Hope in Bangladesh and the Philippines

Over the past few years, I have had the opportunity to travel a great deal on behalf of Mission of Mercy. When I talk with people about my travels, I'm often asked if I get to see major tourist attractions in each of the countries I visit. Sometimes when we host a group of people, like a Mission Trip, we'll try to spend a day sightseeing and shopping. But, for the most part, I travel to see Mission of Mercy projects and meet the people who are serving the children. I love that aspect of what I do - experiencing life as it really is.

That was the case on my recent trip to Bangladesh and the Philippines. Bangladesh has a population of over 150 million people in a country slightly smaller than the state of Iowa. You can't escape the mass of humanity wherever you go. Over 80% of the population is Muslim. We drove for hours, including transport over the river by ferry, to see a couple of the village schools. Most of the Mission of Mercy projects are in the rural areas, and are inaccessible at times during the monsoon season. One of the things that really struck me was how little that they have as a point of reference to us in America. We encourage the children to write their sponsors regularly, but there is nothing in their culture to relate to. In these areas they have no mail service, and no need to communicate with anyone beyond their living area. There's no soccer league or dance school to write about. They live very simple lives - no electricity, no running water. Yet, you can see the hope in their eyes.

When we went to the Home of Hope Children's Home, I saw children who are being raised to become leaders. The first of the children are now graduating and contributing to the church and the community in Bangladesh.

In the Philippines, we also traveled a great deal. On the island of Malapascua, there is a small population which relies primarily on fishing. With solar power, a few lights can be lit at night, but the homes are very simple bamboo homes - all cooking is done outside over an open fire. Since we were going to spend the night, our afternoon included a walk around the island, and some time just sitting on the beach speaking with the fishermen. I met one sponsored child and his mother. She was sewing ripped fishing nets, and we had the opportunity to speak. She is extremely happy that her son is able to participate in the Mission of Mercy program. He gets help and encouragement in his studies, and receives nutritious meals on a regular basis. Our last activity of the day was attending a children's church service. The kids led the singing - and were enthusiastic participants. Over 150 Mission of Mercy kids crowded the church, and I had a wonderful evening with them.

The next day we visited several families whose homes were destroyed earlier in the summer by a typhoon. Upon my return, I had the joy of sending funds from Mission of Mercy to help eight of these families with sponsored children. Their homes will be rebuilt - and they will be able to move ahead with their lives.

After two weeks of exhaustive travel in Asia, my last full day was a Sunday. We were to attend church at the Happy Horizon's home. I was told that the children of the home, some of whom were rescued off the streets after much abuse, always led the worship. I thought, "this will be cute." I was totally unprepared for what I experienced. These kids are talented singers and musicians - and they know how to worship. Any church in America would be blessed to be a part of that service. I came out of that service refreshed and encouraged. The abuse that some of these children have suffered in their lives is unimaginable - yet they have hope in a God who deeply loves them and cares for them.

My final activity was to speak at the two year anniversary of a church. We traveled on rocky roads almost straight up the mountainside. The church started two years ago with about 15 people. There were probably 200 at the service that afternoon. The kid's from the orphanage came to help with the music. The worship was led by the pastor's wife. After the service, I found out that the pastor's wife was one of the first five girls taken in years ago when Happy Horizons had just started. Talk about ministry coming full circle!

Though I didn't hang out on any popular beaches, or visit any tourist attractions, I experienced a side of life that very few of us in this country get to experience. I saw poverty, to be sure. But I also saw something that all of us need to experience daily - Hope!

Kenya

I spent three days in Kenya this month. This was my second trip to Kenya in less than a year. When you have been to some place that impacted you, you wonder if it will have the same impact when you go back a second time. In this case, the answer is, "definitely, YES!" Dee joined me on this trip as we traveled to see two projects with the Massai tribe, plus visited New Life Home and Hope Academy in Nairobi.

Over the course of the three days, we were able to visit New Life Home twice. New Life Home rescues discarded and abandoned children. There were 51 babies, ranging from infants to toddlers. The level of care these children are provided is amazing. Between the staff and volunteers, these children get almost one-to-one care. This is one of those places that you get lost in time. Just holding and playing with the children blesses your heart - and to think these are the children that are the throw-aways of Nairobi! God has a plan for each of them!

Our trip south to the Massai tribe was amazing, as well. Because we were on such a tight time schedule, we were not going to be able to visit a game park or zoo. On our drive in the bush though, we happened across a giraffe and herd of zebra's! Dee said afterward, "Let's give the Lord a hand - he has blessed us!" Everyone else felt the same.

When we got to the first project, which is pretty isolated, we were greeted by the children singing for us. They are amazing kids. They face living conditions that most of us cannot relate to. Yet, because of the assistance of Mission of Mercy, they have hope. When we were there last November, we became concerned about the quality of the water. It was tested and found to be contaminated. Since then, we have provided a water purification system that allows the kids to drink safe water. The families are allowed to draw water for drinking, also, so the children are able to drink safe water in their homes, as well. I believe this will make a difference in the health of our Mission of Mercy children and their families.

During the trip, we also visited the home of one of our sponsor children. These are huts with sheet metal roofs, with hardened mud over a basic stick frame. The families do much of their cooking indoors, but the only ventilation is through the doorway, and two very small openings at either end of the hut. The last time I was in Kenya, when we visited a home they were cooking indoors. It took us several washings of the clothes I was wearing to get the smoky smell out.

For those of you who read this that support a child through Mission of Mercy, I deeply appreciate your support. Your sponsorship makes a big difference in the lives of these children. If you have not yet sponsored a child, you can do so by going to the Mission of Mercy website at www.missionofmercy.org.

I continue to marvel at how blessed we are in the US. Even in the midst of an uncertain economy, we can still reach out to "the least of these" and make a difference. This past week, I fell in love all over again with the people of Kenya. And I'm again encouraged by the work that we are doing, not just in Kenya, but in countries around the world!

Watching Montana Grow

Dee and I have been blessed to have our grand daughter, Montana, live near us. She is now six months old. I had friends tell me that being a grandparent was a wonderful thing, but I always thought they were being a bit "gushy." Now, I believe them. It is fun to watch her grow up. She is very curious about her surroundings, and I think she's partial towards her grandpa!

Children are a blessing of God. In Psalm 127:3, the Message Bible says, "Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?"

Whenever I spend time with Montana, though, I'm mindful of the children that don't have parents who can provide for them. It's not because the parents don't love them. They are just born in a different country, amidst the poverty that surrounds them. Poverty exists in America, to be sure. However, we have many safety nets that are available for those who seek help. In the case of the poor, part of the safety net in a developing country is having children who can work at an early age to help support the family. These children often fall through the cracks of the system.

Even in a difficult economy, I often wonder if we can't do more? According to the Census Bureau, there are 110 million family units in America. If every family helped one child in need in a developing country, we'd see the world change. That's not going to happen. However, if you happen to be reading this - and you don't sponsor a child, I'd invite you to our website at www.missionofmercy.org. There is a child waiting for help - and for about a dollar a day, you can give them hope for the future.

I know God has a plan for Montana's life. I am excited that God has given us the opportunity to be part of her life. I pray for God's blessing for her - and I pray that when she grows up, she will be a world changer! I pray the same for the 37,000 children that we reach daily through Mission of Mercy. Children are a joy to watch and to be with, aren't they?

Children at Risk?

It seems that every day we hear about more difficult circumstances created by the economy. We are constantly inundated with news about the increase in gas prices and the decrease in home prices. Every time you go to the gas pump, you're faced with sticker shock. Their are many families in America that are struggling, and I feel that financial challenge even in my own family.

These are times that also challenge non-profit ministries. We rely on the loving gifts from God's people. Often, when times get tough, people cut back on the amount of money they give. I have given this a great deal of thought - and I think about the potential impact on children that we serve at Mission of Mercy. These are children that had little or nothing to begin with. My heart goes to these children, as well.

If you have a vehicle of any size, it is easy to drop $60 in the gas tank when you fill up. My total this morning was $60.65. That's twice the $30 per month that it costs to sponsor a child - to provide nutrition, education and medical help, as well as the message of Christ. Put another way, you can support a child who needs you for just a half a tank of gas. When the temptation comes to cut back on support of a child, perhaps you can think of ways to save a half of tank of gas over the course of a month, instead. Share the ride when you can. Combine your errands on one trip, instead of taking multiple trips. With just a little planning, you should be able to cut enough on gas to support "one of the least of these."

In the midst of difficult times and a tight budget, please keep in mind these words of promise from Isaiah 58:10-11:

" if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always;

he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail." (NIV)

Sri Lanka

This was my 5th trip to Sri Lanka since the tsunami. Dee and I have had the opportunity to lead teams to work on the orphanage at Kalapuwa Sri. Because we know so many of the staff here, it was a bit like coming home.

We were surprised to learn that Darshini, our 11 year old sponsor child, had made the 6 hour trip to meet us. I had met her before, but because of the fact that it is a grueling drive, and that Darshini must stay a couple nights at the orphanage to make the trip, I had told them they should not put her through the stress. However, she wanted to see us, so she came. She was a delight to be with. She is a Tamil, so most of the other kids do not speak her language. Both of her parents are tea pluckers on a tea plantation near Kandy, earning very little salary.

The dedication of the new Kalapuwa Sri orphanage was thrilling for us. We had not been here for over 18 months, so we were amazed with all that had been done. This is truly a home where the boys can grow in the knowledge that they are special and they are greatly valued. These are kids that have lost everything.

As we packed our bags for the trip back to the US, we talked about how so many of the missionaries and the national staff have invested everything in the lives of these kids. We return with an even greater sense of responsibility to do everything we can to support their efforts. This is where the ministry happens – and we are determined to pray for the workers and the kids – and to help them in every way possible.

Cambodia

We were unprepared for the beauty of Cambodia. Having read the stories of the genocide of the Khmer Rouge in the 70’s, and how 1 ½ to 2 million people lost their lives; we were not sure what to expect. We spent three days traveling the country by air, boat and car. We saw a country that has suffered a great deal. But people are doing their best to recover.

Our first trip was a boat ride to the floating school that Mission of Mercy supports. There was also a medical team with us to provide check ups for the children. We met our 12 year old sponsor child, Lay Phat, and our heart went out to him. The floating fishing village he is a part of is incredible, but there is concern that the lake they are on is being over fished and their livelihood may diminish. That’s why an education becomes so important.

As we traveled to Battambang and then south to the orphanage on the southern coast, we saw so many people deeply committed to helping these children become productive members of society. As these kids learn about the Lord, many have dreams of becoming pastors. The kids at the orphanage are learning business practices by raising crops, pigs, quail, and by doing crafts. They are able to sell the products. Several of the kids have nice bikes that they have purchased for themselves.

Although our days were filled from early to late, Dee and I were deeply impacted, and look forward to the day that we can return.

India - Bonnie

At the end of our Mission of Mercy conference with project leaders from around India, we had a nice banquet. It was our joy to invite our sponsor child, Bonnie, and her family. It was a wonderful evening. Bonnie is being educated in an English school, so she could communicate well with us, and translate for the family. Her older brother is now 25, but was not a sponsor child, so he only completed 8 grades of school, and is not able to speak English, which is a disadvantage here. It took him awhile to find a job, and he receives a very small salary. Bonnie's parents expressed to us how grateful they were that we were helping her. She is a very bright young lady - and would like to become a doctor some day. We don't know what the future holds, but we know that, with our sponsorship, Bonnie will be able to get at least a high school education.

Sometimes, though, the little things strike you. As much as we tried to honor and host them, they would not sit or take a bite until we had sat and began eating. We gave Bonnie a CD of Sarah Kelly, a Mission of Mercy artist. There was some conversation in the family. I asked what they were talking about and Bonnie finally said, "it's not a problem. We have not a way to play the CD." We are so used to technology. We will see that we're able to put the CD on cassette tape, or provide a CD player for them. The family is Hindu, but Bonnie receives teaching about the Lord every day. She told us that she prayed to God that she would be able to meet us again, and that night was an answer to her prayers. We will get to spend a little time with her again tomorrow before we depart for Cambodia. When I think of how the whole family is impacted by her ability to get an education, I assure you, that $30 a month check doesn't seem like too much to give.