Better Writer Day 12~ Finding Your Voice

Today's Challenge is an exercise in writing with one's own voice. The action step is to make a list of ten things that you are passionate about (that's the easy part!) and then choose one of them to write about. Tell why you are passionate about it, the story behind it, the ins and outs. My list wsa pretty quick to write up, and I could write long and hard about all of them. But one stuck out to me because I realized I hadn't really written much here about it. I am heartbroken for and deeply moved by the orphan crisis around the world.

Pure and undefiled religion before our God is this:

 to look after orphans and widows in their distress... James 1:27



God's call and His word are clear. We are to care for the fatherless and the oppressed. I think especially after I became a mom, I have had a deep-seated grief for the children in these positions... of having no one who calls them their own. I have prayed for orphans. We have sponsored a Compassion child for a long time. But I have never felt equipped to actually do anything about it. Have you ever fallen into the thinking that if you can't save them all it's not worth trying? I think a lot of us fall into that, the problem seems so big. But there are so many ways, little ways that we can help one. Love one.

Last year, actually around this time, I felt that God wanted me to pray for Uganda. It was strange and definitely God. I had never wanted to go to Africa. Other than our Compassion child in Kenya, I had no frame of reference for anything African. But I agreed to pray. And I dug in deep. It wasn't going away, gnawing at my heart, and I knew something bigger was unfolding. For months I prayed, just in my quiet, but without ceasing and truthfully without much action otherwise.

 

 

Then through a series of online events, I 'stumbled upon' (though we all know that Jesus-followers don't just stumble into anything, agreed?) Katie Davis' blog and her organization, Amazima. This momma's heart of mine was in awe of her ministry in Uganda. She has adopted 13 girls and cares for many, many more. She is Jesus in ways that are incredible. Through more research I saw that the organization Visiting Orphans was taking a trip to Ethiopia and Uganda in June of 2012. As I saw the trip and dates on the screen it was like the words came flying out and God said 'Go.'

 

 

So I'm going. This summer for two weeks, I will be joining a team on the ground in Africa loving on orphans and trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus. And I'm terrified. Because this is so awesome. And because I feel like I will be walking out in blind faith and obedience. ("What, God?! Raise a huge amount of money and go with a team of people I've never met to a far off place and love on some little ones?!") And Jesus wants to use me to be Him to these sweet children of His. I would love for you to join alongside me in praying for these precious, created in His image kids. Not just for my trip, but that God would be glorified and this crisis around the world would be ended.

I didn't really start this with the intention of making it a 'commercial', but if you would like to find out more about Visiting Orphans, you can go to their site- God is using them to do some awesome things around the world! There is also a place where you can donate or purchase items. (Shameless plug, if you would like to donate to my trip, please put 'Mandy Pfeiffer- Ethiopia/Uganda June 2012' with your donation or purchase. Thanks!)

Wednesday Wish List

You can find this print here.

Several holiday seasons ago I had a recurring Wednesday post here, in which I highlighted my favorite handmade finds of gift ideas for friends & family. Well, as priorities have changed, so have the things that I am wishing for... I am thanking Him today that as all things become new, my heart changes and I find myself dreaming less about stuff (because it's not mine!!) and dreaming more of things that will make my heart happy and more like the heart of Jesus. Hallelujah for growth, right?! Even if it is inch by tiny inch...

So here is my question for you today~ What do you dream about? In quiet moments between you and a listening Saviour, what do you find yourself asking Him to allow you to fulfill?

This is Katie Davis, who founded Amazima Ministries in Northern Uganda. Awesome, AWESOME ministry!

I have two that come up quite often, if not several times a day. The first is to be a missionary in Africa, specifically Uganda. I really do believe and try to live out that we are all missionaries in our current context, but going to Africa and serving children there is something that I can't get out of my head or my prayers. Often I plead with God to make a way for this to happen, whether it be for short or long term. And I absolutely know that it would take an act of God to make this come to fruition because logistics (the littles, time, money, etc.) make it impossible to carry out on my own.

The second dream of mine is to write. This blog is a place I write some, but I literally have volumes of journals and loose sheets of paper that are never seen. I pray that God would see fit to use my words, inspired by Him, to further the kingdom... to teach... to help someone find Him. My deepest struggle is also tied to this one because I never want to do anything with a heart that is less than pure in it's intention. I don't want to make a name for myself! "He must become greater, I must become less." (John 3:30) weighs heavily on my heart daily.

So what do you wish for? What are the {seemingly} far off things that you would love to see happen in your life? I would love to hear from you, lovelies!