Thursday, October 22, 2009

Poetry from Other Seasons

Thanks to my poet friend, Andrew, for helping me remember my love for poetry!

Here are a few oldies from my University days and beyond. Not sure who would read them, but at least they aren't hiding in my closet anymore :)


"Deception" -- 2000

Good morning, my friend.
I trust you slept well...in your own mind
Drowning out the voice in the back of your hollow chest that screams for MORE
Always able to somehow cover up the aching.
Of course, without me, you would truly be nothing
Me, and my cousin Pride, who rob you of this MORE
You make it so easy, you tarnished Pinnochio
keeping hidden the heavy ropes that tie your being to my Master's desires.

Eat, hungry one.
Eat like you did when we first met.
You know you are the master of your own life,
so take a step closer to my fruit.
Its tantalizing, rotten center calls out your name.
Take of it and eat as before.
You deserve it...besides,
who said those are really chains around your ankles?

Embrace me, my virgin lover
and let me rape your mind to such an extent
that you believe it is your own fault.
You see that this is the only life there is,
but you are too blind to know anything else.
Your mind is clouded by my touch
so that fear of rejection makes you run
Run...into my sensually twisted arms.

Bow down to me, my slave.
For I am your mate, until death only do us part.
Yet you do not even know I am here.
You glance at the Man with nail-scarred hands,
as I whisper to you that He does not really exist.
The cycle continues as you bow at my feet
The Man cries on the tree, your name on His lips
All the while you think that it is YOU ALONE you obey.

So who am I really, my little doll?
I am your lover, I am your friend.
I am in your thoughts, I am keeper of your heart.
Pride and I make sure you are kept blind,
so that you never know of the MORE that you were created for.
Many people eat of my fruit, and like you, they all die.
Let me make you contagious of myself!
You will not feel a thing; for you do not believe I even exist.




"The Battle" -1999

I close my eyes as the swords are drawn,
feeling the clash if iron upon iron
the grinding of two passing Spirits.
My mind reels while the battle begins,
not knowing whether to charge or retreat;
the future has been revealed to me,
but the wind is often more easily captured than faith.
The roaring attack penetrates my screaming soul.
I feel completely helpless and defeated, but
Light consumes every dark corner around me.
Passion rages within my veins and rushes throughout.
I am choking; I can neither move nor speak
but the Light...the Light is what keeps my vision clear.
Slowly, as I drop my sword and let another take it,
the grinding vanishes.
It is no longer my soul screaming out...




"The Martyr" -- 9/3/99

I shot my dog today.
There was no blood. Just the faint aroma
of a friendship from long ago, and a
tainted love to ill to ever be.
I did not cry. I did not grieve. I just numbly pulled the trigger.

I shot my dog today.
The same poor creature that performed at my every request.
The same animal that licked my wounds, only to turn and
bite my heels before running off to another master.
It is he that I shot, and over he that I will not mourn.

I shot my dog today.
My youthful companion, with charming eyes and a tongue of gold.
He did not whimper; having been beat too many times
to count by his own cold hand. He took the bullet with false nobility,
making me the killer.

I finally shot my dog today.
Man's best friend. Woman's worst enemy.
He did not whimper. I did not cry.
Both...are now free.




"Frustrated" -- 26/8/99

you, with the cracked mask called religion
stoning the sinner wearing too plain of a wooden cross.
your cross shines brighter than most, often SO bright
you cannot see the misery of your chains
...which, are not really there anymore.
you long to fly, but your broken wings scream
for someone other than yourself and a Band-Aid.
one hand fiercely gripping the mask, the other
holding a stone.
you forget Whose hand made you,
so you stone yourself.




"Living Psalm 73" -- 26/11/2001

Jesus...You once promised to hold me by the right hand,
to guide me and take me to glory--
I search blindly in the dark, but can't find Your scars.
Senseless and ignorant, reaching for the wounds
that i myself made--while evil men scoffed.
I am a sick, brute beast before You, but You still reach
for my hand, remaining all the while my guide and counsel.

Jesus, won't You hold my hand
In all Heaven, it's You I seek
Oh Lord, help me to stand
I am sick and my heart is weak,
the world has nothing I desire, nor anything I need
draw near to me, Jesus, let me tell of all Your deeds.

Jesus...You promised to hold me up, to be good to the pure in heart--
my heart seems pure, but my blood runs green around the wicked.
Pride and self replace the cross around my neck.
Oh Lord, where are You?
Why does my foot sllip, yet my enemy stands so strong?
Lonely and plagued, my flesh fails me...
But I know You are my strength and my portion forever!

Jesus, won't You hold my hand
In all Heaven, it's You I seek
Oh Lord, help me to stand
I am sick and my heart is weak,
the world has nothing I desire, nor anything I need
draw near to me, Jesus, let me tell of all Your deeds.

Jesus, I give You my hand.
You are the only One I seek.
Lord, please teach me to stand
my flesh is failing, and I am so weak.
the world has nothing I desire, nor anything I need
draw near to me, Jesus, let me tell of all Your deeds.
The world has nothing I desire besides You;
so draw near to me Jesus, my strength is in You alone.





"Behind Glass Doors" -- 1999

Cracks, tarnishes, chips.
All have been covered and healed..
Spotless, clean, without blemish.
Afraid to touch you, my grandmother's china cabinet
with all its treasures stored up within the glass doors;
the transparent, glass doors that allow anyone to see within.
Seeing--but not quite able to touch.
Burning to reach inside, to all the beauty on its shelves;
yet afraid to leave even the slightest fingerprint.
No one is to know I was here; what I saw.
Such precious gifts locked away, only to be taken out when needed.
I yearn to help, but I cannot touch what's behind that glass.
Not wanting to slip, not wanting to break what's been remade.
So I will only sit and look from afar,
Maybe soon I won't be as clumsy.




"You" --1998

Sinking into your pool of warm and laughing blue
The familiarity of diving in too deep--
I still feel the sting of contact on my skin.

Wading around in a lake of dreams;
trying to keep my head up while my heart struggles to stay afloat.

Your pool is too shallow for a swim,
but too deep to escape.
Keeping my head up, kicking hard, but not drowning...just yet.

And my heart?
It still remains afloat in your blue...




"Improve After Reading Martin Luther King Jr." -- 2001

I tied my shoes for the first time
and chased after the wind
I took the extra wheels off my bike
and tried to catch the sunshine
I made the team!
and wanted to fly like a bird
I had my first kiss
and reached for the stars
I graduated high school
and almost caught the wind...
I met the Man from Galilee
and lost the darkness of deception
and now...I dance with Life.




"Until I Tripped" -- Feb. 1999

Putting all else aside, I push forward in this race called life.
I've stumbled along the way; hurting ones that meant the most,
allowing things of another world to cloud my view.
I talk like I know the Man with Scarred hands.
I pretend that I can be, and sometimes am, exactly like Him...
only my scars aren't because of Love.
What is Love? How can I say that I know of Love
when I love the race itself so much?
Didn't realize that I was running the race in shackles
until I tripped...until I came off the track.
I didn't cry like everyone thought I would
I instead found that pretense and false reality are stronger used
than emotions.
Where is the track? How do I get back on?
This time, instead of getting up alone,
I allow the Man with Scarred hands to pick me up.
He says He will carry me the rest of the way,
but I must promise to not look back,
except to ask forgiveness and move on again.
And the reality?
I never really knew Love...until I tripped.




"The Waterfall"--1991 (7th grade!)

There once was a waterfall
Tall, ever flowing, deep
It always feel hard, but it was quiet & shy
It was as if a great boulder was holding it back
The water was hardly flowing, yet obvious
The one day the boulder broke
The water came down hard
And all those around heard it
Now it flows deeper than before
It appears taller
And is forever flowing



"The Flower" --1991

A bee is buzzing around some flowers
The air is damp from the recent showers
Enjoying the sunlight, enjoying life
Enjoying the world, no troubles or strife
Softly he lands on a pale yellow rose
From its golden petals happiness flows
The helpless bee, unaware of danger
The hard falling snow, a cold white stranger
As time goes by the rose will slowly die
Its petals will wilt and life will pass by
It's hard to believe a beauty one day
The next it's gone, the life drained away
But life starts over, it shall live again
A new flower, winter has never been.



"Haiku's by Mandy--2000"

In death I've found life
my freedom is finally here
Death, only to live

Fighting to be real
sick of acting not on stage
why can't you see me

Tired of being friends
none to understand my heart
But never alone




"What I Call Home" --2002 (*a very angry poem written after returning to the USA from 3rd world Venezuela)

This is the place that I call home.
Conceived and born on a bed of green
in a land where vision is blind
New dreams fly while the old return to dust

My being, once bound by the fallen towers
now fights for TRUTH
I tremble as a star-spangled voice shakes the earth
knowing that it, too, will one day fade away.

This place I call home, in which I am an alien
a land built on the courage of liberators
and the blood of revoluntionaries
a land that has forgotten its roots.

Now destroys other children of the dream
the collar wrapped so tightly around its neck
it can only breath its own vanity.
Sinking in green...

This is the place I call home.
Where this green blinds the senses and sinks its iron jaws deep into the earth.
My home, where "God Bless" is sung
while mechanical warriors rape its neighbors

I, once, was just as blind
forsaking no other gods before my home.

This is the place I call home, over which I now weep.
Why do others not see? How can they not hear?
The blood of old dreamers cries out one last time
"The end is near...remember the Dream!"

Instead, my home bowns down to the green,
straightens its collar and continues to spoil its capitalist child.
A foreigner in my own home;
My voice will NOT go unheard!!!

Monday, September 28, 2009

Why Did the Elephant Cross the Road?





Every time I look at this photo I think about what I was feeling when I took the photo.

We were in Africa, on a bus, and I had not been to the toilet in about 6 hours....

Our group was scheduled for a boat ride down the Nile River, and we were already 15 minutes late.....

None of us had had a warm shower in about 72 hours....

We hadn't eaten since early that morning, so we were starving....

This was my first time seeing elephants (I was PUMPED) but I couldn't enjoy them because I was hungry, smelly, late, and above all BUSTING for the toilet!


These crossing elephants represent sooo much that can happen in our lives!

Road blocks, frustrations, obstacles that slow down the journey to your promise, etc. Times when you know that you are meant to be somewhere, but you just can't seem to get there. Often painful times.

The greatest part of this photo is what was actually happening behind the camera. There were 12 other ladies feeling the same way. We were sharing snacks, passing out face wipes & deoderant, keeping each other calm and most importantly distracting each other from the intense needs for a toilet! We were united in friendship and cause, and we couldn't have waited (what seemed like 20 minutes for the elephants to cross) without each other.

I know that many of us have dreams, goals, and destinies yet to be fulfilled. Sometimes it feels like fat elephants are blocking us from reaching where we know we are called to be. And if there are people "following" us or looking up to us, it can make it harder to know that just because we've had to stop for awhile, everyone behind us has to wait as well. How great it is to know that we have Sisters, friends, pillars of encouragement that can help us have the strength to wait and also the courage to keep going when the timing is right!


You may be going through difficult times, but know that the elephants will not stay in the road forever. If you surround yourself with "friends to your destiny" (people who believe in you, support you and encourage your dreams) then you won't even really notice how hungry you are or how badly you need the toilet. Oh, how it's refreshing to know that people love you despite your "smell!" And a good tip (that I'm currently living & learning) is that truly connecting with God makes the time go by faster. We are truly made mature when we realize that despite the size of the road block, nothing matters except knowing Jesus intimately (John 15 & Phil. 3:7-10).

This is what God gave me today while connecting with Him. I hope it encourages you like it did me:

Isaiah 55:8 says that God's ways and thoughts are not like ours....they are higher, bigger and better!

John 14 speaks of the Holy Spirit as our great Counselor (for times when we're waiting for the elephants to move).

2 Peter 1:3 says that God gives us EVERYTHING we need for life and for godliness.

Isaiah 52:12 says that God goes before us and surrounds us like a shield.

Romans 8:28 says He works everything out for the *good.*

Ecc. 3:11 says that God makes everything beautiful in its time!

Remember to enjoy the journey and the scenery as it unfolds!


*Why did the elephant cross the road?*
*Was it the chicken's day off? Nope...because she saw her girlfriend with a coffee on the other side!!! :-) *

Monday, September 14, 2009

Uganda

I’ve been home nearly 1 ½ weeks now, and I haven’t been able to bring myself to sit down and really write of my journey. I’m a writer; writing is what I love and part of what I do for a living. But it is a daunting task sitting down to put words to all the things that have made my heart want to explode. It’s very difficult to convey to someone who wasn’t there what needs to be conveyed. To describe what I saw, where I went, whom I met in such detail that would make the reader feel as if they too had experienced it…very few writers can do this well. And trying to filter through who actually really cares—this too often proves to be discouraging. Life at home always carries on as usual, even when others are helping to rewrite someone else’s story.

So after much thinking, rethinking and processing, I realized that the lives I helped to rewrite do deserve to have their stories told…even if I only give highlights of the journey. To quote one of my favourite songwriters, Brooke Fraser: “Now that I have held you in my own arms, I cannot let go of who you are… I am responsible…”

I have an ample amount of things to write, but for now I have compiled summaries and a few thoughts. If you don’t read it, I won’t be offended. If you only skim through it and catch the headlines, that’s fine as well. Despite the chances that no one reads it, I am still responsible to tell the story of these beautiful people. Our lives are so much bigger than ourselves, and I hope that someone may find it encouraging, refreshing and inspiring to hear stories outside their own.

Regardless of what you just skim, how much you take in or what you find encouraging, the disclaimer is that this is about Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says “For Christ’s love compels us…” It is only HIS love and what He has done for me that gives me the strength, courage and desire to work for an organization like Watoto, much less go and do the things that I’ve done in Uganda. What happened day to day has so little to do with me, and so hugely to do with the Goodness and Grace of God.

1. Tour of Dubai (stopover before Africa). I’ll be honest…I loath Dubai. When we first arrived I was completely in awe of the grandeur of the architecture—until I found out the cost of building some of the hotels and high rises there. The cost of one night in one of Dubai’s biggest hotels could literally build a single home for Watoto’s parentless children in Uganda. The cost to build some of the attractions in Dubai could probably build an entire village (or two). The pride and greed of humanity is blatantly apparent in Dubai, and definitely more sobering than just getting on a plane and turning up in Africa.

2. Arrival in Uganda. We flew into Entebbe and drove 45 minutes to Kampala. Kampala is the capitol city, so it doesn’t look very “African” just yet. We stayed in a home called “Adonai 5 Guesthouse.” Adonai felt like a mansion! None of us were very sure how to feel about this large home in the middle of Africa…but we were humbled by how well Watoto took care of us. 13 ladies in total on the team, such a GREAT group of ladies!

3. Living Hope, Kampala. Words cannot describe. The women were beautiful--all HIV positive. Most of them have lost their husbands, and all of them have 4 or more children, so they’re part of the Living Hope program because they are unable to take care of themselves. Watoto’s Living Hope program seeks to restore dignity to vulnerable women through many programs such as trauma counselling, help with HIV anti-viral medication, and other things such as sewing skills and spiritual discipleship. We started off teaching them basic sewing and cross-stitch skills so that they can sell things in the local markets for money. At the end of the week, we did a day of pampering (facials, feet and back massages). There were two ladies who stood out for me in particular: Doreen & Jane.


Doreen’s Story: Doreen came in to the Living Hope centre a day later than the other ladies. We were all a little unsure of whether she was a woman or a man at first. Doreen did not smile, she smelled bad, and because she didn’t speak English or the Kampala dialect none of us could even communicate with her. It was difficult to work with her and we were unsure of if she’d turn up again…but she did turn up, day after day! By the end of the week, Doreen’s hard work paid off and she was able to cross-stitch something on her own. The best part was that we saw her smile…by Friday, she was dressing differently, she smelled clean, and she was smiling. I don’t know Doreen’s history, but she’s obviously not had the easiest life. It was beautiful to see her transform in only a few days.


Jane’s Story: Jane is very sick. She quite honestly has the smallest frame that I have ever seen. Jane’s HIV case is advanced, and we didn’t find out until the end of the week just how sick she was. She had been severely abused in the past and had 5 children with no husband. On Friday Jane arrived late…we were told that she had been at the hospital since the night before. Her kidneys were shutting down, and she was in a lot of pain. But Jane wanted to be with us so bad, she literally had someone carry her to the centre! Later that day when we were massaging her back, we realized that we could be the last people who would touch Jane in a loving way.


4. Preaching to the Living Hope Ladies. I believe that speaking/preaching is a gift that I have and unfortunately have not been able to use very much over the past few years. I was asked one of my first days in Kampala to speak to the Living Hope ladies. So I did….then I was asked again the next day! I believe it was the last day that I was speaking, I realized (while one of the staff was translating what I had just said) that I was at that very moment living a dream. At that very moment, I was not thinking of my selfish desires or myself. I wasn’t concerned with how I looked, what anyone thought of me or what task I had to complete. I was standing raw and vulnerable before 50 women from the third-world, bringing the message of God’s love and pointing them to Jesus. One lady even cried and I was told later she became a born again Christian. More than anything else so far in the trip, this was certainly a highlight because I was alive and living wide awake…

5. Safari. We spent about 5-6 hours in a jeep, tromping across the Ugandan savannah searching for animals that I have only ever seen in a zoo! We saw elephants, giraffes, antelopes, spring-boks, baboons, hippos, lions, water buffalo, and leopards. Leopards, which had not been seen in many weeks! My boss, who has been to Africa 26 times in his life, had NEVER seen a leopard in the wild. We prayed so hard to see them, and God answered….it was amazing! Even more amazing though was sunset over the Nile River….nothing like it!


6. Gulu. Gulu is in the Northern part of Uganda, near the Sudanese border. For many years, Gulu has been war torn. Starting in 1987, a group called the “Lord’s Resistance Army” (LRA) wanted to take over Uganda, so they formed their own army, made of children. They began to abduct children as young as 4 years old and forced them to be soldiers. These children were made to do unspeakable acts of torture, murder, and other very animalistic traits just to survive. In the 90’s, young women, some as young as 6 years old, were also abducted and forced to become wives or sex slaves to these young soldiers. After many years of trauma, abuse and prayers, some of these child soldiers and wives have been released (or ran away) and are currently being rehabilitated through Watoto in Gulu.

The role of my team in Gulu was to train some of the Church volunteers to do the pampering (face, feet, nails and back massage) and then practically reach out to the Living Hope women in Gulu by working with the volunteers in spending time pampering the Living Hope ladies and making them feel beautiful. Like the Living Hope ladies in Kampala, all of these ladies are HIV positive and have several children but no husband to care for them. The difference is that most of these ladies have also been severely abused….several were mutilated and very few of them made eye contact. To spend time pampering a woman who has only ever been touched in an abusive way has the power and potential to change her life. It also has the power to change our lives too, if we let it.

Grace’s Story. Grace was the first Living Hope lady in Gulu that I was going to massage. I was already nervous because I had no idea how to control what was happening in my heart. From the moment we arrived in Gulu, I felt so flustered internally…in Kampala for example, the children on the streets (even the beggars) would come alive and climb over each other to smile at us and give us a wave. But in Gulu (where for a child, the terror of being abducted only ended last year) it appeared that anyone who is not from your neighbourhood is not to be trusted right away. The difference at first was almost surreal. Many children in Gulu seem to stare at you with mistrust rather than excitement and a wave. A smile seems nearly impossible to get from them (with the exception of the children from the local churches). Having seen a few documentaries, I knew that many of these houses had once lost a child or two. The hospital across the street from our accommodation is the same building that the night commuter children used to hide in for fear of being abducted. Even the Living Hope quarters itself was a government building given to Watoto, which was once a camp for the children who were hiding from the LRA. So when Grace came out in her robes for her massage, I had to swallow my tears at the sight of her mutilated body. Grace had been one of the wives of one of the generals of the LRA. She was in her 20’s, HIV positive, had 6 children and had escaped from the LRA the year before. Her back was covered with vertical scar tissue where she had been stabbed and torn open, and over these scars were horizontal razor cuts. All up and down her arms were cigarette burn marks, and her legs were covered with dark spots were chunks had literally been removed by knives. Part of her ears were missing, and her bottom lip had been split (a number of times it seemed). She had no open wounds so I was safe…in fact, none of her scars were very recent at all. Grace had a past.

I will never forget feeling paralysed. The rest of my teammates had already started massaging their ladies. The worship music was soft, the candles and incense lit and it was the perfect environment for a good 15-minute back massage. But I couldn’t move. I literally couldn’t move….

It’s funny how all in a matter of a few brief seconds, so many things can go through your mind. I thought of Jesus, and how He had some of these similar scars…He had them so that women like myself and Grace (ironic name hey?) could have hope and live in relationship with Him.

I thought of the Watoto Children’s Choir who I work so hard to promote in Australia. I thank GOD that they don’t ever have to go through what Grace has been through.

I thought of the atmosphere….how only two years ago this same building--now filled with worship music, candles and women who are full of hope--was then filled with parentless children literally hiding for their lives. It was full of feces, riddled with disease, terror and hopelessness. To look at it now was almost more than my emotions could bare.

It wasn’t until I made eye contact with another team member a few seconds later that I realized how incredibly HONOURED I was to be at that very place, at that very moment, massaging beautiful Grace. I held back the tears and went to loving on her….at the end of 15 minutes I was able to pray for her, and she in turn asked to pray for ME. I was so humbled! Compared to her, I am a fat, wealthy American living the dream in Australia with my good health and great home, yet she wanted to pray for me. She prayed (in broken English) for my future children, that they would know Jesus and be successful. She prayed that I would continue to walk with God and that my marriage would be healthy and fruitful. Grace then came back to me about an hour later and asked me to write down just my first name in her Bible, so that she could continue to pray for me. I was changed…and hopefully so was she.

Mary’s Story (not her real name). “Mary” was another lady that I met at Living Hope. Many of you reading this have seen “Mary” at one time or another, on some form of media or promo material. Mary was discovered several years ago by an organization that is not linked to Watoto. Mary was abducted at a young age by the LRA and forced to do the most horrendous things. Her face has been mutilated and disfigured due to her “disobedience” as a wife. She has several children, she has HIV, is around 20 years old, and some of her relatives and friends are part of Watoto’s Living Hope program. Mary, however, is not part of the program.

I sat with Mary for about 30 minutes one day. She had actually came to volunteer her time putting together food baskets at Living Hope to give to those women “less fortunate” than her (can you believe it). She doesn’t speak English very well, so the majority of our time was spent just playing together with her two-year old daughter and hugging each other. At the end of the 30 minutes, our team was beginning the pampering session with the Living Hope ladies. Mary suddenly had this terribly sad look on her face, and prepared her little girl to leave. Instead of joining the queue for a facial or foot massage, Mary and her daughter were leaving Living Hope. My heart sank a little because I wasn’t sure if I had done something to offend Mary. Later, however, I was told by the Living Hope Coordinator in Gulu more of Mary’s story.

When Mary was discovered by this other group, they made her some promises and had her sign a contract saying she would be a faithful member of their organization and that they alone would support her. Because of her appearance and history, Mary is considered by any media group as “prime promo material.” Becoming part of a program such as Watoto’s Living Hope program means that Mary would be shared with the other organization, which breaks the contract that she signed. So in essence, Mary cannot benefit from any of Living Hope’s initiatives (even being pampered) because Watoto was told by the other organization that she is under their care. Watoto definitely does honour the contract that she has with this group. Mary is well fed by the other organization, and they also help care for her children and say they are raising money for her; sadly they do not offer her the full trauma rehabilitation, medical attention or spiritual guidance that Living Hope offers. Mary therefore volunteers her time helping with Living Hope food distributions for other ladies who need help. Anything that she can do to be around Living Hope makes her happy, especially since many of her friends are part of the program.

The other organization is not a Christian based organization, and we are not sure if Mary is a believer or not. The beautiful thing is that Mary is drawn to Living Hope because she finds the love of Christ there. And despite her personal circumstances, she knows that she can make a difference in the life of others who have her same wounds.

For obvious reasons I cannot give more details than this…in fact, it is actually quite difficult to write much more than this because of how emotional I get about it all. Watoto has been incredibly wise with how they have handled the whole situation, and as painful as it is to see someone not get the full benefits they deserve, they have honoured Mary's agreement with the other group. Pray with me that no matter what, Mary’s life would be restored and that she would know true redemption.

7. The Children’s Villages: Suubi, Bbira & Labora. Watoto does not want to build institutionalized orphanages for Uganda’s parentless children. Their heart is to build homes. There are therefore three villages, two outside Kampala and one in Gulu. Each home has several “clusters” of houses that have been paid for and built by global teams from across the planet. Each cluster has 8-9 homes, and in each home there are eight orphaned children and one house-mother to care for them. Usually the house-mother has been abandoned by her own husband and may/may not be HIV positive. All house-mothers are Christians, and all are given eight children to care for. Between the three villages, Watoto is looking after about 2,000 of Uganda’s orphans. If you’ve seen the Watoto Children’s choir, then you’ve seen a few of thsee 2,000 children who have been given a new future!

I loved all three villages, but Suubi was my absolute favourite! We had lunch in one of the homes with the children and a mother, and then were able to walk around and explore the village. It was amazing for me to be at the home of many of the children from the choir! The highlight for me was going to Ismail’s house. Ismail is one of the precious kids from this year’s choir in Australia whom Carston and I became very close to while the choir was in Brisbane. I knew what number his house was because I promised to go and visit his mother, so I was thrilled to make my way over to see his family. After a lovely chat and beautiful time with his mother, she asked if they could pray for me…soon the whole cluster (8 houses) had come into her little home and they ALL prayed over me!!!! The children were so happy and full of joy, and I figured at that moment that Suubi must be the happiest place on earth!!!! ☺



Of course we had many other adventures, challenges and special moments (like the Watoto Babies’ Home, which rescues abandoned babies from places like rubbish dumps, etc.), but I figured this was more than enough for most of you to read (unless you want more…just ask)!

More than ever, my heart is moved for missions, for Watoto and for Uganda. Seeing the work of Watoto with my own eyes was almost more than I could bare…yet I feel so honoured and privileged to work for such an amazing organization.

I will never be the same….

Pray for Carston and I as we are tentatively planning on returning, hopefully next year on a building team. The hardest part of the trip was not being able to experience it with my husband. I can’t wait for him to see what I have seen….

To end, I’d like to direct you to a short video that a friend of mine showed me. http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=38974b6dd52e94ba5bb2

The lyrics can tell the story better than I ever could….

Love
Mandy

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Orphans Bring Hope to OZ

From slums to palaces, the remarkable African orphans who make up the Watoto Children’s Choir will come from over the rainbow to bring their energetic musical tribal beats when they embark on the land down under during their whirlwind tour down from May through to August 2009.

The angelic voices emanating from the choir, comprising of 18 children aged from eight to thirteen, belies their horrific start in life. Once living in the slums of Uganda, Africa, these children are now traveling the world as ambassadors for millions of Africa’s orphans who have suffered the loss of their parents due to HIV/AIDS, war, poverty and other disease. These little ones, now filled with joy and hope, have been given a second chance at life through the help of an organization known as the Watoto Child Care Ministries.

Birthed in 1994 by a couple from Canada called Gary & Marilyn Skinner, Watoto Childcare Ministries exists to teach and produce the next generation of Ugandan leaders and citizens. Some of the long term goals include providing familial life and shelter, education, medical care and spiritual guidance to those children left parentless as a result of war and disease. The Children’s Choir, to perform in several countries across the globe, consists of a few of these future leaders who have a heart to raise awareness of the devastation in their country and to enlist the participation of Aussies for the work Watoto has started.

The choir has performed in front of former US President George Bush at the White House, the Queen at Buckingham Palace, and even at Australia’s own Parliament House. In April 2009, the determined youngsters performed on the same Beijing streets as the Olympic gold winners of 2008. They then headed to Shanghai and Hong Kong before making their way to our beautiful Australia.

“Children who are selected to tour on a Watoto Choir get an opportunity of a lifetime as they get to share their story and the hope they now have. Being on tour helps the kids develop life skills and confidence to become the future leaders of their country that they inspire to be” says Mark Bradshaw, Watoto director for Australasia.

2009 is the first time that the Watoto Children’s choir has ever been to Beijing, and for all of the kids, the first time ever stepping foot out of Africa. Jackie Nalumansi, a 10 year old female in the choir, says that she’s excited to come to Australia. “I want Australians to know that I’m going to sing and dance with all my strength to show God’s love” says Nalumansi.

Fred Samula, 11 years old, says that he looks forward to seeing what Australian people eat, while his friend Bridget Mungriek, also 11 years old, wants to see the big buildings and friendly people in Australia.

According to 2007 UNAIDS/WHO*[i] of every 1,000 children in Uganda, 136 children will not live to see their 5th birthday.

Mr. Bradshaw claims that Watoto is different from other organizations in that their core goal is not to just rescue children from poverty and disease but to help them rise above it and become part of the new leadership required in their country in whatever field they inspire to become. In this, they can change their society by providing strong businesses and work ethics with integrity and strong moral standings.

“These children carry the message of hope they themselves experienced at Watoto. The people in Australia are privileged to watch this beautiful choir and to participate in the cause. Australians will be blown away by the best of African contemporary music as presented by the Watoto Children’s Choir” says Esther Agwang from Watoto’s, Ugandan office.

The Watoto Children’s Choir will be holding free concerts across Australia beginning in May in Perth. The schedule includes many smaller towns outside cities such as Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Darwin, Alice Springs, Tasmania, as well as in the major cities themselves. One of the highlights will be a combined performance with the Ernabella Children’s choir in Ernabella in June.

For full details of the choir’s schedule, or for more about the work of Watoto in Africa and to get involved, check out www.watoto.com.


[i] www.unaids.org

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Part of THE Story

Acts 5:18-21



The angel in this passage made it such an urgency to get the apostles free and have them preach again! I was thinking about this when the Holy Spirit whispered to me that this was for ME. That most likely my ancestor was being taught by these men. Most likely the truth about Jesus across the world has come down the line through the teaching that occurred in those days, so that there would be a seed planted in ME for the nations! Whether my ancestors were there or not, I wonder just how long the gospel would have continued without the angel setting them free and commanding them to keep teaching/preaching.



I like to romanticize the gospel because it helps to know that Jesus died for ME; but the truth is it wasn't all for me, or even the unsaved in my small world. The apostles were set free to preach the gospel and that gospel has been given to me to give to MANY others. Many others that Jesus also died for.



I am part of the story. The apostles were released that day so that I could be part of the story.



What if Abraham didn't go to the land he didn't know? What if Moses gave in to insecurity and didn't trust Gods help to set the people free? What if David didn't want to be King, or if Jonah found it easier to die in the whale's belly? What if Jesus decided to give up in the garden before Judas and the men found him?



I am part of this same story. Who will I affect and how will history be different if I don't rise to the heights in which God is calling me? If the train I'm on now suddenly stopped, there would be about 50 trains behind me that would also have to stop.



The story is bigger than me.Acts 4:18 says that the rulers knew that these simple apostles had been with Jesus. That's the key.



It's a shout in my spirit today...I am part of someone else's story, for the Name of Jesus!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Just Passing Through

For a few months now, I have been unable to escape the scripture 2 Corinthians 3:17, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." The context around this scripture refers to the doctrine of Christ crucified and a veil of ignorance falling from the faces of those who look to Him. Matthew Henry’s Bible commentary poetically states that “..the condition of those who enjoy and believe the gospel is happy, for the heart is set at liberty to run the ways of God's commandments.”

Liberty in Christ (freedom from sin) is something that many Christians speak of yet have no idea the depth of promises in which they speak. From personal experience, it is hard enough to come to a place where one believes he is freed from sin, much less learning how to walk “in the spirit so that we do not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). For a long time 2 Corinthians 3:17 would frustrate me because I knew I had the Spirit of God living in me, yet freedom seemed like a dream to never come true. What I didn’t realize, however, is that the original Greek word for “spirit” in this scripture is the same word used in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit falls upon those at Pentecost. It is the same “Spirit” that Jesus Himself refers to in Acts 1:8, when He says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”


"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom…."


Bobbie Houston once said, “we prepare in the Spirit so that we can execute in the natural." If scripture is valid and what Bobbie says is true, then just THINK of the areas of our lives that we can have control over!!!

2008 in general seemed to be a really difficult year for most people that I know. Myself and others have dealt with all sorts of issues such as anxiety, fear, discouragement, depression, financial melt-down, even getting out of bed on a daily basis was a constant feat for many people.

I think the challenge for 2009 is clear: What are we going to do about our problems? Are we going to sit down and camp out in our difficulties, begging God for freedom? Or, are we going to start stirring up the Spirit within…the one who BRINGS freedom!

Psalm 84:5-7 says, "Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength..." Notice it says that their "hearts are on pilgrimage." They "pass through" the Valley of Baca (Baca means "weeping" by the way). And they MAKE IT a place of springs! They go from "strength to strength..." It does not say “their hearts are set on just getting out.” It does not say “they stop and lay dying in the Valley of Baca.” Nor does it say “they are weak and helpless.” They keep going and do the entire journey even when it hurts. It even says earlier in verse two that their hearts and souls “faint” for the living God. Read the whole Psalm and you will see that the writer understands that he can only pass through the valley by preparing “in the spirit” with God.

Friends, if FREEDOM is where the Spirit of the Lord is, then why don't we seek that Spirit??? Why are we camping in the “Valley of Weeping” rather than preparing in the Spirit to pass through?

Freedom from fear & worry, freedom in finances, freedom from negative thoughts about yourself, freedom from depression....all of these things are found only in Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit. So I DARE YOU to stir it up! I DARE YOU to seek God & His spirit. I challenge you to begin to speak out TRUTH. I dare you to speak in tongues if you can (and ask God for it if you can't) and take authority of your situation instead of camping there. Pass through it, and be the one that turns it into a place of springs for others. Let the rain of the Holy Spirit fall down and cover your life with pools of blessings!!!! Bring the Spirit with you, because He is the one who holds your freedom.

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom…."