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Operation Christmas Child

(Did you realize Christmas is ten weeks from today?!?!?! We have already begun our first tradition of the season. Since these are due the middle of November I thought I'd post this now.)

I don’t know exactly when I first learned of Operation Shoe Box (a.k.a. Operation Christmas Child), a ministry outreach of Samaritan’s Purse, but I was hooked from the first moment. Shoeboxes filled with school supplies, candy, age appropriate toys, and other assorted goodies to send to children around the world who live in extreme poverty, war-torn countries, or areas devastated by natural disasters appealed greatly to the Christmas Spirit within me. It’s been a family tradition ever since.

In the early days I let my children help pick out purchases and pack the boxes while I paid for the “goodies”. In more recent years I’ve encouraged them to set aside a small amount of money out of their allowance each month so that the gift is truly from them.

From nearly the beginning I had a burning desire to be on the distribution end of this project. I wanted to personally hand out the boxes and see the smiles of joy and appreciation on little faces, many of whom have never had a Christmas gift before. My longing turned into a prayer that God would give me that opportunity.

Be careful what you pray forJ.

In 1999 my husband, Raymond, and I felt a very clear calling to minister overseas as missionaries through our denomination. We weren’t sure for how long; we were just sure it was the will of God. Eventually, we landed in a war-torn, Muslim part of Europe that was in dire need of hope and Jesus. All the cultural and language barriers made it seem almost an impossible task to get the Gospel to the ones who so desperately needed it.

I’m not exactly sure how the door of opportunity opened, other than an act of God Himself, but we gained access to Samaritan Purse Shoeboxes! My husband, Raymond, knew exactly what to do with them, take them to the local school where he was assisting the English teacher. (I use the phrase English “teacher” very loosely, as English was not this teacher’s first language, and she was, quite honestly, butchering it.) There were approximately one thousand students in this 99.9% Muslim school. Did I mention that sharing your religious beliefs with children under the age of eighteen is expressly forbidden in this country?

Raymond marched into the principal’s office with a shoebox, a pamphlet (which all the boxes would contain), and a translator. “We would like to give this as a gift to each of the students in your school,” Raymond said. “But I must tell you, each box will contain one of these pamphlets.” The principal took the pamphlet, which was the Gospel story in the national language, and read through it carefully. Then he said to Raymond, “No problem.”

So, though I was unable to pack shoeboxes for Christmas 2000, I received the answer to my prayers and helped with distribution. This was hard work. The boxes had to be picked up in the capital city and transported to the school. Since we didn’t have a vehicle big enough for over a thousand boxes Raymond had to secure the services of a truck driver. (He says it was the scariest ride of his life!)

We turned a spare classroom into our base of operations. Stacks of shoeboxes and boxes of pamphlets were everywhere. It looked a bit like organized chaos as our team of Jeffcoats and translators gathered boxes for each group of students, attached pamphlets to each box, and then carried them to the various classrooms.

I was not disappointed by the response. The students stood beside their desks out of respect for us when we entered. (It is the norm for them to stand when an adult enters the room.) The looks of joy, gratitude, and hope on their faces were exactly as I envisioned them. They were so excited by even the smallest of trinkets. The ones who had cards or letters in their box begged for someone to translate them from English (These boxes came from England) into their language.

During the course of the day a stoic looking man made his way into our “base of operations”. He looked at us and glanced at the boxes. I was told by a translator that he was the one who taught the Muslim children the Koran at school. (For some reason this was legal.) Fear gripped my heart. He did not look like a “happy camper”. He moved near me and picked up a pamphlet. After thumbing through it he looked up and said (in his language), “This is good! This is very good!” (Again, an act of God!)

We passed out nearly one thousand shoeboxes that day and saw only one pamphlet on the floor, none were in the trash. Knowing how they value gifts, I’m sure the one on the floor slipped out of some child’s hand by accident.

Three years later Raymond, my son Kyle, two of our church members, and myself went back to that same area to pass out Bibles. I overheard a lady say, “Those are the people who brought us the shoeboxes!” And she took a Bible joyfully.

Shoeboxes: It is a simple project for all ages, yet the ramifications of taking the Gospel around the world by ministering to hurting children goes far beyond the simple contents of the box. They equal the gift of life.

Here are some pictures from my answered prayer (I would have more, but I was too busy! ):

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Boxes, Boxes, Boxes!

I love boxes! (Perhaps I should start posting pictures of the ones I’ve collected through the years.) I’ve been wracking my brain for a Christmas gift idea for the members of the church choir which I direct. Since the choir is an eclectic group it has to be something suitable for men and women, young and old. I finally saw an idea in a Christian catalog and have tweaked it into something more personal and more “me”. I’m not going to reveal that idea just yet. (Don’t you just hate cliff-hangers?) But I am going to show you the beginning stages. This gift requires lots of boxes. Instead of trying to find and purchase just the right ones, I’ve decided to make my own, each one a unique creation for the unique recipients. I can’t remember where I first learned to do this, and I’m sure you can find it all over the internet, but here’s my rendition. Ready?

I began with a regular 8 ½ x 11 inch sheet of tag board and decorated it. (My 12 year old daughter is helping me with this.) You can use any kind of paper, any size. (Old Christmas cards work nicely, just make sure you center the picture.) The main thing is to create a square out of whatever you are using. This will be the top, so I’ve trimmed it to an 8 ½ x 8 ½ inch square.

On the back mark an “X” from corner to corner.

Fold each corner to the center making your folds crisp and clean.

Without unfolding those, fold opposite edges to the center, again making sure your folds are crisp and clean. Unfold those edges and fold in the other edges.

Open the entire square. You should see a lot of creases.

I’ve marked the ones that need to be clipped. (You’ll only do one pair of opposite sides.)

I’ve now shaded four triangles. Cut these off.

Fold the sides that haven’t been cut into the center like this…

Now fold in the sides that have been cut.

Make sure every thing is square and laying flat and tape the center where the points meet.

There’s the top of your box! Isn’t it pretty?

Do the exact same thing for the bottom, only make sure you start with an 8 x 8 inch square instead of 8 ½ x 8 ½ . When your box is finished it will be 3 x 3 x 1 ½ inches.

You can make these in any size using anything you can fold. The possibilities are endless.

Stay tuned for what I plan to do with those boxes. (Insert maniacal laughter.)

Hands on learning...literally!

Some of you may remember that Cassie (DD16) wants to be an interpreter for the deaf when she grows up. With this in mind, I've really been trying to connect her with anything and everything I can to help her explore this interest. We've signed up for an online signing class, and we've toured the Mississippi School for the Deaf. (We're still waiting for word on whether we can volunteer there or not.) It seems like God is in on this whole thing too as He's made an interesting arrangement of His own. The mother of one of our friends is deaf. (I'll call the mom "L".) Because our friend recently had surgery, his mother has come to stay a few weeks. Last Sunday she taught Cassie some ASL (American Sign Language) signs for "Amazing Grace". Today "L", her daughter-in-law "C". and "C's" mom "D", came over for cake and coffee. (I've decided I still like the occassional tea-party even though I'm 43.) While my girls and I didn't get much done in the way of "book learning" today, we all had wonderful lessons in hospitality, cake baking, and ASL. Since none of us is fluent in ASL, it made for interesting conversation to use what we knew, plus lots of finger spelling and even paper and pen to communicate. Not only did we learn a lot, we had fun doing it.

Mom in Space!

NASA had a display trailer set up outside the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science for three days this week. Since Candace is studying space, I thought it would make for a good field trip. I’ll confess I was a little disappointed (which is what happens when one’s expectations fall short of reality) in the space exhibit. The really cool interactive floor wasn’t working and there really weren’t that many interesting things to see. L We did have our pictures made in space suits and received a free pencil. (Well, actually, our pictures were superimposed on a picture of a space suit. Does that count?)

All was not lost, though, as we decided to go into the museum itself and have a look around. Their newest exhibit is Hunters of the Sky. It has to be their coolest exhibit ever. Though all of them were stuffed, there were many very cool looking owls, several eagles, assorted other raptors, and even a California Condor. We saw owl pellets, whole and dissected, real x-rays of wounded birds, and an eagle’s nest. There were several interactive stations such as viewing various feather types under a microscope, experimenting with air currents, and trying to identify different raptors. Unfortunately my girls weren’t quite as eager to read the wealth of information as I was, but I’m sure they learned a lot anyway.

To me, the coolest thing was the eagle’s nest diorama. It was huge! I can’t imagine seeing such a sight in real life. I’m sure it would take my breath away. I had wondered where they got the birds since I know the museum staff didn’t go out and kill all these birds just to show them to us. One of the plaques said that the baby eagles in the display had been killed in a storm.

Since Candace and I had been reading about owls, it was really neat to see all the different owls right there. And that California Condor! O, my goodness, if I ever saw one of those flying over I’d think the dinosaurs were back. That thing is huge. It is sad to note that the one on display had died from drinking anti-freeze. How tragic!

We pretty much had the place to ourselves which was nice. Though we didn’t spend the entire day there, it was really cool. I’m so glad we went. I hope I can go again before it leaves December 30th.

Bonus picture:

Ever see a giant praying mantis made of pine straw?

The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker

Black, Red, and White – The Circle Trilogy by Ted Dekker

For those of us who grew up in church, can name all sixty-six books of the Bible (spelling most of them correctly), and memorized John 3:16 before we were out of diapers (well, maybe not quite that soon) sometimes (and I hate to admit it), sometimes those poignant and life-changing stories of old become (how do I say this) mundane…too familiar…taken for granted.

In steps Ted Dekker with his Circle Trilogy to save the day, or at least give us a fresh glimpse of our heritage and our faith. Even non-believers will enjoy this series as they are full of action, suspense, passion, and all the things that make for a good story. If someone like Peter Jackson (of Lord of the Rings fame) got hold of this it would become an epic film. Be prepared to see the Bible come to life in a completely unexpected way.

What happens when Thomas hits his head and awakes in another reality only to find that somehow he’s the key to saving both worlds? Which reality is real anyway? What will happen if someone drinks the water of Teeleh? Just how far will someone go to save the one he loves? Will the Raison Strain actually destroy earth as we know it? Who is Elyon? What is the Great Romance all about? Where did all those black bats come from? To find out, start by picking up Black, but be forewarned, you’ll have trouble putting it down so make sure someone else is keeping an eye on supper…it might burn while you're turning pages.

What happens when an 18-Wheeler hits a '98 Ford Taurus?

This..............

And if angels are with you, you walk away without a scratch or a headache!

My parents came to our town and bought a new car last Friday. They had promised their old one to Cassie (DD16). The windshield was cracked, and since it was still covered by my parents insurance they took it home with them to have it repaired.

On Tuesday my parents headed back toward us to bring Cassie the car. About 12 miles from our house my dad had an accident. An 18-wheeler pulled in behind him on a 4-lane road and clipped his back bumper on the driver's side causing my dad to flip in front of the 18-wheeler and spin 3 times before crossing the median and ending up on the side of the road in the opposite lane. Praise God he wasn't hurt a bit. He said he felt very secure and firmly in place. No airbags deployed. I asked if it was his seat belt or angels holding him tight. He said he felt the seat belt, but he knew there were angels too.

Poor Cassie. After the relief of hearing her grandpa was ok, she was disappointed that she was so close to having her car. (What is Murphy's Law? If anything can go wrong, it will?) Technically, she still has the car; it's just seen better days. It may be totaled. Fortunately, my parents still have insurance on the car and it will either get repaired or they will give her the money to put toward another car.

By the way....the new windshield didn't even have a scratch on it! (A few splatted love bugs, yes. Cracks, no.)

Fall in Mississippi

Fall has arrived in Mississippi. Now, for you folks who don't live in the sun belt the word "fall" probably conjures up images of beautiful tree foliage, frosty mornings, and crips breezes. In Mississippi try morning temperatures of 65 (at least you don't break into a sweat the minute you walk out the door), beautiful green trees and grass (the brilliant leaves will come, but probably when the rest of you have snow on the ground), and breezes cool enough to send my girls into jackets (because anything that won't bake a cake is cool around here.) In Mississippi, when the high is no longer in the 90's, fall has arrived.

Now that the temperatures are nicer, my lantana is blooming beautifully. I'm so pleased!

(A jacket, shorts, and bare feet...what's with that????)

What homeschooling's about.

When Cassie (16) discussed ending her public high school experience after 1.5 years, her one question was, "Can I learn sign language if I come back home?" ASL (American Sign Language) has always facinated this daughter of mine, so I readily agreed. After much searching, Cassie actually found her own materials, an online course she discovered. After checking it out I agreed to give it a try. Three weeks into it and she loves it! (You can check it out for yourself by clicking here.) Truly, one of the great advantages to home education is that children can persue their interests.

Not only is Cassie interested in learning ASL, but she dreams of working with the deaf one day, perhaps as an interpreter. With that in mind we (Cassie, Candace dd12, a friend, and I) took a tour of the Mississippi School for the Deaf and Blind today. What a treat! Not only is the MSDB a beautiful facility and campus, but our tour guide was more than eager to show us around, answer any questions, and introduce us to people. We popped into the end of a basketball practice, a science class, a preschool class, and a second grade class. We talked with teachers who were hearing and some who were also deaf. One teacher who works with blind students showed us how a braille typewriter works! (How cool!) One teacher mentioned having Cassie come help her with her class sometime, and a director gave the kids forms to fill out in order to be able to volunteer. Cassie was even able to use some of the signs she's recently learned!

This homeschool mom's heart was breathless with joy to hear Cassie, Candace, and M. talk about how interesting the tour was and how excited they'd be to volunteer. Their lives may be forever changed by this encounter in a real and positive way. What a joy to watch your child really persue something that truly interests her (him)! Cassie may never learn the periodic table; and if she does she'll probably forget it the next year. But she will never forget this day and our trip to the Mississippi School for the Deaf and blind.

That's what homeschooling is all about!

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Abraham Lincoln has been quoted as saying of Harriet Beecher Stowe, "So this is the little lady who made this big war." I thought to myself, Uncle Tom's Cabin must be a powerful book! I knew it was considered a classic, but one probably not read in the public schools, so a couple years ago my now DD16 and I set out to read aloud this incredible novel that divided a nation.

Upfront let me say we never finished the book. The story was compelling and griping. The characters were deep and it was easy to become emotionally involved in the tale. However, my daughter and I got completely bogged down in the slave dialect. I realize Miss Stowe was trying to be true to the culture, but it took so much energy and concentration to decipher the dialog we simply gave up. In retrospect I think it would have been a better silent read than read-a-loud. (At least in my opinion.)

I regretted not finishing the story, but DD16 went off to public school and that was the end of that. Well, maybe not. DD16 is back home now, and while I wanted to finish the story, I really didn't want to get bogged down again. So, I did what any self-respecting homeschool mom would do *smirk*.....I borrowed the video from the library.

There are many video renditions of Uncle Tom's Cabin. This is the one I happened to get from our public library. There may be better versions available, but I really feel this one is worth watching. (Avery Brooks did a tremendous job as Tom.)

In 2007 most of us have had some glimpse of the horrors of slavery. We've read of Harriet Tubman. We've seen or read Roots. We've read or watched Gone with the Wind. We've been to Civil War sites. We've read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. But what of those who lived before the Civil War? What of those who really had no idea how horrific slavery was? I can easily see where Uncle Tom's Cabin would spark heated discussions, evoke extreme emotion, and widen the chasm between abolitionists and slave holders. Considering the role this story placed in American History, everyone should either read the book or at least watch a rendering of this tragic story of slavery and the triumph of Christian character.

Investing or Grace? What's the Motivation?

I'm not sure why, but over the last month or so my mind has been truly pondering this concept called grace. Perhaps it is because my dear friend lives in "Grace-land", or perhaps the Holy Spirit is teaching me something new. (Or both!) I've been trying to put those "Grace-thoughts" into words and have been doing a poor job of it...but I thought I'd be real and do some ramblings about it here.


Do we invest in people's lives consciously, or unconsciously, hoping for something in return?

In return for support, comfort, promotion, favor, loyalty, good will?

Do we ever subconsciously think, "So-and-so owes me (any of the above) because I did this-or-that for her?"

If that is the case, those acts of kindness we do are truly "investments” into human bank accounts as we seek a "return" of some kind no matter how big or small. Pay back is expected or anticipated.

But…

If we pour ourselves into people simply because Christ’s love compels us to meet a need (either emotionally, physically, financially, or even spiritually by offering godly counsel);

If we give of ourselves freely to those who may eventually betray us, to those who have no power to reciprocate;

If we bestow acts of kindness into people truly without any hope or thought of "return" (not even a "thank you"), we go against worldly wisdom truly becoming conduits of God's abundant grace.

Wonderful Weekend!

(Atlanta from my hotel room)

God just blessed my socks off this past weekend! Cassie (my 16 year old daughter)) and I went with a small group from our church to Atlanta for a Beth Moore/Women of Faith Conference. Having Cassie share the experience was almost more than my heart could hold.

I'm not one prone to tears (unless my feelings are hurt), so it amazes even me that I spent the entire Beth Moore Conference crying from either extreme laughter or an extreme touch from God. I could feel the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment I walked into the Arena. It shouldn't have surprised me when Beth said she had asked God to fill the Arena with His emotional presence that day.

I thought my "toes" were safe when the topic was "Comfort". I thought, "How can there be anything convicting in the topic of 'Comfort'?" Boy was I wrong! The message was about being members of the "Cult of Comfort" which our society endorses, and that we are not to be compelled by comfort, but by our love for Christ. There was much food for thought, let me tell you!

While the Women of Faith part was fun (Sandi Patty was incredible as usual, and who knew Nicole C. Mullen has so much energy!) my heart was most blessed by my time with Beth Moore.

On a side note: I think we underestimate the ability of our teens to grasp the things of God. Cassie was as blessed as I and took as many notes. Perhaps the reason so many of our youth are still "babes" in Christ is because we don't offer them anything solid. I'm developing a whole philosophy on church youth ministries, but I'll save it for later.

Thinking Suicide? WAIT!

(Originally written on Monday, August 21, 2006)

They lived on the same street this man and woman, my street. Both were around sixty. The former used a gun, the latter pills, but the results were the same.

Lives were ended.

Their lives.

Within the last month these two acquaintances of mine killed themselves. I passed each house on my morning walk and exchanged pleasantries:

“Good morning,” we’d each call out.
“How are you today?”
“Fine. How are you?”
“Fine.”

Sometimes we’d say more. The last time I saw “her” she reminisced about what a godly man her father was and how she still missed him even after all these years. I had no clue, no clue she struggled with depression. No clue she would choose to end her own life.

I’m sad, and I’m afraid.

I’m sad because these two people couldn’t fight their way to the surface; they drowned in their sorrow either unable to grasp hold of hands willing to lift them up, or (horror of horrors) there were no hands extended to them. (Was my hand held out?)

I’m afraid. I’m afraid because I know there are thousands of people just like them suffocated by their life circumstances. People who feel there is no way out of their suffering except through death at their own hands. How many of these people do I know but am unaware of their struggle?

If you are one of those totally overwhelmed by life – PLEASE, STOP!!!! Don’t hurt yourself! There are hands extending out to you! Before you do something drastic, PLEASE write me (or call me if you know me) and let me talk to you and pray for you. I mean it! I’m not just saying it to be nice or because I’m a preacher’s wife. I want to offer a heartfelt cry for mercy to heaven on your behalf. It’s not a bother. It would be my privilege.

There is another hand held out to you which is much stronger than mine:

I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,

a hymn of praise to our God.
~ Psalm 40:1-3

~ Drewe Llyn

Study on Prayer

I've posted all three parts of the prayer study I used with my Sunday School class. You can either scroll down the page for all of them, or click on the appropriate links. I hope it blesses someone.

What is prayer?

Why should we pray?

What are the results of prayer?

Prayer - What is prayer?

“Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. It is the place where pride is abandoned, hope is lifted, and supplication is made. Prayer is the place of admitting our need, of adopting humility, and claiming dependence upon God. Prayer is the needful practice of the Christian. Prayer is the exercise of faith and hope. Prayer is the privilege of touching the heart of the Father through the Son of God, Jesus our Lord.” ~ CARM

“Prayer is the practice of the presence of God.” That is the definition of prayer in a nutshell. But what does it mean? Think about your closest relationship. What does it mean to be in that person’s presence? What do you do together?

• You confide in each other.


• You congratulate each other on jobs well done.


• You thank them for things they’ve done for you.


• You ask advice or for help.


• You say you’re sorry.


• You hang out, just enjoying being together.
  
  That’s how our relationship with God should be.

• You confide in each other. You tell God your deepest hurts, highest dreams, and greatest longings. (See Jeremiah 33:3)


• You congratulate each other. This is what we do when we praise God, when we admire and enjoy His creation. (See Psalm 71:8, Psalm 72:18, Psalm 92:1, Isaiah 63:7, and Matthew 15:31. See also Zephaniah 3:17 and Matthew 25:20-21)


• You are thankful. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Matthew 25:34-40)


• You seek advice. This is not reciprocal as God knows and sees everything and does not need our advice. He does, however, long to give us help in our time of need. (Psalm 18:6, Psalm 28:7, Psalm 33:20, Hebrews 4:16, and James 1:5)


• You apologize. Again, this one is not reciprocal as God does no wrong. However, in order to keep our relationships strong we must “clear the air” so to speak. In our relationship with God we must confess our sins and repent. (Psalm 51:10 and 1 John 1:9)


• You enjoy being together. (Psalm 16:11, Matthew 28:20, and 1 John 3:19)
  
  
  

Why should we pray?

“Since the power of prayer is in the One Who hears it and not the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” ~ Max Lucado in He Still Moves Stones

“Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.” ~ John Bunyan

We are commanded to pray.

• Should pray always. (Luke 18:1)


• Be…faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)


• Pray continually. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)


• You do not have, because you do not ask God. (James 4:2)

Jesus gave us an example.

• The Model Prayer (Luke 11:1-5)



• For Peter (Luke 22:32)



• Before feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000 ( John 6:1-15 and Mark 8:1-9)



• He prayed often. (Luke 5:16)



• Early in the morning (Mark 1:35)



• All night (Luke 6:12)



• In the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:39-46)

(If Jesus, the very Son of God, felt a need to be in communion with the Father, then surely we humans need it even more.)

Prayer shows our dependence on God. (John 15:5)

We are priests between the lost and God.

• 1 Samuel 12:23



• Ezekiel 22:30



• 1 Timothy 2:1-4

God acts in response to prayer.

• Moses prayed for the people to be spared and God spared them. (Exodus 32:7-14)



• Elijah prayed for no rain and it didn’t rain for three years, not until he then asked for rain. (James 5:17-18)



• Hannah prayed for a son and received him. (1 Samuel 1)



• David prayed for forgiveness and God gave it. (Psalm 51)



• Jonah prayed for mercy and received it. (Jonah 2)



• Peter prayed that Tabitha would be raised from the dead, and she was. (Acts 9)



• God offers the same to us. (See Psalm 37:4, Matthew 21:22, and James 5:16)

Results of Prayer

"The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray." ~ Samuel Chadwick

• Our sins are forgiven. (1 John 1:9)



• Our hearts and minds are renewed. (Psalm 51:10, Isaiah 40:31, 2 Corinthians 4:16, and Romans 12:2)



• We have peace. (Isaiah 26:3 and Philippians 4:6-7)



• We have hope. (Romans 15:13)



• We get strength. (Psalm 59:16, Isaiah 40:31, and Philippians 4:13)



• We are delivered. (Psalm 34:17)



• We receive direction and guidance. (Isaiah 30:21 and Proverbs 3:5-6)



• We are encouraged. (Psalm 10:17 and Hebrews 4:16)



• We demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)



• We become like Jesus. (1 Corinthians 2:16 and 2 Corinthians 3:16-18)

We're Home with Pictures

After sitting on the runway for an extra hour and a half (due to severe weather somewhere between there and here) we made it home. God welcomed us with the most beautiful sunset. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to snap a picture of it. Our last two days in Baltimore were pretty uneventful. Some of us walked to the Holocaust Memorial which was gruesomely fitting for what it commemorates. I'll post pictures of that later.

On Sunday night another team from Mississippi arrived. We shared our living quarters with them for the night. On Monday morning we all sat on the sidewalk singing praise and worship songs. That was pretty cool.

I posted a lot of pictures from our trip on our church's website. Instead of trying to post them all here, I'll just give you the link and you can click over and take a peak there if you wish.

I'm fully convinced I have jet lag, even though there was only an hour's time difference between Baltimore and home. Maybe I'm just getting older and it takes my body longer to recouperate from living on adrenaline for a week.

Anyway. I hope everyone is well. Be blessed!

Baltimore in pictures

Saturday in Baltimore

Saturday was slated as our official free day. We actually had a lot more free time than anticipated. Much of that was due to some poor communication. (But that's all I'll say here about it.) In some ways I think our time and energy could have been better utilized, yet, I still consider the trip well worth it. We've had some eye-opening-out-of-our-comfort zone experiences. We've seen some incredible sites. We've met some really facinating people who've enriched our lives. And we've had a great time bonding as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ. (Perhaps that is the most rewarding of all.) I'm thankful for our time in Baltimore.

We had a great time exploring the National Aquarium in Baltimore. It was awesome! The only thing I can say is that Baltimore is home to about 2 million people, and I'm sure they were all walking around the Inner Harbor and visiting the Aquarium. *grin* Still, it was incredible and I had a wonderful time.

I'd like to write more, but I've got to go shower. Today is actually Sunday. We'll be heading back to Mississippi tomorrow.

More later.

Friday the 13th in Balitmore

Today our team split up for a time...the majority passed out packets in a different part of town while five of us helped with a preschool activity. I was one of the five along with the two summer missionaries. We took crafts, puppets, and the guitar up (and I mean up) to Federal Hill where we simply sat in the shade and tried to capture the attention of any children and parents. There weren't that many, even though it was a beautiful morning, but there was a woman there with seven children she keeps in her home. Using the guitar case as a table, the children first played with sculpty clay. (The girl next to me made snails.) Then the puppets came out to be played with and to entertain in a very easy going way. The children were given paper bags and made their own puppets. My two daughters, our guitarist, and I led the children in several, what I call, "Sunday School" songs which they really enjoyed. Finally, some simple crafts were pulled out for the children to make. Though very laid back, it was a good morning. There were a couple other mothers with children at the park who were either too shy to join in, or just didn't want to. One of the most interesting people I met told how she got to Baltimore. She and her husband decided to move from their home in Atlanta to somewhere. To discover where, they hopped on their motorcycles and toured the country. They liked Baltimore and moved here twelve years ago. I could never picture myself riding around the country and picking out where to live without any job or security. I have to admire their courage and sense of adventure.

We basically had the afternoon free. Most of us went to the Inner Harbor to shop and look around. (Some stayed behind to play games.) My two daughters, a friend, and I meandered around the Harbor. At the mall a couple approached us asking if we knew of a shelter that would take them in. (Most shelters are either just for men or just for women.) They said no one in the mall had been helpful and no one would even give them water to drink. I say what I'm about to say not to pat myself on the back, but to confess my weaknesses....for a brief moment I wanted to give the vaguest of answers and not get involved. For a brief moment I wondered if these people were really needy or just playing on sympathies. For a brief moment I wanted to "pass by on the other side". Then I was reminded of why I was in Baltimore. How could I be excited about ministering at the Helping Up Mission, how could I be blessed by passing out ice cream and water at the homeless park and not respond Christfully to someone on the street. Can you put on and take off Christianity like a T-shirt? If you can, then you're not really a Christian. I told the couple that we were tourists in the area and didn't know of a place that took in both. But we'd be glad to buy them some water and a little something to eat. We walked together to the food court. My friend and I bought them some pizza and drinks and prayed with them before leaving. Instead of patting myself on the back and feeling good, I feel badly about my hesitation, no matter how brief. It was a lesson in humility.

If you think about it, say a prayer for Chris and Becky.