Mighty Winds . . .

Over the past two weeks life for many has consisted of powerful and often times destructive winds, literally and figuratively. Just this past weekend many of our neighbors in Raleigh lost their lives because of these winds. Not to mention the many all over our country that have gone through similar devastating storms. Our prayers continue for all impacted by the storms.

Here in Mooresville we have been fortunate to circumvent those storms. We find ourselves in the middle of Holy Week. We have been studying the last 24 hours of Christ's life for the past six weeks and now we find ourselves walking through those days, pondering and reflecting the events that changed reality for all who followed and follow him. We get ready to walk through what I believe was one of the darkest storms of humanity . . . when ego, pride, and insecurity won out over meekness, humility, and love. They won for a little while anyway . . .

In preparing and walking through Holy Week I have to admit my life feels like some giant whirlwind . . .
I can't find things . . . (ANY of the Smith's Social Security Cards - and Andrew would like to get his Driver's Permit sometime this century and YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT CARD! ARGH!)
I have procrastinated WAY TOO LONG to finish the seminary class I took in Jan and took an incomplete when Scott's mom died . . . if I don't complete all work by Thursday I fail! Way to plan Andrea.
And the other ten billion things that keep swirling through my mind . . .
feels a little harried and windy!

But then I turn on my computer this morning and I get this from Kathy Warner, Williamson's Chapel's liaison with our sister church in Kolkatta, India.

Subject: Prayer for you & your countrymen

Pastor Andrea Smith & Sister Kathy Warner,

Lord’s mighty care be upon you, your ministry and all of your countrymen .

After getting news on 18th April 2011 about the devastating storm for three days in six provinces in your country particularly North Carolina we are worried about you and your ministry where the storm victims are forty four as yet.

As your sister church we always feels pathos for this natural catastrophe. We pray for you & your ministry, and your country. Now I stop my pen with great anxiety for you all.

May Lord save all of you from this catastrophe.

Your in His service

Rev. Jeny



And I am reminded of what matters . . . and what grounds us even in the darkest of storms!

When we were in India we encountered some of the darkest places I believe exist in our world. Walking through the slums where people had nothing but ten people living in a 10x10 space with no water, electricty, food, water, etc. and they also did not know Jesus . . . . there was a darkness that permeated the air.

Then we met Pastor Jeny, her faith community and the children @ her church. Through them, we encountered the light of Christ in such a way it permeated all the darkness that we encountered the days before.

And so today I remind myself that is what it is all about - being grounded in that which matters . . . following the light that broke the darkness in the world . . .

Now, let me share one story about things being "redefined" . . .
ON Sunday after the Egg Hunt at Lake Norman High (which was just an amazing afternoon of fun, community and fellowship) some folks were taking the 6000 eggs back to the West storage unit.

Lance had the eggs in the back of his truck and Scott was following behind. As Lance picked up a little speed all of a sudden the eggs started swirling up in a funnel shape and then flew out of the truck landing in the road and lining the sides of Hwy 150. Scott tried to get his attention to get him to stop and finally, after who knows how many eggs flew out they stopped and fixed the flyaway eggs. They tried to recover as many as they could without causing a traffic jam . . . but they didn't quite get them all.

Last night Scott was on his way home and Layne was talking to him on the phone and asked him where he was . . . typically his directional response is "at the steam station" or "passing over the lake" but yesterday his words were "I'm at the eggs." I thought, "Well, I guess we have a new landmark now. We will always refer to that place as 'The Eggs.'"

This week can pose as a new landmark for each of us . . . it can redefine who we are as followers of Christ. It is my prayer that as we walk through these days, even if they feel like a whirlwind . . .that we will allow the events and the meaning of these days and hours to redefine us and change us . . . . forever.

Thanks be to God!

Grace and Peace,
Andrea

Thoughts from the Last 24 Hours

I am safely at home - getting ready to go get ready for SLEEP but before I turn off my "technology" I wanted to put what was written sometime in the wee hours of the morn in Amsterdam but didn't post . . .

And just fyi - I wrote the majority of this after scanning my email in the airport and read there may be some issues w/ the high school and summer usage. Instead of normal "andrea mode" which would include lots of anxiety and panic - I figured perhaps I should just have faith and trust - and God would use whatever situaiton we found ourselves in for good.

The irony??? I opened my email just a few minutes ago - and there was an email from Mark Jordan - telling me all is well - we are good to go and there are no worries!!!! God was at work all the time - and I didn't have to be involved one iota!!!!!!

So . . . .here are my prior thoughts . . .

I look forward to sharing the Ugandan experience with you!

Take care!



We have been in the bus all day - and soon will be to the airport. Our plane leaves at 1am Uganda time - we fly all night - get home US time tomorrow night around six.

The trip was amazing . . . none of us will leave unchanged.

Yesterday afternoon after we ate a late lunch we went to do one final shoe distribution in Aurua. Way too much to type right now - and would much rather "preach" it than type it because it could easily be misunderstod - but let's just say we saw poverty and desperation in a way none of us ever imagined. Desperation - for a pair of shoes. HUNDREDS of children - at least 500 were on the site of that school by the time we left - all wanting, pleading for a pair of shoes.

The team looks forward to beginning a partnership with WC and Acres of Hope. As we prayed w/ Geoffrey and Stanley over the land Sara Beth told us that it was just August 16, 2010 that she and the Ugandan pastors stood on the land and prayed God would lead someone their way to walk along side them in the journey.


Well . . . . my computer died in the van yesterday when we were typing so the rest of the blog went away . . . sigh . . .

We are now in Amsterdam waiting on another airplane -

We said our goodbyes - hearts were heavy yet also filled with hope of what is to come.

THis is fulfilling what I have envisioned Christ called the church to be . . . NOT just something to "help out" but relationships. Kathy and I have prayed hard for a LONG time that God would bring the right relationships to Williamson's Chapel because you are a church with such a heart for serving people - both in Mooresville and now, truly, all over the world. Partnering with children in Afghanistan, looking to grow in the relationship with Christ Church in Kolkata, and now - partnering with others in the hope of building orphanages with a community of pastors in Nebbi, Uganda - I would say that is pretty close to fulfilling the call of the kingdom . . . to do unto the least of these.

And "the least of these" is what we have seen. Bellies so distended . . . hundreds and hundreds of children that run to us when we appear in an area . . . not running up to beg, mind you, simply running up for the touch of a hand. They all wanted to shake our hands . . . and if they were children who had been under the influence of any adult in their midst - as a sign of respect they would curtsey or bow.

The other children who perhaps had not experienced the presence of a "white person" merely stared but never in an unkind way. A curious way . . . looking . . . anticipating of what might can be.

Some realities are:
THIS OLD GIRL is a WEE BIT TIRED :)
THe other nine people who have given so selflessly of their time and money are exhausted too - not just physically but I think emotionally!
And I realized just now as some woman bowled me over while we were having our things scanned at security I am a bit grumpy too . . . .

BUT - and there is a BIG BUT!!!!
if you had told me even a year ago when we were in Kolkata that I would spend 6 days in the midst of nature - using the bathroom in places that really, REALLY are out of my comfort zone with creatures that I hope to never see again - showering in ways that don't leave me feeling clean - and whoever said "oh it's fine if they do not have hot water, African water isn't cold like you think." REALLY???????? Um, yes, it is a little cold!!!!!!

But - despite all those things - I sit here feeling nasty and grumpy but have a heart that is filled with joy and gratitude. I made the mistake of reading a few emails that downloaded and I see what reality awaits in about 10 more hours - - - -

And as a few situations seem insurmountable in the Inbox I remember that I have seen GOd multiply shoes to fit the needs of the children that kept coming . . . I have seen God Provide protection for the team as the earth rumbled a little bit (yes, there was an earthquake in Nebbi on Tuesday - most of the team slept through it but a few of us did not . . .) and I watched God empower two men and some other adults from the US have a vision for no more orphans and hunger in the middle of Africa and God has enabled them to begin on the journey to make that vision a reality.

Those without vision perish.

May we, as we each come home, so grateful to be in step w/ ministry with each of you, continue to see God's vision before us. A vision that is not based on material things or how many shoes and pocketbooks I can have (yes, I have been a bit convicted) but a vision based on using all that we are and all that we have to share God's love through all things - whether it is a single pencil, a "Smartie" (a piece of candy that comes in a pack - we gave each child 1. Not one pack - one piece of candy - and they would wait in line for 15 min to receive one)

Next weekend we will gather to package meals for "Feed My Starving Children." I see there are a few spots still open on Saturday - come join us in making a difference!!!!!!

I have already contacted FMSC to see if the next time (not next weekend, it is too quick to make a reality) but the next time we do this as a church - we can GUARANTEE that the very food we package will be distributed on the ground in Nebbi, Uganda. We also can even potentially schedule a summer 2012 trip w/ the distribution of the meals . . . and also a medical team . . . and a shoe drop. That is the vision for summer 2012. By then, it is my full hope and expectation that the first of the 3 orphanges will be built and children will no longer have names that mean "No Love" because they will be given new names in Christ.

November of this year we look to do another short Africa trip again. A week seems to work if you don't go do any kind of major sightseeing - which we did not do - no "safari's" for us - BUT i don't think a single soul will complain because we saw more animals on the side of the road and in the Nile that I ever imagined . . . .
BUT in November we will take women's dresses. THey do not wear pants . . . so we will do a "woman's dress shop" and let each woman in the village come and pick out an outfit for her! We will not only love those kids - but show love to those that care for them as well!!!!!!

Thank you as a church for supporting this - thank you for not "holding tight" to your dollars but for sharing them so generously with Mooresville and with the world!

Thanks be to God.

On way to the airport

Unsettled

For us it is a pipecleaner cross – for them it is the symbol of hope and the resurrection.

Today we met a young boy whose name is Merumbe. It means “without love”

I thought I misheard Stanley – one of the Ugandan pastors we are partnering with – and I asked him to tell me that one more time.

“It means ‘without love’ – his parent named him that most likely because his dad died from AIDS.

After that as we profiled him so he could then be sponsored by someone in the US – hopefully one of you for $31 a day . . . . I wept.

And we found out he lives with his dad and 2 brothers. There is no mom.

And his name is without love. And at some point – if not already – he knows that.

What would we do if that was our name?????

It’s different . . . much easier to blog in India when you go back to a 5 star hotel (granted, in India standards) and you have that environment in which to ponder and write.

Before I left Mark Jordan and I were chatting and he said “Surely it can’t be worse than what you experienced in India.” “Good point.” I responded.

Oh how I was wrong.

But let me say it is not “worse” as in bad . . . but I don’t think there is a human being on this trip that will say their heart remains unchanged. I guess “unbroken” would be the best way I could describe it.

Sunday’s worship was powerful at both churches. One group went to Stanley’s church and another group went to Geoffrey’s. In both worship experiences it was evident that God is universal and bridges all gaps between culture. At Stanley’s, the worship songs were chosen by the congregation (five minutes before the service started – gives new meaning to worship planning) and both languages filled the room as the songs of faith resonated among the people.

I had the privilege of preaching at Geoffrey’s church and other than forgetting that I had to STOP and wait for the interpreter to interpret my words and luckily the Williamson’s Chapel people yelled out “WHOA” it was again evident that God’s presence is far reaching. The praise team sang out “You Are Good” and the familiar lyrics and tune brought a peace that settled the team.

Sunday afternoon brought two more villages - - - one that truly was on the banks of the Nile River. As we stood there among the huts and the sun set over the banks of the Nile it seemed children came from everywhere.

In the thousands of years that we know that humanity has existed in that area I seriously doubt circumstances have changed. And the even more potent part of that realization was the lack of want or need. The villagers had peace. Yet there was extreme excitement as the van rumbled in. Roads? What roads!!?!?!?!?! Some “dirt” paths define roads . . .

The women made cross necklaces from the pipe cleaners and beads we brought from America and only later did we learn how important that was because the women from a neighboring village/tribe had enough resources to have their own beaded jewelry and the women of this area had nothing but literally the clothes on their backs. But now they have beads – in the shape of a cross. And the woman that I sat beside looked at me and said, “I am a Christian.”

That was all she knew how to say. But for her that was enough!

I only have internet for 1 minute and the team REALLY wants something posted – so this is all for now . . .

But as I leave the internet realm – the things I REALLY DESPERATELY want to never forget –

The group of children with bellies so distended from poverty standing around behind us a we circled today on the land Geoffrey (Ugandan pastor) has already purchased “Acres of Hope” and we blessed and prayed over that land – after we said “Amen” all the children started clapping. They could have NO IDEA what we were doing or saying but their clapping was a true sign from God that hope and joy abounds among the desert and the starvation and the death.

Eryn surrounded by a bunch of African women with smiles so large because they had some beads.

Morgan, Julie, Layne, Andrew, and Lance doing the parachute and the soccer and OF ALL THINGS the “Chicken Dance” without any words to entertain the children – and then the African women RUNNING up so they could do the dance too.

Meeting SaraBeth, Whitney, K.B., and Lacey and seeing their passion and sacrifice for the African people.

Pat, Lance, Scott, Kathy, Eryn, Layne, Andrew, Morgan, Julie and myelf are blessed to be a part of WCUMC. We are sad to get ready to come home but also READY because we have much to share!

Until then...