Haiti Bound

Isaiah 54:2
"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

 

A few months ago a good friend of mine shared this verse with me.  It is a confirmation of what God has put on my heart. 

 

Over the last several months I have have the incredible opportunity to share my little children's story The Secret of Sadie Sequoia with kids all over northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.  Sharing the story is always fun, but what I want the kids to learn from my visit is that they were created to make a difference in this world.  I get a chance to present an object lesson for them.  We open four different lunches from four different countries.  The children are told to pretend that they come from a poor family.  Zimbabwe, Mexico, Haiti and the United States are represented.  When they pull out the contents of their lunches, their eyes open wide and they begin to understand how very blessed we are here in the United States!  I get the chance to tell them a little bit about different government systems and how our government helps those in need where a lot of countries around the world don't enjoy those blessings.

 

God pricked my heart a couple of weeks ago with the desire to visit Haiti.  I tell the kids in my presentation about Haiti but I have never been there to experience it.  So like the verse above, He is enlarging the place of my tent and my desire is not to hold back.  A few months ago, I felt a strong belief that God wanted me to help more than just Mexico.  I don't know how He will do it but when He leads, I will just trust and follow.

 

So, Haiti, here I come!  I am going to be travelling with Dr. Jay and Jan Nielson, a local doctor and counselor who began this ministry 10 years ago.  They have built and opened a school, worked with Haitians in teaching them agricultural skills to grow food, helped with water needs, run a local clinic for medical needs, and a host of other wonderful tasks to better the lives in the community. 

 

Please pray that God will use me!  I want to be an extension of His hands, His feet and most of all, His heart.  I want my heart to break over the things that break His.  I hope that I will watch, learn and glean all that I can on this visit in order to help my dear friends in Tijuana and wherever else He impresses me to serve.

 

30 Years?

I am 54 years old.  Wow!  That is getting really close to 60!  Bob and I spent some time this last weekend talking about the next 30 years.  It may sound morbid but we discussed the fact that one of us will probably be with the Lord by the time those 30 years are up.  30 years will make us 84 years old.  It is very sobering to think that we are now on the downward slope of life but that doesn't make us think downward thoughts.  It makes us look upward!  We bantered good naturedly back and forth about who would be the lucky one to get to heaven first - eternity is just around the corner and we can't wait to get there!  At our age, it is easier to understand our mortality.  Remember when you were younger?  You think you have forever on this earth!

 

Time is short.  Each year, I am impressed more and more with the need for my faith to be acted out rather than just spoken. This last year was a big faith walk for me and Bob.  The Educaching business has really taken off and the Sadie book has given me the opportunity to speak to school children and teachers about the hungry and needy in the world around us.  We are trying to take Jeremiah 22:16 seriously:

 

¹⁶ He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
   and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?"
   declares the LORD.

 

You see, all of my adult life I have half-heartedly participated in helping the poor and needy.  Each paycheck we would give our offering and each Christmas I would gather loose change from my purse to put in the Salvation Army bucket.  I never really saw or cared about the recipients of the gifts I gave.  It wasn't until five years ago that I realized there is a world beyond my own, where people have not because of where they were born not because they are lazy.  I want to know God the way this verse indicates.  We are so blessed here in the United States.  No matter how you perceive our government, we are still citizens of the greatest nation on earth where we have untold opportunity and privilege compared to the rest of the world!  It is because of this incredible blessing that Bob and I want to live out the next 30 years, give or take a few, in kingdom work.  We pray that each day we will be living for our Lord, so that the work we do will demonstrate to those around us His incredibly great love and care for them.  This is what life is about - not stockpiling money and stuff for our later years, but giving out of our abundance so that others will come to know about the One who gave everything for us - Jesus Christ!

 

How does 2011 look for you?  Are you going to worry about things that really don't matter eternally?  I encourage you to begin thinking about what might happen after you die.  Read Matthew 25.  If you are a Christian, you have to begin asking yourself some hard questions - what if what I believe is really real?  What if you only have 30, 20, or 10 years left on this earth?  Would you live differently?  If you don't call yourself a Christ follower please make a commitment to read about Him in the Bible.  So many don't believe because they haven't heard or read His claims.

 

Pablo's Pantry is just one small little charity that you can participate in and help.  There is so much need all over the world!  I am grateful that God has put this passion in my heart to help these kids in Tijuana but I anticipate more opportunities all around the world in the future. Please consider helping us again in 2011.  We are feeding little children every week.  Each week more kids show up.  At last count it was over 100 children three days a week!  We are able to feed these kids for about $500 a month.  We also have begun helping with costs in educating some of the young people there.  A young mother of two children is in beauty school to learn how to cut and style hair.  Educaching has agreed to cover the costs of this education.  Another young lady currently has a job in a factory but can get a better paying job by learning English.  We just sent the money to help her with this education.  We feed the children but we are also trying to help the adults.  Perhaps the cycle of poverty will stop for some of these people!

 

May you have a wonderful 2011!  We look forward to whatever God has for us and wherever God wants to take us.  We pray that you will begin to have an eternal perspective this year and realize that one day you will give an account of what you did here on earth.  I don't know about you, but I long to hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

One of the tasks in 2010 was to help Naomi and the work she does but also have a way for people to receive a tax deduction for their contributions.  If you are interested in sending the money her way you can make the check out to:

 

Lemon Grove Foursquare Church

2115 Lemon Grove Ave.

Lemon Grove, CA  91945

 

Please put "El Shaddai Mission" on the memo line.

 

Letters of encouragement are also appreciated.  You can drop her a line addressing the envelope to:

 

Naomi Anzaldo

1198 Neptune Dr.

Chula Vista, CA  91911

 

Thanks again for your help!  May God bless you with a heart to help the poor and needy!

A God Sized Goal

Good morning!  It is the day before Thanksgiving and I have been up pondering and meditating on all the Lord's blessings.  Do you ever question why you were born in this country, at this time in history?  We are so blessed to be living here in the United States!  No matter what political party you support, no matter what candidate you voted for, no matter what the media tells us about the economy and the bad news all around - we still live in a country where we are free to worship God and tell people about Him without fear of being put in prison or losing our lives.  Most of us in this country still have many choices.  We can choose where we will live, what church we will attend.  We choose what foods to buy, what clothes to wear, where we will go on vacation and where we will spend our money.  Not everyone in the world has these choices.

 

I recently watched a dvd entitled, "How to Be Rich" by Andy Stanley.  No, it's not a sermon on obtaining wealth.  It is a straight talk to Americans who have so much compared to the rest of the world.  Because of this great blessing comes great responsibility.  We have the opportunity to bless the poor and needy with our great blessing that God has so richly given. 

 

In 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 it says, "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion."  Notice the last sentence.  We are made rich in order to be generous!

 

This Thanksgiving stop to think of all you have.  Remember the blessings.  Write them down and stick them somewhere prominent so that you won't forget!  And do something for someone.  Look into ways you can serve in the community or the world. 

 

Yesterday there were three large boxes full of 100 books at my door.  The Lord has put another goal on my heart for December - to sell 100 The Secret of Sadie Sequoia books which will provide close to 4 months of food for the food pantry down in Mexico.  Won't you help?  Please consider buying one or more books for a loved one for Christmas.  It's a gift that you can give that will bless a child here and many children down in Tijuana!

 

 

May God bless us as we grow in gratefulness!

Thank You for Giving to the Lord!

Thank you to everyone who has graciously purchased The Secret of Sadie Sequoia.  This whole experience has been a faith walk for me.  I am currently sitting on 100 books which could generate another $2200 for the food pantry.  Please continue to get the word out about the book and where the money is going - remember 100% of the profits goes directly to feed kids!

 

I just finished an incredible book, Radical by David Platt and am currently reading The Hole in the Gospel by Richard Stearns.  Both books have inspired me to put my faith into action.  There is a great anonymous quote in the latter that struck me:

 

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it."

 

"Well, why don't you ask Him?"

 

"Because I'm afraid He would ask me the same question."

 

God has blessed me with so much.  Not only do I have salvation through Jesus Christ, I also have so an abundance of resources to share with people all over the world! 

 

My daughter Katie and I will be traveling back to Mexico the end of September.  We will help make some more fleece blankets in preparation for the winter and also distribute food and assist in the lunch program for the kids.  Please pray for us.  My desire is to eventually help start up some sort of industry for the people down there.  They don't lack a hard work ethic - they lack work. 

 

This is an exciting time!  Our economy is in disrepair but we serve an incredible God who can richly supply.  Thank you for your help.  We couldn't travel this journey without you!

 

Mary Rum

WHY MEXICO?

 

With the current political atmosphere, I have had many people inquire why I am giving my time and  money to help people in Mexico.  Let me just state that this mission has nothing to do with politics.  I just happened to go on a mission trip four years ago to help a small church in Tijuana and I saw a need. 

 

Many have asked, "Why don't you help people in the United States?  There are poor people here."  First of all, I do.  Second of all, the people I have helped in Mexico don't have the luxury of government assistance any time they are without.  There is no unemployment compensation, food stamp programs, WIC, public funded housing, welfare, etc. When you don't work, you may not get to eat that day.

 

My challenge to any who want to point out the need here in the U.S. is this – perhaps God is calling you to make a difference wherever you feel there is need for help.  If you see a need in Appalachia, then help!  If you feel called to serve in your town at a soup kitchen, then simply obey that calling and do something.  If you discover a poor person in your neighborhood or in your child's school, don't ignore the call.  Be proactive in helping out.

 

There is need everywhere, all around the world.  Be a part of the solution!  

Dear Family and Friends,

 

                Thank you so much for your contribution to the kids down in Mexico! Perhaps you gave a donation, or bought some pretzels.  You might have been one that gave away your bottles of lotion, or shampoo.  Some of you even bought items for me to take down! Or you may have given me some toys or stuffed animals for the children. You might have bought quilt raffle tickets or went to the website and prayed for the trip.  Whatever you did, God used it in a mighty way!

 

Just some highlights from the trip:

 

                Saturday we traveled with Naomi Anzaldo to El Shaddai, the little church in a very poor colony in TJ.  The road we had traveled in the past had been destroyed by flooding this past year. After a nice breakfast with some ladies in the church we began packing up bags of rice, beans, potatoes and chicken.  We had approximately 50 bags but only planned on distributing 20-25 that day.  The rest would be handed out to other families in the colony during the week. We drove to our first destination but had to trek down a steep hill to Maria's home.  Maria's home was up a steep staircase (made of tires) tucked in the side of a giant mud hill.  As we entered, she apologized for the mess (we women are all the same, aren't we?) and we stood in her living space which was no bigger than a 6x10 room.  She had two small rooms off the living space that had one twin bed in each.  It was hard not to stare because everything she owned was in that little place.  A little plastic table held all her necessities.  She had invited three other women from the area to come and get some food.  We asked if there was anything that they would like to have us pray about for them.  One woman came in and began sobbing and telling of her plight with an alcoholic husband who is abusive and how she wants to take care of her seven children and she just doesn't know what to do.  We prayed and I have to admit I felt sort of inept. It is difficult to not want to do more than pray.  I have to admit, prayer seemed so lame at that moment but believing that God hears our prayers and His heart is tender toward the poor and needy I simply obeyed.  We visited three more homes.  The women shared more of the same. . .abuse, violence, concern for their loved ones.  I couldn't help reflecting on how petty and silly my prayer requests are compared to what is prayed for there. 

                Sunday we went to the church for their services.  The previous week they had experienced the earthquake during their Easter service.  This was a great evangelism tool for the teaching I was asked to give.  I just shared how important it is to be ready to meet the Lord because we never know when our time might be up.  After the service, we presented a sign to them for the room where the kids are fed which said "Pablo's Pantry" in Spanish. 

                Monday, we were up early and off to the church to help with the feeding program we had raised money to fund.  I have been sending money to Naomi for three months now and the program has been feeding over 100 kids three days a week.  For some of these children, this is the only meal they get that day.  We heard story after story of families that can't get work and those that have "good" jobs work 12 hours, 6 days a week at a factory and make a whopping $8 - $10 per day.  We pulled out the stuffed animals and Happy Meal toys and let each child choose one.  This is the best use for a beanie baby I have ever seen!  We also distributed the aprons that were generously donated and embroidered by Sandy Wymer.  One woman, Chello (sounds like the instrument) was crying and when asked why, she humbled replied that Pablo had helped her and her children when she was without food many times.  She said she would work hard until the day she died serving the kids in the kitchen because he had been so good to her.

                Prior to our trip, I had 196 yards of fleece and a dozen pair of scissors shipped to Naomi's home in San Diego.  Tuesday was the day we had chosen to help the ladies make blankets and distribute all the lotions, lip balm, shampoos, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc. to the participants.  The ladies learned the method quickly and over 42 blankets were made.  This past winter was one of the coldest on record and this was a practical way to help keep them warm for next winter.  There aren't furnaces in these homes.  Courtney had casually mentioned that she could wax eyebrows and Naomi said how much this would mean to the ladies.  She set up a little table with Naomi's microwave and some waxing supplies.  The ladies got such a kick out of this and lots of giggles and smiles indicated the idea was a hit.  After the ladies finished their blankets and were given their bag of goodies, we played a little game my family played for years around the campfire on our camping trips.  You have to clap and click your fingers and say numbers to a certain beat.  It was a delightful way to end the day because many of us felt a little melancholy knowing we would have to return home the next day.

                That evening we sat down and discussed the next needs that we might be able to tackle.  It is so overwhelming because everywhere you turn there is need . . .need for jobs, need for food, the problems that come with poverty – violence, alcoholism (who wouldn't want to deaden their pain?), drug dealing (it's a quick way to made good money), abuse, and the list goes on and on.  One area that we inquired about was their educational system.  A family has to register their children for school which costs $30.  They are required to wear a uniform, both for school and gym, which costs approximately $40.  You cannot go to school without the necessary uniform.  Then you have the cost of books and supplies.  Each child costs about $100 per year for school.  If you don't have money for food, how are you going to come up with $100 to send your kid to school?  So, children don't go to school.  I thought about homeschooling.  What a great idea, right?  Many of the parents had the same issues and don't know how to read.  Therefore, poverty begets poverty begets poverty…

                We came home on Wednesday and I have to say that I am presently in a blue funk.  It feels sort of like when you plan for some big event, like a wedding or a party, and when it is over there is a letdown.  My letdown is partly due to the overwhelming desire to help and feeling a bit helpless.  I've decided to go back in August.  My goal is to raise money to help with the costs of education.  I have to keep in mind that this is God's work and not mine.  When I do it by myself I get so discouraged.   When I rest in knowing it is His heart in me wanting to help, it fuels me and helps me do the next thing.  There is a little voice inside of me saying, "There are too many to help, too much to do.  You can't even make a dent."  And then there is the other little voice, which has so much more conviction that says, "Just do the next thing.  Do something."  I have been really impressed with a verse in the book of James in the Bible that says "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says." (James 1:22)  This is a hard concept.  It would seem so much easier to just get back into my comfortable life with my stuff and my money and my time.  But four years ago, God did a transforming work in me during that first mission trip and I got hooked.  I can't go back to that old Mary.

                I apologize for this long dissertation on the trip.  It was therapeutic to write it all out and yet I did want to let you know what we did and how your money and prayers were spent.  Thank you again for whatever way you helped.  You will never know until we're on the other side just what it did for the people down there.

                My next two jobs are to try and hook Naomi's work down at El Shaddai up with a non-profit status somehow.  The other is to sell the children's book that Bob and I recently had published.  It is now on the market and I covet your prayers in the process of getting the word out.  Please go to www.sadiesequoia.com and check it out.  My hope is to sell as many as possible to raise money for families who might have need for this year's educational requirements.  Also, I just received word that the roof on the building that is used to feed the kids needs immediate repair.  Cost of supplies and labor - $2200.  If you can buy a book or request that your local library or school library buy the book, that would be terrific. 

                The website is in need of update and I am in the process of getting the help to do that.  In case you didn't know, my goal of $5000 for this trip was met and exceeded thanks to all of you!  There are pictures up on Facebook but I hope to have the pics put on the website soon.  Thank you for your patience.

                May God bless you for your willingness to share in this endeavor,