In spite of the difficulties 2020 posed, we were able to continue their work in South Africa. In response to the greater needs and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their sponsorship increased, and we were immediately classified as essential workers in order to continue to assist the hundreds of people living with HIV and TB and the orphans attending their center every week.
WORKSHOPS AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) PROGRAMS: Before the lockdown in South Africa, we were able to conduct five in-house workshops for teachers from 50 creches (nurseries or day care centers). We received regular sponsorship, which enabled us to donate seven smart TVs to preschools so that they could use our digital resources. In spite of having to stop some of our large projects during lockdown, such as our Sunday Club for 500 children and in-person workshops, we were able to continue the majority of our programs with strict health protocols in place. WHATSAPP GROUPS: We developed WhatsApp groups for our support groups to continue to provide health advice and emotional and spiritual support, which were literally lifesavers. Our WhatsApp group for the 75 teachers taking our training courses enabled us to continue to provide weekly resources, health advice, and reach out to all their parent groups to empower parents to become teachers at home. The WhatsApp group we developed for our Bible study students scattered around Johannesburg and in other African countries opened our eyes to the “greater works” we can do now and beyond the pandemic by harnessing digital technologies. THE “GET INVOLVED” CHALLENGE: During lockdown, we challenged hundreds of parents to get involved with their children’s education, as they have become the primary educators. This was a big challenge, as the parents who belong to our WhatsApp groups live in shacks with little or no books or resources. They often feel incapable as they have had to leave school without graduating. But most have smartphones, so we have been sending them books to use to teach their children to read, PowerPoints, and tips. We gave prizes to 15 parents and 17 children to encourage them to carry on.
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Quote of the day:
“Isn’t it curious that physical courage should be so common, and moral courage so rare?” This quote by Mark Twain piqued my curiosity. I wondered why that is, and what exactly are the differences, the demarcations between physical and moral courage. Think about it: There is a book about the excellent character of Jesus and how this same, rich character is imparted to us. Tim Keller writes:
Edwards goes on to list in detail all the ways that Jesus combines character traits that we would consider mutually exclusive. In Jesus we find infinite majesty yet complete humility, perfect justice yet boundless grace, absolute sovereignty yet utter submission, all-sufficiency in Himself yet entire trust and dependence on God. But in Jesus the result of these extremes of character is not mental and emotional breakdown. Jesus’ personality is a complete and beautiful whole. … At the end of Jonathan Edwards’s sermon on the paradoxical character of Jesus, he says that these same radically different traits that are normally never combined in any one person “will be reproduced in you because you are in the presence of Jesus Christ.” You’re not just becoming a nicer person or a more disciplined person or a more moral person. The life and character of Jesus—the King who ambles into Jerusalem on a donkey, then storms into the temple with the audacity to say “This is my house”—are being reproduced in you. You’re becoming a more complete person, the person you were designed to be, the person you were ransomed to be. (End of excerpt from the book by Timothy Keller, King’s Cross, Penguin 2013.) So it seems safe to say that the courage He is developing in us now, and will one day perfect, is not a self-centered courage, but a courage that is coupled with gentleness and humility, great restraint coupled with great power, centered in the great causes of God for man.
One day God decided to send an angel with a big basket to collect prayers from people. He flew through all the countries. He went to the poor and the rich, the happy and the sad, the hungry and the satisfied, the children, the young and old, women and men. He visited prisons, orphanages and homes for the elderly, hospitals and institutions. He was in villas, flats, houses and slums. He made sure he didn’t forget anyone!
He returned to Heaven to the throne of God with a basket full of wishes from the people on the earth. He collected everything they asked for, whether it was big things like the recovery of the seriously ill or something that might seem tiny. But nothing is tiny for God! He takes seriously everything we ask for, and it makes Him happy when we ask for help. He is our heavenly Father, and we are His children and he cares about us so much! God was happy to accommodate his children on earth, and He did His best to answer all those who asked for something. When another very kind and sweet angel saw all this, he asked God if he could also go down and collect all the thanks from the people. He loved God very much and wanted so much to make Him happy. It didn’t go unnoticed to him how much work and organization the many prayers required. How many angels had to be involved in the work, how much and hard they worked to bring certain people together, to be able to say nice things to each other, to help each other, and so on. So this angel set off. He flew all over the countries from North to South, from East to West. He went to the islands, to the high mountains, in the hot deserts, on ships and airplanes, he was able to get everywhere and visit all the people who asked God to do something for them. But when his time came to fly back to Heaven to the throne of his dear God, his heart was heavy. Will he have enough courage to show Him his basket? When he stood before the throne, God leaned over and looked inside the basket. He found only very few thanks in there. A shadow flickered across His beautiful loving face, sadness filled his eyes, perhaps even a tear appeared in them? He put so much into answering human desires and so little gratitude was in the basket. The angel was sad, too, and then he got a wonderful idea! He’s gonna send this story to the people on earth so that the next time God does something beautiful for them, they will remember to thank him. So the next time you are happy, don’t forget to share it with your heavenly Father! Together, let’s fill the angel’s basket till it overflows! Are you in? May God’s love be with you everywhere you go! “In everything give thanks.“ (1 Thes. 5:18) LEBANON-- Food Drive
Andre and Crystal The economic and social collapse that the Lebanese people have faced is enormous. Food prices increased drastically. Riots, demonstrations, and roadblocks were regular occurrences. The grant helped the team continue with their “Food Drive” that they have been manning for many years. This activity not only serves to meet physical needs but is helping heal wounded hearts. 12 years in Jordan By Jacki After 31 years working as a secretary, in 2008 I made the decision to return to the field. That was scary! Would I have the faith? Could I make it? I was starting over at age 56! There were many challenges. Arabic ties with Chinese as the most difficult language in the world; Jordan is a developing country; there is conflict in the region and there are poor on every side. I had bills to pay, contacts to manage, fundraising, and projects to oversee. Also, culturally, the Arabs have a totally different mentality! I found myself in a constant state of “pioneering.” However, this is no problem for the Lord. He has caused provision to abound, contacts, friends and volunteers to emerge out of nowhere, and the windows of heaven have flooded open. Miraculously, now God helps us keep 22 projects going, including libraries for children, medical care, eye and dental care, a motivational seminar for university students, scholarships, a food bank, assistance for families and orphans, a family kitchen, sewing centers, gardens for kids, training volunteers, small businesses for women, renovating homes, food distribution for Ramadan, and much more. A few highlights:
From Syria It is so heartening to see the Lord open doors to provide abundantly for those who are suffering. John tells us of the heartbreaking conditions that the refugees are enduring in Syria and Turkey. The situation is especially difficult for little children and babies, and unfortunately, it has gotten worse with the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank the Lord that John and his team were moved with compassion and then put feet to their prayers so they could bring needed supplies to the displaced people and the helpless, innocent children. God supplied wonderfully, but they could not have done it without the generous help of Family members and friends. Thank you all! God bless you!
John, Middle East In early 2020, the headlines and news stories coming from northwestern Syria were heartbreaking. “Displaced baby dies due to freezing weather in Syria” was the headline in regional news on the 14th of February 2020. On the 18th of February 2020, an Al Jazeera headline proclaimed: “‘Breaking point’: Babies freezing to death amid Idlib push.” We wept. We had met some of these children, who were fortunate enough to live through the intense Russian and Syrian bombardment of Idlib last winter and make it into Turkey. Some were malnourished, living in old homes with no heating, in freezing-cold, mildewed rooms. Others remained in northwestern Syria, living in informal tent settlements, as there was no room in the established tent cities. When winter approached in late 2020, we knew we had to do something to try to prevent a repeat of last year’s catastrophe in the nearby tent cities. Proverbs 3 admonishes us in verse 27 to “withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.” So, we sent out an appeal to friends and businesses. The response was overwhelming. Within six weeks, we were able to send 33 wood stove heaters, 200 mattresses, 445 blankets, and 423 onesie snowsuits. And the aid keeps coming in. At the time of writing this, we plan to send two very large shipments again in the months to come. Thank you for helping to push back the cold in the lives of these refugees with your warm and generous giving! We love you and cannot do it without you! Quote of the day:
“Isn’t it curious that physical courage should be so common, and moral courage so rare?” This quote by Mark Twain piqued my curiosity. I wondered why that is, and what exactly are the differences, the demarcations between physical and moral courage. Think about it: Not all forms of physical courage are combined with moral courage. Sometimes physical courage springs from pride and becomes a mere demonstration of violent self-assertion, with little regard for the well-being of others. Moral courage is manifested when someone stands for what is right. There are many activities that build courage, with healthy reward. The movie Chariots of Fire brings this out. Eric Liddell believed he was made to race and he knew he was good at it. But he was determined to keep it in its rightful place; he would not allow his love for racing to gain precedence over his love for God. So he made a promise never to run a race on the Sabbath day, even if that were to mean losing out on an important race. He held true to his promise. Another example of modern-day moral courage is found in the movie Hacksaw Ridge, which portrays the true story of Desmond Doss, who enlisted in the U.S. army during WWII. He was a conscientious objector, who wanted to serve as a medic without bearing arms. In the end Desmond was awarded the Medal of Honor for his exceptional bravery, saving the lives of scores of others without the use of a weapon. During basic training, however, his fellow soldiers mocked him and called him a coward. But when the time of fierce combat came, he was in the forefront saving others, displaying courage that went well beyond the call of duty. Men in the army can be under pressure to demonstrate how physically tough they are. And some men of this sort decided to browbeat Desmond during his basic training. They accused him of cowardice because he refused to bear arms. But later, in the heat of the fierce battle, we see Desmond come out shining, displaying his notable God-given courage and, without a word, considering those who had criticized him still worth saving. It became obvious to all that God’s power was protecting him through the thick of machine-gun fire as he went out again and again, without a weapon, to rescue wounded soldiers. So his fellow soldiers came to recognize a type of courage beyond that of the mere physical. Part 3 posted on April 23, Part 1 poste on April 9.
During a very hot summer in the late 1960s, Ray and Pam were leading a Christian youth camp in North Devon, England. Just before lunch, Pam was appreciating the beauty of the coastline and noticed hundreds of people in the car park, sitting by their cars eating their picnics.
Suddenly she heard the loud noise of an engine, and saw a tractor, out of control, careening wildly down a steep field. The driver managed to steer it through the first gate, but it was gaining speed at a frightening rate as it hurtled down the second field. Many of the guests at the house at the top of the hill and in the youth camp watched with horror and prayed desperately for the young man on the tractor to bring it under control, as it raced towards the crowds of holidaymakers. Pam prayed, “Lord, please change its direction,” and moments later it turned away from the car park, banking on a small hillock. It missed the car park by yards and somersaulted over the cliff. Ray took a few men with him and raced down the cliff pathway, instructing everyone else to stay and pray. It was time for lunch at the camp, but no one felt much like eating. Pam says, “All I could think of was that brave young man desperately trying to steer the tractor to safety.” Eventually the men returned. “He’s dead, isn’t he?” I said to Ray. “Who’s dead?” he asked quietly. “Well, the man in brown on the tractor.” He said, “Tell me what you saw.” I described the scene, finishing, “It all happened so quickly. My last picture of him was leaning right over the wheel, hands almost crossed over.” My husband replied, “There was no one on the tractor.” “But I saw him,” I said incredulously. “I saw him too,” Ray said, “but we searched the cliff face and everywhere, and then news came from the house. The tractor driver had left the engine running while he went to shut the gate and he could not get back in time. There was no one on it. The tractor landed upside down on a car. The widowed mother of a large family had been sitting in the car, but she had just got out and walked to the chalet door, and was wondering why she had done so. The next moment the tractor came over the cliff and totally crushed her car. She was unharmed, as were the scores of people only yards away in the car park. There was no one on the tractor.” “If that was so,” writes Pam, “then who was the young man who had driven the tractor so brilliantly to the single place where its fall could be stopped by a one-foot diameter oak tree and just one car, and, miraculously, no one be hurt?” -- (Excerpts from the book Angels —True Stories of How They Touch Our Lives by Hope Price.) A dear friend sent this to me recently and it really encouraged me and helped me so I’m sharing it with you for your encouragement.
Think About it: Something I've been thinking about lately. How do you stick it out for the long haul? Either serving the Lord, or getting through a pandemic, an illness, or a job, or just the day! It's easy to sprint but difficult to stick it out sometimes for many years. There were times in the Bible where the Lord just "put it in people's hearts" to do what needed to be done--and that's encouraging. Like Nehemiah building the wall. And the good news is it's just for the asking. Sometimes when I haven't felt like putting one foot in front of the other, I prayed and asked for the strength and the will to keep going. And as I started, I received the anointing. Here are some verses on how the Lord can just put it in your heart, mind and soul to do His will. This is really encouraging! 1. "I withheld you from sinning against Me:" Gen.20:6. The Lord can actually keep us from doing the wrong thing, He did it for King Abimelech. This is good news because the Lord can keep us and we don't have to "be good" all in our own strength. 2. "And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom His Spirit made willing" Exo 35:21 Yes, we have free will, but we can also ask the Lord to make us willing to do what we should do, and He will give us a willing Spirit to do what we need to do. 3. "God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day." 1Sa.10:9. The Lord can take our heart, and turn it in whatever direction He wants if we let Him, and do amazing things. 4. "And there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched." 1Sa.10:26. 5. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph.2:10. We were created to do good things, so He'll give us the power to finish what He created us to do. 6. "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Phil.1:6. Hope these verses were an encouragement, it helps me not worry if I can make it to the end of the road no matter how tough it gets, because Jesus will do it! He's the Author AND the Finisher--not me! Keep Going For God! A dear friend sent this to me recently and it really encouraged me and helped me so I’m sharing it with you for your encouragement.
Something I've been thinking about lately. How do you stick it out for the long haul? Either serving the Lord, or getting through a pandemic, an illness, or a job, or just the day! It's easy to sprint but difficult to stick it out sometimes for many years. There were times in the Bible where the Lord just "put it in people's hearts" to do what needed to be done--and that's encouraging. Like Nehemiah building the wall. And the good news is it's just for the asking. Sometimes when I haven't felt like putting one foot in front of the other, I prayed and asked for the strength and the will to keep going. And as I started, I received the anointing. Here are some verses on how the Lord can just put it in your heart, mind and soul to do His will. This is really encouraging! 1. "I withheld you from sinning against Me:" Gen.20:6. The Lord can actually keep us from doing the wrong thing, He did it for King Abimelech. This is good news because the Lord can keep us and we don't have to "be good" all in our own strength. 2. "And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom His Spirit made willing" Exo 35:21 Yes, we have free will, but we can also ask the Lord to make us willing to do what we should do, & He will give us a willing Spirit to do what we need to do. 3. "God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day." 1Sa.10:9. The Lord can take our heart, & turn it in whatever direction He wants if we let Him, & do amazing things. 4. "And there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched." 1Sa.10:26. Just like in the early days of the Family when the Lord touched our hearts & put it in our spirit to follow Him. 5. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph.2:10. We were created to do good things, so He'll give us the power to finish what He created us to do. 6. "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Phil.1:6. Hope these verses were an encouragement, it helps me not worry if I can make it to the end of the road no matter how tough it gets, because Jesus will do it! He's the Author AND the Finisher--not me! Love you all dearly and am praying for you! Keep Going For God! Coach Dana |
AuthorThe goal of the blog is to provide interesting, motivational, soul feeding material. All to help remind us that God loves us all and wants a personal relationship with each of us and will take care of us in times of trouble. I aspire to be a force for good by providing you with positive input. I encourage you to share the blog with others. Archives
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