SECONDARY MINISTRY

Do you ever fall into something that you never expected doing . . . and find yourself loving it?

After evaluating 2011, Kyle and I realized that we had hosted people in our home over 14 different times that year.  From one person staying for one night, to families, to large groups, to people staying several months.

And absolutely loved it.  Loved planning large meals, trips to the game park (elephant attacks), ministry opportunities and most of all, hearing over and over again how God is working in and through people.

Our kids love having people through the home.  It has really helped them stay connected to American culture and gives a very clear purpose to their ministry here in South Africa.

This year has already had a busy start.  Patty was living with us through the middle of Feb.  Then came two guys ministering in the schools for a week, then a college team of 18; 5 of them stayed in our home, but we organized much of their time up here and many days had the whole team camped out here :)

Who is next?  My in-laws arrive tomorrow, 3 students come in June/July, and I just got a phone message from my brother that they might be over July-ish.

Anybody else want to come?  Church missions trips, family missions trips . . . . .

FEELING BETTER?

I wish I had a dime for every question I got about my health these days.  But, the outpouring of concern has been an incredible encouragement!

YES- I am feeling better.  Incredibly better.  It has taken weeks of rest and resisting the urge to clean the house, to come right, but I think I am there.

Having to slow down has had many other benefits.
- My time with the Lord has been very sweet!  I've never had something so completely stop me in my tracks and never realized how hard it would be to lay the future in God's hands.  When would we start back up the Care Home?  When would I be able to play in the yard with the kids?  God continued to show me through His Word that His timing is perfect- He had this in His control- He wanted me to take joy in Him.
- My time with the children was very intentional.  Ever have those moments where you are only half listening to your kids?  Things had gotten so busy in our lives that I fear I was having  A LOT of those moments.  Not having much energy with mono meant that the interaction I did have with the kids needed to count.  We had great conversations and played wonderful games while I rested on the couch.

I can honestly say that God had it planned for my good.
Abby and I even got the chance for a Mother-Daughter date.

Certificate Ceremony

Singing, prayer, pictures, certificates, sticky buns and coffee . . . our certificate ceremony.  The ladies have been busy studying their training manuals and practicing their skills over the last few months.  Each worker had to correctly perform a skill 3 different times for us.  Everyone finished their last skills check this week.  So, today we presented certificates.

The ladies have done such a good job, not just with their skills, but engaging the patients, showing compassion, and presenting the scriptures to them.  Today, while taking a patient home, the worker who was with us told the young lady she would come by to visit next week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  This just makes our hearts burst.  To see our workers caring in their community even when they aren't at work!

MONO!

Not exactly what you want to hear the doctor tell you . . . but, good to finally know what is causing the overwhelming fatigue and muscle aches.
My first thought was, "Really God?  Right now?"
But, that was quickly replaced with His incredible goodness in the situation . . . .
- we have only one week left with patients in the Care Home before shutting down for the holidays.
- Patti is here with us to continue overseeing the workers
- the week after Christmas we are scheduled to take a vacation in the mountains.  Perfect timing for some rest.

God had already provided for the rest that I needed before I could even foresee my incredible need for it!

2 more patients

This morning was busy and as exciting as it is to take in new patients, today broke my heart.

We arrived a the first home to find this tiny little shack, with tarps for walls and only big enough to fit the bed.  There was dirty water collected in several buckets, broken dishes, filth all around and a lingering stench.  Sitting in the middle of the bed was a young gal, very sick, with 3 little children of her own staring on.  As she gathered her things to come with us, my heart hurt for the things that must burden her; worry over her children, the need for food, sickness, unable to provide, a crumbling room.

The strength of these women to keep going in the midst of such obstacles and heartache just amazes me!  I pray that God would provide His joy and peace for these women in spite of the circumstances and that our hands would touch them with His love.

Spiritual Battles

I sat in a team meeting this morning with three other women.  It was our prayer time and were sharing prayer requests and talking about our ministries in a small group.
I broke down in tears, the type of crying where you can't catch your breath or talk properly!
I was trying to explain that in spite of ministry going well, in spite of happy patients who are loving hearing the Word of God; I'm feeling pushed down, like something keeps pressing on my soul.  It is a feeling I've never experienced before and has been very overwhelming.  I have been begging God to reveal the reason for this "pressure".

Well, tonight when we got home from the team meeting, Patti said she needed to share some things that she found out today at the Care Home.  Come to find out, one of the "stand-by" workers is VERY upset about not being hired for a regular shift.  Out in the community, she's speaking poorly about the Care Home and other workers  AND has been seeing a witch doctor to cast curses on the workers, so that she can have their job.  Last night, one of the workers had a scary incident that they are contributing to a curse.  The power of Satan is seen very clearly here in the workings of the witch doctors.  It keeps the people in fear, and their hearts turned from God.

But, now that this has been exposed, I feel like a huge burden has been lifted off me!  I don't think I quite expected this to reach the doors of the Care Home (how naive of me), but our God is greater!
Please pray for us as we handle this (quickly) and please pray for the protection of our family and workers.

Surprises

I HATE dealing with conflict, just hate it.  It can make me ill and miserable.  But, working with people inevitably brings conflict.
Well, this week we had our first conflict between staff.  I got a call from the Care Home that one of the night shift wanted to sit down for a meeting because of some problems.  Patti said that if I wanted, she could handle it- that would be my easy way out :)  But, I needed to step up to the plate and be able to show that,  "yes, the buck stops here"!
So, I prayed over it, gathered my courage and headed in to sit down with the ladies.  I started the meeting explaining the Biblical way to handle conflict and our expectations at the Care Home for solving problems.
Amazingly, I was calm, not sick to my stomach and looking forward to solving any situations that bring a bad name to the Care Home or dishonor to God.  What a change from previous times that I've had to deal with conflict.  This is only the work of God, equipping me to do this job and manage the Care Home.  I'm so excited to see the other ways He will work in my life and change me through this ministry.