M is for Missions

I grew up with parents who did home missions work.  They took food to the sick, visited the sick and shut ins, took people to the doctor, sat with families when a loved one was having surgery, my dad even did odd jobs for the elderly and sick in the church who could not do it for themselves.  I have seen missionaries in action.....I just called them parents.  Throughout my lifetime I have supported various missionaries....some I knew....some I didn't, housed missionaries home on furloughs to raise their support money, continued to watch my parents work their missionary magic through Experiencing God and Disciple weekends, VBS, and Carpenters for Christ.  I worked four summers with ASP (Appalachain Service Project) and loved it. My parents were devout Baptists and believed in giving each year to Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong.  Even my family was used to seeing the little rice bowls and boxes for the two offerings and knew that spare change went in them because my parents made sure we did.  Kat was taken on a Carpenters for Christ mission trip to Louisville when she was very young and worked for ASP as an employee.  She has always had a heart for missions.  Have you ever had a feeling that your child was called for more?  I have....since she was little.  I knew in my heart that God had great things in store for her.  When she became a special ed. teacher I felt that God had placed her there for a reason.  It takes a special person to do that job.  She is great at it!  I have never seen anyone who loves working with special needs kids like her, even when she achieved the ultimate and got a central office job....her heart longed for the classroom.  She returned to the Children's Center in Montgomery, AL and blossomed as a teacher.  I have never been more proud of anyone than I am of her.  It was while she was at her first assignment in Autauga County that she learned of Phillip Cameron Ministries and Moldova.  A year ago, for her thirtieth birthday, she requested no gifts....just donations to her mission trip in Muldova. She raised a tidy chunk of change and the wheels began turning.  I did not worry....it was just a summer thing.  For a solid year she raised money for she and Brian to undertake this mission.  They left on June 11th and were gone until the 22nd.  I read the posts from their group daily and kept up with their trip....and felt in my heart that this was just a summer thing.  I could even see them doing it every single summer....but once she came back and began blogging (Zambeste) about her trip....I knew this was something more.  I will not lie to you, the mother in me was screaming, "NO!"  The Christian in me was grinning from ear to ear.  The war between the two feelings was leaving me drained and weepy.  All my life I have avoided the bible verse from Acts 1:8 - "8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."  I avoided it because I did not WANT to go to Africa.  I felt like there were enough missions here in the United States that living in Africa, or where there was fighting, was not necessary for me.  Of course back in those days I did not see myself as a preacher's wife and certified lay speaker either.  God does have a sense of humor that is for sure.  Once Kat and Brian came back from Moldova I knew in my heart that they were headed to a mission field of some sort.  Will they return to Moldova?  God is in control of this decision and one thing I will say about the two of them is that they do not react without much thought and prayer going into it.  As a mother, I would love for them to do missions nearby.....as a Christian I am proud of their willingness to follow Acts 1:8.  Moldova is a long way away....but if that is where God sends them....then who am I to shun God's plan for them.  So, on Monday morning, after  a night of fitful sleep I am coming to you and asking that you pray for God's will to be done in their lives.....whether it is in a classroom/office being missionaries during the summer, or full-time missionaries....and while you are at it....will you add a little prayer for me that the mother in me will have peace.

Home Again, Home Again, Ziggity Zig

Oh how excited I was late yesterday afternoon when I saw I had a text message from Kat.  She was in the States and had turned on her cell phone.  I texted her back, hit send, and thought...."Oh no missy....you want to SPEAK to your baby."  So, I hit send and called her.  I would have been happy just to have heard her answering machine....I just wanted to hear her voice.  She answered and sounded so tired.  We talked for a brief few minutes and I let her go with a promise that she would call me when they landed in Atlanta.  They had another couple of hours of their Newark layover.  True to her word she left me a voice message about midnight Eastern Time and said they were headed home. Kat, Brian, and some others from their church have been on a mission trip to Moldova since last Monday.  Their mission was to love some orphans.....and knowing my daughter and her friends...that is exactly what they did.  They were working with Philip Cameron Ministries.  Prior to going on this trip Kat wrote a note on her facebook that I want to share with you so you can hear her story in her own words....
"I wish that I could be a more eloquent writer and that I could truly convey the overflowing emotions that I feel when writing this...
Hello Friends!
I just can't believe that Brian and I are leaving for Moldova in 3 days! God has been doing a mighty work in our lives in preparation for this trip. This trip is God's plan and desire for our hearts realized....Really...you cant even imagine. Let me just tell you a quick little story.  Four years ago, when I was working at the Chapter One office (with Janice, Kimmie, and Rachel). I heard this man on Faith Radio talking about this country I had never heard of....MOLDOVA. He told of the perils that young men and women face in Moldova. It broke my heart to hear about young orphan girls aging out of the system and being scooped up by horrible predatorial people. I went to work that day and talked about Moldova around the morning coffee with my coworkers....and after that I could never forget the name of the country....God has continued to burden my heart for the children there. I won't give you any history or polticial lessons on Moldova because you can read that for yourself if you so desire...I'd rather you know about the children there. Simply stated...Moldova is a poor country and there are MANY orphans there. Many of the children in the orphanages have families who are alive who either don't want them or would rather not waste money on their care. Can you imagine...knowing that your family is out there...but would rather see you raised by strangers? It breaks God's heart. Over the last few years God has continued to break our hearts for what breaks his...Moldova. Brian and I have spent lots of time in prayer for the children and people of Moldova. Philip Cameron Ministries (the man who I heard on Faith Radio as it turns out) has formed a relationship with our church. We have been blessed to hear the girls from Stella's House share their stories on many occassions (check it out at www.stellasvoice.org). In the spring the government of Moldova gave the christian organization, Philip Cameron Ministries, a previously state run orphange (that was in EXTREME disrepair). Anyway, Philip Cameron Ministries has renovated the orphanage and there are currently between 30 and 40 children there. We are going to be spending the majority of our time with these children just LOVING on them and showing them that we love them and that our amazing Creator does too! The orphanage is Providence Orphanage in Cupcui, Moldova. We will also be spending time with the Girls from Stella's House. This is Philip Cameron Ministries attempt to prevent these girls from being sold in to sex slavery. They give them a home, help them learn english, and help them establish and learn a trade ( all the while teaching them about and showing them God's love)...I'm telling you I LOVE this mission organization...and they are based in Montgomery, AL).  Ok...I realize that my story has gotten a little too long...and some of you are checking out mentally right now...so I will recap with bullet points to drive it home (thank you Brian Jones)
■Moldova is a small country in Eastern Europe
■Poverty is rampant
■Child ABANDONMENT is rampant
■It is quite possibly the sex trafficing capital of Europe
■ There are children and young women there who need to see and know Gods love is real (THIS IS the MAIN PURPOSE of our trip).
I just wanted to give you all a chance to keep up with our team while we are in Moldova.
http://frazerumc.org/missionsblog/ 
Please pray for: 1. our safety as a team 2. That God will make a way for us to show His love to everyone we meet. 3. Flexibility as we adjust to Gods plan for our team and for our lives 4. Team unity and cohesion.  La revedere, (thats Romanian for Goodbye)  Kathryn and Brian"  Want to see pictures of their trip then visit the frazer link above and click on Moldova 2011.  Am I proud of these two....you betcha.  I am as proud as I can be.  They are an exceptional couple and I think they are both mighty spiritual warriors.  I can't wait for them to visit our church and share with our congregation about this trip.  I can't wait to hug them.  I thank God for their safe return and know that this is only the beginning of many trips to come....I heard that in her voice last night.  Happy Tuesday....I know mine will be....my baby is home!

Moldova Here They Come

Frank had class in Montgomery this weekend and I went with him to help Kat and Brian with their yard sale.  My daughter and her husband are going on a mission trip this summer to Moldova to work in an orphanage...and just love on some kids.  They have raised an insane amount of money each for this trip and today put them over the top.  They had a yard sale...with stuff many of their friends and church members donated.  They raised over 800.00 and I am so proud....whipped...but proud.  We got there at 6:15 this morning after having worked until after 9 last night....to find they had almost everything already out.  THEY had been up since 4:30.  By 7 this morning...we were rolling right along.  I slipped inside about that time and caught a couple of pictures of what their yard looked like...through the kitchen window.  I was amazed at how generous people were with what they bought...once they found out what it was for....and with their donations....Kat and Brian have good friends.  Several of their friends showed up to work.  Mandy, was our organizer...and what an organizer she is....she dug in boxes...put stuff out as tables began to clear...so it always looked like we had a good supply of stock.  Chris, was our money man.  He made change and kept the count going.  Brian, Kat, Savannah, Chrissie and I worked the sale.  I am beat.  This is too much for the over 50 one here.  Those young ones are still going strong.

6:15 from the road...looking up their driveway.  Lots of stuff...and we were still bringing it out.

Kat and Frank sneaking a hug before he left for class and after he had helped Brian bring out the three recliner chairs.

 Some of the stuff we had to sell.  Are these the cutest dishes ever?  We even had a service of 6 set of Vintage Nortake china...Water Lily pattern....we finally sold it about 10:30....for 30.00

 Kat and Mandy standing in the kitchen....

Throught the kitchen window after the signs were put out.....again!

They just kept coming.....it was amazing!

There was something for everyone....that was for sure.   I am so glad to see their dream of this mission trip come to fruition....and to have played a small part in it.  They have been working like dogs since they decided they had been called to make this trip.  Please pray for them as they begin to ready themselves spiritually and as they travel to do God's work in the mission field.  There are many hurting people in this world. That is why Jesus instructed His disciples to go out into all the world and tell the Good News to every person (Mark 16:15). As you share God's love with those around you, the Lord will use you to help make His love a reality in other people's lives.  Kat and Brian will be doing just this.  I am one proud mama.