Caution Re-Entry!

Before moving to serve full time in Haiti, Pastor Dave Mann used to meet with mission teams as they were preparing to depart and shared with them a message he titled, "Caution Re-Entry!".  He warned these good hearted servants that while out in the field they would have life altering experiences and when they returned, at the first opportunity, they would want to explode on and share every minute detail with anyone who would inquire about their trip.

"Be prepared, " he would caution, "to give 30 second, 1 minute, 5 minute, or longer responses depending on the engagement of the listener to what you are sharing."

Well...I've just returned from another incredible trip to China and I wonder how I can do anything less than share about each of the precious children that I met at Shepherd's Field Village.  How can I not want everyone to know about:

The always smiling Elizabeth who I don't think realizes that some people would try to put limits on what she can do.  She has no use of her legs, but that doesn't stop her from jumping up and climbing the jungle gym only to summons me for a photo; or from racing across the sandbox on her hands so that she can get dizzy with the other kids on the spinner.

Or what about Josiah who is ALL BOY and reminds me of my nephews.  He loves to run and wrestle and play in the dirt, but he also loves to cuddle, hold hands, and has a smile that could melt even the most frozen of hearts.  Whenever I would enter the dining room at lunch time he would come, take my hand, and escort me to a seat at his table.  He is a tender-hearted warrior who is on the look-out for the good of others.

And sweet Cody who is smiley and sweet and loves to put on a show.  I have a great video of Cody singing "the wheels on the bus" to me.  He is holding a wheelbarrow in his hands while singing it.  When he comes to his favorite verse, he drops the wheelbarrow so that he can use his hands to mimic the "beep beep beep" that the horn on the bus makes.  Open your arms and he will run full speed to jump into them.

Don't let the sunglasses and silk dress fool you, Joy is more than a pretty face - she has a plan and she will make it happen.  Her friends eating too slow, no problem, she'll pick up their bowl and feed them.  Someone on the playground not being nice, she'll karate-chop them.  A little one with a tear in their eye, she'll give them a big hug.

And to be able to play "secret agent" for the families of Perry and Haley who are anxiously waiting for them to come to their forever families...not so stealthily taking pictures and videos and sharing them with those who long to have them home.  While I have been told that I was a gift to them, it is really I who received the blessing.  To be able to hug, play with, pray for, and "talk" (I put in quotes because neither of us truly spoke the other's language) with these special kids and to know how much they are already loved and missed, was precious to me. 

I can't wait to hear about more of these little ones who are going home with their families.  Until they do, I rest in the knowledge that those who serve and lead Shepherd's Field Village are doing so with a love for them that is exceeded only by that of their Heavenly Father.  It was with tears in my eyes that I left, and eagerness in my heart that I will return.

This Morning at Church in China...

"O Lord, my God, may your gospel be spread freely across China...We pray for those in the midst of crisis and disaster, may they turn to you for peace, grace, comfort, and strength."

This is how the pastor at Beijing Chongwenment Christian Church began her prayer this morning.  The topic of her sermon, "Being a Good Server of Jesus Christ."  One of the key scriptures, Matthew 28: 16-20:

"Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.  And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Quick look around, I'm in China, right?

The sermon which she preached this morning was fantastic.  She was on a roll and definitely putting forth a call-to-action to her congregation.  Following are some excerpts (I had my notebook out and was writting quickly as the translator spoke through my headset) that I want to share:

"Surely we know that Jesus is the head of the Church.  The greater the position, the great the leader, the great the servant one should be.

This makes some uncomfortable because many want to be a leader, be the head, because they want more to serve them.  this is contrary to God's will.  If you have a realtionship

We do this not because the Lord needs us, He is all powerful and can do it without us, but as His children and a part of his family, we must participate in family affairs and care for one another.

We are not to be capable at all things.  If this was the case, we would not need the family, we could be independent.  We all have role to play.  You should participate; youshould be engaged; you should be welcoming to others and make them feel welcome in the family.

Wherever you are, you are part of this family.  We should take the active role of going out and serving others.

In Matthew it says that when you have shared food or clothing or shelter with another, you have done it for Him.  It is easy to forget somethimes that serving others is serving God.  In 1 john, the scripture says that if you cannot love your brothers and sisters who you can see, how can you love God who yuou cannot see?  Therefore there is a direct relationship between loving God and loving others; serving God and serving others.

Love people based on your love of God.  If God is in your heart, there is room for others.  We are all created in the image of God.  Therefore, we are called to love all - not just those we deem credible.

Jesus is the example for us to follow.  We may not be able to do all of the same things as Jesus - we may not be able to open the eyes of a blind man - but he should be our motivation, our example to follow.

The purpose of Jesus' life can be summarized in 2 words: 1) serve; and 2) salvation.

Serve with humility - he entered with humility (born in a stable); served in humility (washed feet and loved the unlovable); and died in humility on the cross.  

Right now he is seated at the right hand of God pleading on our behalf until his return.

Some think that they must do something big to be for God, but anything done with the love and intention of God - even if we thing it is insignificant - is good, beautiful, and significant in the eyes of the Lord.

We should serve with our hears and our souls.  We should follow the Holy Spirit.  he will show how and where He directs.

God is God.  Man is man.  We need to remember that.  He is not our servant.  We are to serve Him." 

We attended the 2nd of 4 services being held today.  Here is a photo of some of those lining up to enter the 3rd service through the back door as we came out the front.

 
May her prayer and call-to-action come to be!

On Their Time

Nobody likes to be rejected.  We all want to be accepted each and every time that we reach out in an effort to connect with another person.  Unfortunately that desire for connection is not always reciprocated.  We then have two choices: 1) give up; or 2) continue to make ourselves available so that when the individual is ready, we are there and waiting.

Meet my friend Noel.  Noel has CP and gets around either in her wheel chair or by dragging her body awkwardly behind her when on the floor in her home.  When we first met she wouldn't look at me or have anything to do with me.  Slowly she played legos with me.  Then, another day, we sat next to each other outside under a tree.  Today we started playing a tickle game.  She just laughed and laughed and laughed.  All I have to do now is wiggle my fingers and she starts to giggle and scrunches up in a ball.  Earlier, I was probably 30 feet away and I looked over to see her looking at me.  I waved and she waved back with a big smile.  I have broken through and now have a special friend.  On her time.

Are there other people with whom you have tried unsuccessfully to connect?  If your heart is right, you are patient and persistent, you may eventually have the result you desire.  Jesus has that desire to connect with you.  He is willing to be persistent in His pursuit of you.  Are you willing to allow Him to break through and be your friend?  He is willing.  On your time.

What's your story?

Everyone has a story...it tells where they've come from and helps to give insight into why they are the way they are.

For those of us who grew up in happy, healthy families, our stories are known and shared by those who love us.  There is continuity to our story.  There are people who help us remember them when we forget.

For those who have been abandoned by their families, their stories must be uncovered bit by bit.  Some pieces may never known. 

Brent was stolen as a baby.  And then he was abandoned.  Nobody knows who or where his family is.  However, because he does have a family, somewhere, who might someday come looking for him, he is not able to be adopted and will likely live out his life at Shepherd's Field Village (SFV).  He has joy, he has spunk, and a twinkle in his eye. More than 24 hours after creating his "Prince's Crown", he is still wearing it everywhere he goes.

Grady is 16, has scoliosis, and is physically bound by his wheelchair.  He has been at SFV for 4 years.  There is a family who wanted to adopt him and began the process.  Unfortunately, because of a paperwork hangup (not at SFV), he turned 14 before it was finalized.  According to China law, once a child is 14, he is no longer eligible to be adopted.  Period.  His would-be adoptive family (as well as Grady) was heart broken, and continues to assert that they have 5 kids - but 1 lives in China.  Grady has amazing English skills, a great sense of humor, a love of magic, refers to himself as Grady Houdini and has the dream of being an interpreter.   He has a generous heart and he is often seen sharing his candy and other special treasures with friends new and old.  His story has taken some twists and turns, has had some dark chapters, but we know that it will have a remarkable ending and can't wait to see what it will be.

The story that is often forgotten in the midst of human struggle, but is the most important one, is that there was this man named Jesus who was God's son, and who came to earth just for us.  His was a story that had twists and turns, happy and sad days.  But one that ended in victory.  Because of him and his life that he gave up on the cross, if we love and accept him, we have the ability to be a part of HIS forever family.  One where love knows no bounds, where everyone has brothers and sisters, and a Father who loves unconditionally. 

The the initial chapters of your story have already been written, but its ending is yet to be created.  Regardless of what has already happened, how will you bring it to closure?    What will your story be?

Princes & Princesses of The King

If I was in church at home this Sunday, I would be hearing Pastor Eric preach about Acts 2 and the work of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.  Knowing that that was the text that he was going to be preaching on while I was gone, I spent some time reading it yesterday morning so that while I'm not there, I would still stay connected.

Today is my first full day at Shepherd's Field Children's Village in China.  It is an amazing place led by some amazing people, who have a heart for the Lord and for serving orphaned children who have a wide (and in come cases serious) array of physical and developmental challenges.

If you've ever spent time doing cross-cultural missions and ministry, you know that sometimes communication can be challenging...you use words, you use smiles, you use gestures, and sometimes, as a last resort (which really should be the first resort) you put it in God's hands to help the message get across.

This morning had the potential for chaos - and briefly it was.  I went to one of the children's houses (here at "the village", the children live in 5 different houses) armed with foam crowns and stick-on jewels (some of which, as would be expected, ended up not on the crowns but stuck to their faces).  My message to the kids was that because they are God's children, and He is the King of Kings, that they are Princes and Princesses.  Once everyone got the color they wanted and the jewels which had been flung into the air by one of my very excited little friends had come to rest, I felt it was like in Acts 2:7-8, "Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it  that each of us hears them in his own native language?'"  My Chinese language skills are nominal at best.  Some of the kids have a few English words in their vocabulary.  Yet somehow we were able to connect, communicate, and share some special time together.

I guess that when your heart and intentions are right, and you've placed your work in God's hands, the message that you're desiring to share can be heard regardless of the language that you speak. 

Here are a few of the Princes and Princesses: