Journey to Bulembu

Anytime our church had a guest who spoke on the topic of going into the world’s mission fields, I was always the one person who would slink down into the pew as far as I could (without actually hitting the floor) so that God couldn’t see me. I was always petrified that He would call me to become a missionary, and that was the last thing on my “things that sound like fun” list. While I admired missionaries, I always did so from a distance; to make sure whatever they had wouldn’t rub off on me.

As a writer, I felt just fine telling the stories of other people who were doing God’s work in the mission fields from the comfort of my own couch. I justified it as my own little mission field, doing God’s work from a laptop and in my pajamas. But then I was introduced to Bulembu.

Many of you have read my blogs about the tiny town in Swaziland. I’ve written about Bulembu’s plight on numerous occasions for nearly a year now, and telling their story has become a passion for me. Much of my work has consisted of spreading the word in order to generate support for various fundraising efforts such as Voices for Bulembu, the charity of the Canadian Tenors. And now I am blessed with an opportunity to go into the mission field that is Bulembu and serve the people of this town.

I will get to spend seven days working in the various communicate care and community enterprise systems, especially and including the orphanage and children’s intake and welcome center, where Bulembu’s most vulnerable and fragile orphans are cared for. I will also be writing various articles, continuing to tell the story of the work that is being done and the hope that is being restored.

The Bulembu Foundation is a not for-profit organization serving Jesus Christ by restoring hope to the people of Swaziland through community enterprise and community care. That is their mission. My mission is to go there to be among the people and learn as much as I can; minister to them while there and then return home to continue to tell their story through the written word to give hope to other people and nations.

I have been called, and I willingly accept the invitation. But, I am unable to go without financial assistance. I am now doing my own fundraising for this purpose and am praying for the resources to come through. If it is God’s desire for me to go – and I believe it is – I will have what I need.

I will be blogging about this Journey to Bulembu, no matter the outcome. I pray you’ll come along with me as I share my fears, frustrations, joys, triumphs and so much more from now until the trip, which will take place in March. And I will continue the blog while I’m in Bulembu. I’d love to hear your thoughts along the way. Ask questions, share comments. Let’s take this Journey to Bulembu together!

Start an Adoption Fund at your Church

Today there are currently more than 143 million orphaned and vulnerable children in our world. In some ways, it seems like a drop in the bucket when compared to a world population of nearly 6.8 billion. But it isn’t a drop in anything to those children who need a home, a meal, a family to love. Churches across the US recently commemorated Orphan Sunday, in part to acknowledge the crisis, but also to touch the hearts of the Body of Christ and compel them to action.

My church, Zionsville Fellowship, is blessed to have an orphan ministry. And we are thrilled to have nearly 40 adoption stories in our 30 year history. (And those are just the stories we know about!) There are many more families who wait to bring a child into their forever family. It is the Lord who reminds us throughout Scripture that we are a people called to defend the fatherless. And there are numerous ways to care for the orphaned child in addition to adoption. One such way is to walk alongside those families who are on the journey called adoption.

The biggest obstacle for many families who seek to adopt a child is, arguably, financial. Our orphan ministry has partnered with LifeSong for Orphans in an effort to establish an adoption fund and help our members overcome that obstacle. It is the mission of LifeSong for Orphans to bring joy and purpose to orphans. They do that by “mobilizing the church where each member can provide a unique and special service; some to adopt, some to care, some to give.” LifeSong provides adoption loans and grants for those who are called to adopt.

Churches can begin their own adoption grant and/or loan program to help members meet the financial commitment that comes with adoption. Partnering with an organization such as LifeSong for Orphans can take the doubt and fear out of the entire process. For a church staff that already has a full plate, LifeSong will manage/facilitate the adoption fund and carry the administrative load on behalf of the church. For churches that feel uncomfortable or awkward approving or denying their own families (including viewing personal information such as financial documents), LifeSong will provide all the screening, reviewing, and approving/denying as a partner on behalf of the church. For those who feel an adoption fund is simply unfamiliar territory, LifeSong has a passion and expertise in this area. Their knowledge and experience establishes financial integrity and avoids recreating the wheel.

LifeSong for Orphans will create a customized adoption fund to fit the needs of every church. Best of all, there is no cost to the church!

It just doesn’t get any easier than that!

If this sounds like a commercial for LifeSong for Orphans, then so be it. The purpose isn’t to advertise on behalf of one organization. I just happen to know and trust this one. The point is to challenge believers, especially pastors, as we know that the church is the only institution large enough – and the only institution called to deal with this issue.

Consider the aid offered by LifeSong or go somewhere else. Just do something. One-hundred-forty-three million children are counting on it.

LifeSong for Orphans

The Garage Sale of All Garage Sales

My husband, Kurt, and I are blessed to be part of a wonderful church that has a large population of children who have been adopted. And there are lots of adults who were adopted in their youth. We feel like our church embodies James 1:27 which says we are to “look after the orphans and widows in their distress.”

Our church, Zionsville Fellowship, recently started an orphan ministry where we provide information, resources and prayer support for couples and families seeking to adopt. Through our ministry, we have partnered with LifeSong for Orphans, a Christian organization working to bring joy and purpose to orphans across the world. One-hundred-percent of all donations go directly to care for orphans and their needs. Part of their work includes providing grants and loans to those who seek the funds needed to complete their adoption.

Because of our passion for helping orphans and our church partnership with LifeSong, we are hosting the mother of all garage sales in which all proceeds will be donated to LifeSong for Orphans. Our entire ministry team, Larry and Judy, Steve and Jill, Scott and Stephanie, and Steve and Jill would greatly appreciate your support. Mark and Diane also serve on the team and are hosting the garage sale.

Here are the details:
Friday and Saturday (June 11 and 12) from 8:00 am until…
4403 Owl Court
Indianapolis

Please spread the word, come shop and help us as we help the least of these.

As Iron Sharpens Iron

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

Five of the eight women in my church small group just returned from a weekend at Mahseh Center, a Christian retreat and study center. Our purpose was to simply spend time together; nothing structured or organized. We shared meals, laughter, stories, quiet time and meditation and encouragement. It was exactly what we all needed.

One of the ladies shared the above verse, which extended into conversation about friendship in general. According to Scripture, a friend is one who challenges you to become all that God intends and, through that friendship, draws you closer to Christ. They “sharpen” you and motivate you to do what is right. I can say without reservation that we all experienced that this weekend. It is such a blessing to be able to be who you really are in the midst of friends.

As we shared from the heart, one person mentioned that appearances can be deceiving and that it is easy to look at people and think they have it all together. Despite what it looks like on the outside, you never know what a person is going through on the inside. That’s why it’s so important to examine the kind of friend you are to others.

“A friend loves at all times.” (Proverbs 17:17a)

It’s easy to get wrapped up in our own desires and wants in a friendship. We forget to consider the needs of others and subsequently fail to strive to be the kind of friend that helps others become more like Christ. We forget to love at all times.

The next time you’re with a friend or acquaintance, stop and consider what might be going on behind closed doors. Then ask yourself if you’re being the friend God needs you to be.

What kind of friend are you? How do you sharpen iron?

For: Amber, Kara, Hope and Liz
(Val, Tracy and Liz – we missed you)

The Unkept Journal

I am so excited to be traveling a couple of hours north of Indianapolis to spend the weekend with some of the women from my church small group. We’ll be hanging out at the Mahseh retreat center on Lake Bruce, and I am certain it will be a wonderful time of fellowship and rest. Outside of the beauty of the area and the women with whom I’m spending time, I get to do a mini-presentation on journaling. I decided to share some of my notes with you.

I call this the Unkept Journal because I hate keeping a journal. Keeping a journal can have a negative connotation. Part of being a successful journal writer is the psychology behind it. And if you feel something is negative, you probably aren’t going to be too passionate about participating. Besides, our lives are filled with keeping things: Women are kept. The house is kept. The yard is kept. Doesn’t that sound heavy? Well, just let it go. Don’t keep a journal. A journal is meant to be like friendship or a nice glass of wine – light, engaged, enriching, pleasing, and yes, spontaneous at times.

I recently read the book Writing Through the Darkness: Easing your Depression with Paper and Pen by Elizabeth Maynard Schaefer. In it, she says, “Journaling is journeying inside yourself to see what really lies there below the surface. It is crawling on your knees, using an archaeologist’s brushes to clean off the artifacts of your mind – the memories, ideas, emotions and plans, be they ancient or recent, fragile or sturdy, simple or ornate. Journal writing is focused on healing and recovery.”

How do you get started? Start simple. Here are the basics:

• Pen – I recommend writing long-hand instead of typing on a computer. Writing long-hand discourages something we all do when we sit down and pound our thoughts on a keyboard; edit. When you start editing, you stop writing. And editing is a form of self-criticism. Allow yourself to melt into the feeling that comes with putting pen to paper.
• Paper – That one seems rather obvious considering the first point, doesn’t it?
• Place – Write anytime you can share your thoughts with yourself without being interrupted by anyone else’s demands on your attention. If that’s while you’re soaking in a tub, then soak. If it’s by a river stream in the mountains, go there. Just be intentional about not letting anyone or anything interrupt you.

Now you’re probably wondering: What do I write about? Journal from the heart. Use writing prompts if you have to. (There are lots of terrific books out there that can help, such as the one I mentioned above.) Ask yourself questions:

• What surprised me most about today?
• What moved me most today?
• What do I most want to remember about today?

Don’t force yourself to write every single day if your personality and lifestyle won’t make that possible. Don’t re-read everything you’ve written. Write when you’re bored, happy, grumpy, annoyed, or just gazing out into space. The unkept journal is much more likely to bring you joy and help you look forward to writing than a journal that is kept.

Do you have an unkept journal? How do you make it work for you? I’d love to hear your comments.

Brothers Seeking Forever Family

My husband, Kurt, and I are honored to serve on the adoption/orphan ministry at our church, Zionsville Fellowship. At our monthly meeting last night, we had the privilege of hearing from someone with ABL Adoptions, which is in Zionsville. She shared a heart warming story of three brothers who are in need of a good, caring, Christian forever family.

The boys lost their mother to murder and the father is not in the picture. They have lived with their grandmother since 2004, and due to illness, she is unable to continue to be their provider and care giver. She’s trying to do the right thing by providing them with a future before she becomes too ill to do anything about it. Here are some details about the boys who are Caucasian:

Alex – 11

No meds
Enjoys sports (soccer, basketball, swimming) – getting ready to run Track/Field
Enjoys attending and participating in church
Has attended week-long – all night church camp
Loves to read

Xavier – 10

ADHD – current medications

• Daytrana 30 mg patch (for ADHD)
• Zyprexa @ night 30mg

Enjoys sports (soccer, basketball, riding bikes, swimming)
Participates in Tech Club (computer) weekly after school
Has attended week-long – all night church camp
Loves to read
Enjoys church

Zeus – 8

Seizure disorder (none since 2006)

• Oxcarbazepine 300mg 3x-day
• Zypreza @night 30mg
• Budeprion 150mg *will be taken off of this within the next few weeks
• Intuniv 30mg *this is brand new, working well
• Focalin XR 15mg

Here are the details on the cost of this adoption:

$6500 agency fee
$1500 case management
$3800 legal if in Indiana or $4800 in out of Indiana
For a total of$11, 800 for an Indiana family or $14,000 out-of-state of Indiana family (includes ICPC)

If you are interested or know of someone who would be interested in adopting these really terrific young men, please contact Cara Ratay at ABL Adoptions.

Cara Ratay
ABL Adoptions
A Licensed Child Placing Agency – Indiana and Louisiana
140 1/2 South Main Street
Zionsville, IN 46077
317.873.3841 Adoptive Couples
317.873.4926 Fax
866.650.5683 Birth Parents Only

cara@abladoptions.com

Thanks and God bless!

Summit VI – Christian Alliance for Orphans

If you or your church have ever wanted to get involved in an orphan ministry, this is a wonderful opportunity!

You and individuals from your church community are invited to attend the Christian Alliance for Orphans’ national Summit VI!   This national conference is designed to help Christians start and grow orphan ministry in the local church, including adoption, foster care and international orphan initiatives.

Summit VI on April 29-30 in Minneapolis, MN will bring together grassroots advocates, pastors, orphan experts from across America and beyond—as well as many new to the issue seeking to learn how to engage.

Featured speakers include national champions of orphan care and adoption, including John Piper, Doug Sauder, Mary Beth Chapman, Jedd Medefind, Tom Davis and Al Mohler.  Compelling voices from the global church will address attendees as well, from Africa and Eastern Europe to Central America.   Music will be led by Steven Curtis Chapman and other artists.  Meanwhile, more than fifty workshops will deliver practical know-how for orphan ministry—from supporting families with post adoption challenges, to effective models for church foster care programs, to partnerships with indigenous churches for overseas orphan care.   In addition, families in the adoption process will have the opportunity for five “Hague Hours” from national experts such as Dr. Karyn Purvis at no additional cost.

If God has stirred hearts in your church for the plight of orphans, Summit offers the biggest and best opportunity of the year to learn how to act upon your convictions.  Many churches will send multiple individuals in order to fully access the full range of resources, workshops and other opportunities available.  To learn more and register now, visit the Christian Alliance for Orphans website at www.christianalliancefororphans.org.