Writer in a Red Chair

Orphans & Trafficking

2010-12-19T14:16:00.005-06:00

Back in October, I attended the "Together for Adoption Conference" here in Austin. One of the break out sessions I had registered for was on the topic of "Orphans & Trafficking". I assumed the session was going to be an explanation of why the international adoption process is so full of paperwork, red tape, etc... because countries are trying to protect orphans from being "adopted" by people with mal-intent. But once the session got rolling, I realized that it was about orphans who "age-out" of the system and are highly vulnerable to trafficking because of a complete lack of options to survive.

The simple version of a common story with Russian orphans is that...

* they "graduate" from the orphanage at age 15...
* they are released from the orphanage in May of that year with papers enrolling them (room & board included) in a technical school in the nearest big town...
* they are driven to this nearest big town and dropped off at the school...
school doesn't start until fall, and the facilities are closed for the summer...
the kids have no where to live, no way to feed themselves...
the result: many-- within weeks, if not days-- have been tricked into meeting up with "well-intentioned Good Samaritans" who will "help them", but in fact are wolves in sheep's clothing who then forcefully traffic the kids into slave or sex-slave industry...
the end.

How painful is that? And how frustrating... because it could otherwise have such a simple solution: how bout releasing the children in the fall, instead of May. Geez!

The breakout session was led by Tom Davis, the CEO of Children's Hope Chest. One of the hardest things I heard during that session was, "When you go to your orphanage to pick up your kid, all the other faces you leave behind will likely end up as prostitutes because the transition out of the orphanage leaves them vulnerable." OUCH. According to Davis, in countries like Russia, traffickers target kids coming out of orphanages as their #1 supply chain.

At the conference, I purchased a novel Davis wrote called "PRICELESS". The book is a fictional account of the common story of Russian orphans who age out of the system. It takes a deep look at the dark underworld of the trafficking industry in Russia. It was a page-turner. I could not put the book down. In an interview with the author, published as an appendix to the book, Davis was asked "How much of what you wrote in Priceless is based on true events?" His response: 80%. Wow. This story is painful and frustrating-- a thriller that SHOULD be pure fiction. Instead, it is reality for thousands & thousands of girls in our world today. (I highly recommend reading this book.)

Children's Hope Chest is involved in the prevention, rescue, and restoration of trafficked orphans in places like Russia, Moldova, and India. This is only one branch of what the organization does... the main umbrella being orphan care & intervention... but it is a moving & valuable cause. One that is close to Andy's & my heart.

If you want to get involved in this tragic global issue, you can partner with Children's Hope Chest in the following ways:

In Russia, Children's Hope Chest provides over 1,000 orphans with protective services through our Ministry Centers, Family Centers, Independent Living Center Programs, and the Young Mothers Program. Girls and boys in these programs are not only safe, but loved and cared for by our dedicated staff.
In India, you can sponsor a classroom of orphaned & vulnerable children to help educate them to in vocational & life-skills to prepare them for independent living when they grow up.

All Children's Hope Chest programs are designed to help these children beat the odds, to become productive citizens and mature Christian adults with healthy families of their own.

Don't you want to be a part of their story too??

An Unlikely (or Unexpected) God-Story

2010-11-14T15:12:00.007-06:00

Back in January, I was having my quiet time after New Year's and reflecting back on how incredibly different my life is in 2010 versus 2000. Lots of praising God for the immense work He's done in completely 180-ing my life in that decade. I mean, my life was ridiculous in 2000. Didn't know the Lord (for SURE!), didn't live in Austin, wasn't married, was running around with boys, a drunk, materialistic, anti-religious athiest, mom was alive, sister was alive, you name it... Anyway, I was truly marveling and how He can redeem and purify my life.

Then I started forward praying... wondering how He might change my life even more over the NEXT 10 years. What would I be celebrating after New Year's in 2020?! How could He possibly do MORE than He has already done?! (Not that I think I am "complete", but just thinking He's taken care of so many "majors".) So, as I was praying and wondering, I literally wrote: "I guess if You're gonna MAKE us have kids, that would happen sometime in the next decade cuz I am getting 'old'."

As soon as I wrote that in my prayer journal, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper... "How bout you talk to Me (God) about that?" Uhhhh, what?! I was shocked. And a little freaked out. So, I immediately started prayer-journaling (for 7pgs) about all the reasons why I didn't want kids, had never wanted kids (as in, never in my entire life), was scared to have to kids, felt called to not have kids, etc. Page after page, I poured out my heart to God with every rational and irrational excuse I could think of.

When I got the end of my pleading and talking, again I felt the Holy Spirit whisper... "Is that all? Cuz I am bigger than all of that." With eyes bulging, lump in throat, I closed my Bible & journal and went to find Andy in the other room. "Uhhh, Andy, we need to talk."

I started to tell him everything that had just happened-- the whole blow by blow-- and the entire time he's listening, he has this strange smile/smirk on his face. His response was so strange to me that I finally asked: "What's the deal?! Have you been praying for God to change my heart about all this or something?!" He adamantly denied it, saying "NO! I swear!!! ... but God started to talking to me about the same thing just a few days ago in my quiet time." I started bawling (the freak-out kind of crying). What does all this mean?!!?

So we both talked through (really, I cried through) the 100s of reasons why kids weren't for us. All our fears. All our selfishness. All our desires for how we envisioned our life together. But we ultimately couldn't deny God was speaking to us about it with a new agenda for the first time. Andy suggested we both take a week to separately explore it in prayer and the Word and talk to a few people about the potential shift. At the end of the 7 days we'd reconvene on the subject and see what we thought God was saying.

It was a strange and scary 7 days. But ultimately at its close, neither of us could deny what God was saying... He was asking us to have kids. Ouch. This was a total paradigm shift for me and completely foreign to even THINK about! But I couldn't ignore what was plain and clear, His call was real. And I (oddly) had a great peace about it... despite all my fears. If God was calling us to it, then I felt sure I could trust Him, even if it made no sense to me.

I immediately asked Andy if I could "have" 6 months to let the shift sink in before we did anything about it. But in his wisdom, Andy said if God has made His call clear, we shouldn't delay in responding. But in God's great mercy, He gave me 7 months before we actually conceived. In that time, He did a lot of work in me, helping me come to terms with a new game plan.

Now, I'm more than half way through my pregnancy. We are having a little girl in March. I still needed all the time I've gotten so far during pregnancy to continue to process. There is a LOT I am having to mourn & let go of. And there are plenty of dreams I am having to pray about assimilating our kids into. We don't feel a game change in our unique ministry calls. We certainly don't feel kids change our focus on serving the Lord FIRST. But I recognize there is a lot I am gonna have to learn as we go...

So, that's our unlikely story. But isn't it just like God?! I can only find comfort & peace when I trust & lean into Him about the whole thing.

Spanish Bibles for Kids

2010-11-08T20:17:00.004-06:00

Esmerelda is a precious friend of ours. She cleans houses for a living, but above even that, she is a fierce prayer warrior and inspiring follower of Christ. Two Christmas' ago, she and her family decided to drive to interior Mexico to share the gospel. They took $500 and clothed hundreds of people, fed even more, told everyone they met about the hope they have in Christ, and ministered to the poor, the least, and the lost. Even their young son was eager to witness to the children he met.
This coming Christmas break, they are going back. They are aware of the current safety issues in Mexico, but are determined to yield to God's call and trust Him for their protection. They will be driving across the border, kids in tow, and will spend 2 weeks reaching out to those who do not know Christ. They are taking boxes of gently-used clothes to hand out to those in need. And they have made a goal to collect 100 toys for 100 kids. They have almost met their goal, through God's provision.

Andy & I asked if they had thought about giving out Spanish-language Bibles to those they meet. Esmerelda thought that sounded like a great idea. So, Andy & I are committing to get 50 Spanish-language Jesus Storybook Bibles if we can get our friends/readers to match that with another 50... that way they can pass out 100 Bibles with their 100 toys for 100 kids! Anyone interested, please connect with me and I'll let you know where to have the Bibles shipped.

Our hope is that God's word will not return void. That as these children & their families begin to read God's word (after hearing the Good News from Esmerelda & her family) they will develop rich, lasting relationships with the author & perfecter of their faith!

3 Cooking Classes, 3 Countries

2010-11-07T10:13:00.007-06:00

Our Women's International Cooking Collective has continued this fall (even with my lax blogging about it). And in 3 months, we've "visited" 3 unique countries, thanks to some wonderful guest chefs!

ITALY
Guest Chef Adele, who I thought was a nurse-- but turns out she is a nurse while going to school at a culinary academy-- represented her country well. Adele, who originally comes from Florence, took on the challenge of teaching us to make an exquisite Mushroom Risotto and homemade Tiramisu. She gave me many great tips on how to improve my kitchen tools for optimal cooking ease (thank you!). Adele hopes to one day open her own Italian restaurant & wine import store here in the US. I'll be there opening night!!

(Fabs eager to start our sampling of risotto)

(Adele shows us how to sprinkle cocoa on top of our tiramisu.)

(Adele puts the finishing touch on the mushroom risotto.)

(Adele with Anita, co-workers, now co-cookers.)

UGANDA Guest Chef Rehema was our first Olympic chef... that's right, in passing conversation we somehow got out of her that she was in the Olympics ("just once"), representing her country as a runner! She is here in the US studying for a Masters in Public Health Education in hopes of returning home one day to help combat the AIDS crisis affecting her country (and claimed the life of her twin brother). We learned to cook Cassava, Sim-Sim Balls, Posho, Peanut Butter Black Beans, and 3 main dishes (a chicken, a fish, & a veg) that I still never learned the name for. Needless to say, Rehema was ambitious to teach us all she could.

(Our "nameless" fish dish.)

(Nicole listens to see if the sesame seeds are crackling- the indicator they are cooked.)

(After a first bite, the sim sim balls grew long strings of sugar "hair".)

(A few of us pose with Rehema at the end of class.)

AFGHANISTAN
Guest Chef Pari taught us how to utilize about a dozen different spices... and turn any dish into a flavor wonderland! Pari, who comes from my hometown, Fort Worth, is the first person in her family born in the US. Her family fled Afghanistan during the Soviet take-over, lived as refugees in Pakistan for a while, and eventually ended their flight in Texas. She serves on the board of a local mosque (even at her youthful university sophomore age) and was eager to tell us much about her religion as she cooked. She taught us to make Aloo Chole (Aloo means garbanzo bean, Chole means potato- so guess what the dish was?), Samosas, and a milky-sweet dessert called Seviya. Mmmm.

(Fabs tries her hand as stuffing the samosa pouch with filling.)

(Pari pours the finished seviya, steaming hot, into a serving dish.)

(A beautiful spread of Aloo Chole & Samosas.)

(New friends, me & Pari take one final pic.)

Starting this Women's International Cooking Collective has been such an adventure. I've learned so much from the women who have agreed to teach us. Not just about food, but about culture, and about "being a woman" in today's world. I love spending time with both the students and chefs. And I am so thankful that God has given me this unique way to use my house to create friendships and be a place of welcome & love!

Women's Voices from the Muslim World: A Short-Film Festival

2010-10-20T10:30:00.002-05:00

I follow a great blog called "Muslimah Media Watch" which tracks and comments on current events/news/issues related to Muslim women worldwide. Today, I saw this short post on their blog...
Women's Voices Now is a non-profit organization that was founded in January 2010 and is based in New York City. Their mission is to “empower women and give voice to the struggle for civil, economic and political rights.”

Currently, they’re accepting submissions for a film festival, "Women's Voices from the Muslim World: A Short-Film Festival." They are taking submissions up until Nov 1, 2010, but they are already posting some films on their website. Go and watch them... great storytelling!

Isaiah's Story: A Beautiful Rescue

2010-10-04T15:36:00.001-05:00

Isaiah's Story from 31Films on Vimeo.

I saw this video this weekend at a conference I attended about adoption & orphan care. It is a moving story!

Global Faith Forum

2010-09-27T20:56:00.005-05:00

After hearing Carl Medearis speak in Austin this past May, I decided to read his book: "Muslims, Christians, & Jesus." The book was such a breath of fresh air in a sometimes stale conversation (within some Christian circles) on Muslim-Christian relations. I truly appreciated both his insights and shared experiences from a life trying to live out every day not as a Christian... but simply as a follower of Jesus. I learned a lot from the book and hope that his perspective on Truth assimilates itself more and more into my life.

At the end of his book, I read that he had a blog, which I started to follow. Last week, Medearis posted about the GLOBAL FAITH FORUM (of which I'd never heard). Here is his blog post about the event:

Global Faith Forum

November 11-13, 2010

NorthWood Church, Keller, TX

GlobalFaithForum.org

Featuring

HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal, HE Vietnamese Ambassador Le Cong Phung, Os Guinness, Eboo Patel, Ray Bakke, Bob Roberts, Jr., Ed Stetzer and others

Why the Global Faith Forum?

In case you haven’t noticed, the world around us is getting smaller. What used to be “on the other side of the world” is now in our own backyard.

As a result, we are rubbing shoulders with people of different cultures and religions who hold different values and beliefs.

In the midst of this shrinking world, we have three basic choices:

1. Live in fear of what we don’t understand threatening to burn, hate and denigrate.

2. Bury our head in the sand and play like none of this is happening (but you’d better turn off the evening news and try to not act too surprised when the globalized world lands on your front porch.)

3. Seek to engage in conversation, learning to respect and understand others while not compromising our core beliefs.

We believe option #3 is the best choice.
Join us at the Global Faith Forum as we learn how to join the conversation.

I am intrigued and eager to learn from this event. So, tonight I registered and am encouraging all you out there to go and sign up too!!!

All in 2 Weeks Time

2010-09-16T15:15:00.005-05:00

Last night I attended a training on volunteering with incoming refugees. The more I learn about the process they go through, the more my heart hurts for them. I've known on principle that the move & transition itself has to be incredibly difficult. How could it not be? You leave all you've ever known, you are afraid for your life, and now you're thrown into a completely foreign culture and given 6 months to adapt until you are on your own. WOW.

During this training, I learned for the first time a basic time-line of the incoming refugees first week in the States. It is a WHIRLWIND! The stress must be fierce.

(Image above of an incoming Burmese family being greeted at the airport)

3 days out-- The agency receives an arrival date, including flight arrival details
1 day out-- The agency sets up an apartment for the family using donated furniture & some purchased items... including culturally appropriate groceries & supplies
ARRIVAL DAY-- The agency greets the family at the airport & (in the same day, or night-- even if they arrive at midnight) provides a housing safety orientation at the new home
Day 1-- The next day (jet-lag & all), the agency accompanies new refugees to social security office to apply for new social security cards for the family (because they cannot begin receiving food stamps or other government aid until their have a receipt for their social security application), then they return to the agency offices for a general orientation & to complete social services referral forms
Days 2 - 5-- The family receives health screenings and are connected to city clinics (they have to give stool samples to ensure they don't have parasites, they have to get vaccines, and get a general "all clear" on their incoming health issues)
Week 1-- Within the first week, the adults are enrolled in ESL classes (free for 4 months) and begin job training & their job search... children are immediately enrolled in AISD schools

Can you even imagine having to race through all of that in the midst of a major cultural upheaval. Its sounds exhausting. :(

Missed Opportunities

2010-09-15T22:19:00.003-05:00

Once upon a time, I went to UT. At the time, I was an athiest, a complete "b", and also a sorority girl (laugh all you want, I am laughing right along side you). While I was at UT studying journalism my entire life was consumed with class, studying, and partying. I had no idea of all that campus life had to offer. Never heard of a single student organization. Never noticed any other ethnicity while I was in class. Never paid attention to ways I could get involved in serving my local community. What a loss!
This fall, I have had reason to be back on UT's campus several times since the semester kicked off, and my perspective is soooo different. I look at everything, and everyone, so differently. And I am lamenting all the missed opportunities that passed me by when I was a student.

Tonight, I went to a volunteer orientation for Refugee Services of Texas that was held on campus. 90% of the attendees were students who learned about the opportunity through various campus emails & groups. These students had a heart to serve refugees from some of the most war-devastated regions on the world. They were passionate and empathetic... anxious to get involved and make a difference!

Monday night, I went to a facilitator orientation for the International Office's Language Circle program. 99% of the attendees were students who were excited to take advantage of the opportunity to meet international students and help them practice English. There were also Language Circles for American students to learn/practice a second language-- like Turkish, Portuguese, Arabic, Korean-- led by native speakers from those places. I had no idea this was ever an option when I was in school. But what an creative avenue for culture & language sharing right there on campus!

Last week, I heard about a group that serves lunch, for free, every Wednesday to international students just to show them hospitality and be available to help them navigate Austin, UT, and life. Over the semester, they build relationships and encourage (often times) lonely, homesick students.

And this coming weekend, I am attending a "Backyard Barbecue" held on campus by one of the schools there to welcome international students. It is hosted by a program where local Austinites & UT students can be paired up with an international student (or student & their family) to be their "friend" for the semester... helping them to learn about Austin, America, and local family life. Its a chance to give them a feeling of home away from home just by having someone they can call or reach out to when they have questions, need to talk, and just want to have some fun.

My personal tilt (now, as opposed to back when I was a student) is that I LOVE internationals! I love learning about other cultures, I love traveling to other cultures, and I love welcoming other cultures to my hometown Austin. I am so impressed by all the chances current UT students have to meet & befriend & learn from other students who are here from foreign lands... what truly broad opportunities UT offers now. They probably offered all this back when I was a student too-- but I was to self-absorbed to notice, much less get involved. What a shame!

Tonight, I am sad to have missed all this back then... but I am praising God and thanking Him profusely for opening my eyes to these things now (and for letting me still be involved, even though I haven't been a student in more than a decade!).

Figs for a Cause

2010-07-23T23:04:00.005-05:00

My friend Skipper and her husband are leading a trip to Egypt this November to work with Habitat for Humanity. The traveling group is all married couples, going to help improve some of the substandard housing in the Nile Valley region. Skipper and I went to work with Habitat in Egypt in 2009 and when she got home, her husband loved her stories so much he began to pray that they could go back one day together.

That time is near. Skipper & Preston are doing a bunch of creative things to help fundraise for their trip overseas. It costs about $2700 a person (but part of that money goes towards actually donating to Habitat to make the loans for the houses they will help build). One brainstorm Skipper had last week, as we were picking figs from my tree, was to make fig preserves to sell.

After an hour of picking we had one giant bucket of fresh figs. That night, Skipper worked her kitchen magic and made jar after jar fresh fig preserves. She came back to my house 4 days later and picked 3 more buckets full of figs to work with. Wendy & her climbed our tree to pluck every last ripe fig in 100 degree heat.

Skipper has so far cooked around 30 jars of the goods, and is selling it for $10 a jar. All the money is going towards her trip fundraising. I bought a jar and it is to die for... so yummy!!!!!

So, if you are reading this and want to purchase some, you can email her at skipper.mcwithey@yahoo.com

(pictured here, Skipper and our team standing on the roof we just built for a family in a small village in Upper Egypt.)

I Rolled My Own Dolmas

2010-07-23T21:36:00.007-05:00

This past weekend was our monthly Women's International Cooking Collective. Anita & Cara invited a refugee friend they met last summer (Leen) to serve as this month's guest chef. Anita actually met Leen & her family the very first day after they arrived in the U.S.-- straight in from Bahgdad. Leen's husband was a translator for the U.S. army and she said his job was very dangerous. So, when the army offered to relocate him & his family to the U.S. to better protect them from harm, they agreed. Leen has been in Austin for just over a year and her husband found a job again as a translator... this time for a refugee resettlement agency where he works with the Arabic speaking resettled refugees.
(below, Leen with Cara & Anita)
On the agenda for our cooking class was learning to make Iraqi food. Technically though, I think we just learned to make Arabic food--but I do think each dish likely had some local twists to it. For instance, we learned to make Tabbouleh, but in a way I'd never eaten before... the parsley was not finely diced, but more salad like, and we added olives. Plus Leen was aghast that we would eat it with pita... it was for eating with a spoon.
(below, tabbouleh salad)

We learned to make homemade hummus. Leen schooled us on why homemade hummus was so much yummier than store-bought... because usually store bought hummus doesn't include tahini in their recipe. Plus she taught us how to "plate" our hummus to have a great presentation, on top of tasting delish!

And finally, the big sha-bang was that we all learned to make dolmas! Dolmas are those stuffed grape leaves that you find in a lot of middle eastern restaurants. Usually stuffed with rice and spices, sometimes also with some ground beef in the mix too.

My history with dolmas was a love-hate relationship. I always hated them (even though I'd never tried them-- I was too scared), until I was in the home of Turkish Muslim mother in Izmir who had slaved all day making them for me and insisted I try them. I was backed into a corner. I had to oblige. My first nervous bite was a milestone. I fell in love with dolmas. Now, anytime I can get them I will.
(pictured left, Skipper taking her dolma rolling seriously, and me being an excited goof)

As a group, we learned to make the stuffing for the dolmas, even hand mixing it-- literally with our hands! And then we prepared the vegetables to stuff. I learned that you can make dolmas out of most any vegetable-- because essentially it just means to stuff something. So we stuffed onions, we stuffed zucchini, we stuffed tomatoes, we stuffed bell peppers... and then, we started stuffing the grape leaves. It was so fun, all of us learned to lay our grape leaves just so on the counter, placing the stuffing just so on the open leaf, and then folding up the sides and rolling the leaf closed, like a burrito (because we're from Texas this was our natural go-to parallel when trying to help each other roll a dolma: "you know, roll it like you would a burrito").
(below, Nicole showing off our pot full of dolmas)

We finally rolled every last bit of our stuffing and piled all the dolmas into a giant pot to stew for an hour. It was a feast! After cooking the dolmas on the stove, we flipped the pot onto a giant platter and began to dig in. Girls who had never particularly cared for dolmas before were loving them. And all of us who tried the vegetable versions for the first time were in love.

We ate, and ate, and ate... and then each filled up giant ziploc baggies with leftovers to take home. Leen was such a great teacher and chef!

(pictured below, our platter of completed dolmas)

Throughout our cooking time, we also learned a lot about her family, and Iraq. She misses her home country a lot. When we asked her what she missed most about home, she said "everything!" It was such a poignant reminder that refugees don't necessarily want to move to America. They love their homelands. They just don't feel safe there. So, to protect their kids, their wives, their families, the flee. But they love their land, their people... and they always hold out hope that things will get better, and one day they could return to what they know.

Women's International Cooking Collective

2010-07-02T20:59:00.006-05:00

This past weekend, I hosted my first ever "Women's International Cooking Collective" at our house. When Andy & I moved in January to our new place, the kitchen-- which is huge & gourmet-esque-- begged for me to combine it with some of my passions... namely, hanging out with international women & learning about foreign cultures. Through much brainstorming with Andy & friends, I decided to start this group.
The idea: Once a month, I invite a different international friend in Austin to come and teach me (and a crowd of other internationally-interested Austinites) how to cook their local foods and tell me about their home-country. Not only do I get to learn how to cook awesome global cuisine & hear about foreign countries from natives, but I also get to make or enhance friendships with internationals right here in my city! Win, win!

Our inaugural month was June. Destination: INDIA! My friend Skipper invited her neighbor, Sharda, to serve as our "guest chef". About 12 other Austin gals who I'm friends with joined in the fun. We spent 3 hours watching Sharda cook Spinach Paneer (but we made it with tofu), Indian Fried Rice, and Indian Chai Tea. We all wore aprons and wrote down the recipes on matching index cards. During lulls in the cooking process, we had a short list of questions to ask Sharda about India, Indian culture (both at home & here in Austin), her family, her life, her religion, and even down to her favorite Bollywood movie!

Then came the taste-test. Mmmmmmmm! We all fixed test plates with a generous spoonful of each dish and our own cup of tea. To be honest, my experience IN India was not that great with the local foods, so I was somewhat nervous that our first month's dishes wouldn't be my fav. But, I admit, they were soooo yummy! Sharda was an excellent chef! I even got 2nd & 3rd helpings of the Spinach Paneer. Plus, she left me with the remaining Chai Tea packets so I can make my own cardamon tea any time I want!

I had sooooo much fun! And I am pretty sure all the other girls did too-- including Sharda! I already have countries lined up for the rest of the year... what a FUN way to spend time with ladies I love getting to know!

(**Something I learned from Sharda was that Southern Indians have a traditional spice can-- hers is pictured below-- and they keep their top 5-8 favorite spices in it... always ready to go. Her mother gave her this one before she moved to America so she could always have the flavors at home right at her fingertip!)

Holy Cow! (An Indian Adventure)

2010-06-25T12:11:00.004-05:00

In 2005, Andy & I traveled to India 3 months after the tsunami hit. We had already planned the trip to go and work with 2 orphanages in the state of Orissa through Austin non-profit, The Miracle Foundation (TMF) before the big wave. But after the tragedy, we asked to extend our trip to be able to go down to the tsunami affected region and see how TMF was meeting the needs of the devastated community.

During the first leg of our travels we were with a team of a dozen Americans who were serving alongside us. And someone brought HOLY COW: An Indian Adventure to read. The book was passed around to multiple readers, read aloud over dinner and break times, and the whole group was constantly finding release in the laughter that this book provoked. I cannot tell you if this book is as funny to someone who has never traveled to India, but to us it was affirmation that our thoughts about how crazy this country was were not, well, crazy.
The author (a native Aussie) recounted her tales of living in India for 2 years (following a fiance who was on work assignment in the country) and her constant confrontation with the diversity and chaos that makes this country so wonderful & terrible all at the same time. When we were there, I cried almost every night in our hotel room talking to Andy about the difficulty of this land. I hated it. Yet it still drew me in. By the time we were on the airplane returning to the States, I turned to Andy and confessed: "I hope God never calls me back to this country, but if He did, I would go." Andy was dumbfounded. And here I am, 5 years later, and I feel the stir to return nudging me.

In the opening pages of Holy Cow, the author shares a similar story. She had traveled around India 10 years prior with a girlfriend, and in the preface she describes her final moments at the airport as she left: "I break into a run, push onto the plane and sink into my seat. As we take off I give smog-swirled New Delhi the finger. 'Good-bye and good-riddance, India. I hate you and I'm never, never ever coming back.'" (p.3) And yet she did.

Some passages I found myself near tears with laughter as she paints the "colorful" picture of locals in the midst of everyday Indian life (including burping, drawn-out calls for chaaaaaaaaai, and the uniquely Indian head-wobble which says yes, no, and maybe all wrapped into one). Some passages I was near tears from the pain and inner conflict I felt at her portrait of the poor, the beggars, the sick that pepper every roadside in every city (including modern day lepers, burying the dead by placing them in the river, and passing never-ending slums in the heart of every city).

She explains it well when she writes, that its pointless to try and "figure out" India. "India is beyond statement, for anything you say, the opposite is also true. It's rich and poor, spiritual and material, cruel and kind, angry but peaceful, ugly and beautiful, and smart but stupid. It's all the extremes. India defies understanding... My confinement here is different-- I'm trapped by heat and by a never-ending series of juxtapositions... What's more, India's extremes are endlessly confronting." (p. 107). This is so true!

If you (a Westerner) have ever been to India, this book will make you feel normal for all the frustrations and love affairs you had in your mind while there. If you've never been to India-- but want to go-- this book will help you capture a glimpse of the wonderful, terrible confusion that lies ahead. No matter how hard I try, India will not leave my heart. And I would whole-heartedly tell anyone to travel there. Go. See it. Experience it. Love it. Hate it. And go back.

Oh ya, and read this book! It's a perfect travelogue to be your companion to a foreign land.

Giving Made Easy!

2010-06-15T16:44:00.004-05:00

If you frequent my blog, then you probably are aware that we are big fans and supporters of a non-profit called Seed Effect, Sudan. The quick "scoop" about what they do, in my own words, is: they give small loans (like $50-250ish) to locals in Southern Sudan who are struggling to survive. The loans are to help a Sudanese business owner start or expand their business, hopefully increasing profitability. The big picture goal is to help these entrepreneurs to put food in the tummies of their family members and pay for their children's school fees.

Seed Effect recently partnered with Capitol One credit cards to create a program through which you can give money to Seed Effect just by shopping!!!! For every dollar you spend, Capitol One contributes 1-10% of that dollar straight to Seed Effect. How stinkin' cool is that?!?!?! So, without costing you money, you can help fight poverty in Southern Sudan by donating to such a great non-profit!

I applied for my card and YOU SHOULD TOO!!!

West Texas Vacation

2010-06-15T12:51:00.002-05:00

In The Beginning... from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.

We just returned home from a Texas-sized road trip to Marfa, Texas. Its near Big Bend country and we did a lot of scenic drives to drink up the nature. There were so much jaw-dropping beauty we were pulling over ever few bends in the road to take pics.

Anyway, it reminded me of this awesome video our church did to kick off our current Genesis sermon series. The video was filmed in the same area we vacationed in, so it's all the gorgeous views we kept enjoying... so happy vacation on your computer from watching this video!

Ayaan Hirsi Ali & "Nomad"

2010-06-07T17:02:00.005-05:00

I am usually nervous to post when I am reading a book by Hirsi Ali (I just finished her latest memoir, Nomad). Yet I can see the great irony of my fear to speak out when that is one of the things I admire most about her. Truth be told, she has profoundly influenced my love for Muslim women. When I read her first memoir, Infidel, in 2007, it broke my heart with a heavy compassion for women world-wide, as- to me- she was a snapshot, a single portrait of a reality lived out by millions of women. (Let me clarify, though, that I fully recognize her story is one story and I do not pretend to apply it to every Muslim woman in the world.)

Hirsi Ali is fiercely vilified by many, and she certainly causes much controversy over her stated opinions. But her message is so important to voice, at the very least, because it is not the majority point of view. We live in a land where diverse thought can be debated. Freedom of speech is a treasured gem. Yet that means we have to endure people we fundamentally disagree with just the same as we have the right to passionately agree with others. I am grateful for Hirsi Ali because of some of the things she says. But I am also plain grateful for her because she says them.

My nervousness to post about her usually reflects the greater desire I have within me to demonstrate LOVE for Muslims living in this country. I believe, as a follower of Jesus, that Christ cares for all people. Jesus loved poor people & rich people. He loved women & men. He loved children. He cared about sick people, people in prison, people who were oppressed or outcast. Jesus had a heart for people who were "strangers in a foreign land" or were a persecuted minority. And because I want to imitate Jesus, I want to love all those people too. Within me, Jesus compels me to care about what & who He cares about. And so, I love Muslims living in this country. In the deepest parts of my heart, I literally ache with an affection for them that only Christ could instill within me.

Which I hope explains why I hesitate to tell my readers things like: I read Hirsi Ali's book. But the truth is I did. And it makes me love Muslims even more. She does not make me afraid of them. She does not convince me that all Muslim's have evil motives (in fact, I don't think even she believes that). She does, however, move me. She causes me to think, she spurs me to question, she entices me to evaluate. She paints a vivid picture of real people she has met, real situations they've experienced. Often those stories are painful or feel extreme... but they are real to those involved. And I share in their pain as I read about them.

I haven't been convinced (as she is) to reject God and embrace atheism (which was at one point in my past my "religious" allegiance too). But I have been convinced (and not solely through her arguments) to fight women's oppression both here in the U.S. and abroad. I don't want to live in a world where some of the modern travesties against girls exist. I want to speak up and say "enough!" Even Hirsi Ali doesn't try to argue that the Muslim World has a monopoly on the perpetration of these crimes against women. So I stand in solidarity with her in my opinion that women the world over are neglected, abused, or under-valued.

I am drawn to read Hirsi Ali's books because of her experience as a woman, her experience as a refugee, her experience as a thinker, and her experience as a participant in both Eastern & Western worldviews. She has a unique insight into a large portion of the issues facing modern society. To listen to her reason & grapple with reality is fascinating. I stand by that. To read Hirsi Ali's book is to engage in thought-provoking discussion over today's powerful social dichotomies.

To Ayaan, thank you for your bravery, my literary friend. You inspire me, challenge me, and encourage me to engage even further in loving those who are forgotten, overlooked, abused, oppressed, discounted, and unloved...

That's My Austin

2010-06-02T12:33:00.002-05:00

3 Books, 1 Week

2010-05-24T18:29:00.009-05:00

In light of some down time, I've found myself reading lots this last week... and consequently have 3 books to review.

First, In Defense of Food, by Michael Pollan. This book was just what I was looking for in my (previously blogged about) effort to shake up my food patterns. I learned a lot of undesirable information about the modern food industry. And I am letting all the bad news simmer in my mind and hopefully redirect some of my choices. Things like... the way we commercially grow plants now has even affected the end product by taking out "nutrients" that have things the food industry doesn't want and injecting "nutrients" they want to increase. All in all, it affects the overall product, even of something you think is unchangeable-- like produce. "...You now have to eat three apples to get the same amount of iron as you have gotten from a single 1940 apple." (p. 118) Although really technical and prone to over-informing, this book was super helpful for me to learn how to navigate the modern food industry and the choices we now have in our supermarket.

Next, Under the Overpass, by Mike Yankoski. I randomly stumbled onto this book when looking for resources to learn about homelessness and social support systems affecting the poor. It just popped up in a Barnes & Noble search and caught my eye. What drew my attention was that it was written by a Christian man who set out to live on the streets, (with the homeless as one of their own) in 6 different American cities to see not only what life was like but also what social services (and churches in particular) were doing (or not doing) to impact the homeless community. The author wanted to experience it all while looking through the lens of his faith. It was certainly an interesting perspective and premise. As his journey unfolded, I was both moved by & found myself mourning for the church & its people-- at its triumphs & failings in loving the poor and treating people with compassion.

Finally, Tea with Hezbollah, by Carl Medearis & Ted Dekker. I recently heard Carl speak at a conference in Austin and he mentioned this latest book. His verbal description was so normal-person-thought-process-spoken-out-loud that is just caught my attention. He said something like: you know how the Bible says we are to love our neighbor? and goes further even to say, we should love our enemies? that that's Jesus' commands for his followers? well, I thought- in order to love our enemies we need to go and actually meet them, get to know them. so we set out to do just that. we traveled to the Middle East and sat down with some of the "bad guys" (from America's perspective) and just wanted to see what would happen... wanted to learn about them as people. in hopes that we could tell all you, and that it would help you love them as Christ loves them. That's all he said. And I bought it... and the book... and have really enjoyed just reading their travelogue of what it was like to visit some of my absolute favorite places in the world (the Middle East) and sit down with some of the most intimidating men of power and ask: "when was the last time you cried?" and "what makes you laugh?" The authors humanized these men for their readers. And that goes a long way in softening our hard hearts toward the call to love our enemies.

10 Things the Internet Has Killed or Ruined (and 5 Things It Hasn't)

2010-05-15T13:11:00.007-05:00

A few weeks ago, the Jeff Ward show on 590AM had a discussion about an article put out by PC World called: "10 Things the Internet Has Killed or Ruined (and 5 Things It Hasn't)". He kept his listeners hanging, only revealing one thing from the list every 20 minutes or so while he opened the floor for discussion. He asked his audience: 1) can you guess what's on this list? and/or 2) what would you put on this list?

So, I pose the same questions to you... What would your top 10 list/5 list include? Here is what I would say:

ANNA's 10 things the internet has killed or ruined? (I made my lists before reading PC World's)

snail mail (you know with stamps and a postman) and the art of writing letters.
the technical quality of songs (because the computer speakers and the downloadable sizes-- totally an answer influenced by being married to a musician).
albums (along the same lines as above, but now you can just buy 1 song and not an entire artist's album-- kinda ruins the art of it all).
innocence of children (because such young kids can easily access stuff like porn or ganster rap, etc-- as witnessed by my own 5th grade nephew).
attention spans.
morality (can you say: overabundance of porn?).
patience (we can get instant info online at any time).
privacy (I realize the argument could be made that you don't have to put all your info out there-- and you don't-- but there is still an abundance of info that YOU don't put out there that gets out there-- think tax assessments, think family trees, think photos your friends put of you online that you'd never have posted yourself, think registrations/affiliations...).
trust in your research resources (you can find info that supports almost any claim and there is seemingly no way to tell if its bogus or legit).
productivity at work (think about the amount of time you waste, at work, checking emails, shopping online, Facebooking, etc).

ANNA's 5 things (the internet) hasn't killed or ruined?

"The Man" (who now simply tracks with more accuracy and depth your likes/dislikes based on what you surf online and through searching key words you type online or in emails).
garage sales (I thought this would have gone-- but nope, we've just added extra mini-garage sales through craigslist/ebay).
shopping (especially in niche products, which apart from the internet would have been more hard to come by).
competitive pricing (now that you can cross-reference, say, flights from every airline all on one site, you truly can get great deals).
celebrity (in fact the internet has broadened the definition of who could be "famous"-- think followers, # of site hits, # of downloads, youtube, etc)

To read PC World's opinion of the Top 10/Top 5 List, CLICK HERE. But try to make your own list first and see how well you do. :)

And I'd love to hear your lists-- post em in my comments. Or comment on my lists...

Book Review: Son of Hamas

2010-05-07T20:09:00.004-05:00

Up until a few years ago, I didn't know much at all about the conflict that exists between Israel and Palestine. When I ever heard a news story about the "Middle East Crisis" or "Middle East Peace Process" (and usually in reference to the peace process being unsuccessful), its not that I'd tune out, but I just didn't understand it. In 2007, Andy & I traveled to Israel to tour the Biblical sites in the area and it was at that time that I actually started to grasp it all.

In our hotel there was a map of what I'd always known as "Israel", but it was divided in to sections and color coded. When I asked the front desk what did that all mean, I got my first real understanding of the Palestinian "Occupied Territories". And as I wandered the streets of Jerusalem, I noticed military personnel everywhere-- all carrying giant guns-- but from two distinct groups. A blue uniform for Palestinian military, and the traditional army green for Israeli forces. They coexisted on the streets, with their guns. It was strange to say the least.

One of our travel agendas was to pass into Bethlehem to tour the church built on top of the site where (supposedly) Mary gave birth to Christ. Our tour bus drove through the streets and eventually pulled up to a giant cement wall. We had to get off the bus and load onto another bus, trade in our Israeli tour guide & driver for Palestinian ones, and then drive through some heavy security to get to the other side of the wall. Once inside, the guide announced "Welcome to Palestine!" We has crossed into the Palestinian "West Bank."

Since that time, I have increasingly learned about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from my Arab friends. It is a very important issue to them-- Palestinian or not. And in their minds eye, all Americans and Westerners side with Israel. So, I have tried hard to learn as much as I can-- in an effort to understand my Arab friends, and to grow in compassion for all those affected (on both sides) by the suffering this "conflict" has caused.

So when my friend Angela heard about this new book, Son of Hamas by Mosab Hassan Yousef, she recommended it to me. I gobbled up this book. It is a fast read, chalk full of information from a unique perspective. Yousef is the son of one of the leaders of Hamas (a Palestinian "party" for lack of a better word) who was, at one point, a revenge-seeking wannabe terrorist who survived Israeli prison and came out the other side to become one of the most valuable spies for Israel into the network of Hamas and other Palestinian parties. His account details his work for both sides of the conflict. It is gripping!

After finishing the book, I feel I have a better understanding of both sides. I have an increased compassion for those caught in the cross-fires of what I think is a impossible-to-win (for either side) war. And I heard a beautiful testimony of learning from the teachings of Jesus-- to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. This is a fabulous book that I'd recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about one of our generations most heated, and ongoing conflicts.

Click here to buy the book on Amazon.

Before & After: Haiti Kids

2010-05-07T15:51:00.004-05:00

I got to see some updated photos of the kids I fell in love with while in Haiti. It is so good to see the transformation, and I thought yall would like to see the progress too!
KATIANA before...
KATIANA now...

Here is Katiana, who lost her parents and her arm and had a broken leg. So beautiful and full of love. So sweet! Such joy!

EMANI before...
EMANI now...
This is Emani, who was in a full body cast while we were there. She is from Port au Prince, found abandoned in the street, and didn't know anyone when she first came to the orphanage. While we were there, we saw her surrounded by new friends, lots of smiles, and we watched the healing begin...

JOHNNY before...
and JOCELYN before...
JOCELYN & JOHNNY now...
Here is Jocelyn, who was caught in the rubble in his house when he went back to save his mom. He has been fit for a new leg and started walking. And Johnny next to him is the boy with a broken femur that wandered the streets of Port au Prince for 11 days until he was finally rescued and helped.

LONIQUE before...
LONIQUE now...
Here is Lonique, who had a full body cast and amputated arm. Now he can run and play, and there is life and joy in his eyes.

Help Refugee KIDS This Summer

2010-05-07T15:41:00.001-05:00

Each summer, a local non-profit organization (Austin Area Interreligious Ministries) hosts a 6-week program for newly arrived refugee children to prepare them for their first experience with U.S. schools. When refugee children arrive here, they usually know no English and have different educational backgrounds. Some may have never attended school; others could have had their education interrupted year after year because of civil war. Nothing in their backgrounds prepares them for what it's like to be a student in the Austin Independent School District. From transportation, to proper behavior; from study skills, to computer literacy; from social interaction to attire - everything is confusing to a newly arrived refugee. And to complicate matters, they don't know enough English to ask questions.

The goal of AAIM's refugee youth summer program is to make the first year of school less intimidating for the refugee children who have come from very different educational environments. The children are taught by volunteer teams led by professional teachers with experience in teaching English as a Second Language. The curriculum stresses English, basic math and school skills, plus the program offers the children opportunities to learn more about Austin through some field trips.

Volunteer Needs...

• 10-15 adult volunteers a day for each week of the program.

• Adults with the availability and a heart to serve our local refugee population.

• Parents with teenage children, between 12 and 18, are welcome to participate together.

• High school students 16 or above may participate on their own after a one-on-one interview.

• Younger volunteers must have a parent or parent-approved adult volunteering at the same time.

Details...

• Youth Program runs from June 14-July 22, 2010

• The Volunteer Commitment is to serve a minimum of 1 week of the program's 6 weeks

• The Volunteers work Monday-Thursday from 9a-12p for the week they have committed to.

• The Youth Program is hosted at a downtown church.

• The Youth Program will host refugee children aged 6-18 from countries like Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Burma, Bhutan, Congo, Burundi, Somalia and Cuba.

• The Youth Program will likely have 50 children during the summer.

• Volunteer Training is Tues May 18th in the evening.

For more information or to volunteer, please email Lu (luz@aaimaustin.org), or call 512-386-9145 X 12.

Look How Far Seed Effect Has Come!

2010-05-03T22:30:00.002-05:00

Seed Effect posted a new report on their blog today about the latest stats & stories. They are 1/4 of the way to their goal to reach 400 families this year. Go read the update!

And before this good news, I had been all ready to inform my blog-followers that Seed Effect just arranged a new deal with Capital One credit cards to get a "return on your investment" with your purchases. Check out this blog post too... Andy & I are gonna apply and I think you should ALLLL get one! :)

What Is Church?

2010-05-02T16:42:00.004-05:00

Africa Inland Mission's most recent newsletter has a great article in it that I wanted to share here. It describes the similar questions I've been asking a lot over the last year as I travel abroad...
"What is Church?" by John Becker

Have you ever asked the question, "What is church?"

Sofas and tables removed, a couple dozen friends and neighbors cram together on the carpeted floor. As the tabla and dholaki drums begin to pound, the gathering sing "Khushi Khushi Manao," an Indian hymn calling the group to bolo bolo Masiha ki jai jai jai (sing your praises to Messiah with joy joy joy). After testimonies, some teaching and prayer, spicy aromas overwhelm the room as a colorful feast of curries and other delicacies is spread before the guests. Half at the satsang (spiritual gathering) were disciples of Jesus, the others were still following their Hindu, Sikh or Muslim faith-- but happy to join the celebration.

Is this church?

When a Muslim family chose to follow Jesus after watching the Jesus film, a local co-worker and I would meet in their home every week to teach the Bible and share fellowship together. It always involved a meal and prayer for each other. The gathering stated with five of us and quickly grew to eight as they shared their faith and invited the extended family. For various reasons, this family was not able to attend our conventional Sunday morning church service.

Is this church?

Thinking they were the only local followers of Jesus, the three Muslim background believers were hesitant to meet each other. But taking the risk, fears dissipated at the first meeting. Henceforth the three who had chosen to follow Isa al Masih (Jesus the Messiah) began to meet weekly in an olive grove outside the city walls. Each one in turn shared the Word. Then they prayed for and encouraged one another.

Is this church?

A few years ago I wouldn't have considered these "churches." I would beg to differ now. Let me explain.

...We are commissioned to "make disciples of all nations"-- not make churches of all nations. Everyone who places his/her faith in Jesus is a member of Christ's body, the universal Church. But in making disciples, the spirit-directed result is the gathering of these followers: the local church. But again, what ingredients make a church?

... A Somali nomad once said, "When you can put your church on the back of a camel, then I will think that Christianity is meant for us."

As a mission [organization] we concluded that church doesn't necessarily need four walls, a roof, and a pastor who has been to Bible School. So we set out to create a simpler definition of church: a community of disciples who know and reflect their identity in Christ through corporate worship and mission. Is this the definitive definition of local church? Probably not. Is it simplistic? Maybe. But we believe it is packed with Biblical truth and it has helped to shed our cultural biases and rethink our traditions so that "church" formation and multiplication can be experienced in every culture.

Most of the remaining unreached people groups will not be reached with a conventional and traditional model of church... We encourage our missionaries to envision "church" through the lens of the people they are serving.

Grossing Myself Out

2010-04-25T22:31:00.004-05:00

Over the years, there have been a few food products that I learn a simple fact about... and that simple fact leads me to quit cold-turkey eating that food forever.

Shrimp is one example. When my mom was sick with cancer, she kinda became a food snob and read some tragic piece of info about shrimp that she shared with me. And I haven't eaten a single shrimp from that day forward. Funny thing is, I cannot for the life of me remember what that simple shrimp fact was, but I still won't eat one ever again.

Since last summer, I have unfortunately gained a lot of weight. I have a sneaky suspicion that it is the result of my completely horrific diet. Bottom line: I eat really, really unhealthy. In an attempt to try and turn over a new leaf, I am trying to learn as much bad information about the foods I eat in order to (hopefully) trigger a response similar to my shrimp scenario above. I want to gross myself out over some of the things I choose to put in my mouth. Enter 2 important tools:

1) Food, Inc.

2) Food Rules, by Michael Pollan
This short book is a list of "rules" -- essentially stripped-down eating guidelines to help you navigate your way to healthier choices while teaching you simple facts about today's food products.

Some examples from the book are:
"Rule #3- Avoid food products containing ingredients that no ordinary human would keep in a pantry."
"Rule #13- Eat only foods that will eventually rot."
"Rule #14- Eat foods made from ingredients that you can picture in their raw state or growing in nature."
"Rule #20- It's not food if it arrived through the window of your car." (this one would likely make me drop 30 pounds alone if I adopted it.)
"Rule #24- Eating what stands on one leg (mushrooms & plant foods) is better than eating what stands on two legs (fowl), which is better than eating what stands on four legs (cows, pigs, & other mammals)."
I'm hoping it works.

Book Review: Princess Trilogy

2010-04-25T15:32:00.004-05:00

I finally finished the trilogy I'd been reading through over the last several months. Author Jean Sasson, who lived inside Saudi Arabia many years ago, provides the megaphone for the secret stories of one of the royal family's own (whom Sasson befriended during her years living in KSA). She writes on behalf of Princess Sultana-- a strong woman and a powerful advocate against misogyny & women's oppression and for the rights & freedom of women within her country.

The trilogy is conceived as a three part look into the Princess' life & her surroundings. First, her own journey growing up as a girl inside Saudi in Princess. Next, the journey of her 2 daughters, who now help her see the gravity of the women's issues in her land, in Princess Sultana's Daughters. And finally, from the broader perspective of the women who've passed through her life and their own diverse experiences of being a woman in Saudi in Princess Sultana's Circle.

I am a fan of biographies in general, but this one was especially moving to me because it covered so many issues close to my heart. She describes with such brutal honesty her own witnessing of things like rape & child rape, forced marriage, the slave & sex slave trade, beatings, female genital mutilation, sequestering of women for punishment... the list goes on & on. She describes some of the darkest sides of humanity. And it is at times painful to read. Especially when you think too long on the fact that this is all a reality that I can do nothing to change. Apart from pray for God's intervention.

I admit to feeling helpless to intervene. A few year's ago, while at a conference in the Middle East, I asked some local men how I could get involved in helping to impact these women's issues in this part of the world. And although these men were great leaders, and even followers of Christ, they replied to me: "You can do nothing. There is too much money & too much power involved on the part of the perpetrators for you to make a difference." Period. That was all they said. I was stunned at their answer. So frank and so tragic. I wished there was an IJM for the Middle East.

Reading these books repeatedly broke my heart, made me sick, made me cry, and made me feel the weight of a hurting life for so many women in the world today. And yet, I'd still strongly recommend this series for anyone to read. It gave me hope that people like Princess Sultana could make a far greater impact that I could. I thank God for her life and for her passion. And I can recognize that, although slow, progress in being made through simple acts like her speaking up.

Chan-Kind of Obedience

2010-04-19T11:18:00.005-05:00

Today I heard some great news. Biblical Good News kind of good news. I saw on a friend's Facebook that Francis Chan is "stepping out in faith." For every person out there who has an idea who Chan is, this will hopefully be a chance to reflect personally... and ask God: are you calling me here, still? Or is it just easy to stay. God could stir in either direction. And one is not right & the other wrong. I think the point is, it's a personal call. What is HE asking you to do? And are you willing to surrender to that? Even if it scares you to death. Even if it mourns the loss of everything you've ever known about how to do life & work.

Catalyst had an interview scheduled with Francis Chan the day he broke the news to his staff. So when asked "What's God doing in you right now?" the interviewing didn't realize how much of a "scoop" he'd unearthed. But thankfully, Chan was transparent and shared the process of the decision, which I pray gives peace & inspiration to others who might be in his shoes, yet scared. Here is the video interview. My favorite quote is "I'd be hypocritical if I didn't go...".

After this interview, Chan prepared to share the news with his church body. And yesterday, his sermon said it all. Click here to get the sermon "Surrender."

I am grateful for Chan's obedience. I am grateful for the kind of God that cares more about our walk with Him, more about our spiritual growth & perseverance, than He does about our "ministry." It reminds me of the passage from Isaiah 58 when God says, "No, this is the kind of fasting I want...".

Video Post: Interrupted

2010-04-16T11:26:00.003-05:00

Interrupted from Threads on Vimeo.

Found this video online today (part one of a series you can buy from Lifeway). It captures the seed-planting part of a story of change. When you get down to it, this theme is how God has been stirring and continues to stir further my heart since 2007. I have a LONG way to go yet, but I am not giving up on God's work in my heart.

The video series is an accompaniment to the book Interrupted, written by Jen Hatmaker.

A Veil Should Not Make You a Target

2010-04-15T17:21:00.003-05:00

I am so disappointed. Today, while at Jamba Juice with a friend, I watched a sweet-looking veiled woman stand outside the window to get out of the rain while she waited on the bus. She was cradling her infant child in her arms & passing the time, minding her own business. While she stood there, a scraggly looking man approached her and started to try & talk to her. I couldn't tell if he was drunk or just weird. But she was immediately uncomfortable. Visibly uncomfortable. And this guy just kept harassing her. She starts pacing and trying to shoo him away. And believe it or not, this guy tries to ask to hold her baby! Are you kidding? He's making big motions with his arms and reaching in towards her chest to take the child.

The poor woman started running back towards the bus stop to get away from this inappropriate man. The guy started yelling after her "I just want to talk." He wasn't being mean... just ridiculously ignorant of personal space and boundaries. Thankfully, just then, the bus pulled up and she got on. I almost ran outside to interrupt, but the whole thing was over pretty quickly.

This scenario made me so angry. But what made me even more angry is that it's not the first time I have seen something similar to this take place. On a number of occasions I have seen veiled women in our town be approached by men in inappropriate ways. Its not even necessarily sexually inappropriate-- just a strange, power-trippy kind of inappropriate. It's hard to describe unless you've seen what I'm talking about. The behavior I've witnessed doesn't feel like the same kind of behavior I see in ordinary male-female inappropriate interactions.

It's like some guys think veiled women are free game. They can say what they want or act as inappropriate as they want. They feel some sick power trip over them. Maybe they think they can scare them. Maybe they think its okay to treat them worse. I can't say what they are thinking. But it makes me sick. Mad. Fiercely protective.

I know many women take on the veil in order to be modest and less noticeable in public life (this is a broad generalization, and I recognize there is a lot more to it than that). But I'm sad to say that in some cases, it has the opposite affect. And that breaks my heart. I LOVE these women and cannot stand their mistreatment.

I don't have a solution. Just wanted to post my observations and vent.

Sudan's Elections Today... PRAY!

2010-04-11T11:24:00.003-05:00

Pray for Sudan today... elections are happening. The resulting weeks/months ahead could turn sour in a country that's already suffered so much. Click HERE to read an article on the election from Seed Effect Sudan's blog.

Orphans & Adoption in an Islamic Context

2010-04-02T11:16:00.002-05:00

Check out this recent article on the subject of "Orphans & Adoption in an Islamic Context."

This article is written about a different article on the subject posted from a Middle Eastern news source back in January. To read that article, click here.

Child Brides (a book review)

2010-03-15T20:52:00.004-05:00

I finished this book today. It is the story of a 10 year old Yemeni girl who was married off and then raped & beaten repeatedly by her husband. This brave young girl found a way (through near impossible circumstances) to escape. She made her way to the public courts, walked right up to a judge and demanded "I want a divorce!"

Her story reflects the horrors that little girls face in too many parts of the world. To be sure, the issue of child brides is not solely a religious issue. Often it is cultural in its roots or even just motivated by poverty or tribal traditions. Regardless of the cause, it is a tough issue to think about, read about, or fight.

The book, which just hit bookstores last week, was a quick and easy read. A ghost writer wrote Nujood's account (as at the time of her marriage/divorce, she could not read and could only write her first name). Its not a complex tale and not even written in an adult voice. In fact, much of her story consists of her admitting "I don't really understand what people are talking about" or "I didn't understand what was going on." Her experience is well beyond her years and her own processing will likely not unfold completely for years to come.

Her new life goal: first-- to never ever marry again, and next-- to become a lawyer in her home country to help fight for the rights of women in her land.

From Tragedy To Rape

2010-03-15T11:21:00.005-05:00

I have read in books and seen reports in documentaries about the incidence of rape that takes place in temporary shelters. When communities are uprooted and disorganization rules the day, the evil that is our flesh finds new ways to manifest itself-- to take advantage of the chaos, and brutalize women.

It is sad to me that women living in refugee camps the world-over fear for their safety. They have already escaped such horrific circumstances to arrive in this "safe place of refuge"-- they've run from war, from persecution, from the clutches of death or poverty or disease. And they arrive to a new life where the possibility of rape is likely. That is simply devastating to think of.

"1 in 3 women globally are beaten, raped or abused in their lifetime." That statistic is cause for mourning.

Today I read an email update from CARE that reports the horrible suffering that is surfacing more & more in Haiti.

"Two months ago today, a massive earthquake struck Haiti, killing almost 225,000 people and leaving more than a million people homeless. For them, especially the women and girls, panic sets in every night as the sun retreats.

The women here talk of mauvais esprits (bad spirits) stalking the survivors of the devastating earthquake.

"Young men come with weapons and rape the women. They haven't reported it, because the hospitals, the police — everything was destroyed in the earthquake," reports Hannah, a nurse who sleeps in a makeshift tent in a volatile camp outside of Port-au-Prince.

Incidence of rape in Haiti was high before the earthquake and, now, women and girls are even more vulnerable: streets still are dark due to lack of electricity, and crowded camps and unprotected bathing and toilet areas leave women and girls vulnerable to harassment and sexual brutality."

Why the Media Doesn't Cover Global Women's Oppression

2010-03-13T12:04:00.006-06:00

What is challenging about how the media can work to fight or even raise awareness of global women's issues is that it's not news. What the media is good at is covering what happened yesterday. But we're really bad at reporting what happens everyday. And most all the issues that negatively affect women in the world today happen everyday... so they're not really news, they're just life. This frustration, which I feel as a journalist myself, is why Sheryl and I decided to write Half the Sky.

(paraphrased quote from my memory) ... from Kristof during the panel discussion at CARE's International Women's Day event when asked about the role of media in speaking to women's issues in this modern era.

For more info on the movement, click here.

Another Perspective on Islam & Women

2010-03-04T09:23:00.002-06:00

I was reading my blog-roll today and found an interesting post from my friend Constance, who lives in Thailand. As if the global cause she works & fights for isn't enough to occupy her full attention... she finds time on the side to read about the plight of women in Islam the world over. Her post today catalogs a few books I hadn't heard of before (that I will now read) and points out one very important thing--
"what i don't think we consider enough is that perhaps people in places like iran and yemen fear their own governments. women and children in countries like this are not exactly on board with the fanatical clerical rulings and terrorism."

Go read her post. Its short & thoughtful!

New Micro-Loans from Seed Effect

2010-03-02T09:43:00.004-06:00

Today, Seed Effect SUDAN handed out another round of loans to help empower those in need to break the cycle of poverty! Check out the video of the group huddled together signing loan documents & receiving their monies. Pray for these 20 souls to grow their incomes so they can provide for their children & families-- food, education, and healthcare. Pray that through the process, they will learn about Jesus' love for them!

Seed Effect - Togoleta B First Loan from thomas bell on Vimeo.

The third Seed Effect Cell Group, Togoleta B, receiving their first loans. These 20 group members are mothers, wives and business women who are taking loans ranging from $50 to $150 to grow their small businesses in Kajo Keji, Sudan.

With Time

2010-02-27T11:06:00.003-06:00

I saw today (on Facebook) that Lonique had his body cast taken off! PRAISE GOD! He looks 100000 times happier. Click here for the back story on him from my trip to Haiti.

How to Buy a Child in 10 Hours

2010-02-25T16:24:00.002-06:00

Below is an excerpt (a small excerpt) from a horrific news story ABC ran back in October that I just stumbled on... I can only imagine how this continues to play out in Haiti post-earthquake. We live in a broken and evil world.

...

"I'm a little nervous." I say. "I just want to make sure that this is OK, that I'm not going to get in trouble, that this will be smooth, that you've done this before."

"I guarantee my service," says the trafficker, grinning. "I can get you your girl as early as tomorrow."

And now, the negotiation begins.

"So how much will it cost me to get a child?" I ask.

"The last one I gave was $300."

Trying to test the value of human life, I push a little.

"I have a friend who got one for $50."

"No," he says.

"What about $100?"

"$150," he offers.

I accept.

And there it is. It's about 5 p.m. Roughly 10 hours after leaving my office in New York City, I have successfully negotiated to buy another human being -- an 11-year-old girl, whose value is set at just $150.

...
Click here to read the full article.

Half the Sky

2010-02-24T13:54:00.003-06:00

On March 4th, a one-night event is coming through Austin (and plenty of other nationwide cities). Click here to read more & find tickets in YOUR TOWN. From what I gather, its essentially a celebration of International Women's Day... so they are having a discussion from the authors of the best-selling book Half the Sky. I think they are having video updates from some of the stories shared in the book of the women, the world over, who are impacting their community and breaking the cycles of poverty & oppression. Also being screened is a new short-film on the subject, directed by Marissa Tomei. I'm going! Are you? Grab and friend, buy tickets online, and go out to dinner after and discuss how yall can get involved!

Valentine's Movie: OUTSOURCED

2010-02-14T23:15:00.003-06:00

Andy & I watched Outsourced, the movie, tonight for a our Valentine's date. It got on our Netflix cue in memory of our trip to India the first year of our marriage. We probably laughed more than you would if you've never been... but the movie was delightful.

The laugh-out-load quote of the night was "You know what India stands for? I'll Never Do It Again." We laughed cuz that was what we said to each other often during our stay. But somehow, India gets under your skin. And by our plane ride home, we both looked at each other and said: "I think we'll be back someday after all."

Back-story on Johnny Fig

2010-02-13T13:31:00.003-06:00

The organization I traveled with to Haiti is called Visiting Orphans. Today on the executive director's blog, they posted a video with the back-story of Johnny Fig, who I wrote about here. To see the video, click here. What provision from the Lord to save this young boy!

Marie Joy, My Joy

2010-02-11T22:23:00.005-06:00

Our tiniest transplant to the orphanage was a little girl named Marie Joy. She was hilarious. Not sure of her age, but I'd say infant-ish. But as the days went by we realized she could walk on her own, eat on her own, drink on her own. A sophisticated young lady. I don't have a "story" per se about my interactions with Marie Joy. And the only history I got on her was that she fell into a cooking fire during the earthquake and burned her hand and arm. But by the time she arrived at the orphanage, she was mostly healed and just carried on life as a little whipper-snapper. So, for her tribute-- a photo essay: Marie Joy in pictures. She always brought a smile to my face each time I saw her. And in case you can't tell from the pics, she was popular! :)
With Hannah from our Visiting Orphans Team.
Just being sassy at the lunch table.
With Karis, one of the staff at the orphanage.
With Maya, another volunteer who came down on a one-way ticket.
With Maria from our Visiting Orphans team.
Her special look...
Realizing she runs the show!
On the bus as she arrived at the orphange.

The Ugliness of My Own Heart, as Seen Through Jean

2010-02-11T17:17:00.008-06:00

* this is long, but its a drawn out confession, so details were necessary to paint the picture.

Yes. I went to Haiti in response to the earthquake. Yes. I wept with those who wept and tried to bring peace & comfort to the children. Yes. This was an act of obedience for me... God presented a choice to me when the invitation to travel came my way: Be available to respond to the opportunity God put in my path OR come up with an excuse as to why now just won't work for me. By His strength, I said yes Lord... send me!

Truth is, I thought that was gonna be the hardest part. And in fact was grateful He'd given me the strength to GO. But not everything about my trip was obedient. In fact, I was convicted about some serious yuckiness within me and wanted to transparently share it here.
One of the rescued orphans there was a 6 yr old named Jean. He had cerebral palsy (we guessed) and had been abandoned at a hospital in PAP by his mother after the earthquake. Danita took him in, but once he arrived we began to feel the weight of his special needs. He had multiple seizures a day, was likely blind, had very little (if any) muscle control, and was malnourished & dehydrated. And it looked like he had evidence of scabies on his hands.

His first day, we found a jogging stroller to put him in. Where he sat...all day...each day. He needed a care-giver to be with him round the clock. The other children at Danita's immediately took to him and pushed him around in the stroller, caressed his soft skin, tried to feed him water from a bottle. They loved him so easily and naturally.

I, however, was afraid of Jean. I would sit and watch him in his stroller. I'd rock the stroller, but I wouldn't touch him. He made weird (scary) noises. He had seizures that stressed me out. He couldn't hear me or see me (I thought).
The night I was assigned to the over-night shift, one of our team members who'd taken the night shift EVERY night said "we need someone to sleep on the floor (on a matress) next to Jean-- he has to be in between me & one other person so he doesn't roll off the bed at night. My first thought: "just keep quiet Anna, let someone else volunteer." It scared me to think of sleeping next to him. But as the night drew closer, no one volunteered and I reluctantly took the place beside Jean. I asked the doctor (pictured in the pink shirt below) what to do overnight to care for him. She said very plainly, "I'd love him, and rub his back. Make him feel safe by your touch. Give him tenderness to nurture his needs. He'll be fine, just reach out and keep a hand on him."

Lights were out sometime in the 8 o'clock hour, and by 9:15 I was seriously suffering. He sounded like he was choking every few breaths. He had a seizure. He kept rolling on his stomach and burying his face into the matress. I'd roll him back on his side or his back and he'd flop right back. I was afraid he would smother himself. Plus, I was scared to touch him because of his scabies outbreak-- I didn't want to catch it. So, seriously, I slept with a bottle of purell next to me and I lathered my hands after EACH TIME I touched this kid. So that meant no continual touch from me-- just corrective touch. I maybe slept a total of an hour that night. I was sure he'd die on my watch. And I was sure I'd get scabies if I touched him too much. I was so devastated by the grip these ugly thoughts had on my heart. I think part of my lack of sleep was me purely wrestling with God. It was ugly! I was ugly!

Then morning came, and Jean had lived through the night. I changed his diaper and put him back in his stroller and off we went for the day. Somehow I felt bonded to this boy, even though I was still rather cold to him. I think I wanted to love him better, so just kept staying with him hoping my heart would soften. A visiting doctor arrived around lunch and commented that Jean really needed to be touched. Just from doing an evaluation Jean had grabbed onto the doctor's finger and wouldn't let go. The doc explained he was starved for love and human touch and he encouraged me to do so. For the next few hours, I conceded to touching Jean-- but only on his legs cuz I didn't see any scabies marks there. I gently massaged his calves and stroked his knee. I talked sweetly to him and tried to gently love him.

Around 4, the other doctor (who'd advised me the night before) came and asked me if Jean had been held today. Embarrassed, I said- "well, I've been rubbing his legs for the last 3 hrs." She asked directly, "have you taken him out of his stroller at all today?" Fully ashamed of myself, I had to admit "no." She immediately picked him up and embraced this little boy and held him for the rest of the night, and all the next day.
That night, laying in bed, I was broken over my own sin. My goal-verse for this trip was Luke 6:36 "You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate." And I recognized that in the case of Jean, I had failed MISERABLY! I was scared to touch him. Why? 1) Because I let fear, not love, rule my heart. And 2) because I was afraid I'd get scabies. And why would that be a big deal? Its treatable. Well, I saw I have an idol in my life I didn't know about: coveting my things more than God. I just moved to a new house. I just bought a new matress & new sheets. And I have 3 dogs. I didn't want scabies in or on any of those things. If I didn't have those "things" I would have cared far less if I'd gotten scabies. So I neglected a child who was in critical need of nurturing because of my STUFF & MY OWN COMFORT. (Lord forgive me!)

I was sick to my stomach (and still am). God gave me a beautiful opportunity to embody His love and compassion, and I said NO. :( As I processed more and more the weight of my sin, I kept thinking: "Jesus would have touched that boy. Jesus would have held him tight. Jesus would have whispered love into his ears whether Jean could hear it or not. I did NOT reflect Jesus to this little boy." OH GOD, how sorry I am. I feel so ugly inside, knowing the hardness of my heart.

I will regret this failing for the rest of my days.
But even as I cry writing this, reliving the shame, I have to cling to the promise from God that "He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it" (Philippians 1:6). Over the last year, God has stretched me & grown me in the area of mercy and showing love to others in need. Its been a hard road, for I had a very cold heart, but I can look back even now and see how far I've come. The "lesson of Jean" was a major speed-bump in the process of refining my character & in maturing me as an ambassador for Christ. But it brought conviction. It brought mourning for my own sin. And it brought trust that I am still "in progress" and God is not giving up on me! I just hate that this little boy was neglected as part of my process.

Pray for Jean. Pray that he would experience the tangible love of Christ from his care-givers. Pray for me, that God uses this failing to continue softening my heart towards those He loves.

Johnny Fig

2010-02-11T16:50:00.006-06:00

Johnny arrived at Danita's Children's Home after a crazy turn of events. During the earthquake, Johnny broke his femur. I don't know the back story enough to know if he had a family or lived on the streets before that. But a piece of the puzzle we did get was that Johnny crawled through the streets of Port au Prince (with a broken femur) for ELEVEN DAYS before a hospital took him in and surgically repaired his injury. Can you even imagine the pain?! He must have been so scared!
When Johnny first arrived at the orphanage, they thought he was supposed to start trying to walk... so everyone was pushing him to try it out a little each day. But after some follow up xrays, the doctors saw that he had plates and pins in his leg to hold his bones back together so he was supposed to stay off it, not putting weight on it, for a good while. Oops.
My team got there after they found out this news, so we all shared the responsibility of carrying Johnny around with us whenever he wanted to try out a new spot of shade or a new group of people. We carried him to & from the bathroom. Carried him to bed. And-- his favorite-- carried him to the cafeteria. He loved it because it was full of long rows of benches he could slide up and down... mobile for him, while still being immobile.
This kid was a handful! Of fun and mischief. He went 100 miles and hour for someone who didn't walk. He was always squirming, moving, playing, talking. I love this kid!
But Johnny needs your prayers! On our last day, I watched as the doctor changed his bandage. His scar ran almost the full length of his little thigh... and looked totally healed except for one nickel sized open wound. Johnny's leg has a secondary infection, the doc told me. I watched as she squeezed out a full tube of puss from his little wound. Now I'm no medical person, but from what I gathered from listening to the nurse & doc confer, this is not good. Well, there is some good news-- Johnny's demeanor and energy were signs that the infection was not affecting his entire body yet. The bad news-- the infection might live, even thrive, on all the metal items that were implanted in his legs... so to fully remove the infection they might have to go back in for another surgery to eliminate the infection "at the root". UGH! The doc said maybe the right antibiotics would kill the infection, but likely he'd have to be treated with another surgery.

Please, please, please... PRAY FOR JOHNNY. Pray that God clears out this infection fully. And pray He does it without putting this boy though another surgery. But if that's the solution He desires, pray God protects Johnny and gives wisdom to his doctors!

Side note: Apparently, they do not know Johnny's last name. So when they were nursing him back to health in PAP, they were feeding him bananas... and he liked them. Like REALLY liked them. Wouldn't stop eating them... so they nicknamed him "Johnny Fig" to give him a new last name (fig is the Haitian word for banana, so I'm told).

Emani, God With Us

2010-02-11T16:20:00.006-06:00

This is Emani, a beautiful 13 yr old girl that was resettled at Danita's Children's Home from PAP. She is in a lower body cast for a broken left leg. It covers her whole leg and then wraps up around her waist, cutting into her ribs, but with an opening down below so she can still use the bathroom. She was pretty much relegated to bed rest and turned her new bunk into her new home. She ate in bed, she went to the bathroom in bed-pans, and spent the hours coloring every square inch of coloring books we gave her.
Emani did not come from the collapsed orphanage that Danita resettled at her facilities. She was a new orphan, referred to Danita by a hospital & the Red Cross. So she didn't know any of the kids old or new when she arrived. I think she struggled with loneliness & boredom.

Add to that, when she had to "go", she would call out for someone nearby to help her... but if no one was around, she'd have to wet (or worse) her own bed and lie there till someone checked on her. Humiliating & hard.

When Emani arrived, scribbled all over her body cast was the diagnosis from the doctors in PAP... what had happened to her, how they treated it, what to do for her now, and when to take her cast off. Plus a bunch of nurses and doctors signing her cast and writing "God loves you! We love you!"
I watched this girl improve a lot while we were at the orphanage. She was seriously quiet when we arrived and wasn't interacting much with the other kids. But after 7 days, she was much more chatty, smiled a lot more, and was starting to make some new friends. We used a portable dentist chair to carry her outside the church one day to soak up fresh air. Missy & some from our team came up with a plan to encourage the other girls at the orphanage to bond with her, so they brought out beads for jewelry making... but Emani was in charge of giving the beads to the girls when they needed them in the creative process. She blossomed in these precious hours of girl-time.
I googled her name to see if it meant anything in her language. Turns out it is derived from the word Emmanuel, God with us. So true this is for her life. She lost her family, but she is not abandoned. She is lonely, but she is not alone. She is broken, but there is a Healer in her midst. Pray for Emani-- that God heals her body and saves her soul. He is in her name, pray He is in her life!

Bon Jour, Mon Ami

2010-02-11T16:02:00.003-06:00

Each one of our team members worked an overnight shift, sleeping in the church with all the new kids in bunk beds. The morning after my shift, this precious little face (Gerry) gets out of bed, wanders over to me & Missy and proudly sings out:
"Bon Jour, Mon Ami!"
He then hugs us and walks off. SO STINKIN' CUTE! I thought it meant "good morning my love" but my google search just now tells me it simply means "good day my friend." Either way, I'll take it! :)

Jesus with Katiana & Me

2010-02-11T15:27:00.009-06:00

Katiana arrived at the orphanage the week before we got there. She had a broken fibia & tibia right near her ankle, and she had lost part of her arm to amputation. During lunch one day, she was taking her meal in the church on her bunk and was complaining (through a translator) of being hot. She told the translator to ask if I could find a fan for her. I tried but didn't find one. So I grabbed a coloring book and returned to her bunk to personally fan her with it-- a la a queen and her servants in ancient days! I could tell she thought I was crazy and eventually asked the Haitian with her to carry her back to the "girls house" for the rest of the day.

The next day, I accompanied the doctor & her house mom to visit Katiana at the girls house. They were going to change her arm's dressing. The house mom warned us that Katiana had been having panic attacks anytime someone got near her arm and would scream & cry.

While Katiana sat at the kitchen table with the doctor trying to unwrap her dressings, she started screaming & crying. I sat next to her and just reached out for her hand to let her squeeze mine. The house mom stood next to her and cuddled her head, patting her hair and whispering "its okay, don't be scared" in Haitian. I kept her hand held tight in mine and was patting her knee. I tried to keep eye contact with her and just share comfort in a non-verbal way. It was hard. It was bad. She was so distraught. Lots of sobbing. Lots of screams. Yet we pressed on, knowing the work had to be completed.

Just as we were about to wrap her arm back in new dressings, in walks a team of surgeons who had been walking the streets of the town looking for anyone who needed help. Another house mom brought them in to consult on Katiana's arm. They took one look at it and said-- "This girl has an exposed nerve. Whoever did her surgery sewed her up leaving part of a nerve sticking out of the wound. No wonder she's in so much pain!" I looked at her arm and saw what they were talking about. It was right there in the open. We'd assumed it was part of the wound that wasn't healing properly. They offered to perform surgery to repair the mistake the next morning. GOD PROVIDES!!! Can you believe it?

So, they re-dress her arm and everyone leaves the room. I stayed with Katiana while she was recomposing herself. Sniffling, wiping her eyes, and trying to breath more calmly, Katiana looks me dead in the eyes and very clearly says (in English): "thank you." I was shocked. I didn't know she spoke English. My eyes welled up and I said back: "i love you." "I love you too." There it was again, this crystal clear, no-accent English. We were still holding hands at this point and she starts to twirl my wedding ring around my finger. I have a ring I specifically wear on overseas trips that is just plain gold with a cross imprinted on it. She twisted the ring till the cross was centered on my finger, then says: "Jesus." To which I eloquently said: "Jesus." We smiled tired smiles at each other and hugged.

It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. It was JESUS right there in our midst. Who gave her English words to share. To connect us in HIS NAME. Who comforted her. It wasn't me. It was HIM. Thank you God for reaching out to this young girl.

Pray for Katiana, that He continues to tangibly reveal Himself to her.

(For a little back story on Katiana, click here.)

I Broke Down Over Jocelyn

2010-02-11T15:07:00.004-06:00

During the hours spent at the orphanage I tried my best to "keep it together" in front of the kids. I was sad for them most of the time but didn't want to make them feel pitied or even more sad because I had emotions that needed to come out. I certainly cried at night when back in my bunk, but tried to stay positive in front of them. But one breakdown managed to sneak out...

Jocelyn was a young man that Danita had brought back to the orphanage from PAP. He said he was 23, but I'm guessing he was still under 18? His leg had been amputated below the knee. Every day he sat in a plastic chair just outside the cafeteria with his stump laid up on another plastic chair in front of him. Every day. Sometimes he sat alone, sometimes with a crowd of other kids listening to his stories, and sometimes with one or two of my team members just keeping him company.

He couldn't speak English, but seemed to display an array of emotional weight in his countenance & in his eyes. He smiled often, but it looked like a tired smile. He looked bored. He looked pensive. He was mourning in a quiet way.

After a dressing change at his amputation sight, I sat with him to keep him company. He was in pain, physically, and kept trying to soothe his aching leg. I decided to give him a hand massage to try and distract him from the pain. I worked on both his hands for probably 15 minutes and his countenance never lifted. He crumpled over his own lap and with a strained look pointed to his lower back. I thought- "well, ya... this boy's been sitting in the same chair, same position for days, I bet his back hurts!" So I started to massage his back from shoulders to kidneys. The more I tried to soothe his sore muscles, the further he crumpled over hugging his legs.

I couldn't help it... I started to bawl. I felt so much ache for this young man. I was mourning alongside him, knowing he hurt both physically and emotionally. I sooo did not want him to see me crying. He was face to the ground. My hands were at work so I couldn't wipe away my tears, so I just let them fall. And the swell of tears grew heavier and heavier. Others on my team passed by and a few of the medical people too-- they gave me a knowing look and joined in my mourning. In some ways I felt I was weeping tears that Jocelyn himself couldn't weep yet.

I heard from the orphanage staff that he was in his house with his mom during the earthquake. That he tried to save her but was stuck. That she died. That he was saved, but lost his leg. He was a handsome young man... who lost a loved one, lost even a part of himself, and was trying to find a way to cope in a new place, a new home, with new friends.

Pray for Jocelyn. Pray for psychological healing & for safe healing of his wound. Pray for his adjustment to a new life as an amputee. Pray for the mourning of his mother. Pray that Jesus draws this young man into a life-saving relationship with Himself. Weep for him and with him. And pray for God's comfort to speak volumes into his life.

Boy in a Body Cast

2010-02-11T11:21:00.007-06:00

The day we walked into the orphanage in Haiti, the first kid I saw was a young boy (maybe 6?) propped up on a bench under a tree in a lower body cast. He was alone, although there were Haitians near by. He looked sad. His left arm had been amputated at the shoulder and was healing. His legs were not only casted but also had a large bar stretched between his two legs keeping them spread apart. And a 6 inch hole was left open where he could still urinate & defecate. And there was nothing covering this exposed area, and because of his cast & immobility, there was nothing he could do about it.
I walked straight over to him and just sat down. I wanted to comfort this sweet boy. I wasn't trying to smile or tickle or cheer him up. I just wanted to be present and share peace. As I sat there, I noticed little tears just kept pouring out of his eyes. He wasn't making any noise, other than some sporadic, quiet whimpers. Yet tears just kept falling from his little face. He had a dirty towel that he used to wipe away his tears. It broke my heart.

Over the course of the week, I made sure to visit this boy regularly. I learned that his mother had come with him and was also staying at the orphanage (a joyous gift in an otherwise horrible situation). She cared for him & loved him-- I could see it in her eyes! And he was in LOVE with her. She was his joy when it surfaced. Time was also crucial to seeing this boy improve. By the end of my stay, he was smiling, giggling, and engaging with others. Love was nursing him back. The love of Christ, demonstrated in all the staff & visitors, the love of Christ seen in his mother's care for him. Christ is seeing him through.
Pray for this boy... Lunech (sp?) is his name. They ran xrays and found that his femur was broken- and although casted, not surgical repaired correctly. He will have uneven legs and a limp. His amputation wound was healing nicely and they removed his bandage on my final day. Pray for his healing. Pray for his comfort. Pray for Christ to reveal Himself to this little boy. May Christ be His peace in such a traumatic season of his young life.

If You Tell Stories, You'll Kill Your Mom & Dad

2010-02-09T15:17:00.002-06:00

On my last morning in Haiti, I joined a group of 6-9 yr old boys sitting in a circle on the grass talking. When I walked up, I saw that 4 of the boys had name tags (a sign they were some of the newly resettled orphans from Port au Prince), and 1 boy without (meaning he was a "native" of the orphanage-- and spoke English). I sat down and smiled, just wanted to be present with them.

The native boy tried to tell me what they were talking about. He said, "This boy says that if you tell a story in the morning, your mom and your dad will die. Is that true?" I furrowed my brow and said no-- absolutely that's not true-- you can tell stories all day long and no one will die because of it. The boy replied, "That's what I told him, but he doesn't believe me."

I thought for a bit and realized this little boy-- newly orphaned-- was full of guilt. He thought he killed his parents. I asked the native boy to translate:
...ask him if his parents died in the earthquake. ...Yes, they did.
...Ask him if he told a story to them before that happened. ...Yes, that morning he told them a funny story and they laughed and made fun of him.
...Ask him if it was a true story or a lie. ...It was a true story, they just thought it was funny.
...Ask him if he thinks he killed his parents. ... Yes.

In our broken translation (with a 9 yr old translator) I tried to reassure this precious little boy that it wasn't his fault. That earthquakes happen, hurricanes happen, people die. That his story telling had nothing to do with it. In the end, he said he "believed me"... but he vowed never to tell another story "just in case".

Haiti Here I Come

2010-01-31T20:32:00.003-06:00

I am headed out in the morning for Haiti. There is a team that has been there for the past week from Visiting Orphans (the same org I'm traveling with). They've welcomed tons of new kids and shared some amazing stories!

* One little girl who arrived by flight to the orphanage from PAP in a full body cast with all the care instructions and removal instructions written on the cast! And the words: God loves you.

* One little one boy with a broken femur, also in a full body cast, but upon Xraying him our team saw that his broken bone was never set!

* One of the team members was hit by a speeding motorcycle and survived with just a few scrapes & bruises!

I won't be online while I'm out there. But will return with plenty of good stories for yall. I collected 100 pounds worth of medical supplies and clothes to take down for the kids. A big thanks to everyone who donated just from watching my Facebook posts. I'm not taking a camera-- no room-- so if someone else gets pictures I'll post those too.

PRAYERS for the kids would be appreciated! I'm sure they are still in shock, scared, out of sorts, possibly in pain (if recovering from injuries), and (if newly orphaned) sad. They are transitioning to a new city, a new living space, new friends, new authority figures, new... new... new. So, keep praying for their sweet little hearts to adjust well and to feel the comfort of our GREAT COMFORTER, Jesus Christ.

Team in Haiti Before Me

2010-01-28T23:21:00.003-06:00

Just wanted to let any of you know-- those who are following my trip to Haiti next week-- that the Executive Director for Visiting Orphans already got down to Haiti. She is posting some great updates on her blog. Today she posted a short video of one of the rescued orphans who'd had her leg amputated. And the girl is smiling, knowing she's being cared for.

If you want to Friend Request her on Facebook, her status' are impactful too. Find Amanda Clark Lawrence.

My Haiti Response

2010-01-26T09:55:00.003-06:00

Well friends, through a strange (and only God-orchestrated) chain of events, I am headed to Haiti on Feb 1st for a week to help resettle orphaned children from Port-au-Prince to a different (existing) orphanage in another part of the country. I know very little about what the story is, except that there was an orphanage in PAP that collapsed during the earthquake and they are moving those children. But additionally, the orphanage director is going around to PAP hospitals and seeing if there are any children who lost their families that need to also find a new home.

I am traveling with Visiting Orphans. I am friends with their Executive Director Amanda (her blog here) and we literally reconnected like last week for the first time in years (God has plans, people!). A lot of people on the team are medically trained, and then there's people like me who's sole job is to just love on those kids, with the love that CHRIST has for them.

I received a "NEEDS LIST" over email today for medical supplies I can bring down (see below). But I also think if I could bring down some NEW underwear (ages 3-16) and some arts/crafts supplies that would help. If you live in Austin and want to deliver any of these things to me before Sunday, email me or comment for my new address. But if you would rather just donate money for supplies to be purchased, you can do that at the Visiting Orphans website (just denote Haiti).

Medical Supplies Needed

- IV Tubing also needed

- Antibiotics (as much as possible)

- Antibiotic Ointment

- Children's Motrin

- Children's Tylenol

- Triaminic Syrup for Cold and Cough

- Automatic Blood Pressure pumps with cuffs for Children and Adults

- Stethoscopes

- Audi-Scopes with disposable covers

- Eye Drops for Conjunctivitis

- Keflex

- Ringworm Medicine

- Scabies Treatment/Ointment

- Anti-fungal cream

- sutur kits

- Epi Pens

- Benadryl

- Disposable Bed Pads

- Disposable Needle Container for used needles

- AccuCheck to check blood sugar levels

- 4 x 4 dressings

- dressings and bandages

- Gauze - sterile, pre-medicated, non-stick

- Medical Tape (basic)

- Butterflies Bandaids

- bandaids

- petroleum dressing

- digital thermometers (10)

- Plastic Gloves (All sizes and Both Sterile and Unsterile)

- IV Tape

- IV Butterflies

- 4-8 IV Stands

- Pediatric Growth Charts

- Pediatric Hospital Gowns

- One Full Pediatric Exam Room Set Up

Intentional Quiet Times

2009-12-28T14:34:00.003-06:00

Check out this insightful/helpful blog post by JR Vassar about planning for intentional "quiet times" in 2010. Staying "in the word" (reading your Bible) and praying daily are keys to perseverance in the faith.

"It Started With A Sewing Machine"

2009-12-09T19:49:00.011-06:00

This summer I stopped in Southern Sudan for a few days to visit my childhood best friend. Her & her husband had started a non-profit called Seed Effect to help fight poverty in this devastated country. They wanted me to come and see the work that had begun... it was truly powerful! God is at work to provide for the poor. Just a few weeks ago, a team visited and shot video footage to portray the story, not just in words, but with visuals. Below is the end result.

It is powerful.

It is a God-inspired endeavor... and God is completing the work.

It is a simple, tangible way to combat poverty in this world.

I beg you, be a part of The Seed Effect and change not just one life, but an entire community!

Seed Effect Gives Their First Loans

2009-11-10T16:43:00.003-06:00

Today 19 lives were changed in Sudan. Through SeedEffect.org, micro-loans are being given out to help Sudanese entrepreneurs start or expand businesses to help provide for their families. Today is a GOOD DAY!

Between the near 20 women who went through the Seed Effect training, they have 40 children whose care they are responsible for. Today, these 20 loans will help feed (both spiritually & physically) 80 mouths. God is GOOD!

Muslims in America

2009-11-07T20:58:00.003-06:00

Today, some friends and I went to tour a local mosque in Austin as part of a class that works to build bridges between Muslims and Christians in America. The Imam that showed us around also prepared an excellent presentation for us about what it's like to be a Muslim. Our mutual hope was to gain greater understanding of our neighbors right here in Austin.

The intro to his presentation was a great music video put together by a Muslim COUNTRY singer! Here is the Youtube version of the video. It gives American Muslims a chance to tell you about themselves (it's similar to the "cardboard stories" video our church did this past spring). Thought yall'd enjoy learning something about the brothers & sisters that also call America "HOME!"

Book Reviews: Summer Reading

2009-10-12T13:37:00.004-05:00

I realize its Oct 12th... but I read so much this summer that I wanted to share/recommend but never got around to posting. So, this was my summer reading list (thru Sept actually, but I think fall just officially got under way)... in short review form:

Crossing Cultures by Patti Lane... I pick this book up our our church's summer Leadership Conference after attending the breakout session Patti taught. She shares from years of insight about how to relate cross-culturally with respect, with humility, with a learner's attitude, and in a way that glorifies Christ. Thumbs up, recommend it!
Wicked by Gregory Maguire... I "read" this via audio-book this summer during lots of road trips. I decided on it after seeing it on the High School Required Reading List and remembering that I'd always meant to read it. I am not really good at picking up on spiritual metaphors, but I LOVED this book and all the hidden meanings and indirect commentary about the spiritual nature of humanity. In fact, loved it so much that I walked out of the play at intercession because I was so disappointed in how they had left out everything I'd love from the book so far. (don't stone me all you Wicked play lovers!) Thumbs up, recommend it (the BOOK that is)!
What is the What by Dave Eggars... I grabbed this book to prepare for my summer trip to Sudan with Seed Effect. I was educated through reading not only about Sudan, the harsh civil war there, and the aftermath, but I also got to read the story of a refugee's journey in the U.S. Refugees are something new(er) on my radar and I've been trying to learn as much as I can about their lives. So, bonus-- learned about Sudan & refugees. Thumbs up, recommend it!
Dreams of My Father by Barak Obama... I figured since he's our president, I probably should hear his story. I read his other book back in the spring which was a lot more about his goals and aspirations for our country's potential. This book was a portrait of his childhood, his make-up, his history (up until going to Law School). He was asked to write it after becoming the first black man to become the head of Harvard's Law Review. Its tone is pre-political and I enjoyed it! Sure, read it.
Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker (see my previous full post review here.)... glowing reviews from me. Super-thumbs-up, everyone should read it!
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali... this was a re-read for me. I had first read Infidel in 2007 and was moved by the descriptions she told about the lives of women in the Muslim World. This time, I re-read the book looking at her story as the memoir of a refugee. She lived as a refugee almost her entire life, from one country to the next. Both in African countries, and the West. Her stories about refugee life alone (regardless of religion) are POWERFUL. I was glad I took the time to change lenses and receive a new kind of heartbreak from this book. Thumbs up, recommend it!
Outcasts United by Warren St. John... I picked this book to help my refugee education too. Its the story of a women in a small town outside of Atlanta who started a soccer team for refugee youth. They are discriminated against, persecuted, mistrusted, and mistreated. Its a sad story, but has some hope as they overcome those obstacles. Apparently its being turned into a movie. Sub-par writing, if you ask me, but the story itself makes for your motivation to keep reading. Sure, read it.
Tortured in the Name of Islam by Setaareh Shahbazz... Oh my word, this was a tough book to read. Super short, a complete personal essay about a woman who became a follower of Christ in Iran and who was ultimately imprisoned for it. It is her spoken testimony written on paper. Its rough, detailed, sad, and yet inspiring at the same time. To see how she was able to persevere and to witness Christ to her captors was amazing. Warning, she's not a writer, but her story is powerful. Thumbs up, recommend it!
Christians Evangelistic Pocket Guide to Islam by Malcolm Steer... Andy's band and I read this before our trip to Turkey this September as part of our training. It's about 50 pages. Super basic. But super helpful. Boils the top issues down to a simple explanation and a simple response. Sure, read it.
Tangible Kingdom by Hugh Halter and Matt Smay... This was a great follow up book for me after having read Hatmaker's Interrupted in July. It picked up where she left off with what God was doing in my heart about getting more outside my comfort zone and into community and service (outside the 4 walls of the church). Our church is going through the "Tangible Kingdom Primer" as a whole church this fall, so I wanted to read the "prequel" so to speak. Thumbs up, recommend it!
Muslims Next Door by Shirin Taber... I read this short practical book about how Muslims are just about everywhere in the U.S. and we should treat them with love and respect. Taber gives practical steps to help us be educated about this culture, this religion, and how we can be kind and not offensive. Sure, read it.

Nothing I would say "don't waste your time reading". Which means I guess I chose well this summer.

Rise & Shine

2009-09-14T17:16:00.003-05:00

Andy's been writing songs for a new record (which should be out in about 6 months) and he introduced one to our church yesterday: Rise & Shine. Each fall, our church goes through a Vision Series to get everybody on the same page about our call to live on mission in the CITY & for the NATIONS. This Sunday, Matt kicked off the vision series with a challenge to us from Acts 1:8. He asked: What did a 1st century Christian look like? And do we, today, look anything like that? It was convicting and powerful.

Andy thought the message was a good fit to roll out the new song because the idea of it is-- it's time for us Christians to step up and be the hands and feet of Christ. To download a free copy of the song, click here. I am so proud of Andy. This song really resonates with my spirit and where God has me lately. But I also believe it will speak to a whole generation of Christians out there who are feeling the itch to rise & shine! I also recommend you listen to Matt's sermon: Powerful Witness of the Resurrection (click here)-- you will be stirred.

Here's the lyrics to the new song too...

Rise & Shine (by Andy Melvin)
We were once Your enemy
Now displayers of Your mercy
Called from darkness into light
To be the very hands and feet of Christ
So in the Name that saves
Let Your love ignite a flame in us

We've got rise and shine
We've got to rise and shine
The light of the world alive in us
The hope of the world alive in us
We've got to rise and shine

To you repairers of the breach
To you restorers of these broken streets
For every hungry tongue
For all injustice done beneath the sun

We've got to rise and shine
The light of the world alive in us
The hope of the world alive in us
We've got to rise and shine

For the hopeless and the weary
For the broken and the needy
For Your glory, send Your Spirit
And let it rise

VOLUNTEERS Needed for Refugees in Austin

2009-09-05T23:23:00.003-05:00

I met with the director of the Refugee ESL School Program this week and she shared a very dire need for volunteers. The city-wide grant for all Refugee ESL classes is managed by AAIM (Austin Area Interreligious Ministry). They offer FREE ESL classes to all incoming refugees. And in order for a refugee to receive government assistance in the first 4 months they are here, they must be registered for the ESL classes.

In recent months, due to the economy, Texas has been receiving an abnormally high number of incoming refugees (b/c Texas isn't suffering as poorly as other states in terms of jobs). Which has led to a flooding in the classrooms where these refugees are trying to learn English. The classes are overflowing with students and the paid ESL teachers and the childcare staff are in need of some help.

AAIM is looking for VOLUNTEERS for the following:
** classroom teacher aides for 4 different ESL classes
----- 3 classes offered M, Tu, W, Th from 9a-12p at a church downtown
----- 1 class offered Tu, F 6:30-8:30pm at YMCA Lamar/Rundberg
----- you can volunteer to serve in any of the classtimes, just once a week (or every other week)
** childcare helpers for the refugee families (pre-school)
----- they would like to have 2-3 childcare workers for each daytime class, and 1-2 workers for the PM class times
----- childcare workers can have (and bring) 1-2 children of their own if needed.

I currently volunteer as a teacher's aide and have to say it is EASY! The teacher is totally responsible for the classroom... my job is to help her with demonstrations and build relationships with/encourage the students. I also served with the kids this past summer and they are so easy & precious.

Guys-- this is super easy way to serve the international refugee community that is now flooding into Austin, Texas. If you have ever wanted to increase your exposure to the nations (without ever getting on an airplane), this is the perfect way to do it. I have built such sweet relationships with people from Iraq, Burma, Afghanistan, Sudan, Burundi, Congo, Nepal, Thailand, Cuba, etc. I don't speak their languages, but they are trying to learn mine.

PLEASE HELP! If you want to get involved (and you can seriously make it a short commitment if you need to)... email LU at luz @ aaimaustin.org !! Get your friends to do it with you... 14-20 volunteers needed!

Same Me

2009-09-05T12:18:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, Andy & I were looking through my childhood photo album. When he flipped the page to see this picture, he said: "Oh, I know that face!" I laughed, not sure if that was a good thing or bad thing. I can't decide what this face means.

But what I kept thinking on as the day went by was how amazing it is that I have a "look" that has been a part of my personality & person since I was that little. This picture was taken in 1979. I was three at the time. And I was expressing myself in a way that is still congruent with who I am today, 30 years later. How fascinating!

Sudan Event in Austin This Week

2009-08-24T22:28:00.004-05:00

My good friends Missy & Dave are coming to Austin! After my trip to Sudan this summer, Andy and I felt compelled to pitch in and spread awareness about the issues that are affecting the southern part of the country. Both spiritual and physical poverty are everywhere. And Missy & Dave are trying to do something about it. So we invited them to come tell their story to my friends living in Austin.

YOU'RE INVITED, if you live in Austin, to join us THIS THURSDAY (Aug 27) at Mercury Hall at 7pm.

We'd love to have as many people there to hear about what's currently happening in Sudan, and how Seed Effect (Missy & Dave's microfinance company) is working to alleviate poverty while at the same time spreading the gospel!

Andy & I are excited about the work God is doing among the poor in Sudan and we want YOU to have the chance to participate... Don't you want to impact poverty?

Andy's "Nothing Compares" Video

2009-08-22T20:22:00.009-05:00

I am so proud of my sweet husband, Andy Melvin... He has given his life to the service of the Church by using his talents as a musician & songwriter to lead believers in worship through song! This is a video of one of the church services at Austin Stone Community Church this summer. The song is one of Andy's originals off his most recent album, The Human Engine Waits (available on itunes). This video captures our church body in praise as we corporately sing "Nothing Compares."

Here are the lyrics...

Forgive me Lord when I rely
On anything else but Your life in mine
All the vain things I held so high
I count it as loss

Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You
Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You
And it keeps drawing me in
And it's stirring my soul to know You more

Forgetting what lies behind
I'm reaching for the prize
The upward call of Christ
I'm reaching for You

Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You
Nothing compares to the greatness of knowing You
And it keeps drawing me in
And it's stirring my soul to know You more

Cause You're my hope, You're my goal
You're all I'm striving for
You're my strength and my peace
You're everything I need
Nothing compares to You

Feel free to put the video up on your blog, or Facebook, etc... you can get the embed-code off youtube.com or vimeo.com.

Want to Pray for Muslims?

2009-08-21T11:53:00.002-05:00

Today begins an important month in the lives of Muslims around the world... today is the first day of Ramadan, the month-long fast that is one of the major traditions of Islam. From sunrise to sunset for about 30 days Muslims abstain from food, drink (even water), smoking, and sex. They do this to remember the month that Mohammad received his revelations that eventually became the Quran. Austin Stone's Make Disciples blog has posted a few updates that help explain Ramadan if you are interested in more info.

Each year, there is an organization that puts out a little prayer booklet that serves as a guide for Christians to pray for Muslims during this critical period of their year. This is website... http://www.30-days.net/ . I ordered about 50 of the booklets to be able to give out to my friends who are interested in joining me on this journey of prayer for Muslims... Do you want one? Let me know and I'll get it to ya! Its really great because it helps me have some guidance and focus for my prayers for Muslims... PLUS I get to keep the book and use it year round too.

Iraqi Refugees Find Adjusting Hard In The U.S.

2009-08-13T13:14:00.004-05:00

Of the refugee population being resettled here in the United States, right now about 30% are from Iraq. Most of those being granted refugee status were Iraqis that had helped the U.S. armed forces as translators, engineers, doctors, etc. Their fellow countrymen felt that these people betrayed their country by helping the U.S. and so they face harsh persecution and sometimes even death.

On the one hand, I am grateful that our government is granting asylum and refugee status to these individuals that are now targeted for attack because they helped us out. But on the other hand, when these refugees arrive in the U.S. they are coming to terms with a much more difficult life than they imagined. Most of their higher education and skills do not transfer, they are living off ridiculously small government aide (for 4 months, and then they're on their own), and they are living in the most poor conditions America has to offer... on top of which they are isolated by language barriers and prejudices. True, their lives ARE safer here, but their quality of life is certainly disappointing.

Today, the New York Times ran an article about this situation that was really good. It gives an insiders look at their transition and the emotional and physical difficulties they must endure. Here is the first 3 paragraphs:

"Not long after the Iraq war began in 2003, Uday Hattem al-Ghanimi was accosted by several men outside the American military base where he managed a convenience store. They accused him of abetting the Americans, and one fired a pistol at his head.

Now, after 24 operations, Mr. Ghanimi has a reconstructed face as well as political asylum in the United States. On July 4, his wife and three youngest children joined him in New York after a three-year separation.

But the euphoria of their reunion quickly dissipated as the family began to reckon with the colder realities of their new life. Mr. Ghanimi, 50, who has not been able to work because of lingering pain, is supporting his family on a monthly disability check of $761, food stamps and handouts from friends. They are crammed into one room they rent in a two-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, in a city whose small Iraqi population is scattered. And Mr. Ghanimi’s wife and children do not speak English, deepening their sense of isolation."

(click here to keep reading)

The article continues with several other people's stories and some very interesting journalistic facts about the situation. I highly recommend you read it.

Turkey T-shirts For Sale!

2009-08-04T21:27:00.005-05:00

Andy & the band are going to Turkey in September... and to help raise money to cover costs, we are selling T-SHIRTS! The text says "God loves Türkiye" (which is the Turkish spelling of Turkey) and the crescent & star above the wording is from their flag. The design is printed on American Apparel shirts. Cost is $20 each.
If you are interested in buying a T-shirt, shoot me an email a t x a n n a @ g m a i l . c o m with the following info:

QUANTITY:
COLOR: (red or black)
SIZE:

Orders need to be received by MONDAY, August 10th.

Famous People Who Were Once Refugees

2009-08-01T10:58:00.002-05:00

Did you know that Albert Einstein, Madeleine Albright, Chopin, and Victor Hugo (author of "Les Misérables") all used to be refugees?

To read/learn more, click here for 136 vignettes of refugees that have made a difference in the world.

News8Austin Covers Refugee Story

2009-07-25T21:18:00.002-05:00

Here is a news story about Refugees in Austin from News8Austin. And if you click on and watch the video of the story, you can see me in the background working with the kids (I'm wearing a green T shirt).

Refugee Kids Field Trip

2009-07-25T13:51:00.003-05:00

This past week I volunteered with AAIM at their annual Refugee Youth Day-Camp. This program is designed to help refugee kids, aged 5-17, prepare for school. Many of the kids land in Austin for the first time over the summer and so we wanna give them a little advanced preview of what school (and learning in English is like).

This week, I got to meet children from Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, Burma, Nepal, Iraq and Guatemala. Each child had his own special culture that they were so proud of, and yet they all had an eager curiosity to learn about their new home, Austin, Texas. Many of these kids have experienced some pretty rough things in their young lives, but they are slowly healing and starting over. Many don't know English, many are new school.

These kids will have to work hard to adjust. And learning will be exhausting for them ("My brain is soooo tired" and "My brain is spinning with words" were two comments I heard this week). But I hope they succeed. I hope this Day-Camp was encouraging for them... making them feel like they CAN learn, they WILL learn.

During the Day-Camp, we simulated school learning centers for 3 days, and then we celebrate at the end of the week by taking a field trip together. This week we walked to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. The kids learned fun facts about their new home state... and we watched a 15 minute documentary at the Texas Spirit Theater. I think the kids were definitely overwhelmed, but loved learning about Texas at the same time!

A boy from Afghanistan sat next to me at the movie and whispered, "I've never seen a movie in the theater before... they didn't have theaters where I am from." All the kids were so precious! They stole my heart!

Book Review: Interrupted

2009-07-23T17:17:00.007-05:00

My favorite piece of summer reading so far has been Jen Hatmaker's latest book, "Interrupted." It's Jen's personal account of how God shook up her & her husband's faith and started steering them to interact with & befriend "the lost, the least, and the last" in this broken world.

They've been church-going people since they were kids & vocational ministers their entire adult careers... yet in 2007 they couldn't shake the lingering question inside their heads "God, isn't there more?" She prayed and asked "God, raise up in me a holy passion." And God responded.

"Interrupted" puts words to an inner angst that has gnawed at my insides for almost 2 years now. I have been a Christian just long enough to have gotten a good hold of the "routines" of American Christian life-- I go to church weekly, pray & read the Bible almost daily... I have attended plenty of "Bible Studies" and classes on what we think, I've studied theology, I've read a billion Christian books-- I have learned plenty (that is NOT to say I know it all, or even anywhere close to it). But at the end of the day, what was I doing with any of it? Mostly just talking to other church people about it.

I feel sometimes like we are all just "playing church", and that can be a suffocating place at times (just being honest) because... well, here's the way Jen put it: "Why did I spend all my time blessing blessed people who should be on the giving side of the equation by now?" (p. 21) Answer: because its safe and because its comfortable.

Joey Shaw charged a group of us one time with the parable of the shepherd who went in search of the one lost sheep-- he left 99 other sheep behind to go and pursue the 1. Joey reminded us that we like to stay with the 99 because that's easy, its comfortable, its safe.

But if we want to act like Jesus, we go out from the flock, in search of the lost, the least, the last.

I am hungry. Hungry to serve outside the four walls of the church. In Austin. My city is full of poor people, hurting people, hungry people, beaten-down and broken people. Do I know any of them? Do I spend time with them? Do I know their stories? Have I listened and loved well? How much of my life (my time, my energy, my money, my sleep, my home, etc) have I sacrificed in order to love them well?

I am increasingly wondering... not just "have they HEARD about Jesus?" but "have they SEEN & EXPERIENCED Jesus through MY interactions with them?"

This book will challenge you to live beyond Christian comfort and mediocrity. It will tempt you to be crazy enough to actually DO things Jesus talks about in the Bible.

Dogs (Water) Fetching

2009-07-15T21:37:00.009-05:00

These are from last summer but we couldn't figure out how to post em until now.

Lady jumping in the water with a running start.

Lady showing off her long jump skills!

Lucky copies Lady, but he doesn't have her hops.

Lucky & Lady's teamwork bringing in the ball.

(not pictured, Applejack- who isn't a fan of the water or teamwork.)

3 Short Videos from Ethiopia

2009-07-14T17:49:00.006-05:00

Here's a video of the waitress serving our dinner the first night in country (Injera & Wot):

Here is a video from a Cultural Dinner Show we attended where they performed local & traditional dances. Using their shoulders is the most common dance move:

Here is a video from the church service we attending while in Ethiopia at Beza International Church (this is from the worship time):

Ethiopia in Pictures

2009-07-14T16:13:00.009-05:00

A photo-blog post of my travels in Ethiopia...

Melissa, Shara, and Camilla evaluate (apprehensively) our first night's dinner before digging in: traditional Ethiopian food of Injera & Wot.
The kids at Kids Club showing off their Jesus & Zacchaeus drawings.
These two boys from Kids Club were my little boyfriends.
I spent most of my time at Kids Club with the teens who couldn't decide whether to like me or think I was weird.
Melissa enticing a little girl into her arms for some T.L.C.
During lunch at Kids Club, when I sat too close to these girls they would scoot over (I think they thought I would try to share their food).
Making plates of peanut butter & honey sandwiches, bananas, and fruit punch for Kids Club lunch.
Women from the mountain side who came to the parenting class.
This is an 11 yr old X-prostitute we met at the transitional home for women trying to escape prostitution. (that is not her baby)
At the home for X-prostitutes, some of the women shared their very hard stories with us. Although my effort did not compare, I shared my photo album from home so we could have a sense of knowing each other.
This photo hangs on the wall of the prostitute transitional housing. There are about 15 girls living in the house as they get job skill training to be nurses, hair stylists, computer techs, etc.
The group of women from the prostitution transitional home we visited. They glowed with praise for Jesus for rescuing them from their pasts!
This is Birukti and two of the Street Boys that she sponsors. One night during our trip, we joined her on their weekly dinner date (her and about 20 Street Boys that she cares for go out to dinner once a week-- she treats them to a feast!).
The boys crowd around some of the women on our team for a group picture at the end of dinner. At first they were unsure of us but by the end we were all buddies.
Because many of the Street Boys didn't speak English, we got creative in order to bond with them... above: Shara plays "thumb wars." And below: I played the "sneaky slap" game.

The team leader for the weaving project shows me a bag of the days work, lots of spun cotton.
The ladies here are spinning cotton in order to make fabric. A "small group" from the church we worked with had the idea to create this job opportunity for the women who otherwise would haul 85 pounds of timber down from the mountains on their backs.
One woman tried to teach me how to spin the yarn. I was terrible at it, but she enjoyed laughing at me.
This is a photo of one what the yarn-spinning-women used to do. It would take all day to gather the wood and walk it down the mountainside, for 50 CENTS a day.
When we visited homes on the mountainside, we met some of the children of those with HIV/AIDS.
This is the doorway into a small 10 home "compound" community on the mountainside, which HIV/AIDS families live and grow small crops of food to eat.
Inside the "compound" doorway, there are 3 buildings like this, with several one-room homes in each building. This is 3 different families' front doors.
These are 2 ladies whose homes we visited on the mountainside. On the left is a married woman who's husband is in his final weeks (she too is infected). On the right is a 23 yr old widow who also lost her child (all to the same disease she also has).

This is a sample of traditional Ethiopian food.

Ethiopia Invented Coffee

2009-07-14T15:58:00.004-05:00

Ethiopians say that coffee was invented in their country. They are proud of coffee and brew it strong! Here is the process of making Ethiopian coffee (backwards, sorry the pics uploaded in reverse order). And fun fact: they serve fresh popcorn with their coffee.
After boiling the water & grinds they pour them into your cup. Then, as an American, you might fill at least half your cup with milk to cut the PUNCH Ethiopian coffee has.
Once you grind up the coffee beans, you add them to a pot of water and boil it.
After you roast the coffee beans, you them grind up by hand. They hold these sticks and smash them into the little wooden pot until the beans are just powder.
Once you pick the coffee beans from the tree, you roast them over a hot flame until they turn from light to dark brown.
This is a coffee tree. The red & yellow berries are the "beans". When they turn red they're ready to be picked and cooked.

Sudan in Pictures

2009-07-14T14:44:00.010-05:00

A photo-blog from my trip to Southern Sudan for all you who think I am too wordy! :)
This is the border between Southern Sudan and Uganda. I had to go into the "immigration office" (4ft x 4ft room) to register my entry.
This man is a tailor in Kajo Keji. He hopes to apply for one of the small biz loans so that he can pay to be trained on a machine he already owns that makes patterned sweaters (like on the magazine covers).
This is one of the local brewers and her child. She hopes to get trained in another trade because she doesn't like the alcoholism that results from her biz. But for now, it's the only way she can make the money she needs to pay for her kids' school fees.
All the full time workers in Sudan this summer. Missy is working on the micro-loan biz & starting the internet cafe. John is starting a Sudanese "Celebrate Recovery." Will is digging wells. Heather is Missy & Dave's full time worker on the ground (the liason between the American side of the biz and the Sudanese side of the biz). Holly is working with the local women's minister and helping John with the women who attend Celebrate Recovery.
This is Cecilia. She makes soap. She hopes to get a micro-loan to buy a bicycle so she can make more deliveries to buyers in the village (right now she mostly walks door to door).
Some children ran to the road to greet us as we walked the village.
A UN Refugee Camp just north of the Sudanese-Ugandan border. When we drove by I could see them sorting bags of grain in a giant warehouse.
This is the UNHCR tents that are given to those repatriating back to Sudan from the refugee camps. When the refugees return home, they are given a tent and a bag of grain to help get them back on their feet.
While walking the village one day, I got to meet one of the Chiefs. I asked his name, but he said to just call him "Chief."
This is Rose, the women's minister. She travels through Kajo Keji and all the neighboring towns & villages on this motorbike meeting in the homes of all the women to pray with them & do Bible studies together.
When you walk from one home to another, you have to stay on the worn paths because they haven't finished clearing the fields of landmines.
The roads are still littered with gun shell casings from the war.
This is an example of an uncleared landmine. The people mark them with red sticks so that you know not to step there.
This is the family who's house I stayed at in Sudan. Gloria & her two children Tommy (girl), and Mike (boy). Her husband Kaya is on staff with e3 Partners.
These are typical homes in the area I was in. Called tookals (i made up the spelling).
This is the first class of tailors in the Vocational School. They are being trained for several months in how to sew and then hope to get micro-loans to start their own sewing businesses.
This is the sewing sample poster on the wall of the vocational school classroom.
These are the sewing machines in the vocational school classroom.
This is the local market in Kajo Keji, where Missy & Dave hope to meet future clients who need micro-loans to better their small businesses.
This was the market diagram that Missy made as she mapped out the various sellers and what they sell (market research).
Missy & Heather & Kenneth interview a candidate for the Internet Cafe Manager position. They hired him!
Missy checks the final product of the electrician installing the wiring at the internet cafe (which will all be run off of solar panels and generators-- no electrical grid in Kajo Keji).
Missy meeting with the carpenter who was contracted to make the desks/tables for the Internet Cafe.
Missy gets measurements for glass to finish the windows to the Micro-Loan Office.
Missy buying the paint for the Internet Cafe & Micro-Loan Office.
This is Kenneth. He is the Director of Micro-Finance for Missy & Dave in Sudan.
Here is the building that houses the Vocational School, the Internet Cafe, and the Micro-Loan Office. You can see the solar panels atop the roof, and the satelitte dish where we'll get internet from.

"Small Groups" Impact Ethiopia

2009-07-13T15:44:00.010-05:00

(pictured above, our team visits the home of a young HIV widow living on the mountain.)

On my recent trip to Ethiopia, our team got to partner with a church in the capital that is really getting things done. Not because they have these big outreach "programs" or church wide service "projects". They are reaching their city because the people, the everyday believers in their church body, are living out their faith to those in their city that are hurting, hungry, sick, unemployed, and homeless by building relationships and serving them with love.

Our team visited several different "small groups**" from this church, and each one had a different heart and different vision to serve a segment of the local population (usually unchurched people).

One "small group" we worked with told us how they heard about a group of people, infected with HIV/AIDS, that move to a mountain outside the city because of rumors there is healing water there. Many of those infected with the disease become outcasts in their families and villages, they lose their jobs along with their ability to provide for their own needs, so moving to the mountain seems like their only choice. When they move, they are not only hoping to be cured, they also just seek to disappear, believing what society tells them: they are unworthy of love, care, or help.

(pictured above, our team visited homes of several HIV/AIDS sufferers up on the mountain to hear their stories and pray with them.)

When the "small group" heard about these people, numbering around 4,000 at the time, they began to pray-- asking God how do you want us to help them? For a year all this "small group" did was pray, research the needs and situations of the people on the mountain, and BUILD RELATIONSHIPS with them. Every person in their group would go to the mountain top a few times and week and just meet the people, spend time in their homes, bring them a decent meal, listen to their stories, and love them. During that year, the "small group" even held a feast on the mountain top, where they cooked for several hundred people.

After a year of knowing and understanding those they sought to love, this "small group" banded together to try to create sustainable, tangible ways to impact and better these peoples' lives. First they started a small business in order to employ those adults battling the disease. Many of the people infected with HIV/AIDS are refused work or are too sick to keep regular jobs. So the "small group" started a jewelry making business to provide work for the HIV/AIDS friends they had made. They give each person two 3-hr shifts a week and pay them several times the average wage in the city. The "small group" taught them how to make the jewelry, they provide the supplies, and they sell the finished products at NGO bazaars, local churches and to international teams that come through the city. This is a job they can do while they are weak or strong.

(pictured above, our team visited some of the jewelry makers hard at work.)

As they started the business, they decided to rent a small house on the road to the mountain top to make it easier for the sick people to get to work. This home quickly became not only a place for their job, but also a safe place to come and hang out. Like a small community center.

Once they started this new jewelry making business, the "small group" noticed many of the people brought their kids with them to work. And the kids would just sit around. So they decided to start helping the kids too. Now, every Saturday, they hold a Kids Club where they teach music, art, sports, and English (using the Bible and Bible stories). Plus they feed the kids a healthy meal while they're there.

(pictured above, Shara & Melissa from our team taught a lesson from the Bible about Zacchaeus & Jesus to the Kids Club.)

(pictured above, Birukti & Melissa join the kids in a game of jump rope during the sports class.)

With the Kids Club underway, then the "small group" started noticing that the parents would come with the kids on Saturdays and just sit around. So they started teaching a class for the parents during the same time-- different topics each week like health classes, parenting skills, computer skills, English, and a ton of other stuff.

(pictured above, a nurse from our team taught the parents' class health tips for HIV/AIDS sufferers.)

While we were in Ethiopia, the "small group" was gearing up to implement their latest idea to serve the HIV/AIDS population on the mountain. They are starting a library where adults, kids, or families can come and check out books to practice reading and learning English.

All of this started from one "small group"-- literally a few dozen believers who knew each other from church. They are sacrificing their own money, they are spending their own time, they are using their own ideas, they are investing PERSONALLY in the lives of those they want to serve. They are not waiting for the Big Church to help, they are simply being intentional themselves. They are meeting the needs of this HIV/AIDS community together, as a band of believers who love the suffering people in their town.

It was really neat to witness and really inspiring when I think about the "small groups" in my own church. I hope we are as visionary, bold, willing, and intentional as the pockets of believers I met in Ethiopia!

** There are so many buzz words for what Stone calls "missional communities"-- like small groups, community groups, home care groups, cell groups, home groups, core groups, etc.-- but for this post, I'll just call em "small groups". What I mean by that is a group of 10-30 Christians from the church that meet together weekly, outside of a Sunday church service, to share prayer, encouragement, service, Bible, etc.

My In-Laws

2009-07-12T22:37:00.003-05:00

Here are Joe & Kay singing karaoke at their 4th of July party in Houston. These are my in-laws... Andy's blood. I LOVE this picture of them because it just captures their charisma so well! Here's a short-list of things they are famous for:

wearing matching outfits everyday (every.)
karaoke (they own their own K.J. business called Lone Star Karaoke and gig several nights a week; they also have a permanent system set up in the family living room for whenever the itch arises.)
character (they are full of energy and always keep things interesting, full of great stories)
love of their kids (they SERIOUSLY love their 4 kids! And you can see a bit of that from their generous memorials to every child in photos on the wall.)

To drive home just how unique and awesome they are, here's also a short list (I promise this is just a sampling!) of hobbies or extra jobs they've held over the years:

trail ride captains for the Sam Houston Rodeo
exotic bird pet shop owners
square dance caller & square dance queen
300 game bowlers
disco fever partiers
hosts of their own rodeo at Circle M Ranch (their home)
piano player & choir singer
daytime court TV stars
band booster club presidents
cell phone tower pimps
Lake Conroe sailboaters
early '80s home satellite dish entrepreneurs

Just wanted you all to meet them... in the web-world sort of way. :)

Sudan was R-A-W

2009-07-09T17:14:00.007-05:00

The best word I can think of to describe my trip to Sudan is R-A-W. The kind of raw that is the result of a deep and ugly wound. Not a fresh wound, but one that has been healing already for a long while. When you look at it, you can still tell how gruesome the original injury was (and you can tell it will leave a nasty scar) but you can also see that eventually the wound itself will heal. That was my experience of Sudan.

Everyone I met had been hurt (if not physically, then emotionally). And everyone was healing. I saw a town full of survivors who are just focused on putting one foot in front of the other, one day at a time.
The overall mood of the town where I visited wasn't dark. Even though the peoples' lives have been chaos after chaos for years. There was at least an air of tangible hope present. Life was hard, but they were still fighting to live. Their prospects were minimal, but they were doing their best. They still loved and cared for each other. They were still trying to better their lives.

The land itself was beautiful, rich red dirt and vibrant green grasses & trees. The skies were as big as Montana, beaming both sunlight and pregnant clouds. The houses were simple, mostly mudbrick, one-room dwellings with thatched roofs. Some people had enough money to build a small concrete house while others were still living in pitched tents given to them by the UN.

But the people were the prize of Sudan. Beautiful black skin, giant smiles, skinny but strong and both shy & friendly. Out of a small town of a few thousand, I only met a few dozen. I listened to their stories and heard about their dreams. Understanding where they have come from, the things they have endured throughout the war, throughout hunger, throughout tragedy, throughout poverty... I felt I understood just how desperate the need was for tangible help there. I saw first hand how important the work is that my friends Missy & Dave are doing there.
This is an entire community struggling to start over. With almost nothing. They just need a loving hand to reach out and help them lift themselves up. Physically. Emotionally.

I thank God there is a church presence in the town. Even in the short time I was there, I witnessed people with spiritual needs and emotional needs just show up at the church steps and ask for someone to talk to. Praise God there are believers there to share the burdens and love the people. Sudanese to Sudanese.

And I thank God that the vision was placed in the hearts of Dave & Missy to do more than just share the gospel and then leave without addressing the physical needs of the people. They want to do both. And both are desperately needed.

Sudan was incredibly valuable for me to experience with my own two eyes. I needed to hug the people, look into their eyes, smile, make them feel heard, and loved...

Simple Ways to Live On Mission

2009-07-08T12:39:00.002-05:00

Check out this short article from our church's "Missional Communities Blog" called EIGHT WAYS TO EASILY BE MISSIONAL.

Africa in the Rear View Mirror

2009-07-07T22:19:00.006-05:00

I have been home a week now from my time in Africa. I am fighting a nasty and uncomfortable intestinal parasite and avoiding any internet research that will only make me even more uncomfortable. And last night, all I could think to say between my sighs of discomfort was "Jesus is worth it!"

That's not a conditioned Christian response, it's just genuinely what my response was. From my gut, literally. For 2 weeks I traveled through Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia to investigate on my own what crazy things Jesus is up to in that part of the world. Let me tell you, HE IS PRESENT...

He is present in the pain,
in the poverty,
in the healing,
in the community,
in the heartbreak,
in the sickness,
in the church,
in the hunger,
in the orphanages,
in the widow's home,
in the recovery of alcoholics,
in the life of Birukti,
in the X-prostitutes' eyes,
in the mosque (trust me, He's THERE...),
in the homecomings of refugees...
JESUS IS PRESENT!

Whether we know about it over here in America, whether we participate in it (from home or while abroad), whether we ever believe it is even possible... Jesus is CONSTANTLY transforming broken lives in these countries. Jesus is hard at work moving, engaging, stirring, and above all LOVING the people in this corner of the world. As a witness, I testify that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever... a surrendered servant who loves the "least of these".

How to Share the Gospel

2009-05-21T11:57:00.002-05:00

My friend Ronnie preached at church on Sunday. To hear his sermon titled "Speak the Gospel", click HERE. But afterward, he posted an article about practical tips for how to share the gospel. I copied it below, but if you wanna read it on its original blog, click HERE.

Following up on Sunday’s sermon I thought it would be helpful to write an article providing practical ways to share the gospel. We preachers spend a lot of time conveying the need to share the gospel, but we don’t always give listeners the tools to get started. Sharing the gospel does not need to be as intimidating as we make it out to be. Being someone who consistently shares the gospel does not mean we run around our workplaces heralding “turn or burn.” I hope to lay out a blue print here that will help you strategize and implement regular gospel sharing in your everyday life in a natural and seamless way.

Before we get into the “how to” of evangelism I want to stress that in order to be an evangelist in your sphere of influence, you must be intentional. I think sometimes we have romantic notions of people coming to us, falling on their face, crying for us to tell them the path of salvation, but we must remember that Christ told us to “go”, not to wait. So it is imperative that we set our hearts to do fulfill the mission that Christ has called us to. If you don’t think it’s necessary to share the gospel, forget about reading this article; read your Bible instead. But if you have a heart to see more worshipers of Christ in your places of influence, read on and think deeply about how these steps would look in your life today. I would highly encourage you to read this with pen and paper in hand, following along with these steps as we go. That way, at the end you will be all ready to hit the ground running.

Step 1: Identify the top 4 topics that come up in regular everyday conversation

This is not the time to over-spiritualize. For most of us we will have answers that look like work, family, school, types of leisure, hobbies, health, politics, relationships, TV, movies, etc. These are the things that in everyday conversation, we will talk about 99% of the time with the people we encounter. Think about those “shooting the breeze” type conversations you have with people everyday at work, your neighborhood, or on the bus. What are the topics that are normally brought up? Probably something of the types listed above. The four things that I have the most conversations about would be family, work, sports, and health.

Step 2: Divide those 4 things into smaller parts

This sounds more difficult than it really is so let me use myself as an example. Here’s how I would divide my top 4 things:

Family: Wife, children (if I had any), where I grew up, where I live now
Work: (Keep in mind I work at a church) Teaching, meetings, leadership development. When you think about it for yourself, think about those work things that regularly come up in conversation; things like clients, sales, profit, ethics, whatever work topics you discuss most.
Sports: hockey, tennis, and basketball (these are the sports I talk the most about)
Health: Working out, eating right (When I have health conversations, those two are all I got)

99% of all the conversations I have on a daily basis, whether it is with strangers, acquaintances, friends, or coworkers, involve these things to some degree.

Step 3: Pick one of the major topics you listed in step 2 and practice connecting its smaller parts to the gospel.

Again, for the sake of clarity I will use myself as an example. This is where the rubber meets the road. You’ll need to think deeply about these issues. The question you need to ask yourself is how can I connect those everyday things in my life to a gospel conversation? Think about it: if we are Christians, then every single thing in our life should relate to Christ and the gospel in some way, and our goal is to think about what that connection is, then speak it. I will use my family topic to illustrate this step. Also keep in mind there could be a myriad of transitions from each of these topics so I am just including a couple for examples.

Wife

“Yeah, my wife and I argue a lot too. Sometimes it’s really hard to get past it and let things know, but when I consider that Christ’s love for me is limitless even though I offend Him every day, it seems ridiculous that I would hold a grudge against my wife.”

Children

“It wasn’t until I had children that I fully realized the love that God has for me. Because of what Christ did for me on the cross, the Bible says that I am really a child of God and all of those feelings I have towards my children, God has towards me in even greater degree. That’s amazing!

Where I grew up

“I grew up in Detroit, MI. It’s as bad as everyone thinks. The poverty there was horrendous. When I think of the people there with no hope, very little government assistance, forgotten in a lot of ways, it’s unbelievable to think that that is a perfect physical picture of what my life was like before I came to know Jesus.”

Where I live now

“I live in south Austin, near I-35 and Slaughter. The best thing about that place is Southpark Meadows shopping center which is the largest retail area in Austin. I love to go to the Borders there and sit and read on my day off.” (This is where many will ask what you like to read) “I’ll go there and spend some time reading my Bible or some other theological book that talk about how great God is and how beautiful Christ is.”

Practice, practice, practice

Invite a Christian friend, roommate, or spouse to have mock conversations with you about the things you listed above, then practice making transitions to the gospel. There are a host of transitions from a variety of angles so get creative. This does take practice, but it will definitely give you confidence and show you how easy it is to make simple gospel-centered statements in everyday conversations.

Step 4: Next time it comes up in real conversation, make the connection!

Realistically speaking, if you do not make a mental note to make these connections, you will probably squander the opportunity. A couple of things to keep in mind here: first, BE INTENTIONAL! If you do not set your mind and heart to share the gospel then it will just fall by the wayside. Pick a couple specific people each day, pray for God to allow you a conversation, and then make the commitment to speak the gospel into their lives. Secondly, we must remember that Jesus is an offense to a lot of people. It would be misleading for me to convey that you won’t have any awkward conversations. To some we will be the aroma of death and to some we will be the aroma of life (2 Cor. 2:15-16) and which means it is important to remember that not everyone will be receptive and accommodating to the truth of Christ. But be intentional and let God do what He desires to do.

Finally, chances are in the beginning you will be much more timid and apprehensive about making the gospel transitions. Don’t get down on yourself, pray for more boldness, and live another day. God will always be faithful to provide us with opportunities.

Step 5: Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the rest of the topics you listed

Simple as that. Think about it: if you are faithful to complete these steps, you will have a gospel presenting arsenal that targets every single one of your daily conversations! I do not want to imply that speaking the gospel is as easy as falling off a log, but it can be much simpler than we make it out to be. God is the one who saves yet we must be intentional to speak the gospel saving truth to those around us; now go out there and make disciples!

Rich People Should ENGAGE the Poor (and if you live in America, you are "rich")

2009-05-18T10:39:00.005-05:00

I read this post on a friend's blog this morning. She currently lives in Thailand and always has interesting stories and photos from life on the opposite side of the world. Today, she was preachin' it and I was lovin' it! Read below or click here for the post on her blog.
In bangkok recently i was having dinner with a friend working with the poor and oppressed. we got to talking about our distaste for american materialism and how it distances americans from the world at large. at a certain point, doesn't it seem like the stuff we buy becomes almost unethical? let's face it, the american dream is unbiblical; god does not desire for us to work independently towards comfort and success and retire in our pile of stuff. non-christians get this too. the stuff we accumulate insulates us from the suffering of others and makes the realities of the world- war, death, disease- seem more remote. but where to begin?

it's not that buying a porsche is unethical, but it's tempting to brand it as such when that $80,000 could otherwise provide clean water for thousands of africans. but really, those comparisons are moot. if i buy gum, sure, that money could have gone to the poor, but the gum company employs people, etc. i have friends that completely disavow labels and materialism and try to live as ascetically and humbly as possible. i have other friends that insist they have worked hard for their wealth and they deserve to spend it as they see fit. how do you reconcile the two?

i've struggled with this for years traveling to and from places i've worked in developing countries back to my life amongst wealth and privilege in texas and never really come to a satisfactory answer. all i know is that it doesn't quite sit right with me that there is such a disparity, an injustice, between what i see overseas and what i witness at home. but how do you determine what is just and what is excess? it obviously is not as easy as blame the rich (by the way, if you are reading this from the US, you are the rich). the rich drive economies, provide jobs, fund important social and charitable functions, and i suppose they're people too. and as for the poor it isn't that they are simply "so happy and have so little." i hear this often from people in the states and it's true to a degree, but it makes me want to throw up.

sure, poor people are happy, but they aren't merely happy savages. the poor people i know are often tired, hungry and beaten down and desperately want their kids to be able to go to school and have access to healthcare. yes, people who are poor have the capacity for happiness, but why does this surprise us so much? i think americans confuse happiness with resiliency. the poor can be happy or sad, but most of all they continue on despite hardships because they must.

if you are rich or super rich, or spend or don't spend, what truly matters is that you engage suffering and poverty. are you meaningfully engaged in the reality that life is tortured and difficult for the majority of the world? are you engaged in the fight for social justice? can you empathize with the poor? to be sure there is poverty in america- emotional, spiritual and financial. and i'm not condemning people that don't live as i do, but simply hoping that no matter where anyone is, they are engaging the world around them. i can't say that spending "x" amount of money on a car is a sin or condemn anyone for it, but if you have little regard for others, i'm pretty sure you're going to hell. just kidding. expenses are relative- i get that. as much as i am tempted to vilify american consumerism, i am guilty of it.

but i would encourage anyone, no matter how much they have or how much they deny themselves, to become engaged in their world through knowledge, relationships, donations or volunteerism, be it local or foreign.

the have nots will always blame the haves and the haves will always spend money on unnecessary stuff for their dogs (don't get me started), but so long as the rich are meaningfully engaged in the lives of the poor and have an understanding that they are still connected to the world of human suffering, i suppose they can buy clothes for their dogs. just because you live in america and have a comfortable life does not mean that you're not accountable for the well-being of the poor or that you are too far removed from the oppression, diseases and famines of the world. you are human. you can thank your lucky stars that you were not born a woman in iran or a boy in the congo or anyone in burma. with that gratitude comes something much stronger than noblesse oblige or even guilt: a common humanity.

America's Best/Worst Paying Jobs

2009-05-11T11:39:00.004-05:00

Saw this reported on CNN this morning and thought I'd share it just because its a random list, and I like lists.

Top 5 BEST Paying Jobs in America:

Surgeons ($206,770)
Anesthesiologists ($197,570)
Orthodontists ($194,930)
Obstetrician and gynecologists ($192,780)
Oral and maxillofacial surgeons ($190,420)

Top 5 WORST Paying Jobs in America:

Combined food-preparation and service workers ($17,400)
Cooks, fast food ($17,620)
Dishwashers ($17,750)
Dining room/cafeteria attendants, bartender helpers ($18,140)
Shampooers ($18,300)

And the AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY in America is now $42,270, which is up 3.9% from last year.

CNN cited Forbes.com as their source. You can click the linkt o read the top 25 of both categories.

Book Review: There Is No Me Without You

2009-05-10T22:38:00.004-05:00

Tonight I finished a rough, but awesome, book: "There Is No Me Without You" by Melissa Fay Greene. It is the story of Ethiopia, as told through the lens of the AIDS epidemic, the sharp increase in the resulting orphan population, and how the country-- and specifically one woman-- responds.

This is not an easy or light book to read, but it was penetrating and thought (and emotion) provoking! At times I was so mad and frustrated, disgusted with the blanket failure our world has settled for in the fight against this horrible disease. Other times, I was so moved and hurting for its victims and those who sacrificed everything to love & care for the abandoned, rejected, outcast segment of the country's population.

The author does a great job of sharing statistics, history, and hard, sad facts in an interesting way. She also tells an amazingly human and painful story of a widow who loses her own daughter to AIDS, and ends up (literally) stumbling into a ministry of care for AIDS orphans in her country. It is not a saintly portrayal, but an honest one, which reminded me that God uses the weak & the sinful to accomplish His great purposes.

Finally, in Parts 3 & 4 of the book, the author tells the "continuation" of the story through the lens of adoption. Which was really touching, even though it's not something we feel called to. The author & book have a website that has info on what's become of the Ethiopian Foster Mother, picture slide shows of the children, and information on adoption. Check out www.thereisnomewithoutyou.com

I definately recommend this book if you are interested in reading about obedience to a call, mercy ministry, AIDS/health related crisis', Ethiopia, Africa, or adoption.

UT ESL End of Semester Banquet

2009-05-10T15:10:00.005-05:00

Hilary invited me to join her for her school's end of semester banquet this weekend. It was a nice dinner, a talent show, awards were given, and to wrap up, the students danced! I enjoyed getting to know them the few classes I sat in on. And I loved watching them celebrate with each other their successes from the year. Here are a few pics and a video from the night...

Some of Hilary's undergrad students performed a traditional Arabian dance.

Also represented at the talent show was a Turkish girl who performed a traditional belly-dance.

In this video, students from Hilary's Graduate level class were unified as they danced to a Latin song. Students from Costa Rica, Mexico& Algeria samba together, a Vietnamese student dances with a Libyan classmate's baby, a funny white girl adds her dance skills (ha ha, hilary!), a lanky Korean watches- arms folded, but with a smile--, a Guinean in a suit lets loose!

Thanks for inviting me Hilary!

Habitat for Humanity Egypt Director in Austin

2009-05-06T23:02:00.002-05:00

I want to invite you to help me welcome the National Director of Egypt’s Habitat for Humanity, Yousry Makar. Mr. Makar is in Austin for a short visit and we are gathering anyone interested in learning more about the spiritual climate of Egypt, poverty & development in that country, or about Habitat’s work there to join us on Thursday, May 7th, at 7pm at The Austin Stone’s church offices. We will have a Q&A for Yousry and a short informational presentation, and we hope to encourage Yousry in the work of mercy ministry in Egypt.

Habitat for Humanity—Egypt’s mission is to demonstrate the love of Jesus, practically, by helping families to gain simple, decent, healthy, afforable housing in all parts of Egypt. Last year alone, Habitat built 2,445 homes in 25 different communities across Egypt. Although the cost of an average home built by Habitat for Humanity in the U.S. is $90-100,000, the cost to complete a Habitat home in Egypt averages $1300. Many lives are touched and entire communities are impacted, both economically and spiritually.

The Austin Stone sent a team to Egypt in February 2009 to work with Habitat for Humanity. They built homes in a small village in central Egypt for a week and loved every minute. They spent time with Yousry and are eager to introduce him to more of you from Austin Stone. Here is a blog post from one of the team members describing their time with Habitat.

We encourage you to come and hear more about Habitat this Thursday (May 7th at 7pm at the church office). Bring your family, friends, community group… If you can’t come, pass this along to someone you think might enjoy it. Please RSVP to atxanna@gmail.com so we know how many snacks and drinks to have on hand (but even if you forget to RSVP, you can still come).

300 New Homeless People in Austin Tonight

2009-05-05T00:11:00.010-05:00

Due to the massive apartment fire in St. Johns' neighborhood this afternoon, the Red Cross is reporting there are now 300 people displaced and without shelter. Although the two most common contributing factors to homelessness are (1) poverty and (2) lack of affordable housing, another frequent factor is an incident of emergency. Once a family experiences an unexpected change in their situation, they can go from housed to homeless in an instant. That is what happened today in Austin.

Because so many of you I know will be helping to serve those displaced by this catastrophe, I thought I would share with you all some MYTHS & FACTS about Homelessness in the Austin area*.

MYTH: Those in homeless situations are mostly single adult males.
FACT: Families are the fastest growing population of the homeless. 40% of all those in homeless situations are families. (And, in the U.S. at large, the average homeless person is a 10 year old girl.) Unlike homeless single adult men, homeless families are often invisible to the public eye. Homeless families often live doubled up with friends or family members or in shelters, including domestic violence shelters.

MYTH: Those in homeless situations are "street people."
FACT: Only 18% of those in homeless situations live on the streets. The majority (64%) of those in homeless situations live in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or doubled up with family or friends. 19% live in motels or rooming houses.

MYTH: Those in homeless situations are lazy and won't work.
FACT: 44% of homeless persons did paid work during the last month. Of these, 20% worked in a job lasting or expected to last at least 3 months, 25% worked at a temporary or day-labor job. Most work in minimum-wage, service, or seasonal jobs that do not pay enough to afford housing at the fair-market rate in our community.

MYTH: All those in homeless situations are poorly educated.
FACT: While lack of education and significant job training do contribute to homelessness, a health crisis, or natural disaster (or other disaster like the St. Johns' fire today) does not discriminate based on education. Many of those in homeless situations have a high school, college and even graduate degrees.

MYTH: All those in homeless situations get government assistance.
FACT: Over 40% of homeless persons are eligible for disability, but only 11% actually receive them. Most are eligible for food stamps, but only 37% receive them. Most families are eligible for welfare benefits, but only 52% receive them. Some 12% of children are denied access to school, despite federal laws.

MYTH: There are plenty of shelters to assist the homeless.
FACT: 52% of shelter requests by homeless families are estimated to have been unmet (last updated in 2001).

MYTH: Most people in homeless situations are chronically homeless.
FACT: The transitionally/situationaly homeless account for 40-50% and are homeless for 6 months or less; 70% of all those in homeless situations are homeless for less than 2 years. Others who are considered episodically homeless as they move in and out of homelessness account for 20-30% of those in homeless situations. This leaves less than 20% of all those in homeless situations who are actually chronically homeless.

(This picture is of a little girl who is homeless tonight, after the apartment fire destroyed her home. (via Matt Carter's Twitter)

MYTH: People are homeless because they want to be; they're happy that way, i.e..
FACT: The circumstances of homelessness are anything but happy. Families and children lose their homes, rooms, possessions, neighborhoods, friends, schools, pets, security, identity, self-esteem, and on and on.
-- 38% of those in homeless situations report being robbed
-- 41% of those in homeless situations report theift of their property
-- 22% of those in homeless situations report being assaulted
-- 7% of those in homeless situations report sexual assault
-- 1 of 8 women in homeless situations report being raped
-- 26% of those in homeless situations report infectious conditions
-- 46% of those in homeless situations report chronic health conditions related to their living situation and inability to access adequate healthcare
-- 69% of those in homeless situations report being arrested or harassed merely because of being homeless (i.e. they broke no law)
-- Nearly 100% of those in homeless situations report going hungry a portion fo the time they are homeless.

* From my Caritas Training Manual on Poverty & Homelessness in the Austin Area.

Who would choose these things for their life? Please reach out and help those in need as a result of the fire today. Follow @justinlopez on Twitter to get instructions for how you can volunteer, or check the facebook status' of the Austin Stone staffers, or the Stone website will have posts about it. The Red Cross is also asking for financial donations.

Sign up to volunteer collecting, organizing, and distributing donations at Ebenezer Church here.
Sign up to volunteer at Gus Garcia Rec Center (Spanish speakers / kidcare especially needed) here.

How to Help with the St. John's Fire Aftermath

2009-05-04T22:45:00.001-05:00

If you attend the Stone, you know that we are always seeking ways to serve the St. John’s neighborhood. Today, a four-alarm fire in an apartment complex in that neighborhood has affected many families. These people are greatly in need of many everyday items that have been lost in the fire.

Donations will be accepted for these families from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday at Iglesia Centro Familiar Ebenezer. Directions are available here.

Items that are needed include:

Canned food items
Diapers and wipes
Shampoo
Soap
Tylenol and Children’s Tylenol
Hand sanitizer
Feminine hygiene products
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Baby formula and baby food
Baby bottles
Socks
Underwear (both adult and children’s sizes)
T-shirts (all sizes)
Blankets

If you are able to help, please do so. Thank you.

Egypt's Habitat Director Comes to AUSTIN

2009-05-04T10:32:00.006-05:00

Anyone out there wanna learn about the spiritual climate of Egypt, poverty & development in Egypt, and Habitat for Humanity-EGYPT... from an actual Egyptian man? Well, this week, the national director of Habitat for Humanity in Egypt will be in Austin and you can come to a small presentation/Q&A with him at the Austin Stone church OFFICES on Thursday, May 7th. Click HERE for details.

(That's him in the picture, visiting our team at the Cairo Bookfair.)

Funny Cities Across the Globe

2009-05-03T14:36:00.005-05:00

Andy and I have a map of the world shower curtain liner. It helps us remember to pray that Christ would complete the task of redeeming people from all the nations. But sometimes while I'm in the shower and not praying, then I start scanning over the map looking at all the city names and countries. Today, I've decided to list out some of the more funny names I've come across. Just for fun...

Murmansk, Russia (this one always makes me laugh because I think of Ben Stiller in Zoolander saying "merman, not mermaid... merMAN!")
Flin Flon, Canada (really? Flin Flon)
Porto Alegro, Brazil (in spanish, I think this means Happy Port, even though they don't speak spanish in Brazil)
Gympie, Australia (which I often sing in my head to the tune of the old Hefty Trash Bag commercial tune: gympie, gympie, gympie... hefty, hefty, hefty.)
Perm, Russia (When I read this one I always say to myself "Big Perm", like in the movie Friday, but because it is written in a larger font-- must be a big city. And I think this is a city required hairstyle too)
Dawson Creek, Canada (that's right: there really was an actual Dawson's Creek)
Concepcion, Chile (as in tot)
Archangelsk, Russia (there must have been some spiritual history in that town)
Labrador City, Canada (where i guess the dog orginated from??)
Cork, Ireland (wikipedia says people from this town are called "Corkonians")
Woy Woy, Australia (I've actually BEEN here, it is a small beach town outside Sydney where we had dinner in the home of a famous Aussie musician)
Christchurch, New Zealand (random link provided for further info)
Circle, Alaska (borrrrr-ing!)
Espirito Santo, Brazil (Holy Spirit, Brazil... again in spanish, not portuguese)
and finally, there really is a TIMBUKTU, Mali!