Woven in the tapestry of my calling and Mission.

Woven in the tapestry of my calling and mission. On Tuesday, 10 April 2012 I wrote:

At 4:00 am this morning I woke up and could not go back to bed. I was disturbed by one question that may sound simple but yet it is very important to my heart. The question is:- With all the great organizations in the world today focused on helping children;- Compassion being the lead and my wonderful mother who gave me a voice, World vision, Save the Children, Feed the Children, etc and now Isaiah 58 that combines all these organizations, why is it that the voice of the child is still not heard? I am not talking about the child registered in the organization but the African child, the Dominican child, the Haitian child, etc. Is it a problem with the developing country governments that the voice of the Child is not heard? But they have ministers in the government to represent the child!
Why is it so hard to hear the voice of the child?  Is it destined that the child’s voice will never be heard? The little I know about the American Child but have to do more research is that; they will be heard if they reported a case which is a treasure they should take with high regard.
I would like to differ with a lot of the world on the Kony 2012 video that went viral. I think that was the voice of the child. The Ugandan child screamed on Internet, television, the celebrities talked about it. But what was the response of the world? “oh! that is a very emotional based video,” I have no details of the organization (invisible children- I really think this fits well, children are invisible to the world especially those in the developing world), I am not saying that people should donate to the organization mentioned but at least can anyone hear -that child having no hope? I was not surprised when the government and people in my country spoke differently about the video because the IMPORTANCE of hearing the child’s voice has never been in ‘our culture’ not even in the smallest unit of a family. “The child has to be quiet.”
What can all these organizations and presidents do to help voice the child? If these organizations came together and spoke for the child, I think the world would hear since they are highly trusted by many people and governments. I am not talking about the video here. I am talking about the child in many countries. I know my president has written a number of books on the child, compassion has done a lot on the child. It is the best on the child that is why I am passionate about compassion and want it to live forever.
Help me find some sleep, after growing up in compassion program, I have realized that a child’s voice can be heard, I have spoken to millions of people literally through the years on different stages and people try to listen at times 250 out of 8000 hear the child’s voice. Why do the rest shut their ears? Why is it so hard to hear the cry of a child? It is not made up, it’s real. I leave my apartment every weekend seeking for an ear ready to listen. I am not satisfied yet. What can the world do and those with the power to get the governments of the developing world to listen to the dying child, the hungry child, the child suffering under a step mother? Can the organizations have one voice for once?
I don’t know if you understood my heart, but what am saying is that I am seeking a hearing. A hearing that is not of my own but of a child with no mother; suffering under the harsh conditions of corrupt politics and poverty. Are my crazy? I don’t think I am. I know that I was given a voice and I want to use it right to speak for those suffering. The thought of them has robbed my sleep tonight. It is the only weekend I have not travelled to speak since March and now I cannot sleep. I thought I was happy to sleep in my apartment this weekend and not travel but am not. What can we do different to help the child both the one registered and not registered. Can we get all organizations together on one table to help change the policy of government? Or is it too complicated again. My mind seeks an answer for ONE QUESTION: WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR THE VOICE OF THE CHILD TO BE HEARD AND WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY?

Woven in the tapestry calling and mission for my life...

Hey friend:

Sorry for tardy reply- it's crazy, but you actually sent this to my personal email, which I don't check regularly.

Ok, where do I begin.  Well, let me start by suggesting/promising that my response will likely inadequately answer these questions as I don't know that these are questions meant to be answered by man.  I will try my best to provide some context and some things to consider; but these come from a deep place of yearning, from a place that I suspect only the Spirit of God can bring rest to.

 ONE QUESTION: WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR THE VOICE OF THE CHILD TO BE HEARD AND WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY?

I'm going to start with your final question:  Why is it so hard?

Well,
1.  "Pr 31: 8-9"  there are those who simply cannot speak for themselves-that is just a reality of the injustices of poverty, inequality, a broken social/cultural paradigm, abuse, neglect.  So we have this whole basket of humanity whose greatest desire is to be "heard", to have an "audience", and to believe that someone would actually "Act" on their behalf.  Micah gives us this mandate to Act Justly, to Love Mercy, and to walk humbly.  It's an instruction to those who call God, GOD, and whose lives would emulate that of their savior.  With each day that passes, there are fewer of those, meaning fewer people actually looking to the needs of the neediest.  It shifts from an issue of biblical command, to a relative belief and discussion around social or moral correctness.  That is what is most difficult.  Who most has the capacity to act on behalf of the children of the world?  It is those who live in capitalist countries, who have the excess, the influence, and the capacity to actually do something.  These same people are also the one's who are moving further away from God's words and mandates and towards communal belief systems founded on a self-centrism that hardly looks to the need of others.  So, then for those who work in this space, to try and awaken people to the cries of the helpless and unloved, we are left to spend more energy/resources trying to "break through" to them rather than just identifying the need and mobilizing people to action.  Its crazy, so that then births strategies, marketing plans, budgets, techniques; all of which then work to differentiate one organization from another-then all of a sudden you wake up and realize that we are now in a race against one another towards the exact same goal.  So-all of these organizations, etc working towards this…why is there still such a gap….why, with an audience of 5000 people do only 150 respond?  Why are we talking about the 3% while the other 97% walk away?  Is it message-is it not true, is it not compelling, is it not moving……maybe it's the messenger-maybe they didn't say it eloquent enough, maybe they used 3 points rather than 4, maybe it was too long, maybe it was too short.

Here is what I really think and what is likely most helpful for you to consider as you grapple with these questions. Paul was afflicted-we don't what it was, but we know it served a purpose.  You my friend are afflicted with this burden-to accomplish and walk out Proverbs 31: 8-9.

They are not heard, given a voice, because not enough of us have taken up their cause.  We have turned our eyes and ears from them because to listen; it would hurt, it would require something of us, we would have to look at our pretty dresses and our fancy cars and measure those against the hunger which exists in the bellies of millions of children.  It would cost us something, so in turn, we offer impotent prayers of passivity and on occasion, toss a nickel in a bucket as we scoff at the beggar.  Our big churches, large campuses, celebrity cultures within the body of Christ testify to this.  It serves as an indictment against what we profess.

So what, now what.  Lois-you are the voice of the child.  The cold, naked, hungry, unloved, alone, afraid little boy or girl who is terrified when their abusive parent stumbles in at night.  We must be gripped by this thing.  For me, it has gripped me.  It gripped me when I was 14, on the streets of Managua, Nicaragua speaking with homeless children who sniffed glue in order to numb their hunger pains.  I saw it again in a little boy named David in Gaborone, Botswana the next year and so on.

I don't know all that is within your heart-I doubt no one but the Lord knows fully all that He has in store for you as this is concerned.  I don't know that Mother Theresa understood all that was within her heart and capacity.  She knew one thing-Jesus walked among the poor…and so, as did she.  She understood that rather than become overwhelmed with determining whether or not she could feed a hundred people, she fed the one right in front of her.  That is our task and mandate.  Speak up, be a voice, and allow God to do the work. To answer your questions, I would say that the answers lie somewhere in a private, alone place, where you before the Lord; learn His heart.  Ez 22:30  "I looked for someone who would stand in the gap on behalf of my people so that I would not have to destroy them, but I found no one"  This has always held me-when he surveys the land looking for one who is righteous, and he passes over Richardson, TX, does he find one.  You see, each of us have to work this out within the context of what He is calling us to.  The questions are for you-  I could give you a ton more commentary on capitalism, monetization of resources, government policy, church and religious politics, sociology perspectives on why audiences say yes or no; but really, I think the answer and the question have the same origin, are woven together into a tapestry of calling and mission.

Hope that is helpful-praying for you my friend.  Remember-it is for Him and with Joy that we might be considered Son's and Daughter's, joined together in the this great quest to free those who have been held captive by the counterfeit; leading them towards rescue and restoration.  It is a great endeavor.

On Tuesday, 10 April 2012
I wrote:
At 4:00 am this morning I woke up and could not go back to bed. I was disturbed by one question that may sound simple but yet it is very important to my heart. The question is:- With all the great organizations in the world today focused on helping children;- Compassion being the lead and my wonderful mother who gave me a voice, World vision, Save the Children, Feed the Children, etc and now Isaiah 58 that combines all these organizations, why is it that the voice of the child is still not heard? I am not talking about the child registered in the organization but the African child, the Dominican child, the Haitian child, etc. Is it a problem with the developing country governments that the voice of the Child is not heard? But they have ministers in the government to represent the child!
Why is it so hard to hear the voice of the child?  Is it destined that the child’s voice will never be heard? The little I know about the American Child but have to do more research is that; they will be heard if they reported a case which is a treasure they should take with high regard.
I would like to differ with a lot of the world on the Kony 2012 video that went viral. I think that was the voice of the child. The Ugandan child screamed on Internet, television, the celebrities talked about it. But what was the response of the world? “oh! that is a very emotional based video,” I have no details of the organization (invisible children- I really think this fits well, children are invisible to the world especially those in the developing world), I am not saying that people should donate to the organization mentioned but at least can anyone hear -that child having no hope? I was not surprised when the government and people in my country spoke differently about the video because the IMPORTANCE of hearing the child’s voice has never been in ‘our culture’ not even in the smallest unit of a family. “The child has to be quiet.”
What can all these organizations and presidents do to help voice the child? If these organizations came together and spoke for the child, I think the world would hear since they are highly trusted by many people and governments. I am not talking about the video here. I am talking about the child in many countries. I know my president has written a number of books on the child, compassion has done a lot on the child. It is the best on the child that is why I am passionate about compassion and want it to live forever.
Help me find some sleep, after growing up in compassion program, I have realized that a child’s voice can be heard, I have spoken to millions of people literally through the years on different stages and people try to listen at times 250 out of 8000 hear the child’s voice. Why do the rest shut their ears? Why is it so hard to hear the cry of a child? It is not made up, it’s real. I leave my apartment every weekend seeking for an ear ready to listen. I am not satisfied yet. What can the world do and those with the power to get the governments of the developing world to listen to the dying child, the hungry child, the child suffering under a step mother? Can the organizations have one voice for once?
I don’t know if you understood my heart, but what am saying is that I am seeking a hearing. A hearing that is not of my own but of a child with no mother; suffering under the harsh conditions of corrupt politics and poverty. Are my crazy? I don’t think I am. I know that I was given a voice and I want to use it right to speak for those suffering. The thought of them has robbed my sleep tonight. It is the only weekend I have not travelled to speak since March and now I cannot sleep. I thought I was happy to sleep in my apartment this weekend and not travel but am not. What can we do different to help the child both the one registered and not registered. Can we get all organizations together on one table to help change the policy of government? Or is it too complicated again. My mind seeks an answer for ONE QUESTION: WHY IS IT SO HARD FOR THE VOICE OF THE CHILD TO BE HEARD AND WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY?

CHRISTMAS.

The 25th of December .... many of us with family! church, food, games, gifts,laughter and celebrations of every kind.A phone call with my family back in Uganda, left me giggling and full of joy. They were all excited as the phone was passed from one sibling to another, nephews, nieces and even to the neighbors. For about 7 years or more we had not had everyone home. As i talked to them, my ears were mixed between hearing the cries of the babies, the conversations in the background, the noises of  the children playing and the person i was talking to since they were all in our small house.

Many will testify that my mom is by far the best cook in the world, she always told us that she has 35 different ways of cooking chicken, am still waiting for the 10th. As true Africans, my brothers and nephews must have chased live chicken through mom's banana plantation, through the corn gardens down to the trees and the corners of my neighbors houses. This is one of the fun things that holidays bring. When i was little, the reason i waited for christmas was to see my dad laugh with us, That is all that wanted for christmas.

On the 23rd we cut our christmas tree from the bush or a neighbor's fence, put it in the house and bout lots of toilet paper and cut it in different shapes. We did most of our shopping on the 24th because that is mostly when we were sure we had some money. We took a day at a time, we hardly had enough for a day so we had to worry about today and not so much about 'next week.' As soon as we were done with chasing the chicken and shopping for what mom did not have planted in her garden, my brothers cut the chicken and smoked it. Mom pilled matooke (plantain) and put it in the banana leaves to steam, this had to cook for hours.                              

The girls would start cleaning the house and making sure all the clothes are ready for church on the 25th morning. At 4am, on 25th, mom would wake up and start cooking the chicken, beef, chapati, irish potatoes and vegetables. We always knew that we are up for a good meal! The 8 of us would do different chores, the boys would go to fetch water down and make sure that all the jericans are full. Dad would sweep the compound, my older sister mopping the house and decoration, my other sister putting charcoal in an iron box swinging it left to right so that it gets hot enough to iron the church clothes for everyone. My youngest brother polishing everyone's shoes. With this kind of team we were done at 8:00am.

As we took turns with cold water in the basins to wash off the mad and the dust from all the house chores, breakfast was ready. Most of us had to run to lead worship in church. Dad always said that, " before you run to do ministry in church make sure home is in order." This has become my life style that before i leave my house to travel or go to church, my room has to be in order. Thanks dad! We never had breakfast together on the 25th, yet this many times is the best breakfast in the year with bread, blue band, milk and jam.

As the worship leader at church, when i was done with my responsibilities at home, Christmas was also about Jesus coming to the world at times i just wanted to be in church the whole day and just enjoy Jesus' company :) Oh how precious life can be sometimes. Don't you like the times when you were like a child. When you understood life literally and never sought to denote anything or find it's connotations. Child like faith will always be my favorite! What is your favorite memory of Christmas, do you view Christmas as yesterday? Did you make it memorable? A friend of mine serving her country miles away looks back to the times with family that passed unnoticed and values them more than ever. The times that we chased the chicken, fetched the water from the valley, saw mom cooking and had to run to church without makeup to make sure that people meet God on this big day when he came to earth. Times when all that mattered was family and encountering God.

What shall i say now? God has blessed each one of us and placed us in specific places at specific times. Lets make sure that we enjoy every moment, every person God brings across our paths with sincerity and gratitude. As we become part of their story, may we be the good part of their story. Not leaving anxiously but with freedom in the one that has let us be part of the big story that He is writing. H

BITS OF MY STORY.

My story began  when I was very young, in fact, before I was born.  My family lives in Uganda. I was born to a family of 8 siblings. To a precious family that believed even when there was nothing left. My mom fell sick often and my dad prayed alot. He used to fast4 days a week.


I remember us waiting for mom to come home because she was the only bread winner of the family. She made sweaters for schools in the town. Then she would walk for miles with bread, milk and other stuff balanced on her head like a true African woman. Every evening as the night drew closer and the sun disappear slowly to a place our little minds never knew. we thought the entire world was our village and that everyone was a sleep. only the dangerous people and animals were looking for prey and yet mom was walking back home from working for hours. At times with only enough to buy paraffin to light up out dark little one roomed 'house' as we called it. At those wee hours of the night, we all sat silent, no one saying a word to the other. Wondering if mom would make it home again. The railway was scary and dark, each with pounding chests from fear praying that God would watch over our hero. I will never forget one day when mom, didnt get home until 10pm. My big brother Joshua and others run to face their greatest fears find her. Our hearts raced, oh how I remember those days. Never knowing if she would get back a live. But God was faithful then and is still faithful today. How we forget so quickly how faithful He has been. He has always been right there. he surely comes and saves us. Just as his love is new every morning we too need to trust him newly each day. It felt like faith had to be new everyday and trust each day. But I have never known anyone as faithful as God. He is our refuge in times of trouble.

One day I was in school and I got news from my church that my mom and brother were admitted in hospital. My mom suffering from cerebral malaria. The highest level of malaria that causes one to go insane. But once in a while she got her senses back and had to look after my little adopted brother Benjamin Mitala who was in hospital due to a burn from water that had poured on him from his waist to his feet. Eating up his flesh and leaving him in pain and screaming. Why oh why did this have to happen when I was in school I asked myself. In the midst of exams, I cried and prayed. my teachers couldn't let me go back home and take care of them. i was scared that mom would tear off the coverings on my brothers woulds since she was sick herself. i could not stop worrying. I prayed so hard for God to help. After a while I realized I had stomach pain, when the school doctor examined me, I had ulcers,which is believed to be a result of worry and lack of food. It was common, my dad had the same and his were worse, this is life in extreme poverty. Life gives you what it decides to, I felt hopeless and a lone. But right in that mess, God was still good, he had not changed, he knew my pain and he hadn't leave me even for a second. I also had a friend called Pam from Sitka Alaska. a friend through my local church, i always wrote to her and cried as i scribbled my ink-less pen on my sponsor letter. Oh memories, how precious you are, thank you for always being there. God was also with my brother, mom and dad. I cannot tell, you how we survived that season, all I know is that we did miracles exist atleast in my world. I actually don't know where my other siblings were... My other brother Mosses so gifted in business skills must age been trying to make some money for the rest f the family to survive and Ema busy preaching about God's love on the streets in Kampala. Oh how I love Jesus because he first loved me.

Benjamin my miracle brother and my gift given to us by God after his mother dying at birth. His mother never saw him and neither did he. He was laying on pieces of cloth at his mother's funeral which is usually the living room of the deceased. No one taking care of him because everyone feared taking responsibility of a one day old. The village had gathered to go for burial as is the culture in Uganda. With Moaning from every side of the house some talking of how great she was as they shouted in different tones. Moaning in Uganda is something to witness, some people will board a matatoo (public taxi) immediately they get off the matatoo ( public taxi) they start to wail and fail to stand as those at the funeral run to catch them, then they begin to wail and narrate how wonderful someone was and how much they will miss them. By the time Burial is done, you will feel like you were related to the deceased. I love the community aspect. My mom heard a cry of a baby, she asked if he had eaten anything and no one knew anything. She decided to take the baby and feed him from that day to today he became my little brother. Thank God for Compasssion International because then he was registered at the church project because my family could not afford taking care of the seven of us but as the bible says when you are faithful with the much God will give you even more.
He is a blessing, he loves playing the guitar, he loves singing and praying. He literally can make anything out of nothing. He wants to become an engineer. With the little I make with my other siblings and compassion he is now in grade 11 studying hard to finish high schools and join universality. God is faithful. God uses the little we have to make big things. I am amazed. He is taller than most of us and now growing into a God fearing man. Only God does things like this not man.

Fortress in times of war. Your God will surely come.