Isaiah 55:8-12

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways...Declares the Lord!  As the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts that your thoughts.  As the rain and the snow come from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth, IT WILL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY!!!  But will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it!!  You WILL go out in joy and be lead forth in peace!  The mountains and hills will burst into song before you and all the trees will clap their hands!!"  Isaiah 55:8-12

A to the MEN!!!!!!!!!!!    

I wish I could say that I ended 2014 feeling victorious and full of vim and vigor.  No.....

December left me feeling defeated, exhausted and well......a picture really does say a thousand words.  

Streetwise is at a standstill.   I won't go into details right now, that is for another blog, but the point being is that God has brought the whole thing to a screeching halt.  We have needed the rest and we have needed the time to stop and get our heads straight.  

God has been reminding us that He is just as invested in our lives as He is in the lives of the boys on the streets we work with.  Rest is essential....rest is a command!  

I have had to re-examine my motives in all this.  It has been hard folks!!  It has been frustrating!  Well, humbling is more like it!!!  

Have you been there?  Are you there now?  Tired?  Frustrated?  Ready to throw in the towel?  Take hope from Isaiah 55:8-12.......God's thoughts are not your thoughts.....He has a plan that is bigger than you and I!   Stay in God's word and feed on His faithfulness!!!  Let Him refresh your soul and give you "food" for the journey ahead.  

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed.  For his compassions never fail!  They are new every morning.  GREAT is your faithfulness!  I say to myself "The Lord is my portions, therefore I will wait for him!!  Lamentations 3:22-24

I was getting consumed with the work and not with Jesus!!  Because of his compassions and his great love I believe that is why He has had to put a stop to things for a bit.  So that He can restore and renew my soul in HIM!  

 What are you consumed with?   

mustard seed faith

 Some days the road ahead seems impossibly rocky and  the terrain dangerous.  The “Why” and the “Wherefore” of the calling seems fuzzy in light of simply trying to make it through the day.  When the days come that are consumed with thoughts and prayers like “Jesus HOW are we going to make it to the end of the day with some what of a reputation in tact?”  When in front of you there is not any visible fruit to the painful and extremely difficult ground plowing, when it feels like all you are doing is making bricks with no straw.....what do you do?  

You know those days when the choose to give into defeat seems a bit easier than finding the resolve to stand in faith one more minute? 

I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE FOLKS!!!  

The other day my sweet sweet husband was having a hard day.  He was having a hard time seeing the Why and the Wherefore and making what we go through daily line up with the reasons for the calling, despair was weighing heavy on his shoulders......then out of no where his friend shows up at the door with a truck load of wood, beautiful wood to donate to Streetwise.  God knew that Luis needed a friend at that exact moment and WHAMO, there was Charlie with a smile and a truck load of unexpected wood.   It was the boost of faith that he needed in that exact moment.  It didn’t make the issue he was struggling with go away, but it did lighten the load and saved Luis from despair in the moment.  

As Christians we are NEVER promised care free days.   Hard things will come our way...bills will have a hard time getting payed, kids will get sick,  jobs will be lost, cars break down......we are not immune to the trials and struggles in this life.  

But lets take hope from the fact that when we are weak, Jesus WILL BE STRONG!!!  When the temptation to despair and quit becomes to overwhelming, Jesus WILL NOT FORSAKE YOU!!  HE WILL SEND HELP!!!!!  When our faith doesn’t go beyond “Jesus, I need the strength lift my foot right now”, God meets us!!!!  

Be encouraged friends!!!  If your faith seems to small and weak, don’t give up!!!!  All you need is faith the size of a mustard seed anyway. 

All God is asking is the willingness to be willing....He will handle the rest!  

Streetwise NEEDS you!!!!

This is Mulenga.  I just adore his sweet sweet face! 

Luis is explaining to the boys where the hats came from.  

God has recently reminded me of the mandate He gave us for the streets kids of Zambia.    Basically it is this.....RELATIONSHIP!!!!   It is all about building trust and establishing relationship.   He has reminded me and refreshed me to the reality that we are not the answer to the issue, Jesus Christ is the answer!  All we have to do is be consistent, to show up when we say we are going to show up and lend a listening ear.  Thats it!   The rest is up to God!  

These guys are showing off the hats the Military Ministry ladies at TSC made for them.  

It is hard to keep the above mentioned in focus when we come in contact weekly with CHILDREN who are hungry, broken, filthy and cold.   I can’t tell you how many times I just want to pile as many of them in my car as possible and bring them home, feed them hot soup, give them hots baths, and tuck them into nice comfy beds in a clean house where they don’t have to worry about roaches crawling on their faces, or being cold, or being robbed.  

Streetwise has grown!  We have been faithful to the best of our abilities to the mandate God has given us.  We have gone out faithfully every wednesday since January 2012.  We have a team!  We even have an outreach coordinator!   We are going to expand the outreaches to a Saturday morning one as well.  We have discovered where the boys sleep in a drainage ditch at night.  So we want to show up there with hot tea and sandwiches when they wake up.  

The Craft Co side of things has been underway for a year.  For that amount of time Luis and I have been slaving away in our living room / dining room developing a product that we can teach the boys how to do and then they can go on and make a living for themselves.  

Our Craft Co display set up on our front porch.  We allow customers to come to our home and shop or place orders.  

Here is the issue......because it is in our home, we cannot bring the boys in to work.  We have three little girls that we need to consider, plus neighbors who might not appreciate the intrusion.  In addition to the fact, I am SICK of tripping over piles of wood and spray paint cans in an attempt to make dinner and do homework with my children. 

Me in our "dining room" / art room

the "dining room" 

How can you help?

1. You can PRAY!  PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!!!!  We need a space to open up for us to move the operation into!  We have        been looking at one near our home, but the land lord seems to be stalling.   PLEASE PRAY!!!!!!!  We desperately want to work more effectively with the boys!  Also please pray that more people get involved.  We are going to need more day to day help when the Lord allows us to move into the space.   English classes, feeding programs, and SWCO skills. 

2. You can give!  You can give financially to the work.   As of now the cost of running Streetwise is about 300 usd per month.  That includes supplies needed for the Craft Co, supplies for the outreaches and any extra expenses that come up.  When we get into the studio, PRAYERFULLY BY JANUARY!!!!! The costs will shoot up to 2,000 usd per month.  That is inclusive of the rent, bills, food 2x per day for the boys, and wages, plus the above mentioned supplies for the outreaches and the craft co.  Would you be willing to sacrifice two Starbucks a month to give a kid a fighting chance at a future?   Two Vente Caramel Latte is enough to purchase bread and tea for 30 kids!  

3. You can come volunteer your time!!!  “But Myranda I don’t know what I am doing!”  Doesn’t matter one whit!!!!  All  you need is a willing heart and an open mind and a set of clothes you don’t mind getting filthy!  It is FUN! 

4. You can help us spread the word!  Where you are you can hold fundraisers!  

Pancake Breakfasts! 

Spagetti Dinners!

Car Washes!

Fun Runs!

Karaoke Night!!! 

Silent Auctions!

The list is endless!!!!! 

Here is my point......If God is burdening you with Streetwise and you can’t physically get on a plane and come over, NO WORRIES!!!  You can get involved where you are!!  Pray!!  Give!!  ACT!!!  

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

You guys ROCK MY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!  ALWAYS AND FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

If you are interesting in giving financially to Streetwise you can go to tscnyc.org. Click on GIVE.  Follow the prompts to MISSIONARIES then choose our name.  It is tax deductible!  (thats always a plus!!!)

streetwise fun runs rock!!!!!!!!!

Last saturday October 4th 250 people gathered at the Lusaka South Country Club for the 2nd Annual Moonlight Fun Run to benefit Streetwise. 

From left to right Nikki Timmerman, Luis, me and Ilke Greene

Nikki Timmerman and Ilke Greene took the initiative and planned the first one last year.  They both wanted to get involved with Streetwise outreaches, but due to family commitments and husbands work schedules, they are unable to.  They decided this is how they could be involved.  AMAZING!  And again this year.  We never asked for this to be done, they just did it!   What they are able to pull together blows my mind!  And they didn’t do it for themselves or for any thanks....they just want to be a part of the team.  Those amazing ladies raised 2,200 USD!  WOOHOO!!!! 

   

Courtney won first place for the women's!  GO GIRL! 

The guy shown here won last year and again this year!  Yup, he's awesome 

The kids ran a half race and got one of a kind Streetwise participant medals as a reward . 

There was even glow in the dark body paint.....tons of it.  :-) 

We think he took a bath in the paint.  

All in all a wonderful evening filled with laughs and happy memories! 

What is the money going to be used for? 

With in the month (but Africa being Africa, might be January) we will be moving the Streetwise base of operations OUT of our living room and into an actual work space!!!!!  

We are super pumped about that for several reasons, A few of which are....

1. We get our living room back 

2. We will be able to begin bringing the boys into the craft studio on a day to day basis to being teaching them in a more concentrated manner.  

3. We will be able to hold outreaches from the store front.  This will enable us to control the environment the kids are coming into in a productive manner. 

4. Did I mention WE GET OUR LIVING ROOM BACK!?

The money raised will help with rentals,  buying food for the boys that come to the trade school and helping support kids that we send to Teen Challenge rehab.  

How can you help?

PRAY!!!!!!  Pray for us!!!  Pray for our family!  Pray for the Streetwise team. PRAY!!!!! Get a group together and PRAY!!!!!!  A missionary is only as effective as the people praying for them! 

You can give financially.  (I hate putting that part in there, but its true!)

You can hold fundraisers for Streetwise where you are!  Nikki and Ilke saw a need, saw how they could help, and they took off with it.  You could have a car wash, a spaghetti dinner, bake sales, pancake dinners, silent auctions, raffles.  The list of possibilities is endless.  Not only does it raise awareness for Streetwise, it provides an opportunity for you to get your community together for some fun family time!  

PRAY!!!!!!

Thank you so much for your time!!!! 

Luis with one of our Streetwise volunteers, Chibwe.

If you would like to give to what we are doing here please go to tscnyc.org, click MAKE A DONATION, the choose MISSIONS, then MORALES FAMILY, ZAMBIA.  

my tribute to Uncle Mike

As many of you may know my Uncle Mike died last week.  He had terminal brain cancer.  He died surrounded by love and family and went straight to the arms of Jesus.  

As I can't be there for the funeral, I asked my Dad if he could read the following at the service for me.

As I have sat and thought and pondered over the life of my Uncle Mike, the memories that stick most in my mind are of him standing at our stove in Dallas making chili and his laugh.  He made the yummiest chili and he had the most infectious belly laugh of any one I have ever heard.  You couldn’t help but be happy and join in when he laughed. 

When I got the news that he had gone home to Jesus a visual immediately popped into my mind of him wearing a white robe with a baseball hat and I heard his laughter.  It was a laugh of victory, joy and homecoming.  I saw him holding hands with Grandma Marie and Grandpa Gene and my heart was filled with joy and sadness.  Joy that his suffering is over and that he has heard those beautiful words “Well Done Mike Hampton!  Enter into your joy!!!”   Sadness that I won’t hear him laugh until I join him there, and yes it was all tinged with a bit of jealousy.

My father pointed out a crucial fact to me when Mike died.  Uncle Mike lead Dad to the saving knowledge of Jesus, which lead Dad to make the decision to attend the Sheep fold, which lead to him meeting my mother, which ultimately lead to......ME!  I now serve the Lord along with my amazing husband and kids in Africa.  Mike played a crucial role in that!  Kinda mind blowing!  We never know the impact our lives are having!  The groovy thing thing is now Mike sees the bigger picture and he sees that!  

The best way I know to honor my uncle is to share the love of Jesus with you all now.  The saving knowledge of Christ is what drove Mike.  At the core of everything Mike loved Jesus Christ more than anything.  If he were standing here now he would plead with you, probably beg you to consider what Christ has done for you!  One thing I have always respected about Mike is when life knocked him down, he NEVER EVER gave up on his love for Jesus.  He simply picked himself off, brushed off his knees and kept moving forward.   

Jesus Christ died on a cross for you and me.  He died a wicked and cruel death so that we don’t have to be separate from Him for all eternity.  Our sin keeps us separate from the love of Jesus, but the sacrifice He made on the cross is the bridge that crosses the divide.  When He said on the cross “It is Finished” He meant just that.  The driving, the trying, the striving to prove ourselves......the need for all that was wiped away with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross!!!  It is a free gift!  He loves you and me with a love that is beyond understanding.  Mike would say to you today “Please!  Don’t let the opportunity for peace pass you by!  Let Jesus take away the burden of your heart.....the burden of sin, the burden of sadness and rejection, and let him replace the emptiness with His Joy, with His Peace that goes beyond all understanding...with His Life!!!” 

My Uncle Mike loved life, but more than that he loved the people in it.  No matter what life threw at him, no matter how bad things got, he loved us and he loved Jesus!  

Thank you! 

missionary moms and rough morning

This morning I sent my eldest born off on a camping trip for 5 days with her class.  We got into a screaming fight right before she got into the car with her dad to be whisked away into the bush....the AFRICAN BUSH for FIVE DAYS!

She wanted control over how and what to pack in her bag and I, being a mother, wanted to make sure she has enough undies and jeans.  Cut me some slack!  She was trying to pack a pair with a wet waist band and I had a panic that her entire bag was going to be wet and mildewy by the time she reached the campsite.  I AM A MOM!!!  I CAN’T HELP IT!  I just sent my baby off FOR FIVE DAYS IN THE AFRICAN BUSH!  Did I mention that she can’t take her phone so we can’t call!?

We must have looked a sight!  I was there in my pj and racoon eyes from yesterdays make up shouting ‘ALL I WANT IS FOR YOU TO HAVE WHAT YOU NEED’ while Amira is giving me the sideways evil eye......yeah, not my most dignified moment.  

Can I just PULEASE crawl back in bed and start all over!?  

After she left and I thought it through it hit me with force....she isn’t five!  My baby is growing!   She is no longer the round faced, apple cheeked red headed wonder....She is now grown into a tall red headed beauty with a mind of her own.  (to be honest I like it that way!  I want my girls to be strong and confident!)  All she wanted was the control over how and what to pack in her bag.  And I need to trust that she can pack her own jeans and that she knows how many pairs of underwear and socks she will need for the trip.  

But in my defense, I AM A MOM!!!!  And I always will be!!!  It is hard to let go!  Is that why God has us raise teenagers BEFORE they officially leave for their own lives?  It is a little bit of letting go every day.  

Parenting is HHHAAARRRDDDD work!  We won’t get it right all the time and that is perfectly ok!  How else are our kids going to learn that it is ok to make mistakes?  How else will our kids learn about the grace and mercy of Jesus unless they see us fall flat on our faces and show some transparency and humble honesty when we apologize?  

suffering

I have been struggling how to put my thoughts into words lately.

There is so much suffering going on around us!  I don't think that there are many of us that can say any more "THANK GOD ITS NOT ME!"  You know what I mean..you hear stories of others suffering and pain and you empathize, you pray and you have compassion, but deep down you think "God thank You for sparing me and my family!"  

I have been following the story of Brandon Hayslip and his family.  Soon, barring a miracle, Brandon will go home to be with Jesus.  His suffering will end, but his family will be left with a broken place in their hearts.  God WHY!?

My own family is dealing with the sudden diagnosis of brain cancer for my uncle, Mike Hampton.  Again, barring a miracle, he will go home to be with Jesus.

It may not be sickness, it may be financial suffering.  "God how on earth am I going to put food on the table tonight?"  or maybe it is an internal battle that no one sees but you and Jesus.  You know those battles of the mind that you can't seem to put into words, but you feel as if you are going to drown in it?  I myself was just there the other day. I sent a message to my dearest friend asking for prayer.  She knows me well and I knew I didn't have to explain myself.  (THANKS FRIEND!!!!)

The other day I got before God and poured it all out to Him.  I was honest.  I was blunt.  I was transparent.  (why not!?  He knows anyway!)

Here is the resolve that came into my heart:

Even though the world is falling apart, even though suffering is happening at break neck speeds now, even though we are not assured of our tomorrows,  there is one thing we are assured of!  One thing that we can put our hope and trust and faith in!  The word of God WILL NEVER CHANGE!!!!!  Who God is, what God is WILL NEVER CHANGE!  I can choose to believe the report of the Lord or I can believe in the despair and the hopelessness that is surrounding our world now.

Psalm 3:3-8

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

5 I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.

8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
    May your blessing be on your people.

These words gave me so much hope and comfort and I pray they do the same for you!

If you don't know Jesus...He loves you so very much!!!!  He longs to sooth you wounded and broken soul.  He longs to give you comfort!  He died on the cross and suffered for you so you can know peace.  It is a free gift!  The forgiveness of Jesus, while bought with  the price of his blood, is freely given to all who believe!  Jesus has the answers!  Jesus WILL fill the void that you are so desperate to fill!  That is a promise!  I know because he did it for me!


Ok for some reason my crazy African internet won't let me down load this video I wanted to insert, so I will give you the link.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXS-FidS0Yw

The lyrics are below and I think it sums up what I am trying to say.......

Holy, You are still holy
Even when the darkness surrounds my life
Sovereign, You are still sovereign
Even when confusion has blinded my eyes

Lord, I don't deserve Your kind affection
When my unbelief has kept me from Your touch
I want my life to be a pure reflection
Of Your love

And so I come into Your chamber
And I dance at Your feet, Lord
You are my Saviour
And I'm at Your mercy
All that has been in my life
Up 'til now
It belongs to You
You are still holy

Holy, You are still holy
Even though I don't understand Your ways
Sovereign, You will be sovereign
Even when my circumstances don't change

Lord, I don't deserve your tender patience
When my unbelief has kept me from Your truth
I want my life to be a sweet devotion
To You

And so I come into Your chamber
And I dance at Your feet, Lord
You are my Saviour
And I'm at Your mercy
All that has been in my life
Up 'til now
It belongs to You
I belong to You

And so I come into Your chamber
And I dance at Your feet
You are my Saviour
And I'm at Your mercy
All that has been in my life
Up 'til now
It belongs to You
I belong to You
You are still holy
You are still sovereign
You are still holy, Lord
You are still righteous
You are all-knowing
You are still holy