Ms. Louise Hunter helping to prepare food boxes.

“Love means giving and sharing, not just speaking hollow words,”  these words were spoken by Louise Hunter, who has 21 children, 61 grandchildren and 55 great grandchildren and who still finds time to minister to her community.

Louise married James Hunter and had her first child when she was 18.  The couple lived in Racine, Wisconsin, where over the next two and a half decades she had one child a year.  Two of the children were stillborn.  Louise who is now 74 says, “Sometimes it was confusing when they were growing up, but our house was always filled with love.”

James and Louise raised their children in a two-bedroom house until someone turned them into authorities.  The family was evicted and in the early 1960’s found themselves homeless.  That is when God performed a miracle.  A woman came to the couple and told them they could move into her 18-bedroom house, but there was one condition.  They had to buy the house from her for $1.  The couple gladly paid the fee and moved their family into the spacious house.  Louise was so overcome with God’s goodness that she prayed and asked God, “What will you have me to do for you?” The Lord responded with a vision for the Love and Charity Homeless Mission.

Louise began by opening the Love and Charity Club in 1970.  The group distributed food and gospel tracks.  The Widow’s Closet was the next ministry Louise founded.  This group ministered to people when their Social Security money ran out.  They raked yards, cut grass, brought food and did whatever was needed for the senior adults.  She began to open their home to latchkey kids, and then she started The Love and Charity Mission in the late 1970’s that ministered to those who found themselves destitute.  In the 80’s she opened the House of Hope, a senior citizens mission, and in 1990 she opened Love and Charity II in Memphis, Tennessee.

Over and over, Louise and James expressed thanks to God by serving others.

Louise’s life was not without tragedy.  Her 7-year-old son James died when their home burned down.  Many neighbors who had seen Louise minister to so many others stepped in and helped to find a home for the family.

At the age of 42, James died in an automobile accident leaving Louise to raise the 18 children alone.  God granted her what she needed to take care of her family.  Louise continued to help others.  She said, “Even though we did not have much, we always had enough.”

Louise is quite a remarkable woman who is a motivational speaker now, encouraging others to use what they have to make a difference in the lives of others.  In her words, “It’s about reaching out and touching people’s lives.  People don’t realize how much you get from giving.”

Going down, I smiled at the only other person in the elevator.  She was tiny; only about 5’ tall.  Her uniform and cart of supplies told me that she cleaned for the hotel.  She had thick, curly, dark brown hair.  The colorful scarf that tied it back revealed her God-given streaks of gray, with a concentration at the front.  She smiled back.

As we approached my floor I said, “Have a good day!”  With just 10 seconds to respond, her dark eyes twinkled.  “With God, every day is good.”  Her very broken English was well-timed and her articulation laudable.  We both smiled and I walked off.

In just six short words, she had witnessed to me.

As a writer I had been taught to have a “30-second pitch” ready for anyone who inquired as to the topic of my book.  “Keep it short and simple” I had learned.  “Always be ready” in case someone “important” inquired about my project at writers’ conferences and book sellers’ conventions.  While I didn’t feel particularly important when I stepped into that elevator that morning, I stepped out feeling important enough for someone who struggled with my language to try to evangelize me.

I was challenged.  Could I do that?  If I could take the time to create a 30-second summary of a writing project, shouldn’t I learn to do the same with the hope of Christ?

Many times throughout our week we have tiny time slots of interpersonal interplay: 20 seconds at the checkout while exchanging money with the cashier; 10 seconds while stepping up into the bus; 10 seconds while shaking hands; 10 seconds to thank a store worker for his help.  The opportunities are there if we just stop and take notice of them.  The test was on!

I had seen the “steps” to salvation in a religious tract, on a little wooden cube, and had watched children make bracelets that helped them tell the story.  Too long.  With only seconds to shine the light of Christ, props wouldn’t do.

I needed help.  I e-mailed about 50 of my friends and asked them what they would say if they had just 10 seconds to shine the light of Christ and show His hope to someone.  The responses were varied.  Some were way too long and others were extremely harsh.  “Repent!  For the Kingdom of God is at hand,” just seemed too militant.  Some were excellent but required the perfect scenario.

Among my favorites were:  If you see someone with a child:  “Every time I see a baby, I see a miracle and know God is real.  This gives me hope.” When someone tells you to have a blessed day, respond with:  “Oh, so you know the BlessER, too?”  How about in answer to “Have a good day”:  I’m planning on one – with God’s help.”  If they look troubled: “Whatever the need or problem, God is the answer.”  From my friend at the Garden Club: “Just look around … the trees, clouds, flowers, birds, all living things GOD made for us to enjoy – and it’s free!”  And for that intimacy we all crave: “Jesus loves you and if you give Him a chance, He will be your best friend!”

The one thing everyone agreed on was that actions speak louder than words.  Smiles, kind gestures and opportunities to help, pave the way to showing God’s love to others.  This is always good for ongoing relationships.  But what about that chance encounter that lasts only 10 seconds?

One morning at 4 AM, while lying in bed, I thought and prayed about this question.  The Holy Spirit gave me the answer.  Later that day, a friend reiterated His reply.  In response to my question she said, “That’s hard to pinpoint because I would hope that God would give me the specific words that specific person needed to hear . . . different for everyone.”  That’s it!  Just LISTEN!

In Luke 21:14-15, Jesus told us that when we are persecuted He will give us the words to say – when we need them.  Verse 15 says, “For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.”  I believe the same is true when we are to speak to someone about God.

So we need not worry about what we will say during those brief encounters.  The Holy Spirit will help us say just what the person needs to hear.  Our job is to listen; to be always alert as stated in Ephesians 6:18:  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

If we stay in constant communication with our Heavenly Father through prayer, and continue to grow in Him through Bible study, we will be less likely to miss His direction at the right time.  We won’t miss the divine appointments with important people who cross our paths and need to hear a short and sweet message of God’s love.

Kelly J. Stigliano has been a speaker and writer for over 20 years.  She and her husband Jerry enjoy life in Orange Park, FL.  Visit her at www.kellystigliano.com.

“I am Patrick, a sinner, most uncultivated and least of all the faithful and despised in the eyes of many.” Patrick of Ireland

Patrick of Ireland would not recognize the world of 2010 compared to the one he lived in around 387 to 461 A.D. If Patrick were alive today, I cannot help but think he would be a bit put out with the title of saint and the celebrations held in his honor. Patrick of Ireland lived a life consecrated to Christ alone, a life given to see his glorified Savior.

Today parades are underway, Irish whiskey flowing, shamrocks shining, leprechauns leaping, and many are wearing green. Celebrations such as these bring little honor to a man who gave his life to see souls saved from hell. His life was much more than it has been degraded to in today’s society. Most do not know his powerful testimony–a man of God whose life is much more compelling than legends.

Growing up in an affluent home in the Roman province of Great Britain, Patrick’s life was filled with servants and carefree living. He was not a believer in Christ. Patrick’s life changed in an instant when he and other boys were kidnapped by Irish raiders who came into town. This practice was not uncommon and deeply feared among citizens. One thing was clear: no one kidnapped ever returned–ever. Patrick’s captors sold him as a slave to a farmer in Ireland. For a 16 year old who had never known hard work, the treatment was doubly harsh as he was not prepared physically for his new life. For six years he tended sheep with rags barely protecting his body and starvation always close at hand. It was during this time that he came to know Christ. Much like David of the Old Testament, Patrick used his time as a shepherd to know God intimately. He learned God’s voice and how to depend upon Him for everything. After six years in captivity, the Lord spoke to Patrick in a dream instructing him to go to the coast where a boat would be waiting to take him home.

Patrick faced two major obstacles: death if caught escaping and a treacherous 200-mile trek. Stepping out in faith, he began his dangerous journey with no map, guided only by the Holy Spirit. As God had said, a boat awaited. When he asked if could go with the boatmen, the leader said no. Dejected and wondering what to do, he began to pray. As he was praying, one of the boatman called out for him to join them.

Patrick was the first person his village knew to return home from captivity. His old life, while comfortable, could not hold him. He began once more to hear the voice of God, this time calling him back to Ireland. The once young captive now returned to Ireland to share the Gospel that would set captives free from sin and death. Anointed by God, Patrick often felt unqualified because of his lack of formal education in the scriptures. Despite his insecurities Patrick led thousands to Christ. His method of evangelism was scorned and he was viewed as a radical by church leaders outside Ireland. Attempts were made to bring him in line with church form and tradition, but he resisted.

Patrick is believed to have died March 17, 461. It is interesting to note that following his death, while the rest of Europe was plunged into the Dark Ages, Ireland experienced its Golden Age of learning. During his ministry, Patrick placed emphasis on learning to read and write Greek and Latin and using abbeys and churches as schools. Following his death scholars, artists, and men of learning came from around the world to Ireland. It was during this time that beautiful illuminated manuscripts were created and advancements were made in science, math, and astronomy. Patrick is called a saint, but  he probably wasn’t too interested in titles. His life was lived to promote Christ, not himself. If he were alive today, he would be evangelizing a lost world–probably along a parade route. Praise God for sending Patrick to Ireland and using him to share the Gospel that affected generations of families. Pray today for the lost in your country–and how you can be a modern-day Patrick.

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Luke 16:15

“If I be worthy, I live for my God to teach the heathen, even though they may despise me.”

“Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me.” – Patrick of Ireland

An excellent family dvd to learn more of Patrick of Ireland is Patrick starring Liam Neeson as narrator and Gabriel Byrne as the voice of Patrick. I checked it out at the library and was impressed with the compelling docu-drama.

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Editor’s Note: This article was scheduled to run today weeks ago–long before the earthquake. Haiti needs the prayers and actions of Christians everywhere. It’s hard for many of us to comprehend the devastation they are experiencing, much less realize the depth of poverty that was part of their lives before the earthquake. Sarah’s article gives us a glimpse into the needs of Haiti through the eyes of a Christian nurse. If you can give, find out if your denomination is sending in teams. If not, consider Sarah’s church (link below) or well-established and trained groups such the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and  Samaritan’s Purse (Franklin Graham) emergency response teams. Kellie Renfroe

When I awoke to the sound of roosters crowing, I quickly remembered that I wasn’t home. I had the enthralling opportunity to spend eight days living inside another culture this past February when I went with a group from Chichester United Wesleyan Church on a short term mission trip to Haiti. This country is considered by some to be the poorest area in the western hemisphere. My reason for going was because Jesus’s love changed me and I want to share that with others. Looking back, I must say that I gained much more than I gave on this venture.

My first stop was the Walls International Guest House in Port au Prince, which advertises 24-hour armed guards. The walls are topped with barbed wire, and I noticed that the guards continually have their guns in hand. The landscaping is beautiful, and it is quite a contrast inside the walls compared to the dusty, barren streets outside. As all the guests enjoyed a buffet meal together, those who had been there before didn’t miss a beat when the lights flickered or went out briefly. They explained that in Port au Prince sometimes you have electricity and sometimes you don’t.

The next morning the adventure continued as I took a two-hour drive to the dock. We travelled over roads ranging from stretches filled with huge ruts and potholes to newly paved areas. The drive was like nothing I’ve ever experienced, with no real discernable traffic patterns and random sights like baby goats crossing the road and people in a wide range of attire walking down the streets. The dusty road did not prevent one pedestrian from wearing his beautiful white suit.

The Wesleyana, a sailboat with two power motors was the next mode of transportation. It carried me 12 miles from the Haitian mainland to the island of La Gonave, where the Wesleyan mission station is located. This trip took about 1 hour and 40 minutes in the brilliant, hot sun. I was very thankful that I had a water bottle with me. The Caribbean Sea was a gorgeous blue, but again there was a strange contrast as I noticed an abundance of plastic trash floating in the water.

Beth Gould is an operating room nurse from Canada who is currently serving as a full-time missionary. She gave me a tour of the La Gonave Wesleyan Hospital, a 32 bed facility which is the only hospital serving the approximately 120,000 residents on the island. The staff of the hospital has an amazing knowledge base that enables them to care for a wide variety of patients. There are no specialized areas; all the nurses care for all the patients.

What is lacking in resources is definitely made up for in resourcefulness. For example, the nurses were caring for a premature infant. They kept this baby in an incubator in the nurses’ station to watch him more closely. The incubator was not heated, so they placed a hot water bottle in with the baby and a thermometer to monitor the temperature. They had also inserted a small feeding tube to provide nutrition.

Their “intensive care unit” is simply the hall directly outside the nurses’ station. They place any critical patients on a stretcher within view in order to monitor unstable patients. When I visited, this space was occupied by a woman who had been brought in during the night unresponsive and with a high fever. She was treated with IV fluids and antibiotics. She responded well to the quick and appropriate treatment and regained consciousness by the next day.

One fascinating aspect of hospital care in La Gonave is that families always accompany the patient. As a matter of fact, it is common to see at least 2 people in each bed (and several beds per room) because family members stay with their loved ones 24 hours/day. The families are responsible for providing meals for the patient, as well as doing their laundry and taking care of their basic needs such as bathing. Meals are cooked right in the hospital courtyard. There are a few vendors who also sell food and drinks.

After the birth of a baby, it is common practice for the family to take care of disposing of the placenta. The hospital staff places the placenta in a basin for the family. I was reminded of cultural differences in other ways as well. There are no washers or dryers, so all the laundry is done by hand. The autoclave is the type from an old MASH unit, and there is only one electrocautery machine and one suction machine. Chickens, roosters, and dogs roam freely through the hospital courtyard. In the marketplace there are medicines for sale right alongside shoes and other assorted items.

After a day in the operating room I was again impressed by the skill of the nurses. Complex surgeries are carried out with excellent sterile technique and precision, in spite of the limited equipment. Medicinal supplies are meager as well, so that most surgeries are done with spinal and local anesthesia. It was strange to realize that a young man was awake during his hernia repair. He was shielded from seeing the operation and was attentively monitored throughout his surgery.

The expertise of this hospital staff is remarkable. From premature babies to motorcycle accident victims to septic patients to surgical patients, all are cared for with proficiency. They share the love of Jesus by meeting the practical needs of the Haitian people.

Most of the methods used are helping Haitians to stand on their own. For example, Beth Gould was in the midst of training Haitian nurses to work in the operating room so they will have a team of surgical nurses.

I had the opportunity to see some of the other projects helping the Haitian people of La Gonave as well. There is an orphanage that provides a home and education for approximately 40 children. It was great fun playing with the children and seeing their amazement when they were shown their own pictures in the digital camera display.

I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and the many experiences it afforded, but also came home with a deeper appreciation of all the readily available supplies and resources in my own hospital. I do miss the beautiful Haitian sunrises and the warm greetings of Bon Jour, though!

Sarah Riddle
To find out more visit www.chiunited.org/Missions/Haiti

The crowd at the airport waited expectantly, holding gift bags and pink balloons. Finally, the anticipated flight number from Los Angeles flashed on the arrival screen. Within moments, a couple in their mid-thirties walked toward the cheering group. Two teenagers stretched wide the banner that read, “Welcome Home, Jenny Sue.” Everyone crowded around the young couple, wiping tears and hugging, while a wide-eyed Chinese nine-month-old clung to her new mother’s neck and peeked at all the strange, round-eyed faces.

A few minutes later, holding a stuffed panda by the foot, Jenny giggled while being cuddled by her new grandmother. Little did she know how greatly her life had changed. Jenny had traveled halfway around the world to join a family who had prayed for a child for years. Love and faith had fueled her parents’ dream. And a number of people had helped make it happen.

Sharing Hope

Scenes like the one above have been repeated thousands of times as families adopt children from other lands. The waiting list for infants available to be adopted in the United States is often long. Because of numerous restrictions on the age of the parents, family size, and income level, many have turned to international adoption. Unfortunately, international adoption can be quite expensive with agency fees plus travel costs. Many whose hearts ache for a child are deterred only by a lack of funds.

Shaohannah’s Hope, a non-profit ministry, helps Christian families by providing financial assistance for adoption. The ministry receives approximately 125 applications per month and has helped more than 2000 families with grants. An average grant is from $3,000 to $4,000 and is awarded based on need. Children from more than 30 countries, including the U.S., have been adopted with help from Shaohannah’s Hope.

Hope Changes All

Christian recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth founded Shaohannah’s Hope after adopting their first Chinese daughter named Shaohannah (pronounced “show-hannah”). The Chapman name is familiar to many. A singer-songwriter in Christian music, Steven has millions of fans, is a five-time GRAMMY winner who has sold over 10 million albums and won more than 50 Dove Awards. Yet the center of his life is–and has always been–his family.

In 2000 the Chapman family consisted of three birth children: two boys and a girl. Daughter Emily, as a teen, read a book on international adoption which impressed her deeply. She began a crusade to convince her parents to adopt. Mary Beth admits that she had doubts, “I thought I might be the evil stepmother-type who would treat [adopted] children differently.” But she was willing to research it. Two years later, the Chapmans received a fax from China about their little girl. (Although many countries allow international adoptions, China is the source for many adopted girls. Mainland China’s laws allow no family more than one child. Because their culture values boys more than girls, Chinese couples sometimes abandon their baby girls in order to try again for a boy.)

Soon the Chapmans were on their way to China to pick up Shaohannah. Like so many adoptive parents before them, they found that origin or race didn’t matter. When they opened their family to adopt a child, God immediately filled them with love for her. “The minute they handed her to me,” Mary Beth said, “at that moment everything changed.”

The Chapmans fell in love not only with Shaohannah but with the concept of adoption–of adding unwanted (by others) children to their “forever family.” They created Shaohannah’s Hope so that more people could experience the same joy they had. Steven says, “Our eyes and hearts have been opened….at moments I’m overwhelmed [when] I think we could have missed what God wanted us to do.”

Practicing what they preached, the Chapmans went on to adopt two more Chinese girls, three years younger than Showie. Stevey Joy and Maria were only seven months apart in age. “We refer to our biological children as ‘natural’ children, while we refer to our adopted children as ‘supernatural,’” Mary Beth said. “Three were born from my tummy and three were born from our hearts. The girls think that is SO cool.”

With three nearly grown children, three adopted daughters, a stellar career, and a compassionate ministry, the Chapmans’ lives seemed idyllic. But in May 2008 Maria, their youngest daughter from China, was killed in a tragic driveway accident at the Chapman’s home in Tennessee. She was 5. That day the family was celebrating one son’s high school graduation and Emily’s engagement. Suddenly they were where no family wants to be—planning a funeral. The news was broadcast around the world. Two thousand people attended Maria’s funeral, trying to comfort the family who have helped so many. The Chapmans asked that memorials be directed to Maria’s Miracle Fund of Shaohannah’s Hope so that more orphans could be adopted.

Hope’s Voice

Shaohannah’s Hope responds to a world overflowing with needs. The ministry quotes statistics such as: more than 143 million children have lost one or both parents. At least 16.2 million children worldwide have lost both parents. More than 1.5 million children live in public care in Central and Eastern Europe. At any given point, there are more than 500,000 children in the U.S. Foster Care system.

Funds donated to Shaohannah’s Hope do more than just provide grants. The ministry concentrates on three areas: adoption assistance, adoption awareness, and orphan care. One facet of the ministry encourages churches to form their own adoption funds for their members. The ministry even offers a kick-off matching grant program to participating churches.

The ministry’s Mackenzie Fund pays for surgeries for orphans with cleft lips and palates. Such children are often considered unadoptable. Some are abandoned, even though these conditions are surgically correctable, at a cost of $500 to more than $2,000. The initial surgeries paid for by the Mackenzie Fund took place in China through a connection with Love Without Boundaries, a medical missions organization. A 3-year-old and an 11-month-old boy, both from Guangdong, received corrective palate surgery to improve their health and speech. Such surgeries not only improve the quality of life for children; they also increase their chances of being adopted into a forever family.

A Message from the Chapmans

Recognizing that adoption is a perfect picture of what God has done for each of us in making us His children through Christ, Shaohannah’s Hope has been established to care for orphans by engaging the church and helping Christian families reduce the financial barriers to adoption.

Psalm 68:5-6 tells us that as the Father to the fatherless, God delights in setting the lonely in families. It has been our experience that the scriptural mandate of caring for orphans, such as the one found in James 1:27, is really a wonderful invitation to experience God in a profound way by being a part of His sovereign plan for His precious children.

Shaohannah’s Hope exists to enable children living without the love and hope of an earthly family to be adopted into “covenant homes.” These families can provide not only the love and support needed for this life, but also provide a child with the knowledge of God’s plan for his or her eternal life with a forever family called The Body of Christ.

(This article by Vicki Huffman first appeared in Power for Living in 2009. To learn more about adoption and how you could help in this ministry, visit the website:  www.shaohannahshope.org or www.showhope.org.)

Last year at church I listened as a sweet sister in Christ shared how someone provided her family with a Thanksgiving dinner. A man said that the Lord impressed him to do this for her family. My friend is a stay-at-home mom whose husband had been out of work for over six months. Things had been hard but, as she shared, God has met every need and continues to be good. After losing their home and moving in with another family, her faith and trust in the Lord continues to shine as a testimony.

This week as we go into the homestretch to Thanksgiving, it is the perfect time to purchase items to give to others in need. Dinner rolls, vegetables, baking supplies, and turkey are just a few of the foods that will be on sale. Invite a family facing hard times to Thanksgiving dinner and send them home with groceries. Try something fun such as leaving groceries on the front porch, ringing the doorbell and running. Of course, make sure they are home so the food does not sit out too long and melt or spoil.

It’s easy to think about basics, but also include cookies, cake mixes, and chips for a nice treat. Fresh fruits and vegetables are especially good. When money is tight, fresh foods are often overlooked in exchange for cheaper canned goods. Find out what their favorite soft drink is and include it.

Another idea is to purchase some fall decorations for the family you will bless. Wal-Mart has marked all their fall decorations down by at least 50%. Pick up a beautiful wreath for less than $10 or maybe some fall napkins for $1. Little things such as napkins or seasonal paper dessert plates can add a festive note.

On MMCW we have an Abundant Living page. Some call it being thrifty, others may say frugal living. I think it is truly living in abundance. All we have comes from God. We are a blessed nation with riches those in some countries can only imagine. I have always believed we are blessed to be a blessing financially in our communities and world. Living abundantly is about living within our means so we have resources to bless others.

This week be a blessing!

Started through the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child began in the United States in 1993.  In their first year they gave 28,000 shoe boxes to children across the globe.  This ministry has grown to well over 8 million boxes distributed to over 100 countries on 6 continents.  Each box is hand delivered by Samaritan’s Purse and their national partners with a flier offering the salvation message to each recipient.

Our church began to participate in this ministry in 1999 in memory of one of our young adults who had been tragically killed in a car accident earlier that year.  We have been able to give over 1,000 boxes during our first nine years and hope to once again prepare at least a hundred.

Each year we strive to draw our congregation together with this project by having various ministries prepare at least ten boxes.  One year we had a fun competition to see which adult Sunday School class could make the most boxes, knowing that each box represented another child who would receive one. The winning class received a prepared breakfast from the losing class.  We collected over 200 boxes that year!

This year we had a couple donate plastic boxes while others collected items such as soap, wash clothes, candy, and toys for each box.  As we gather for a fellowship meal, we plan on packing the boxes together.  We take donations at that time for the $7 shipping fee, so families unable to afford it after preparing several boxes can still participate.

Operation Christmas Child provides a video explaining their outreach ministry for churches to use.  The video always includes the reaction of the children as they open the box and discover stuffed animals and treats.  Jesus’ words about giving a cup of water to a little one (Matthew 10:42) comes alive for us when we witness the happiness expressed by these children when they receive what we take for granted—a pair of socks, a comb or toothbrush.  Not a dry eye remains when the video concludes, and we know we made a difference for a little one that Christmas season.

Operation Christmas Child boxes must be packed and sent by mid-November.  For more information about how you can participate with Operation Christmas Child, including dates and your local drop off location, please visit their website: http://www.samaritanspurse.org.

Photo by Page Hughes

Freedom. What an interesting term.  It can be defined in many ways.

In the United States of America we pride ourselves in having freedom to say what we want, go where we desire, and do whatever pleases us.  When we look at countries like Cuba, we think of anything but freedom.  Since 1959, when Cuba officially became a communist country, the people have experienced the loss of many freedoms we hold dear.  The trade embargo instituted by the U.S. made life even more difficult.
Upon a recent visit to Cuba I witnessed first-hand restrictions placed upon Cuban nationals.  There are few stores.  They receive all of their food and health care from the government.

One of my favorite stories was of a Cuban pastor who visited the U.S.   He called his wife to report, “I went to this place called a Winn Dixie and there were fruits and vegetables as far as the eye could see.”  He was overwhelmed with the choices of so many different food items. Cubans have very few restaurants and until a few years ago, nationals were not allowed into hotels unless they were accompanied by a guest of the hotel.  Government leaders did not want to feed discontentment in their people.

On my trip we were warned not to say anything negative about the government or political leaderships.  Most taxies, hotel rooms, and phones are tapped and careless words may result in a visit from governing authorities.

Despite their limitations, I have never been in a place where there was more freedom in the hearts and souls of believers.

From 1959 until 1992 atheism was proclaimed by the government to be the religious stance of Cuba.  In 1992 the government changed this label to secularist.

In 1998 Pope John Paul II visited Cuba raising the hopes of many that more freedom would be given to those who desired to worship.  Since that time a revival has begun and churches have sprung up in homes, under trees, and in buildings across the island nation.  There are still regulations in place prohibiting large public gatherings, but the church is alive and spreading the good news of Jesus!

During my visit I worshipped with four different congregations and witnessed over 50 baptisms in lakes, rivers, and baptistries.  My heart thrilled to see hungry souls crowd into limited spaces to sing praises and hear the gospel preached.  When there was no more room in a building, they would peer into windows and stand three and four deep in doorways to be a part.  Worship services lasted hours as hungry souls praised the One who gives freedom, promises hope, and eternity.  Crowds gathered and would wait an hour or more for a pastor to arrive to bring teaching from God’s word.  The nationals not only listened, they took the message home to share with friends and family. The kingdom continues to grow in Cuba.

As I witnessed the freedom of Spirit the church in Cuba has found, my heart hurt for the spiritual bondage many in my home country experience.

We have churches where pews are rarely filled though we have air-conditioned buildings and padded pews.  There are churches where people are present, but they do not experience joy in Spirit.  They do church because their attendance is expected.  Oh, how I wish they could know true freedom.

In the July issue of Christianity Today a Christian leader in Cuba said, “Of course I want more freedom, but I wouldn’t want it to come at the expense of our current passion for the gospel.  Perhaps God is limiting our freedom to teach us to strengthen the church so that when more freedoms are granted us, we will be better prepared to serve.”

Please join me as we pray for passion and spiritual freedom in our churches in America and around the world.

Pray for the churches in Cuba that they will continue to see revival and that it would spread abroad. Pray  their Christian leaders will continue to have the freedom to preach the gospel and be safe.

I recently read a short devotion to my children that impacted me greatly. The devotion was about a poem that was comprised of two short stanzas written by a man who had buried several of his sons.

In the first stanza a man came to visit this father and stayed a long time. The visitor talked and talked while saying all the right things. The grieving father could not wait for his friend to leave.

In the second stanza another man came to visit the father who listened, interjected briefly and listened some more. This friend was a great source of comfort and encouragement. The father hated to see his friend go when it was time for him to leave.

Since reading the devotion and poem I’ve had opportunities to use the advice. My children have also been able to put into practice what they have learned and know the better of the two approaches is to listen. There are hurting people all around us including Christians who are not immune from heartache and challenging situations. Whatever our gifts, we are all called to be obedient to His calling. I see Him growing me in this area of serving others because of my willingness to trust and respond immediately to His promptings. He sees the whole picture and can use me to be a comfort and a blessing to someone else when I’m obedient. I have learned to ask questions of those who are gifted in serving and to learn from their mentoring. One such thing my family has learned has been to have ingredients on hand for recipes we call ministry meals–meals that can easily be made for others.

When someone is hurting, it is vitally important to follow God’s promptings. I have found myself stepping out of my comfort zone on numerous occasions. I’m prone to think:
I can’t do that!
What if they already have paper products? I’ll feel ridiculous showing up with just that.
I can’t go and sit with her. I have no idea what to say.
I can’t offer to take her to dinner. What if she says no?
I can’t clean her home. What if it offends her?
Each time I have made excuses, I have put my insecurities ahead of trusting the Lord.

It is actually quite fun and exciting being on this journey of helping others with the Lord. He suggests something, and I’ve come to the place in life where I do it. I am always amazed at how His timing and His ideas are just right for every situation. Today I was having lunch with a new friend. I learned that she has a few friends that live out of town who have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy. As we talked, the Lord clearly said to me, “Buy her a ticket.” With the track record of how spot-on God’s plans are, I went home anxious to do this anonymous deed. I’m not a detailed person so my daughter actually booked the ticket and found a direct flight at a better deal. (Side note: allow other people, even your children to use their gifts and talents to assist you.)

God has equipped each of us with abilities to be a blessing to someone else. Ask Him to use you in the life of someone and then as soon as you hear His prompting of an idea, trust Him! Be obedient. Choose to be the second man in the poem who had a listening ear and you will be a blessing to someone who is hurting.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
~ Galatians 6:2

This year during the holiday season, my family is celebrating what we call a week of poverty. My husband and I decided to educate ourselves and our children about poverty during the holidays because many people go hungry and cold while we have plenty.

On Thanksgiving Day we had a family time of devotion where we shared with our boys that the first week of December would be our poverty week project. To begin the week of poverty we held a family devotion on Monday and again the following Monday as we ended the week.

Our budget of $50 for the entire week was quickly consumed in just gas and parking fees. The heater was turned off and we only ate what was in the pantry. There were no trips to the grocery store for the entire week. Showers were cut short and entertainment eliminated for the week. My children’s lunches were homemade and simple.

During the week we exposed our children to benevolence projects at our local church and in the community. The purpose? To teach our children that while we have a comfortable life, there are those less fortunate who can live on a lot less and still have a smile on their faces.

By the second day, our children were already experiencing emotions about poverty they could not understand. This gave us the opportunity to teach them what the Bible says concerning poverty. My children loved poverty week and have shared what they learned with their friends. They have already asked us to do it again so their friends can join in too.