Hope

Hi Friends,

Hope this finds you well. Sorry this is so late getting to everyone. I’ve been wondering what to write and or if to write anything at all, but here are some things that I’ve been stewing on for a bit.

Recently I’ve been reminded of Mother Teresa’s words, “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me so much.” Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who has thought the very same thing.

Look at the news: Myanmar, China, Africa, the US economy, hardships of friends or our own, high fuel prices (all things I wish I could change). Everyone seems to feel the fear creepying in and control slipping out of our grip. Fear and discouragement seem to be rearing their ugly heads – attempting to destroy any glimmer of hope or the notion of speaking good things to those who need to hear them. These two very things pose the biggest obstacles to the significant contribution each of us have to make on the world, on our neighbours & friends, or on our city. Just the same it can cause us to put up defences that hide our true self and who we were created to be. In contrast it is easy to hope when things are going well and we are in control, but hope when times are good may not be hope at all, but rather uninformed optimism – kind of like teenagers who are in love.

The two biggest motivations in my life are fear and love. Which one will rule me? I have seen incredible tragedy in our work in Africa. Ironically, it seems to apply to people all over the world, across economic, social, and cultural strata. I have seen both in multiple cultures - give less, don’t risk, ignore the forgotten, harbor unforgiveness, go to where the grass is greener, retreat into our false interior castle, keep up appearances, etc, etc….fill in your own words.

I want to share some reason to hope. Let me tell you about my friends in America who give so generously while they themselves are in need, or the 18 years old orphan I met in South Africa who forgave the man who murdered her mother. Or the 7 Christians serving orphans in a Muslim state-run orphanage for the past 10 years. Or my friends Keith and Katherine who invite refugees over for dinner. Or my friend Stuart who’s riding an hour on his bike to and from work to raise money for orphans in Africa. Or the people in Zambia who help their neighbors simply because they have the strength to get out of bed. All of these motivated by love and not by self preservation and fear.

We all need reason to hope and to be encouraged. Jesus gives us reason to hope: “In this world you will have trials, but fear not, I have overcome the world.” Or how about the time He takes a child’s loaves and fishes and feeds a few thousand people and the time he makes water into wine. Turning nothing into something. Take lack and making plenty. Building a His Church for the first 250 years with broken lepers, prostitutes, beggars, and down right nobodies.

I’ll leave you with this: another Mother Teresa quote. “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” ( FYI: people who deal with justice issues tend to quote her a lot) When times are hard don’t survive, but rather love. Hope is always preceded by love.


Your Friend,

Dave

PS. Have a look at the video. I know not everyone maybe comfortable with some of the wording, but I haven't found such a hopeful outlook from someone like Mr. Benn in quite sometime. Special thanks to Chris Mitchell in the UK for this.

Back Home

Hi Friends,

Hope this finds you well. Sorry this is so late getting to everyone. It’s been a little hectic since I’ve been back.

It’s just been just under 2 weeks since arriving back in the States. The last week in South Africa was incredibly busy. Two days of doing AIDS testing in a school, an overnight stay serving in a hospice, friends visiting from the States, and plenty of meetings…as well as finding creative ways to keep bats out of my room…yes, bats! Not as easy as you’d might think!

Since being back I find myself reflecting a lot about that last week in South Africa. Between the AIDS testing and the hospice I’ve been thinking about the fragility of life. (Couple that with the Easter Season.) Africa remains one of those kinesthic places. For me, the veil between heaven and earth is very thin there. I’m not near as aware of how fragile my life is, or how fragile the lives of those around are.

I couldn’t help but think about the patient in the hospice the last few days. Helping him go the toilet, take a shower, swallow his medication, and even move from his bed to a wheel chair, I thought, “This guy is my age and his life is nearly finished. It shouldn’t be this way”. Talk about a reality check. That sort of thing makes one grateful for the life that one has.

Lastly, I just want to say thanks to all of you for believing in me and praying for me during yet another month in Africa. That sort of thing isn’t measurable, but so essential. And I’m grateful to those of you who gave so generously. It’s incredible humbling and means the world that you’d trust me in that way.

Bless you guys! Have a great day!

Your Friend,
Dave

Late...again

Hi Friends,

Happy March! My apologies for the late-ness of a real blog. Africa and the internet are 2 words that don’t go well together. While most of you are weary of winter, summer is in full swing here in sunny South Africa – yep, it’s hot!

To start things off I spent my first night (Valentines Day) in a hotel room by the airport in Johannesburg waiting to catch my connection to White River. Fun times!....Uh,not really…but enough complaining.

I’m glad to be back in Africa! It’s always an incredible privilege to be here and be a part of God’s interaction with this continent. I have a lot of expectation & a sense of responsibility in my heart in regard to what we're doing here. There seems to be good feeling of momentum coming into this next season as a group of friends trying to follow God. (Albeit, we’re friends who have their names together on legal documents.)

The other day I had the privilege of visiting a home for children found abandoned or left at hospitals. (you read that right) It seems unthinkable! Calling it a horrible scenario would be an understatement.
When I walked thru the door it didn’t think there would be enough to do. Things looked pretty well sorted actually. (There’s my “get-it-done” attitude). As we played, changed diapers, served lunch, and made make-shift top hats I realized how important this was.
Most people think, “What difference will holding a baby for a few hours make?” But when you’ve literally been found in a trash bag on the side of a mountain then it makes all the difference in the world. Perspective changes everything.

The more time I spend on this continent the more I feel that we are onto something bigger than I can really comprehend. The only thing I can come up with is nation building. A continent with 38 million orphans is like starting all over again. Unless you’ve been here, it’s hard to really understand this part. (That’s your invitation to come visit).

I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for all of your incredible generosity and friendship. You guys keep me “in the game”. I hope you know I wouldn’t want to do this without all you routing for me.

Your Friend,
Dave

(Sorry, No pictures this time. Picture taking is a sensitive matter sometimes)