Asia and Chocolate

Sweet Maria

Maria Chapman's funeral just started a few minutes ago. I still don't have the words or the thoughts to wrap my head around what happened.

I know there has been a lot of buzz on the internet since she died on Wednesday night, but all of our talk aside, please just pray for them. God can handle all of our questions and hurts and grief. 

Please ask the God of the UNIVERSE to comfort and heal and hold them close today and every day.

May HE be glorified through the broken world we live in.

In lieu of flowers, the Chapmans request any gifts be directed to Shaohannah’s Hope. You can donate to the Maria's Miracle Fund in memory of Maria Chapman. For donations by mail, send to Shaohannah's Hope, c/o Maria's Miracle Fund, PO Box 647, Franklin TN, 37065.

If you would simply like to leave a message for the Chapmans, you can do so on this blog in memory of Maria.

I ♥ Indonesia

I love this ministry. And it's incredible to me how God used such a devastating natural disaster to change the course of my life and to change the history of this amazing nation.

For a family who needs a community ...

When I was in jr. high I had a best friend named Rebekah ... best of friends. She had an older brother named Josh and he was soooo funny! He was in college and one night he took out this girl on a date. I think Bekah and I were watching TV or a movie when he called and said he was bringing this girl over to meet the family. We ran around the house picking up and getting ready for them to come over.

Fast forward 10+ years. Josh married Jenny and they had four adorable kids. While pregnant with their fourth child, Jenny was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She fought it for a long time, but was taken home to be with the Lord five months ago.

I can't even imagine the hardness of this situation. I know this family and they love Jesus and put their complete trust in Him, but I know it's still hard.

Tomorrow night Shaun Groves and friends are doing something to at least ease the financial hardships. They are giving a benefit concert and silent auction to benefit Josh and help him pay down the mountain of medical bills. If you're not busy, why not enjoy a night of fellowship and give to a family who needs a community right now.

WHAT: ‘Grace Notes’ - A benefit concert and silent auction for Josh Carlisle and family. Featuring: Nathan Tasker, Paul Colman, Shaun Groves and Rick Hammond of Rev21.  

WHERE: Fellowship Bible Church - 1210 Franklin Rd, Brentwood, TN. (in the Back Barn)

WHEN: Thursday, June 19  7pm - TOMORROW NIGHT!

Jenny's story here.

Better late than never ...

It's two days into "THE 40 DAY FAST" ... although late is OK. You can check out the first two posts here and here.

Reaching the community ...

The water level mark was almost to my shoulder and the line was out the door. The kids were so cute and I was quickly taken back to my two weeks spent in Aceh. The land didn’t look nearly as bad, but I smelled some of the same smells and saw some of the same scenes.

Instead of teaching on Wednesday, I spent the day with the 9th and 10th graders in a kampung (village) that was badly affected by the floods. We set up a medical clinic in the school, which had just been cleaned of a feet of mud on Monday. In the middle courtyard was damaged furniture and the salvageable furniture was in the classroom, but well waterlogged.

The students waited outside the first classroom where three doctors were set up to prescribe medicine. In the next room was the “pharmacy,” or rather the 9th and 10th graders and one doctor ready to fill the prescriptions. You’ll see them working in the video. In the third room was the next group of students with snacks, milk and some school supplies.

I was so honored to get to be a part of this outreach. It’s the first time I’ve been able to go since coming here in 2005. My 9th & 10th grade students jumped right in and I was impressed with their willingness to serve. They were super stars!

'Nother flood update

Life is getting back to normal. Today was the first normal day back to school for me since the floods hit last week. Almost all of my students were there and we spent some time talking about everyone's experience. One of my fifth graders had to actually swim out of her neighborhood. Her parents and her two siblings waited too long to leave and they left without anything but the clothes they were wearing, not even shoes! They pushed the baby sister throuugh the muddy waters in an open minifridge. Several of my students said that a lot of stuff was ruined, uncluding beds, clothes, books, etc. Thankfully most of these people have a way to get new stuff. But so many people in the city lost their homes, everything.

So, over the next few weeks the students are going to be donating clothes, shoes and money to take into the most devestated areas. Each class (probably just high school) will take turns taking supplies into the areas. I'm looking forward to being able to help some people. I feel quite helpless at times because I have so much and am so blessed, but don't know how to help. I give money to the church, but I want to DO something. Anyway, it looks like we'll be able to all help in some way. I definitely have clothes I can give away.

Please pray that the rains hold back. We're still in the middle of rainy season, but pray that it doesn't get to the same levels it was last week.

No one has ever become poor by giving. - Anne Frank

In less than a day God has said several things to me about giving ...

1. In my daily Bible reading I was reading Matthew 6:2-4 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

2. "Giving should be anonymous." - Dave Ramsey (on his free iTunes podcast from Jan. 5, 2007) He says he almost always gives under the radar.

3. Yesterday in my prophecy Pastor Joshua Jacobs said that although I don't have much financially, God is calling me to trust Him with my finances and to give, give, give. And you know what happens then? I am blessed.

4. Also yesterday I went back to the old school building to pay a bill at the bank. I ran into Starbucks to see all of my friends who work there and pick up a Grande Caramel Macchiatto. They were so happy to see me that they gave me my drink for FREE! It's such a blessing to give and to allow others to give to me.