2010 REFLECTIONS

I am always amazed when someone says "why do you do what you

do - it is so difficult - you have had such difficult health issues - everyone would understand if you give it all up - perhaps God is showing you signs to quit - there are so many other ministries -, etc., etc., etc.,"

Life has

a funny way of teaching us lessons. God has a great way to show us His path. My answers in reflecting over the last couple years to people asking "why take the hard road" - is this: All I know is to be obedient. What God starts, He finishes. If we feel called to do something - we need to be obedient to follow until He directs us another way. God will only open the doors to His path if we are in His word and close the doors to what He wants closed if it is not His will.

EVERY single time that I pray for God's direction and to give me clarity - He does. He will do it for the person reading this and He does it for the orphans and widows. God has repeatedly allowed things in my own life that has given me purpose and passion for those that are hurting. He has written the story of my life along the way that has given me an understanding of the abandoned heart. I have lived the fears and sadness of a single mom. I have witnessed the disappointment and tears of a fatherless child. And I have lived the journey of death's threat knocking at my door. Through it all, God remains the same. Through it all, He is King and keeps His promises. And through it all, He is the only constant unconditional love that gives Hope. Because all men will disappoint us, we must cling to the one and only creator that loved us so much that He allowed His son to die for us - that is CRAZY, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. If we knew a cure for cancer (and I pray for that constantly) we would shout it from the rooftops. We know the cure for those hurting and we should SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOPS!

God protected our fall time. The fall trips were postponed and we start back serving in the field in January. God has opened the doors for H.E.A.L. Ministries to serve in several high school and colleges during the fall. The 2011 calendar is being planned and He is directing the path and providing the leadership. I am encouraged today as I think of the children and the women we have served. He has given me full vision that His plan will continue. God does not need me or any man to fulfill His plans to serve the orphans and widows which He defines as pure and faultless religion. Therefore, I am humbled that He is allowing me to tag along for the ride.

I am learning that this ride includes His timing. I am learning that I am not in control of the planning (although much planning is required). Sometimes the ride is fast and crazy and sometimes He directs us to slow down and rest in Him. We are looking forward to the 2011 year and until then, we can remember the smiles of those we have served and thank our Father for allowing us to see Jesus in the eyes of the abandoned hearts.

The last two weeks have been amazing. I had the honor of serving as camp director for the Chicago Hope Academy girls camp. The boys camp was the week of August 8th and the girls camp was the week of August 15th. Their first day of school is tomorrow. CHA is an incredible school in Chicago that is really giving hope to students: http://chicagohopeacademy.org

The camp's focus was exercise and spiritual focus. We had devotions and chapels based on being a woman of virtue: discussion of purity, being a princess of the King, as well as faith, hope and love discussions held in small groups. There was also time for the lake, free time, crafts and nightly team building games. The campfire at the end of the week was heartbreaking AND rewarding. Stories of broken hearts were shared and we all walked away loving each other more with the knowledge that we are all the same: all needing Jesus.

Chicago Hope Academy is a school that Heal Ministries partners with on an ongoing basis. We hope to send teams every summer. Not because CHA needs us but because we learn and live out what the Bible teaches us: to love our neighbors, to show mercy and compassion and to offer HOPE.

The CHA students bonded with each other and with the faculty. Even though many of the CHA students have disadvantaged family backgrounds, they will start the school year at a HUGE advantage over most high school students. They have made friends, laughed, cried, prayed, accomplished goals, realized who they are in Christ AND they have built relationships based on the true HOPE that matters!

The last 17 days in Africa have been amazing. It is hard to conclude the trip because it will take months to process, maybe years for some team members. And yet, we will always have the images in our heads and hearts. some of the pics posted reveal what was seen through the camera and often give a perspective of Jesus' view. We have seen Jesus in the eyes of people and we have heard Jesus through the laughter, music and songs of the people. The touch of a child's hand, the hugs from a child in an orphanage, the hope in a child's eyes as we handed a plate of food, the smiles from moms afar as they watched their children at VBS having fun, the smiles of Pastor Young in Cape Town and Pastor Isaac in Uganda, all reflect the heart of Jesus. Did we go and make a difference or did we go to learn the true meaning of Hope through Jesus Christ? It is truly hard to say: we pray that we made a difference just by serving and building relationships but the truth is: we came back changed. We came back with HOPE for Africa. We came back with HOPE for our own lives because of what we learned there. We came back knowing more than ever that we serve a God that loves us more than we deserve and we learned that HOPE is the same universally. We learned that there is not much difference in the two continents when it comes to people and we learned that their JOY is contagious and will carry in our hearts forever. We will see our brothers and sisters from Africa again and we will pray for them always.

Africa is beautiful: the people, the landscape, the sunsets, the feet, the hands, the music, the laughter, the songs, the dance and the hearts of the people that have taught us more about our Creator and made the trip worthwhile.