October's Focus: Amy in Uganda

One of my dearest friends from college is going to Uganda with her church this month, and we decided to make her and the country of Uganda in general our focus for the month of October.  While Amy is traveling with a team to do some specific tasks, I thought I would share with you some things about Uganda which I learned from the fantastic book Operation World (the new updated version is coming out later this month; if you don't have it, I highly recommend it).

Uganda is a central-African country long known as the 'Pearl of Africa'.  The capital city is Kampala and is the largest city in the country, with a population of over 1.2 million.  The economy is largely based on agriculture; Uganda boasts fertile soil and three annual growing season; the main export is coffee.  The economy was healthy in the 1960s, but warfare in the north and west and the ravages of AIDS and disease keep the majority of the population in deep poverty.  The average income per person is $330.  The official language is English, but there is a total of 46 languages spoken throughout the country; the literacy rate is sixty two percent.  The country gained its independence from Britain in 1962, and in Idi Amin seized power in 1971, brutalizing the country as the army pillaged and murdered.  During his reign, there was intense persecution of Christians; in 1979, Tanzanian and Ugandan exile troops deposed the regime after Amin invaded northwest Tanzania.

There is now freedom of religion in Uganda, and Christianity is the major religion.  There are also Muslims, those who practice traditional ethnic religions, non-religious individuals, and followers of the Baha'i and Hindu faiths as well.

Operation World listed three answers to prayer:

1) Uganda is the first country in the world with a massive AIDS problem to halve and even reduce the numbers of the afflicted from possibly 25% in 1992 to possibly 8-10% in 2000.  Both government and churches faced up to the terrible calamity and have successfully worked to achieve this reduction.

2) The East African Revival brought new life and fervency to the large Church of Uganda and other smaller denominations for 30 years after its beginnings in 1936.  Its characteristics were the centrality of Christ expressed in repentance, brokenness, and walking in the light.  Internal divisions and the awful years of persecution and suffering between 1967 and 1986 damped the fires of the revival.

3)  Renewed revival from 1986 onwards- widespread prayer movements, the amazing growth of the Pentecostal Assemblies and a revival moment in the Catholic Church in 1955 are manifestations of this.  Renewal in the latter has led to gospel preaching, healings, and the burning of fetishes.

Operation World also gives some specific challenges for which prayer is greatly needed, including healing from the devastation of past governments; unity and revival in the church, as well as the training of new workers; the AIDS issue; the refugees housed in camps throughout the country; and the remaining unreached people groups in Uganda, including the Muslims.  Please continue to pray for the people of Uganda and for Amy as she works to share the love of Christ with them.

September's Focus: International Justice Mission

Isaac determined our focus for September and he came up with the wonderful idea of supporting the International Justic Mission, a human rights agency based in Washington DC but with field offices all over the world. IJM is a relatively new organization; it was founded in 1997 and offers a unique perspective to serving those who have been oppressed. Here is an excerpt from their website explaining their history and approach:

Historically, humanitarian and missions organizations worked faithfully and courageously to bring healthcare, education, food and other vital services to those who needed them. But little had been done to actually restrain the oppressors who are a source of great harm to the vulnerable.

Concerned by this need, a group of lawyers, human rights professionals and public officials launched an extensive study of the injustices witnessed by overseas missionaries and relief and development workers. This study, surveying more than 65 organizations and representing 40,000 overseas workers, uncovered a nearly unanimous awareness of abuses of power by police and other authorities in the communities where they served. Without the resources or expertise to confront the abuse and to bring rescue to the victims, these overseas workers required the assistance of trained public justice professionals.

Gary Haugen, working as a lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice and as the United Nations’ Investigator in Charge in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, founded International Justice Mission as a response to this massive need. Today, IJM has grown to more than 300 professionals working in their own communities to fight injustice.

IJM works in over twelve countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to "secure tangible and sustainable protection of national laws through local court systems." IJM not only works to bring justice to the perpetrators of violence, but also to restore dignity to those who were abused or oppressed. Ultimately, IJM hopes their work in protecting individual human rights will transmute to a larger, community, national, and even global level. IJM staff seek to obey the biblical call found in Isaiah 1:17. Seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Go check out IJM's website; they have a ton of great information and resources!

August's Focus: Jefferson Street Baptist Center

To be honest, when we woke up this morning, Isaac and I hadn't yet determined a Focus of the Month for August.  July seemed to end so quickly that we hadn't even really begun to think about it.  When we went to church, the Lord clearly showed us what needed to be our focus for the month: the Jefferson Street Baptist Center.

The name might sound familiar because several weeks ago, I mentioned that they were the the newest SpendYourself t-shirt (and what a lovely shirt it is, my friends).  Our church has had a on going relationship with Jefferson Street for about five years now, and this morning one of the program directors came and spoke to us briefly about some needs.  Jefferson Street Baptist Center actually has roots going back to 1888, making it one of the oldest mission agencies in the country.  They are very intentional and determined to keep Christ as a part of their core ministry, and because of that have actually severed all federal funding (so that the government cannot dictate their actions).  Without the federal funding, Jefferson Street Baptist Center relies even more on area churches and individuals as donors since they lost about $87,000 in federal funding.

Jefferson Street exists to "extend gospel-centered mercy to the homeless and hurting of the greater Louisville area" and have several different programs, including the Day Shelter, where homeless men and women can access showers, the laundry room, and other facilities.  These individuals also have access to services to help with employment, housing, and medical referrals.  Fresh Start is a Christ-centered six month program for men struggling with life issues, including drug and alcohol addiction.  The men live communally at Jefferson Street and are expected to participate in classes, chores, service (at Jefferson Street and through other community organizations, and random drug tests throughout the program.  Permanent Supportive Housing helps to provide housing to men who also struggling with life issues; participants have access to the Fresh Start program so that the men can become sober, clean, and possess an overall general well-being.  Th final program, Hope for Louisville, provides an opportunity for young men and women to serve the homeless and urban poor.  Team members live and work in the inner-city with the goal of developing relationships with the people around them in order to show them the love of Christ.

The ministry of Jefferson Street Baptist Center and other similar groups are so important.  We are called to love and care for the poor, but how is this exhibited in our daily lives?  It's a question with which I grapple a lot.  Is donating money every now and then sufficient?  Or do I really need to dig deep and get my hands dirty- get out of my comfort zone- in order to really understand what that call means?  I am more inclined to believe it is the latter rather than the former, and yet how often I don't do anything more than just mention a ministry or a person or a situation in passing prayer!  I pray that my life would not be marked by this, but by selfless devotion to the people to whom the Lord has called me.

July's Focus: Howard and Jannie with NAIM

Choosing Howard and Jannie as our family's focus of the month in July seemed to be a natural choice again this year.  I'm simply going to repost what I wrote about Howard and Jannie last July:

This month, we've chosen our friends Howard and Jannie, whom we affectionately call the "Canadian Johnsons". We met Howard and Jannie while on our honeymoon in Canada; we were staying in a cabin in British Columbia, and they were spending the night at the lodge owned by the same couple. Each night, the owners of Griffin Lake Lodge (which we highly, highly recommend- amazing scenery, awesome food, and wonderful people) have a campfire near the lake. Guests are free to come and go, and our first night there, we decided to join the other individuals sitting around the fire.

We somehow began a conversation with Howard (originally from the States) and Jannie (originally from the Netherlands). Howard and Jannie work with NAIM (North America Indigenous Ministries), serving in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. It is amazing how the Lord reminds and affirms you of His plan for your life (even on your honeymoon); since we want to move overseas to serve the nations, it was encouraging to meet a couple who have been involved in the same mission for years. We admire the work to which they have so dedicated themselves, and the conversation by the campfire is one Isaac and I will never forget.

Howard and Jannie also write a blog that they update occasionally; feel free to check it out and drop them a note. In conversing with them and reading their email updates and blog posts, we know that working with the First Nations can be rather difficult; change is slow to come, as the people do not open up easily; with so many missionaries coming and going, forming deep relationships on either side is often difficult. Howard and Jannie's family, however, is beginning to form long-lasting relationships with the people they serve. They have been in Salmon Arm long enough to adjust their Canadian immigration status and purchase a house; all of these events have made the people of Salmon Arm realize Howard and Jannie are staying for more than just a season and have since truly begun to open up to their family. Please pray the Light of Christ would shine on the people near Salmon Arm, BC; pray for Howard and Jannie's family to have strength and endurance; pray for life-altering relationships to form and grow. Also, Howard and Janie are continually raising support to continue in their work, so I'm sure any donations would be appreciated.  

Over the past year, Jannie has been fighting cancer.  She underwent chemotherapy that involved a good deal of travel; she is currently finished with the chemo, but is still on a treatment plan.  We beg of you to pray for healing for her.  Again, any donations to the family would be much appreciated; every little bit helps.  We can't afford to give much, but we give of what we have as we are commanded.

On a much lighter note, today is Canada Day (the day when Canada became a nation; did you know they weren't a nation until 1867).  So to Howard and Jannie and to everyone else who loves and appreciates Canada- happy Canada Day!!!

May's Focus: Angela Shelton Foundation

You know how some people are so totally passionate about a particular cause that you can't help but take notice? My friend Tracie is one of those people; she is passionate about raising awareness about sexual abuse, educating communities and individuals about this issue, and providing healing to the victims of abuse. Tracie is herself a survivor of sexual abuse, and on Saturday, May 15th she will be hosting a blog-a-thon to raise money for the Angela Shelton Foundation.

In order to truly understand how the Angela Shelton Foundation has changed Tracie's life, you'll want to follow her blog-a-thon since she will be writing her story as part of the event. But for simplicity's sake, it all started with the documentary Searching for Angela Shelton.

A few years ago, filmmaker Angela Shelton decided to travel across the country to produce a documentary. The purpose behind the film was to contact every woman named Angela Shelton in the US and try to interview as many of them as possible in order to get a cross-section image of what the lives of women in the United States look like today. During the process, she found that of the 40 women who shared her name, 24 of them had been beaten, raped, or molested. Twenty-four out of forty.

The project quickly took on a different perspective as Angela, who had also been molested as a child, realized just what an epidemic this actually is today. Some stats for you to consider: one in four girls and one in six boys will be molested before the age of 18.  Every two minutes, someone somewhere in America is sexually assaulted.  One sex offender molests an average of 117 children, most of whom never report the crime. If those numbers don't speak volumes, I'm not sure what will.

Be sure to check out the Angela Shelton Foundation and how you could get involved; it is amazing to see the network of abuse survivors banding together to fight this evil in our world. You can support Tracie and her blog-a-thon by giving here. But first, you might want to start by watching the movie, Searching for Angela Shelton. It's available in its entirety on Hulu; I wouldn't let young children watch the movie, as it discusses some material which is not suitable for them.  Also please be advised there is some crude language in the film.  However, the film does a wonderful job at taking an honest look at this issue, especially as you see Angela Shelton, filmmaker, deal with her experience.

To all the survivors of abuse, including my beloved friend Tracie, I pray the Lord would bring healing to your life and that He would grant justice through His infinite mercy.

March's Focus: P and A with Wycliffe Bible Translators

It's hard to believe this, but this month marks the first anniversary of our family Focus of the Month!  Over the past year, we have given to and prayed for organizations and individuals who are serving across the nation and the world.  It's really been an interesting adventure as we continually encourage ourselves to research and examine all the work being done throughout the nations by various individuals, groups, churches, agencies, and organizations.  The more you look around, the more you see being accomplished- the more lives you see being changed.

But you also become more aware of issues and problems you didn't even know existed.  So while this new endeavor has been encouraging, it's also been incredibly sobering.  We're definitely not wealthy by any means, but when I see the stories of so many across this oft-devastating world, I cannot help but feel convicted of my level of comfort and wealth.  I'm sure many of you have seen this website, but even if you have- check it out and be reminded and encouraged that it often takes a very little to make a big difference.

And so, you ask, what will be the Focus of the Month now that you've got a year of this family tradition under your belt?  Well, we're going back to where we started.  Our very first Focus of the Month were P and A with Wycliffe Bible Translators.  You can read the original post about the beginning of the Focus of the Month tradition and how we met and choose P and A as our first focus here.  Lately, P and A have been on my heart a good deal, and I wanted to share a brief update with you all as well.  Since last March when we first 'introduced' you to them, they have moved to Central Asia and are continuing to learn the local language(s) in order to translate the Word of God into the languages so that everyone can have access to the Word in their own language.  Please continue to pray for not only excellent language acquisition, but also relationship development- that P and A would be the Light to their neighbors and friends.  Also pray for safety, as they are in a very closed country at the moment.

I want to repost one paragraph which truly shows how needed the work of translators P and A is:

There are 6,912 spoken languages in the world today. Of those languages, only 438 have complete translations of the Bible available. One thousand one hundred and sixty-eight languages have translations of the New Testament. And 2,251 languages do not have any part of the Bible translated; one hundred ninety three million people in the world speak these 2,251 languages.

If you would like to donate to Wycliffe Bible Translators and help support this incredibly important work, please visit their website here.

February's Focus: Haiti

In light of the recent events in Haiti, our family has chosen to donate money to Compassion International's Disaster Relief fund for Haiti as our Focus of the Month for February. We support and trust Compassion in the work they are doing not only in Haiti, but all over the world; we know that Compassion will use the funds wisely in order to best serve the people of Haiti.  There are many other reputable agencies and associations whom are providing assistance to the Haitian people; I encourage everyone to support them in any way you can.  Compassion has a blog where you can keep up with developments in Haiti; click here to read it.

As with most natural disasters and horrific events, we were bombarded by the media with images and stories from the rubble of Haiti. But already, there is less and less attention being given to the Haitian situation, and soon enough, the people of Haiti will no longer be in our thoughts. It is important to remember that even after the spotlight is shifted somewhere else, the people of Haiti are still in need. I pray that we would remember these precious souls over the coming weeks and months.

In addition, it looks as though some Haitians will be granted a specific status which enables them to come to the United States for a temporary time (and will hopefully be given the opportunity to appeal for a more permanent status if they so desire). I encourage you to see how you might be able to serve these people who will become new residents of your community. Practically speaking (and depending on the agency providing services), you can donate items needed to set up a welcoming and comfortable home (furniture, sheets, towels, toiletries, kitchen items, etc), provide financial assistance, and help teach these individuals English. Contacting your local refugee resettlement agency is the best place to start, as these Haitians will be receiving services through programs similar to those through which refugees are resettled.

Also, a brief update about Brian and Audra (our January focus): they have had promising news lately, and it appears as though a sibling group of four will be placed with them! Please continue praying for them and their children.  Be sure to follow the updates on their blog here.

January's Focus: Adopting Couple Brian and Audra

You might have noticed that over the past few years, the issue of adoption has been making its way to the forefront of conversations and various forms of media.  It seems more and more churches and individual families are taking the call to provide for orphans quite seriously.  I think part of this increased awareness of adoption is due in part to Dr. Russell Moore's book Adopted for Life, which was published last spring and is on my reading list for this year.  Believers are now viewing adoption not just as an alternative for couples who can't become parents biologically, but as a mandate from our Father to care for the fatherless.  Families are adopting multiple children- through foster care, domestic adoption, and international adoption- not necessarily because they want to be someone's mom or dad, but because they feel called to obey the Lord in the endeavor. 

We have several friends who have adopted or are currently in the adoption process.  Each and every one of these families inspire me and encourage me to seriously consider in what way(s) the Lord would have us provide for orphans.  One such couple is my college friend Audra and her husband Brian.  They have now been married for over four years, do not have any biological children, and have been pursuing adoption for more than an entire year.  Their first inclination was to adopt internationally, most likely from Ethiopia, but since then have moved to domestic adoption and are currently pursuing adoption through the foster care system.  They recently completed their coursework (which demonstrates amazing dedication in and of itself- they had to give up multiple Saturdays to attend the courses) to become certified foster parents and are now waiting on a placement.  Brian and Audra want to foster a sibling group for six months, at which point they woulc be eligbile to file for adoption.

Audra recently shared with me how their process was going:

"It seems to be taking so long, but I know God is working on something huge...The hardest part right now is that there are so many red tapes and hoops to jump through when working with the state. They seem so desperate for families to be available for these children but they make it impossible for those families that are so willing. It's like we're standing here saying YES to something we know God has called us to but we keep hitting all these brick walls. Our biggest prayer request is that we would find favor with the state DCS, and they would help us bring children into our home. We also are in desperate need of patience to push through all the hoops. Going through this process we have seen the hold that Satan has for this kids in the system. Every time we hit a wall people ask us 'Don't you think this is God closing the door for you? Isn't this just too much?' Quite the contrary. We see what a hold Satan has and believe that with every wall we hit God confirms to us that if we don't fight for these kids they may never be fought for..."

I love how Audra explains that God is not closing doors, but that He is confirming "if we don't fight for these kids, they may never be fought for."  I pray that each of us would consider our role in fighting for these children.  You don't have to be wealthy to care for children who need a home, and adoption may not be the specific route to which our Father has called you, but I encourage you to prayfully consider what route He has chosen for you so that you might fulfill His direction to care for the orphans.

Brian and Audra also have a wonderful blog they have been keeping to chronicle their journey.  Check out A Step Along the Path and leave them some encouragement.

December's Focus: Mocha Club

Throughout December, our family's focus of the month is Mocha Club, a unique organization helping to support various projects in Africa.  Mocha Club defines itself as "an online community of people giving up the cost of 2 mochas a month – or $7 – to fund relief and development projects in Africa."  Currently, Mocha Club focuses on five main areas: Clean Water; Education; Child Mothers and Women At Risk; Orphan Care and Vulnerable Children; and HIV/AIDS and Healthcare.

Mocha Club members pledge seven dollars- the cost of two mochas- a month to help sustain these development projects in Africa.  You can also donate on a one-time basis as well.  The Mocha Club website has a great FAQ section; one of the questions is "How far does seven dollars go in Africa?"  The answer is pretty powerful:

Seven dollars in Africa can:
SUSTAIN life for 1 person living with AIDS.
PROVIDE clean water to 7 Africans for 1 year.
SAVE 1 person's life from malaria.

Kind of difficult to wrap your brain around that bit of information, isn't it?  When you donate to Mocha Club, you get to pick which programs your money will support.  When I clicked on the tab to give to an emergency need, some of the information amazed me.  Did you know that Kenya is experiencing its worst drought in ten years?  Because of the draught, there is a shortage of food; just seventeen dollars can provide sustenance for a family in the Kitui region for three months. Anti-Retroviral (ARV) medication is used to fight HIV/AIDS (AIDS is a retrovirus), but often times the cost of these drugs prohibit individuals from attaining them.  From my research in graduate school, I learned that in the United States, the average cost of a year's supply of ARV drugs is between $5,000 and $10,000 dollars.  Fortunately, pharmaceutical companies began offering discounts to several African nations, and the cost per person per year was driven down to $1,000.  Still, that amount is greater than some nations' gross domestic product; how can any of their population therefore afford the live-saving medicine they need?  I believe that recently, it is now possible to attain the medicine for a much-reduced rate.  Through Mocha Club, just five dollars will provide ARV treatment for one person for one month in Ghana.  Did you know that just one dollar will provide clean water to one African for an entire year?  We know that lack of clean water kills more people every day than any other cause.  Imagine what our pocket change could do for people living without access to clean water.  Mocha Club is also serving refugees and survivors of genocide.  Ten dollars will provide a mosquito net to refugees from Northern Uganda and Sudan in order to prevent the spread of malaria.  The final emergency need Mocha Club is supporting is former child soldiers of Northern Uganda.  These women and their children need medication to treat malaria; five dollars will provide the needed medicine.

Wow.  Who would have thought that so little can do so much?  Understanding just how far our money can go really puts the entire issue into perspective, and we can think and act more globally.

In light of yesterday being World AIDS Day, we decided that our donation should help to provide ARV treatment to individuals living in Ghana with HIV.  It is truly amazing to realize that by donating such a small amount, you are keeping someone alive and helping to provide a better quality life for that individual.

Despite all the incredible work Mocha Club is involved in throughout Africa, what I like best about the organization is their approach and understanding of Africa.  This video explains it all.

November's Focus: Heifer International

Oh boy.  This month, we have chosen one of my all-time favorite non-profits for our focus.  Heifer International is a "non-profit, humanitarian assistance and sustainable development organization that specializes in providing livestock and related services to limited-resource families worldwide".  Heifer's mission is to work with communities to end hunger and poverty and to also care for the livestock involved.

Heifer International began over sixty years ago when Midwestern farmer Don West was rationing out milk to hungry and thirsty children during the Spanish Civil War.  West was serving as a relief worker and was forced to decide which individuals would and would not receive the rationed milk- basically determining who would live...and who would not.  

He realized what would most benefit these children and their families was not simply another cup of rationed milk, but a cow which would continue to produce the needed milk.  Upon returning home, he founded Heifers for Relief, dedicated to ending hunger permanently by providing families with livestock and training so they could "be spared the indignity of depending on others to feed their children”.

Heifer International has since expanded into other sustaining programs and initiatives dealing with a variety of issues including agro ecology, gender equality, HIV/AIDS, microenterprise, and urban agriculture.  You can click here to see an interactive map to learn more about their programs throughout the world.  Heifer International has an excellent history of success in their endeavors and has changed the life of thousands upon thousands of individuals through their various programs.  Check out their website for more information; it is chalk full of great stuff!

Heifer also makes it easy to support them; you can click here to see their gift catalog.  We have used this catalog numerous times in the past.  Instead of buying another unnecessary (and often unwanted) material gift for friends and family, you can purchase something in the Heifer catalog in honor of that individual.  Last Christmas, we bought a flock of chicks and a trio of rabbits in honor of various family members.  My mother-in-law cried when she opened the card.  Knowing that the gift meant for her was going to change the life of a family meant so much more than a random gift we could have purchased at the mall.  And really, so many people simply do not have any room for more stuff anyway.  Why not give them a blessing this year instead?

October's Focus: Columbia Refugee Garden

Our Focus of the Month for October is very near and dear to our hearts.  Many of you know I worked for a refugee resettlement agency in Missouri for almost three years; I loved my job. Loved it.  Yes, there were moments of stress where I wanted to hit just about every one of my coworkers and moments of frustration when our clients just didn't get it and moments of sheer annoyance when I had to deal with reporting to the federal government because of our grant money from ORR.  But all in all, working as the Development Coordinator for RIS was my absolute dream job.  I love the population, and my coworkers were some of the most dedicated and hard-working people I have ever met; I felt we had (and they still have) a darn good resettlement program.  The staff is always expanding programs and developing new ones in order to help the refugee clients become self-sufficient, adjust to life in America, and to truly become a part of the community.  I continue to remain impressed with the staff and their program, and if you're looking for a place to volunteer or do an internship in Columbia, there is no greater place than Refugee Services.  None.

Phil was a former intern with RIS (can I just say whoot whoot for former interns becoming full-time employees at RIS) and was hired last December to work on two specific grants- but of course, his job entails much more than that.  His title really should be Job Developer since he is responsible for the vast majority of refugee employment placements.  But I digress.  Several months ago, Phil told the staff about his desire to develop a community garden designed specifically for refugee clients.  Many of our refugees were farmers in their country of origin; if they had a small plot of land where they could use their farming/gardening skills, they could raise food for their family, cutting down on the cost of groceries, and also sell their surplus at local farmer's markets, helping to supplement the family income.  And so Phil set out to work on this huge project, all the while still doing his other responsibilities and duties.

A local church donated a plot of land located close to the apartment complex in which a large portion of the refugees live.  Phil and his intern from Mizzou are working on developing models, both short-term and long-term plans and goals, and fundraising.  Phil informed me the money Isaac and I are donating will help pay for some of the compost that needs to be purchased.  They'll also need money for seeds, fence posts, and other supplies and start-up costs.  They'll need volunteers to help in so many ways.  This is truly a project that has ample need and opportunities for involvement.  I won't be there to witness this program in person, but I know a lot of my friends in Columbia could help out a great deal with this!  I am asking my friends in Columbia to consider donating their resources and time to this program that could so dynamically change the lives of your fellow Columbian residents.

In fact, I am going to issue a specific challenge to those of you reading this.  I've never directly asked my readers to donate to our Focus of the Month, but I challenge you to donate $5.00 to this project.  Five dollars...that's skipping your morning stop at Starbucks one time this month...that's choosing to go a matinee movie instead of the evening show...that's purchasing one less magazine the next time you're waiting in line at the grocery store.  Five dollars- will you really miss it that much?  It's not a lot, but it doesn't take a lot to change someone's life...

Also know the Columbia Refugee Garden will accept in-kind donations as well.  Check out this page from their blog to see other ways in which you can help and get involved.  You can send your donations to:

Refugee Services
Attn: Phil Stroessner
201 W. Broadway
Bldg 5B
Columbia, MO 65203

Feel free to contact Phil at pstroessner@diojeffcity.org or at (573) 442-7568 if you have any questions or want to help in any way.

September's Focus: Three Angels Children's Relief

This month, we've chosen to support an organization dedicated to serving the children of Haiti.  Megan, the sister (who has an awesome blog about her experiences) of one of my best friends from college, works with Three Angels Children's Relief.  Their website has lots of information about their programs, as well as the challenges the agency faces.  Here is some of the most troubling and startling information I gleaned from their site:

As many of you know, Haiti is one of the poorest nations in the world-actually the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere- and the average Haitian lives on less than one dollar a day.  More than half of the population lacks access to clean water or sanitation.  Fifty percent of Haitians are undernourished; twelve percent of children die before their first birthday and a full third of all children do not make it to their fifth birthday. Only one in every ten thousand Haitians has access to a physician, and one report even determined Haiti as the worst place in the entire world to live.

It is the lives of Haiti's most impoverished children that Three Angels Children's Relief strives to impact.  Currently, they have three distinct programs: the Angel House Orphanage, the Three Angels Christian Academy, and Halos Medical Mission.  Obviously, there is great need for all of these programs.  The agency does allow teams from the States (and presumably other countries) to help through short-term mission trips; you can donate monetarily or in-kind items.  Their website has a list of their current needs for each of the three programs.

Even though the people of Haiti struggle with poverty and sickness, they are still a beautiful people, loved by our God who is so full of grace.  The Lord still has a mighty plan for these precious souls; we cannot write them off as 'just another poor country' or 'just another orphanage'. No, these children are His beloved.  Please pray for this program, for the volunteers and staff involved, for the children participating in the programs, and for the nation of Haiti.  I am reminded of a verse from a popular worship song:

"Distant shores and the islands will see Your light as it rises on us..."

Here is a video from their website.  Let these beautiful faces touch your heart:

August's Focus: Scott in Kazakhstan

This month, our friend Scott will be moving to Kazakhstan to help begin a campus ministry at Kazakhstan National University. He will be there for a full year, integrating into the community, learning the language (he has already been learning Russian while still in the States- I actually got to teach him how to say "thank you," one of the approximately four words I know in Russian), and loving the people. He will also be volunteering with a local orphanage for children with special needs, as well as participating in English clubs, helping students to learn English while sharing the love of Christ. Scott will be blogging about his adventures halfway across the world; be sure to visit his site.

I don't know too much about Kazakhstan (except what I've heard from other friends who have lived there), but I did some research so our family could better pray for the nation. Here's what I've learned:

Native Kazakhs (a mix of Turkish and Nomadic tribes) were rarely united under a single nation, but Russia conquered the area in the 1700s, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. The country gained independence from the USSR in 1991, but the effects of Communism and Soviet rule are far-reaching and remain today (as in most former Communist countries). Specifically, Soviet programs have affected the physical make-up of the nation; Russians were encouraged to immigrant to the area in order to cultivate the northern pastures, causing non-Kazakhs to outnumber the natives and the land to become polluted with toxic waste; in addition, the Soviet government conducted numerous nuclear tests within the borders of Kazakhstan, leaving the land tainted by radioactive fallout and nearly forty million people seriously affected by radiation exposure. Not surprisingly, developing a cohesive national identity continues to be a struggle for the people of Kazakhstan.

Today, Kazakhstan sees a high literacy rate for both males and females, a relatively long life expectancy rate, and universal suffrage at the age of eighteen, among other things. The government is a republic, with an authoritarian president and little governmental control outside of the executive branch; the judicial system operates under Islamic and Roman law. Nearly half (47%) of the nation is Muslim, although most do not adhere strictly to Islamic law, and another large portion of the population follows the Russian Orthodox Church (approximately 44%). In fact, many Kazakhs view Christianity as the religion of the Russian oppressors who ruled them for so long.

Please pray for Scott as he embarks on his journey to this nation in Asia; pray that he would be able to learn the language well and that he would be effective in his work while serving the various ethnic groups that make up this diverse land. You may support Scott financially as well by visiting his website to make a donation.

July's Focus: Howard and Jannie of NAIM

Sorry for the delay in posting our focus for July- I was a bit distracted while on vacation (a picture-filled post coming soon) last week. This month, we've chosen our friends Howard and Jannie, whom we affectionately call the "Canadian Johnsons". We met Howard and Jannie while on our honeymoon in Canada; we were staying in a cabin in British Columbia, and they were spending the night at the lodge owned by the same couple. Each night, the owners of Griffin Lake Lodge (which we highly, highly recommend- amazing scenery, awesome food, and wonderful people) have a campfire near the lake. Guests are free to come and go, and our first night there, we decided to join the other individuals sitting around the fire.

We somehow began a conversation with Howard (originally from the States) and Jannie (originally from the Netherlands). Howard and Jannie work with NAIM (North America Indigenous Ministries), serving in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. It is amazing how the Lord reminds and affirms you of His plan for your life (even on your honeymoon); since we want to move overseas to serve the nations, it was encouraging to meet a couple who have been involved in the same mission for years. We admire the work to which they have so dedicated themselves, and the conversation by the campfire is one Isaac and I will never forget.

Howard and Jannie also write a blog that they update occasionally; feel free to check it out and drop them a note. In conversing with them and reading their email updates and blog posts, we know that working with the First Nations can be rather difficult; change is slow to come, as the people do not open up easily; with so many missionaries coming and going, forming deep relationships on either side is often difficult. Howard and Jannie's family, however, is beginning to form long-lasting relationships with the people they serve. They have been in Salmon Arm long enough to adjust their Canadian immigration status and purchase a house; all of these events have made the people of Salmon Arm realize Howard and Jannie are staying for more than just a season and have since truly begun to open up to their family. Please pray the Light of Christ would shine on the people near Salmon Arm, BC; pray for Howard and Jannie's family to have strength and endurance; pray for life-altering relationships to form and grow. Also, Howard and Janie are continually raising support to continue in their work, so I'm sure any donations would be appreciated.

June's Focus: SpendYourself

Isaac and I choose a company our friends recently started as our Focus of the Month for June. According to their website, SpendYourself "is an apparel company with a heart for social justice and a vision to drive positive change in the world." SpendYourself will be selling a series of shirts in order to raise funds for specific causes across the globe. By doing so, they hope to help fund sustainable solutions to different social injustices, as well as to raise awareness, not only for each specific cause, but also for the need to be well-informed of what is happening in our world today. How can we fight social injustice if we do not know it is happening? By bringing attention to those individuals suffering under these injustices, we are helping to give a voice to those whose voice was taken away.

Currently, there are two shirts for sale on the SpendYourself website; one is the SpendYourself logo shirt (which Isaac has), and the other is the Omed Hope shirt (which I have). The proceeds of the Omed Hope shirt benefit Sozo International, working in Afghanistan to build a school for the children living in the Barek Aub camp, a camp for internally displaced persons (IDP). The people living in this camp fled during the fall of the Taliban regime and returned to their home to find nothing left but empty shells of houses and buildings and fields covered in land mines. Their home was now uninhabitable. The families traveled to Kabul in search of a new beginning, but the Afghan government eventually transferred the families to the area now called Barek Aub.


Baruk Aub means "broken water" or "fragile water" in Dari, one of the most beautiful languages I have heard (our office helped a Special Immigrant Visaholder from the northern part of Afghanistan). Water was originally delivered to the site of the camp, but half of it was undrinkable. In addition to the lack of clean water, the individuals living in the camp found it almost impossible to attain employment because of the remote location of their new 'home'. The families were quickly reduced to poverty at no fault of their own.

When you work with refugees, you see situations like this everyday- individuals and families forced to leave behind their homes, possessions, their life- because of someone else's war. Many of our refugees have faced extreme torture. Once they arrive in the United States, they often find it very difficult to adjust to the new culture. But one thing is abundantly clear: they want to begin again. They want to work, they want to be a part of the community, and they want to help others from their homeland do the same. Please understand that they don't necessarily want a hand out; they just want opportunity. It's the same with the individuals living in Barek Aub and all the others around the globe in similar situations. If you give them a chance, they will thrive.

Should we even care about what happens half-way around the world? As I mentioned in a previous post, the answer is a resounding yes. God is a just God who cares about injustice in our world, whether it is happening two houses down from you, or in the slums of South Africa, or in an IDP camp in Afghanistan. We are called to be His light, shining it throughout the world, including Barek Aub.

Please visit the SpendYourself website to read more about the people of Barek Aub and the efforts to help them. They will be adding more shirts to their line (I believe the next shirt will be benefiting a project in Africa), so be sure to check back often!

May's Focus: Voice of the Martyrs

I wasn't going to be able to post this tomorrow since I'll be in KC all day for a meeting, so here you go!

Isaac and I have chosen our focus for the month of May: The Voice of the Martyrs, a non-profit dedicated to serving the persecuted Church worldwide. Founded by Richard Wurmbrand, a pastor imprisoned for almost fifteen years in the then-Communist Romania for his faith in Christ, VOM looks to assist Christians living in restricted and hostile nations as well as to bring the Gospel to these countries through a variety of means.

If you are unfamiliar with The Voice of the Martyrs, I highly recommend checking out this phenomenal organization. Go to their website and sign up for their free monthly newsletter. We have been receiving the newsletter for years; though we consider ourselves well-educated individuals who are aware of the general situation in the world, I am always amazed at the information found within the newsletter; my eyes have been opened to so many situations and issues in the world today that are not mentioned in the general media. By having this knowledge, we are better able to pray for the nations around the world. Each year, they publish a Prayer Map, which helps provide a visual picture of the global situation.



You can find this map here. If you are interested in learning how to better pray for the nations, another one of our favorite resources is a book called Operation World. Check it out.

So far, Isaac and I are really enjoying our new family 'tradition' of supporting a focus of the month. We've found so many amazing causes that we would love to support! We are so excited about this concept that we've already chosen the focus for June, and it's becoming harder and harder to pick just one each month. It is so encouraging to see what people are doing to help their neighbor, to use their God-given talents to serve others, and to bring attention to those who have been forgotten. I pray that you and your family would consider what your role will be in this global community in which we live.

And...I have a bonus video for you today! This is not our focus of the month, but I recently saw this on Phil and Lacy's blog and wanted to share it with you. Thanks for sharing Lacy!

April's Focus: The Traveling Team

I know it's a little bit delayed, but here is the Focus of the Month (my goal is to definitely get these up earlier in the coming months):

April's focus is The Traveling Team, a group dedicated to equipping university students to effectively serve the Lord and spread the Gospel. Each year, teams of mobilizers travel across the country speaking on different college campuses, teaching students about world evangelization and the role that we are all to play in His plan for the nations. The Traveling Team has an excellent website with tons of different resources available online. I highly recommend checking them out.

My friend Amy (a youth minister in Alabama) once wrote, "Almost every major revival in history was sparked by young people..." (side note: check out her blog for some serious-kick-you-in-the-butt-thoughts) So what are we doing to equip those young people who will so shape and mark the future? Something to consider.

Something New

A while back, Isaac approached me with an idea to give more to others on a consistent basis. You see, we're regular tithers, and we try to support other good causes as much as possible. Generally speaking, if there was an opportunity to give a little bit financially to an organization, an individual, or a church that we felt was doing good work, we would go ahead and give the extra 5, 10, or 20 bucks.

But we weren't real intentional about it.

We're trying to change that now. Each month, we're choosing a specific cause- whether it is an individual, a family, a church, or an organization- and we're giving a little bit to that cause, in addition to our regular tithing commitment at our church. We're also committing to pray for that particular cause throughout the month. The monetary amount we can give each month isn't a lot, but we know that prayer is powerful and our God is faithful to complete the good works He has begun.

Once we have chosen the cause for the month, I plan on writing a short post about it so that my readers can learn more about the cause which we've chosen; there will also be a permanent spot in the sidebar to the right about the Focus of the Month with a link or links to appropriate website(s).

We hope that we can establish this focus of praying and giving as a family tradition; we feel that focusing on meeting the needs of others in whatever capacity the Lord allows is an important lesson for children and adults alike. We want our children to have a firm grasp of the concept of "it is more blessed to give than to receive." See Acts 20:35.

With that preface, we've chosen our very first Focus of the Month. For security purposes, I will call this couple P and A. P and A are currently training with Wycliffe Bible Translators and are planning on moving to Central Asia sometime this fall. We met this couple before when they came to speak at Grace a while back. They recently returned to our church to be a part of our annual missions conference. I had the privilege of learning from P and A in Sunday school this week, as well as hearing P preach tonight. Isaac and I talked with both of them several times throughout the conference; their passion for the nations and for translation so that all people might have the Word of God written in their own language is completely contagious. I ask that you pray for: their diligence as they are completing linguistic training, logistics involved with them moving to Central Asia, safety in the nation to which they are going, and their work in that nation over the next several years.

P and A work with Wycliffe Bible Translators, an organization which is dedicated to making God's Word accessible to all people in their native language. Did you know that today about 200 million people do not have the Bible in their own language? The most startling thing I learned from P and A is this:

There are 6,912 spoken languages in the world today. Of those languages, only 438 have complete translations of the Bible available. One thousand one hundred and sixty-eight languages have translations of the New Testament. And 2,251 languages do not have any part of the Bible translated; one hundred ninety three million people in the world speak these 2,251 languages.

Dear ones, the harvest is plentiful. The harvest is ready.