The Power of One Life

The Conference was entitled "Time to Save Children".  Throughout several days the team has tried to motivate and encourage people to step out of the boat and do something for the glory of God in their neighborhoods.

She came up to us after the typical conference crowd dissolved.  The long line of people wanting to talk and be prayed for was talked to and prayed for and we were on our way to the room.

She was old... maybe about 70... She said that she hasn't done a lot of great things for God in her Christian life, that she was already not young when she got saved... and then she proceeded to tell her story...

One day she woke up from her nap feeling like she must go to that one particular orphanage in her town. She had no idea how to get there.  She got up,  got dressed, walked outside and started asking people which bus to take and where to go.  By the time she got there, the offices were closed and no one could let her in.  She returned the following morning at 10.00am.

For months she would come and spend every day at the orphanage loving on the children.  All children had special needs: Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and many others.  She always asked for the worst cases and just loved on them all day.  She would go to church on Sundays and then be back at the orphanage on Mondays.  She talked to people in her church and amongst her friends and she got some clothes donated.  When spring came with the help of her granddaughter she planted flower beds all around the orphanage.

There was one girl in particular she had grown to love dearly.  The was considered the worst case in the orphanage.  The court wouldn't let this woman adopt the girl as she was way too old.  She so desperately wanted to help but she just didn't know what else she could do.

She started calling.  And as a result she got a TV crew come in and do a special report on the orphanage.  As the result - 15 children with special needs from that orphanage were adopted by loving families - including the girl with most challenges who now lives in the United States. 

This woman came to us thinking that unless she has a team and great financial support, young age and praise of men - then she is probably not doing much for the Lord.  But my eyes tear up at the thought of how much difference this one old woman made for the kids in that particular orphanage. 

And she still keeps visiting them.

That's the power of one life.

********************************************************************************************************

My heart overflows with gratitude for:
* the people who make a difference in the lives of others
* those who seek no recognition
* the resurrection of our Lord without which we'd have no hope
* the many wonderful people I met in Ukraine
* the opportunity to serve them
* the chance to hear their stories
* the lessons I learned on team work
* my best childhood friend coming out to see me in Ukraine
* for getting flowers on my birthday
* that hope does not disappoint us

As Time Flies By...

It is amazing how much faster time goes each year that we've lived here in New York.  We are only a week  away from May and so much is going on here.

The new interns have arrived mid-March.  They will be joining us for 3 months and learn how to do Metro-style Sunday School.

Our new interns: Oksana (USA), Philipp (Germany), Megan (USA)

This Monday Bryan & I have returned from a week in Kiev, Ukraine where we were involved in a conference for children ministers. The conference was entitled "Time to Save Children" and I can't think of a more appropriate title.  It is truly time for us to stop looking at children ministry as an after-thought or a baby-sitting service.  So many things compete for our children's attention and hearts.  We must reach them for Christ.

Bryan & I with the Planet D team
(a group of people who have  been doing Sidewalk Sunday School in Kiev for 8 years now)

Also as many of you may already know - Bryan & I are expecting a child.  What joy fills my soul as I think of God's faithfulness to us!!

We will write more about our experiences in Sidewalk Sunday School this semester and about the great times we had in Ukraine for there's much to share so stay tuned :)

Our newsletter is still in the making - I know we're a bit late with it - but we wanted to wait till we got back from Ukraine so we could share about the trip as well... if you normally receive our emails - one should be coming to you some time next week.

Depraved Indifference

I found this video by Eric Ludy in my drafts.  Many of you may have seen it already.  It is quite possible that I have already posted it.  But my heart is being broken once again for the children of the world.  Please take a few minutes to watch it with an open heart.

Take a moment and ask the Lord to search your heart and show you whether you (like so many others - including myself) have been infected with depraved indifference.  I do not want to be indifferent any more. I do not want to pass by a single person whom I can help. 

What about you?

...random...

I have 20 draft posts for this blog... so many ideas... so little time to sit... and wait... for just the right words... for just the right emotion...  they are coming (the posts that is)... soon... promise...

Will be working on our newsletter this week - if you're not receiving it yet but would like to - let me know by providing your email address - and I'll be delighted to email it to you.

A Quick Update From the Philippines

Seems like I am in the updating mood these days.  I am going through the old stories posted here when I was reaching out for your help and prayers and letting you know what's happening with the people I mentioned.

Today I would like to remind you of a beautiful girl from the Philippines named Blessie (you can read her story here).

Blessie is doing better now.  Her condition is slowly improving.  She is receiving medical treatment (medicated eye patch) and is going through therapy.  Because of the therapy her vision is getting a little better and her whole body seems to be getting a bit healthier.  The doctors are hoping the progress continues.

Thank you for continually praying with us for her complete healing and faith for her family to continue trusting in the finished work of Jesus, that by His blood and by His stripes Blessie is completely healed.

I Am Home

I have been away from home so much this year.  I've been away from my husband too.  There was a reason why we had to be separated by miles for so long (the longest stretch in 2.5 years of marriage) - but knowing the reason does not always make it easy.

It feels good to be home again.  Home where I can wear the "ugly shirt".  Home where all pretenses are stripped away - and it's just me.

I am grateful...
- that I still haven't trashed the "ugly shirt"
- for a kiss my husband gives me before he leaves for work
- for knowing where everything is (well, most of the time)
- for friends who understand my passion
- for unexpected financial blessings slipped into my hand in church
- for the overwhelming feeling of gratitude flooding my soul
- that God sees and honors obedience
- that God's love does not depend on my performance
- that there're doctors and lawyers and all kinds of people who know stuff I don't

A Successful Story (and a prayer request)

A couple whom I've never met in person but grown to respect and honor through our online relationship - Evan & Faith Jobes - are leaving today to a former Soviet Union republic to pick up their new daughter Etta (short from Lisette).  I have blogged about their story in January (you can read it here).

If you have given financially towards their adoption - thank you so much.

They need your prayers now as they are staying in a country where they do not speak the language, go to courts and fight for their little daughter.  They are hoping to bring her home by the end of the month.  Please say a word of prayer for them as you read this.

Thank you.

Ukraine 2011

 I remember when I first decided to come to Metro Ministries in New York.  I was only 20 years old but I knew that God had something in mind for my life.  I left my country, my family, my friends, and moved half-way across the world to do what I believed was God’s will for my life.  As I learned how to do Sidewalk Sunday School and saw how effective these ministry principles were, I remember asking God to allow me to play part in bringing this concept to the Russian-speaking post-Soviet world.

Today (almost 9 years later) I see God answering my prayer.  Bryan & I  have an opportunity this April to go to Kiev, Ukraine for a week and help teach classes for children ministry leaders.   We will also be assisting pastor Bill Wilson at the big convention for Russian-speaking churches.  Pastors and ministry leaders from all over Ukraine and many towns in Russia, Belarus, Moldova and other countries attend.  My heart rejoices thinking we could be part of that.

Thousands of Christian leaders 

attended the convention last year

Approximate schedule:

April 11 – arrive in Kiev, Ukraine

April 12-13 – teach workshops for children ministry leaders

April 14-16 – convention hosted by Victory Church

April 17 –  church service (possibly leave Ukraine)

April 18 – return to New York, USA

At this moment we do not have sufficient finances to cover the cost of the trip.  We still need $2,350 more to buy plane tickets and take care of the basic expenses while we are there.

Would you prayerfully consider becoming part of what God does in post-Soviet countries by helping us out with your prayers and possibly a donation?

Planet D – Sidewalk Sunday School program in Kiev –
the future home of Metro Ukraine

If the Lord moves on your heart to help us out with either prayer or finances for this trip - please let us know by commenting on this post or emailing us (so we can send you updates about this trip).  If you can bless us financially for this trip you can do so by using the paypal link below or by sending us a check.

"that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack"

(2 Corinthians 8:14)

The Pursuit - Test of Disapproval

"She could feel the pressure in her back.  Her ribs were aching with tension.  She has not moved yet... waiting... anxiously.  The conversation was aimlessly moving between the prices of groceries and most recent soap opera developments.  She was trying to be part of it, inserting random comments here and there.  Now she could not remember what she was saying before as her mind was racing on a whole different wavelength.

She exhaled... and finally blurted it out.  Her hopes, her desires, her mission in life.  It was out there... floating like heavy fog over the dinner table.  Knowing her family were not Christians, she was expecting them not to understand... 

... but she was unprepared for the intensity of their disapproval.  Weighty remarks like, "If you love us, you won't do it" slashed her heart and her emotions deeply.  She tried to explain... to reason... but all her efforts were in vain.  Her family just wouldn't have it.  Period."

Those of us who made it our mission to serve God will sooner or later find ourselves in this young lady's situation.  I surely have before... I am pretty sure so have many of you.  Even if you were blessed with a wonderful God-fearing family - somewhere in your Christian walk you will face disapproval of those close to you (if you haven't already).

I pray and believe that as the Lord moves on your heart to do something courageous and beautiful for Him, that He will surround you with people to encourage you and support you.

And yet... what if those people are NOT those closest to you?  What if your own family threatens to cut you off for your decision to go into full-time ministry?  or for your decision to give generously of your finances?  or for your desire to bring into your home a child that is not "your own"?  or for your choosing a different career path after they've paid for your tuition? or for a person you're setting out to marry?

Often as you journey towards you dream you will meet with disapproval.  When you do, you must examine your desires and attitudes prayerfully and carefully and consider if this disapproval is indeed God trying to get your attention and re-direct your steps.  If it is, the safest thing to do is to repent in humility and thank those people for keeping you from making mistakes.

But what if it isn't?  What if you know that you know that you know that God is indeed moving you in the direction you have chosen?  What if you have received a confirmation upon confirmation through the Word of God, in prayer, through elders in church, and even physical events that this is indeed the road the Lord wants you to travel? 

What do you do then?

I dare suggest that their disapproval in this case becomes a test of your obedience to God and His leading.

"Large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned to them and said, “If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples. So those who do not carry their crosses and follow me cannot be my disciples."

(Luke 14:25-27)

The choice is yours...

No Problem Mon!

My wonderful friend has a birthday coming up which resulted in an unforgettable trip.

I have never taken time to think of Jamaica as a vacation spot.  I do have a friend who is Jamaican and I do appreciate Jamaica Blue Mountain coffees... it's just that I never really considered going there.

My wonderful friend, however, did.  I am glad she did.

me with my beautiful friends Grace and Carola (both on staff with Metro Ministries)

She made all the arrangements... and a week ago I landed on a beautiful Caribbean island.  What struck me first was the happiness that radiated from everyone we met.  Everyone was joking and laughing (I don't think I stopped laughing the entire time I was there).  

 I loved Jamaica.  I almost wish I did not have to come back (I would much rather have Bryan come join me there).  The weather and the landscapes are breathtaking.  The people are very friendly. No matter what our questions were the only thing we heard in reply was, "No problem mon!"

being kissed by a dolphin

********************************************************************************************************

If you're interested in making Jamaica your next vacation destination or want to know more about great savings on travel to many other countries - feel free to drop an email to Grace at gblodget@att.net and she will let you know about the great deals available.

True Religion

One Thousand Gifts - #103-117

My eyes are searching through a list of YouTube titles.  I wish I had an idea of who the original performer was.  I select a name that seems the oldest and most authentic...

As the first notes start playing, she is flooded with memories.  The memories we share - the ones I should not be able to remember and yet somehow I do...  the memory of my head resting on her shoulder as she sang me to sleep.  Who would've thought that a tango would become my favorite lullaby?

But there are other memories, I'm sure.  She stands up and starts dancing.  She is so beautiful.  She looks so happy - and all of a sudden so young.  I can't take my eyes off her.  I wonder if she's remembering how she danced with grandpa.  I wonder if I ever get to see her again.

How can I capture this moment?  How can I freeze it in eternity?  How can I stop it right here - her dancing, me watching her?

I can't help but wonder where she will spend eternity...

All this time away from Bryan, all this studying, all this exhaustion - it is all worth this moment right here.

my beautiful grandma

I am grateful...
- for the best grandparents one could ever wish for
- for living under the same roof with my grandparents till I was eleven
- for living in the same town with my grandparents till I was twenty
- for all the reading, and playing and caring that my grandparents did
- for my first English word
- for memories that we share
- that my grandparents always believed in me and thought highly of me
- that they always accepted me no matter what I had done
- for the simplicity of grandma's cooking
- that some things in their apartment never changed
- for YouTube where one can find almost any song these days
- that I have a video of my grandma dancing to "Утомленное солнце"
- that I watched my grandparents love each other deeply
- for learning that my family's been teachers for generations
- that their disapproval of my choices becomes a test of my obedience to God

Summit VII

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: 

to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, 

and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."

(James 1:27)

I wish I were able to attend this summit (my ministry here in New York will prevent me from doing so).  It will take place in Louisville, KY on May 12th - 13th, 2011.  I believe all of us are called to minister to the orphans of the world.  It does not always have to be through the mission trips or actual adoptions. There are so many ways to get involved.  Whether you are actively involved in orphan ministry today or not - you should prayerfully consider attending this summit.  For more info - click here.

The Pursuit - Whose Dream Is It Anyway?

I keep coming back to thinking about this.  How we allow others to define who we are and how we feel about ourselves... How we take upon ourselves burdens that are not ours to carry just to please people who'd never be pleased regardless of what you do...

Do you have people in your life like that?  Do you ever feel that no matter which decision you make someone (at least one but dear to you someone) will be unhappy?

What do you do then?  How do you break free without burning the bridges?

Valentine's Day with JESUS

Valentine's Day with Jesus

Jesus does not send perfume
To linger in the air
Instead He sends salvation, sweet
To show how much He cares.

He doesn’t bring me candy hearts
In boxes of delight
Instead He always lets me know
I’m precious in His sight.  
             
He doesn’t pass out pretty cards
Trimmed in shades of red
Instead He gave His life for me
His precious blood was shed.

He doesn’t hand out fancy gifts
Like we would send to mother
Instead He sends a message clear
To always love each other.

He doesn’t give me teddy bears
That whimper, “Please be mine”
Instead He gave His heart to me
I wear it all the time.

He doesn’t give me roses, pink
For all the world to see
Instead He gave eternal life
That’s good enough for me.

Written By:  Marilyn Ferguson

I Have Never Been Unloved

Today as many countries all around the world celebrate Valentine's Day... as all vendors bring out the pink, and the red, and the soft and cuddly, flowers, toys, chocolates... as many of us either bask in the love of our dear ones... or wish we had that someone special in our lives...

... let us not forget what true love really is ...

"You are MINE."  - God.

(Isaiah 43:1)

One Thousand Gifts - #92-102

They have all known each other... for quite some time now.  I am older than them too.  The gap that lies between us seems overwhelming.  I fail miserably to make friends.

Those were my thoughts two weeks ago.  And yesterday... I could almost feel tears coming to my eyes as I had to say good-bye to them.  Is it not absolutely amazing to you how a few mere days can link hearts together so strongly?  I almost wish I had more time to get to know them...

I am grateful today for:
- the wonderful girls in Group 417 of Minsk State Linguistic Univeristy
- and all the help you've given me
- and all the laughter we shared
- and all the homework we shared (literally)
- and for our inbox
- and for our incredible four always ending up in the cafeteria together
- and for making me feel part of your group
- and for Nastya having sushi with me
- and also helping me with methods of teaching
- and for the favor I had during my exams
- and for the great professors

The Pursuit - Locating Your Destination

"Nothing quite as heartbreaking 
as realizing you've wasted your time"

(Oraia Speaks)

Before you can get anywhere in life, you must find out where it is that you're going. At any given moment in your life you have thousands of invisible ropes tugging at you, pulling you in all different directions:  your parents want you to have a career in business, your grandparents think you should pursue your artsy gifts, your best friend wishes you had more time and more money, your significant other has expectations in the relationship that you may not even be aware of... you're reading statuses and looking at the pictures... and watching TV, and reading self-improvement books, and trying to lose weight, and trying to be happy, and trying to find time, and trying to get a raise, and trying to be happy while making everyone else around happy as well... and trying not to kill yourself in the process... and somewhere... in the midst of it all... in this massive chaos of everything... your dreams lay.


You have to find them.  Sifting carefully through your preconceived ideas and expectations.  Digging through the learned behaviors.  Examining every page of your heart, every little corner.  To find the real you.


It is so easy for us to try to become what others expect us to be.  We want people around us to be happy.  


But be careful, my friend.


Do not pick up the shattered pieces of your parents' desires.  Do not cut your hands on the hurts of your friends.  Do not attempt thinking that you could piece those together.  You can't live everyone's life.


But you can live yours.  Fully.  


See, pursuing the unprofitable will never yield you a good reward.  You need to be certain of your destination.  You need to know that whatever you're doing right now is the best thing that you could be doing with this time.  Don't settle for anything less.


What if you could indeed make one wish for your future and see it come to pass?  What would your one wish be?  I dare say your one wish is probably something you should pursue.

The Pursuit - You Are Here.

It is nearing midnight and I am willing to do anything else... but studying.  I have studied for months now - on my days off, on rare evenings when I was home alone.  I haven't done anything but studying in the past few weeks.  I am willing to put up with sleepless nights and excessive amounts of coffee that make my stomach turn and absolute lack of any social life and even my state of complete exhaustion because I am PURSUING my education.

We all have things in life that we want to accomplish or see happen.  We all have at least one area in our lives where we look at it and realize that we're not quite where we want to be.   We want to be over there (with a degree, married, with a better job, in a different town, with a bigger ministry, with more children, with respect from others, on a vacation, playing a guitar, sewing... what not?)... but we are here - in our life the way it is.  Here is where our dreams have not happened yet.  Here is where we are frustrated with the way things are.  Here is where we are discontent.

But here is also where we have a choice to make.  A friend of mine shared this quote with me the other day “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Here does not have to be a place of perpetual desperation.  Here can become a place where you can look ahead, mark your trail - and set off towards a new adventure and PURSUE your dream!!!

The Bitter Truth

I am faced with the truth...
... and I don't like how it sounds.
The sound of unwelcomed truth in unprepared mind is bitter.
Can sound be bitter?  I feel it can.
Do you want to know how it sounds?
"You have no one but yourself to blame!"
The past, the hurt, the family, the expectations...
... the pressure, the stress, the ministry...
... the loss...
...the unexpected, the unannounced...
left bitter scarring in my soul.
I have stories to swap and reasons to share.
But swapping stories and pity parties never help.
They just hide the truth... the bitter truth.
And the truth is...
He is the Healer - so if I am hurting still - I have not followed His directions
if my wounds are still bleeding - I must quit scratching the old wounds
He has all I need - so if I feel empty - I've tried the wrong cisterns
I know it's not easy
I know it hurts
I know it keeps coming back at you
I live it too
I still do
I am hurting too
But the truth is...
"It'll never change - unless you change it!"
So will you walk with me?
out of the darkness?
out of the hopelessness?
out of the despair?
out of the past?
out of what others did to you?
and out of what you have done to others?
Will you run with me?
Run to our Healer?