about what I’M doing it’s about what He is doing through me while I’m here.

There is so much more I know I could and should share, but for now I should stop… seeing as we are having a meeting as I type this and I should pay attention. ;) It’s beautiful here… and I’m just trying to keep my eyes and my ears and my heart open to what God is speaking and trying to show me.

So until next time … Be blessed and count your blessings knowing as an American reading this on your computer or one you are lucky enough to have access to, you are already better off than SO many others.

Bree

The attitude of the Swazi people

2009-07-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

I am struck by how friendly and polite these people are with each other. It seems like the relationships are the most important thing to nurture. It’s not about the task necessarily. They greet everybody they pass, whether they know them or not, so unlike the U. S. The other thing I noticed is how content these people are with their situation. They smile so easily, both young and old alike. Time seems to stand still. I purposely didn’t bring a cell phone or watch, and I have no idea what day it is or what time it is, and for once in a very long time, it just doesn’t matter.

Sue

Seeing a man with AIDS

2009-07-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

It is of my opinion that Africa is, without a doubt, God’s country & Swazi people are surely blessed with relationships that we, Americans, only read about from days of the prairie. I was walking today with some Care Givers that go into homesteads of the sick, and along the way people would stop what they were doing, greet and chat with us briefly - It is the Swazi way. God made it clear to me before leaving for this wonderful land that even though I was thrilled to be going and “doing” for them… “Relationships” were going to be on the main menu – He was right.

I am amazingly comfortable and at home with everything and everyone here. Even the Aids infected man that I was privileged to visit with today. Walking up upon his mud shack, he was already laying outside on a torn up mat in the dirt soaking in the sun that had been missing the last day or so. His clothing was torn up, old, filthy and clearly too large for his thinned skeleton frame. He was missing patches of his grayed, matted hair, missing teeth, & he spoke in SiSwati of the sores up his boney legs and along the torso of his body. His feet were bothering him as well and were obviously swollen. He spoke with our Care Givers & I was asked (and completely honored) to pray for this man. Afterwards, he expressed that he hoped God would bless me for praying for him... this took me back. I was not there for God’s blessing but only praying that God would
bless him with peace and comfort. Even in his weak and sick state he was thinking about God blessing me. I asked permission to have a photo with the man & our small group. He gracefully agreed and we squatted down next to him as I placed my hand on his back – except I felt nothing there - just his protruding shoulder blade. I took another photo of just him in front of his homestead as the others had walked ahead. I considered showing him the picture but was concerned he wouldn’t take to his reflection, but I’m glad I didn’t listen to that deception. His smile was huge when I handed him the camera that showed him as he was in all his glory. It was a joyful point and yet admittedly I realized that if that had been me, I would have been only focused on my horrible appearance and what others would think. A humbling experience and a lot was learned today from this wonderful, poor man. This place is strangely beautiful. I feel so at home here… did I mention that already?

The little orphan children that have surrounded us these last few days are so full of life and laughter… and dirt :) They run around the church grounds and play while some serious construction of a new building is being built around the children. Its sole purpose will be for the use of assisting these OVCs (Orphans & Vulnerable Children). You see the nails, wet concrete, holes dug for support poles in the beautiful red soil, men hand sawing and using machetes to notch boulders… all happening with the children weaving in, out and amongst the chaos, dodging the men passing with their building materials. In the back of my mind I’m thinking of safety, but oddly it’s all okay. Even the little boy throwing rocks at the horned cattle that had wondered over to graze near the orphan’s outdoor hut on the property seemed to be of no concern. And, the nails from the ground that are used by the children to bang on poles seem to not raise an eyebrow. Everyone here seems so at ease. It’s amazing & I strangely long for their attitudes. I feel so at home here… have I mentioned this yet?

Our connections with people here – the shakers and movers, are incredible. Pastor Arnau Van Wyngaard and Shorty really make things happen. The Care Givers that we have met so far work for nothing and yet choose to give their time, talents & treasures. There are even men in this group, and that is not characteristic of the culture here I’m told. God Bless them all! It would take this short story into a novel if I wrote of how extraordinary these people are and all they do and go through on a daily basis. You will just have to trust me & wait for me to write and tell of it after my return. I love this place – I feel so at home here… have I mentioned this already?

Michelle

The OVC Feeding Scheme at Dwaleni

2009-07-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

Today I’m struck by the unbelievably difficult lives of the people of Swaziland, and fact that they appear to be oblivious to the difficulty. Picture this:

Load your wheelbarrow with two large cast iron pots; take it about ½ a mile down the road to a little wooden shack with a tin roof held up by four sticks and a few more along the sides to keep the cows out; wander around to find some wood and start a fire; roll the wheelbarrow to collect water (or fetch it in a bucket which you carry on your head). You then roll over to the store room of the church where you load up a large pumpkin and a bucket of dishes and utensils. Back at the shack you chop up the pumpkin with your machete, and begin cooking the pumpkin meat on the fire for the OVC (orphan and vulnerable children) who come by every day. As it cooks you lean over the fire to stir the pumpkin mush with a big stick/spoon you’ve made. You stop periodically to gather more wood. You prepare for the children by sweeping the dirt with a wisk broom you’ve made out of bundled, dried weeds. As children (and adults) wander over you serve them the pumpkin mush. When the meal is over you pour cold water into your wheelbarrow which you use as a basin for washing the dishes, using a bar of Jik (germ killing soap) and threadbare washcloth. You then load the “clean” dishes and utensils into a bucket, back to the store room.

After serving the children in this way as a volunteer, you return home with your wheelbarrow to do the same, in exactly the same manner for your family.

No one complains. No one even finds this life hard. It is simply the life they lead. Oh how much these people have to teach us.

Wendi

South Africa time before Team Arrives

2009-07-12T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hello All,

Wendi and I are safe in South Africa right now. After spending a few days in Swaziland making partnerships with various organizations, and traveling a lot, we are fairly settled in Piet Retief, SA. We are taking this time to relax/prepare before the team comes. The team is leaving Fresno in a couple of hours, and our prayers are with them. Both Wendi’s and my bag finally arrived. I hugged my bag – cause after five days I was pretty sure it was officially in outer space. For now I have forgiven the airline people – let’s see how long that lasts. :)

We are currently staying at the lovely home of Arnau and Wilma Van Wyngaard. They have opened their home to us, and have taken us in. They showed us around post-apartheid South African townships. We are learning so much. We have spent many hours at the dinner table talking about missions, ministry, politics, finances, and Swaziland. They have spent many years caring for the people of Swaziland. Wendi and I are drinking a lot of Rooibos tea and learning about South African traditions.

As many of you know, I miss Mexican food A LOT when I leave the US. So, today at Spur Restaurant, we tried the nachos and the fajitas. It was definitely not the same as home, but anything with guacamole was enough to satisfy for now.

The Van Wyngaard’s teenage daughter Este told me how much she loves the movie the Parent Trap (the new version). This brought up the subject of Oreos and peanut butter and how she has always wanted to try that combo. (You will have to see the movie). But, that’s all I needed to hear. I grabbed my crunchy Skippy pb and we went to the store to get some Oreos. Amazingness. I always travel with peanut butter.

Back to the Swazi people – We love every one of them that we meet. They always have a warm welcome for us. Today, Wendi and I joined the Van Wyngaards at their church in Swaziland (yep, we keep crossing the border – with Arnau I do not fear border crossing, they know him pretty well). I love African church. We prayed together, sang praises together about jumping to heaven with the Lord, and read scripture together. Church with the Swazi people makes me smile. I will leave you with the verses that Wendi shared at church today. This is our prayer for the Swazi people and for us:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” – Ephesians 3:16-21
We will be in Swaziland on Tuesday for the rest of our time here. In Swaziland, email and facebook will be harder to get to. However, texts and this blog are the best way to get a hold of us. Love you all. Please continue to pray for Wendi and me as we prepare for the team to arrive. Pray that we can stand in the knowledge of what God has called us to do, and to walk in power, love, and grace. Also, please pray for the team as they leave the US shortly. Back to my Rooibos tea… And Este just knocked on the door I promised her more Oreos and a viewing of the Parent Trap tonight…got to go.

Laura

First day in Swaziland

2009-07-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

One bag found (mine – not the bag for Durban). We'll get their gift to them one way or another.

Great first day. Matshapa Rotary at 7am. Wonderful people, great heart for their community and service. Exploring work together in the future. Very exciting prospects to talk about when home in Fresno.

Lunch with Corine and our friend Nomsa. Learned about all that has (and hasn’t) been happening in Herefords since last summer. Good time to encourage Nomsa. So faithful to serve her neighbors, even when very few will join her.

Sent Laura off to Tsanini with Nomsa and Corine. She is happy to see Courtney, Swazi friend from last year, and then tomorrow the ladies in the community.

Tomorrow a day with the director of Swaziland Youth for Christ. Anxious to learn about the ministry here and hopefully be an encouragement.

Friday to deliver special goodies to Tabitha at New Hope Children’s Home from Kenna Scott and have a chance to learn even a bit more about this ministry. Then on to Piet Retif to begin preparing for our team’s arrival next week.

So many good conversations. Learning that it is not enough just to have a desire to serve. It is very important to consider, analyze, evaluate and of course seek God’s guidance about our service, at home and abroad. Doing wrong things, even with the right motivation, are still wrong things.

Learning also that there isn't that much difference between Americans and Swazis. We're just all human, with the propensity for both great good, along with selfish and corrupt actions.

But thank God for the promise of Romans 8:28. Got will work all things together for good, to those who love Him and are called according to His will.

I'm so grateful that God can use even our mistakes and us - with selfish and sinful natures. Exciting week ahead.

Wendi

Madrid...soon to be South Africa

2009-07-05T15:23:00.000-07:00

One and all,

Wendi and I made it this far...Madrid. We have had a lovely travel experience, except for the two lost bags at the moment, and the fact that we haven't slept but maybe 6-8 hours in the last 48. Because we had such a loonnng layover, we tried to enjoy seeing Madrid in all its glory. And, now we are waiting to board to Johannesburg. In regards to the lost luggage - yes, we have two out of four of our checked bags lost in outer space. Hopefully, the airlines will find them, but I decided as I was in Madrid, dealing with all kinds of airline people - I needed to learn Spanish. So, please hold me to that. I should not travel internationally again, until I can say "Where is my bag?" and various other things in ALL kinds of languages.

In dealing with all of sorts of people in airports the last couple of days, I have learned more about how to love people. If you have ever flown with me, you might know that I get impatient in regards to airline workers that have no answers, and I gently guide them into finding out the answers, or else. I do not always have grace and patience for these people. So, I hope that this love that I am trying to learn for people will carry us into the ministry that we will be doing in Swaziland. Even on the travel over to a country, we are going to have to learn new things and release control of the situation.

Wendi and I are excited to get into Swaziland and begin all of the things that have been laid out before us to do. Our project planning and partnership making will begin as soon as we land. We have hope that our Swazi friends will learn as much as we do when we are with them. Please pray for us as we (humans) are looking for lost luggage. We do know that God knows where the luggage is, so we just hope He informs someone else. Also, please pray for rest, and health. The team that is coming next weekend will need prayer then as well. Thank you Lord that you have prepared a way for us ahead of time, and into that we go!

To Grace, Patience, and Swaziland!

Laura

Parting Thoughts

2009-07-03T11:04:00.000-07:00

As Laura Pound and I prepare to leave for Swaziland in the morning, two random and conflicting thoughts and emotions kept playing in my brain last night when I should have been sleeping. I’ll try to capture them below.

First HOPEFULNESS – On Wednesday evening our friends Bob and Barbara Bradford stopped by and asked what we are going to be doing on our trip. As Rich and I explained to them how we hope the trip will look, I realized that each time I tell it the more I believe it to be exactly the kind of mission work God wants to anoint. Before we determined to work with the Swaziland Reformed Mission, I met (online) and had numerous conversations with Pastor Arnau Van Wyngaard. One statement he made I have oft quoted and I realize now that it has become my mission philosophy. Arnau said (from my memory – sorry if I’m misrepresenting you Arnau):

Americans tend to come to Swaziland and look for where the need is the greatest, then get to work solving the problem, resolving the need. But the most successful mission work looks first for where the fruit will be the greatest, and this is where the Swazi people are desperately trying to care for one another and solve their own problems. The fruit will be the greatest here because the people will continue working after you leave, after all, they were working hard before you ever arrived.

Could the problem of focusing on the need instead of potential fruit be what Jesus was trying to address when He told the parable recorded in Luke 13:6 to 8?

The Swaziland Reformed Mission has mobilized 500 local caregivers, volunteers who are all connected back to a church for training, care and support. They tirelessly serve their neighbors without asking for anything. Although now some western organizations have now come along side, the project was launched and very effective before anyone from America or the west noticed. And if we all disappear, they will continue to serve their neighbors as the hands and feet of Jesus.

On this trip we will be teaching coordinators about pasteurizing water at their own homestead using the sun and a little device called a WaPI (water pasteurization indicator). We will also show them how go make and use solar ovens to expedite the pasteurization process and also cook their food, eliminating the use of precious wood and also the back-braking work of standing over a pot for hours (usually with a baby strapped to your back). After teaching the coordinators we will go into the homesteads with them on visits and work with families. We are taking 700 already made WaPI’s and supplies to make 100 more with the locals. All of the supplies should be available in Swaziland or South Africa for pennies. When we leave, if God anoints our work as I believe He will, the people will be able to pasteurize contaminated water for their families without having to wait until someone comes to build them a well.

The best part is that we are working through the caregivers. My prayer is that the people will believe it is THEY, and not us, who are serving them with this new technology. It is the caregivers and their respective churches that will be there after we are gone to continue providing physical care, and more importantly spiritual care. My prayer (and will you make it yours) is that we make long lasting relationships with the leaders and coordinators of the Swaziland Reformed Mission . . . but that the individual families in the homesteads will barely remember us. My prayer is that the people served by the caregivers day-after-day will be blessed and ever more connected to their own caring neighbors, because we were there.

The second emotion I was feeling last night was HOPELESSNESS. Flipping through the channels while I tried to induce sleep, it seemed as though every single station that wasn’t showing reruns of 70’s comedies or CSI was running some kind of Michael Jackson exposé. It’s not their bad. They run what people want to see.

I couldn’t help thinking as I flipped through the channels how many millions of dollars will be spent by ordinary people to deify (others would say honor) MJ. Thousands will spend whatever it takes to get themselves to the Staples Center, which will apparently be just the first of many similar services around the country. Why? What will be gained? Who will be served? People are losing their jobs every day all over America. Children are orphaned or dying every day in sub-Saharan Africa. And besides the money we’re spending, what about all the mental energy used watching hour-after-hour of MJ life, energy that could be put to good use making a real difference somewhere, for someone besides ourselves.

Arrrrgh. We are such hopeless people . . . that is without Jesus. I need to remember Paul’s words to the Romans (15:13)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks for your prayers – keep an eye on the blog and jump in with encouragement. The team will be ever so grateful to hear from home.

Wendi Hammond

Why go to Swaziland???

2009-06-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

We have a team getting ready for another trip to Swaziland in sub-Saharan Africa. As we prepare and pray for this trip, I can’t help but think about what happened this Easter break in California. Many [many, many] churches canceled their Mexico mission trips and decided to do something significant in the mission field at home. Swine flu and political unrest made Mexico’s spring break mission “hot spot” much less desirable.

Our Youth for Christ chapter was one of the home mission fields. Situated in a blighted Fresno neighborhood we have plenty of needy urban kids. A team from Sacramento spent the week with our neighborhood kids doing VBS. The week was fun and full of energy. Anywhere from 10 to 30 kids showed up every day. The team brought resources well outside of our budget. Several kids made decisions to follow Jesus. We were blessed, the Sacto team was blessed, the neighborhood kids were blessed. But YFC is in the neighborhood and the schools day-after-day, year-after-year. There are plenty more kids where these came from, and many other mission agencies slugging it out day-after-day. So why are we bothering to go to Swaziland (or Mexico), with so much mission work in our own backyard?

It’s not a rhetorical question. I don’t intend to state the obvious, and I don’t have the answers. I’m grateful that this year the Lord seemed to bring local mission opportunities to the fore. In our case, the day-in-day-out work has been producing fruit for 65 years. But serving in downtown Fresno is not as exciting as taking a team to Mexico (or Swaziland). And as limited as our resources are, we have an abundance compared to many mission posts in the developing world. And what if every American just decided to stay home? What kind of kingdom difference would we all make in our own communities if the overseas mission field were not so compelling? What kind of mission work wouldn’t get done if we all stayed home? Are our trips overseas really making a difference for desperate people who need help (and need Jesus), or has our mission work become little more than an adventure for Americans, a chance to do something a little more glamorous than mission work in our own backyards?

I have some [mixed up] thoughts, but I’d like to hear from others. If you are on the team heading off in a few short weeks, what do you think? What about our host, Pastor Arnau van Wyngaard (read his blog here)? Others?

In the weeks ahead I’ll post some thoughts here, and also post thoughts from my teammates. While in Swaziland, we’re hoping the whole team can jump in a few times with updates, and I hope others will jump in with us.