Buy a Painting and Support Orphans with Cerebral Palsy!

Welcome to the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Orphanage Art Gallery!

During my visit to China in October of 2019, I visited this beautiful orphanage for children and young adults with Cerebral Palsy. The orphanage is run by a Christian woman who has dedicated her life to caring for these orphans. This place is filled with love, music, and art. Read more about this place in a previous blog post here.

Among the many educational activities they do with the children there, one of the most exciting to me is their arts and crafts. This place was filled with beautiful hanging mobiles, paintings, wreaths and more crafted by the children themselves. 

Some of the paintings and artwork are sold at exhibits there in China to raise money for the orphanage (it is not a government orphanage, therefore privately funded). I thought this was a wonderful idea and I wanted to help, so I brought 10 paintings home with me!

View Paintings for Sale

All monies raised will be given directly to the orphanage to help with expenses. This particular set of paintings will go to help with the cost of very much needed stomach tubes for the children.

We are in the process of having the paintings framed, but for now many of the paintings are shown without the frames. Each painting will come with a photo of the child who painted the piece, and it will be framed and ready to hang on your wall. We encourage you to keep the child's photo somewhere visible to remind you to pray for them often! China is a very difficult place to live as an orphan especially in a Christian orphanage (read more about that in my previous blog here).

We are asking for a minimum suggested donation of $40 for each painting. These would make a wonderful gift! I will even wrap them for you if you want. I will ship them to you for an additional $5.00 donation to offset the shipping cost.

View Paintings for Sale

Donate using PayPal or email me at lync475@gmail.com to place an order or ask a question. You can also message me on Facebook.

Underground in China

I spent two Sundays while in China. One of them spent broken up between visiting the Mountain Orphanage and traveling back from it. The first Sunday in China though was spent gathered around the living room of our host family. We weren't able to gather with a large number of fellow beilvers. There wasn't a band, lights or sound system. Ours was a sweet simple time together singing acapella using hymnals, listening to The Word and sharing with one another what God is doing in our lives. 

In China believers have to meet quietly like that. You aren't allowed to pass out Bibles or tracts. There's no praying with people on the streets or open evangelism. You aren't even allowed to bring a Bible into the country (which is why getting through customs can make you a little nervous!).

We do not have such restrictions here in America and we would be wise to remember this! As most of us sit in cushy seating in climate controlled rooms listening to worship music through a sound system with fancy lighting all around, let's remember our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

Let's remember that we have the freedom to speak boldly about God right on our very streets if we choose! Let's remember that and make use of every amazing opportunity given to us to preach the risen Lord, Jesus Christ!

An Orphan Stole My Heart

It's been 14 days since I left China. 16 days since I left those children at the mountain orphanage. My heart aches to hold them again to play with them and love on them. Each day I pray for them. Visiting those children was one of the hardest yet most beautiful experiences of my life.

I first heard about them from an acquaintance, Michele Eddy. We've known each other for a few years through the farmer's market in town. Last year she went to China to work with orphans and had posted several pictures and information about orphans over there. I was immediately drawn to her story, so I asked her to tell me more. She invited me over for coffee and to watch her presentation. I laughed and cried as she told me about all that she experienced. It left me deeply moved and I wanted to go to China. After that, I was introduced through facebook to missionaries in Michigan, China, Texas, and all over the globe. These people inspired me with their commitment to live out their faith daily. 

One year later, in August, Michele contacted me to meet with her again. She was planning a trip to China and wanted to know if I wanted to come. Of course, I did! So, once again we met for coffee and she gave me all the information I needed to know to begin the process. Through a network of contacts, I was able to obtain my passport, visa and all bookings needed to proceed. I was briefed on what to say and what not to say, also what to do and not to do to make the trip smooth with customs. I could hardly wait until departure day! I was excited to see what God had in store for me and my daughter (yep, I got her to go too!)

Arriving in China was, of course, a complete culture shock. I've written a little about that in another post, Welcome to Communist China: My Observations. We stayed with a family of 6 that moved there from Canada about 7 years ago to work with orphans. It was a blessing to be with them and hear first hand as they shared their joys and heartaches of life and ministry in China.

After settling in, we started our visits to some nearby orphanages. In all, we spent our time in three different places. They were each dramatically different from the other. The first was a formal, pretty well-funded place for the orphans of prisoners. It was one of 9 (if I remember correctly) such orphanages throughout China. It was quite impressive with their classrooms, bunkhouses, gardens, and programs, very institutional in environment and approach.

Sun Village: You can check them out through a google search to learn more. It's quite a moving story and I recommend checking it out on youtube to give you some background on life in China. 

Many of the buildings had fun murals painted on them.

This is the cafeteria.

Vegetables recently gathered by the workers. They grow all their own vegetables and fruit to sell and to provide for the children.

                  Group photo with all the plaques from all the sponsors that support Sun Village.

The second orphanage was a delightful, love-filled, artistic, music and joy-filled place for orphans with cerebral palsy. Can you tell I enjoyed this place?! The woman who runs this orphanage is a follower of Jesus Christ and it's evident in every corner of the place. Jesus shines through her as you talk to her. He's evident in the love and warmth felt there. In this orphanage workers and volunteers care for the children with exercises, nutritious foods, fresh air, art projects, education, music and walls decorated with images of kindness and beauty. The children learn English and Chinese and hear about Jesus and His love for them. Jesus is so evident that this orphanage has been under scrutiny by the police lately. Police visits happen more frequently and while we were there three children who had lived there since infants (now 13 and 14 years old) were taken away to state orphanages. Please join me in prayer for these children, workers, and director.

                                                  Posing with one of his many paintings.

                                      The children are busy at one of their paint sessions

      Working on part two of his painting. It sometimes takes multiple sessions to finish a painting.

                      Several of the boys enjoy watching how to play a Chinese chess game.

            The director with two of the children.

                                                     David working in his art studio.

The last orphanage we visited required a 6 hour trip into a mountain village. We spent an evening and the next afternoon before heading back to our host family's home. This orphanage I had been waiting for. The Mountain Orphanage (that's the protected name for it) is the one that Michele had visited a year ago and had told me about. I couldn't wait to see the children I had only seen pictures of! When we arrived at their new facility ( a huge improvement from their last one) some little children came running out towards us. Immediately my heart was stolen! I can't even say which one of them took it. Perhaps little Leo, or that one little girl that sat on my lap as I sang to her or the sweet little boy in the graphic sweatshirt that read SMILE. They were all in desperate need of love and attention and they all were so precious to me.

Little Leo

The director of this orphanage is not a Christian....yet. He has a temple that has been passed down from generation to generation that houses statues of many gods. There's even an entire room devoted to Satan. Somehow (by God's grace) he started providing basic care to babies and children left at this temple (he housed them in a cave near his home). He eventually ended up with more children in his care and over the years has acquired the current facility in which to house them. The thing is though, he still doesn't see these children as they really are. He's still heavily influenced by the predominately held view in China that life isn't sacred. These children being what's referred to as ghost children (children without ID papers) are not entitled to basic things like medical care, education or even homes. The children in his care are filthy, malnourished, sick and seriously in need of love. He doesn't see a problem. He feels he's doing a great job and I suppose it is better than nothing, but these children deserve more! It was very hard to smile as he and his family gave us a tour of the place and watched us interact with the children. We couldn't show tears, or our disgust because that would have been offensive. Be able to be there is a privilege our host family worked hard to earn.  I had to smile through the pain, hold my tears at bay and rub essential oils under my nose to keep the smells from overwhelming me. Some of the children were very sick and most likely dying. That's not an easy thing to witness and come away from unaffected.


While we were there we played, sang to them and just held them. We also took time to clean them up, rub lotion on their dry cracked skin and those of us with medical training checked each child over. The children soaked up our attention like a sponge! Just rubbing lotion and wiping their dirty faces, hands, and feet was enjoyed by them as though we were giving them a luxury spa treatment. They loved playing outside with the balls and bubbles we had brought with us. Simply having a ball or a bottle of bubbles was a big deal because they have no ownership of anything. They were very possessive of their treasures and would sometimes just sit with them afraid to let them go. One little boy had found some cardboard scraps and carried them with him everywhere. Whatever we played together the cardboard had to come too!

Giving the younger ones a check-up.

Checking the children in the sick room.

I got out my Smash Book to let them color.

We brought bananas for them. They loved to help us carry things in.

Just look at that smile! You can see why my heart was stolen.

China changed me. Those children changed me. Now I'm back here in my very comfortable life wondering what to do with it all. I didn't go with an organization that I can share with people in order to gain support that would have been the easy thing to do. When I thought about that I realized that I'm glad I can't ask you to write a check or charge your card to give to an organization. I'm glad because that's too easy. It's what most of us are used to. If we can donate somewhere then we can feel like we've done something. Now I'm not saying that money doesn't help in many ways for organizations out there doing good things that's not my point. My point is that many of us are too comfortable; our Christianity is too comfortable. When donating money becomes our form of ministry I think we should stop and think about that.

The reason that the Mountain Orphanage and the CP (Cerebral Palsy) Orphanage are so vastly different comes down to one thing. Or in this case, the One Thing! Jesus Christ is the game-changer. He's the One who has captured the heart and mind of the woman at the CP Orphanage and in turn transformed many children's lives in China. Faith in Jesus Christ is the difference and you can't get that with a donation. You get that when faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 
We are called to GO tell the Good News and DO good works that they might see those works and glorify God.

So, this is my challenge to you and me. Stay here in America or go to China, Africa, Brazil, or wherever, but just GO and DO! Start telling the Good News to everyone around you. Start doing good for those around you not just giving money.
Also, please remember the orphans who stole my heart in China and pray for them. Pray too for the director at the Mountain Orphanage (we smuggled Bibles to him and his family!) Jesus isn't finished with that man or that place yet. I'll keep you updated!

                 Remember to pray for these precious little ones!


P.S. If any of you read all the way through this, thank you! If you would like to find out how you can be involved with orphans or spreading the Good News in China, email me at lync475@gmail.com or find me on facebook. I can point you to some secret resources!

Welcome to communist China. My observations.

I recently returned from a 13-day adventure into China. I went with my daughter and a dear friend who had introduced us to a missionary family via Facebook. This family has lived and worked in China for 7 years now. I have followed their work with orphans and was excited to get to meet them face to face and work with the orphans I had only seen pictures of.  I didn't set any expectations for the trip, rather I tried to stay open to whatever God wanted to do and teach me.

From the moment we landed in China the whole experience was a shock mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I plan to write about these experiences over the next weeks.
Here are some of my initial thoughts collected from my observances. I hope you gain some insights from them.


The Chinese government seems to enjoy creating chaos. Especially for foreigners. They have multiple lines and duplicate checkpoints to check foreigners. This means a lot of waiting, walking, standing and stress.

Airport Security

Twice they demand your fingerprints not just one, but all fingers! They scan your passport several times and just for good measure there's an actual guard who scrutinizes it too (I smiled at them, but they were not impressed!)

Beijing Checkpoint

They also take your picture not once but repeatedly and they use facial recognition software. It's really unnerving. No one is getting by them!

Beijing Checkpoint

The Chinese government loves their control! There are different driver's license requirements for different parts of China. You can't just drive freely wherever you want. And don't forget those cameras, they are not just for the airport they are everywhere! That's not an exaggeration either. Along the road, you will see white flashes overhead as cameras take pictures of drivers at regular intervals. Cameras on the sidewalks, in shopping areas, everywhere. There are even security guards set up throughout; you don't enter a shopping area or even subdivision without a checkpoint.

Traveling within China from one province to another is a hassle. You can't just travel from one place to another like we do from state to state. There are rules and laws and checkpoints and; seriously you are taking my picture again? Chinese people are not allowed to travel freely from province to province. You have to have a permit that way they can control the population in bigger cities and especially keep the poor in the poor areas.

Driving, walking and just getting around, in general, is a risk. Lanes, traffic lights, lines on the roads are all optional. Turning left? Often there isn't a light, and even if there were, you just get out there and turn when you think you can. It's very terrifying! People walk out in front of you at any time, trucks run on red lights, motorcycles and rickshaws are always whizzing about alongside traffic it's all very overwhelming.

Cleanliness is an issue too. In some ways they take cleanliness serious for instance, the elderly are employed to maintain the roadways by picking up litter, trimming trees and sweeping the roads, but in other ways the Chinese lack common cleaning practices.
The main examples are:
     Bathrooms: Now this I can not understand. I'm sure someone with more knowledge can explain this to me and I admit my ignorance. To me though, it seems common sense to provide soap to wash your hands after using the bathroom. It also makes sense to me to use toilet paper when needed and furthermore to flush the toilet paper so that your bathrooms don't stink so bad! But maybe there's a very good reason for this and I am unaware.
Since we are on the topic of bathrooms, can we please get with the times and raise the toilet up to a proper height for women? I mean, really! Why is it acceptable to make us squat all the way to the floor!
     Hospitals: Granted I did not go into the hospitals myself, but the family we stayed with have lived there for 7 years and, unfortunately, they have had to visit the hospitals more times than they care. For starters, I hope you never need an ambulance. Two things are necessary to use the ambulance, money, and someone to call, unless you are alone and then, hopefully, you have the presence of mind and ability to use your phone to get an ambulance. Even if you manage to get an ambulance, I hope it isn't too critical because good luck having it reach you in time! Traffic does NOT have to yield to an ambulance in China. Now, this I witnessed first hand as the border checkpoint held us up asking dumb questions while an ambulance with it's lights on was behind us!
Ok, so no once you get to the hospital be prepared for a whole lot of chaos! You get to the desk and pay for your visit and everything else, collect your receipts, go and get your own IV supplies and then have a seat. Yep, I said get your own stuff and have a seat. Stretchers, gurneys, private rooms are rare. Most likely you will wait out there with everyone else for hours and the doctor when he/she sees you will see you out there. Oh, and the hospitals are not clean. It is not uncommon to see blood on a wall, or in the sink, or other things. It's not uncommon to have your doctor attend with unwashed hands or to rinse out blood from a rag then proceed to wipe down the table and rinse it out in the same sink and then use that sink to wash your hands (if the doctor decides to even wash). Many of the medical supplies you may need, you will need to go around the hospital to collect yourself.
One of the family members we stayed with told us about a time she ended up in the hospital, She had passed out from a heart condition. She was in the hospital and at one point she needed to be transported to another section of the hospital, this required her family to have to carry her outside, in the rain to the other section. This was just a typical experience in a Chinese hospital!

All of this seems to be a natural extension of the belief held by the Chinese government that human life is not sacred. Don't believe me, do a basic Google search for "sanctity of life China" and see what you come up with. I was only in China a brief time and my friends for only 7 years, but it doesn't take long to see the reality of a communist government that cares nothing for the sacredness of life, but rather sees it only as a means to wealth. The people, in general, do not smile at one another or greet one another. There isn't a concern for the general well being of the people around you. Men abuse women right in public and people just watch or continue on. Fights break out and no one cares. Horrible accidents happen on the road and unless you are able to call for help or you are with someone who cares about you, you may never get the help you need. People will instead gather around to take videos or photos of you as you lay there suffering.

I don't pretend to know everything about China or write this to paint everyone in a bad light. It's my 12-day observance of people living in a communist country. There are, of course, decent people living in China and there are those that even know Christ, thank God. But overall there is a darkness that hovers over china, and as followers of Jesus, we would be wise to not forget about them. We would do well to remember them and pray for them and take every opportunity to bring light and hope to our fellow men, women, and children living in China.

The Elephant In The Room

Let’s recall that the mandate of Jesus was not actually that we agree with one another, it was actually much more challenging. We are supposed to love each other, which is really, really hard—and pretty much impossible if our lives are not lived together.

Our community is suffering. We have a glaring homeless problem in our midst that we aren't addressing. Solving this complex problem begins with listening to each other, removing the blame and shifting the responsibility to all of us. We need to get together in the same room, look at the existing assets of our community and begin to seek a solution.

We have people out there living in tents, sleeping in cars, or on couches, moving from house to house and they are wondering if it will ever change.

Say what you want about why these people are homeless or what you think the homeless should be doing to move forward, we are never going to agree. That's not the point.

Bottom line, the homeless are people. People made by God. Jesus still died for them to save them that they might have life.

Their lives matter. Let's agree on that and do our part to make sure they know that in our community, people matter.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Come on, let's move this town forward together you and I. It won't happen through one agency, organization, or church. It won't happen at all, unless we come together and make it happen.

Speak up by contacting your commissioner. Talk to your church leaders. Contact The Refuge and let us know you want to be a part of change in our community.

There are solutions. Other communities are far ahead of ours in implementing innovative and effective plans to address homelessness. We CAN do this together.

Who is my commissioner? Find out at this link http://lapeercountyweb.org/whois.htm

The Refuge contact: www.therefugelapeer.org 

Get uncomfortable. Volunteer for something new.

This past winter I was doing some research for Stone Soup Food pantry trying to find ideas for programs to offer our community.
I came across many cool programs for kids that dealt with cooking and nutrition.
I thought,  "what a great idea!" Let's get kids excited about eating healthy! Since I couldn't find anything like that already being offered in Lapeer I decided to give it a try.

Of course I've never in my life led a class about nutrition or cooking. But with all the resources available on the Internet I figured I'd give it a shot.

Just a few searches and anyone can get a basic understanding about almost anything. It's great. And with a little more time you can become a mini expert on a subject.

I put some time in on the Internet and came up with all sorts of resources,  ready made lessons, and printables.
Then I called the local library to arrange an evening to hold the class. The library took care of promoting it and soon I was taking calls from parents wanting to register their kids.

My first class was this past Tuesday and you know what?  It was a lot of fun!
The kids were excited and into the lesson and I can't wait for the next class.

Who knew it could be so much fun teaching kids how to eat healthy.

Is there something you have been wanting to do but you feel you aren't qualified?  Just try it!  Get involved in your community connecting with others by trying something new.

Maybe you could sit and paint with the elderly at a nursing home, or even just go and paint some ladies nails!  Believe me they will love it!

Maybe you could try helping out at a local food pantry. Volunteer at a local animal shelter or school.

Get creative. Find out what's missing in your town and see what you can do.

Remember it only takes a small act to shine a bright light in your community.

Volunteering Has Meaning

Lately, I've been talking about the need for volunteers at The Refuge Homeless Shelter of Lapeer where I am co-founder. 

Through research on the topic of volunteer recruitment and through conversations with friends I've come to the conclusion that we may have forgotten the meaning in volunteering. Also, I think we've mislabeled the ordinary, simple acts often needed in volunteer positions as beneath us in our pursuit to "make a difference".

It's easy to live our lives disconnected from each other in this day and age by keeping our connections limited to the realm of status updates, texts, and tweets. This type of connection while not all bad keeps, us at arm’s length from others. It doesn't help us connect with our communities.

Volunteering in our communities however, puts us in direct connection with others allowing us to share their joys, hurts, victories, and pain making us stronger communities.

I found an article written for the American Red Cross. You can read the full article here: http://www.redcross.int/EN/mag/magazine399/31999_8.asp

In it the author sums up for me the incredible value in volunteering. 

"The value of volunteers is not simply that they deliver services that would otherwise be too expensive to provide. Volunteering is in itself a social, communal act; one that encourages people to be actively involved in working with, understanding and supporting fellow human beings. 

Volunteering strengthens community links, encourages participation and promotes an awareness that quality of life can be affected and improved by the acts of each individual."

I love that. I really like the line in particular that states that "volunteering is a communal act that actively involves people in understanding and supporting fellow human beings." 

That's beautiful! It's also in line with what Jesus taught. Jesus demonstrated time and again while on this earth that a full life involves loving God and loving and serving others, bringing light into dark places.

Volunteering is not just a connection to another person outside of our normal circle of friends and family, but it is connection to Christ himself. 

When you participate in something that is bringing about change, healing, or betterment to the community and it's people then you are part of what Jesus is interested in. 

Finally, I want to point out that it doesn't matter if we volunteer by working one on one with another person or participate in behind the scenes work. Everything matters, even the small things. Mother Teresa would say, "do small things with great love."

I was talking with a friend a few weeks ago and he commented that the couple times he had come to volunteer at The Refuge, there "wasn't anything for him to do, but sit and visit with the guests." 

Now he didn't mind doing that, but it made me think. 

Do our volunteers understand the significance of even small acts of service?
We don't always get to be part of the action on front lines. Some don't want to be a part of that anyways.
The point is that each act matters. 

Making better communities, shining light in dark places, coming alongside someone in need, most often takes ordinary acts. Acts that sometimes need to be repeated often and maybe even for long periods of time.

We all want to make a difference. We all want to make our time count. Consider your community around you and what the needs are and get yourself connected.
Do something small. Do something a little bigger.
Do something grand.
Just do something to participate in loving people like Jesus asked us to do.

All good things must end?

I wrote this post yesterday, but my thoughts were a jumble, so here's a clearer version.
I have a hard time saying things up front because I'm always worried that someone will take offense or think I'm too negative.

Yes, The Refuge is in trouble right now. I'm saying it as clearly as possible.

I try to be positive about things because I know that what we are doing by providing shelter to homeless in Lapeer is a good thing. A great thing in fact, because there is no other shelter in Lapeer.
There's clearly a need for one since this winter alone we housed 52 individuals. Actually, the number would be higher if we didn't have a cap set at 20 each night. So, what we are doing is a great blessing to the community. I know that, so I don't want to give up.

But it is a never ending job to get volunteers, keep them and help those in need all at the same time. The job gets harder and harder every year and The Refuge is losing ground steadily.

We need a shelter. We need more than shelter.
But there's not enough people to help.
The Refuge can't continue with the way it is without volunteers and it certainly can't grow to meet the needs that go beyond temporary shelter.

I get so frustrated.  I read books about making a better outreach for homeless persons, but don't have enough people to make it happen. Then I decide to read everything on marketing (yes marketing because let's be honest that's what any organization has to do in this day and age), recruiting volunteers, and leading.

I feel like we're just spinning our wheels though. Something has to change and I'm willing to do whatever is needed.

Over the years The Refuge has been a great blessing. It hasn't always been such a struggle.
I listen to our homeless guests stories each year when I sit down with them to an interview and it's unmistakable that The Refuge is a blessing in their time of need. I'm grateful beyond words to be a part of that.

For example, did you know that some would have died from living outside in the cold had we not been there?
Did you know that we have a very small group of ladies who work in the medical field that take time to see our guests regularly while we are open?
Because of their dedication to helping we've actually saved the lives of some of our guests.
We've had several over the years get baptized or recommit their lives to Christ.
Many are in permanent housing now living stable lives because we were there when they needed us.

What a blessing The Refuge has been!
The reality though is we don't have enough volunteers to keep making it happen.

I don't know what to do.
I've been working every angle I can think of.
I've been praying.

I don't care if The Refuge as we know it ends so long as something takes it's place. I'm all for partnering with whomever to get the job done. I just want to help people bottom line.

It doesn't have to be The Refuge, but it needs to be something.
Our community has to come together somehow to meet this need.

People are still out there living in tents, staying on couches from one house to another, still dealing with everything that they have been carrying with them for all this time and wondering if it will ever change.

And say what you want about why these people are homeless or what you think the homeless should be doing to move forward.
Bottom line, the homeless are people. People made by God. Jesus still died for them to save them that they might have abundant life.

Their lives still matter and I want to make sure that I let each of them know that. I want to make sure that whether they accept help or move forward or not move forward that they know that they matter.

If they know that, then at least I've done all I can to show them love and what they choose to do with it is their choice.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Here's my simple prayer. Lord of the harvest send workers into this harvest field. Amen.

3:46 am: its cold!!

So I think I slept about 2 hours this night.
For everyone who doesn't know, my family, friend and I are sleeping outside for The Refuge's homeless awareness event.

Now it's almost 4am and really cold and really uncomfortable.
The cold is not bothering so much as my back. Trying to stay comfortable is hopeless.
The other problem is the noise. My goodness if I had to do this often I would pick a place away from the road and train!!

My son however is freezing!

We just walked over to the Catholic church across the road to use the bathroom. Headed back to figure out how to make it until a little later.

We ended up in the van until 5. Then we got breakfast, packed up, and now in the van again.

We thought that if we did this again next year we were thinking of staying the night in the car. Then we could identify with those living in their cars.
We could pick a parking lot close to M-24, get a lot more people to do it with us and put big signs in our car windows. Hmmm....what do you think?
Anyway, make sure to make your One Day for The Refuge gift today. Our fundraiser is today.
Give online or stop by here until 11, or drop a check in the mail.

Sleeping outside tonight

Well there were about 40 people gathered here tonight to share a meal, prayer time, and fellowship.

Now my family, my good friend Amy and I are in our tents trying to keep warm!

We'll see just how much sleep we get. We know there is at least one homeless person in a tent tonight, so we'll get a good idea of what it's like for him.

In the morning from 9-11 we'll be gathered out here for sign brigade. It's also our One Day For The Refuge fundraiser.

Well time to go for now. Good night!

2 Top Problems in Lapeer

Whew! What a whirlwind of activity today.
Today was supposed to be a day of preparing for the National Homeless Awareness event tonight at the Marguerite deAnglei Library in town at 6pm-8pm.
It turned into more than that however.

As many of you know Tuesday evening there was a large fire that ruined some apartments in down town Lapeer leaving about 10 people displaced.

I just came from an hour and half long emergency meeting put together by Rod Smith from the Lapeer Community Church to try to put some organization to all the outpouring of aid that has been coming in for these victims of the fire.

This brought up the discussion of two main problems in Lapeer.
1. Homelessness
2. Lack of an emergency plan of action for situations like fire or natural disasters.

When something like this happens the American Red Cross steps in and does a wonderful job at handling the immediate need of shelter for about 3 days. After that, Lapeer has no other readily available assistance.

Fortunately, we were able to get somethings moving and develop a plan of action today between Love Inc. and the Housing Resource Center to aid in this situation.

Anyone wanting to know how to help please call Love Inc. at 810.245.2414
This just came in from Lapeer Chamber of Commerce

Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce Love INC. of Lapeer will be acting as a monetary donation center for ALL of the families and individuals affected by the recent fires over the past week.

LOVE IN THE NAME CHRIST a para ministry here in Lapeer, is accepting monetary donations, cash or check. The donations will be used to provide vouchers for the families and individuals to assist them in purchasing food, housing, personal items, utility bills, etc. 

PLEASE EARMARK DONATIONS FOR:
FIRE RELIEF FUND
MAIL or DROP OFF AT ANY BRANCH OF 
LAPEER COUNTY BANK & TRUST

FOR DONATIONS OTHER THAN FINANCIAL PLEASE CALL 
LOVE INC. FIRST AS THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS DONATIONS OF CLOTHING ALREADY

THESE FAMILIES ARE ALSO IN NEED OF TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT HOUSING
FOR QUESTIONS OR INFORMATION ON HOUSING PLEASE CALL
SUE BRADY AT LOVE INC
810-245-2414

Find even more info. about needs here https://www.facebook.com/events/1433297223555965/?previousaction=join&source=1

In the future though, we would like agencies and concerned citizens to come together to help develop a plan that can be implemented immediately if this or another tragedy should occur.
If you would like to be involved in that, I will be posting when those meeting times will be and where. We most likely won't meet until January.

I'm glad that we are able to take action and at least in this situation we can meet the needs
But there's always the constant problem of homelessness.

We discussed the greater need of a year round shelter as well as the gaps and often disorganized problems with assistance to homeless persons.

Tonight's event is just one way The Refuge is attempting to bring about the awareness of the problem of homelessness.We will be gathering for a simple meal and fellowship and then a time of prayer.Then my family, my two friends and I will be sleeping out in a tent for the night to identify with those that even this week are homeless living in a tent themselves or in their car.

It takes a community working together to address these needs.
More importantly it demands the attention of believers, of those who claim Jesus as their savior to head the call to action.

Join me and the many others working to provide hope to those in need in Lapeer County.

What would you tell Pete?

Why can't we get along?

My friend Pete (made up to protect those involved) helps out at some local missions.
He's a real peacmaker. Always trying to see from another's point of view. Always trying to bring people together to care for one another.

The problem? 

The people in charge of some of the missions can't get along.
Even though each is important, and each one works hand in hand to meet the needs of the community, they undermine eachother sometimes.

They talk to others in the community negatively about eachother.
Sometimes even saying things that aren't true or are based on bits of miscommunicated information, or jumbled up facts.

Pete, tried to talk to them. He had lengthy conversations with some, made several meetings. Each time he went he thought that things had been settled. He thought that everyone agreed that there's been some misunderstandings and that they would all try to work together.

But despite his efforts he heard today that one of the leaders, one that he thought for sure he had come to an understanging with, said some hurtful things about another mission to someone in the community.

This community member was excited and wanted to raise some awareness for several of the missions. She was met with some harsh words, however, from this leader about one of the missions she wanted to include.

Fortunately, she wasn't put off.
She knew of the good that this mission does, that all of them do every day, and the importance of working together.
My friend Pete is devasted though.
He really thought he had made some headway in bringing peace.

So what would you do in this situation?

Would you confront the leader and ask why they said such things?
Would you ignore it since it turned out fine in the end?

Top 3 lessons this year

I haven’t posted in a long while.

I’ve been busy, and distracted.
Mostly, though I haven’t known how to put my thoughts down in any way that would be worth reading.
So, here’s an attempt to summarize the lessons I’ve been schooled in these last few months.

1. Patience

Over and over I keep being reminded of being patient. Patiently waiting on God. I want immediate results. Sometimes I think I need immediate results, something that will show me a glimmer that there’s good being done in what I do. I’ve been reading through the Gospel of John lately, and Philip Yancey’s book Reaching for the Invisible God. Every time I read from either one lately it seems I’m reminded of patience.

Just recently in a chapter of Yancey’s book I read this quote, “patience and hope are the substance of faith. Patience formed by a long memory of what God has done and hope that our faithfulness will prove worth the risk.” I like this. I will remember this when I’m feeling discouraged.

2. Cowardice

Jesus says often in the Gospels, “Fear not.” The apostle John writes “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear…” In other words, the cure to fear is not a change in circumstances, rather a deep grounding in the love of God.

I have found that lately I’ve been a coward. I do things out of fear rather than love. Fear of being found lacking. Fear of being unaccepted, not good enough. I’m afraid of discomfort, pain, uncertainty, and I’ve found myself angry and irritable as a result.

Daily I have to remind myself, even moment by moment I have to remind myself that my identity is found in Christ alone. I don’t want to be a coward.

3. Forgiveness

I’ve been tripping up on anger and bitterness not only toward a few who have hurt me, but towards myself. Things in life don’t go as we expect them. People don’t always behave as you want them to, and many times we don’t behave as we ought.

Jesus is clear that we must forgive. It’s hard to forgive though especially yourself.

"Daily I pray for God to melt my heart with his love. Transformation comes, in the end, not from an act of will, but an act of grace. We can only ask for it and keep asking.” Phillip Yancey, Reaching for the Invisible God

My change vs. your change

Ever since the mission trip to Charleston, WV I've been thinking a lot about what it takes to make a change.

Making a change in anything takes a focused effort.

We can all agree on that.
We don't agree on what qualifies as change though.

Example:

There was a discussion at a benevolence meeting to discuss where funds should go to meet various needs within the community and abroad.
Needs such as money to support a young pastor in another state, an expensive mission trip to Haiti to build a house for a sponsor child, and relief money for an area struck by a natural disaster came up.
All of these were approved with little to no discussion.
Then the topic of a local need camp up.

This need required a small donation to help fund a purchase to help some individuals get on their way to stability.
This topic was discussed a lot. Heatedly too.
All because of our different views on change.

What was the difference between the local need and the other needs?
Nothing other than opinions on which need would bring about the desired change we want to see once the need is met.

That's it.
We look at those we help all the time and compare them, analyse them asking, "If we help will the situation change? Will the person change?"

The problem with that is we just don't agree on what "change" is and so we argue or walk away or whatever our response.
Then nothing gets done.

Everyone whether it's a homeless person, a leader, church member etc...get tripped up in some way by this concept.
I wrestle with it all the time.

When we are faced with a conflict between what we think and another person thinks we have an option.
We can stretch ourselves and consider their point of view.
We may even ultimately still disagree with them.
But to hold on to our ideas so closely that we are willing to sacrifice what's important on our altar of 'being right" only causes damage.

If we want change to happen, it takes work, patience and a willingness to see things from beyond our own ideas.

People, both homeless persons, community members, and church members all get tripped up in some way by that question.
It haunts me.
I've seen people walk away from ministry all the time because of this question.
Is there a change enough?
I wrestle with it and have wanted to walk away.

Doing something awesome

One day of our mission trip we went to a place that works with the men of the community to rehabilitate homes while training the men with new work skills.
I was very impressed with the organization.
When we arrived the pastor say us down and played a video for us called Pep Talk by Kid President.

Maybe you've heard of Kid President, but I had not.
I enjoyed the video a lot.
You can watch it here if you like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-gQLqv9f4o

My favorite part in the video is when Kid President reads a line from Robert Frost's poem titled The Road Not Taken.
Kid President says, "two roads diverged in the woods and I took the road less traveled...And it hurt man! Really bad! Rocks!, Thorns, glass.....Not cool Robert Frost!

I watched that and I laughed. That line sums up my experience in this life.
It sums up 11 years of working with homelessness, the mission trip...A lot of my experience as a follower of Christ.

Philippians 2:12 is says "work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
It is work.
It's hard hard work. It takes a lot of uncomfortableness. It takes enormous patience.
It's clear why we don't like to do it.
It's no fun.

To make real change to have people really notice a difference in us the difference that Jesus talks about the kind that got him killed and his followers tortured that kinda difference takes enormous effort.

Diligence. Day in and day out focused attention.
Instead we settle for what the world tells us is acceptable.

We buy into the lie that it should be easy or at least not too hard.
If it's uncomfortable if it's causing us stress or taking too much time then we are told we should reconsider.

But, people are dying and going to hell.
People are suffering.
Hungry and sick.

I know I need to wake up.
I know I need to get on my knees before God and get out there and serve.
I know it's going to be hard too.
I think even harder than I care to admit.

In fact, Jesus showed us just how hard it is. Unto death kinda hard.
He even says this,
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

That sounds hard.

We hold the weighty responsibility of doing something awesome.
Not just because but because there is a God.
A God who loves us and compels us to love each other.

Let's love enough to do something hard,
something uncomfortable,
something truly awesome.

Grace

I've been working with homeless persons for 11 years now.
Every winter for about 6 months I see what it's like to work with those in need to work with the church, and depend on God.
It's opened my eyes a lot.
I've been yanked and stretched.
I've been uncomfortable.
The whole experience has made me ask hard questions.

I would say it's been the best thing to happen to me.
I've grown closer to God and have learned more about love, trust and Jesus.

One thing though that has nearly crippled me is our talk as a church about serving Jesus, and transformation in Jesus, but seeing very little of it actually happen.
In my own life I see the gulf between my faith and my actions.
I'm just really content to live for my own comfort.

I've gone through a lot of anger the past 2 years.
It's really frightened me.
I haven't felt full of faith, strong and sure.
Instead, I've been afraid, full of doubt, unsure, and weak.
It wasn't always that way, so I've been scared of what that means.
Is God still there?
Does He still listen?
Has my love turned cold?
Will He use me anymore or am I shriveled dead fruit?

I never gave up though on God. When it comes right down to it,for me there's just no other answer to life other than Him. I know who I was before and what I experienced when I gave my life to Him and there's just no denying that something happened. So I believe. No matter what, I believe.

But the struggles and questions persist.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul was struggling,and he asked God to take away the thing causing his struggle and God said to him "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

I've come to the conclusion that God really means it when He says "My grace is sufficient".

He's not taking away my struggles they are part of who I am. I can beat myself up about it. I can rant at the world. I can run and hide.

I mentioned in the post before this that I was part of an all girls week of camp.
The whole week was about coming out of our hiding and being real with ourselves, God and others.
God showed me a lot through that experience.
So, here I am.
I have lots of questions, and I don't understand much. I'm even still angry sometimes :)

But, I'm stepping out from my hiding place with all my flaws and falling on His grace for I know that it's sufficient.

Backing up before going forward

In order to make sense of everything I've learned in these last 2 weeks I have to look back to all girls week at Wolverine Christian Service Camp. 
There was a lot of planning and preparation that went into that week of camp.
Creating something that will impact others forces you to look at yourself to see things differently and make sense of your personal story.
The camp theme this year was step up! Be the change
Our week focused on stepping up to ourselves and coming out of hiding. Like hiding from our pain hiding from God and others.
We wanted to inspire them to  step up to being loved by God loving each other and doing good.
I know I learned much about myself.
I hope the girls learned a lot too.
Throughout the week the girls were encouraged to use a canvas that hung on the wall to write down the things that they learned or things that inspired them. 
It was a great assessment tool.
By the end of the week it was filled with prayers and glimpses of the impact the lessons had on them.
We had small groups where the girls could really open up. It was at these times many of the girls just really let themselves be real and honest. 
It was beautiful.
Hopefully, the girls will remember that week. Hopefully, they will remember that God loves us so incredibly much just as we are that we can start now to step up and make a change in our lives.
I know I will remember.