A Legacy of Ministry

Today there was a service at Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge to celebrate the life of Dave Ohlerking.  Dave was the founder of Children's Cup.  Mission of Mercy partners with Children's Cup in Swaziland and Mozambique to change the lives of children.

The first time I met Dave, I was struck by his grace, kindness and wisdom.  Dave had traveled to over 100 countries on 6 continents and had been in many "Hard Places" in his life.  He has impacted thousands of lives during his years of ministry.  Yet he listened and showed respect to everyone he spoke to.  I had only been in my position for a few months, but he treated me like a seasoned veteran of international ministry.  He won my love and respect from our very first meeting.  Today, I know he is dancing with joy in the presence of the Lord.

There are often questions after the head of a ministry passes.  In this case, with his wife Jean, and his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Ben, to carry the torch, I know Children's Cup will grow in size and impact.  In fact, I jotted down some words that came to me while watching a video of his life:
     "The legacy of a life well-lived and a work well-started,
       Is the growth that God gives when the man has departed."

My life was richer for having Dave in it, even for a few short years.

Dave Ohlerking

1940-2010

Back Home Again

After 36 hours in transit, Dee and I got home yesterday.  There is always a time of processing after a trip like this.  I find myself missing the team already.  I look at everything we have and wonder if it is too much?  I think about Sophie and Zehtu, wondering how they are doing.

I have to be careful.  I cautioned our team about overreacting to our culture of "stuff."  We talked about the differences between "wants" and "needs."  For most of us in the US, we have what we need, and much of what we want.  In Swaziland, many are struggling with just meeting basic needs.  Food, clothing, shelter, medical attention and education are available for most of us here, but not there.

We need to do more.  I think most of our Swazi team would agree with that.  In fact, if the Mission Trip doesn't motivate us to do more to help those in need, then the trip will have been pointless.

I guess you can tell how my processing is going!  I know I'm not alone in arriving back home tired and thoughtful.  I find myself wishing that the team could all be together again to discuss our thoughts and feelings together.  It's amazing how much you can bond with people in 10 days, especially when those days are full of activities.  What a great group of people!  They made the trip even more special.

I'll keep processing.  It's not a 24 hour thing.  In the meantime, I thought I'd finish up this Swaziland blog with a few random photos.  Everything from popping jiffy pop to painting a wall inside the Mercy Center.  Of course, no Africa trip would be complete without seeing a lion!

PS.  Swazi team members - you have an open invitation to dinner at our place anytime!! Drop by soon!

Saying Goodbye

It's almost midnight on our last night in Swaziland. We had our last time of sharing as a group. It was a long meeting, especially considering that we have all been up since 5 a.m. I've met a lot of new friends. This was an awesome team. However, we've not said our final goodbyes yet. We have a 4-5 hour bus trip to Johannesburg, and then 18 hours together on an airplane.

The more difficult goodbyes today took place at the Mercy Centers. After being with the kids all week, there were a lot of connections that were made. Sponsors got to know their sponsor children, but they all would have liked more time. Most will never see these children again in their lifetimes. Many wonder who is going to be there to hold and hug the children next week. Dee and I are fortunate. Leading trips like this, we are able to visit our sponsored children from time to time. So our goodbyes to Sophie and Zehtu were less emotional because we know we will see them again down the road.

I know that both the sponsor and the child will value the letters that are written more highly. They have that personal connection. One team member asked me if our coming - and leaving - did more harm than good? I tried to convince her that we all have had times in our lives that people crossed our paths and by word or deed, did something that made a lasting impact.

The value of a mission trip is not what we built; it's not the activities or crafts that we did with the children. The value to the child is showing them that they do have value - that we cared enough to come hold them, laugh with them, dance with them and look into their eyes with love and respect. But, perhaps the greatest value to the children is the change that happens on the team. These team members will be more engaged. They will write and encourage the child, and they will help friends, family and church members to step up and lend a hand. It doesn't stop the tears from flowing when we say goodbye. But it does give the trip greater meaning and purpose.

Even after traveling as much as I do, I never come back quite the same. I return more passionate to tell the story and get others involved. I think that will happen with other team members as well. The need is overwhelming, but it all boils down to helping make a difference for one child. That's something we can all do. One Child Matters!

What to do?

One of the frustrating things about serving with a Mission Team is that there is always so much more that you could do - if you just had the resources. I spent time today with Ben Rodgers, Director of Children's Cup, Swaziland, our partner ministry. He gave me a tour of their dream center, which will be used to house and train Swazi young people, along with US young people, for the work of ministry. From there we went to a location where they have been feeding over 100 children a day, and a location for a new Mercy Center when the resources allow.

Yesterday I posted about the need for a generational, long-term view of ministry here. When you see it, you're amazed by the work that is being done, and you feel compelled to give to help meet the need. But, how do you convince others that have not seen, heard, smelled and touched what you have experienced? Well, I suppose you could write a blog, or post on Facebook, but nothing can match the experience and what it does in your heart.

I know that many on our team are going to try to describe their feelings about this trip to people who really don't want to listen. Because if they listen closely and hear the heart of the person telling them their story, they'll have to respond. There will certainly be frustration and disappointment.

I have no clue what the answer is to get more people involved. Sponsoring a child helps a lot, and it's just $34 a month. I guess what we have to do is to keep telling our story. Some will listen. Some will respond. And that's a good thing.

Here are pictures of activities at the project where Dee's crew was working. They built an outdoor cookstove, gave blankets to the children, horsed around a little bit, and loved on children.














Tomorrow we head off for a little taste of African wildlife at a game park. We'll stay overnight, enjoy a morning game drive, then come back for a final VBS on Friday afternoon. So many of our team sponsor children at the projects they have been working at. Saying goodbye to the kids will be a long, tearful process. That's the hardest part of going back home. I know, though, that some will come back again!

Generations

Last night was a "Sleepless in Swaziland" night. I gave a lot of thought about what I shared in our first night devotional based on three Old Testament verses where God promises to bless those who honor Him to a thousand generations. That night, I had asked how many people there were first generation believers - those that had made a decision to follow Christ even though their parents were not believers. Of the 43 people in the room, only 4 had stood up. It proves what a powerful influence Christian parents have on their children.

In a country like Swaziland, there is very little generational Christian influence. That tells me that we need to focus efforts on the youth of this country to help turn the tide, especially in the area of morality. It is estimated that up to 42% of the population is HIV positive. In order to change a nation, you have to raise up a generation of believers. They will then have a tremendous influence on future generations. There is no magic overnight solution. All the AIDs education in the world will not heal this country. They all know that, with men taking multiple partners, there is the risk of AIDs. For the most part, the current adult generation just has no moral framework with which to work in. We have to be in this for the long haul, and as "instant" Americans, we're not used to the solution being a generation away.

This morning, Sue, one of our team members, handed me a Scripture that she felt the Lord had giver her. Psalms 71:17-18: "O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds. And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come." Don't you love it when you get a confirming word?

It was a warm, dusty day at the Mercy Centers today. We split into three teams to do a little work, and a lot of interaction with the kids. Lots of laughter, and lots of tears. Painting a swing set to bowling with sand-filled plastic bottles as the pins. And of course, cherishing our time with the kids. Here are a few pictures of the day at our location.















OK, now off to a good night's rest - I hope. Of course, I have to remind myself that we didn't come here for rest and relaxation.

Meeting our Sponsored children

What an incredible day! After a community walk, we went to a local park for a picnic with our sponsored children. Dee and I got to spend time with Sophie and Zehtu. About two dozen sponsored children got to spend the afternoon with their sponsor. We had KFC for lunch, played some organized games, then got some time to just bond with the kids. Some kicked balls, some played a card game, others just enjoyed communicating. It is always amazing to me how much you can communicate even without a translator.













We have an amazing team. Before the end of the week,some will strike up relationships that will last a lifetime.


We've already seen people helping each other and praying together. Before dinner tonight the team brought the crafts, school supplies, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soccer balls and beach balls to a room to organize activities for the rest of the week. As they piled the items they brought onto the tables, I was totally blow away - how did we get that much stuff here?


After dinner together, Dee led our devotion time. She had a couple from a local church lead worship, and interspersed worship with sharing. Almost everyone shared their high point and low point so far on the trip. Tears flowed amidst laughter and joy. We're still early in the trip with most of the work days and VBS activities yet to come. But you can already see how God is at work in our lives.

While we are here, WGTS in Washington, DC, is conducting a sponsorship drive. When they arrived at the station, they found that there whole phone system was down. Please pray for this event. 400 children in Swaziland need a sponsor.

We have been on the move since we arrived. It's been three years since we have led a mission team and I forgot what it was like to get 40 people, plus staff, on to two buses and try to keep a schedule. We'll all getting the "count off" system down! Thank goodness the team has a sense of humor.

So much has happened already. I can't wait to see how the rest of the week unfolds.

Back to Swaziland

Three years ago, I led my last mission trip as "the radio guy." That trip to Swaziland was very special. We hosted a group of WCLN, Fayetteville, NC, listeners, but my entire family went along.

Now, my kids are having kids and it will be many years before we can do something like that again.

Donald and Diane Page, who were on that mission trip in 2007, are now serving there and will be two of our hosts. We'll also see two special ladies, Sophie (our nickname for her), 12, and Zehtu, 7, our sponsor children.

Though we have been back to Swaziland a few times, that 2007 trip will always hold a special place in our memories. Within a couple weeks after we returned I was appointed to the position I now serve in as President of Mission of Mercy. This group of 40 people are mainly coming through the efforts of WGTS in Washington, DC. This will be the first large mission team we have led in three years.

While we are in Swaziland, we will be calling in reports and WGTS will be encouraging listeners to sponsor children. So, I'm guessing the radio background will come in handy on this trip! We have over 400 children in Swaziland that need sponsors, so we're praying for a strong response.

We're looking forward to making new friends on the team, seeing some old friends on the team and in Swaziland, and we're excited to see how the Lord moves in all of us during this trip.

Watch out Swaziland, here we come!





PS. It's been awhile since I posted. Maintaining an active blog is more tine consuming than I thought and it seems like every time I sit down to write, something else pops up. Internet connection permitting, I'll post a couple reports from Swaziland.

Every Time

No matter how many times I see it, it is always sobering. “It” is
walking in the midst of abject poverty. Earlier this year, I visited three of our projects in Delhi, India. This past week, I just returned from visiting those same projects again. I was prepared this time for what I was going to see – I had already seen it. But, it still hits you in the gut. The smell, the garbage, the tiny lean-tos that many call home.

I read an article that stated that 52% of the population of the Delhi region – estimated at over 17 million people – live in the slums.


Over 2,000 people per week move into the area, hoping to find factory work. Some are lucky enough to pick up low paid day labor jobs. Many have to find other alternatives. The area we visited is the ragpicker area. People from the slums head out early in the morning to pick up garbage. They bring the garbage back and sort through it to find recyclables and other things to sell. Children are a necessary part of the economy. A child picking through garbage can earn $1 a day or more. That’s why many families struggle to send their kids to school – they lose income. But, unless we educate the children, they are destined to follow in their parents’ footsteps in poverty.

This trip had some special highlights. One of the couples that joined us sponsors 97 children in one project.


What an awesome thing it was for them to meet all of those children at the church, where the kids put on a special program for their sponsor. Then there was time afterward for the sponsors to give each child a gift. From there we headed out to see where the children lived. That’s when the impact hits you. We were walking in slums and went to the school where many of these children attended. This particular school has the only bathroom facilities in the slum.

I also had the chance to meet the young girl that my daughter Emily sponsors through her business. Her mom was there, and we met her sister, as well. Her sister was one of the 97 children that was sponsored by our companions.

We also spent time with the Medical Mercy team. It is always a joy to watch them in action. They saw hundreds of children throughout the week. They also took information on each child that will allow them to study the needs of the children. Many from the slums appear to be undernourished, so Dr. Beyda, the director, will devise a plan of action for our projects. Several days their plans were changed because the kids just kept coming. They would plan to leave by 3 or 4 pm, but end up examining the children until 6 p.m.



Oh, did I mention the heat? Oppressive, which made our trip into the slums even more emotional. We got to go back to our air-conditioned hotel, but these families live in this oppressive heat daily. One day it was 107 degrees with over 85% humidity. Since it snowed in Colorado Springs the day before we left, this was like walking from the freezer into the oven!




I can’t help wondering which one of these kids would end up being a great teacher or a pastor. I’m sure there were nurses there, as well. God only knows what His plan is for each of them. But I know that each child has value and is worth the effort. For those of you who sponsor a child – thank you! For those of you who don’t – why not start now. Just go to www.missionofmercy.org and find a life to invest in. Remember, One Child Matters.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Why do we do it?

Last week, the entire staff in our building in Colorado Springs had the opportunity to hear Dareth Ly's story.  Dareth was 7 years old in the late 70's when Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge took power in Cambodia.  The Khmer systematically "cleansed" the population - a genocide that claimed the lives of 2-1/2 million people - a third of the entire population.  The cities were emptied and many were sent to labor camps.  Dareth was separated from his family and was sent to a children's labor camp.  He experienced horrific torture and he was forced to watch as other children were brutally murdered in front of everyone.  Of the more than 1,000 children assigned to the camp, less than 50 survived.

Dareth was able to escape and joined a group of 100 people that journeyed for over two weeks by night to make it to safety on the Thailand border.  Land mines claimed many lives, and only 25 of his group made it through the trek alive.  The mood in our meeting was so quiet and somber that you could hear a pin drop.

Despite the mass genocide, no one has been prosecuted for the murders.  Only four people are now in the process of standing trial.  Many top government officials were members of the Khmer Rouge and have no desire for justice.  These are the oppressive conditions that the people of Cambodia still face.

When Dareth made it to safety at 11 years old, he was sent to Minnesota as part of a refugee program.  The family that took him in were believers and he came to a personal understanding of God's love for him.  Despite never wanting to go back, he answered the call, and has been ministering in Cambodia since 1996.  Dareth believes that in order to change Cambodia, you have to start with the children.  He is involved in the work we support through Mission of Mercy.  Almost 3,000 children in Cambodia participate in our program.

A couple years ago, Dee and I had the opportunity to travel to Cambodia.  We saw first-hand the reserve of the Cambodian people.  No wonder, the people who perpetrated this atrocity are still running the country.  The country of Cambodia is beautiful.  One of the projects we got to see was the Floating School near Siem Reap.  There are villages on a vast lake.  They eke out a living by fishing, which is becoming more difficult each year.  There is no electricity, no clean water, no medical facilities and no educational opportunities.  Several years ago, Dareth's ministry built a school on the lake.  It is an amazing journey to get there.  At certain times of the year, with the rise and fall of the water levels, the village needs to move.  So, the school moves first, gets anchored and set up, and then the rest of the village follows.  Kids come to school on little boats.  It is an amazing thing to see.

Operating a sponsorship program is very complex.  There is a need to link the child to a sponsor; to process correspondence; to hold the project accountable and to keep the sponsor informed.  When I stepped into my position here, I had no idea of all the complications and complexities.  We have over 40,000 children in 19 different countries.  Each program is different and each culture unique.  Frankly, it can be frustrating and overwhelming at times.  We have a great staff, but, at the end of the day, they can still see the pile of work that will face them the next day.

So, when someone like Dareth comes into our lives and shares his story and his passion for the kids, it rejuvenates us.  It reminds us that this ministry is not about our workload.  It's about the children.  Knowing that we are supporting people like Dareth gives us great encouragement.  That's why we do what we do!

Asia Trip - Final Thoughts

It's been just over a week since I returned home.  I got home on a Sunday evening and had a hectic work week starting the next day.  I'm just now catching up from jet lag.  My thoughts, however, are still on Asia.

The morning I left Nepal, I had a special treat.  Back in the mid-90's, KSLT, our radio station in South Dakota, began fundraising for our "Angel of Nepal."  She was an American lady who had a passion for children.  She started taking them into her home in Kathmandu, until she outgrew one house and had to move to another.  Every year from the Hills Alive Summer Music Festival stage, I'd talk about her ministry to orphans, and for several years, we were her sole source of support.

On our way to the airport, we stopped by the school she helps oversee.  As I talked to her, several people joined us.  They were all children from the orphanage.  Eight of them were teaching in the school, and several others had influential positions.  She said as they gathered, "these are the children you supported."  What a way to end my time in Nepal!  It was a huge reminder that investing in lives of children results in tremendous ministry as children become adults.  

From Nepal, I went to Thailand - all over Thailand!  I visited projects in the north within a rock's throw of Myanmar (Burma).  I visited projects in the south within sight of Malaysia.  It was almost too much, too fast.  After the heavy pollution of Kathmandu, and walking in the slums of Delhi, the rural areas of Thailand seemed like paradise.  There was very little trash on the road sides, and the air was clean and clear.  These trips are wonderful to get a perspective of the ministry the Mission of Mercy supports, but they fall short on the side of getting to experience the sights and sounds of an area.  However, I never get tired of seeing children with hope in their eyes.  God has created each of these children with a unique personality and a special plan and purpose.

As I get back into the pace of life back in the US, I am reminded again of why we do what we do.  We are simply a participant in the plan of God for these kids.  They have value and they deserve our support.  In my brief time back home, I've already taken a quick trip to Canada to meet with the Director of Mission of Mercy - Canada.  We are talking about ways to work together to increase the impact of our ministries.  No individual or organization can do it all.  We each do what we can, where we can.  And ultimately, the difference is made in the life of one child.  That's why I love our new slogan, "One Child Matters."  

I'll be thinking about this trip for a long time.  Each country, each culture is so different.  People ask me, "After all your travels, what is your favorite country?"  My answer is always, "it's the last place I have visited."  And so the story continues....

Quit 'yer... complaining!

It is easy to get weary just driving to meetings. The driving is nerve-wracking and takes longer than the meetings themselves. It is nearly impossible to keep on schedule and the days go much longer than planned.

We took a one hour flight yesterday from Delhi, India, to Kathmandu, Nepal. The flight left over an hour late, and circled for more than two additional hours for fog to clear at Kathmandu. So, our 9:30am arrival was closer to 1pm. Then, we passed a Maoist demonstration that was blocking traffic on half the road, so it took forever to reach our hotel. Late again. There were seven pastors and leaders of our projects that were waiting for us for several hours. We finally made it around 3:30. It was a great meeting and I spent a lot of time answering questions and finding out how the ministries functioned here. As it got dark, the electricity went out at the church we were meeting. No one bat an eye. We continued to meet until dark. After the meeting, I asked about the power situation and was told, “we only have 11 hours of electricity a day.” They can’t afford a generator and diesel fuel, so they function with lanterns if they meet at night. (As I write this, the power just went out in the hotel – thank goodness for long battery life on this netbook computer.) Then it was another long, interminable, ride back home.

Our regional director, Satya, and I felt like we needed to stretch our legs after the long plane ride and car rides. We walked through a market section of the city where every other store was a “Trekking” store. Young Americans and Europeans are in abundance. North Face clothing and other brands are made here in Nepal and nearby China, so it’s very cheap. Yeah, I bought some jackets for Dee and me and a couple other friends. What would have cost well over $100 back home cost $25 here. By the time we got back to the hotel around 10 pm we were exhausted. We got up at 4 am yesterday morning to catch the early flight.

The headline in the newspaper this morning was how traffic was becoming unmanageable in Kathmandu. Buses spew plumes of smoke into the air, and it catches in your throat – I’ve been coughing a bit. I’ve never seen so many people wearing masks over their face and mouth. They come in all colors and designs – face masks are a fashion statement here.

Today we met at three different locations with pastors and project leaders. If I had any hair, I would be pulling it out. We passed another group just starting a demonstration march, but thankfully we got ahead of them before they blocked traffic. It is a way of life here, so I’m sure people don’t face the level of frustration that I have. On top of that, it’s cold in the evening and the hotel room has no heat, so it was difficult to sleep last night.

I’m sad that my travel to Nepal won’t allow me to leave the city. I hope to get back here – I’m told the countryside is incredibly beautiful. Tomorrow morning, we attend a school chapel service, visit an orphanage and then run to the airport to catch a flight to Thailand.

I know I’m complaining a lot. This is the way of life here in Nepal, as well as so many other areas of the world. The cities are run down. Slum areas pop up everywhere. Beggars approach us on the street. And the traffic is maddening.

This is where Mission of Mercy works. This is what we do. And that is something that I am proud of!

Delhi - Day Two

I have talked with people who really resist sponsoring a child from India. After all, we have shifted jobs away from the US and sent them to India. We hear about India’s new prosperity. Yet, for those who observe India, that prosperity has hit a relatively small percentage of the population. Most Americans saw the level of that poverty in the movie “Slum Dog Millionaire.” Over 750 million people in India live in poverty.

We experienced the slums of the Delhi area again today. In the first half of our day, we visited Life Centre Academy. This school has taken kids from extremely difficult positions and is working to give these children a break. They are helping with special needs children, as well as older children that have never had the opportunity for an education.

We met Christina, a 12 year old girl sitting in a classroom with much younger children. Christina lives with her sister’s family. They have a couple smaller children and her sister’s husband would often talk about getting rid of her. She started in school a short time ago, but in her second year, the family would not buy books, so Christina stopped coming. A few weeks later, she came to the principal in tears, greatly desiring to come back to school. The school has welcomed her back and is providing books and a uniform. We can only pray that she can continue and that the family will not force her to work to bring in money.

From there we went to another part of the city where the project reaches out to slum kids in a major way. We walked through some of the worst conditions I have seen, and visited the kids in the slum where they live. As you are assaulted by the smells and the stench of the area, you wonder how it is that we could allow people to live in such conditions. Bags of garbage piled high, and people sorting through it to get any recyclables. This reminded me of the garbage city in Cairo where we also have a project. We were invited in to one child’s home. A small room with a bed is the extent of the home. The home is a shanty comprised of tin, wood and canvas. It looks like a strong wind would blow it over.

The world’s attention is being drawn to this kind of poverty in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. Do you throw up your hands in exasperation and admit that the problem is just too big? I hope not. I hope each of us will do what we can to help – whether it is in Africa, Haiti, or India. That’s why I love what we do at Mission of Mercy. We give hope to children, one at a time. And I stand in awe at the quality of the partners we work with. They truly have a passion for children, and are providing great opportunities with very little resources.

I am still processing what I saw today, but I am deeply moved and challenged by the work that my brothers and sisters in the Lord are doing here in Delhi.

Delhi - Day One

It’s a feeling you never get used to. The feeling in your gut that hurts for the people you see living in extreme conditions.

Today we spent the day just south of Delhi in Faridabad. Rev. Ivan Powar has an amazing work here. From an initial gathering of a half dozen people, he has grown to over 2,000 people that attend their church in 10 different locations. At the main church, he has a day care, orphanage and Bible College. He has a creative staff that is reaching out to the community and has an energetic outreach to young people.

The city has a lot of factories, and has been ringed by a number of slums. We visited one of those slums and saw the school that has been built. It has the only toilet facilities in the whole slum. As we drove into the area, we were struck immediately by the smell. Some of the women collect the dung from cows, dry it out, and use it as fuel. Amidst the trash and filth, children play in worn out clothes and without shoes. The school was built despite opposition for dump yard gangs and Hindu fundamentalists. They’ve stayed the course even after those groups have damaged the school property. On top of that, they have a small church gathering that is pastured by a woman trained in the Bible school. This is almost unheard of in India. Inside the school, a couple hundred students awaited us, standing in greeting, then sitting quietly as we walked through the facilities.

One of the highlights of my day was meeting six-year-old Shabnam Ali. My daughter Emily has a yoga studio in Laramie, WY. Through her business, she sponsors Shabnam. I discovered the Emily’s sponsored child was in this project just a couple weeks before I came. It was a delight to meet Shabnam, as well as her mother and grandmother. They live in a leprosy area, and the residents are isolated by the community. The fact that Shabnam is able to attend school is a blessing to her family.

Driving in India is always a challenge. But the roads of Delhi are jammed with traffic. I sat in the front seat today, and most of the time, wished I hadn’t! There is just a mass of humanity here. You go by areas with clean, middle to upper class apartment buildings. On the next block, buildings are in shambles. The smog penetrates your eyes and you lungs. It is hard to understand how people live with this every day.

Mission of Mercy sponsored projects in Faridabad reach over 600 children. While that creates a tremendous impact on those families, there is much more that we can do here. We need more sponsors to step up to the plate and help. In the meantime, we continue to reach out to those that we can, because One Child Matters.

India - Kolkata and Bonnie

Dee and I met Bonnie for the first time seven years ago. Bonnie is our sponsored child in India. She was eight years old the first time we met. Two years ago, on another trip to Kolkata, Bonnie and her family were our guests at a banquet. On Saturday, I got to spend time again with Bonnie and her mother.

Bonnie is now 15 years old and is maturing into a fine young lady. She will enter high school in a few months. It is apparent that without our assistance, she would not be able to attend school. As it is, her family still needs to sacrifice to provide those costs that sponsorship does not take care of. It is a difficult struggle for her family.

I saw Bonnie in a different light this time. She is no longer the little girl that we sponsor. She communicates clearly and I was impressed with her poise and confidence. She wants to be a doctor someday, but she will need to study hard and to catch a break here and there for that to happen. Bonnie and her family have become an extended family for Dee and me, and we want to support and encourage her growth. If she is able to succeed, her entire family will benefit.

Even as I think about Bonnie, I find myself wondering how many times this scenario is being played out around the world for other children who are sponsored. They are being given hope, and they can dream of a future that is better than their current reality. But, I see that there is more that we need to do. Driving through the streets of Kolkata, it is apparent that for many there is a daily struggle just to survive today. Tomorrow the struggle will be just as difficult.

I know that there are many children that we serve that will not break out of the cycle of poverty their family has been locked into. A child in India, or Kenya, or Honduras still has to have a desire to succeed and they have to work hard. But, if we help, at least they have a fighting chance to get ahead. Bonnie has a chance to dream big, and with determination, she has the opportunity to achieve a level of education and opportunity that no one in her family has ever experienced. That’s certainly worth the price of a few cappuccinos a month.

On the Road Again!

I'm sitting in the Denver Airport waiting to board my flight.  I'm heading to Kolkata (Calcutta) via Seattle, Tokyo and Bangkok.  A trip of about 36 hours.  I used to love to fly, but now I find it more difficult.  Planes are jammed with people, legroom has disappeared, and I'm leaving someone very special at home.

I will be spending time at a Founder's Day celebration in Kolkata, the birthplace of Mission of Mercy.  This is strictly a suit and tie affair.  It will be nice, though, to spend time in the Mission of Mercy offices and enjoy dinner with the staff.  I'll also get to see Bonnie, a young lady of 15 now that we have sponsored for over 8 years, and have seen on several occasions. From Kolkata I'll head to Delhi to visit several of our projects in that area.  This will be my first trip there.

After Delhi, it's on to Katmandu, Nepal to see our work there.  From Nepal, I'll head to Thailand for more of the same.  Once I have seen projects and met our partners in Nepal and Thailand, I will have had the opportunity to view our projects in every country where Mission of Mercy operates.  Each country and culture is so different.  This makes those long flight worth while.

Yet, as I leave, the images from Haiti are on my mind.  I read Dr. Beyda's blog last night.  There is such a desperate need and I am proud of our teams dedication and commitment.  Please pray for their strength and health while in Haiti.  Watch the Mission of Mercy website for updates.

I'll try to keep up with this trip as much as I can.  I look forward to meeting new people, loving on the kids, and especially, returning home to Dee.