When it comes to sharing my salvation story, i am quick to talk about the man who helped me "seal the deal" for Christ. Thing is, there were many others who helped guide me in the path towards knowing my Lord and Saviour. I rarely talk about them. Their role in leading me to Christ was just as integral. It took many people to get me where i am, now. Not just one person.
As a young, confused, troubled, self-loathing kid, my "dysfunctional" family and i had these next door neighbors who were christians. They were schoolteachers. Norman and Donna Whittum. Mr. Whittum was my fourth grade teacher. My sisters and i spent a lot of time over there, since their children were friends of ours. They always invited us to church and vacation Bible school that they led. We always did stuff with them.
I went to these activities, just for something to do, but, my attention span wasn't very long, and i never really gave this Jesus they talked about, much thought. Looking back, the Whittum's poured their love of Christ into us.
Then, my parents divorced. My mom, her crazy, abusive boyfriend, his kids, my sisters, and i, moved to California, never to see our neighbors again!!!
Last week, i helped a lady and her son move. Afterwards, they bought us lunch. In our conversation, unbeknownst to me, this woman knew the Whittum's!! she is great friends with them, currently!! they go to the same church!! they are alive and well!! this is crazy!!!
Today, i drove by their church. I felt the Lord telling me to go seek them out. It was potluck sunday....lol!!! there they were, Mr. and Mrs. Whittum, sitting at a table, eating. I just walked up and sat across from them. Haven't seen these fine people in thirty-three years!! it was surreal!! i could not believe that i was with these folks, who invested so much in me as a youth!!
I did not stay long, but, just to be there with them. To let them know that my life took a few crazy twists, but one day, at twenty-five years old, i came to know jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, the one that they always told me about!!! i could see this touched them!! they have no idea their impact on me!! they'd tell you that they didn't do much!! that is who they are, quiet, humble, unknown, obscure saints. What they did for me has changed my life!! Given me eternal hope!! it's a big deal!!!!
It was emotional for me to thank them from the bottom of my heart, but i did!! it feels great to express to people how much i love and appreciate them!! the difference that they have made!! they MUST know!! i have to tell them!! i barely left there without falling apart!!! i hadn't seen them in thirty-three years!!!
Just remember, you may think that you've never impacted anyone for Christ, but, how would you feel if thirty-plus years from now, a lost soul from long ago, walks back into your life, thanking YOU for being a great example to them?!! my hope and prayer is that this happens to YOU!!!! you really have no clue about the difference that you've made!! you are unaware of your impact!! thing is, you have. What a great day it will be to share this sacred, tender moment with the person that you least expect to come knocking at your door.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wasting Water
It may seem strange for me to write a blog about water, but, now, more than ever, i am compelled to do so. For no other reason than to awaken and create awareness of those in the world, dying from a lack of clean drinking water. This is something i never ever thought about until i witnessed it firsthand, over in Haiti.
At church, i have the duty of cleaning off the tables where we sit, eat and drink during the service. I found myself becoming inwardly disgusted with the many half-full cups of water that were wasted, on so many of the tables. Am i gonna become anal about chasing people around, lecturing those who waste water? no, definitely not. We as americans, living in the lap of luxury in the United States, are all a part of the problem. Yes, even me, especially me!!
I have looked into the faces of those who if they could, would probably drink every wasted cup of water on every table, if they could get away with it, with no thought of germs or bacteria!! this thought, repulses most of us. We are strangers to real thirst, our wastefulness is evidence of that!!
As i toiled at Du Croix, the Baptist Church camp, while in Haiti, i worked shoulder to shoulder with men in the harshness of the brutal humidity, who if it wasn't for those on on our Missions team, supplying them, worked all day, with a scarce supply of water!!
I had lunch under a palm tree with a man who devoured his food as if he hadn't eaten a decent meal in days!! i had to bite my lip to not cry in the presence of my newfound friend, who was so desperate to stay alive, day to day!! it's heart-breaking, i tell you!!!! the host family that my mission team and i stayed with, provided lunch for us and our haitian co-workers. I couldn't help but wonder if this was the only food and water that these men could count on. What would happen to them after our job here is done? who would feed them and give them water?
Sure, there's water in Haiti, but, if you drink it, you run the risk of dying from cholera or a variety of other diseases or parasites. It is unsafe. Those living in poverty, which is multitudes, have no choice, but, to drink it. They can't afford quality water!! i drink clean water, daily, without ever wondering if it's gonna kill me to consume it!!
One day, in our travels through the countryside, we came across a roadside casket shop!! Sad to say, this place probably gets a lot of business.
This blog may be too sad and melancholy for those who don't wanna wake up from their "Pollyanna-like" lifestyle, who refuse to dwell on anyone who is dying from thirst, hunger, or disease, by the droves, but, this is reality, for so many in this world!! in America, so many have the "me first" attitude. Our selfishness, wastefulness, neglect, and lack of thoughtfulness, compassion, and service to others, makes me ill.
In my own perverse, sick mind, i wanna have visions and nightmares of those in dire straits. The day i don't have the harshness and cruelty of the poor, permeated into my heart and soul, is the day that i will be useless to God and man. We MUST immerse ourselves in the sufferings of those in our midst!!
At church, i have the duty of cleaning off the tables where we sit, eat and drink during the service. I found myself becoming inwardly disgusted with the many half-full cups of water that were wasted, on so many of the tables. Am i gonna become anal about chasing people around, lecturing those who waste water? no, definitely not. We as americans, living in the lap of luxury in the United States, are all a part of the problem. Yes, even me, especially me!!
I have looked into the faces of those who if they could, would probably drink every wasted cup of water on every table, if they could get away with it, with no thought of germs or bacteria!! this thought, repulses most of us. We are strangers to real thirst, our wastefulness is evidence of that!!
As i toiled at Du Croix, the Baptist Church camp, while in Haiti, i worked shoulder to shoulder with men in the harshness of the brutal humidity, who if it wasn't for those on on our Missions team, supplying them, worked all day, with a scarce supply of water!!
I had lunch under a palm tree with a man who devoured his food as if he hadn't eaten a decent meal in days!! i had to bite my lip to not cry in the presence of my newfound friend, who was so desperate to stay alive, day to day!! it's heart-breaking, i tell you!!!! the host family that my mission team and i stayed with, provided lunch for us and our haitian co-workers. I couldn't help but wonder if this was the only food and water that these men could count on. What would happen to them after our job here is done? who would feed them and give them water?
Sure, there's water in Haiti, but, if you drink it, you run the risk of dying from cholera or a variety of other diseases or parasites. It is unsafe. Those living in poverty, which is multitudes, have no choice, but, to drink it. They can't afford quality water!! i drink clean water, daily, without ever wondering if it's gonna kill me to consume it!!
One day, in our travels through the countryside, we came across a roadside casket shop!! Sad to say, this place probably gets a lot of business.
This blog may be too sad and melancholy for those who don't wanna wake up from their "Pollyanna-like" lifestyle, who refuse to dwell on anyone who is dying from thirst, hunger, or disease, by the droves, but, this is reality, for so many in this world!! in America, so many have the "me first" attitude. Our selfishness, wastefulness, neglect, and lack of thoughtfulness, compassion, and service to others, makes me ill.
In my own perverse, sick mind, i wanna have visions and nightmares of those in dire straits. The day i don't have the harshness and cruelty of the poor, permeated into my heart and soul, is the day that i will be useless to God and man. We MUST immerse ourselves in the sufferings of those in our midst!!
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Eleven years and counting
It dawned on me this morning, that today, July 17, 2011, is my eleven year anniversary at my workplace, Cadillac Casting!! it sure went by fast!! most of the people that work there, can't stand it. Yes, it's a sweat shop, and if you're afraid of work, that isn't the place to be....lol!!! as tough as it is to work there, with the heat, and the laborious tasks, i am grateful for my job. Being employed there, has given my family, the blessing of a nice house, food, water, two reliable vehicles, and a comfortable lifestyle, if i really think about it.
In Haiti, i worked alongside a young haitian man, at Du Croix, the Baptist church camp, where we worked on the chapel and sanctuary. He's a day labourer who has nothing. Everyday, we picked him up in his Cap Haitien neighborhood, to go to work. Jean T lives with his girlfriend and their three year old daughter.
This man works hard and yet, nobody will give him a real, concrete job. He was being disrespected by his lady, saying he wasn't a good provider. Did she ever see Jean work? this guy does his best, and to her, he's just a loser. Oh, the pain i could see within this man.
My kids eat three square meals a day. His daughter goes to bed hungry!!! oh, it's not fair!!! what can i do to help this man, loved by God, to keep his head above water?!!
Lord, i ache for my beloved brother, so far away!! i sit here, employed, with tons of food in my fridge, with a roof over my head, and he's on the fringe of being homeless and discarded. He doesn't have education to even give him a leg up. Without education over there, you have no fighting chance to thrive!! with you, Lord, he does!! please work on his behalf, so that he can provide for his family. That he will bless you with love and gratitude because of it!! Lord, YOU are his sustainer!!
In Haiti, i worked alongside a young haitian man, at Du Croix, the Baptist church camp, where we worked on the chapel and sanctuary. He's a day labourer who has nothing. Everyday, we picked him up in his Cap Haitien neighborhood, to go to work. Jean T lives with his girlfriend and their three year old daughter.
This man works hard and yet, nobody will give him a real, concrete job. He was being disrespected by his lady, saying he wasn't a good provider. Did she ever see Jean work? this guy does his best, and to her, he's just a loser. Oh, the pain i could see within this man.
My kids eat three square meals a day. His daughter goes to bed hungry!!! oh, it's not fair!!! what can i do to help this man, loved by God, to keep his head above water?!!
Lord, i ache for my beloved brother, so far away!! i sit here, employed, with tons of food in my fridge, with a roof over my head, and he's on the fringe of being homeless and discarded. He doesn't have education to even give him a leg up. Without education over there, you have no fighting chance to thrive!! with you, Lord, he does!! please work on his behalf, so that he can provide for his family. That he will bless you with love and gratitude because of it!! Lord, YOU are his sustainer!!
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