Re-birthday

Twenty-three years ago today a smiley eight-year-old girl searched for her children’s bible a notebook and a pencil. Upon arriving at church for the service with a special guest speaker she ran over to where her cousin, who was also her best friend, was seated. As the sermon commenced the girl would start to write down the things the preacher said that she thought were important. Not being able to write as fast as her companion, who was older by one year, she nudged with her elbow and whispered for her to write it down.

The message seemed to end quickly and the man up front posed a sincere and penetrating question: do you need something from Jesus? He explained that he wanted to pray with those who felt they had needs and invited them forward. The girls looked at each other and without a word headed down front. The man approached and asked the girls what they needed from Jesus. Both responded with confidence their need to be saved. He prayed with them. As the eight-year-old repeated those simple words she knew for sure that she was saved. Though the words have long been forgotten the truth of eternal salvation that was planted in her heart that day has never once been lost.

This is my story. The little eight-year-old girl was me March 28, 1985.

With clear understanding that the word always should be used sparingly I am going to use it today. I have always known the love of God in my life. From the first caresses of my mothers hand on my cheek until this day that I was wiping tears from my son’s face there has been a real presence of my Heavenly Father’s love with me. For this I am grateful.

Not once have I doubted, questioned, wandered away from or rebelled against the message of the gospel. Assurance, confidence and faithfulness have been the marks of my life with Christ. His truth is real to me. For this I am grateful.

Since the moment I first laid eyes on these words as a teenager they have been my own.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry” (1 Timothy 1:12)

If you haven’t done so then you need to give your life to Christ. God loves you. Jesus paid the price for our salvation with his own life. He rose from the dead with the power to forgive you of the sin separating you from God. Tell him today that you believe and ask him for his help. He will hear you and give you the gift of eternal life. Let me know if you do decide to dedicate your life to Jesus so that I can congratulate you for making the best decision ever.

What wonderful gift from the Lord are you celebrating today?

Video Tour of House of Dreams Orphanage, Cochabamba Bolivia

The video is 8 min 40 sec long. If you can, I would encourage you to watch. You will see the facilities of our House of Dreams Orphanage and some of the kids who live here. For privacy purposes we do not disclose the specifics of individual histories. You will hear my husband explain in general some of the histories.

Common FAQs:

1. How many kids you have? We are caring for 21 children now

2. What is your capacity? We are licensed for 42 children; economically we have ceased receiving children until our funds increase

3. How many workers do you have? On paid staff we have 8 people. Aside from that we have a team of about 5 faithful volunteers.

4. Where do the kids come from? We work closely with the equivalent of Social Services here in Bolivia. They bring us children that have been abused, abandoned, left under park benches, found in public bathroom stalls, and even those that have been left in garbage cans.

5. Can you do foreign adoptions? Spain and Portugal, yes. We are in the process of investigating the possibilities for other nations.

6. When did you start the orphanage? June 2006

7. What ages of kids live here? Our boys and girls are newborn to 5 years old

8. How many adoptions have you had? Three of our children in the last year and a half have been adopted into Bolivian homes.

9. How are you finances? Good people from the willingness of their heart support us on a monthly basis. We are at about half of our budget and always looking for new supporters.

10. How can I get involved? You can pray, give financially, come and volunteer, and you can get the word out by passing along this link or asking people to visit our web site:

www.christnationministries.org

Orphanages in Bolivia play the part that foster homes do in the States as well as the typical caring for orphans. Some of the parents of the kids are being trained and taught on how to be better parents. If they are unable to meet the state’s expectations then the immediate family if the child is investigated to see if any of them could take the child in. If all family situations are unsuitable then the process for adoption begins. It usually takes six months from the time a child enters our home until they are available to be adopted, unless they are no family ties found, then the process is usually three months. Just recently the United States has agreed to allow Bolivian adoptions. We are still looking into the requirements; but that option is now open.

Click here to watch the video.

Or copy and paste this link in your browser: http://christnationministries.org/English/videoblogdaronn.html

As you see the images please say a prayer for the work here. Thank you for taking the time to read and watch.

A Yes No Convo

This is a short, little, out-of-the-blue conversation I had this morning with my 6 year old daughter.

Gabrielle: Mama, are tornados real?
Me: Yes
Gabrielle: Will Aunt Kristy be sucked up? (Worried look on face)
Me: No
Gabrielle: Oh good! (Relieved look on face)

As she went blissfully skipping away I chuckled to myself and wondered where that little worry came from. It amused me even more that she was relieved simply by what I told her. She believed it, was relieved by it, and physically manifests her complete trust with a sweet smile as she went about with her life.

What do I worry about? Surely my worries are much more serious and important than those of my child. But are they really? She was gravely distressed by the thought of her aunt being sucked up in a tornado. Are her feelings very much different from mine when I am concerned about all the “what-ifs”?

But my daughter made a good choice. She went to a reliable source to verify the validity of her preoccupation. And when she indeed found out that she was mistaken in her perception of reality she simply changed.

When I am worried who do I talk to? Nobody. Do I bottle it up and let it fester? Yes. Do I file it away in my mind thereby assigning it importance? Usually, yes.

Now, though, this encounter with my daughter showed me that it would be better if I took my worries to a verifiable source: God. That I would choose to believe what he said. And that I would simply change, trusting what he said to be the absolute truth.

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (I Peter 5:7)

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. (Mark 10:15)

What do you do when you are worried?

Tantalized

Scent of health… cucumbers

Touch of familiarity… a sharp yellow No. 2 pencil in my hand

Sight of hope… a sincere embrace of reconciliation

Taste of comfort… cold chocolate milk

Sound of relief… husband’s key turning the lock to come in

Scent of comfort… lit candles

Touch of relief… binding of a longed-for book in my hand

Sight of health… a new born baby’s lips

Taste of familiarity… Schlotzsky’s Original sandwich

Sound of hope… my children laughing

Scent of hope… the wetness of a clear morning after a night of rain

Touch of comfort… husband’s hand on the small of my back

Sight of familiarity… the faces of my friends

Taste of relief… cool water

Sound of health… rhythmic thud of tennis shoes on the ground

What is tantalizing your senses?

Laguna de Alalay

Yesterday for Fun Friday we went to the Laguna de Alalay, a man made lake in the South part of the town here in Cochabamba. Since it was Good Friday there were many families out walking, biking, playing soccer, picnicking, and fishing. My kids especially enjoyed forging a way to the shore line. It was hard to find because parts were flooded and overgrown. I let them take the lead exploring and eventually we made it through. There were piles of old lily pads that had been pulled out from last season that we had to climb over. The fish water smell was not as strong thanks to the breeze. Wild horses grazed on the banks as the men with bamboo poles waded in knee deep to catch fish for their families seated on the grass under the shade of the trees. There was even a man selling ice-cream out of his styrophome chest. The kids pulled up the large water plants and inspected the long hair like roots. God really has surrounded us with fascinating creations. As evening set in the mosquitoes awoke and were hungry so we left. As we were walking to the truck my son pronounces, “Thanks for a very fun Fun Friday mom!”

Yay for Art Day

Thursdays are Art Day here at our home school. We have been having a good time creating together. Usually some of the kids of another home school family who live a few blocks away walk down to do the art project with us. It makes for a fun time for everyone involved (teacher included). So far we have made: me posters, rubbings collections, potato prints, slot sculptures, color spinner pull yo-yos, and woven paper. Each week we learn an art vocabulary word. I make the oversized vocab cards with card stock. The top line is the term, the second line is the definition and finally the card has an example of the term. Some of my projects I find at the Art Attack web site. I love art!


Getting all set up


Raimy with some of the vocabulary cards


Gabrielle working hard


Timothy finishing up


Aren't they lovely?! (The art is pretty nice too)

Feeding Frenzy

When I was in high school there was a commercial for some taco joint where the family was loaded up in the mini van and they chanted, “Feeding frenzy, feeding frenzy…” Well here at the house we have some members of our family that communicate their need to be fed in rather ingenious ways.

First our beloved poodle Shep sets his bowls just so on the step next to his house so that the vast emptiness therein (both his tummy and dishes) may be clearly seen from the second floor kitchen window.

Our guinea pigs peer out from their cage and squeal in desperation. The nibbling on the little bars is supposed to be some kind of guilt trip; it works every time.

And finally, last but not least, comes our tiny Tyler. If signing “food”, “drink” and “more” doesn’t get our attention he lets is voice be heard in another way.

Note: Inspiration and expert photography for this blog come from the one and only DaRonn Washington, my dear and faithful husband.