tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-190414072024-03-13T05:20:40.900+02:00Voyager Visions(Margie's adventures around the world!) ~~~> "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." ~Acts 1:8bMargiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-32933678528051016642010-04-06T18:49:00.002+02:002010-04-06T18:56:56.177+02:00What's in the Bible?I'm not sure if y'all have heard... but there's a new video series for children (produced by the creator of Veggie Tales). It's called <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">"What's in the Bible?"</span> And what could be better than teaching the Bible to children??? They're even in the process of developing curriculum to accompany the videos. I'm excited about this resource and want to encourage y'all to visit their website: http://whatsinthebible.com<br /><br />And there's a video posted on YouTube that will give you a preview of what's to come. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-Mnq_sqMus<br /><br />Be sure to help spread the word!Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-30831800383004854042010-03-26T17:14:00.003+02:002010-03-26T17:32:32.913+02:00The Diski Dance<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XdvJJGYy0xsIf7s7p6KXawF3Ao8KGU8ZeyKxH7YH5biykYrK6LqZJhOrixNnajIS6gmq8JlRvSwP-U_UAvRuayiMCPWSPmB9Bap34MOCHw6kfYfIViNoqotNuj1qdjMobjW2vw/s1600/FB+diski+logo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XdvJJGYy0xsIf7s7p6KXawF3Ao8KGU8ZeyKxH7YH5biykYrK6LqZJhOrixNnajIS6gmq8JlRvSwP-U_UAvRuayiMCPWSPmB9Bap34MOCHw6kfYfIViNoqotNuj1qdjMobjW2vw/s320/FB+diski+logo3.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">Celebrate two South African passions - dancing and soccer - and submit an entry in the Diski Dance Competition! Official FIFA World Cup prizes will be awarded to the first place winners in group and individual categories.</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0.1pt 0in;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The Diski Dance was initially created as a television ad promoting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was quickly embraced by the people of South Africa as the official dance of the event.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">"Diski" is South African township slang for football (a.k.a. soccer), and the Diski Dance is based on some of South Africa's creative football moves.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Want to know how to Diski? Check out the South Africa Tourism commercial and the "how to" video. To learn more, visit: <a href="http://worldsoccerjourneys.com/world-cup/world-cup-fever/diski-dance-fever/">WorldSoccerJourneys.com</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">So you think YOU can Diski???</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Submit your entry as a group or as an individual by posting your Diski video to the following Facebook site: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=47952911332&v=info#%21/pages/So-you-think-you-can-Diski/107588035929147?ref=ts">So you think you can Diski?</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Learn the moves, create a video, enter and win...</span><br />
<br />
<i style="color: orange;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let the dancing begin!!!</span></i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-42628840695662859992010-03-23T08:23:00.000+02:002010-03-23T08:23:26.798+02:00March newsletterHey, everyone!<br />
<br />
For those who haven't received it already... last week I emailed my March newsletter to folks. You can check it out at this address:<br />
<a href="http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=001VZO97oWchjDMCLfBPTxil_KQxAvkzOFFRwAsm2jeLgRhomXYMb9dxT9XxkVvW0g6MKLnzyme1wVoHyISrnJHTaJUrZrmC9LYXSFCn_INj175sXcCJNDNS2i7hHqasosazlt51Qn0KYQ%3D">Margie's March newsletter</a><br />
<br />
If you would like to receive a newsletter (via email) in the future... please be sure to subscribe by clicking on the "Join our mailing list" button in the left-hand column of the newsletter.<br />
<br />
Blessings to you all!Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-86120580002386427552010-02-17T21:43:00.001+02:002010-03-20T00:06:16.970+02:00Soweto Prayer<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've been keeping extremely busy with projects... so I've had little time to update my blog in the past several weeks. My most recent project has been creating a prayer video for the township of Soweto (on the outskirts of Johannesburg). I can't even begin to explain the details right now, because I'm still processing all that I've experienced. But please check out my completed video: </span></span></span><a href="http://worldsoccerjourneys.com/resources/video-prayer-guides/" style="color: #e69138; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Soweto Prayer</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As soon as I have the time, I'll try to post some photos from the Soweto area... with a brief description.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As always... thank you for your prayers! </span></span></span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-61573371373224918312010-02-09T21:07:00.002+02:002010-03-20T00:13:22.396+02:00Another year passes...<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Wow! I'm getting old. Another birthday has come and gone.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">God, you know the one wish that I would ask You to grant. But I pray instead that my desires and dreams be replaced by the dreams that You want for me. I just want You to be glorified through my life... even if that means that my wishes don't come true.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lord, please help me face whatever comes my way during this next year of my life.</span></span></span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-27817877567953409442010-01-04T23:14:00.002+02:002010-03-20T00:25:00.687+02:00Downtown Joburg<div style="visibility: visible;"></div><div style="visibility: visible;"></div><div style="visibility: visible;"></div><div style="visibility: visible;"></div><div style="visibility: visible;"></div><div style="visibility: visible;"></div><div style="visibility: visible;"><object data="http://widget-1a.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" height="320" style="height: 320px; width: 426px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="426"><param name="movie" value="http://widget-1a.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="salign" value="l" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="flashvars" value="cy=ms&il=1&channel=2954361355586926106&site=widget-1a.slide.com"/></object></div><div style="white-space: nowrap;"><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These are just a few of the images that I took during my first</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> excursion to downtown Joburg...</span></span></span></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-75237743078993621932010-01-01T15:41:00.001+02:002010-03-19T23:42:13.923+02:002010...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Comic Sans MS,Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #000099;"><span style="color: #006600;">It's a new year. A new place. A new beginning. There will be new experiences and new stories to tell. The one thing that isn't new... is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God's love is enduring and everlasting. I am so blessed to know Him. May this new year bring many opportunities to teach others about God's love. May all of my projects, my travels, and my very life bring glory to Christ. That's why I am here. That's why I do what I do. Guide me, Father, as I journey into this new year.</span></span></span></span></span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-73737566604531357182009-12-25T05:42:00.001+02:002010-03-19T13:47:06.832+02:00Christmas in Jo'burg<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's my first Christmas morning in South Africa, and I'll be heading to church in just a few minutes.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's still not quite real... that I'm actually here. It's a bright, beautiful morning with a cool breeze. (The sun is out - completely - by 5am... which I'm still getting used to.) The breeze feels wonderful through the open windows and doors.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Happy birthday, Jesus! today is your day... as are all the others. I love you. And I thank you for being here and bringing me here. Thank you for not making me feel overwhelmingly lonely today. I still miss being with my family, but I've received emails from several of them. In fact, one of my sisters has sent several... updating me about the activities, events, and all the kids. She's even posted photos on FaceBook. It makes me still feel connected somehow. Thank you, God, for my loving family. Please be with them today, and help them focus on you.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm going to cry if I don't stop writing now... </span></span></span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-38855554718258288382009-12-23T07:16:00.036+02:002010-03-19T13:41:57.936+02:00South Africa... First Impressions<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Wow! Today is my first day in Johannesburg, South Africa. I arrived last night, and I'm currently staying in one of the guest rooms. I think this small room will be my home for the next several weeks - until they find a place for me to live.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">First impressions? I'm not really sure yet. It was a beautiful evening last night with a cool breeze. I slept with the windows open and the fan on to allow for a cooler room (since there's no air - or heat - in the room).</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Last night I was wide awake, so I decided to "decorate" a bit in this "new home" - albeit temporary - of mine. I put up some pictures of all five of my nieces and nephew... along with some Christmas cards, a note from Mom, and an ornament from some dear friends. Someone here very kindly bought me a small beaded Christmas tree (about 12" tall). Placed under the tree is one of my nephew's toy cars - which somehow appeared in one of my suitcases. :-D I also have a finger painting "blob art picture from one of my nieces and nephew. It's in a really cool frame - which I have sitting on the table. My most treasured gift that I have displayed was given to me by my sister. Growing up, the four of us kids always hung four little mice ornaments (in walnut shells) on our Christmas tree. There are three girls and one boy - obviously to match our genders. All four of us <i>loved</i> those ornaments, and my sister took possession of them a few years ago. This Christmas... she knew that I would be alone in South Africa, and she surprised me by gifting me with the mice. Knowing how much my sister treasured them makes them even more meaningful to me. Right now the four mice are "artfully" hanging on the small Christmas tree.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">Christmas is obviously going to be different this year. It isn't my first Christmas away from family... actually it's my 3rd. As much as I would like to be with family for Christmas... honestly, a part of me is glad to be here in Jo'burg. Being away from all the lights and shopping and gifts and decorations and glitter... is somehow simpler. It reminds me what Christmas is really about. It's kind-of nice.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">But I'm definitely going to miss family. And I hate that I'm going to miss playing with all the kids. They're such a joy to be around!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;">God... I wonder what you have in store for me here. Please let me be a blessing to others. Help me be the woman that you created me to be. Teach me your ways, Lord. Help me teach others about your love. I want to learn and grow and become closer to you than I ever have before. </span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-5348178774379484682009-12-22T22:38:00.001+02:002010-03-19T13:41:15.675+02:00Just arrived<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've arrived in Jo'burg... and I've decided (once again) to get back to blogging. It's been far too long, and I really need to keep it updated. So... here's to new beginnings... and new commitments... :-)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But for now... I'm going to bed. It's been a long few days with long flights and little rest. More tomorrow... </span></span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-20821898672156178002009-03-25T14:15:00.002+02:002009-03-25T14:17:28.664+02:00A Fresh StartOkay... so it's been an extremely LONG time since I've updated this site. Well, all that is about to change. I'm finally going to start blogging again about my travels. I have a lot of catching up to do, so please hang in there - if you haven't already given up on me! :-)Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12458954326453803331noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-62229991815683856202007-04-17T18:01:00.000+02:002007-04-27T20:26:30.256+02:00Sonrise Revealed<span style="font-family:georgia;color:#006600;"><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#cc9933;">The pale moon was hovering over the city behind me as the crimson sun slowly rose ahead of me.</span> As the glorious sun peaked over the distant mountains, I joined the multitude of voices lifting praises to the Father above. It was early on Easter morning in <span style="color:#009900;">Stuttgart, Germany</span>, where believers in Christ assembled at the top of (what the Americans call) “Rubble Hill.”<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Birkenkopf is most often called “Monte Scherbelino” by the Germans – which is literally translated as “Mount Shards.” Birkenkopf is the highest elevation of the surrounding hills of Stuttgart and has special meaning to those who live in the valley below. During the Second World War, most of Stuttgart was destroyed, and the remaining debris (almost 53 million cubic feet) from the 53 air strikes was accumulated and deposited on top of Birkenkopf – significantly increasing its height. Now Monte Scherbelino stands as a memorial for the victims and as a warning to the living.<br /></span><br /><span style="color:#333399;">But as I stood with others at the foot of the 10-meter-high (32.8 feet) cross overlooking the city below… my thoughts were far from the near-by rubble displaying some of the prominent façade pieces of destroyed WWII homes and buildings. Rather my eyes were drawn to the scarlet sun on the horizon and the metallic surfaces in the fog-covered valley below as they reflected the sun’s light through the surrounding darkness. I couldn’t rid my mind of a staggering question: <span style="color:#cc9933;">“Would the city of Stuttgart ever glow from the reflection of the Son’s light through the Christian believers living among the population?”</span><br /><br />I couldn’t escape the metaphors. Easter morning is one of the prominent moments when Christians reflect on the blood of Jesus Christ as He died on a crucifix and His ensuing resurrection on the third day. He died for people – for every one of us, because His love for us is beyond comparison. And here I was . . . standing at the foot of a cross, on a mountain of rubble, “seeing” the darkness in the valley below. <span style="color:#cc9933;">As I watched the rising of the blood-red sun . . . my mind pictured the blood-stained Son rising from His grave.</span> As the dense fog dissipated above the houses . . . I imagined the hazy confusion of Jesus’ followers as they began to understand His prophecies. The light began to shine through the darkness enveloping Stuttgart . . . just as the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as the Son of God began to spread across the earth. And as the reflections of the sun began to glitter across the valley’s mirrored surfaces . . . my thoughts turned inward as well as outward.<br /><br />Am I . . . are you . . . mirroring Christ’s love? Is His reflection shining through our lives? <span style="color:#cc9933;">How many hundreds and thousands of people were sleeping in Stuttgart – unknowing that a celebration of Love and Redemption was occurring just above them on a memorable hill overlooking their city?</span> How many people didn’t know, because we didn’t tell them? Our mission is clear . . . to tell the world about Jesus Christ . . . every tribe and every nation. The risen Son should be revealed through our lives!<br /><br />One young child touched my heart after our Easter Sonrise Worship came to a close. She climbed some of the rubble surrounding us where she could look into the distance. She paused for a moment as she turned in a circle . . . seeing the horizon in every direction. And then she loudly proclaimed, <span style="color:#cc9933;">“Look! I can see the whole world!” And as she spoke, images flooded through my mind . . . of the faces of people around the world that have never heard about Jesus Christ.</span> God does see the whole world, and He loves and longs for every soul to know and believe in Him.</span></span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-58123197883615415592007-03-28T02:29:00.000+02:002008-12-10T13:24:55.675+02:00Volunteering in Jamaica<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What comes to mind when you think of <span style="color:#3366ff;">Jamaica</span>? White sandy beaches? The blues and greens of the Caribbean Sea?</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056782577349602514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYztq5thWSQVf5zE9adP9UG5GzF4huFqZamejf4DLIhe596S4P-74d4N-_DJ1IGeRFSAfv_dsLbxVIM4KpsY3ZCNv7c2OMv1cl_3L17kctOB4nt9ORjE9dCoHbdianLwYJHf1/s400/IMG_8424.jpg" border="0" /> <div><div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5khJVL_9vuatXevoSLKqJJOtZbYGoJvmxmY7v7RlyXEugn9RZahTF1J6ODGBJvULSKOKrme_TH6kP3X3DSVkHHvd-zjyqWgPNjoHtt4g3WFaUX1xoG5BFXylhsIU5q2O2kkb/s1600-h/IMG_7887.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056778089108778098" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5khJVL_9vuatXevoSLKqJJOtZbYGoJvmxmY7v7RlyXEugn9RZahTF1J6ODGBJvULSKOKrme_TH6kP3X3DSVkHHvd-zjyqWgPNjoHtt4g3WFaUX1xoG5BFXylhsIU5q2O2kkb/s200/IMG_7887.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Yes, that's part of <span style="color:#009900;">Jamaica</span>. But not the part where we were... in the beautiful Blue Mountains!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">A group of student volunteers from Florida and Arkansas spent their Spring Break in Jamaica during the Cricket World Cup. You're probably thinking... sure, Spring Break in Jamaica... vacationing at the resorts and hanging out at the beaches. But that's far from the truth! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056781013981506722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdqg0-QdEWA1RfikMPoFMSIRveEummDLIHn6gNrAFASYgZeu9AoMP-4dEIA0RXvk505BOoNbHxcLA0XifjpHu-97t3fhCeG-S9juzvb6nYpnXEJI6A0HuvRRl9GwIiIXp4d8O/s400/Witnessing.jpg" border="0" />This group of volunteer missionaries spent their time passing out evangelistic tracts and free bottles of water, spending time at an inner-city preschool and a high school in the mountains, talking and praying with anyone who was willing, worshiping with local believers, and most importantly... sharing the Gospel!</span></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNhajlHcqnLjPhTh_dxottdt58kIAGwXV_TYLaT5es9Y2LoWk7hRXP-kKuqeYbXxTQQx2gV7ZIxJlivDxM2Nj0FUn8D208OKd-ZbUZzkf41Fe-zPCPIgHypHC4BkACzOJ6FU_/s1600-h/IMG_7917.jpg"></a></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNhajlHcqnLjPhTh_dxottdt58kIAGwXV_TYLaT5es9Y2LoWk7hRXP-kKuqeYbXxTQQx2gV7ZIxJlivDxM2Nj0FUn8D208OKd-ZbUZzkf41Fe-zPCPIgHypHC4BkACzOJ6FU_/s1600-h/IMG_7917.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056782830752672994" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNhajlHcqnLjPhTh_dxottdt58kIAGwXV_TYLaT5es9Y2LoWk7hRXP-kKuqeYbXxTQQx2gV7ZIxJlivDxM2Nj0FUn8D208OKd-ZbUZzkf41Fe-zPCPIgHypHC4BkACzOJ6FU_/s200/IMG_7917.jpg" border="0" /></a>Please pray for the <span style="color:#cc9933;">Jamaican Baptist Union</span> as they continue to minister to their fellow neighbors and countrymen. And may the name of Jesus Christ be glorified through their lives and testimonies!</span></div></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-76062430362497328132007-03-08T01:09:00.000+02:002008-12-10T13:24:56.234+02:00In the Minority<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAmQAgBtcj_oN76ypoIppEH_2lLMiDGseLxwVHFxJiQaJbGCo38gikaNkUS-3_iW-VIqMTKiGyWShgM-0Zc8grCzOthKdM0KnEwuwuQ-CMEyai_dQB9fk54UcP484dH-yCZbp/s1600-h/07060MD350.jpg"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG2t0S9KT1eKyfafd4DBPighdbIKRmXX7HcFKtfTks0yvX_VXBCsIeBc2DPL4c6cvk2YIx0q9gF1l6QJQVUH0WVDAGl6xSfDtGmF1N3QH2cMUIGF0LyzUoKDnlghlaEnWvkP2/s1600-h/07060MD350.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056750446699260914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWG2t0S9KT1eKyfafd4DBPighdbIKRmXX7HcFKtfTks0yvX_VXBCsIeBc2DPL4c6cvk2YIx0q9gF1l6QJQVUH0WVDAGl6xSfDtGmF1N3QH2cMUIGF0LyzUoKDnlghlaEnWvkP2/s200/07060MD350.jpg" border="0" /></a>I have traveled to <span style="color:#ff6600;">Thailand</span> on many occasions, and although this particular trip was primarily for various meetings, it was a wonderful experience none-the-less. We were able to venture around the city periodically, and I was once again exposed to some of the culture. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EgIKDI9Xl-M9TDYxnfcxE7ZkXejMhu4ENiLaCDsAG7wYp8BELBNN2tqJ58X9R1zZXrYu-PZU-ts8F2wyW-Wkd_CZbCCUaT0W_RvB4zXIzIIABe9BpQ5YtOEznfDWXxorW9r5/s1600-h/07060MD114.jpg"></a>First, let me say that the Thai people are extremely kind and generous and definitely a joy to know. But unfortunately many of them do not know our Lord and Savior. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056751700829711378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8WD4hkmGEF_ECS6a7koKUmgsytmIynyEoKjhKR-WxPA1XlRb0sDTV6Hr7mReI35dD_p9xS1O-JH91a3YKEQHq3s6c0DFuhswa1eui9zgLoAgijnRVCasvXl4u6wfETF2-xSY/s200/07060MD114.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />In fact, once you read the statistics below . . . you’ll understand <span style="color:#009900;">the desperate need</span> for believers around the world to be praying for the people of Thailand.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7HbMmfMCMMhRXDqhIqLN7YPPB_yNd48lzc1QvZBbckjDnqwOgPaYccP5VU5x04D3q7pkdvQSKAYZWk958pgOQu_9fz0hWuEUcN7Ee2gqhdBjwAaWFeUA_N8QikGFjJyI0brV/s1600-h/07060MD200.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056751898398207010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7HbMmfMCMMhRXDqhIqLN7YPPB_yNd48lzc1QvZBbckjDnqwOgPaYccP5VU5x04D3q7pkdvQSKAYZWk958pgOQu_9fz0hWuEUcN7Ee2gqhdBjwAaWFeUA_N8QikGFjJyI0brV/s200/07060MD200.jpg" border="0" /></a>According to the CIA world factbook (<a href="http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook">www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook</a>), here is the breakdown of religions in Thailand.<br />94.6% - Buddhist<br />4.6% - Muslim<br /><span style="color:#ff6600;">0.7% - Christian</span><br />0.1% - Other<br /><br />Now if that isn’t heartbreaking . . . then I don’t know what is. <span style="color:#33cc00;">PLEASE pray</span> for the name of Jesus Christ to be known and for His light to shine through the vast spiritual darkness in Thailand!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5056752250585525298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV32G6pZUGFPNezHsAVdAhVSQlzorkQMrTdXLPxOA_W37yQH6yQZ2Jngf64_-WW_xYpY_xs6ZSi_zGGtuoYrkzR1KgUSl0k4ZNab6hN7AzY8g1madCbsU3BqpsFpHKbMbUcy5W/s400/False-worship.jpg" border="0" />Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-61497838759861691902007-02-20T12:57:00.000+02:002008-12-10T13:24:59.582+02:00New life in Uganda!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#009900;">UGANDA: Kampala, Gulu, Torroro, deep in the bush, & various places in between...</span> :-)<br /><br />There was so much that needed to be accomplished on this particular trip, and it was a bit daunting to be completing all of it by myself. There were many challenges that I had to personally face (spiritually, physically, mentally, socially...), but that’s another story for another time. As for the trip as a whole... God provided exactly what I needed when I needed it! And of course, He rose far above any and all expectations! (Though none of us should be surprised by that!)<br /><br />Wow! Where do I even begin???<br /><br />My last email prayer update was sent on February 8th - while I was still in Uganda. Many of you who received that email didn’t know that my birthday was on February 9th, but I could tell that you were praying. And it’s one of the reasons that I made sure that I sent a prayer email the day before. :-) Anyway... before I go on... you’ll have to remember that due to the time differences between Uganda and the States, my “Stateside” birthday fell between the Ugandan evening of Feb. 9th & morning of Feb. 10th. Have I confused you yet? <strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Just hang in there, ‘cause I’ve got a story to share!!! </span></strong><br /><br />Friday morning, February 9th, I woke up bright and early. Okay, maybe it wasn’t so bright since it was 5:00am. But I needed to get up early in order to meet up with our small caravan: </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D8dmgTmbsUdb9QXU8Laq-INfkMkSetIwlW4cIEDSGSRVIjkU36m1w2mc8NSivdSetOIzWzKuN1iBUTT2r4vFWps0b9V00ZRsYAYB0cB6zBjvsDXORQXWPeFCySj54jb-qQBc/s1600-h/Gulu-02_001.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041301591209549762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9D8dmgTmbsUdb9QXU8Laq-INfkMkSetIwlW4cIEDSGSRVIjkU36m1w2mc8NSivdSetOIzWzKuN1iBUTT2r4vFWps0b9V00ZRsYAYB0cB6zBjvsDXORQXWPeFCySj54jb-qQBc/s200/Gulu-02_001.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">missionaries John, Danny, Evert, and Pastor Deo (a local Kampala pastor) - and me, of course. We all loaded into a truck to travel almost 6 hours north to Gulu. The ride was not only long, but extremely jarring. If you’ve never traveled on an African road then you won’t truly be able to appreciate the experience of bumping along an old beat-up road filled with more pot holes than solid ground. Back, neck, or knee problems? They’ll only get worse! And anyone who travels these roads for long will get them all. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6e1IC7p_ib1oQsjzCNhMtuVV7mb7av0x4ja0CduouFDNWR5SZkKfBuBwVqUf-SYSCLJbJvdPNYt8Z46OOgO5JOgaBrFLrzHOt28WIWPmY9ZkJeObADb5FsgwYvNz23cy_fC9/s1600-h/Gulu-02_135.JPG"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well, I digress. We eventually completed the long trip to Gulu, checked into the hotel, and quickly returned to our vehicle. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-752-su7zGbuK0YAapNvG-Tt62l0vn7JH90aNkPuZxPSEjxLbhqsxOXShlFTyUOJsd471ODU6Sk-WdvGSO5YUL8L2LYuAFhq88q1Nbw5I16imInWleKwKXrdx3SpJaEaw9J18/s1600-h/Gulu-02_135.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041303339261239298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-752-su7zGbuK0YAapNvG-Tt62l0vn7JH90aNkPuZxPSEjxLbhqsxOXShlFTyUOJsd471ODU6Sk-WdvGSO5YUL8L2LYuAFhq88q1Nbw5I16imInWleKwKXrdx3SpJaEaw9J18/s320/Gulu-02_135.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We picked up Pastor Paul and then made our way to one of the Acholi IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps. The Acholi people have faced rebel wars and displacement for the past 20 years, and now many of them live as refugees in these IDP camps. Paul is an Acholi man that was trained by missionaries in Kampala, ordained, and then sent (just this past December) back home to Gulu to begin a new work (or church plant). Our small traveling group went up to Gulu hoping to encourage Pastor Paul’s work and with the expectation that he might be struggling to start one small fellowship. Boy, did God have a surprise in store for us! Pastor Paul – in less than six </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnKMimsh_fB1qlCRhayiLD4B4UZtncnrxHlMFX1iB9s_CCRnq0tNoTlGuxX93sm4YwWseAJyVsV4Jx2RGatAM_0zEq2Q_LSYIaIUP-hOpzlycIXwFEXDwZzQbzwMLs08cbQlk/s1600-h/Gulu-02_068.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041302961304117234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnKMimsh_fB1qlCRhayiLD4B4UZtncnrxHlMFX1iB9s_CCRnq0tNoTlGuxX93sm4YwWseAJyVsV4Jx2RGatAM_0zEq2Q_LSYIaIUP-hOpzlycIXwFEXDwZzQbzwMLs08cbQlk/s320/Gulu-02_068.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">weeks – has started 3 house churches and one “celebration point” – a place where the house churches gather on Sundays to worship together.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When we arrived at the IDP camp, we </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5WqNTkvmE2QO6B_7gGySdub624EXiMw_B0tzJ85_rBwZ9tBSgdUw-HGsVRnxnUPENY6YnqEnTMDMh-AjpwiLw0fnzBSSPfu3zPoKxY8yE1yCKyfw8yc142xl4hhve256VOf7a/s1600-h/Gulu-02_068.JPG"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">noticed that the Acholi people had already built a meeting place for their worship (to protect them from the rain and sun – remember, they’re on the equator, and the sun is intense!) with some wooden poles and a tarp for cover. That Friday night we had a wonderful worship time with over 50 adults and MANY more children! Before the evening was over . . . God had designed a meeting for us with one very special woman – a lady named Margaret.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC-uywqfdgKN9S95BMo9TxMPl07m2_TZ5cV7-dpTwWfiYQ3fUqEMhAvgxVjXVjnQvL_yNHodnfhA_LqPN6EMSAWt5N48XkukmXdTXW0wyD7GJJIzFxf0iFXjXy32oGzPIDFLq/s1600-h/Gulu-02_037.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041303674268688402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC-uywqfdgKN9S95BMo9TxMPl07m2_TZ5cV7-dpTwWfiYQ3fUqEMhAvgxVjXVjnQvL_yNHodnfhA_LqPN6EMSAWt5N48XkukmXdTXW0wyD7GJJIzFxf0iFXjXy32oGzPIDFLq/s200/Gulu-02_037.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Margaret was a local witchdoctor from a distant village who had met Pastor Paul soon after he arrived in Gulu. The witchdoctor of a community is the individual that people come to when they have concerns or needs or problems that need to be solved. And because the witchdoctor performs spells and witchcraft in order to meet these physical or spiritual needs, he/she often becomes feared as well as depended on. (As believers in Jesus Christ, we know that this work is from the devil and not from God.) Here are some of Margaret’s words – from an interview that I conducted with her that Friday evening:<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="color:#990000;"><em>“I was a witchdoctor. I was doing witchcraft. I began to realize that the evil power was disturbing me and my children – and even killing my children.” “We (Pastor Paul & Margaret) met and he (Pastor Paul) began preaching the Gospel to me. He prayed for me.” “I realized that I needed to leave the evil work and turn to God. Now I have gotten saved and am together with God with all of my family. Now I am leading the women in the church. My husband is also a leader in the church.” “I need the Spirit of the Lord to lead me to go back and burn the witchcraft things I have left behind.”</em><br /></span><br />I believe that God set us on this specific path to meet Margaret. She had this desire to go back to her home village – almost 3 hours away – to burn all of her witchcraft relics, potions, medicines, clothing, pottery, spears, drums, etc. But Margaret had no way to travel back home (no transportation or money), and she didn’t want to go alone. And here we were with transportation, planning to head back to Kampala the next morning, and passing near Margaret’s village on the way home. More than anything at that moment, I had this strong desire to help Margaret and her husband (Ojok) get back to their home to rid their lives of the remaining evil. The biblical scriptures kept coming to mind from the Old Testament about the Israelites turning to God over and over again – and yet always leaving intact the idols, alters, and high places (where people would burn incense and offer sacrifices to other gods). <span style="color:#996633;">Time after time these things became temptations for future generations and always led to more sin and devastation.</span> What would happen in the future if these evil items from Margaret’s past life of witchcraft were not destroyed? What havoc and evil would be rekindled by others or by her own descendants? I didn’t even want to consider the option. So I suggested that we take Margaret, Ojok, Pastor Paul, and his wife with us the next morning, and I offered to pay for their transportation back to Gulu after we got rid of the witchcraft items. Everyone unanimously agreed, and we made the arrangements to pick up the others in the morning. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChu6Ai6tTOpU1cJsV6KoTBkh9GtUhJMLZldgEqxYRGInLgpHltvc5Lh0JuhZcAq6Bg3FDTcqwb1EdICqRLNXbbvf4LkX3tZLEOLZAABsvYHFJts8RYuN4CEC9l6U1zGdGlzh_/s1600-h/Gulu-02_009b.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041304344283586594" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChu6Ai6tTOpU1cJsV6KoTBkh9GtUhJMLZldgEqxYRGInLgpHltvc5Lh0JuhZcAq6Bg3FDTcqwb1EdICqRLNXbbvf4LkX3tZLEOLZAABsvYHFJts8RYuN4CEC9l6U1zGdGlzh_/s200/Gulu-02_009b.jpg" border="0" /></span></a>Thus the Friday evening of February 9th ended.<br /><br />Saturday morning, February 10th (which was still the 9th in the States) arrived soon enough. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Nine of us now packed ourselves tightly in the truck and began our long journey to Margaret’s home. Once again we traveled over the many potholes in an overcrowded truck with no air-conditioning. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WckR8JwbgTuViVyKFk8LDsIXtVYQWfkcdmYNZbwIgRiIu6EEJWzc5u0uBUpv8AJSf3EJeGpqVNWRbK1cvaBBSiOdNNjb7IvJtHZpcEnDO6G00eiNZPsK5ajVi0pH8odKjFvb/s1600-h/Gulu-02_144.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041305005708550210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WckR8JwbgTuViVyKFk8LDsIXtVYQWfkcdmYNZbwIgRiIu6EEJWzc5u0uBUpv8AJSf3EJeGpqVNWRbK1cvaBBSiOdNNjb7IvJtHZpcEnDO6G00eiNZPsK5ajVi0pH8odKjFvb/s200/Gulu-02_144.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We passed baboons playing on the side of the </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOkx_4evXnXr7KiBWLrK1IrUvRnLbcQLbNvdGsSnRdFTr1cch1dhfnrBwme-r_6kX38_d4V1Qgbn6H9cZvWC2naK5PYVGMrp8HKxZi7IYXze5J9qWSvQg4OfhjaQoyi1-RNuk/s1600-h/Gulu-02_144b.jpg"></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">road, many UN trucks overflowing with refugees, and eventually we crossed the Karuma Falls – just north of our destination. We had just a short distance to go according to our African friends... "just off the road a bit." </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKln2d4o60AVlAFPZ81mF6pz9FhXgoEREtvBPo6Q-i5Wx1Wg6LrQrNPL3z_plZvLi5bNPbdYtqK6FjFTLhIbUPOypJVtehrjKjC4x2Qtzh7cr84LRMGuZHRvGuk8qDg1SFtHl/s1600-h/Gulu-02_154.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041305503924756562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKln2d4o60AVlAFPZ81mF6pz9FhXgoEREtvBPo6Q-i5Wx1Wg6LrQrNPL3z_plZvLi5bNPbdYtqK6FjFTLhIbUPOypJVtehrjKjC4x2Qtzh7cr84LRMGuZHRvGuk8qDg1SFtHl/s200/Gulu-02_154.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But as I’ve learned (or been reminded) in Uganda... African distances and American distances are not equal. So this “short distance” was at least another hour into the bush. We traveled by vehicle as far as possible – along paths no wider than a bike path – forging our </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KcTqvzWAFRS_iVdZuhcjX9VqWMC0mTll1Uf9S8Nh_e9T_OMVQqdycH_BgpHM_SSgQsBFFmaA50agPFKqYKP1_oUdiY7SdAd_5mN71r8_eh3obUkBqmDf0r_dULtITf0XdjXG/s1600-h/Gulu-02_190.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041305920536584290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KcTqvzWAFRS_iVdZuhcjX9VqWMC0mTll1Uf9S8Nh_e9T_OMVQqdycH_BgpHM_SSgQsBFFmaA50agPFKqYKP1_oUdiY7SdAd_5mN71r8_eh3obUkBqmDf0r_dULtITf0XdjXG/s320/Gulu-02_190.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">way through the bushes. But eventually we had to get out and continue on foot through villages and fields and grass/weeds that were at least 6 or 7 feet tall. On and on we went... one following another... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzj_LAK772QxZoEgeX-eU7sJWT4UGjWAfHkw4SMJRfODL-tO9sCTK_akcuM6eD5wagE_2nFnscag0kp-q6HAIcnWq-KKmVcsTOxB_jjJX0Mri3gQtaEQs0C0cfUcYmXkVGKje/s1600-h/IMG_7193.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041306238364164210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzj_LAK772QxZoEgeX-eU7sJWT4UGjWAfHkw4SMJRfODL-tO9sCTK_akcuM6eD5wagE_2nFnscag0kp-q6HAIcnWq-KKmVcsTOxB_jjJX0Mri3gQtaEQs0C0cfUcYmXkVGKje/s200/IMG_7193.JPG" border="0" /></span></a>until we eventually reached her remote banda (or hut) where she had lived </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">and performed her many witchcraft rituals. Pastor Paul and Margaret gathered all of the witchcraft relics: all of the medicines that they used, the bones, their ancestors’ spears, the ritualistic clothing, the drum that they used to beat to call upon the evil spirits. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Everything was gathered and piled outside. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eW-nJwiy1B-7Wl6oSFZpjEB1cKJRK9Z6EJURsw-5Me8eMhLy4Z1cK6Lbbo0aOWR2nW78IMIz-m40B4vxomzRGVfAR78lXeiQ77X0TybPm4IcpyHqCR_EujeEZ2rqMJioUotq/s1600-h/Gulu-02_178.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041306685040763010" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4eW-nJwiy1B-7Wl6oSFZpjEB1cKJRK9Z6EJURsw-5Me8eMhLy4Z1cK6Lbbo0aOWR2nW78IMIz-m40B4vxomzRGVfAR78lXeiQ77X0TybPm4IcpyHqCR_EujeEZ2rqMJioUotq/s200/Gulu-02_178.JPG" border="0" /></span></a>And after Pastor Paul poured the kerosene on the pile, Margaret leaned down and started the fire herself. She was freeing herself from the evil bondage that had held her for so long! </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And as everyone watched the items burn... </span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041316438911492354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oaPCWBCIjViBcFPDPMny6-FtSm7MbngayaPWGn4kaJfgABDyo9avOs_ikgG8uObt_Z7eia3YcJSlSn9ysXdfh0aRyZ8_IADdmzxo-1DlsBA0NMWCFbvXYZ2BifrkaB44U4VI/s400/IMG_7166.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHnTLBz-YYiqoGVGVR6TCEAtZkxGVNx_fu0xPo5hFPukisBDCVx6EnNM4-Fou3Ekb4R_wfzg_CMpyBlqzNBoF8MEXw-4J8IJk4lZyqObutJGnA0-y1gTnOIcPqbW2L6uMQnNO/s1600-h/IMG_7166.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a></p></span><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHnTLBz-YYiqoGVGVR6TCEAtZkxGVNx_fu0xPo5hFPukisBDCVx6EnNM4-Fou3Ekb4R_wfzg_CMpyBlqzNBoF8MEXw-4J8IJk4lZyqObutJGnA0-y1gTnOIcPqbW2L6uMQnNO/s1600-h/IMG_7166.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></a></p>prayers to our Lord Jesus Christ were uttered, followed by spontaneous singing and dancing in praise to our God above! It was an amazing sight!!! But this isn’t the end of the story. <span style="color:#00cccc;">This is just the beginning...</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDePzlAY99lmNPbwvD4TRSCuwuyENZkgkvIY2bKCjqTsGqaDuwe5ozKYqYGZ-jC5KhwM0JXlNUGFmd5QL_wOtkNGbDh7_YJjhdXb8mZ_s_X3oASnpIdG2HFpj2p5oKNTN2xfYz/s1600-h/IMG_7184.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041307565509058738" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDePzlAY99lmNPbwvD4TRSCuwuyENZkgkvIY2bKCjqTsGqaDuwe5ozKYqYGZ-jC5KhwM0JXlNUGFmd5QL_wOtkNGbDh7_YJjhdXb8mZ_s_X3oASnpIdG2HFpj2p5oKNTN2xfYz/s320/IMG_7184.JPG" border="0" /></span></a>Two men were passing by and witnessed what was taking place. As they joined our group, they began to ask questions about what was happening, because they knew Margaret and her husband as the community witchdoctors. Our small group began to share the Gospel with these two men. One of the men stood distant, barely listening, uninterested. But the other man became excited, asking one question after another. He couldn’t contain his excitement and he wanted to choose Jesus Christ as his own. But first he wanted his brother to hear this Good News. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx7geEvA3dkm7J-z_bgzHypYJOZyjuEXqxe5CtF6I423AuaDLjlKKEGZDzTiZO8t2VzApbcqFSd0cCrUIIS3k_C-tWBBXRHQXpsgx2EwdYYTdukYvCgajgnm73hjE4c9mfN3V/s1600-h/Gulu-02_202.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041310116719632578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBx7geEvA3dkm7J-z_bgzHypYJOZyjuEXqxe5CtF6I423AuaDLjlKKEGZDzTiZO8t2VzApbcqFSd0cCrUIIS3k_C-tWBBXRHQXpsgx2EwdYYTdukYvCgajgnm73hjE4c9mfN3V/s200/Gulu-02_202.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">So off he ran – as fast as he could – to find his brother and bring him back to this banda where the fire was still burning and the people were still worshiping the Living God. When this man and his brother returned, the Gospel was shared a second time. They heard Margaret’s and Ojok’s testimonies and how they had given their lives to Christ. And the brother simply said, “Well, now if my family has come to Christ... then I don’t want to be left in the camp of the devil!” <span style="color:#6600cc;">And on his own, he knelt down, raised his hands to heaven, and surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.</span> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AAPdyvrYsmeT7BulA-UJxgFQfuhaAlRFR69KLHt1jrPMZBwMg8-nHHCVC2btCoVzuMQVn5d8QDkIBYgBKWapAnPqjS2t-5MBK3zHKK6AfZQMpmTopKIWQL20VuCI4-G5paxw/s1600-h/IMG_7208.JPG"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041310541921394898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-AAPdyvrYsmeT7BulA-UJxgFQfuhaAlRFR69KLHt1jrPMZBwMg8-nHHCVC2btCoVzuMQVn5d8QDkIBYgBKWapAnPqjS2t-5MBK3zHKK6AfZQMpmTopKIWQL20VuCI4-G5paxw/s320/IMG_7208.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Both brothers chose life with our Lord Jesus that day. So now we welcome Ojo Ajul and Anywar David Livingston as our new brothers in Christ!!! This was a wonderful testimony of God’s power and grace in the midst of people’s hearts being changed! God used Margaret and Ojok and their obedience to God. And I was given the privilege of joining in this extraordinary experience... on my birthday no less! :-)<br /><br />People often underestimate the power of prayer. But let me tell you... I have no doubt that faithful believers all over the States were praying for me on my birthday – as often churches do for missionaries. God heard those many prayers. And he answered in mighty ways... beyond anything that I ever could have imagined! YOUR prayers were used by God to help bring these two new believers into the very arms of our Lord and Savior! Thank you, thank you, thank you... for your faithfulness and your prayers for my Ugandan adventures.<br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041311645727990002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHbfUNSiXf5JBY4Kcd_I_7Oc8i8pRLb28ZB3fQUBdEruh1sPOu8Ztbg4WJC5GDAMN6oxIj9Lla5QlbcIt4LgHPWZul8Hk3NxgjIBcywyQI-xZbiGK2gOlA_CIsaiQCtdicB5N/s400/IMG_7219b.jpg" border="0" /><br />I realize that this is an extraordinarily long blog (which was previously an email), and I would apologize for that... except that I couldn’t contain these words of joy. There were many other happenings on this trip – challenges, obstacles, blessings, various stories – but again, those must remain for another time.<br /><br />One more thing... I had a wonderful welcome home when I found a beautifully potted plant and “welcome home” balloons sitting on my doorstep on Sunday evening. There was no note, but the gesture of kindness was overwhelming and certainly appreciated after my extensive journey in Uganda and my travels (for over 30 hours) back home. I’m not sure who delivered them, but please know that they were wonderful and totally unexpected! THANK YOU (whoever you are)!!! ;-) And may God bless you as you have blessed me!!!<br /><br />Well, I suppose I should sign off now. Thank you once more for your many thoughts, prayers, and emails. I hope to respond to each of your messages personally within the coming weeks... so please have patience with me in the meantime.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff9966;"><strong>For His Glory</strong></span> – now and always!</span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-17774707087743698502007-01-18T07:10:00.000+02:002008-12-10T13:24:59.908+02:00NOT without His help<div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Serving others can definitely be a humbling task. And yet it is so rewarding in the end!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have spent the last ten days helping with the <span style="color:#666600;">Florida Baptist Disaster Relief efforts in New Orleans</span>. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpERx0iI7efJhzoPT6FYdLdtECx0XUlUd9N2u8gZNf3yVWcf9naeENnoRGCjL93KOeYW7gCjkxlllMUPhZzzr27fzOyRpaiFELWJH-Gq-Lieauw1HL4hJLgiFJJluMGekQTLp/s1600-h/100_1006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041263477669765026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpERx0iI7efJhzoPT6FYdLdtECx0XUlUd9N2u8gZNf3yVWcf9naeENnoRGCjL93KOeYW7gCjkxlllMUPhZzzr27fzOyRpaiFELWJH-Gq-Lieauw1HL4hJLgiFJJluMGekQTLp/s200/100_1006.jpg" border="0" /></a>What was originally designed to be a fairly easy trip, with quite a bit of down time, turned into something quite a bit more. Some individuals had to cancel at the last minute, which left only four of us remaining on the team. To make a long story short ... most days we worked a minimum of 18-20 hours a day with an hour break at most. It was definitely exhausting – and a learning experience as well. (But at least we had a few "friends" to keep us company in the kitchen... let's see... there was Mickey and Minnie - and possibly a few young'uns - and all of the little nameless roaches and other critters running around!) Thankfully we were able to keep "our friends" away from the food that we were serving! At least most of the time. :-)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8tKX5XcxYbo4uTlixDI6IZzbanourFXWYTh-hv3dTKJl5REE-MjicRzcRdmiWnjKQZIG2Enp-syixwM0cwYLpskHXTWUlezVhYoysfVbOxBWxWBCKIaLnEiO2kAmIrNm5JcM/s1600-h/100_1051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041263731072835506" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga8tKX5XcxYbo4uTlixDI6IZzbanourFXWYTh-hv3dTKJl5REE-MjicRzcRdmiWnjKQZIG2Enp-syixwM0cwYLpskHXTWUlezVhYoysfVbOxBWxWBCKIaLnEiO2kAmIrNm5JcM/s200/100_1051.jpg" border="0" /></a>I love to serve others... however I can. Usually. But this trip stretched me in ways that I hadn't expected. There was often very little appreciation from the people that we were helping and quite a few challenges that we had to overcome. But as promised in Scripture, God didn't allow to experience anything that we couldn't handle <em><span style="color:#006600;">without His help</span></em>.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">And that's the key. "Without His help." In fact, half-way through the week we called our church missions director and requested specific prayers. And in less than 24 hours it was obvious that God was answering in unexpected ways! Here's just one of the many examples that I could give: When we desired endurance to make it through another long day... God provided assistance through some volunteers and gave us extra hours of rest! Time after time, God revealed His presence and His strength through answered prayers.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Verdana;">And once again, I owe you my gratitude for your dedicated prayers. Thank you, my friends. Thank you!</span></div></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-48009538440147042122006-12-30T05:56:00.000+02:002008-12-10T13:25:00.445+02:00Come... like this child<div align="left"><em><span style="color:#993399;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tJRS5P7cZjgOpMrzbnNYA9En0260K4KJf8z4OC45mnAcv2yjAHsCRCx5pnXFMPYdhGdAeiRR06bnR_52Mctxg0G_Iwhp7FDRoOtYePTWYAOyytaVD378fSTHbNSWtS6aKy-J/s1600-h/IMG_6672.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041246121706921842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tJRS5P7cZjgOpMrzbnNYA9En0260K4KJf8z4OC45mnAcv2yjAHsCRCx5pnXFMPYdhGdAeiRR06bnR_52Mctxg0G_Iwhp7FDRoOtYePTWYAOyytaVD378fSTHbNSWtS6aKy-J/s320/IMG_6672.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></em> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em></div><div align="left"><em><span style="color:#993399;">"And (Jesus) said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become <span style="color:#000099;">like little children</span>, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself <span style="color:#000099;">like this child</span> is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes <span style="color:#000099;">a little child like this</span> in My name </span></em><em><span style="color:#993399;">welcomes Me.'"</span></em></div><div align="right"><em><span style="color:#993399;">~ Matthew 18:3-5, NIV</span></em></div><div align="right"><em><span style="color:#993399;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DhyphenhyphenU_HhJGsJ0u5clPWeoz6FDBNyxatvW6VmMB8cWAblW9kWZigAkgCccAe5CjfDZIZqlcStU4siVf_HGmOHseXA_fFkTHlB0jGaU5E4N0BHBxDqKdwQguqbMk5vQErBIeSqc/s1600-h/IMG_6522.jpg"></a></span></em></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DhyphenhyphenU_HhJGsJ0u5clPWeoz6FDBNyxatvW6VmMB8cWAblW9kWZigAkgCccAe5CjfDZIZqlcStU4siVf_HGmOHseXA_fFkTHlB0jGaU5E4N0BHBxDqKdwQguqbMk5vQErBIeSqc/s1600-h/IMG_6522.jpg"></a><p><br /><br /></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DhyphenhyphenU_HhJGsJ0u5clPWeoz6FDBNyxatvW6VmMB8cWAblW9kWZigAkgCccAe5CjfDZIZqlcStU4siVf_HGmOHseXA_fFkTHlB0jGaU5E4N0BHBxDqKdwQguqbMk5vQErBIeSqc/s1600-h/IMG_6522.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041245773814570850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DhyphenhyphenU_HhJGsJ0u5clPWeoz6FDBNyxatvW6VmMB8cWAblW9kWZigAkgCccAe5CjfDZIZqlcStU4siVf_HGmOHseXA_fFkTHlB0jGaU5E4N0BHBxDqKdwQguqbMk5vQErBIeSqc/s320/IMG_6522.jpg" border="0" /></a>Christmas - for me - is always a time to stop, think, and reflect on life. It is the season of celebration for the Christ-child. Jesus didn't first appear on earth as a man. He came as a child. And He calls for us to come to Him like children, as well.<br /></p><p><br />Stop. Look around you. And notice the children. Watch them. And learn.<br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX4-cdQiZxR-rjSTwHnBvak5yObNNP8icspQxkSuo-WTo3t8J44448S5GsQbRZseXyPl-leAJDDHAf-nx95jYlHREffezF7KB7ftGXHnWXQj27pYPWatjdk66m8bbvHi1nGAC/s1600-h/IMG_6678.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041246804606721922" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitX4-cdQiZxR-rjSTwHnBvak5yObNNP8icspQxkSuo-WTo3t8J44448S5GsQbRZseXyPl-leAJDDHAf-nx95jYlHREffezF7KB7ftGXHnWXQj27pYPWatjdk66m8bbvHi1nGAC/s200/IMG_6678.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p align="right"></p><p align="left"><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left">Innocence. Laughter. No pretense. Complete joy. Full of life. Eager to love.<br /><br />I often realize that I am more comfortable around children than adults. I naturally gravitate toward them... as they often do with me. I can be myself around children. They'll see right through your act anyway. You might as well be real. And they won't hide their feelings from you. You'll know right off exactly how they feel about you - good or bad. ;-) And when they give you their love... it is unconditional and overwhelming. Their smile can brighten your day. And their pain can bring you to tears. When they willingly throw themselves into your arms, you feel like you can conquer the world! I long for those moments of utter joy. And I pray for the day that I can have my own. Children are such a blessing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBVqb7X4etoKe7QzUXVBUisvmr2uxyEL2LWdbHs-84iPPR7YYXaiVc4ISwjglFLSyWm2OS7wtdFYMauSA7o6w1dyekSLIiD6kJlNSYiQDs15YmDj6UZmWgjEHnVdLIM1osPIA/s1600-h/IMG_6556.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5041247229808484242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBVqb7X4etoKe7QzUXVBUisvmr2uxyEL2LWdbHs-84iPPR7YYXaiVc4ISwjglFLSyWm2OS7wtdFYMauSA7o6w1dyekSLIiD6kJlNSYiQDs15YmDj6UZmWgjEHnVdLIM1osPIA/s320/IMG_6556.jpg" border="0" /></a>And God calls us to come to Him as children. Think about it. What does that mean for you?<br /><br />Dear child, seek your heavenly Father without delay. Lovingly throw yourself into His waiting arms. And joy and peace will surely be yours.<br /><br /></p><div align="left"><span style="color:#993399;"><em>"Jesus said, 'Let <span style="color:#000099;">the little children</span> come to Me, </em></span><span style="color:#993399;"><em>and do not hinder them,</em></span><span style="color:#993399;"><em> for the kingdom of heaven belongs to</em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#993399;"><em><span style="color:#000099;">such as these</span>.'"</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;"><em>~ Matthew 19:14, NIV</em></span></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-1164822750968406382006-11-27T19:19:00.000+02:002006-12-08T23:02:29.151+02:00A Father's Joy; A Son's Pain<span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;">Praise God!</span> Even the angels are rejoicing over our new brother in Christ! A gentleman who has long been around the Word of God has finally seen the light of Christ.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2533/1877/1600/521537/New-Believer.jpg"></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2533/1877/1600/521537/New-Believer.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="243" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2533/1877/320/971094/New-Believer.jpg" width="240" border="0" /></a>Living in a small village in <span style="color:#009900;">Moldova</span>, this man chose to make Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior during a small house church gathering about a week ago. Please pray for his new-found relationship with Jesus - that he will be steadfast in his faith. He lives in the midst of false religions and strong opponents to believers in Christ. (People in his culture have often been taught to fear Christians - who, among other things, are believed to be cannibals who poison children with candy and trick people into joining their "cult" through false teachings.) Pray that Satan's hold on this man's village will be released and that the love of Christ will be made known.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;">Another <span style="color:#993399;">urgent prayer request</span> if for this man's son - another brother in Christ (shown below). </span><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2533/1877/1600/297671/Son.jpg"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 372px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 238px" height="240" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger/2533/1877/400/509340/Son.jpg" width="378" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This young man struggles with various undiagnosed medical conditions, and medicines are not readily available. Please pray for God's healing in his life.<br /><br /></span><p><span style="font-family:georgia;">Continue to pray for this family as they rejoice over the father, hurt for the son, and strive to share Christ among their neighbors.</span></p>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-1161640321922562962006-10-23T23:52:00.000+02:002007-01-24T00:05:10.326+02:00Faithful Answers<div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Have you ever read <b><span style="color:#3366ff;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;color:#3366ff;" >Acts 12:1-17</span></span></b>?<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">The persecution of believers in Christ was rampant . . . and the apostle Peter was thrown in prison. But <span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">“the church was earnestly praying to God for him”</span></span> (verse 5). The believers gather together in someone’s home, and in the midst of their prayers, an angel of the Lord appears to Peter in the prison, removes his chains, and leads him out of captivity. Then Peter makes his way to the home where the other believers are praying. After being recognized by the servant girl, Peter is kept outside the closed door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Just imagine that you were Peter . . . You were captured, probably tortured and ridiculed, thrown into prison, and awaiting a public trial that will most likely lead to death. Then an angel of the Lord wakes you up, removes your chains, leads you out of your cell, past two sets of guards, and straight to the city gate. Then the gate miraculously opens by itself, you walk through, and the angel just disappears. So you make your way to your friends’ home to rejoice with them about these amazing events. And after all of this . . . you’re left standing alone outside a closed door AFTER the realization of who you are by a servant girl. And so you just stand outside knocking continuously on the closed door . . . in the hopes that someone will eventually answer and let you in!!! And if that wasn’t enough, the other individuals present – your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ – don’t even believe the servant girl’s claims. Their disbelief is followed by astonishment! Remember . . . they’re praying for Peter’s safe release. And when God answers . . . they are shocked and surprised. <span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">Didn’t they believe that God heard their prayers? Didn’t they have faith in God’s abilities? And why didn’t they trust that He would answer them?</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Well, before we become too judgmental . . . don’t we do the same thing today? I’d like to share an example from my recent trips to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 /><st1:country-region st="on"><span style="color:green;"><span style="color:green;">Ukraine</span></span></st1:country-region><span style="color:green;"><span style="color:green;"> and <st1:country-region st="on">Kazakhstan</st1:country-region> (in the former <st1:place st="on">Soviet Union</st1:place>)</span></span>. I, along with several other travelers, was covering a story about American missionaries who are enabling and mobilizing Ukrainian believers to go into <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kazakhstan</st1:place></st1:country-region> as short-term or long-term missionaries. Whew! Understand? Anyway . . . I decided to send prayer requests and praises to folks back home (via cell phone text messages) throughout our trip. I knew that God would hear the prayers of His children. But honestly . . . I didn’t know how many people would actually be praying or whether or not God would answer. I’m not proud of my doubt, but thankfully I’m a fast learner. </span></span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"> Before I explain further . . . let me just let you read my text messages for yourself!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;"><u>Thursday, September 7<sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >Hey! Please pray for us to sleep well tonight. We have been traveling nonstop: plane flights, 6-hr drives, etc. Each night has been in a different city: central <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region> then the southern coast and now out west. We’re all exhausted and are just beginning our travels – with another 6-hr drive tomorrow afternoon. Please pray! Thanks. ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><u><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;">Friday morning, September 8th<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >Please pray for no rain in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Ukraine</st1:country-region></st1:place>, for the next few days, because we have mostly outdoor taping to do. Also . . . we’re having difficulty lining up transportation and a translator for next week in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kazakhstan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Thanks for your prayers! ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><u><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;">Friday evening, September 8th<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >PRAISE: We have all agreed that last night was the best night of sleep that any of us have had since arriving here. THANK YOU for your prayers! ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><u><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;">Saturday, September 9th<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >PRAISE: no rain today! God answered your prayers!!! Thank you! PRAYER REQUEST: We feel like we’re under attack. A crew member’s brother had a heart attack yesterday, our hostess is sick, there are major equipment failures, and everyone is on edge. We all appreciate your prayers! ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><u><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;">Sunday, September 10th<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >PRAISE: no rain today, the video guy’s brother is out of the hospital, our hostess is feeling better, and we’ve fixed some of the equipment problems! God is hearing and answering! There is power in your prayers. Thanks!!! PRAYER REQUEST: tomorrow’s taping includes hostess segments, an interview, and ministry at an orphanage. It’s a long day and our last in <st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city> – before heading to <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kazakhstan</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Please pray that all gets accomplished. ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><u><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;">Tuesday, September 12th<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >PRAISE: We completed all that was needed in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ukraine</st1:place></st1:country-region>. PRAYER: we just landed in <st1:city st="on">Moscow</st1:city>, where we have a layover before flying to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Karaganda</st1:city>, <st1:country-region st="on">Kazakhstan</st1:country-region></st1:place>. We will arrive very early tomorrow morning, and then we have a full day of taping before catching an overnight train to our next location. Thanks for praying! ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><u><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;">Wednesday, September 13th<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >PRAISE: we got the video we needed today in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Karaganda</st1:place></st1:city>. PRAYER: we’re on the overnight train right now, and we just found out that the only hotel in <st1:city st="on">Pavlodar</st1:city> (<st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Kazakhstan</st1:place></st1:country-region>) doesn’t have any available rooms tomorrow night. There is no other place to stay, and we also have a full schedule tomorrow – beginning the moment we arrive. Please pray for God’s provision. ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><u><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;">Thursday, September 14th<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >PRAISE: once more God answered your prayers! We now have hotel rooms for tonight, and we got more than we hoped for on video today. PRAYER: we have several interviews tomorrow, and we need to get some more cultural shots before another overnight train ride. Busy, busy, busy! But things are coming together for a story. Praise God! ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><u><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#993300;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#993300;">Sunday, September 17th<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" >Hey, everyone! It’s about 4am Sunday morning, and we’re heading to the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Karaganda</st1:place></st1:city> airport. We arrive in <st1:city st="on">Kiev</st1:city> (via <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:city>) late tonight. Then we leave for the States early tomorrow (Monday) morning. I’ll arrive in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:state> early Tuesday morning. Almost home! </span></span></i><i><span style="font-family:Wingdings;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:Wingdings;color:#003300;" >J</span></span></i><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" > ~Margie<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:#003300;"><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic;font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:#003300;" ><o:p></o:p></span></span></i><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">I think back to when I was on this trip overseas. At first I was “astonished” at God’s answering my prayer requests . . . and at the fact that people were actually praying. And then I began to count on it. In fact, other team members began to give me prayer requests to include in my text messages, because we were all trusting that each and every one of them would be answered. And they were! Wow! God is so incredibly amazing!!! (And it shouldn’t surprise a single one of us. Lesson learned.)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">For those of you that were faithfully praying. . . <span style="color:navy;"><span style="color:navy;">THANK YOU</span></span><span style="color:black;"><span style="color:black;">!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Monotype Corsiva;font-size:85%;color:maroon;"><span style="font-family:'Monotype Corsiva';font-size:10;color:maroon;"></span></span><span style="font-family:Monotype Corsiva;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:'Monotype Corsiva';font-size:10;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:12;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-1161643611705120662006-10-16T22:23:00.000+02:002006-10-24T00:46:51.760+02:00Chain Reaction<span style="font-family:georgia;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/KJ8P0885.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/320/KJ8P0885.jpg" border="0" /></a>A young family of believers in western Ukraine prays for direction. An International Mission Board missionary serving God in Kiev points the way. And people in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan hear the Gospel. Regardless of any obstacles, this Ukrainian family journeys to a foreign land for the purpose of glorifying God and spreading His name among those who have never heard the Good News.</span><br /><br />They need our prayers. <span style="color:#990000;">Please pray . . . now.</span> For wisdom and guidance. For health - especially for their son. For persistant faith. For complete dependence on God. For Jesus Christ to clearly be seen through their lives. It will only take a minute of your time. And it could make an eternal difference in the lives of the people they encounter. <span style="color:#6633ff;">Please pray.</span>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-1148010775813604192006-05-19T05:52:00.000+02:002006-05-19T15:05:37.740+02:00A Call to Prayer<div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';">Yes . . . it has been a while since I’ve last posted a blog on here. While it’s true that I’ve actually been home for a few weeks now </span></span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"> . . . my life really hasn’t slowed much. You see, traveling is only one-third of my job. There’s the pre-production and planning process, the traveling and production aspects (videotaping, photographing, etc.), and lastly the post-production (logging, editing, etc.) of the videos and photos.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-size:100%;">At the moment, I’m multi-tasking. I’m planning for new trips, videotaping locally for some current projects, logging photos/videotapes from previous trips, and editing a few video features. Basically, that’s pretty typical.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><span style="font-size:100%;">So how can you be praying for me right now? First and foremost . . . <span style="color:#ff6600;"><span style="color:#ff6600;">for God’s wisdom and direction</span></span>. Because, you see, I cannot accomplish anything without Him. And for God to gain the glory in all that I do, I must first seek His face. Which leads me to prayer request #2 . . .<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:purple;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:purple;">Please pray that I will not forsake my time with Christ each day.</span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"> I desperately need discipline (in many areas of my life), and your prayers can be the gentle “push” behind my back when my stubbornness comes into play. I believe with all my heart that God does answer prayers. So pray with confidence, because you <u>are</u> being heard. And please let me know how I may be praying for you!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;color:green;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';color:green;">May God bless each of you right now as you’re reading these words!</span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"> My prayers for you are attached to this message. And whether I know you or not . . . you have been prayed for. And the Father knows you intimately. Take care, my friends, and spend a moment in the presence of Christ right now. He’s waiting . . . and listening. </span></span><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="font-family:Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Comic Sans MS;font-size:100;"><span style="font-family:'Comic Sans MS';font-size:13;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-1146086000562608112006-04-26T22:50:00.000+02:002006-04-27T01:05:04.426+02:00Above and Beyond<div align="left"><span style="color:#6633ff;">“Have I lost church members? Are they alive? Is my church still standing?”</span><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Hurricane-collage.png"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Hurricane-collage.0.png"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Church.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 168px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 264px" height="280" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/400/Church.0.jpg" width="168" border="0" /></a>Pastor Keith Warden didn’t know what to expect after Hurricane Katrina came tearing through Picayune, Mississippi – devastating everything in its path. <em><span style="color:#009900;">“And I think that one of the most emotional moments in my life was when I turned onto the boulevard where our church sits, and still seeing it stand there and still seeing that steeple pointing up to the Heavens, and just realizing that we’re still here. And we’re still going to be able to have a place where we worship and we reach this community from.”<br /></span></em><br />Living down here in south Florida, I’ve personally experienced some very minor hurricanes in comparison to Category 5 Katrina. Now I know that this happened last August, and many of you probably don’t want to hear about it again . . . but I can’t help sharing th<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Church.jpg"></a>is story. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Hurricane%20collage.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/400/Hurricane%20collage.jpg" border="0" /></a>I’ve driven through Mississippi countless numbers of times – not to mention the numerous relatives that I have living throughout the state. Even knowing the extent of the damage, I was still shocked at the complete destruction that still litters the area. It was hard for me to reconcile that the scenes I was viewing this past weekend were the very same ones that I have viewed time and time again since I was a small child.<br /><br />So why was I traveling in southern Mississippi this past weekend? Once again, I was covering another story about how God is moving in the hearts of believers. The people of First Baptist Church, Picayune have always seemed to be passionate about missions. And in obedience to the Great Commission <span style="color:#993399;">(Matthew 28:18-20)</span> they decided to give a large sum of money to go toward the support of International Mission Board missionaries and their various ministries around the world.<br /><br /><span style="color:#6633ff;">Then Hurricane Katrina ripped through their neighborhoods.</span><br /><br />How would this catastrophe impact these Christians’ hearts for missions and their goal for helping share the Gospel around the world? According to Pastor Keith, the response was not, “Well things are too tough. I can’t give.” The response was, “God has been too good. I have to give.” In fact, not only did this church meet their goal, they gave above and beyond their means . . . surpassing all of their expectations. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Giving.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/400/Giving.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>Pastor Keith said that <span style="color:#009900;"><em>“people would walk up to (him) and give (him) their offering envelopes and make it clear that, ‘I’m still committed and I’m still intending to be faithful to God, regardless of what condition my house is in, or regardless of what condition my car is in. My commitment is to be faithful to God and to His church.’”</em></span><br /><br />Wow! In the midst of their own great loss . . . of friends and relatives, of jobs and income, of homes and finances . . . these children of God still focused on the needs of others.<br /><br />In Pastor Keith’s words, <em><span style="color:#009900;">“I think there’s no greater gift that we can give the Kingdom of God than a willingness to offer up our resources to the Lord and say, ‘Use this for Your glory, and use this to spread Your fame throughout the world.’ And so I know that in my heart, as a pastor, I know that what I believe to be in the heart of our people as a church, we want every missionary, we want every person that God has sent out . . . around the world, to be able to focus on that agenda, focus on that eternal mission, without being concerned about resources, without being concerned about materials and supplies. Time is just so short, and the mission is just so important that if we don’t resource everything we have to achieve the Great Commission, then we have failed our God . . . And so our prayer is that we can continue to be a giving body, a sending body, a going body, so that the world may know that He is King of kings, and He’s Lord of lords.”</span></em><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/God%20is%20bigger.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="240" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/400/God%20is%20bigger.0.jpg" width="360" border="0" /></a>What more can I say?<br /><span style="color:#993300;">“Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.”</span> ~ 2 Corinthians 8:2-5 ~ </div>Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-1146003108063833932006-04-01T00:41:00.000+02:002006-04-26T00:14:53.690+02:00From the mouths of babes...We're always hearing about how we, as Christians, should be out there telling other people about Christ. Well let me tell you . . . in <strong><span style="color:#993399;">Gainesville, Florida</span></strong>, there's a 9-year-old girl doing just that!<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Evangicube.jpg"></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Evangicube.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="198" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/320/Evangicube.0.jpg" width="310" border="0" /></a>What an awesome story! Sarah's actively involved in missions and outreach. She recently went with her family on a international church mission trip to Brazil, and every week she goes with her mom to do community outreach in local neighborhoods. Sarah openly shares the Gospel with other children that she encounters, and she often carries an Evangicube to help her illustrate the story of Jesus's love. It's so encouraging to see a child have such a passion about sharing Christ with strangers!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Prayer%20group2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="192" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/320/Prayer%20group2.jpg" width="299" border="0" /></a>And talk about a challenge . . . are you . . . and am I . . . that passionate about telling others about God? Is there really anything more important than praising God and sharing His love with everyone that we meet? We could learn from someone like Sarah. And I truly believe that God has great things in store for this young child who is already actively – and passionately – serving Him!<br /><br /><em>"And Jesus said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My Name welcomes me.'"</em> – Matthew 18:3-5, NIVMargiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-1140562298917822952006-02-20T05:59:00.000+02:002006-02-22T02:03:15.196+02:00Orchestrated by God<span style="color:#ff9900;"><strong>My two main prayer requests were simple . . .</strong> </span>that I would gain the images (via photo and video) that would most glorify God, and that I would be guided by His plans instead of my own.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Faces.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/400/Faces.jpg" border="0" /></a>I knew that I would be traveling to Nigeria for the purpose of gaining several different stories (on video) to share with churches back here in the States . . . primarily to gain prayer support for the Christian personnel serving overseas and their ministries among various people groups. But I had made absolutely no progress on one of the stories before I began my travels. My only contacts weren't returning my emails or phone calls, and I was all set to drop that particular video segment. Deciding to wait until I got to the field . . . I put it on the backburner. But the catch was that we desperately wanted to get this footage! You see, our stateside Woman's Missionary Union is having a prayer focus this year specifically on Nigeria. And I have heard such wonderful things about <span style="color:#993399;"><strong>the Nigerian WMU</strong> <span style="color:#330033;">and the many ministries that they're involved in.</span></span> What an encouragement and a challenge for the women in the States to see what the Nigerian women are accomplishing on a totally different continent! I planned to do anything <em>in my power</em> to get the story. But that was initially my problem. I tried for months to contact the Nigerian WMU. I even emailed and phoned others here in the States and in Nigeria to help me in my quest. Everything failed. Now comes the good part! God was waiting on me to allow Him to work. Yes, He allowed me to be His vessel, but it was by using <em>His power</em> instead of my own.<br /><br />Let me explain. As I said earlier, I began the trip with no leads. A few days after arriving in Nigeria, I was finally able ~ with the help of some new friends ~ to arrange an interview with the Nigerian WMU President. I (and the group I was with) left the city as scheduled for "the bush." Unfortunately, the WMU president would be arriving in the city <em>the day after</em> we left, but she was willing to meet us in the bush on her way to the city. Whew! Confused yet?<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Sunset.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="189" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/400/Sunset.jpg" width="297" border="0" /></a>Anyway . . . the appointed time arrived. Minutes passed and then hours. She didn't arrive, and the sun was slowly moving closer to the horizon. Once darkness arrived then all would be lost. There was no electricity, and we were dependent on the sun's light for the images to be clearly seen on video.<br /><br />As we were waiting, I struck up a conversation with the Nigerian pastor (Joshua) who was assisting us with our various projects while we were traveling through the bush. Because this gentleman was unfamiliar with the reasons for us wanting to cover a story on the Nigerian WMU, I began to explain. Joshua expressed his disappointment with the probability of us losing the interview opportunity. What I said next probably shocked me as much as it did him. Typically (when in the States) I would get totally stressed out and a little upset about things not going according to schedule ~ especially when I was the producer directly responsible for the outcome! Instead I replied with, "You know, I'm not worried at all about her not showing up. I know that people have been praying for me back home, and I just need to trust in God's plans. If she doesn't show up for some reason . . . then that just means that God must have something better in mind. And His purposes are far greater than mine."<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/WMU-guy.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/320/WMU-guy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Joshua just looked at me (speechless) for a moment, and then he began to tell me how important it was for me to get that particular interview. He proceeded to explain about how much good is accomplished by the Nigerian WMU. In fact, since his father died when he was very young, he and his mother had very little money to spare. When God gave Joshua the desire to become a pastor, he had no way to pay for his seminary education. That's when he encountered the blessings from the WMU. They not only paid for his entire education, but they also provided for his daily transportation. Joshua knows that God is sovereign, and he believes that the WMU was the chosen instrument used to accomplish His purposes. Joshua firmly believes that without the assistance from the Nigerian WMU, he would not be able to serve God in the capacity that he's in today. (And Joshua's doing some incredible work for the Lord all over the country!)<br /><br />Wow! Talk about a story. I realized right away that as Joshua was talking, I wanted to pull out the camera and capture his passionate words. Hearing women of the WMU state what they do is okay, but hearing a recipient of their ministry efforts tell about how his life was changed is more than I hoped for! (Needless to say, he was willing to tell me everything again on camera, and we were able to tape everything before the sun set! Not to mention that we were also able to get some cover footage over the next several days.) And get this . . . early the next morning as we were preparing to head out to some new villages, the WMU President showed up . . . just as the sun began to rise. She (and her entourage) were traveling the day before and got a flat tire! They had to stop somewhere overnight and then continue their travels the next morning. She didn't expect to actually be able to see us, but she was more than willing to be interviewed anyway.<br /><br />I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but our God is sooo awesome!!! If this lady had arrived on time then I never would have heard Joshua's story. I've been reminded that I need to always be flexible and adaptable. My plans cannot always remain firm, and the Lord's plans are always better. And He used YOUR prayers to illustrate this. Only through your willingness to lift my requests up in prayer was I able to wait on God and gain the images that He desired for me to get. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!!! :-)Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19041407.post-1140559092663769712006-02-16T03:41:00.000+02:002006-02-21T23:58:12.676+02:00The BushI know, I know . . . it's been way too long since I've updated y'all on my Nigeria trip. Suffice it to say that I'm back safe and sound, but I've been running around "like a chicken with my head cut off" trying to get everything accomplished now that I'm back in country.<br /><br />I've had many people lately ask me about <span style="color:#996633;"><strong>"the bush" in Nigeria</strong></span>. What is "the bush?" Well . . . it's exactly what it sounds like:<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/1600/Bush.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2533/1877/400/Bush.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You know, when I think of Africa . . . I often think of the many wild animals that roam the land. Hmmm . . . maybe other parts of the continent, but definitely not in West Africa. There's very little water, and unfortunately most of the animals have either migrated or been served up for dinner. (We often saw people hunting for rats or other small animals that are still around . . . in the hopes of finding their next meal.)<br /><br />One thing that definitely still stands out in my mind is the attitudes of the people. In spite of the lack of food and water or the dry, hot, dusty climate . . . they were so happy with their lives and content with their lifestyles. Everyone we encountered greeted us eagerly and with a smile. I've heard so much about the danger and the crime, but God must have really protected us as we traveled, because we really didn't experience that side of Nigeria. Quite the opposite in fact, and I would readily return -- in a heartbeat!Margiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00652857245322323996noreply@blogger.com0