Originally posted 5/29/2015
Reposted and updated 5/29/2016

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

 

I have had people to say, “Why go to Africa when we have so many people here that need so much help? Why would you want to go to Africa when you can help those here?”

I spent many years working with the poorest of poor children in Texas. I have witnessed the poverty in the Texas.

I have been highly blessed to travel to Zambia five times.

I have been in the Eastern Province every time. I have also traveled from the Eastern Province to the Southern Province and to the Northwestern Province.  Zambia is a country about the size of Texas. So, I have witnessed the extreme poverty that exists in Zambia firsthand.  In Zambia, I have traveled to numerous villages and once spent eight days and nights in a remote village without electricity and running water. I have never witnessed poverty in the United States that comes close to the extreme, widespread poverty in Zambia. There are many, many people walking and riding bicycles up and down the roadways, out in the country, in the villages, and in the cities. It is mostly the men who ride bicycles. They are hauling goats, pigs, eggs, elephant grass, wood, tin, charcoal, sweet potatoes, their families, mazes, cotton, mattresses, you name it and they haul it on their bikes.

I have been in peoples living abodes that have no window glass, no electricity, and no running water, very worn out furniture.  But yet they are willing and eager to share the little bit of food they have with us. They prepare the food for us and they do not eat. The average income is $2.00 a day or less. Many do not even have this. They live completely off the land. This is a land of many people who do not have a Bible and do not have access to a Bible. If a Bible cost $7.00 and one has an income of $2.00 a day or less, where are they going to spend their money? How shall they hear? Romans 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

As an American it is so hard to comprehend this extreme poverty. We actually have no knowledge base to comprehend this extreme poverty unless we have gone and witnessed it firsthand. I can tell you but you won’t comprehend until you have built that new knowledge base.

When one has this knowledge base it will either change your life for the good or the bad.  It is a haunting reality for me.  1 John 3:17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Proverbs 21:13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered. 

I can tell you about the face of a four year old boy who brings his mother a hand full of field mice. I can tell you about her quickly snatching them out of his hand and hurrying off to later discover that she has put them in a pot of water to boil for lunch for her family.

I can tell you about an old grandmother asking for help with her grandson with a broken leg whom she is carrying. I can tell you about the people who walk 20Ks or longer to get to the Medical Mission we do. I can tell you about the lady who told me she needs my glasses so she can see.

I can tell you about the hundreds of people who stand in the hot sun all day long waiting with hope to see the Doctor or Dentist and get some relief.  I can tell you they do not eat anything all day long. I can tell you about the children with the extended tummies and no shoes.  

I can tell you about the abode without window glass or no windows at all. I can tell you about the schools where we do the medical missions that have windows but no glass in them. I can tell you about the desk that are so wore out that we are afraid they will fall down if someone sits on them.
I can tell you about the hole in the floor at the door of the room that is three inches deep by ten inches wide, I can tell you about the toilet that stinks so badly you almost gag as you walk in to use the little hole in the ground. I can tell you about 45-70 students in a classroom that is 10 feet by 12 feet. 

I can tell you about the smell of the people who are as clean as they can be without water, I can tell you about the clothes they wear that we would throw away and not even use as rags.
I can tell you but until you see, smell, feel, touch and let these things sink into your heart, you will not truly understand what I mean.

We go to Africa to take the gospel of Christ to so many souls that have very little physical goods and a heart that is starving to death for the Good News.  We can’t, not go.  That is why we go.

ACTS 20:35

 

35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” When we go, we always come home with the feeling that we are the ones who received the most blessings. They on the other hand are the ones who feel they received the most blessings.

Now we have added one more cause to that list. We are going to try to alleviate the suffering and death of babies.

This June 4, 2016 three of us are moving to Zambia to start taking care of babies who do not have a chance to live without divine intervention. We are not divine or anything special, nor do we have special powers. It is God who is mighty and awesome and He will provide the divine intervention. He has allowed us to go so many times and He has given us the love for the people in Zambia.

For a Free Bible study go to:
www.worldbibleschool.org

UPDATED 2018

This is something I did in 2008 and I am updating in 2013 by adding scriptures and  adding updates as noted in red letters. 2018 Purple letters
1. My number one goal is to serve the Lord God Almighty with all my heart and all my soul and all my mind. This is still my number one goal.  This is still my #1 goal. and will be for the rest of my life.
Matthew 6:33

2. I have lived an amazing life beyond my wildest dreams. God has lead me down paths that I couldn’t even dream of.  Still true
2 Corinthians 2:14

3. I have been married to the man of my dreams for 40 years. Now 44 years. That can’t be true, I’m not that old! Still not that old but we have been married 49 years. We really want to drive to Alaska from Texas to celebrate our 50th year. We went on an Alaskan Cruise around the Inside Passage for our 25th Anniversary. 
Genesis 2:24

4. We are blessed with one very tenderhearted son who loves God. In 2012 he left the world and turned to serve God.  He has struggled with a drug addiction off and on all his adult life. Unfortunately, he still is. He is still a tender heated guy.
2 Peter 3:9 
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
5. I worked as a wood cutter in a factory when I was first married. 
Colossians 3:23
(ESV)
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
6. I was a barber, yes a barber for seven years and I loved it until I had too many women customers. I was great with little boys who were having their first hair cut. I gave my son his first hair cut and he never had anyone else cut his hair until he was in his 20’s. 
1 Corinthians 11:6
(NASB)
6 For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head.
7. My Bucket List is getting longer and my Bucket is coming quickly. (I am running out of time to do everything on my bucket list.) In 2010 we went to The Tetons and Yellowstone for two weeks. In 2012 we went to New York City to see the sights. In 2013 we went to Hawaii and cruised four of the Islands. Check those off of my bucket list. June of 2013 we went to Rockford Illinois and took my mother in law to see her daughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughters and great- grandson. My biggest bucket list item came true in 2016: We sold most all of our worldly possessions and moved to Zambia. I had wanted to do that every since the first time I went to Zambia.
8. God prepared me all my life for my true work talent. I was always told I was good with children. Children have always been attracted to me. After I went down several other paths, God finally sent me to College to get my teaching degree. I wanted to teach K, 1st, or 2nd. He had other plans for me. He put me in Early Childhood where I have been for 19 years. I still love it and I learn more from them than I teach them. I was a Pre-School Teacher for 20 years. After I retired I worked for a one and a half years with Day Cares as a mentor to the teachers. 
Matthew 19:14
but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
8. I have lived in the same house for almost 20 years. 23 years
Matthew 6:25-34

For a free Bible Study click here:
www.worldbibleschool.org

Only 1,000  258 more views and I will be announcing a winner.
Winner gets the tea light cover of their choice from the ones pictured.
When I reach 10,000 Views, I will be giving  away One Fall Tea Light.
The Winner may pick One Tea Light of their choice from the ones shown in the picture.
1. All you have to do is leave a comment to this post saying which Tea Light Cover you would most like to have.
Also, tell me what you like best about this Blog.
2. Please Follow me with GFC or Google + and/or Like my Face Book Page.
I would appreciate it so much. This is not mandatory, just a wish.
Winner will be picked randomly from all who leave a comment on this page.
Hurry as I am quickly approching 10,000 Views.
I do appreciate everyone who visits my Blog.
Blessings and Have a Great Day.
For a Free Bible Study go here:
www.bigcountry.worldbibleschool.org