A Matter of Perspective

I was going to title this a "Question of Balance," but since the Moody Blues used that back in 1969, I decided against it.

This has been a tumultuous fall. The markets have been dropping, housing market crashing, financial institutions failing - everywhere you turn, you hear the bad news. We've been praying for the kids at Mission of Mercy, while looking to cut internal costs any way we can. A drop in giving means that our ability to help the children will be impacted. This has been a very stressful time in leadership at Mission of Mercy. Even though Americans are struggling, the need is growing greater for the kids in developing nations.

On the personal side, I found out what African Tick Bite Fever was - about 10 days after it knocked me for a loop. A few days back from Swaziland and I was ill, but still trying to go into the office every day. Just as I was starting to recover, a doctor confirmed the diagnosis, and the fact that it just needs to run its course.

I was not having a good end of November. But, on Friday, the 21st, Dee and I flew to Seattle and then drove up to Lynden, where our daughter Kate, her husband Aaron, and our grand daughter Montana now reside. Aaron's parents were also there for his ordination ceremony Sunday evening. On Saturday evening, we celebrated Montana's 1st birthday (just a few days ahead of schedule). What a joy it was to spend time with her again. She is a delightful baby and we miss being near her.

Sunday evening, we all headed across the street for Aaron's ordination ceremony. Seven churches in the Lynden area are supporting him as he seeks to plant a church, probably in the Bellingham area. The church was full. As leaders from each of the seven churches surrounded him and laid hands on him in prayer, we were deeply touched. We can see that Kate and Aaron already have a base of people that love and support them. At the end of the evening, we addressed the Reverend Aaron Walters as an ordained pastor in the Christian Reformed Church. We are very proud of Aaron and Kate, and pray for their success as they establish a new home.

On Monday, we flew back to Colorado, then drove to South Dakota on Tuesday. I met up with my son, Mason, and we headed up to a little trailer house on Iron Creek Lake to spend a couple days. Thankfully, there was a neighbor who hauled us, and our stuff, to the trailer on his snowmobile - there was lots of snow on the ground. We beat the brush, in vain, looking for the great whitetail buck for a couple days, but still managed to meet up with Dee, her sister and her parents for a great Thanksgiving feast.

After the pressures of the past couple weeks, and fighting things healthwise, the change of scenery was just what the doctor ordered. Sometimes we allow things to grow larger than life, and they begin to consume us. There are challenges ahead, and they'll be around for a long time to some. But, in the middle of all of that, we need to remember the blessing of family and of children. It was a lesson I needed to learn all over again.

As we look ahead to the Christmas season, I hope I can remember to balance the troubles of the world with the blessings that God has given through family and friends. My hope is for a balanced perspective for you, as well.

Mozambique - Swaziland

Traveling can sometimes be a real challenge. Dee and I just returned from a trip to Africa to attend the dedication of a couple of Mercy Centers. On the way there, a flight cancellation resulted in a day's delay in travel. Two days after we got there, I got my suitcase. The night before we returned, Dee got her suitcase! It's amazing how little you really need.

I am always moved by seeing the work of Mission of Mercy. In Swaziland, where the rate of AIDS is the highest in the world, virtually every family has been impacted. The Mercy Centers provide these kids with a sense of community and stability. The workers are deeply dedicated to the children.

This was my second trip to Swaziland, but just my first to Mozambique. Most of southern Africa was influenced by the British, but Mozambique was a Portuguese colony. So crossing the border into Mozambique made you keenly aware of the differences in language and culture. But you know what? Kids are still kids. They love to laugh and play - and they are grateful for the meal they receive every day they attend at the Mercy Center there.

The last time I was in Swaziland was August, 2008. Our entire family was there, along with others, on a Mission Trip. We helped break ground on two new centers. It was great to go back and see both of the centers completed, and to see the great number of kids that are already being impacted.

Our last day in Swaziland, we got to spend time with Sophie, our sponsor child. We took her to a candle factory, where she got a few instructions on candlemaking. Sophie has really been on our hearts since we started sponsoring her. Both of her parents have died of AIDS and her life has been very difficult. She has become a very special young lady to us.

One final note. Our trip took place during the week of the US Presidential election. The night after the election (which would have been the morning after in the US) we had dinner in Mozambique. Someone showed us a newspaper. The full front page was a picture of Barrack Obama with the huge headline (translated) "Obama, President for the World." The next day, back in Swaziland, at a dedication of a Mercy Center in a remote area, there were several tribal elders in attendance. They all thanked us, as Americans, for electing Obama. We definitely live in amazing times! It will be interesting to see what is in store for us in the next few years.