A Whisper of Hope

The last few months my attention has been drawn to butterflies. Yes, it was spring so of course butterflies are evident - but this spring it seemed God has been specifically drawing my attention to these beautiful creatures. Their resounding life story of hope has penetrated my heart. The beauty of breaking out. The struggle through the storm of the cocoon. The freedom of flight. Every time I see a butterfly - there is a song of hope that springs up in my spirit. This song sings of the amazing truth that life is not always what it appears to be. The chorus resounds with a steady reminder that we don’t always understand the mystery of what God is doing “behind the scenes” or “in the cocoon”. As I walked around Central Park on a warm, sunny June day - my friend and I were talking about life. In between the stories we would stop and snap pictures of the ponds, the bridges, the famous New York scenes. We stood on the edge of one of the beautiful ponds, a picturesque bridge in the background and a city skyscraper in the distance reminding us that we really were in New York. A perfect picture of Central Park. Click. Smile, one more - click. We laughed and did the normal routine - let’s make sure the picture is ok before we move on. Then - what is that? We moved into the shade so we could see the picture better . . . a beautiful butterfly right smack in the middle of my Central Park picture! Neither of us had even noticed a butterfly anywhere around. My friend didn’t even see the butterfly when she snapped the picture! There it is - photo bombed by hope. The unseen, pulling back the curtain and reminding us - there is more than meets the naked eye. There is grace and beauty and hope fluttering around us far more often than we realize.

Are you Reading This?

Saturday morning we went to the market . . . not to buy vegetables or sample local food, although we did end up doing a bit of that. Our purpose was to meet some people and ask if we could pray with them as well as give them a bottle of cold water on this VERY hot morning in Guyana. A simple task - offer prayer and a bottle of water - refreshment for the spirit and the body. We approached a stand with 2 young women selling eggplants, okra and a few unidentifiable vegetables. One of the young women came over and we began to chat. Her name is Rachma, she is 14 years old. Her family lives in a neighboring village and they come to the market every weekend. Behind her sat another young woman, a bit older who looked like she was ignoring us. When I attempted to talk to the second girl, Rachma said - she can’t hear you, she is deaf and she doesn’t talk either. Rachma explained she is my older sister, Rose - sometimes she understands, sometimes she doesn’t. As we continued to speak with Rachma, I asked her if she went to school. Her huge smile quickly disappeared and she said, I finished the 4th grade, but then my Mom wanted me to stay home and take care of Rose. “Do you read?”, I asked. Her shaking head said it all. I could feel the disappointment in her voice as she said, No. I can’t read. The change in Rachma’s demeanor said it all. This young girl wanted to read. She would’ve loved to continue her education. But like so many young women around the world, family demands take precedent over their education. I thought of my nieces. I can hear Bailey, who is 7 reading a book as she sits on Grammy’s lap and I thought what a very different life Bailey has from Rachma. Thankfully, the YWAM base in Guyana has a literacy program and we were able to give Rachma the phone number and invite her to the base to see if she might want to come to the classes. We had an opportunity to encourage Rachma - speak truth to her that she is intelligent and has gifts, which reminded me of the scene from the move The Help - “You is smart, You is kind, You is important” - that was the message we wanted Rachma to hear - we also told her how much God loves her, sees her and He too thinks she is smart - in fact He created her. Her smile returned and she asked if we would be back again to the market. A compelling invitation that makes me want to return to Guyana. Please say a prayer for Rachma and Rose - and remember - if you are reading this - you have a great gift that so many do not have.

Whispered Prayers . . .

This morning as I walked into the classroom here in Guyana, I noticed there were several flags hanging around the room - some familiar to me and others were brand new. I recognized the Guyanese flag on one wall from the welcome packet I had received when I arrived. “Lord, I’d like to get a Guyanese flag, I casually whispered under my breath” Then I began to ask a few of the students if there were shops in town that sold flags. Different opinions responded, “yes, there were”, “not sure what size”, til finally the consensus was that “you need to go to Georgetown, the capital to get one”. I found my seat and began to unpack my computer, when Winston, one of the Guyanese staff came over to me and handed me a large Guyanese flag. “Here” he smiled - I looked at the wall, the Guyanese flag was still hanging, this was a different one, brand new. He smiled and said - “here, it’s a gift”. I thought wow, that was a quick answer to a whisper of a prayer. I smiled as I remembered that right before leaving for this trip, I was waiting for some books to come that I need to read for my Master’s degree. I ordered about 10 books and was hoping a few of them would come in so I could take them on this trip. I wasn’t sure which books to start with so a few mornings before I was to leave, I whispered a prayer - “Lord, I would really like at least a few of the books to come in . . .I’ll take the first 2 that come . . . “ Just a couple hours later - my whispered prayer long out of my mind, I went out to the mailbox - you guessed it - 2 books shoved tightly into the box awaiting a trip to South America! thank you Lord, for listening to that fleeting whisper of a prayer . . . Those books reminded me of a few weeks ago when I was speaking up in Central Jersey. On the way home late in the afternoon, I found my stomach gnawing at me for a coffee and a donut - the perfect tie over til I got home and could get some dinner. Mom and I were in the car and she was also up for a donut stop - so I said out loud - “Lord, I really would like to find a Dunkin Donuts before we get on the Parkway” . . . the last word was barely out of my mouth when I looked to my right and saw the pink and white sign with DD. Mom and I both were taken back - a quick whisper of a prayer for something so eternally insignificant - and there it was . . . He Heard my whisper - and boy did it taste good! The coffee and donuts reminded me that earlier that week another whisper was heard. I was considering the assignment for my Master’s of a 24 hour Silent Retreat. Hmmmm, I thought, where can I go that is conducive to a silent retreat. I know, I will contact Mrs. Kane, a member of our local Catholic church and ask if she knows of any places associated with her church where silent retreats are hosted. I made a mental note to myself to try and remember to call her in the next few days. Later that day, I headed over to the local supermarket. As I wandered through the produce dept., who is standing somewhere between the romaine lettuce and green onions, but Mrs. Kane. After the usual hellos and how are yous - I jumped right in with my request. Sure enough, she was my lady - knew exactly the right place and called me later that night with the contact information. Another whispered request - another immediate response. So, here I sit - looking at my Guyanese flag and remembering that God DOES listen. He not only hears the cries of my heart - He also hears the soft, under-my-breath-whispers. I hope today He hears me whisper - THANK YOU!

10,000 Reasons - Guyana

As I woke up this morning while flying from New York to Guyana - I peered out the window to the amazing beauty of a heaven’s view sunrise . . . the light reflecting off the clouds, the moment by moment unwrapping of sunlight caused me to soak in a new day. I immediately thought of this song by Matt Redman - “The sun comes up it’s a new day dawning . . . bless the Lord oh my soul”. I found myself whispering a prayer of thanksgiving - thankful for a new day, thankful for the opportunity to visit a new country, to meet both old and new friends, to see God’s goodness and beauty in a different culture . . . indeed it seemed like 10,000 reasons for my heart to find to worship and be in awe of God’s grace, goodness and beauty. As we prepared to land, all I could see was a vast jungle below me, a river winding through followed by more jungle - till at last we dropped onto a runway that popped up out of nowhere. The next 2 hours I was taking in all the newness. Greeted at the airport by a familiar face, we then started off on our trip along the coast to the YWAM base. The taxi driver was a proud Guyanese man who enjoyed sharing with me all the unique aspects of his country - the only English-speaking country in South America, the highest waterfall in the world, the longest floating bridge in the world, the largest wooden building in the world. My fact-filled trip was interrupted a few times, like when we passed a young boy holding up iguana for sale along the side of the road. We also stopped at M&M, the local fast-food joint to pick up some- “doubles” - a tortilla type wrap filled with something similar to curried chick peas - it was a tasty introduction to the country, even though “doubles” were brought here by a man from Trinidad. I indulged in my Trinidadian, Guyanese snack purchased for me by my Barbadian friend and literally was singing on the inside at the international moment - 10,000 reasons! As I was eating the “double” we drove over the famous floating bridge . . .and continued our journey onto the YWAM base. After a much needed rest, I enjoyed hanging out with some of the folks here who have come to be a part of the leadership training and found myself looking at pictures of Nepal - a place I had visited almost 10 years ago. One of the guys here did a school in Nepal and was showing me his pictures of a village where I had been. Two Americans looking at pictures of a village in Nepal while sitting on a porch in Guyana - 10,000 reasons for my heart to find to worship an amazing God. If you’ve never listened to this song 10,000 Reasons, please do and ask the Lord to help you begin to be on the lookout for all the incredible reasons we have to worship Him - Bless the Lord of my soul - My soul is indeed blessed and very full!

Peace - A New Understanding

This season I have discovered that the Hebrew definition of Shalom (peace) is very different from our English definition of peace. Most people when I ask them to define peace respond by saying one of two things - Peace is an absence of war OR peace is a feeling of inner tranquility - or something very similar to one of those definitions. However, the Hebrew definition of shalom is "fulfilled", "finished", "whole" - the peace that results from being a whole person in right relationship with God and with one's fellow man. The definition brings a whole deeper meaning to Jesus being the Prince of Peace - He alone is the one that can bring us into right relationship with God and with others. When Jesus tells us "Peace, I leave with you - not as the world gives" - That peace that Jesus promised to us is FAR greater than what we naturally think of peace. He didn't give us an absence of war or an ooey-gooey feeling inside. He gave us so much more, in that we have the possibility to be in right relationship with God and with others. I wrote a poem in response to this revelation. I hope you are blessed.

Peace, Peace - the world proclaims
We want to live in peace
No more conflict, no more strife
We want the wars to cease

Peace, Peace - each person cries
I want to live in peace
No more struggle, no more pain
I want heartache to cease


Peace, Peace - Jesus is born
Peace on earth, goodwill to mankind
Immanuel, Prince of Peace
Yet still that peace is hard to find

Peace, Peace Jesus proclaims
Not as the world do I give
Let not your heart be troubled, afraid
For in my peace you will live . . .

You will live in relationship
to God and to all
In wholeness and righteousness
Fulfilling my call

For peace as I give is not as the world's
The peace that I leave you is so much more
Your life will be whole, your spirit alive
For Shalom in its fullness, will be your life's cry

Feeling Unprepared, Knowing You are Called

"Mary, we need to be on the road. We have to make it to Bethlehem before the baby is born. I think we need to leave early tomorrow morning. Do you have everything together that you will need both for the journey and the birth?"
"Do I have everything I will need, Joseph? I have no idea - What will I need to give birth to the Son of God?

This morning I was imagining a conversation between Mary and Joseph as they saddled up the donkey and headed to Bethlehem. I'm not sure anyone in history could feel as unprepared for a world-changing task than Mary did as she prepared for the birth of Jesus. And then there is Joseph - What was he thinking as he headed off to Bethlehem with a very pregnant young girl - who was his wife, but not carrying his child and with whom he had promised to be pure and righteous. I am thinking they both must have felt VERY unprepared - for the journey and also for the future events that they knew were ahead of them. So, the scenario begs the question - Why did they go? Why did they continue to move ahead with the plan? Surely they could have made some excuse to stay behind - or Joseph could have gone on his own explaining Mary's condition. (I've been in enough Middle Eastern settings to know that given the situation and all the people it would have been very possible for Joseph to fly under the radar of the census takers.) But he didn't. Mary did pack her bag and climb onto the donkey for the one week or more journey to Bethlehem. I think they went because they were called of God. Both Mary and Joseph had supernatural encounters with an angel - giving them their call - explaining their part in this world-changing adventure. So they went. Most likely not with an abundance of natural confidence. Not feeling like they had the world by its tail. Not even fully aware of the dangers, the miracles, the unlikeliness of some of the settings. They went.

When I first joined the group I work with - I had no idea what the future held. I had a plan to go to the Discipleship Training School for 6 months, but after that I knew nothing. I had quit my job that I loved, sold most of my household belongings and was preparing to go. I remember speaking with a man at church (he was a special speaker whose name I can't even remember). I went up to him and explained my apprehension in not having a long-term plan. His response was - "Do you have your marching orders?" I thought that a strange question. "What do you mean?", I replied. He said, "Do you really believe God has called you to go?" "Well, yes, of course I do, I wouldn't have left my job and sold everything if I wasn't confident that God said Go" - "Well, then GO - and let God unfold the rest of His plan"

I'm sitting here thinking that must have been how Mary and Joseph felt - both confident deep within themselves that God had called them - called them to be the parents of His Son, called them to travel to Bethlehem to fulfill prophecy . . . but I am also just as certain that they both probably felt very UNPREPARED for the journey. I am so grateful that they obeyed - they pushed forward with God's plan, not based on feelings, but rather based on knowing they were called. May God give us all the grace to do the same with what He has called us to do.

Immanuel - Beginning to End

I love the name Immanuel - God with us! What a promise. I recently read an article that pointed out that the book of Matthew begins and ends with the promise of God being with us. Matthew 1:23 - "Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son and they shall call His name Immanuel", which is translated God with us". Matthew 28:19,20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always even to the ends of the age" Amen. Jesus' birth was announced as being God with us. What an incredible reality that we so often glance right over. God WITH us. God with US. The Creator of the universe, the Almighty God is with us. How does that change my life? God came to earth to be with us and then as He was physically leaving the earth He promised to be with us always. We are never without His presence. This Christmas season may our hearts be encouraged with the wonderful reminder that God came to be with us and He promised to always be with us. We are never alone. No matter where we are or what we are going through God is with us - He is Immanuel. When you see the nativity in a yard, or in a store or in your living room - call out the name "Immanuel" and be reminded that He is with you from the beginning to the end!

The Battle at Christmas

It is revelational to me when I see a familiar story or passage of scripture from a different angle - from a perspective I had not considered previously. This happened yesterday as I was swept into the Christmas story through the music and drama of "Miracle of Christmas", at Sight and Sound theatre in Lancaster, Pa. They portrayed what was going on among the angels and demons during advent. I had never focussed on how much angelic activity is recorded in scripture surrounding the birth of Christ. The angel Gabriel appears to Zechariah concerning John the Baptist (Luke 1:11,19). Gabriel again appears, this time to Mary announcing her pregnancy (Luke 1:26). An angel appears to Joseph in a dream (Matthew 1:20). An angel appears to the shepherds announcing Jesus' birth (Luke 2:9). A heavenly host join the shepherds and praise God (Luke 2:13-15). What incredible activity was taking place in the heavens in preparation for Jesus' birth and then announcing his arrival. A couple aspects they dramatized really caused me to ponder - God, the Father sending Jesus, announcing to the heavenly host that Jesus was going to earth, giving Him His assignment so to speak, making His purpose clear and Jesus agreeing to go. The conversations between the angels - Gabriel and Michael. Michael was given the assignment to protect Mary during the pregnancy and to do battle so that the birth took place. Then when Jesus was born, they portrayed Satan attempting to stop it and Michael defeating him. I realize that some of that is speculation, not being recorded in scripture. Yet, it helped me to ponder and consider all that was happening "behind the scenes" so to speak. I also realized how much we have reduced the Christmas story and made it seem so matter of fact. What a tremendous battle was going on. God was coming to earth in human form - it was going to change the world as they knew it then and the enemy tried to stop it. Yet, God, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Gabriel and the heavenly host all did their part in winning the battle at Christmas. No wonder the heavenly host sang out - "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will toward all"

Forgotten Holiday Heroes!

Good King Wenceslas . . . remember him? I’m sure you can all probably sing the first verse of the Christmas song dedicated to him if you had to! Do you know the story behind the song? This man was raised by a godly grandmother and had the courage to stand up to his pagan mother (who by the way, had his godly grandmother murdered). I know this doesn’t sound very festive - but I was reading about him, his acts of mercy, his courage and even his martyrdom. It made me think of what kind of heroes we have these days. King Wenceslas was born in what is now the Czech Republic. Almost 1,000 years after his death, a British songwriter honored him and his acts of mercy in the famous Christmas carol. There is quite a bit of legend wrapped around him - stories of him going out in the cold winter nights looking for people who were in need. Tales of him sending his pages back to the castle for food, clothing and firewood to meet the needs of the people. Regardless of the details of the legend, he was a hero in his time, a man who lived out his faith even unto death. I wonder how many people who are alive today will have songs and stories written about them 1,000 years from now? If so, will those songs and stories reflect a faithful life, dedicated to serving God and helping others? Let’s give a shout out for King Wenceslas - a forgotten holiday hero we can all be proud of!

Experiencing the Journey

I am somewhat stuck on this whole idea of Advent - coming, anticipating. As I was reading this morning and thinking about the holiday I looked at the nativity I had set up and it didn't feel right. I thought, why is everyone (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, shepherd, wise men) there? Why did I set it all up like it is a done deal? If I really want to experience advent and the season, maybe I should actually live the story. After all, Mary and Joseph are on their way to Bethlehem right now, the shepherds are going about their duties in the fields, the wise men are following the star. No one is actually in the stable/cave in Bethlehem. They are all on/in the middle of the journey. Then I started to think about some of the incredible ways God has moved in my life. I realized, so many of my favorite stories are about what God did DURING the journey - not when I arrived somewhere, but actually along the way. I began to ponder if I have not missed some of the wonder and awe of Christmas because I have not paid attention to the journey that was taken to get to Bethlehem - Mary and Joseph's journey, the shepherd's journey, the wise men's journey and of course, Jesus' journey. So, I challenge you to clear out the stable, put the shepherds back in the field, send the wise men back East, put Mary, Jesus and Joseph somewhere between Nazareth and Bethlehem and take the journey WITH them.

Here's to experiencing the advent season - packing the donkey, following the star, tending the sheep and journeying to Bethlehem!

Reclaiming Christmas

I am setting out this Christmas season to be intentional. I don't want the wonder of the holiday to slip by. I am excited and full of anticipation for all God wants to reveal. I noticed in the account of Moses and the burning bush in Exodus 3:4 it says "When God saw that he (Moses) turned aside to look - THEN God called out to him". It struck me that God was waiting for Moses to notice - to take the time to stop and look. So, this Christmas season I am turning aside to look and I am very excited to see, hear and experience all that God wants to reveal to me. In order to be intentional I picked up a couple of books to help me focus. The first one is Immanuel by Ann Spangler. It is a 6 week devotional on the names of God and Jesus as she relates them to the season. The second book is called 25 Days, 26 Ways by Ace Collins. It also is a book that brings a focus to the real meaning behind so much of what we do at this time of year. Along with these books, I have made up a Christmas play list on my i-pod. So, this is my start. I welcome your comments, input and ideas.

Advently Living - Lisa

Amsterdam

Just a quick update from Amsterdam. I arrived here safe and sound Wednesday morning at 7:30 am. I was quite exhausted not just from the flight but mostly from getting things in order for Mom and home while I am over here. I arrived at the YWAM base here and went straight to bed! I got up at 2pm and began to see people and get things in order for this upcoming week. We have 91 people registered right now for UniQuip - the staff training conference. It is exciting to prepare to receive all of these people from literally all over the world. I would certainly appreciate your prayers for the conference and also personally for those of us leading the conference. My Mom continues to struggle with her health, my 3 month old niece is in the hospital with an infection of some sort and the person with whom I am co-leading the conference - her father was just taken to the hospital in Denmark with pneumonia. So, we have lots going on in our families while we lead this conference. We also have great expectations for all that God is going to do this week . . . I will keep you posted as the week progresses.
I'd love to put some pictures up but when I went to upload some pictures from my camera I realized I had brought the wrong cord! Such a bummer.

Thoughts on Bethlehem

This summer I spent some time in Bethlehem, Israel - not Pennsylvania! I was struck by many different thoughts and emotions as I walked the streets of this ancient town. During this Christmas season, I tried to capture some thoughts in a poem. 

Bethlehem

O Little Town of Bethlehem
How much you must have changed
A once obscure and quiet place
Not many knew your name

Then one year a census called
Come children far and near
Come back to where your families grew
Come celebrate this year

So many came to Bethlehem
Including one strange pair
A carpenter, a pregnant girl
Yet few knew they were there

"No room", "move on", "go somewhere else"
Rejection was their fare
No one understood their plight
And no one seemed to care

Then . . . .

A baby’s cry broke through the night
An angel shouting joy
O little town of Bethlehem
You birthed a baby boy

In that night so much had changed
For Bethlehem the town
From now on, the world would know,
The name , the place, the sounds

Two thousand years have come and gone
And Bethlehem’s still known
But few see what is really there
Behind the walls of stone

This town that once declared no room
To the Savior that was born
Now finds itself rejected too
Lives broken, shattered, torn

No census now is needed,
They come to see and hear
The baby’s birth, no longer hushed
Draws thousands far and near

Yet in the midst of everything
Rejection fills the air
No one understands their plight
And no one seems to care

O little town of Bethlehem
The one Who knows you best
The baby boy, the savior - king
He is your peace and rest

While all the world ignores you now
As once you did to Him
Jesus sees and hears you
Come to Him and Live

Celebrating - in the Dark

I am meditating quite a bit these days on what it means to celebrate in the midst of dark times. This morning, I woke up in a bit of a "funk" - disturbing dreams, not a very positive outlook for Christmas (my Mom will most likely be in a nursing home for rehab) and just basically a continual downward spiral in my life that has been taking place the last 18 months. I realized quickly I needed to be reminded of some truths in the dark. A good friend challenged me last night to take the celebration of Christmas to the nursing home where my Mom is - don't allow the circumstances to dampen the celebration. I started thinking about Mary - and what this happy occasion looked like to her . . I'm not sure what is worse, celebrating Jesus birth in  a nasty, smelly stable/cave or in a nursing home (actually, we probably do know the answer to that).  Then I got to thinking about a conversation I had with one of my Bosnian friends whose daughter was born in the midst of the siege on Sarajevo. During the birth there was no running water, so her husband had to take buckets to a water source and bring them back to clean both her and baby up after the birth. She told me that even though people had very little food and shells were being fired into the city daily - some of her friends managed to secure a chocolate bar and a few other little gifts to bring to her to celebrate her daughter's birth. Wow - I really needed that reminder . . . I can certainly find ways to celebrate this holiday in the midst of these dark days.  So, off I go gathering both physical expressions as well as some emotional strength to celebrate Jesus' birthday in the dark . . . think I'll buy a few candles! 

Through the Eyes of a Child

Trying to get back into the swing of things here . . . 

Last night I went to see the movie Boy in the Striped Pajamas - it is a powerful portrayal of the simplicity of a pure relationship, unhindered by prejudice - until the adults stepped in.  There are times when I think Heads of States would be better off if they took time to remind themselves of simple truths that most children understand before they are taught to be prejudice. I have recently befriended a wonderful woman from Iran who is teaching me Farsi. She comments to me every time I visit her that she does not understand why I am nice to her - that her experience here in America has been that of being ignored,  shunned and pushed away as soon as she says she is from Iran. What a tragedy - I actually understand a bit of how she feels . . you see, several years ago - actually it was right after the American troops went into Iraq . . . I was visiting Brussels, Belgium. We were out in the main square with a group from the Discipleship Training School there and an older man, dressed in a suit walked up to me - after I greeted him, he asked " Are you from America?" - I said, "Yes, I am" - He angrily proclaimed that America should leave Iraq and that I should go home- then he vehemently SPIT on my shoe.  I was taken back to say the least . . .  yet,  I am thankful for that experience - I know that in my heart, I wanted to say to that man - "WAIT, you don't even know me . . . WAIT, please don't judge me so quickly . . . WAIT . . .  

My Iranian friend echoes those thoughts . . . the boy in the striped pajamas echoes those thoughts - I pray that I will always remember how I felt being judged so quickly and that I will always WAIT before I pass judgement on others. 

Welcome Camryn Hope Whitaker

Welcome to our family

Camryn Hope Whitaker

you are a gift to us

and to this world -

we love you !

Aunt Lisa admires Camryn with awe! 

Daddy and Grammy bursting at the buttons with unabashed pride! 

The whole family waiting with anticipation for Camryn to arrive! 

Following Up on Amazon Story

Ok, I had to cool down a bit after watching Nightline last night. You would not have wanted me to post what I wrote at 1 a.m.  So, now that I have had some sleep and time to think . . . I'm still quite frustrated with the report. What a lost opportunity to make a difference in the shaping of a nation and the personal lives of young Amazonian children. ABC News was less than professional in the way they handled the story . . . it was amazing how they edited things together, took camera shots etc. that in reality made up their own story. I wish we could have access to their footage and interviews and show them how journalism can be a tool of change rather than a tool of criticism- and ignorant criticism at that! Many things they said were just not true. I heard an interview with Hakani's mother tonight and she shared that one of the Indians had walked out of the jungle so that he could  speak with Dan Harris, the journalist from ABC. The Indian man came to tell Mr. Harris that the Indians NEED the help of the missionaries. This man's comments were then taken out of context to support Mr. Harris' thoughts that the missionaries are proselytizing. By the way, speaking of the whole proselytizing point - Mr. Harris' obvious slant on this issue by going to a camera shot of a little girl wearing a Jesus t-shirt was just ridiculous. I SO wanted to ask him if he had done an interview with Mother Theresa, would he make her take down all the crucifixes she had in her home for AIDS babies. Furthermore, would he refuse to address Rev. Martin Luther King as Reverend because his religious affiliation was construed as proselytizing - I doubt it.  Ok, maybe I haven't really cooled down  - I just hate seeing people who have given  their life to serve others be criticized and misrepresented like my fellow co-workers in Brazil.     

If you want to hear 2 podcast interviews with Enock Friere (helped produce the Hakani documentary) and Marcia Suzuki (Hakani's mother) go to the following link and listen to my brother's radio show as done here in New Jersey. 

http://jeffwhitaker.podcastpeople.com - if this link does not work go to jeffwhitaker.com then click on radio show and then click on podcasts. 

Thanks for letting me rant and rave - I'm going to get a cold glass of ice tea and calm down! 

In the News

Well - it has taken a gross act of injustice to inspire me out of my blogging slump to start writing again. Tonight, Wed Sept. 24th, Nightline on ABC is doing a special about the Amazon. Their focus tonight is to be on Youth With A Mission's initiative to stop infanticide that is taking place among the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. There is a worldview among the tribes that children born with deformities, perceived deformities, as twins, triplets, or born to unwed mothers all carry evil spirits with them and curse the tribe. The traditional way to resoond to that is to bury the child/children alive. One little girl survived by having her brother rescue her and take her to some YWAM missionaries. This little girl, whom the tribe rejected, in reality had a thyroid problem and with simple medicine she is now doing fine and was adopted by a YWAM family.
According to an article in USA Today by the reporter of Nightline, there are some who believe that if the culture believes it is acceptable to take the lives of these children than that is their worldview and we should not step in and do anything. My thought in response to that is I am glad at some point people did not accept Hitler's worldview . . I would venture to say that they are many people with disabilities, or those who were born a twin, or those who were born to unwed mothers, who would be quick to step in and help these indigenous people see the error of their worldview. One thing the article in USA Today forgot to point out is that the indigenous people themselves approached the missionaries and aked them to help in addressing this issue. Several of those who have been rescued have been so by "healthy" brothers and sisters who knew that the burying alinve of their sibling was wrong. There is lots more to say about this - I will wait until I watch Nightline in a few minutes to comment further! Stay tuned !

Last Hooray - Baboons!

The phone rang Sunday morning as I was getting ready to pack . . . quick, get in the car and drive over a few streets - the baboons are in the neighborhood! So, still in my pajamas - a few of us jumped in the car and headed over in search of the baboons - we really didn't have to search . . . as we turned the corner a whole troop was rummaging through the garbage and jumping on the rooftops. It was a fun way to bring some closure to my 3 weeks here in South Africa!

The little guy on the right was a little afraid to get in

 the Alpha Male baboon's territory! 

There were a few mother's with their babies! 

It was amazing to see them jumping on the rooftops and climbing the walls! 

We decided that this troop was definitely in need of some lotion for their bottoms, they all looked infected ! 

Feed My Sheep!

This morning as I was preparing a meal for the crafters from African Hope Crafts, I was reminded of the words Jesus spoke to Peter . . . 'if you love me, feed my sheep". My desire today was to feed both physically and spiritually these precious people. Myself and a friend, made cards for each crafter with their name and a Bible verse. I so want them to know they are loved and cared for by the God of the universe! As we held hands to pray, I couldn't help but think of how many times Jesus simply shared a meal with someone or with a group. Living life, eating food, laughing together . . . it all expresses the relational, interactive life of God. Today it was a privilege to feed His sheep and in so doing expressing my love to Jesus by expressing His love to them.

Serving honey-mustard, curry chicken, rice, mixed veggies and salad! 

Veliswa and Nomakabekho - a mother and daughter that work as administrator and crafter

Neziswa and Mkhapi -both are crafters