The MAF Blog: Worldwide Pulse

Posts Tagged ‘christ’

What’s in Your Parenting Toolbox?

Posted on: April 9th, 2012 by Liz Schandorff | 3 Comments

As I walked him to the school bus, I gave him a little pep talk: “There’s nothing to be afraid of. Your teacher will help you. The other kids want to be your friends.” But it was of no use; as the school bus pulled up, my five-year-old son kicked and yelled and cried, writhing out of my grasp and sprinting towards home. So I manhandled him into our car, drove him to school and left him struggling against the firm arms of his teacher. But by the time I reached home again, I was crying too; we had played out this scene every morning for two weeks, and it was wearing me down.

While I’m sure that an initial fear of school is normal for many kindergarteners, our situation had the added challenge of a language barrier: everyone at Jacob’s school spoke French.

We tried pep talks and positive incentives for “practicing our new words” as well as firm words and warnings of negative consequences for misbehavior such as refusing to get on the bus. I plundered my parental toolbox until it was empty, but nothing worked this time.

So day after day, I drove him to school and left him there, screaming. What else could I do? He couldn’t stay home; I still had my own French classes to attend, details for our upcoming move to another overseas location to work out, and a toddler who needed my attention too!

I shared my struggle with some other moms here at our language school in Quebec. While I appreciated their advice, their tips didn’t seem to work on my child. But we did pray together. And pray again. And then we prayed some more. And I slowly felt my burden lighten, as my sisters in Christ shared it with me, and we handed it over together to Jesus, time and again.

Turns out, there was no quick fix for Jacob’s fears. He struggled with going to school for months. But now? I don’t even try to walk him to the bus stop––he’s way too fast for me, as he runs to meet his friends! And I thank the Lord for teaching me a thing or two about sisterhood, and asking for help, and the value of regular times of prayer with our fellow students. Those tools are now sitting pretty at the top of my toolbox, ready to be quickly grasped when my next mothering challenge comes along!

Subscribe (RSS) to “Mom’s on a Mission.”

God in Action: Horn of Africa Famine

Posted on: August 3rd, 2011 by MAF |

Reflections from John Woodberry
MAF Disaster Response/Security Manager

At 8:30 this morning the MAF PC-12 arrived at Dadaab for a medevac flight. A teacher in one of the refugee camps had an extreme reaction to a tetanus shot. He was in quite a bit of pain and had a severe rash as the medical staff laid him down in the aircraft. Soon after landing, the aircraft was off to Nairobi and a hospital that could help stabilize him.

John Woodberry making friends

A half an hour later, MAF’s Caravan was landing with a delegation from Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to oversee some of the work in which they are involved. LWF is in charge of managing and coordinating much of the activity at the three refugee camps that dwarf the area view around Dadaab when you fly in. They are also involved in schools. Over 13,000 kids attend small schools in the camps.

As we drove home from a trip to the camps, my mind is still etched with images of people waiting in long lines to register so that they can have a small tent in the camp and food. Once processed, a ration card allows them to get food for their family twice a month. People arrive with mostly nothing, but they still have dignity; the dignity that God has given all of us made in His image. God is calling us to love our neighbors. There are still 1,300 arriving each day, but the camps only have capacity to register about 800 per day. Some 70,000 refugees have arrived since June 6th. They come hoping for food and security from the drought, famine, and evil facing so many in Somalia. Many people make small huts out of sticks, bushes, and pieces of tarp and live outside of the camp until they can be processed in.

God what are you asking me, one so blessed, to do? Miles and miles of huts and tents. The original camps started in 1991 and are rapidly increasing. A new camp extension has just been opened with new, shining white tents that look so different from the older camps. Saving life, physically and spiritually, is truly God’s work. By doing this work we are showing the love of God in action.

Blessings,
John

Photos

Refugee Camp

Long, hot wait space and tent in the camp

Constructing a Beautiful Tent

MAF Employee Thomas with Refugees

Set Free to Tell the Simple Truth

Posted on: June 9th, 2011 by Sean Cannon | 4 Comments

One of the joys of being a missionary pilot is the unplanned flights that leave you with a special memory. Although I serve and fly in Indonesia now, my family and I first served with MAF in Ecuador. One morning while I was just about to leave our hangar for a day of flying in the Amazon, I noticed someone in the passenger waiting area. It was Dewey, one of the men responsible for killing the five missionaries in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956. While modern law would convict him a murderer, God’s laws have set him free and he is one of the most radically changed men I know––passionate in his dedication to promoting and proclaiming the very God he once tried to destroy.

Dewey

When I asked him what he was up to, Dewey told me he was hoping he could catch a ride on a flight back to his home village. Not only was there a flight heading that direction, but I was the pilot and I even had an extra empty seat. I told him that we would have to make several stops before we got to his village but Dewey didn’t mind––in fact he liked the idea. While he was in Shell, where MAF is based, Dewey had found a children’s illustrated Bible. He was excited to use this simple Bible to share Gospel stories with those still living in the jungle. Better yet, for those that could not read, he could explain with pictures what God has done for them through the sacrifice of Jesus.

Shortly after we landed at our first destination, Dewey jumped out of the plane and began to share the Gospel from his new Bible. It didn’t take long for a small group to surround Dewey as he shared God’s love in a way that I could never have done as a foreigner and non-native speaker. At each of the several stops before we landed in his village, Dewey would preach the Good News to any that would listen.

I was blessed that day to realize how God’s plans are higher than mine, and that still many years later after the “tragedy” in the Amazon jungle, God was making His name famous in ways that I didn’t expect––using a man who truly understood God’s boundless grace and a simple, illustrated Bible.

Teachable Moments

Posted on: June 7th, 2011 by John Boyd |

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. – Proverbs 22:6

There’s usually a healthy discomfort that comes with seeing extravagant wealth juxtaposed with abject poverty. It’s troubling enough when we know it’s going on thousands of miles away. But when a short 10-minute drive reveals two vastly different ends of the economic spectrum, it brings up plenty of questions.

While in South Africa with my family this spring, our children were confronted with the grim reality of deep poverty. We drove through posh sections of Cape Town only to travel three miles further down the road to witness the absolute squalor of some townships. It created plenty of opportunities to discuss those challenging questions that we grapple with during our journey of faith.

We used our experience not only to immerse our children in another culture but also to teach them a few things about the character of God, starting with his sovereignty. We also talked with them about God’s grace and His mercy. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be in the same situation as the many people we saw, except for His mercy in our lives. When the “Why?” questions came, we were able to explain that what happened is the result of living in a fallen world where the greed and selfishness of man has created this terrible situation.

I enjoyed watching my children awaken to the heart of God, responding with mercy and love toward those they encountered who had obvious need. They wanted to help everyone. And while that was simply impossible, we were able to talk about ways to truly help others and what that looks like.

Those are the moments that excite you as a parent. It’s thrilling to see the stirring of your children’s hearts as they begin to move in sync with God’s own heart.

Nothing is Too Small

Posted on: May 27th, 2011 by Between the Verses | 1 Comment

“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. …” – Matthew 6:26a

My mouth is swollen upper lip to eyeballs, plumping up my face like a beaver. My six-year-old son asked me this morning, “Mommy, are you going to stay in your jammies and not go anywhere today?”

“Um, why? Should I stay home today?”

“YES. You should NOT go anywhere today.”

Gee, thanks. I’m still not too sure I am thankful (yet) for finally getting some dental work done. My dental graces were pretty worn out from that pesky number 13 which endured seven dentists in four countries, months of infection, and two root canals before resulting in a jaw-bone infection and eventual extraction. My post-field check-up in September resulted in recommendation for about $4,000 more in dental work for my tragic mouth.

I hemmed and hawed about the cost. I wondered about the wisdom of spending that kind of money on teeth, especially when we had other needs. My husband needed dental work, and the kids had a few things done, which would all cap our insurance. So I waited. December came and went, and our insurance started over. I decided I should at least take care of the missing filling and the cracked tooth that needed a crown.

As the rest of my needed work nagged at me, and with our departure for the field looming in two months, I began to feel convicted. I trusted God in quitting my job, selling all we had and moving to a desert land. I trust God to protect our kids and our family. I trust God for provision in our support needs. I trust God for needed prayer. I trust Him for our home, food, and clothing. So, why have I not trusted Him for my dental work? Doesn’t He care even to my last tooth and replacement? And nothing is too small for Him. What is the cost of dental work to the Creator of the universe?

“… Are you not of more value than they?” Matthew 6:26b

My crown was finished up, and I went to pay my portion, “How much do I owe?”

“You have a credit on your account.”

“What?” My eyebrows shot up as I clutched my checkbook.

“Your last payment was before insurance was billed. You have a $21 balance, but insurance hasn’t been billed for this one yet, so you should have a bigger credit when that clears.”

Thank you, God, that you care enough to convict me in my unbelief. Forgive me for thinking anything is too small to bring to You. I can’t wait to see how You will meet the rest of healing and restoration to my tragic mouth. For with You, God, ALL things are possible.

Love,
Beaver Face

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? – Matthew 6:30