Kids Against Hunger – Food Packing Dates in Southwestern Ohio

Just last Saturday, David and I had the opportunity to spend a few hours at The Factory – the food packing location for Kids Against Hunger in Blue Ash, Ohio. It was an incredible experience. We left deeply moved and even more deeply committed to “getting our hands dirty” wherever God might lead us.

Information about this international relief group can be found at http://www.achildshopeintl.org/HomePage.html



Larry Bergeron, director of A Child's Hope International, explains the packing process to the group of volunteers.

In light of the immense and unspeakable tragedy now unfolding in Haiti, KAH has expanded their packing days this coming week. If you have time – two hours will do it, consider registering and joining the team to pack emergency food packets for Haiti. If you do not have time, but have resources, (and they are very much needed) consider a financial donation.

Here are the packing dates:

Session 1: Sunday, Jan 17, 1 PM to 3 PM

Session 2: Sunday, Jan 17, 3 PM to 5 PM

Session 3: Monday, Jan 18, 1 PM to 3 PM

Session 4: Monday, Jan 18, 3 PM to 5 PM

Session 5: Wednesday, Jan 20, 1 PM to 3 PM

Session 6: Friday, Jan 22, 1 PM to 3 PM

Session 7: Friday, Jan 22, 3 PM to 5 PM

Session 8: Saturday, Jan 23, 1 PM to 3 PM

Here is where you can register http://www.achildshopeintl.org/Haiti.html

Hope you can join this incredible effort to reach the devastated people in Haiti.

Even children can do it!

Two hours per person will feed one child for a year. It is really easy, fun and life saving!

From packing to clean up - it is a ministry making a difference.

Our group packed 16, 416 food packets in two hours.

Could you be in the next picture?

Here is where you can make a donation to the feeding program for kids and adults in Haiti and all around the world. http://www.achildshopeintl.org/DonateNow.html

This short video captures the heart of Kids Against Hunger

Follow Me

From David:


Greetings to each of you. It is a wonderful and awesome truth to be able to declare that we are in Christ and that we are a part of the Body of Christ. We are here for just such a time as this—and these are truly unusual times.


Upheaval is a word that describes these times. We see this not only in the news sources around us, but, also in the cries of people around the world who are going through very difficult times. The best news is that the Kingdom of God is not in upheaval nor is He in confusion nor are we alone.

Allow me to briefly share two life-changing words that those of us who follow Christ have heard and heeded at one time in our lives. Those two words are the words Jesus spoke to Matthew in Matthew 9, FOLLOW ME. Everything in life changes when we hear these words, push our chair back, and follow Him. He did not tell Matthew where they would be going or what they would do when they got there. The word was just to follow—He would fill in the details as they moved on. Jesus did give a clue, however, as to where they would be going in verse10 through 12 of Matthew 9. He said they would be going to “sinners” and “sick” people. There it is—those who follow Him will be going to sinners and sick people.


Who are they?


All of us.


Where are they?


Everywhere.

Jayne and I have captured a little of our journey to sinners and sick people in the pictures that are included in the short video below. This is our journey for now. You have yours and we bless you in it. We would love to hear about it. If granted that opportunity, we will listen to you and rejoice with you in the journey on which you find yourself as you FOLLOW HIM.

NOTE: for our Facebook friends who pick up the link there, scroll down to where you see "see original post." Click that to see the entire blog and video.

FOLLOW ME

Someone Inquired

I wasn't quite sure how to get this information to the person who asked about speaking in California...other than on this blog :)

We are speaking in Sacramento, CA area on February 5 and 6. For more information, please feel free to email me jayeschool@aol.com

Thanks for asking...

While We Are Home - Ministry Continues

Greetings to all of you …. Your interest in our journey means more to us than you can know. Jayne has kept you updated about our work in Kyrgyzstan and Ukraine. As you know, we are home now and will be until middle of March.

When we are home, much happens, too. Jayne continues her speaking, teaching, writing work and ministry across the country. She goes to California in February, Urkaine and Poland in April, and New Zealand in June. I plan to accompany her on those trips. Her latest book, Wounded Children, Healing Homes: The Impact of Traumatized Children on Adoptive and Foster Families, published by NavPress comes out in paperback in January, 2010. You can click on the book for more information.


While home, I continue to preach, speak, teach and counsel. Also, I am preparing for three classes that I will be teaching at INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ASIA in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan. Jayne will be teaching two classes along with the other ministries of which we are a part there.

Presently, I am working at the SHELTER, one of the churches that was started while I pastored West Carrollton Church of the Nazarene. While pastoring there our District Leadership decided to close two churches on the District. I asked the District leadership if we could take responsibility for these two churches and they were happy to let us. Now, some years later, these are two of the most dynamic churches in southwest Ohio. I say that not based on their numbers, though they are strong, but on the lives that are being changed, the addicts that are being set free, the families being strengthened, and the inner healing that is happening in many lives.

These two churches are LIVING HOPE in Centerville, Ohio, and the SHELTER in Dayton. One wonders what makes the difference between two churches that are slated to be closed and now two dynamic churches making a huge difference in the lives of hundreds. I have my opinion that I often share where and when I speak.

In closing, let me pass on two words the Lord spoke to me just before 9-11. He said, “GET READY.” The “get ready” message has to do with the coming “upheaval” in the world. I have shared this message everywhere in the world I have the opportunity.

Thank you, once again, for being our friends, prayer partners, and co-workers in these days of darkness and discouragement. As we have said for years, “The journey continues….”


Please visit our team's blog: http://lambinternational.blogspot.com/

These Stories Will Touch Your Heart

Our dear friends, the Wrights are deeply involved in humanitarian work in the Central Asia country where we spend much of our time. We got to know them well over the past 18 months and so enjoyed being a part of what they do. We also became friends with many of their friends/workers on the ground there. This season's gifts from people from all over the world have allowed them to minister in incredible ways.

May I invite you to visit their blog this week and see what has taken place. It will be a meaningful few moments. Here is there address: http://actofkindness.blogspot.com/
Blessings to you - our friends

Moments and Memories of This Past Year

As the year’s end approaches, I think one of the things that many of us do is to reflect on those special moments and memories behind us. This year has been a God–given incredible year as we think of those special times of our friends in a very far away place in Central Asia.


Not a day goes by that we don’t talk of our precious friends there…from little Anita to Natalia to Valera and Luba. All of our friends hold a very special place in our hearts. We deeply appreciate and love Lynn and Ruby Johnston and Don and Johanna M. Buchman, our team founders for the invitation almost two years ago to "show up and see how God leads."

Don and Johanna, in front Lynn and Ruby behind them.

It has been and continues to be exciting - a great adventure as we serve together. When we are a tad perplexed about what to do about a situation or need, our group's motto has become "it just isn't time to know yet." We are learning the fine art of waiting on God and His leadership for the days ahead.

We have come to embrace this country as our second home. While we are home here, a part of us is still over there. Thoughts of the people and work are never far from us. Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog throughout this year. Here are some special memories and moments with the people who captured our hearts in this Central Asia country this past year.




The Children

To me, this picture captures David's heart and love for the children of this Central Asia country. This is Islam and Ruslan.




What do you have when you put 20 some children together and some childlike adults? FUN! These remarkable children from one orphanage where we spent a great deal of time knew just how to get our heart's attention. We can't wait to get back and reconnect with them.




Being in country for these many months has given us the opportunity to get know people of all ages and have the time to build relationships. This young man is especially important to us and David spent a lot of time with him.





Natalia is not only our translator, but our very special young friend. There are many funny stories we share as a result of our experiences together. One of the most delightful is the day we went on a picnic. We, along with John and Julie Wright were walking to meet the children near a river bank. I think Lynn and Ruby were there, too. The children saw us and came running. Of course, we thought the children were running to us....but breezed right on by to embrace Natalia. All the children love her and we think that is great. That's how it should be.



The Remarkable Young People


A door of opportunity opened for both David and me to be involved in the newest univeristy in this county. It is the new International University of Central Asia. Both of us are on the faculty and we will be involved in a greater capacity when we return in March. One of our favorite places to be is on the campus. We have so enjoyed building relationships with these fine young and dedicated students and the faculty there.

David with a group of 2nd year psychology students.

This is a picture of the first year of the university. Starting off with 40 some students, the school tripled in 2009 and we are looking forward to continue growth of this excellent university.


THE VISION


This is a group of social workers who are commited to building a foster care program in this country. This group represents a portion of the heart of the work of LAMb in child welfare. We are working with a number of opportunities to assist in the develpment of a child welfare program - on many government levels, including the work at the Humanitarian University in the capital city.


As this year draws to a close, we do reflect on the life changing experiences we have been so privileged to have while we minister at home and overseas. We look to the open doors in 2010, desiring God's leadership in all that we do. The next blog we will be sharing about our work while home and our anticipated plans for overseas. We will be returning to Central Asia on March 14, 2010 and will be there until late May.

May your new year be a time of new adventures and experiencing God in new ways.

Sharing Some Stories and Some Needs

Over the many months in country, we met so many people. We developed friendships and learned their needs. Our hearts were incredibly touched with compassion. One of these dear friends is Hymanot, our driver. Our last week there, our team (Lynn, Ruby, Natalia, David and I) enjoyed a meal in his home and he shared his story with us. After that meal, Ruby posted her journal with his story and his need. I wanted to share her journal entry with you.

Here is the story from Lynn and Ruby's Journal

We have a great taxi driver here. His name is Hymanot. We have known him for almost two years, have had dinner in his home and consider him a friend – not just a taxi driver for us!

He is kind, a loving father of four children and a dedicated husband. Before the Soviet Union fell, he was a pilot stationed here from Ethiopia. He had great career and a great future. Then everything changed in 1991 when the Iron Curtain came down.

Like so many other people, Hymanot was now “LOCKED” in the country he was working in. He could not leave – his country would not allow him back. There were other pilots in the same situation. He tells of the pilots from Somalia that were told they could return only to be shot – all 12 of them – at the airport upon their return. He says that although his life was spared he has lived without a life here ever since the fall. He is not accepted in this culture, nor are his children or his Kyrgyz wife. Why? Because he is a black man from Africa!

His children are ridiculed; he is stopped constantly by the police. He has tried on different occasions to get a permission to return to Ethiopia, but has not been successful. In fact, he said it would be dangerous for him to return right now. He tried to emigrate his family to Germany, but was refused refugee status. Ethiopia will not allow him back, Kyrgyzstan does not accept him or his family. Why? Because he is a black man from Africa!

His wife’s sister was given refugee status in Norway and that is his plan now for his family. His beautiful children, (four in total) deserve a better life he says. He knows his life is past “saving” but feels if his wife and children can emigrate to Norway to be with her sister, they will have a chance – a chance he did not have.

He did not ask for our help – but how can we just ignore four little children being discriminated against so badly when there is a possible refuge for them with family in Norway? It does not take much….visa to a safe country – passage into Norway through the refugee channels and then freedom for the first time for them.

Freedom from the taunts, rocks, words, mean-spirited attitudes directed toward this beautiful family. Yes, it is just one family – but our work is one family, one child at a time. Are you able to help?

Visa’s – 5 - $1,000
Airfare to the “safe country” – we cannot say where - $3,000
Start up money - $1,000
For $5,000 we can help this family – save this family.

Hymanot will remain in Kyrgyzstan for the time being. He cannot travel with his family because of his Ethiopian passport. Only his family will leave for Norway… to be with family already there.

We submit this to you for prayerful consideration. If you feel a prompting to help this family, please email us.

The LAMb Team……