teachers, pastors or professional people. Does $30 a month really do that? It doesn't take very long to be convinced that these children are making a great difference here in India. Most of those children would have never had the opportunity for education and growth had it not been for sponsors who provided for them. Even though there are pockets of prosperity in India, when you walk the streets of Kolkata, you see how deep the level of poverty is for so many. If you are reading this and already sponsor a child - thank you! You are making a difference. If you do not yet sponsor a child, you can go to our website at www.missionofmercy.org and find a child that you can bless. My guess, though, is that you will be blessed as well.
Monday, April 28, 2008
India Conference
We are in day one of a three day conference in Kolkata (Calcutta), India. Around 50 project directors, representing ministry to over 15,000 children are in attendance. It is amazing to meet these people that have so deeply impacted so many children's lives. There are so many stories of children who have graduated from the program that are now
teachers, pastors or professional people. Does $30 a month really do that? It doesn't take very long to be convinced that these children are making a great difference here in India. Most of those children would have never had the opportunity for education and growth had it not been for sponsors who provided for them. Even though there are pockets of prosperity in India, when you walk the streets of Kolkata, you see how deep the level of poverty is for so many. If you are reading this and already sponsor a child - thank you! You are making a difference. If you do not yet sponsor a child, you can go to our website at www.missionofmercy.org and find a child that you can bless. My guess, though, is that you will be blessed as well.
teachers, pastors or professional people. Does $30 a month really do that? It doesn't take very long to be convinced that these children are making a great difference here in India. Most of those children would have never had the opportunity for education and growth had it not been for sponsors who provided for them. Even though there are pockets of prosperity in India, when you walk the streets of Kolkata, you see how deep the level of poverty is for so many. If you are reading this and already sponsor a child - thank you! You are making a difference. If you do not yet sponsor a child, you can go to our website at www.missionofmercy.org and find a child that you can bless. My guess, though, is that you will be blessed as well.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Headed to Asia
Early tomorrow morning, Dee and I will fly out to Calcutta, India. It is the first of three countries that we will visit over the next three weeks. In India, we will be meeting with most of the project directors that are responsible for our ministry to the kids. From there we go to Cambodia to view the Mission of Mercy projects there. After that, we'll fly to Sri Lanka for the dedication of Kalapuwa Sri, a boys academy.In India, we will get to visit Bonnie, our sponsor child. When last we saw her, she was just 11 years old. Now, she is 14. It will be interesting to see the changes that have taken place. We have invited Bonnie and her family to join us for the banquet at the end of the conference. It will be one of the highlights of our trip.
We have never been to Cambodia, so this will be a new experience for us. During that trip, we'll meet Lay Phat, the 12 year old boy that we sponsor. He is part of the floating school - a project I have heard a great deal about.
In Sri Lanka, we'll participate in the dedication of Kalapuwa Sri. Following the tsunami that hit the day after Christmas, 2004, I went there 4 times over the next couple years, and led groups from Texas, South Dakota and Michigan to help build the boys' home. Dee was a leader on two of those Mission Trips. We are excited to see the finished work.
On every trip I've taken, God has created unique opportunities for me that reaffirm the work we are doing. I wonder what is in store on this journey? Please keep Dee and I in your prayers. It will be a very hectic three weeks of meeting people and visiting projects. You prayer support would be greatly appreciated. I will try to post a couple times on this trip. At the very least, I will post a wrap up when we return.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
My two cents
I just returned from a meeting that included people from a number of ministries that provide relief and development to countries and communities in need. During the meeting Rich Stearns, President of World Vision, shared a few statistics that were very sobering. In America there are more than 350,000 churches, with well over 100 million people in regular attendance. The average Christian gives 2.5% of his/her income, which is only slightly ahead of Americans on the whole. Of the giving to those 350,000 churches, just 2 cents of every dollar goes to fund programs to deal with poverty and injustice around the world. It was pointed out that 2,100 Bible verses deal with justice and the poor, so we have certainly been given instruction in this endeavor.You could say this is a rather dismal picture of American Christians. I'd rather look at this as an opportunity to for us to stretch and create even more opportunities to reach out and impact lives around the world. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and ministering to the widow and orphan is part and parcel of the Good News of Jesus. When we reach out in His name to the least of these, we are putting feet to the Gospel. And guess what? Amazing doors then open for people to hear our words. St. Augustine said, "at all times preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words."
We are given the blessings of provision to be a blessing to others. This has caused me to look again at my priorities, and to consider what more I can do for His kids.
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