determined obedience

In 2011 we went home to New Jersey burnt out and exhausted to our very souls.  All we wanted to do was get jobs in Walmart or Home Depot and forget that Africa existed.   However that fateful summer was a turning point for us.  Through various people that we know and trust completely God confirmed His will for us to come back to Africa.  

 

With bloody knuckled determined obedience we got on a plane and came back here.  I compare that time to when we first arrived in Africa four years prior.  We were all doe eyed and dreamy about God’s plan.  “Of course all will go well, we are in God’s will”

In 2011 all we had was that God had told us to come back and the peace that comes with obedience.   It was like this  “Go or stay. I will love you no matter what.  But if you stay you will miss out BIG TIME!  You will always wonder WHAT IF!?”  

So you would think, wow, NOW it will all come together and make sense.....WRONG!!!!!  For roughly the next six months we were put in a holding pattern of frustration and angst.  

Here is my point........I am grateful for that time!  TRULY!  I am!!!

I have learned life lessons that only the fire of adversity can burn into a person’s soul.  

What would those things be Myranda?

Well, along with learning how to make my own cockroach bait and yogurt and a really awesome pumpkin soup, I think the one that ranks highest on my list is this.... 

Full time ministry has taught me that it has NOTHING TO DO WITH ME!   God didn’t call my family to Zambia because we were so spiritually gifted.  NO!  I firmly believe that Lusaka has been the place for us because this is where we have had to learn lessons of humility and brokenness that have changed our outlooks on life forever.  

Where does that leave us now? 

Streetwise (the ministry we have started) has taken off in ways that has our heads spinning!  I can’t tell you how many times Luis and I just sit in amazement at the things God has been doing that are WAY beyond us!   In January we will begin a second outreach spot.  There are pockets of kids all over the city! 

In addition to this we are also working to begin a trade school.  God has gifted Luis in carpentry and I have been shocked to learn that I have artistic talent.  So we are combining these two to make wooden signs, serving trays and decorative items for the home.  We have had our stuff out on the market for a little over a month and the response we are getting has been awesome!  I know have a list of back orders that can’t be filled until early next year. 

Our goal is to teach the kids these skills, combined with discipleship training so that they can go and start their own business or simply discover the gifts that God has given them and run with it.  

This is actually a dream we have had since before we got married!  NO JOKE!  

We will be writing more on this in the future, but I wanted to “prime the pump” so to speak and get you all thinking and praying about this incredible project that God has birthed in our hearts.  

How can you pray specifically? 

• We need tools.....we are actually working on compiling a specific list of things we need.  Please let me know if you are interested in looking at it.  
• We need a place to work out of.  Right now we work out of our house.  As we don’t have street kids working with us yet it is ok, but we are going to need a separate space sooner than we think
• We need a new work vehicle.  

As always.....WE LOVE YOU GUYS MORE THAN YOU KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Your support and encouragement keeps our heads afloat!  Like I always say

A missionary is only as effective as the people supporting them! 

(maybe I should put that on a sign?)

You guys are awesome and we love you dearly! 

SEE YOU IN DECEMBER!!!!!!!!!

my pork trotter miracle

In our 6 years of living in Africa we have learned from first hand experience that God CAN and WILL provide!

I must admit that more often than not frustration gets the better of me and I don't handle the faith testing moments with the dignified aplomb I should.  I can relate well to this little boy and his wonky bike.  When God throws a curve ball my way to teach me something I sit on my bike and cry.

Isn't God good though!?  He lets us have our fits and then gentle takes our hands and pushes us forward cause he does have a plan!!!  If we would just settle down and realize we are peddling with a weird bike, we would see that Jesus Christ is actually in control and we are not!  

Long story short.......tonight I was making dinner..... (potato soup....for those of you who are curious) I was thanking God for meeting our families needs and seeing us through every twist and turn life throws our way.  When all of a sudden....low and behold....my neighbor, who isn't a Christian.....turns up at my door with about 20 pounds of fresh on the bone pork meat.  You guys, it wasn't 2 minutes after I was finished thanking God for his wonderful provision that this happened!  Stella and her husband own a piggery and had just slaughtered this morning.  

She wanted to bring us a piece of a pig as a gift.  (there is a long story behind why, which I will write about later).  I did my best to keep from crying at the goodness of God while Stella proudly told us about her pig farm and who they supply to.   (its not culturally cool to cry in public in Zambia)

   

Does anyone out there know what to do with pork trotters?  I have a huge one now sitting in my freezer.  

painful memories bring freedom

Last week I found myself in a situation of my own design.  I had said something stupid and irresponsible.  As SOON AS THE WORDS FLEW OUT OF MY MOUTH all I could think was “Myranda!  THAT WASN’T YOUR FINEST MOMENT!  DUMB!” 

So, I tried to go back and fix the problem and it went from bad to worse.  

Because the other person didn’t respond in the loving gracious way I was expecting to my apology, I got upset and a vicious cycle of trying to get the last word in ensued.  I said something, they said something, so on and so forth.  It was ugly.  

After emotions cooled and rational thought took its rightful place once again a memory bubbled to the surface.    One of which that I would have rather kept hidden in the deep recesses of my brain, but God in His infinite mercy and love brought it up.  

I had been wronged and the person who had wronged me was trying to come and make restitution.  I was legitimately hurt and my heart felt bruised from what had happened.  But, when my friend came to me with a humble apologetic heart, did I accept it?  NO!  I just rubbed her face back in the hurt and wanted so desperately to make sure she knew how hurt and wronged I felt.  How righteously indignant I felt over the offense.  So, we went into that cycle I mentioned above where we both tried to get the upper hand.  AWEFUL!!!!!!!  GROSS!!! 

I wonder in those moments if God just has to shake his head in sadness.  (kinda like those days when your kids won’t stop picking at each other and all you can do is stand back and see who comes out standing) 

That recollection was a hard one to walk through.  I wanted to stuff it back down, but I could sense God’s gracious loving hand taking my hands away from my eyes and forcing me to see what was ultimately for my benefit.  It humbled me to the point of worship!  You know what I mean?  Those moments when the light of Jesus points into an area of your heart that needs, that MUST be exposed in order for your life to move on in Christ?  It HURTS, but when the moment of surrender comes and you see yourself TRULY in the light of all God has for you and how He sees you it causes true and pure worship to bubble forth.   

IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST HAS SET US FREE!!!

life lessons according to Anne of Greene Gables

Monday morning......sigh.  Can I just climb back in bed and try again tomorrow?

May I be transparent for a moment?

Lets just say I failed the "Fruit of the Spirit" exam last week.  It all peaked in a flurry of emotion and frustration on Wednesday and then again yesterday.   If there was ever a week I could rewind and do all over again, it was last week.

So, this morning I sit here, trying to get the gumption to face a new week and quotes from Anne of Greene Gables keeps running through my head.

Anne had just made a mess of things and she was pouring her heart out to her teacher and mentor Miss Stacey.  Who among us didn't love Miss Stacey!?  Would that we all had a Miss Stacey in our lives!

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” 

(Ok, so that isn't the picture from the scene, but I couldn't find the

 screen shot...don't judge, I had a bad week .... :-P )

I can relate to Anne on so many levels.  She had the best of intentions, just kept getting herself into trouble with out even trying to, and being horribly misunderstood in the process.

 Who didn't love the scene in the movie where she dyed her hair green on accident.  ( I accidentally died my hair eggplant purple at one stage)
 

  If I were Anne I probably would have accidentally gotten my best friend drunk as well, thinking I was only giving her raspberry cordial.

Sigh...if only life were as easy at an Anne of Greene Gables novel....

(do you ever feel like you walk through life with that forlorn look on your face all the time? That was me yesterday, for shizzle! )

But alas, life is much more complicated.

Last night I sat with my good friend Kate and we laid our hearts out to one another.  And couple of things that came up in our conversation is this....

1. God loves us no matter what!  Nothing can separate me from his love!  The reality of that simple truth washed over my battered and bruised soul last night and comforted me in a way that nothing else could.
 
2. God  understands that we are going to have bad days, or several of them strung together like a tacky cheap necklace.  All he wants is for us to come to him with a willing and transparent heart.  He wants for us to allow him to soothe the bruises and mend the rips.  I think it is how we handle ourselves in the aftermath.  Prayerfully to learn some avoidance tactics in the future so as not to walk down that particular path again.

So, buck up folks.......in the immortal words of Miss Stacey

“Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?” 

Humpty Dumpty feel down today

This morning I said a stupid thing to someone and as soon as it came out of my mouth I thought 

"Myranda, that was REAL DUMB, you need to fix it!"  So, I attempted to rectify the situation and it went from bad to worse.....lets just say the whole event didn't play out in reality in the way the conversation went in my head.  The other person was pretty offended, and to be honest, I don't blame them one bit.  

Letting words fly out of our mouths and dropping eggs have the same effect.  You have to clean up the mess, but you can't put Humpty Dumpty back together....

Sometimes I wish God would render me mute ( I know my husband feels that way at times).  But as that probably won't happen anytime soon, my prayer is "God help me to exercise self control and humility!  Help me to put up and shut up!"  

So, when I got home and cried a bit, the Lord told me one word.....Humility.  Humility is the key!  It doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong at that point.  Humility is the key!  So, I prayed and dove in one more time and God be praised, all is well.  I didn't attempt to try and explain my side or what ever, I just said how sincerely sorry I was for hurting them.  

Funny thing is....or ironic maybe.....yesterday in my quiet time I was praying "Lord help me to walk humbly"  BBBWWWAAAAA!!!!!!!!!  Careful what you pray for!  The Lord IS listening!  

FUN RUNS AND CRAZY TIMES!

Finally, I have 5 minutes to sit down and put two thoughts together.  This month has gone by in a HUGE blur of activity.  I am sitting here in a quiet house in my husbands sweats wondering “What on earth is happening?”

Let me back up a tad.....A few weeks ago there was a fund raiser for STREETWISE that a couple of fabulous ladies from our church in Zambia set into motion.  Ilke Greene approached Luis and I back in August and asked if we wouldn’t mind if she and Nikki did something like this.  Um....SURE THANG!!!  

(We have been praying and praying and praying for God to lay the burden and passion for street kids on others hearts in the church, to come along side in what capacity they feel they can offer and walk with us on this crazy journey we have found ourselves on.  Some want to help prepare food, some want to fundraise, some want to go on the outreaches.  But all want to be a part in someway.  It is awesome!)

Then the night of the fundraiser came and it was ROCK YOUR FACE OFF AWESOME!  It was a 5 km run.  113 people turned out for the event.   Did you catch that.....ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN PEOPLE SHOWED UP!  Lusaka isn’t very big and that is a MASSIVE turn out!  I just stood at the back of the crowd slacked jawed and blown away by what God is doing.  

Luis and I sat the next day and tried to collect our thoughts on the event.  All we have done is been crazy enough to raise our hands when God asked for volunteers to go to these kids.  We haven’t a single solitary clue...we aren’t “trained” to do this work.  We just know that all God requires is that we have willing and obedient hearts.  Our faith is small at times.  But, what does it say about mustard seeds?  Let me lay it out for you in the MMV (myranda morales version)

If all you have is the faith to lift your foot off the floor, God will show you where to plant it next, then the next step, and before you know it, God is moving and you are just along for the ride of your life.  

So, where does that leave us?

How can you pray and help?

1. We now have a regular team of people who go on the outreaches with us.  We are going to be branching into a second outreach sight soon.   Please pray for unity in the team and that God will continue to teach us how to do this work with wisdom.

2. We need a bus for the outreaches.  It would be super nice to tell kids... “Go to the corner of Independence Avenue at 11 am on tuesdays and you will find the STREETWISE BUS”

There is so much  more I want to tell you about Joe graduating from Teen Challenge and about how we are about to send David and Samford up there.  But that is for another blog. 

There is also so much I want to tell you about STREETWISE CRAFT CO and the birth of a trade school, but again, that is for another blog.  

Keep you eye balls peeled for updates and PLEASE keep praying!!!  Like I always say
“A missionary is only as effective as the prayers that are supporting them”!

Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible in December when we come back for the holidays!  

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!  

my mattress miracle

Ok, least you all think that I have become a crazy person and have now started praying over what pair of socks to wear every day, let me give background before telling you my miracle. 

In the last post I told you all that I have been in a hard mental place for a few months.  Discouraged and frustrated.....lots of “God what I am DOING here??”  You get the picture....

A couple of weeks ago I was doing one of my weekly purges (I routinely throw crud away in one room of my house a week to prevent being run over by broken crayons and teddy bears with no arms) and noticed that the kids mattresses were in a sad state and that it would behoove us to get new ones 

(did you like the use of the word BEHOOVE?)  

However, where does one get the extra cash to buy three mattresses on the fly like that?  So I sent a quick prayer up and forgot about it. 

DO YOU SEE WHERE I AM GOING WITH THIS!?  DON’T RACE ME TO THE PUNCH LINE!!!

A couple of days ago I got a phone call from some friends who have just recently bought four new twin sized mattresses.  They have to leave the country and they wanted to know if we would like them....as in HERE TAKE FOUR BRAND SPANKING NEW MATTRESSES FREE OF CHARGE CAUSE WE WANNA BLESS YOU!!!  But Myranda, you say, you only have three kids....on outreach nights Joe stays the night with us and we have needed a spot for him to sleep!!!!!!!  HENCE FOUR BRAND NEW MATTRESSES.

BUT THAT ISN’T THE KICKER!!  

Often we are put in a place of self evaluation..asking ourselves “God what are we DOING!? Is this your will??  Are we heading in the right direction or are we spinning our wheels?  LORD THIS IS JUST PLAIN INSANITY!!!” 

Here is what God dropped into my heart.... “Duh Girl (I added the DUH part)  If I didn’t want you in Zambia doing what you are doing would I have just handed you brand new mattresses for sleeping?”  To which I responded "Good point Lord!  You sure are wise!"  

God will always confirm his will to us.  He will always give us what we need to keep going.  We just have to keep our ears tuned into what he is saying.  

It might not be the writing on the wall, but hey, my kids get to sleep comfortable tonight!