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……

It is not time to know

Just a quick note to share our change in plans.

This Wednesday was to be our move day into our new smaller home. We are hoping to downsize in every way to be ready to respond to God's leading in our future. However, sometimes plans we make are not God's plans. Last Friday, our buyers changed their minds.

Amidst packed boxes we are simply waiting to hear when it is time for us to know. The news was very disappointing, but we are at peace with it now that the "dust" has settled. We know that God has a better plan.

Enough of us...next week, I will be putting stories from Kyrgyzstan on the blog...incredible ones that will touch your heart.

Thank you for sharing our journey...as it continues

Home and Many Changes

Once we experienced the work in Kyrgyzstan and grew to love the people there, something happened in us. Our focus changed. As Kay Warren wrote - one becomes divinely ruined for the life they once knew when they experience the depth of need in another place. In large part, that is what has happened to us. We love our friends and family here, of course, but our hearts and minds are often centered in another place.

Over two years ago, one of the things that we made a decision to do as we sought God's leadership was to sell our home. It is a large one located in a beautiful neighborhood. We love our home. However, selling it would give us more financial freedom to do the work to which we feel called. We received word during our last week there that indeed, after over two years of waiting, our home sold. We arrived home late last Sunday night to the reality that we now have many changes. The first being, we move in ten days. WOW!

FOR NOW
We are so excited regarding the days ahead. David will be very much involved with a local church in Dayton, preaching and supporting the pastor while we are here. I will continue my work in training social workers full-time.

IN THE SPRING
Our plans are to return to Kyrgyzstan in the spring and also the fall to be more involved in teaching and training. David already is preparing coursework for the three courses he will be teaching at the new International University of Central Asia (formerly the Professional Institute) in the spring. I will also be teaching composition and journalism there, plus all the unknowns God has for us as we work with the government officials and university officials on development of a child welfare teaching and training program.

I had hoped to update the journal with some incredible stories...that will come in the weeks ahead...right now....working, packing and moving will fill our time until Thanksgiving. Please check back for some incredible stories of some very special people.

The River

A number of months ago, while riding in the van on the way to a project, our friend, John Wright talked about his work. It went something like this...

All these humanitarian projects, our work feels like we are standing downstream in a raging river. Kids are being thrown in upstream and we are overwhelmed with trying to catch them before they drown. The more we catch, the more it seems slip by us. Someone needs to go upstream and teach the people up there not to throw the children in the river.

When John said that, all I could say was, incredible. What a way to put into words exactly what the heartbeat of LAMb is. Our hope, passion and energy focuses on teaching and training social workers, families, government officials and leaders how not to throw the children into the river.

Last week, Ruby spent Thursday night and Friday night training an orphanage doctor, a government social worker and an orphan social worker on material that they, in turn can use to train adoptive parents for the task. Saturday she conducted the first adoption training in this country with five national families awaiting placement of their babies.

Over the months we have been here, I have had the privilege of slowly nurturing a group of commited workers as they seek to develop a foster care program in their community. We finish on Thursday of this week and will have a group of trainers who have invested many hours in preparation. Wednesday we drive two hours to visit with a group of people who have begun a foster care program in their area. We are excited about the potential of this meeting.

Both David and Lynn are working with leadership and spiritual development issues with the foundation and its schools. Much work to do in this area!

It is late tonight and I could not help but reflect on what John shared with us many months ago. We hope to be able to help those upstream to know how to keep kids from being swallowed up by the raging river of horrific poverty, abandonment, abuse and neglect.

Thank you for sharing our journey as it continues...we leave on Saturday, leaving behind most of our heart, but with a promise to return in spring.