Skip to main content

Jesus totally transforms lives!

Today we went to Lar Davis, a beautiful Christian orphanage here, where some of the kids we know live. It was so touching to see C. and I.M., sisters who come from very difficult circumstances, so well. They are beautiful and the oldest one, C., said her dream is to be a singer and a missionary in the community she comes from. Thinking back to the state she was in 3 years ago when she was taken to the orphanage, it is impossible to say that God does not do miracles. He does!

I also saw L. who just turned 12. He was one of the boys in my little discipleship group from Oitão Preto, I led when I was here. One of the 10 who taught me lots of patience (smiles). He is thriving at the orphanage and continues to read his Bible, pray and memorise Bible-verses. It is good for him to be in a more structured environment as his mum, who is a single-mum, wasn’t able to control him anymore and it was dangerous for him. Still, it leaves me longing to see a solution that doesn’t involve moving the child away from the family, but rather provide sufficient support for the parents who want to raise their children to do so. Every case is different and I don’t know all the details. But it definitely keeps me praying. Praying for God to strengthen the value of family and praying for “SHINE”, the community development part of “My Father’s House”. Praying that God would keep using and anointing them to make a difference to the community and families living there.

That’s it for now. I am now based in the city, and tomorrow I’m off to the community to join with them in their intercession there. In the afternoon I’ll go into the city centre. I know I’m going to meet many familiar faces, and am praying for God to strengthen my heart as I meet them, as I know that some of them are really doing badly.

Popular posts from this blog

Getting to know the local culture.

Life is a strange thing. Last week went…not much happened, and then it was over. The weekend was quite calm without too many wild and exciting things happening. Except, of course, a wee outing to watch the National Championship for Veteran Ploughing. Now, like me, you might be sadly lacking an understanding of what this actually means. So I am delighted to be able to enlighten you in this respect. It’s basically (for the “farm-language-illiterate” like myself) a competition where you use old (hence the name “veteran”) tractors and ploughs, and plough up a stretch of field which is then evaluated and the one scoring the highest sum (accuracy, depth, how well the soil is turned is all given points) wins. I must admit that this information I got by eavesdropping on a conversation next to me where a man was explaining to some of my friends how it all works. So that was a fun adventure….although we only stayed for a bit. What is sort of occupying my mind at present is my upcoming travel abr...
Read more

Taking in the familiar and a heart connected.

Amsterdam. It still has that muggy feeling in Summer, and a constant flow of people which if you stop to think about it, it's quite amazing that there would even be space to accommodate them all. But then I guess they are not all staying. Just passing through on their way to or from somewhere. It's always good for the heart to visit somewhere that was once home. The familiarity of streets and customs makes it easier to embrace what might be new as well as the joy of being reacquainted with old friends. Friends. So many of them to be found in this city, ready with hugs and good words that are uttered when seeing someone who was away again. Friendship. A treasure that cannot be bought. Cobblestones trodden by many, including myself. Sitting on a bench. Praying. Remembering the first time I stumbled upon this area lined with windows with red lights and curtains. An area which has come to represent no longer windows, but people to me. Some still behind a window. Others who have ...
Read more

Romania- so much hope filling my heart for this nation.

As I sit down to write this, I am at the little table in a rented flat in the centre of Bucharest, Romania. It’s quiet. Strangely quiet considering we’re in the centre of a huge city. My feet are propped up on a worn fake-leather puff thing, and as I check the time I realize that I have been in the country less than 24 hours... and yet my heart is overflowing with impressions and emotion for a nation I barely know. It’s getting late, but I know I am too awake to sleep and so have made myself a cup of Earl Grey (with milk) and have sat down to try to capture at least a bit of what this day has been. As always, I write mostly for myself and the occasional other who desires to enter into the telling of my story. Driving from the airport last night, and getting the first glimpse of the city and seeing majestic buildings lit up towards the night sky, filled me with expectation. A beautiful city filled with so much history. I came wondering. Wondering what this nation I knew from w...
Read more