Flipping In Poop

   Our first day to our new Village home we were welcomed by hard pounding rain and kids full of energy eager to play. When we had first gotten to the village many of the children seemed scared of us. When we would try to hold one of them, they would shy away. A few hours later, I was making the journey out to the children in the swimming pool (Also known as the cow pasture) and began getting a full body skin treatment. 
   The second I stepped into that water I felt slimy muckiness under my feet. At that moment I knew exactly what I was about to play in, and I had to make a choice- "Am I going to make a bridge between myself and these precious children?" or "Am I going to save my feet from cow poop?" The decision was made for me as one of the village boys slid, splashing mud and water from my toes to my head. The majority of the team joined in, and we made an instant bond with those kids. For about an hour or so, we practiced mud sliding for our future fame in Baseball. We practiced our karate techniques as we kicked water at each other. With all that it was a given that we would practice our flipping as well. In the pouring rain, as we were slip'n'sliding in the mudpoop of Cambodia, our hearts began to melt for the adventures that were about to begin.

   This decision to jump out in the mudpoop and get messy, got me thinking about my willingness to jump into this next month. Last month we were in Vietnam- indoor AC, Internet at my fingertips, cleaniness, and local American food. I was almost home last month. This month, however, I am very far away from my old American home. It was somewhat of a shock to be ripped away from all that again into a village home way out in the country where I have one fan at night, no running water, and only fruit to represent America. I knew at the instant of the poop flip that this month was going to be a fantastic month, even if it did mean getting a little messy.

   It's me. I am the dirty one that has allowed terrible things to happen. It is I who have sat in my comfy home enjoying endless wealth, all the time very well knowing that millions out there have nothing. I have  seen it with my own eyes.

This is the number the average American spends per year. (www.justanswer.com)

$1.00

 

"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 clothing and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers, you did for me.'

"Then He will say to those on His left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They will answer, 'Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick in prison and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, YOU DID NOT DO FOR ME."

 I have recently been reading the book of James which is all about Faith and deeds. You cannot have one without the other. I have read the book of James so many times before and just happily went along living my life. I was ignoring the things I didn't want to read, or just making intellectual reasons in my head why the things said in this book did not apply to my life. IT ALL APPLIES TO MY LIFE! The faith in my heart is evident by the fruit in my life. I know my deeds will not get me to heaven. But my deeds are the outward reflection of my inward heart. Faith that does not have fruit, is no faith at all. 
   In James it says that even deamons believe in God and they even have the emotions to "shudder" about it. I bet deamons have more faith than I have claimed to have at times. What sets me apart from the deamons that believe in God and shudder?

Compassion International is an example of a mission that is doing a great work. For 36 dollars a month I could support a child. This would be one less child that would become a statistic. If I add that 36 dollars on top of what I am already spending. Maybe that's a lot. But what would happen if I, broke down that 36 dollars into the daily dollars I spend.

• I would think twice about spending three dollars for lunch at burger king, verses saving that three dollars and eating left overs from last night
•  I would think twice about buying that pack of gum to freshen my breath, or saving even that dollar and just brushing my teeth.
•  I would think twice about buying that $20 dollar shirt from the store, just to add it to my 50 shirt collection, when there are hundreds of children around the world, even in my own hometown, who are blessed even to have one shirt.
• I would think twice about my two little friends here living at the orphanage in Kenya, drinking dirty water, barely enough food, and their only posessions being the clothes on their back.  

   David Platt is challenging his church and I want to make a challenge, for myself, and for any other radicals out there. Start waging the dollars we spend and separate the necessities vs the luxuries. Find some charitable fund, missionary,  homeless person, or start something of your own. Start being part of something that makes your heart beat. Be part of something you are passionate about. Be part of something great and start living the life Jesus has called you too. Start feeding those that are hungry in your city, start clothing those who have nothing, start living out the gospel. God is calling us to Radical obedience. He is calling us to a radical change in lifestyle. He is calling us to clothe Him. To Feed Him. To visit him while He is sick or in prison.

Whatever we did not do for the least of these we did not do for Jesus.

A Tribute To Mom's Nerves

 

• I won't mention the brain cancer thing, but I'm sure some of your nerves were left in that hospital.
• Yellow fever at a cabin? All I can remember was falling down the stairs.
• I ate the entire bottle of cherry cough syrup... more than once. There was also the pennies, rat poison, glue, ink, and other "unidentified tablets". You had the poison control number memorized!
• Some of your nerves were probably left up my nose with all the other things I liked to hide up there.
• First gymnastics meet you saw of mine I landed on my neck straight from a handstand off the vault. I just froze in that position with my head sticking out all the way to the floor! I still don't even know how I had enough talent to do that.
• Some of your nerves were devoted to all the Practicing for those gymnastics meets that was done in your house and around your kids. This lead to damaged kids and damaged furniture along with holes in your walls.
• Taking me to the department store,especially Goodies, was always a test on your nerves. I didn't like getting lost either mom!

•  Driving, driving, driving, this is where at least half of your nerves have went. When it came to driving I cant take all the credit. I have four other accomplices (and you know who you are) that have helped. We were greedy with those nerves, but at least you got a front row seat for some of it! Being our teacher, the five of us drivers would always call you first when we had any certain... well they were really just mishaps I'd say.

• Some of your nerves went to the streets of India, when they got to cross the streets with me!
• Some of your nerves can be found on those stairs in England. You know which ones I mean;-)
• And some of your nerves have been left all across the world by them coming on this crazy trip with me!
• I could go on for a few more years probably, but it might make your nerves remember their nervousness. So now to something a little more serious.

You are such a good role model to me in what it means to be a Godly wife. I treasure the relationship you have with Dad. There is absolutely no better mission impossible partner;-) You have spent a good portion of your life carrying one of us seven kids around with you all the time in your belly. The majority of the rest of your life has been devoted to being a nurturing, caring, wonderful, beautiful mom. You have spent a lifetime educating all seven of us through home school. You have given up a world of your own desires and wants to focus on our desires and wants. You have dreamed with me, and helped me do things I thought were impossible. You have also brought me back down to earth when I was dreaming too long. I've missed your back massages from carrying around my pack all year. I've missed our crazy dance parties and stealing your popcorn. I've most especially missed the easy accessibility of your listening ear and wise counsel. You've always been there for me, even when I felt like the rest of the world was against me. Even at times when you had every reason to be against me, but you still weren't. Through the countless tears of disappointments and struggles to the eternally more uproarious laughs of victories and triumphs. You've been either by my side or just a phone call away. I'm so glad to be where God has placed me right now, but at the same time I wish I could be there with you on this special day. Happy Mother's Day! I love you so much!

Missing one VERY important brother, but six very cool sisters.

 

 Happy Mothers Day Mom!

     Welcome to Bangla Road. This is the location where hopelessness and Victory are colliding. This street is stationed just off the West Coast of a touristy town in Southern Thailand. In Patong, this street is the most popular red light district, aka. hub for commercial sex. There are over 200 open bars with approximately 1200 girls. They are all working on a street that is approximately 6 ½ minutes long if walking. The majority of the girls you will find working in these bars have come to their last string of hope. Most have moved from Northern Thailand in hopes to provide money for their families, as all other jobs have closed their doors on them. These girls make their living from selling special drinks as well as selling themselves to male tourists every single night. Our ministry as we visit them, is to offer them another option. The organization we are helping provides special training in English, Baking, Jewelery making, and hotel managing. There are dorms provided for those who lived at the bars as well as childcare.

     This road is a battle ground. The enemy has such a strong grip on every corner of this road, but the light is invading. I am usually not one that feels spiritual oppression, but on one night in particular I felt it's heaviness to the core. I literally felt like there was weight on top of me, like gravity wasn't as free as it usually is. There was hopelessness everywhere I looked. Particularly in this girl's eyes:

   Looking into those eyes I see pain pushed so deep that all feeling has been lost. I see despair, loneliness and feelings of worthlessness. The sign she is holding is for a brothel. The words "pretty ones" and "ugly ones" are typically terms used for the younger verses the older prostitutes. The ones working here probably all share one thing in common, those eyes.

   It was late, but before I went to bed a few of us girls got together and prayed for each other. As I prayed for the others, I instantly started feeling the heaviness come off me. By the time they were done praying for me, it was all the way gone and hope was once again restored in my heart.

   I am in the midst of a battle, but I must remember that I am not alone. My thoughts trail back to the vision God gave me in Ireland. It was at the beginning of this crazy love adventure with Him. The vision was of me riding on a great white horse. I was dressed in a long beautiful gown, riding behind my beloved King Jesus, I was His princess . I remember Jesus telling me that He was going to be taking me through a thick forest full of the unknown.

"Trust me, Danielle, I love you more than life itself , whenever you ride with me there is always hope and always victory on the horizon."

  The Apple of His Eye

     We had spent the majority of the day praying- over each other, over the streets, and over the bars. The first night of ministry finally came and we had been covered in prayers, not only by each other, but also by countless numbers of people who are even now reading this blog.

     This story is about the first girl I met, at the first bar I went to, on the first night of ministry. Right away I made a connection as she sat down and we started talking. I asked her how long she had been working here and if she liked it and why she took the job. She told me that she had been working here for four months and that she did not like it here much at all.

"My Husband died last year" she told me."I have a son, and I must provide for him to eat." She went on saying "I used to work in a factory, it was hard labor, but then it closed down and I could find no other work at all.""I once lived near Bangkok when my friend who worked down here told me about job openings." "I only make money here by selling lady drinks and through personal customers. My first customer had me for one week. I cried all the time. I missed my husband, and was very unsure of this new man. I knew the job had to be done, however, and the week slowly went by."

     By now my new friend, who's name is Apple, has had many customers, but it doesn't make her life any easier. She starts working around 8:30pm and gets off around 3 or 4 in the morning. If she gets a customer she often doesn't sleep until around 2 the next day. She then gets up around 5 to get ready and get into work by 8:30pm. The process starts all over again. She works every single night, having to pay the bar in order to get the night off.

     I told her about this place I know where jobs are offered to women who don't want to work in the bars anymore. "They teach you English, or baking or, how to work in a hotel." I asked her if she would like to come to lunch with me the next day so that she could visit this place.

"He is God's son! God is the creator of the Universe and He wants you to know Him" I said "And he has loved you with His whole heart without you having to do anything for Him at all!"

"I don't even know Him!" she said, "I WANT TO SEE HIM RIGHT NOW!!!" she said in a loud happy voice. Her eyes got so big and she raised her hands up with glee like she had just won a race.

"We do too!!" we told her. There was laughter and such joy as we all talked about Jesus together.

The bar was getting more noisy as the night went on during our conversation. There were now "possible customers" approaching, and my friend's attention was diverted. It broke my heart to see her turn from Jesus, who had endless amounts of un-dying love and freedom awaiting her, to another one night's stand full of hopelessness and bondage.

I know Jesus will not give up on her, however, He is relentless when it comes to those He loves.

The next day my beautiful unmake-uped and unsexy clothed friend came to lunch with me! She toured around the ministry and signed up for English classes. I continue to visit her each night I go to the bars. I await in expectancy for the day I can welcome her into my family and introduce her to The lover she has always been looking for.