Date night...conversation topic - genocide.

Last week, Wayne's mom and sister were in town for a visit. We decided to take advantage of some free babysitting and go on a date. Nothing better than dinner using a gift card and a movie at the dollar theater for a nice evening together! Well, that afternoon as I was driving to meet my friend at our weekly Starbucks meeting, I had the radio on NPR and heard Ruth Messinger, president of American Jewish World Service, talking about the genocide in Sudan. It intrigued me and as I kept listening, I found out she was going to be speaking that night on the topic. So instead of dinner and a movie, it was dinner and a slide show depicting the horrors happening in Sudan. Not the most relaxing or romantic date, but definitely worth our time.

Apparently, this is the first time that the American government (as well as several others) has actually called something a genocide while it was happening. Usually that declaration comes after the fact. Wayne and I were both heartbroken about the evil atrocities which are happening right now in Darfur, and convicted that we are not doing anything about it. To be honest, I really didn't even know much about it until last week. I knew bad things were happening, but I didn't know how bad they really were. I am ashamed that I have not paid more attention and have not done anything about it.



Probably the most beneficial thing of the night was when the speaker gave suggestions of how we can do something.

• Let your representatives know you care. You can call 1-800-GENOCIDE and they will tell you if important legislation is upcoming that you can talk to your representatives about. Most representatives also make it real easy to contact them if you just go to their website. If you go to www.darfurscores.org, you can enter your zip code and find who your representatives are and how they've voted on Darfur related legislation.
• Check your investments, 401k's, etc. The genocide in Sudan continues because the Sudanese government gives weapons to the Janjaweed who carry out the violence. The Sudanese government gets weapons in exchange for the oil they sell to China (70% of Sudan's oil exports go to China). Many 401k's are investing in PetroChina and other oil companies that are funding the genocide. Here's a website that can help you investigate and make sure your 401k isn't funding the genocide.

A helpful website in general is www.savedarfur.org and an easy to read book on the topic is "Not on our watch."

After hearing about the genocide and what we could do (and haven't done up until now), it reminded me of "Hotel Rwanda" (a very difficult movie to watch) in which a genocide was taking place. One man in Rwanda who was trying to save people, found out that a CNN crew was there and said "Now people will do something when they see how bad it really is here!" The reporter replied "No, people will see it on the evening news, say 'How awful', and return to their dinner". How awful that I can sit safe and comfortable in my home and not do anything about the terrible suffering happening in Sudan. Although it hurts to learn about it and see it, I don't ever want to be that ignorant or complacent again.

Home...where is that?

This past week we housesat for some friends of ours from church. Addie really enjoyed being there because she had another dog to "take care of". It was probably good that Blackie is deaf and couldn't hear Addie calling for her constantly! Wayne and I enjoyed staying there because of the nice hot tub in the back yard! When we came home yesterday and Addie woke up from her nap, she immediately started calling for Blackie again. I tried to explain to her that Blackie wasn't here and she just looked at me knowingly and said "Blackie home." I wondered if I should try to explain to her this was our home and we were just visiting the other house last week and that now we were home. But at that point I was too tired to explain anything and she is only 18 months, so I guess I shouldn't try and explain too much! After thinking about if for a while though, I am glad that Addie can call wherever mommy and daddy and blankie are home. And that is probably what the most of her life and the rest of our life will be like (minus the blankie I hope!) Soon, Senegal will be our home, and yet I'm sure our home here will always tug at our hearts. I am glad that our home can be wherever we are together serving the Lord.

I was reminded of this fact again last weekend as we attended the mission conference at PBC (see my most recent blog). I had only been to PBC a few times since I graduated from high school almost 7 years ago, yet God used that place in such a big way in my life that it was like going home. God used PBC to mold me and shape me and He blessed me by brining me back there to encourage the church. Last weekend was incredibly encouraging for us as there is such an excitement for missions among the body right now. We also were told that we were an encouragment to the church as they were able to see that God is still raising up people to go to the mission field. Our mutual desire to see God's name spread though all the world by His church brought us together once again.

And through all this I am reminded where my real home is, that I am only a temporary sojourner on this earth and eagerly look forward to my home in heaven. While God gives us good gifts such as family, church family, and homes, it is only a reflection of the perfect home we will one day have with Him.

(All she needs is blankie!)

Homecoming weekend (no dancing)

A little over 10 years ago, I sat in a new church, in my new city, in a new country, and I cried. My family had just moved from Edmonton, Alberta to Plano, Texas so that my dad could attend DTS, and we left in Canada a church that we had been with for 15 years that was really more like our family. A little over 6 years ago, I sat in that same church and cried again, this time because I was leaving Plano to move to Iowa for college. God blessed me with the opportunity to attend Plano Bible Chapel for 4 years while I was in high school and used the ministry of this church to shape and mold me into the person I am today. It was at PBC that my love for God's word and my love for teaching God's word began to flourish. I was also able to go on several missions trips with PBC and meet many missionaries, which caused me to feel led to serve God overseas. But first let me tell you how God drew me into PBC in order to minister to me through PBC.

As I mentioned, the first week at PBC was one of tears for my family, at least for the girls (I'm not sure how dad made it sometimes!) It wasn't that we didn't like PBC, it just wasn't home. And it was BIG! Yes, I know it's not big for Dallas, but for me to go from a church of 100 to a youth group of 50 was quite a change. I'm not a real people person, I'm a little introverted, and so it was a struggle for me at first. I was 15 years old, but I stuck pretty close to my parents for a while! Well, one Sunday, it was about time for Sunday School and Phil, the youth pastor came to say hello. Then he did the unthinkable, but it was just what I needed. He put his arm around me and said "Ready to go to Sunday School?" What was I supposed to say, no?! God used Phil (and I'm pretty sure there were some others conspiring with him) to get me started on my involvement at PBC and I am so glad that he did. I loved my four years at PBC.

This weekend, we get to go back! We have officially been accepted as PBC missionaries and are so excited to be able to participate in the missions conference this weekend. We are looking forward to sharing our vision for Senegal and helping people get excited about what God is doing in other parts of the world. Being a part of PBC again is I believe a mutual blessing. The church has been praying about reaching the 10/40 window without really knowing how they would be able to be involved in this. Our team in Senegal has the vision that this country, due to it's religious freedom, can be a door of hope to the Muslim world and the 10/40 window. We are glad that we can join PBC in it's desire to reach this area of the world in which there is so much need.

Pray for us this weekend, that we will be an encouragement to PBC, and that we will meet people who wish to partner with us in the ministry in Senegal.