Some days I wonder, is there good…or is there bad.
Is it all black and white…or a perfect gray…not just a gray area…just all grey?
I’m fascinated by Law and Order…more so than CSI
By Tru TV…more so than ABC
Crime…criminals..Murderers…
We’re inclined to see them as horrible, despicable, immoral, evil, less than human, malevolent, wicked, …but are they?
I read an article on the 1978 Jonestown murders. Horrible. So sad…and I wanted to know more. So I googled and googled…and read and read ..and finally came across this article…not just about Jonestown, but about the collective ‘cult-like’ phenomena. The brainwashing of otherwise ‘good’ people…who eventually turn into people who would feed cyanide to ~250 helpless children…all for what? What they consider to be the ‘greater good’? Why were ‘they’ so susceptible to being brainwashed? What about them made them such targets, so ‘gullible’, so willing to relinquish control to another human. Not God, Allah, or whatever deity anyone may subscribe…but another human??? Why? We – those who have not fallen into the trap of a cult like group – may look at these folks as weak, broken, stupid even, but if we dig deeper, research these groups and former participants, we may realize there is not much that separates us…not much that differentiates us…but the grace of God. There but for the grace of God, go I.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
A lifetime ago...
My first missions trip...a ifetime ago...yet only 1 year in the past.
So profound...I sent this note out to friends upon my return...
...Me
_______
To sum it all up, my trip was …AMAZING.
God bless all of you who supported me financially, and in your prayers. My prayer for you now is that you read this email – albeit a lengthy one - in it’s entirety, that God would bless you as you read this, and call you to action.
I fully expected to come back from the trip with some sort of... epiphany… about my life…my purpose… but God had more in store for me. An awakening...an exponentially increased awareness of the needs of others all around the world...the realization that there is infinitely more to life...to Christianity… than I was aware of prior to this journey.
It is not news that there is so much sadness in this world. What was surprising to me was the impact that sadness had on me as I became physically involved with those to whom my missions’ team ministered in Morocco.
We visited a lot of cities and villages in Morocco - Fes, Meknes, Tarmilat, Midelt, Village of Hope, Ain Leuh, Rabat, Casablanca - some names I can not even remember. Morocco is a very beautiful country with breathtaking scenery and magnificent sunsets. But that aside…
As it is illegal to preach the gospel in Morocco, our purpose was to SHOW Christ through our actions and interactions, to give of ourselves, our time, and to provide for the material needs of others there. I learned, on this trip, that ‘talking’ Christ is infinitely easier than ‘living’ Christ. We have it so easy over here in America, or in Nigeria, where we can proclaim Jesus on the rooftops and bear no negative repercussions. While we all say we strive to be like Christ, nothing makes the conquest more real than being forced to be like Him by living in a place like Morocco. You can’t curse out that dude who just cut you off in traffic; you certainly can’t gossip about what that gal was wearing or what she did; oh and yeah, you REALLY have to turn the other cheek when someone slaps you.
Many of us take our freedom of faith for granted. For a Moroccan, being a Christian is a crime punishable by death. We met some Moroccan Christians at tea one day but, while they could have tea with us, they pleaded with us not to take their pictures, as their lives were in danger. Even their families were not aware of their Christianity. Moroccan Christians couldn’t worship with us at church on Sundays because of the fear that the secret police would arrest them. The law allows a Muslim to kill a Moroccan Christian just because of their faith. Yet, the Christian population there is increasing. They suffer so much for Christ and I couldn’t help but wonder how many of us would still be professing Christ if we lived with such persecution.
On our first ‘working’ day in Morocco, we served at an orphanage in ******. I was not prepared for the circumstances in which these orphans lived and after a while, had to excuse myself from the group because I was in tears. In an orphanage of about 400/500 children – don’t quote me on the exact numbers- there were 4 girls. Yup, 4 – I counted the girls. I asked my team leader, Beth, why this was so – I honestly felt sorry for the boys because they weren’t being adopted as quickly as the girls were. She said it’s because some of the girls are adopted to be house girls in Morocco and neighboring countries. Most of the girls are adopted and trained to become prostitutes. My heart sank. I was assigned to work with a group of boys from ages 7 through 10. I walked into the room and was greeted with stares from 36 boys and 1 little girl - all sitting on mattresses on the floor in a room barely bigger than a good sized walk in closet. These children - 37 of them - LIVE all day in a room that only has pee infested flimsy mattresses on the floor. And I mean they live there as in eat; sleep; drink; see no sun; only going out to use the bathroom kinda living. 37 kids with barely any room to move around. We were not allowed to take pictures in this orphanage - we would have been kicked out and if the government got wind of it, we could have been asked to leave the country within 24 hours. The blessing here was that these kids did not understand how dire their situation was. They did not know any other lifestyle – and all I saw in their eyes was hope. It was challenging communicating with them as they spoke Arabic and French but somehow…we managed to understand each other. We tried to bring joy to them – albeit for a day – by playing with them and giving them some much needed supplies. I do not remember names but some of their faces are etched in my memory…and I commit them to God when I pray. They taught me contentment… in the midst of severe lack; hope from within, when there is none to be had around you.
At another orphanage in ***- full of babies and toddlers – some of the children are chained to their cribs. Why? You ask why? Does it matter? Is there an answer under the sun that justifies chaining a child to a bed? Let’s just say the day we visited this *** orphanage was the saddest day of this trip for me.
There is so much injustice in this world. It burns me up every time I become aware of any injustice. I have this righteous indignation within me…an urge to right every wrong…to be an advocate for the oppressed…to see the bad guy punished (hung and quartered actually)…the victim victorious…justice served. I.T. just doesn’t seem like the right profession for that, does it? I don’t know of any super hero with an I.T background.
At the Girls Detention center we visited in ***, the girls were much older. Some of them kicked out by their families with no other place to go. In Morocco, when a girl is raped, she’s to blame, and thus is sent to the detention center. Now, herein lies the cause of my previous rant about justice. Most women in Morocco wear ‘Djelabas’ – clothing that covers all but their eyes – so how could any rape be remotely their fault?! Did she maybe forget to cover the bridge of her nose and therein arose the temptation? I have a burden for young girls and this bit of news just tore at my heart. So much injustice…
In Morocco, children born out of wedlock are seen as a waste of space and practically unworthy of living. A lot of these single mothers go through such hell from their families that they get rid of the children. Some mothers throw the children in rivers to drown. *** is really a little village where a group of families take these ‘unwanted’ children in and raise them up as their own. There are about 6 couples serving at *** now, each raising 8 Moroccan children – in addition to their own children. Each couple was called by God to leave their homes – America, Britain, South Africa, Australia - , their families, the comfort zones, and move to *** to give these kids hope for a future. I was amazed by how these couples embodied what Christ has called us to do – to go into all the world –Mark 16:15. I developed profound respect for full time missionaries, and the work they do. Each couple LIVES Christ, they don’t just talk a big game, they show God’s love, and a hunger to obey His call/command/word. These couples constantly reach out to the children in the surrounding villages – they (***) invited us to run this camp. Even when the kids from the villages taunt the *** kids as unwanted, worthless, and children of prostitutes, the *** couples turn the other proverbial cheek and keep showing the village kids love in the hope that someday, God will touch their hearts and bring them to Christ.
I learned my most profound lesson here at ***. Ecclesiastes 3:2 -There is a time to plant and a time to harvest. I know I cannot impress upon you the impact of this lesson yet it burns within me. The seed for this *** project was planted about 20 years ago when an old WW2 general gave his hunting lodge to two women who began taking in these children. It is not known to me if this general was a Christian but, in sowing a seed over 20 years ago, all these children today are being touched by GOD in a country surrounded by such darkness. VOH also reaches out to the surrounding villages by providing material needs and have led an unknown number of Moroccans to Christ- All because this general gave up his hunting lodge. God led me to truly understand that He is not exaggerating when He says in Isaiah 55:9 – My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. And when He asks us to do things that seem completely senseless to us, who knows what mighty tree that little seed will turn out to produce? He alone knows the big picture! Who on earth could have known all those years ago that all these lives would be impacted by the old general. God truly is amazing. I was also strongly convicted that now is a time for harvest. The bulk of the seed planting is done – now pray that God will send laborers to the harvest.
Make no mistake, there is sadness, injustice, oppression, and evil everywhere, even in Nigeria and in America; I speak of Morocco because that is where I was led.
Despite all the sadness I saw there; I saw light with every little child that came up to me, smiling, hands outstretched for a hug. Or every little one that kissed my one cheek, then the other, looked me in the eyes; and said, Sukran! (Thank you!) as I got up to leave. Or as I watched the positive transformation of even the most resistant teenage boys – they started out making fun of me L but by the end of the week, they would greet me by placing their palms on their chests – a sign of respect in Morocco. We could not preach the gospel; we could only pray that they saw Gods love thru our interactions with each other; and with them. But it was such a joy to see their eyes light up as we worked with them. Yes, It was only for a short while but here is a quote I got from one of my team members, Mark, - “It is impossible to estimate the value of the moment when two lives intersect for the first time.”
God Bless you!
Y
So profound...I sent this note out to friends upon my return...
...Me
_______
To sum it all up, my trip was …AMAZING.
God bless all of you who supported me financially, and in your prayers. My prayer for you now is that you read this email – albeit a lengthy one - in it’s entirety, that God would bless you as you read this, and call you to action.
I fully expected to come back from the trip with some sort of... epiphany… about my life…my purpose… but God had more in store for me. An awakening...an exponentially increased awareness of the needs of others all around the world...the realization that there is infinitely more to life...to Christianity… than I was aware of prior to this journey.
It is not news that there is so much sadness in this world. What was surprising to me was the impact that sadness had on me as I became physically involved with those to whom my missions’ team ministered in Morocco.
We visited a lot of cities and villages in Morocco - Fes, Meknes, Tarmilat, Midelt, Village of Hope, Ain Leuh, Rabat, Casablanca - some names I can not even remember. Morocco is a very beautiful country with breathtaking scenery and magnificent sunsets. But that aside…
As it is illegal to preach the gospel in Morocco, our purpose was to SHOW Christ through our actions and interactions, to give of ourselves, our time, and to provide for the material needs of others there. I learned, on this trip, that ‘talking’ Christ is infinitely easier than ‘living’ Christ. We have it so easy over here in America, or in Nigeria, where we can proclaim Jesus on the rooftops and bear no negative repercussions. While we all say we strive to be like Christ, nothing makes the conquest more real than being forced to be like Him by living in a place like Morocco. You can’t curse out that dude who just cut you off in traffic; you certainly can’t gossip about what that gal was wearing or what she did; oh and yeah, you REALLY have to turn the other cheek when someone slaps you.
Many of us take our freedom of faith for granted. For a Moroccan, being a Christian is a crime punishable by death. We met some Moroccan Christians at tea one day but, while they could have tea with us, they pleaded with us not to take their pictures, as their lives were in danger. Even their families were not aware of their Christianity. Moroccan Christians couldn’t worship with us at church on Sundays because of the fear that the secret police would arrest them. The law allows a Muslim to kill a Moroccan Christian just because of their faith. Yet, the Christian population there is increasing. They suffer so much for Christ and I couldn’t help but wonder how many of us would still be professing Christ if we lived with such persecution.
On our first ‘working’ day in Morocco, we served at an orphanage in ******. I was not prepared for the circumstances in which these orphans lived and after a while, had to excuse myself from the group because I was in tears. In an orphanage of about 400/500 children – don’t quote me on the exact numbers- there were 4 girls. Yup, 4 – I counted the girls. I asked my team leader, Beth, why this was so – I honestly felt sorry for the boys because they weren’t being adopted as quickly as the girls were. She said it’s because some of the girls are adopted to be house girls in Morocco and neighboring countries. Most of the girls are adopted and trained to become prostitutes. My heart sank. I was assigned to work with a group of boys from ages 7 through 10. I walked into the room and was greeted with stares from 36 boys and 1 little girl - all sitting on mattresses on the floor in a room barely bigger than a good sized walk in closet. These children - 37 of them - LIVE all day in a room that only has pee infested flimsy mattresses on the floor. And I mean they live there as in eat; sleep; drink; see no sun; only going out to use the bathroom kinda living. 37 kids with barely any room to move around. We were not allowed to take pictures in this orphanage - we would have been kicked out and if the government got wind of it, we could have been asked to leave the country within 24 hours. The blessing here was that these kids did not understand how dire their situation was. They did not know any other lifestyle – and all I saw in their eyes was hope. It was challenging communicating with them as they spoke Arabic and French but somehow…we managed to understand each other. We tried to bring joy to them – albeit for a day – by playing with them and giving them some much needed supplies. I do not remember names but some of their faces are etched in my memory…and I commit them to God when I pray. They taught me contentment… in the midst of severe lack; hope from within, when there is none to be had around you.
At another orphanage in ***- full of babies and toddlers – some of the children are chained to their cribs. Why? You ask why? Does it matter? Is there an answer under the sun that justifies chaining a child to a bed? Let’s just say the day we visited this *** orphanage was the saddest day of this trip for me.
There is so much injustice in this world. It burns me up every time I become aware of any injustice. I have this righteous indignation within me…an urge to right every wrong…to be an advocate for the oppressed…to see the bad guy punished (hung and quartered actually)…the victim victorious…justice served. I.T. just doesn’t seem like the right profession for that, does it? I don’t know of any super hero with an I.T background.
At the Girls Detention center we visited in ***, the girls were much older. Some of them kicked out by their families with no other place to go. In Morocco, when a girl is raped, she’s to blame, and thus is sent to the detention center. Now, herein lies the cause of my previous rant about justice. Most women in Morocco wear ‘Djelabas’ – clothing that covers all but their eyes – so how could any rape be remotely their fault?! Did she maybe forget to cover the bridge of her nose and therein arose the temptation? I have a burden for young girls and this bit of news just tore at my heart. So much injustice…
In Morocco, children born out of wedlock are seen as a waste of space and practically unworthy of living. A lot of these single mothers go through such hell from their families that they get rid of the children. Some mothers throw the children in rivers to drown. *** is really a little village where a group of families take these ‘unwanted’ children in and raise them up as their own. There are about 6 couples serving at *** now, each raising 8 Moroccan children – in addition to their own children. Each couple was called by God to leave their homes – America, Britain, South Africa, Australia - , their families, the comfort zones, and move to *** to give these kids hope for a future. I was amazed by how these couples embodied what Christ has called us to do – to go into all the world –Mark 16:15. I developed profound respect for full time missionaries, and the work they do. Each couple LIVES Christ, they don’t just talk a big game, they show God’s love, and a hunger to obey His call/command/word. These couples constantly reach out to the children in the surrounding villages – they (***) invited us to run this camp. Even when the kids from the villages taunt the *** kids as unwanted, worthless, and children of prostitutes, the *** couples turn the other proverbial cheek and keep showing the village kids love in the hope that someday, God will touch their hearts and bring them to Christ.
I learned my most profound lesson here at ***. Ecclesiastes 3:2 -There is a time to plant and a time to harvest. I know I cannot impress upon you the impact of this lesson yet it burns within me. The seed for this *** project was planted about 20 years ago when an old WW2 general gave his hunting lodge to two women who began taking in these children. It is not known to me if this general was a Christian but, in sowing a seed over 20 years ago, all these children today are being touched by GOD in a country surrounded by such darkness. VOH also reaches out to the surrounding villages by providing material needs and have led an unknown number of Moroccans to Christ- All because this general gave up his hunting lodge. God led me to truly understand that He is not exaggerating when He says in Isaiah 55:9 – My thoughts are higher than your thoughts. And when He asks us to do things that seem completely senseless to us, who knows what mighty tree that little seed will turn out to produce? He alone knows the big picture! Who on earth could have known all those years ago that all these lives would be impacted by the old general. God truly is amazing. I was also strongly convicted that now is a time for harvest. The bulk of the seed planting is done – now pray that God will send laborers to the harvest.
Make no mistake, there is sadness, injustice, oppression, and evil everywhere, even in Nigeria and in America; I speak of Morocco because that is where I was led.
Despite all the sadness I saw there; I saw light with every little child that came up to me, smiling, hands outstretched for a hug. Or every little one that kissed my one cheek, then the other, looked me in the eyes; and said, Sukran! (Thank you!) as I got up to leave. Or as I watched the positive transformation of even the most resistant teenage boys – they started out making fun of me L but by the end of the week, they would greet me by placing their palms on their chests – a sign of respect in Morocco. We could not preach the gospel; we could only pray that they saw Gods love thru our interactions with each other; and with them. But it was such a joy to see their eyes light up as we worked with them. Yes, It was only for a short while but here is a quote I got from one of my team members, Mark, - “It is impossible to estimate the value of the moment when two lives intersect for the first time.”
God Bless you!
Y
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
From every mountain top...
"The new dawn of American leadership is at hand" - President Barack Obama. 11.04.2008
In the throes of historical events...
I'm speechless...
In the throes of historical events...
I'm speechless...
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