We Christians are pretty good at justifying the bad rap we feel we get in society. What we see as being holy and pure is often perceived as egotistically separatist, elitist, and self-righteous; and, be it right or wrong, perception is everything. After thirty-four years in Christendom, I have acquired an increasing scent of cynicism which calls into question much of what I believe and challenges those of us who believe it—look not too closely and you’ll find a fair amount of ego here also.
Recently, while reading Tom Davis’ Red Letters: Living a Faith That Bleeds, I was called to the carpet. Tom references first and second century Christians who gave to all who asked and they never asked why. I immediately justified my position of being gracious to those in need if I could guarantee they wouldn’t spend it on drugs or alcohol. There are many things wrong with that logic, however. First, it usually kept me from giving instead of causing me to give. It also puts me in charge…as if? And, it is a condition. I understand that we don’t want to support a lifestyle of which we don’t approve, but again, it’s not about me. God clearly commands us to give and give freely. So here was my challenge.
I told God that I wanted to give to someone in need without any judgment. I went looking. It was Sunday morning, and I figured I should be able to find someone in need before I got home from church. As I dropped some stuff off at Goodwill, I gave the cash to a worker who must have needed it—and I hope he did, but I was restless. There was still a lot of judgment in me and in that gift. I had found a guy whose circumstances told me he could use the help—I judged that he needed it, and he didn’t even ask for help.
Two days later I turned 41. I planned a fun evening of Chinese take-out and movies with my family. My son and I were rushing home for the big event, and it was raining. As we rushed to the car, a tall, thin man came up to me and literally asked, “Hey man, can you help me out? I’m trying to get home to my family in Chicago, and my car ran out of gas.”
Uh, oh.
“I’m forty-nine, and I lost my job, and my wife is waiting for me. If I could just get home tonight, I can send you a check in the mail,” he quickly and somewhat convincingly speaks. I’ve heard this before, I thought. I tell him I have no cash, and I turn to leave (my son is now in the car—watching). But, as I do I remember—give to anyone who asks without judgment. I pause. I ask him to wait five minutes. We rush to the ATM and rush back. I pull up, and the man is still waiting, and he jumps at the sight of my truck. I hop out of the truck with the door still open to give him the cash. “Thank you so much. You’re an angel,” he says as his smile breaks through the dark rain. I tell him I’m surely not and that I hope things work out for him. He asks me if there is anything he can do for me, and I tell him there isn’t. He says it’s a wonderful day and that I really helped him a lot. I tell him it was indeed—my 41st birthday. He congratulates me and gave me a hug. I can smell the alcohol still on his breath, and I again resist judgment and the urge to fill his stomach with food rather than his hand with money. Carl tells me that life has been hard, but that I made his day and that he would like to pray for me if I would also pray for him. We agreed; we embraced; and we departed—Carl with a damp twenty and a lighter step, and me with some thoughts to reconcile.
I don’t know what Carl did with the money, but that isn’t my concern. God asked me to give and give freely; I asked God to provide that opportunity, and He did. I’ve been praying for Carl. Whatever his need was that night, it was met just a little through me. My need was also met. Interestingly, it was easier to give the cash than it was to resist running from Carl or living up to our aforementioned Christian stereotype. Yet, as I continue to ponder that moment and look forward to more, I am struck with this: Carl found a person who would meet his need; I opened my heart, my wallet, and my mind; and my son witnessed a moment that he will not forget.
On the second day of my trip to Swaziland, we visited a total of four carepoints. This is a lot considering it takes several hours just to say ‘Hi’ to the many many kids at one carepoint. Below are four kids I met that had a personal impact on me from two carepoints visited that day, Thembini and Mpholi.
This little girl from Thembini in the white sweater was shy for about 15 seconds. She warmed up to me very quickly, and was sitting in my lap in no time. When I got up to move around, she wanted me to hold her. So I did. My arms were in shape since I am often carrying one (or two) of my own children. And when it was time for me to leave she did NOT want me to put her down. So she would fully pull her legs up such that I had to place her on the ground. Her tactic worked a few times, because it was difficult to put her down knowing that the holding time she received that day is some of the few moments of holding she would receive in her life. Plus I enjoy holding the kids. I am glad this carepoint is fully supported by a church in the United States, and has visitors come a couple times a year to spend time with the children and people at this carepoint.
The next child is an older girl who was hanging out at the carepoint. I was able to say hello to her, and she responded with a shy reply. There were a few other kids her age at the carepoint, but this girl was isolated. She seemed lonely and sad. Maybe on a warmer, brighter day with more kids around she has some others to interact with. But my heart went out to her because she seemed like one of those kids who gets isolated because they are different in some way. I am glad she has access to a really good carepoint.
The picture below is the first child I met at our carepoint, Ludlati. Evidence of his adventurous spirit is marked in scars and dirt on his face and legs. He loved to climb the dirt hill and run down. He was happy to shake hands and give a smile. You can see him in the Ludlati video showing more expressive clapping and stomping while the kids where singing. He was a fun little boy.
We really like this second picture of him taken by Hannah Leman. To us this picture is an artistic expression of hope for children climbing out of the dirt reaching for a brighter future. I look forward to seeing him again on our next trip to visit our carepoint. I hope some of you will make plans to come along on the next trip to meet him as well.
If you have followed our blog entries about the trip, you have seen this young lady carrying her baby sister on her back. She is actually one of the older children watching a younger sibling. I heard and read about these circumstances, and felt sad, and wanted to do something to help. When I meet this circumstance face to face, yes I felt sad, but I was impacted in my mind, heart and gut. This girl and her baby sister’s cry are permanently marked in my soul. Now these kids are my neighbors. Now I really really want to do the right things to help, and I am thankful you are along since I can not do what is needed by myself. It’s one thing for a child to learn to care for a younger sibling, but it’s too much for a child to be the provider and protector of their siblings. This young girl does what she has to do (I hope it is not the worst of things) to take care of her sister. Thankfully she has Mpholi carepoint as a life saving resource and support for her. I look forward to seeing our collective support, letters, visits and actions of love sent to Ludlati in the near future.
There are many more children I want to share in future posts…
“Because God has already laid the only foundation of our fellowship, because God has bound us together in one body with other Christians in Jesus Christ, long before we entered into common life with them, we enter into that common life not as demanders but as thankful recipients. We thank God for what He has done for us. We thank God for giving us brethren who live by His call, by His forgiveness, and His promise. We do not complain of what God does not give us; we rather thank God for what He does give us daily… In the Christian community thankfulness is just what it is anywhere else in the Christian life. Only he who gives thanks for little things receives big things. We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts.”
-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I am thankful for the deep blue evening sky, laughter, the noise of the wind in the trees or rustling the corn around our house, the peace and quiet of solitude (OK, little of that these days, but even so…), a furnace and a warm house, the smell of pies in the oven, a warm meal, work I can do to provide for my family, health, life, friends, family – especially my wife, freedom, Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s grace, God’s inclusion of a role for me in His plan for this world. I could go on, but I would start to bore you…
I am thankful for this holiday. I am thankful. Sometimes that is a statement of faith for me rather than a statement of emotional feeing. But I’ve found that God honors that statement of faith and provides the emotion when I make the statement and act consistent with that statement.
I believe there is a deep spiritual mystery in thankfulness, and the blessings and freedom an attitude of thankfulness opens up to us. And it just feels so good…
First, before I start - this is not an appeal for giving to our carepoint. I am completely comfortable that Ludlati is in God’s hands and that we have no need to badger anyone for support. Having said that, I do think that we all need to seriously consider how important it is to give generously to support the poor. Where?.. How?... I can’t tell you that. Seek God with that question, He won’t leave you without an answer if you desire to give deeply of what you have. Why do I think it is so important to support those in need… to an extent that demonstrates real compassion? (Remember that definition again – the Greek root words mean “to suffer with”). I’ll start with 48 reasons – 48 reasons among hundreds in God’s Word. No need to look all these up, they are listed on this site under “About > Perspective” on the menu bar above, or at this link: “About > Perspective”
Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 19:16-21; Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12: 28-34; Luke 10:25-28; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:13-14; James 2:8-9; Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 15:7-8; Deuteronomy 15:10-12; Zechariah 7:8-10; Matthew 9:21; Luke3:10-11; James 2:14-19; 2 Corinthians 8:12-15; Exodus 22:21-23; Deuteronomy 10:18; Deuteronomy 14:28-30; Job 24:1-4; Psalm 10:14; Psalm 68:5; Jeremiah 49:11; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 1:23; Matthew 18:5; John 14:18; James 1:22-27; Exodus 23:10-12; Leviticus 19:9-10; Leviticus 23:21-23; Exodus 23:4-6; Deuteronomy 24:17-18; Deuteronomy 27:19; 1 Kings 3:10-12; 2 Samuel 12:1-5; Job 29:16; Job 31:17-23; Psalm 112:4-6; Psalm 140:11-13; Luke 18:7-8; James 2:1-7;
Isaiah 10:1-3; Amos 5:6-7; Ezekiel 16:49; Matthew 23:23-24; Matthew 25:34-26; Luke 16:19-26
When you read these, note how many say “you must support a Ludlati orphan”. That’s right, precisely zero. I make no pretense to tell you where or how God has told you to have compassion for those in severe need. However, I will be bold in this assertion: God HAS told you to have true compassion for those in need. To love them as you love yourself. To love them as if they are Jesus… because Jesus said that in some very real way they ARE Him. To give until there is equality. He’s told you to do that. How do I know that? He made those instructions universally to all of us in His Word.
I just listed three things God told you to do. He told me the same thing. My grades: FAIL, FAIL, and FAIL. Thank God for grace. But I will tell you that I believe I may be getting close to a D-minus for effort. And God has met my weak and feeble effort with a peace and joy, a security in my life and purpose that I have longed for all my life but always failed to find. God’s goal is not judgment. It is for us to share in His joy and His heart’s desire. He loves us… just as much as he loves the poor. By giving we connect with His heart, the poor see and feel His love through us, and He is pleased.
Go-go is the Siswati word in Swaziland for Grandma. We love the Go-gos who feed and teach our Ludlati children, but we are not talking about them right now. It is finally time to START! Many of you have communicated your desire to give one or more child contributions to our Ludlati Carepoint children. Pick the following button link to learn how to apply after you read the rest of this post of course
You will see three options for completing the two step application process. Please feel free to contact us by phone, email or forum posts with questions or comments.
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Or call or write Childrens HopeChest directly with questions: Teresa Hansen - Accounts Receivable Manager
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 719-955-4008
We are EXCITED to get started with support for our Ludlati neighbor kids. Over the next couple of months, Childrens HopeChest staff will collect detailed profile information on each orphan or at-risk child that consistently comes to Ludlati Carepoint. The current estimate is about 100 children come to Ludlati each day. Once profiles are completed, members of our community will be given a profile for your child (or children) to correspond with through letters [click here for a sample profile]. The contributions we make are based on a per child cost, and the finances benefits all our Ludlati Carepoint children. In order to provide two meals per day, schooling and discipleship, we need to reach 80-100% funding level. Operating at a lower funding level cuts into the budget for these basic things. In addition to the profiles, Childrens HopeChest will write a three year development plan specific to Ludlati Carepoint. We will share this information with the community as soon as it is available. This may take several months to complete, but will include infrastructure items needed such as a fence, kitchen and well. A more detailed description of our vision and relationship with our Ludlati Carepoint are described at the following link:
Community > Swaziland > Connect Community
With regard to your giving, multiple forms of payment are accepted to assist you as the payee. Please select the method you prefer. But please note automatic debit payments from checking accounts (i.e. Electronic Funds Transfer or EFT) reduces overhead costs for Childrens HopeChest which means more funds go to benefit our Ludlati children. Quarterly or yearly payments also help to save payment processing costs.
Thank you for your love and commitment to our Ludlati Carepoint children. I look forward to working and relating together with you and our carepoint children. Spread the word!
At the various carepoints visited during the Swaziland trip we saw over 700 children. If it had not been for one day of rainy weather and another day of school exams, the number would have been over 1000. I have a handful of children I met that made a distinct impression on me, or that I found myself overcome with compassion.
This first little man has a very bright smile. I remember him, because this is the first little face that I saw when I came out of the van.
In fact, I could hardly get out of the van because this little guy was standing right in front of the door with his head tilted back and smiling face beaming up at me. As I gently worked myself into a space next to him on the ground, this little guy reached for my hand, and walked with me toward the community building at Balekane. I will never forget the warm welcome he gave to me.
The next child is a little girl who you may see in many pictures of the members of our team. I wish I could remember her name, because she walked up to me and said in English, “My name is ____, I am six years old, I am a girl.” as she gracefully placed her hand on her chest while she spoke.
She is a precious little girl. She loved to be held, or sit next to us. She was one of the last children to leave Balekane carepoint. The kids have to get to their homes before dark. As she walked away on her bare feet, it was hard to imagine if she had a parent or no one waiting for her at home.
The last child I interacted with at Balekane is this nine year old boy. His name had a Siswati click sound in it. He really impressed me with his ability to communicate in English. His mother is one of the people who helps at Balekane carepoint. At first he asked me to help him find his backpack. I pointed him to one laying near the soccer field. He came back to talk some more, and it was time for me to leave or be left. I was impressed by his last two remarks. He did not ask me if we could be friends or if I would like to be his friend. He simply said, “I want you to be my friend.”
He was quite sure about it. No reservations or insecurity of thought. Frankly, it made me feel good like I was in second grade again, and had someone make me his friend as soon as I walked in the room as the new kid. I said I was glad to be friends with him. Then he asked, “When are you coming back?” I could not give him a definite answer, but I told him I would be back sometime in the next several months. As I mentioned, I had to jump into the van or be left, and I felt a drag on my heart as we drove away, and I waved goodbye to my new friend. The desire to stay and visit longer was strong.
Meeting the children made me understand how important just being there is. It gives great hope and communicates that they are valued. I did not go to receive anything in return, but I did. I felt honored and humbled to be known by them for a little while. By their desire to just be with me and relate. I hope everyone gets a chance to go. Being there allows you to know what may be difficult to fully describe. I really can’t I guess because each person is effected in a personal way.
I look forward to getting our letters started with the children of our Ludlati Carepoint. And I can hardly wait to meet them face to face. I also look forward to sharing more kids and stories from my trip over the next few posts.
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Ludlati Carepoint Support Level 54 Kids Funded; 29 Kids To Go
About - KnownToMe
We have begun to ask ourselves...What would we do if our neighbor was starving right before our eyes? Would we not help? Today, their plight is not hidden from us. It is known. We believe there is a clear mandate that we must care for societies most vulnerable members, the widow, the orphan, those in extreme poverty. If you are stirred to a similar belief, if you know there is more that you must do, Known To Me will make you aware of specific needs and opportunities to help.
She is actually one of the older children watching a younger sibling. I heard and read about these circumstances, and felt sad, and wanted to do something to help. When I meet this circumstance face to face, yes I felt sad, but I was impacted in my mind, heart and gut. This girl and her baby sister’s cry are permanently marked in my soul. Now these kids are my neighbors. Now I really really want to do the right things to help, and I am thankful you are along since I can not do what is needed by myself. It’s one thing for a child to learn to care for a younger sibling, but it’s too much for a child to be the provider and protector of their siblings. This young girl does what she has to do (I hope it is not the worst of things) to take care of her sister. Thankfully she has Mpholi carepoint as a life saving resource and support for her. I look forward to seeing our collective support, letters, visits and actions of love sent to Ludlati in the near future.
