Thankfulness Brings Joy

Like many, I have tried to spend November focusing on things for which I am thankful.  I have tried - not always timely as I'd like - to each day acknowledge at least one of the many blessing in my life.

 

One of the things that I've discovered is that it is (virtually) impossible to be thankful and NOT be joyful.  Have you ever noticed that? 

 

When we spend our time looking at the world around us and thinking about all of the things that we'd like to have, it is easy to get distracted and even sometimes envious of others.  It is easy to find oneself sneaking into that "bad" place of greed and wanting more.  But really, who of us reading this REALLY needs more?  There millions around the world who would give their lives - and many do - for the opportunity to have a roof over their heads, clean water to drink, food to eat, clothes to put on, a blanket to curl up under...the list of the basics goes on and on.  And yet we, who live in a place of abundance, think that we don't have enough and that we NEED more.  Our culture and our society tells us we do, but do we really?

 

The focus on our "need" can take us to feelings of inadequacy, insufficiency, and, sometimes, sadness.  We wonder why we can't/don't have a bigger house, a newer car, trendier clothes.  This focus can really mess with our heads and our hearts.

 

But when we pause and focus on the innumerable blessings in our lives, give thanks for the gifts that we so often take for granted, joy comes into our hearts.  And the more frequent acknowledgement of our thanksgiving, the greater the joy. 

 

How beautiful would it be if each of us lived life in a perpetual state of

joyful thanksgiving?

 

I have two new goals in my life.  1.  Each morning, before I roll out of bed, I will intentionally pause and give thanks.  2. If I ever feel myself start creeping into the "I want/need/"woe is me" mode, that I again pause, and give thanks.  I am excited to see what happens to the level of joyful expression in my life!  Join me?  Let's create an explosion of joy and give the world around us a lift!

 

 

 

Empowering Generosity

I am blessed.

 

I know that much of our world, our society, is surprised when people show kindness to one another.  I'm not.  I am surrounded by people for whom kindness and generosity are part of their DNA.  I am not surprised when I witness friends go out of their way to care for friends and strangers alike.

 

I consider myself blessed to see and experience this selflessness on a regular basis.

 

So when I learned about Pure Charity and what they're doing, I thought, "Wow!  Another way for people to give back and encourage others to do the same!"

 

Simply (and it really is much more than this), Pure Charity serves nonprofits and individuals by using technology - specifically social media - to encourage generosity.

 

Invited and approved nonprofits (Into the Field is excited to be one of their "field partners") are able to create a profile and post projects (including videos) that are needing funding.

 

Individuals create their FREE giving fund and download the browser widget.  Then, whenever they shop at 2000+ online stores (from Priceline to Barnes and Noble to Best Buy to Ann Taylor), a % of the sale will be donated back to their giving fund.  Individuals then get to decide which of the posted projects they want to allocate the dollars to.  How simple!  How cool!  Free money making a difference in the lives of people around the corner and around the world!

 

From October 1-5, Pure Charity is running a contest to encourage the addition of advocates (free giving funds established by friends of field partners).  Every field partner (like Into the Field) who adds 250 advocates will receive $2 per advocate (that is $500 of much needed funding!).  They will also be giving a bonus to the partner who adds the most advocates!

 

Would you please take 5 minutes and set up your FREE giving fund as an advocate for Into the Field?  Because of the already existing generosity of the people who will be reading this, I want to note that setting up your fund via the Into the Field link does not keep you from showing your generosity and allocating your funds to other nonprofits.  You can allocate your giving fund funds to any of the projects that are setup.  (Of course we'd love them to come to us, but understand that there are many people doing great work worthy of your support!

 

Thank you!

A Humbling Reminder: Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover...

I confess.  I am guilty.  I made a quick judgement based upon appearances without knowing the full story.

My friend David received a call from his former pastor who was now shepherding a congregation outside of Beijing, near the Great Wall.  He said that the congregation was poor and that many of its members could not afford Bibles or Hymnals and that the Church could not afford to purchase them.  Did David know anyone who might be able to help?

My immediate response when I was asked, "Of course!  We'll make it happen!"

So after trudging up the Great Wall and trying to share its incredible views with the team on a day when visibility was slightly less than 0, we set off for the church.

As we came down the street, I looked up and there was an immense church, one that stood prominently on the corner with one of the tallest steeples I'd ever seen.  Surely THIS was not the church that we were going to...surely THIS was not the church that couldn't afford the $5 per Bible for the poorest of its members.  But it was.

I confess, the thoughts in my mind and some of the words that came out of my mouth were probably not what they should have been.

We met the pastor and some of the members, and they took us into a meeting room in the church, and they shared their story.

The property for the church was donated by the local government.

The building for the church was paid for by a church in Beijing.

Many of the members of the church live up in the mountains, some without electricity and running water, and travel up to 3 hours by bus on a Sunday morning.

To help cover some of the operating expenses of the building, they allow other groups to use/rent space.

With tears they accepted blankets and sweaters that had been knit by friends back home.  They will be delivered on home visits to members who can't afford the bus ride down the mountain to church.

They don't have ANY extra funds...for anything...including Bibles.  But fortunately we did.

With a humble (and humbled) heart, I am glad that we received the call, that we said, "of course", that we have people who walk alongside Into the Field with their love and support which helped to make the gift possible, and that we are given reminders of how blessed we are and how easy it is for us to make a snap judgement based on appearances.  God is good.

Agape Love

Wednesday we stepped away from Shepherd's Field and went to visit Clay and Jewel (who I met last year when they were serving at SFCV) at Agape Family Life.  Agape is a smaller version of SFCV.  They are an orphan foster program which has 12 kids - all but one of whom have OI (brittle bone).   They have several homes which the kids live in with house parents.  They also have teachers for the kids.  The older children live "independently" above the "Bread of Life Bakery".  The bakery is a place where the older kids are able to learn a skill and a trade as well as generate income for themselves and the ministry.

We did some VBS activties with these great kids.

Showing off her "Creation" Banner

Rehab pool that they built in one of the houses

Candy & her cross

Bread of Life Bakery where the older kids work

The older girls work in the Bread of Life Bakery. 
Here they're pitting cherries.

Pizza from the Bakery

Me and My Olivia

VBS Catch UP

It is easy through the course of a day to have the best of intentions when it comes to posting updates, but then a new friend will wave me over and, well, their desire to hang with me trumps my desire to type on the computer.

Late late late Sunday night we were joined by a team from Indianapolis.  Throughout the week we have been collaborating with them on VBS in the morning and then spending our afternoons hanging out in the houses with the kids that don't go to school.

Here are some glimpses into VBS...

Fei & the kids

Lori coloring with Ling Ling & Grayson

Elizabeth singing

Joseph signing to "Jesus Loves Me"

\Because of the VBS outbreak, our numbers for VBS have been lower than planned and some of the faces fluctuate.  It is good to see some of the other kids come as the Aiyi's decide that they're healthy enough to come out of the houses.

In the afternoons we go to visit the kids who are home from school with the "chickie pox".    It is great to see their faces light up when we come in and begin to pull crafts out of our bag.  (Word seems to spread that the bag is kind of like that of Mary Poppins because later in the day other kids come up and start requesting specific activites to do.)

Robert - when he puts his glasses on he turns into Superman and can fly

Josiah

Bill

I'd like to request special prayers for baby Leah.  She is 3 months old and has been at Shepard's Field for 6 weeks and hasn't gained any weight.  They aren't sure what is wrong with her.  This precious little girl isn't doing very well and needs some devine intervention.

Baby Leah

Today on "Only in China"...

I am an inquisitive person.  When I don't understand something, I ask questions.  Usually when that happens, and I ask my friend David (from Beijing), his answer to me is, "it's China, you know", as if it is expected that there are going to be things that happen here that just don't make sense.



What is this you ask?  It is rice that has been spread out on the street so that it can dry.  Yep, the rice that these farmers will eat.  The streets get so hot that they spread the rice out on the street so that it can dry.  They then carry rocks into the street  so that cars driving by would hit the rock before they could drive through the rice.  Sometimes the four lane road becomes only one lane for driving.  At the end of the day, when they rake it back up, they often go ahead and leave the rocks in the street.  I don't know about you, but I'm not sure if would want to eat rice that had been dried on a Chinese road.

Stay tuned for our next edition of "Only in China."

Babies, BBQ, BICF & Baba

Oh how we love these precious kids!

Lori coloring with Maggie

Heidi & Baby Bo

Dinner Saturday was Chinese BBQ on the sidewalk at a small place around the corner from SFCV.  Light rain showers while eating, not a problem.  Just means that we get to enjoy a beautiful rainbow!

Father's Day church service in Beijing at the Beijing International Fellowship.  It was pretty cool.  People from all around the world worshipping together - the only caveat was that you had to show your passport on the way in to prove you weren't Chinese.  To satisfy some of the government regulations and allow this gathering, no Chinese nationals are allowed to be in attendance.

Following worship we went for a VERY warm stroll through the Forbidden City.  We only went to about 8 of the approximately 888 rooms.  Truly amazing when you realize the history that took place within those walls.'

So great to be able to spend the day with my Baba (Chinese for Dad)!

He was able to enjoy a special treat of cards from grandkids at home as well as a brief Skype session between Pop and Benjamin as well as Mom.

The team from Indianapolis arrives at midnight.  We're slated to begin VBS tomorrow at 9a.  Please pray as the final details come together.  Also for the kids with chicken pox.  I'm anticipating that our plans will be a bit flexible as about half of the kids who are supposed to participate have "the pox" and are confined to quarters.

We're Here!

After a "quick" and rather uneventful flight (other than me being stopped by the drug sniffing border patrol dog who sat down in front of me, blocking my way up the jetway when bording the flight to China - he smelled the money I was carrying around my waist), WE'RE HERE!

It was easy to find our friend Fei in the crowd of faces - in honor of Dad who is always telling her to add some more color to her life, here is what we saw:

We were also greeted by my friend, David, who came to the airport just to welcome us.  He and his daughter, Cici (who will be studying next year at DePauw), will be joining us at Shepherd's Field (SFCV) on Monday when we start VBS.



Just before we arrived, Blossom's family pulled through the gates.  What a miracle and a blessing that they have found each other - and just in time as Blossom turns 14 next week, and after that day comes, according to Chinese law, she would no longer have been able to be adopted. We were talking a bit with her Dad and he said it wasn't until this past November that adoption was even put on their heart.  God is good!

Things a quiet at SFCV today, which is a good thing as everyone is dragging a bit.  It is, however, an absolutely spectacular day!  Bright blue skies and the sun is shining.  As I type I'm sitting on the patio between the Inn and Outreach Center listening to the birds chirp (the kids (as well as some of the "big" kids that flew in are sleeping),

We had a quick tour of SFCV to acclimate the team to their new surroundings.  It didn't take Dad long to find his rhythm and glory with the kids.  No surprise that they love him!

Dad, Joy, and Francis

Dad and Francis

We'll have more time with the kids later today.  Several of the houses have been hit by chicken pox.  Please pray for the kids (and the adults who are unsure as to if they have had it or not) that they would heal quickly.

On Our Way!

Our bags our packed & checked...
We've made it through security...
And now all that remains is to board the plane!

Not the greatest picture, but what do you expect when getting ready to start a long travel day?

It is going to be a great adventure!  Please follow and pray for us!  Xie xie!

"These things I plan won't happen right away.  Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow, do not despair, for those things will sure come to pass.  Just be patient!  They will not be overdue a single day!"

Habakkuk 2:3

Joy of Anticipation

I. Can't. Wait!

I can now acceptably count in days (9) the number of days until I leave for China.

I know that I should be thinking about the piles of supplies that have taken over my living room floor and their need to be masterfully packed so as best leverage available space and not go over airline mandated weight limits...

I know that I should be working on checking off the things on continually-growing-and-already-too-long list of things that MUST be done before I go...

I know that I should be doing a lot of things...

But I'm not...

WHY?

Because I have incredible amounts of excitement and am overflowing with joy to see these beautiful kids (and many more)!!!

Stay tuned in here for updates from the road!

Grady

JJ, Brent, Jared, Melanie

Noel

Elizabeth

Josiah

Cody

 

Holy Ambition

On May 10, the National Christian Foundation - Ohio hosted a special lunch with Chip Ingram, a pastor from California and President of Living on the Edge ministries.  His message looked at the book of Nehemiah and then was based on Chip's new book: "Holy Ambition: Turning God-Shaped Dreams Into Reality".

Through his message (and taught in greater depth in his book), Chip shared "how God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things".

The challenge is that many of us get distracted by the trappings of "Susa" -- the rich and extravagant life that surrounds us.  Chip challenged us:

1. To ask ourselves, "I wonder if there is a reason that God gave me all this?"
2. To stop and get a revitalized view and vision of God.  "When we get a higher vision of who God is, we're able to get a more accurate view of who we are."

Some of other things that he shared, and which I quickly scribbled down were:

1. All radical personal change starts with deep thinking.
2. We must humble our hearts and tremble at His word.  (Check out Nehemiah 1:4-11 for Nehemiah's prayer)
3. God doesn't bless programs, He blesses people.
4. Step out on the promises of God.
5. Help others discover what their niche is.

Chip talked about the walls that used to surround the cities and how these weren't little walls.  They were tall enough to defend the cities from attack, and wide enough that horses could ride and carts could be pulled on them.  Each person had their assignment and role to fill.

What is my assignment on the wall of the journey of God?  What is yours?

In his book, Chip spells out six steps to take to "prepare for and engage in the Lord's service."

You'll want to check them out!  I'm excited to see where they will lead!

Joy in Serving? Running on Empty?

Did you know that April 15-21 is "National Volunteer Week?"

For those who strive to serve others on a daily basis, setting aside a week to help others is kind of like Valentine's Day - designating a specific period of time to do something that we should be doing all the time anyways. (I mean seriously, folks, shouldn't we be telling and showing those we love that we do everyday and not just on February 14?)

That said, it is really easy to get caught up in the craziness of daily life and sometimes we need a mark on the calendar to help us refocus. Not only refocus on the act, but on the attitude with which we are performing the act. Are we serving with a joyful heart? Or are we serving out of obligation?

Are we serving others so that we can check off the box on our to-do list? Or is it because we are told to go and serve others and out of our abundance we want to be a blessing to others?

And what about when the serving that we're doing isn't really how we want to be serving? What then? 

Into the Field exists to "serve the servants around the corner and around the world.". 

In my head, that means a good balance between walking alongside and helping other small, grassroots Christian ministries in a variety of ways AND getting out in the field and serving others face-to-face and in a hands-on fashion.  I am a very interactive person and while I have gifts of administration, my batteries get charged when I'm hugging on the kids and seeing cautious smiles broaden.

But what happens when your plans and the reality that God has put before you conflict?

To be very transparent, I have been grumbling, and then suffering from major feelings of guilt over my grumbling.  I have been running on empty and feeling like I have no more to pour out.  Let me explain.

My precious friend and ministry partner, Nicolle, tragically lost her husband at the beginning of February as a result of gun shots inflicted on him while serving in Haiti.  The incredible faith and forgiveness which she has demonstrated - and which she is the first to proclaims comes only from Jesus - is nothing short of inspiring.  And the support with which people around the world have exhibited is overwhelming.  In a good way.  Really.  I do believe it.   It has been truly incredible!

This is where my grumbling (and resulting guilt for the grumbling and lack of joy) kicked in.  Into the Field serves as the fiscal sponsor for Nicolle's ministry.  This means that all of the fundraising and financial support given to their work flows through my computer, through Into the Field, into my accounting package, and out to her.  (This fiscal sponsorship allows ministries like Nicolle's which haven't yet gone through the IRS' process to leverage Into the Field's 501c3 status to receive tax deductible gifts.)  Nearly $100,000 has been raised since David was shot on January 25.  Much of that in $50 and $100 increments.  Each gift requires the generation and sending of a tax receipt and one (sometimes 2) entries into the accounting system.  Needless to say, my time has been pretty much consumed with administration and data entry, and very little interacting with people or serving anyone else.  From early in the morning until late at night I pound on the keyboard and try to ignore the surging of my blood pressure with the (then but now past) growing publicity and fear that the little fundraising site I put up at 4a in the morning would crash.

My grumbling has made me struggle with immense guilt.  Nicolle lost the love of her life; her best friend and partner.  Mack and Daniella lost their dad.  Widows and orphans around the world lost and advocate and servant.  And I'm going to grumble about data entry?  Really?  When people from (at my last count) 5 different countries have shared their gifts and resources as a demonstration of support and encouragement.  Grumble?  Really?  What kind of person am I to grumble when others have their world crumbling?  What kind of friend, partner, Christian, am I?

I think that through all of this God has been working on my heart.  He has been reminding me that 1) I am human and that while my reality and the things I struggle with may be small in comparison to what others are going through, it is still real to me and deserves to be acknowledged (but not dwelt upon) and addressed; 2) in fact I am doing EXACTLY what Into the Field says it does - serve the servants; 3) in the Bible He doesn't say, "Go and serve only in ways that you enjoy or feel passionate about", we're just told in simple terms, "Go" and "Serve"; and 4) when we're serving, we're to do so with a joyful heart and a song of praise on our lips.

I still am not passionate about data entry.  I still would like to be spending more time out from behind my desk (I'm working on that!).  But instead of grumbling, I work (I'm far from perfect) to say prayers of thanksgiving over each receipt sent, ask for protection and guidance for Nicolle as she continues to serve a living and loving God and those He puts in her path, and have a joyful appreciation for the impact that the life of David had on so many.

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 

Serve the LORD with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing!"

Psalm 100:1-2