Hungry Months Challenge LAUNCHED

 

Thanks to the first of The Hungry Months Challenge and the Emergency Food funds you donated, our team in West Africa purchased and distributed thirty large sacks of rice earlier this month.  Think of the impact on families who were wondering where their next meal would come from. Think of the impact on a community with multiple faith options wondering which God would show up in their crisis.

It's a good start....

                              more to come.

You on the Front Row

First, I want to apologize. You come here to be on the front row of what the Lord is doing in West Africa and I haven't kept my side of that promise. I am sorry.

You see, large chunks of the summer have been rough. It has been two years since I walked in the red dirt of West Africa. I thought a West African friend was going to share our summer, sit at our table, walk these city sidewalks with us, and meet you who care for him and his work before you've even met him. I was so looking forward to watching the two pieces of my heart fall in love with each other.  Even though the Lord told us we do not know what tomorrow will bring, it has taken this long to recover from losing that anticipated visit.

At the same time, the physical needs in West Africa continue to rise. Sometimes the stories from our friends in-country and the international news headlines hit simultaneously in a whirlwind of need. It's hard to grasp the depth and complexity of the poverty the continuing crisis is generating, especially as we sit here with grocery stores on every corner.

Meanwhile, the pandemic has taken a toll on our financial support. While our amazing, amazing and generous supporters for both the host families and our personal support have both remained and stepped up in generosity, the formula ministry it's own ministry fund. To date, the formula ministry has largely been provided by churches who host annual events in honor of the babies in crisis in West Africa.  Without churches gathering for those events, we face a staggering shortfall in ministry funding in the coming months.  In all of our years, the Lord has provided funds before we even knew why we needed it. This position of uncertainty is new for us, and would you believe it's been good?  Grappling with the coming needs in relation to our dwindling funds actually renewed my vision and passion and readiness to sacrifice for the little ones and the Kingdom.

On a personal note, I learned this summer my spiritual health hinges on two disciplines: worship and confession. I strive for perfection and tend to want to save worship for when the work is done and we can see with our eyes His goodness in the world. As we work for the hungry to be fed and for the motherless to have a valued place in a family, I must pause in the midst of it all to say, "You are good, even when the world around me is not."  Likewise, when I am disappointed with the American church, as has happened often this summer, I must pause to see that the imperfections "out there" are the same imperfections within me. Together our sacrifice can be that of a broken spirit and contrite heart.  From such a posture, I have seen the Spirit DOES lead, the Word DOES shine light in darkness, and discipleship DOES matter.

How is that for an update?  Well, it's only the beginning! 

God is near. Throughout all the hard stuff above, He made his strong and quiet presence known. He reminded me He is alive and so is this ministry.

You already know our ideal is family preservation: coming alongside families in crisis in West Africa so that they can care for their children because the family unit is strong in Africa. In a tiny fraction of the stories, that is just not possible. This summer we have seen the hope of a forever family falling into place for several children. Obviously we won't share their stories here, but you can celebrate with us all the same.

The Warning family chatting with the host family they sponsor in West Africa

We were also inspired by the coronavirus lockdown to step up our digital connections. We sent video messages from supporters back and forth to and from Africa and experimented with live video meetings between host families in Africa and the American families who sponsor them. It's been.....oh, I don't have words for it! For all these years we've described our role as a bridge between the church in America and the church in Africa. Now it feels like we get to step out of the way so the church in America and the church in Africa can interact directly with each other.  Glorious! The technology was always there so why, oh why, did it take a global pandemic to reach this level of imagination?  This is one of those areas that will never "go back" after the pandemic. We've only just begun to imagine the mutual encouragement technology can facilitate. For obvious security reasons, these connections will not be made publicly available, so keep an eye on your email (or get in touch if you want to join!) for the dreams we have of you being front row in West Africa with simply an internet connection and a heart to learn.  The joy is contagious and we are so glad you are in it with us! 

There you go. You are truly in the highs and lows of front row living once again.

The Inward Fire

"Our first and foremost task is to faithfully tend the inward fire 

so that when it is really needed 

it can offer warmth and light to lost travelers."

-Henri Nouwen

A neighborhood tragedy.  The start of a school year that feels like a punch in the gut. A global pandemic creating worldwide suffering. A looming election bringing out the worst in all of us. 

The layers of this week are thick, and the burden is deep. 

Give or take a few details, your week probably feels a lot like mine. It's a trying time for us all, so I want to pass along a stroke of wisdom shared by a group of neighbors who held a prayer night after the traumatic event that happened last weekend. The format of the evening of prayer was such a gift. Following a model of writing your own psalm, we communally cycled through intimate address, complaint, petition, and reorientation. Two days later, I listened to the podcast that inspired the prayer night and repeated the process alone regarding all the other mess right now. I cannot recommend this act highly enough.  Start by listening to "Emotions in the Time of Coronavirus: Writing Your Own Psalm" and follow where it leads you. This is a practical, guided step in tending your own inward fire.

You know how after being at a campfire the scent lingers in your hair and clothing? You cannot hide that smokey smell, and you don't need to announce it. Sometimes you don't even recognize it after stepping away, but others can smell it on you.  This is how I have been thinking about the aroma of Christ. It lingers on you and you carry it with you without your effort or even your own awareness. The world needs people who have been with the living God and suffering Christ and the guiding Spirit.  If that is you, thank you. In tending that inward fire, you offer the weary of the world warmth and light.