Answered Prayers!

On Sunday I was test driving a 15-passenger van that was selling for an insanely low price from a man who told me that he lived his life by prayer.  He said that each day he opens his hands and says, “God, this is all yours. What do you want me to do with it.”  He told us to commit the purchase to prayer ourselves and ultimately knocked even more off the low price to donate to our ministry, wishing us the best of luck on the Chosen tour.  As I drove away in our new van, I was convicted of how often I don’t fully pray with the expectations that God is going to show up and do something amazing.  And then, even worse, when he does show up I don’t even acknowledge that it was an answered prayer.  This week I would love for us to just take some time and thank God for the many ways he has provided and answered prayers.  If you have some praises you would like to share, feel free to email me and I will pass them on next week.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~Psalm 118:1

A few of the answered prayers we’ve seen over the past month:

• Chosen Birth Certificates – We finally have them for all seven of the children!
• Chosen Transportation – We have a van!
• Children in Need of Sponsorship – We had 13 new sponsors in July and 16 new pending sponsors already this month!
• High School Laboratory – The funds were raised to complete the construction of the laboratory to allow our school to register for examinations!
• Deeper Engagement – We’ve received over 300 personal letters and packages from sponsors to their sponsored children over the past month!
• Birthday Bash – We’ve had over $5,000 donated toward the second birthday bash for all of our sponsored children!

Fruit That Will Last

I spent the day in class with 25 pastors and leaders from all over the world, and was humbled by the reminder that God is at work in establishing His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven in all kinds of incredible ways.  Sometimes we can get caught up in the many challenges and forget how far he has brought us.  Kelly and I spent most of Friday, and she spent all of today, putting together school updates on every single one of our sponsored students- over 850!  In addition to that, there were over 600 letters and 400 photos that went out to our committed sponsors who are sacrificially giving to support our children.  Going through the letters is always such a reminder of the great impact that sponsorship has in the life of a child, and the importance of the personal relationship with the sponsor who has chosen to stand with them for their education.

For a little glimpse into the joy each letter contains, check out: http://www.aoetusa.com/change-blog/2012/7/21/letters-full-of-joy.html

Last week I went through the surveys from the Grace team members and read these kinds of responses: “Impactful.”  “Ah-mazing!”  “I will never be the same.”  “Life-changing and joyful.”  Over the past year we have had over 100 volunteers travel to Uganda and every single one of them have been changed by the experience.  As we prepare for a Chosen tour the possibilities of impact are exponential as the children always bring a unique message of hope and joy that challenges many Americans to live out their own faith in a way that is more authentic and real. 

In John 15 Jesus is speaking about what it means to abide in him and bear fruit.  In verse 16 he says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name he may give you.”  Let’s be praying this week that we would be an organization that is about bearing fruit that will last in all that we do.

A few specifics:

•  Pray for Jonathan and Andrea as they are home on a short break from Kenya visiting with friends and family, and renewing their visas.  Pray that is a refreshing time, that they are able to share about their experiences, and that their visas are easily renewed.
• Pray for Chosen visa approval, and the many details going into making this tour possible.   Pray for the children as they work to complete their school year and continue to prepare to share their stories through song and dance.  Pray for all of the coordinators in building regional schedules that help foster relationships and expand communities of support.
• Pray for the 20 Grace team members as they continue to process through their time in Uganda and seek how God would like to continue to use them.  Pray that they would have opportunities to share their stories and allow their friends and family a way to be a part of God’s work in Uganda.

Mission and Vision

Mission: Standing together with our partners in Uganda and Kenya, we strive to empower orphans, vulnerable children and widows to reach beyond their circumstances to their full God-given potential – healthy and strong – glorifying Christ as shining examples of His eternal hope.

Vision: A world where vulnerable children of east Africa grow to their full potential in a supportive environment.

 It’s easy in the midst of a million details to sometimes lose sight of the mission that is the foundation of why we exist, and the vision that compels us forward to what we want to be.  This week I would love for us to pray through our mission statement, and meditate on our vision.

Standing together with our partners in Uganda and Kenya – Pray for unity in our partnership, empathy toward one another, encouragement that we are not alone in this cause

Strive to empower orphans, vulnerable children and widows – Pray for wisdom in addressing the different aspects of poverty that keep the vulnerable disempowered and the healing that needs to happen in individual lives

Reach beyond their circumstances to the full God-given potential – Pray for a vision for lives that are whole and healed, redeemed and transformed – like Lazarus, has had the burial clothes removed and been set free

Glorifying Christ as shining examples of His eternal hope – Pray that in all we do we point back to power of Christ as our hope and our inspiration

And let’s continue to envision a world where vulnerable children are able to grow to the full potential.  A world where Edison can become the pilot he has always dreamed to be, where Perusi becomes a leading physician in her community, where Mercy becomes an attorney advocating for equality in women’s right in her country, where Christopher becomes a teacher and passes on the gift of knowledge to children like him.  A world where children have three meals a day, an opportunity to gain a quality education, are able to access medical care when needed, and grow up in a loving home with a family.  These aren’t lofty dreams and unattainable goals, but are within reach if we stand together in our mission.  

Sing a New Song

After such a long journey of working toward a Chosen tour I’ve found myself thinking more than once that it just may never happen.  We’re wrapping up the performer visa application this week and the immigration attorney feels optimistic about our chances, but there is still that lingering doubt that I probably won’t be able to shake until the children have actually cleared customs in DC.  We’ve been creating devotions to go with the “Sing a New Song” tour using stories from the Bible where God creates a way forward when it seems impossible: crossing the Red Sea, closing the lions’ mouths, defeating Goliath with a simple sling shot, feeding five thousand with a few loaves and fish.  It’s easy to minimize those into Sunday School stories and forget that we serve a God who is capable of doing all things.  The Chosen have a song that says, “When we overcome this cause, we will sing together, with God all things are possible.”  Despite my doubts and lack of faith, what never ceases to amaze me is how God continues to use us and invite us into His work, and at the end we are able to sing of His glory and His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 

Sing to the Lord a new song; Sing to the Lord, all the earth. 

Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 

Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 

For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. ~Psalm 96:1-4

Join us in prayer for the upcoming Chosen tour:

• Pray for the seven children who are a part of the group: Miriam, Moses, Mercy, Jenifer, Milly, Mercy and Tinah  http://www.aoetusa.com/meet-the-kids/  They have been working hard to finish school early, learn new songs and dances, and record a new album.  Pray for their strength and health in these final months of preparation. 
• Pray for the P3 visa application process, that it would move smoothly and quickly, and our “expert” letters would do the trick in getting approval for the group.
• Pray for the funding to cover the cost of the tour.  We’re sending out a mailer this week and will be doing an online campaign as well to try and get people to underwrite the remaining costs of the tour so that all funds raised on the tour can go directly to support the work of AOET.
• Pray for Richard and Teo as they are planning to accompany the group, and travel to the US for the first time.  And pray for Michael as this will leave him holding down the fort in the child welfare office.
• Pray for the churches and schools (100+) who will be hosting the performances that they will be able to connect with the children in real ways and grow a vision for long-term partnership.  

One Child at a Time

Our tagline is one child at a time, but as we continue to grow it’s easy to start to think we are doing this work one thousand children at a time.  It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that each of the children in our sponsorship program is precious and unique, with individual needs and gifts and hopes.  It’s easy to minimize what an incredible opportunity sponsorship provides and the importance of children having someone to advocate for them to have the opportunity to grow up in a world where they can grow to their full potential – reading Andrea’s blog regularly reminds me of that truth. 

This week I would love for everyone to go to the website and pick one child in need of sponsorship to pray for: http://www.aoetusa.com/choose-a-child-today I am going to be praying for nine year old Irene.  She lost her father in 2010, lives in a home with ten people, and hopes to one day be a teacher.  I am going to pray that she is daily strengthened and encouraged.  That her mother is able to grow enough food to provide for the many children in her home.  That she stays healthy and continues to perform well in school.  That she feels loved and cared for.  That we are able to find a sponsor who will stand with Irene over the next few years as she strives to get an education and have a hope for her future.