Multitude Monday - 7 Days of Hope

I am using this multitude monday to usher in 

Hope2Africa's

 7 days of HOPE

November 8-14, 2010

During the next 7 days I encourage you to follow links, watch video, read blogs and other messages to follow.  In this season of Thanksgiving, with so much we have to be thankful for, open your heart and mind to the ways God is using Hope2Africa to shower hope on our brothers and sisters living and ministering in South African Squatter camps.

What is a Squatter Camp?

Settlements with shacks made of wood, cardboard, tin and other scrap material. Whole families live in a single shack, the size of a garden shed. Open fires are used for cooking and candles for light - shacks often catch fire when there are accidents. There is no running water, sewerage pipes, gas or electricity. Squatter camps are now known as informal settlements and those with designated streets are known as Townships.

Hope2Africa begun in the Squatter Camp known as Masiphumelele or Site 5. Masiphumelele (translated from Xhosa “we will succeed”) is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa and home to approximately 30,000 people. Amenities are scarce and it is estimated that 30-40% of the community are infected with HIV and/or TB.

What does Hope2Africa do?

Hope2Africa trains African Christian youth in the Creative Arts in order that they might share the Hope of Jesus with their own communities. We use weekly meetings, one-week day-camps and weekend workshops to train. Hope2Africa members are recommended by their church and school leaders based upon their desire to train in the arts and the personal character they demonstrate.


The youth are trained in the following art forms: Drama, Dance, Singing, Creative Writing/Script Writing, Painting & Set Design/Construction. The youth help write, construct and then perform within their own communities first and then in neighboring townships. Hope2Africa youth are trained to use the materials available in their everyday surroundings thus encouraging them to see everything as usable and not to feel limited by any lack of resources. Each member of Hope2Africa member is fully scholarshipped by supporters of Hope2Africa Inc.


Watch this video see how Hope2Africa is being used to bring hope and eternal changes in otherwise hopeless situations.

Please prayerfully consider joining me & dedicate this week, through emails, social network status.   At this beginning of this season of thankfulness help share 7 days of HOPE with your readers, family and friends.

God bless!

'The Method is the Arts - the Message is Jesus'

Just a few of so many!

#117 Children  -  old and young singing full out songs of rejoicing and celebration

#118 Belly laughter and jack 'o lantern smiles  

#119 Knock Knock Jokes

Knock Knock!

Who's there?

A little girl.

A little girl who?

A little girl who can't reach the doorbell!

 

Knock Knock!

Who's there?

Dishes

Dishes who?

Dishes me.  Who ish you?

Knock Knock!

Who's there?

Candace.

Candace who?

Candace be the last knock knock joke?  

Thank you! Thank you very much!

"This is the day the LORD has made;
       let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

All 1,440 Minutes!

# 113: So grateful it is still Monday and I still have time to share how many ways God over runs my cup with joy - Thank you Father!

# 114: For this day, all 1,440 minutes that You once more gifted me with.

#115: For answered prayer that no man can take credit for – only possible through You oh Lord!

#116: That out of the mouth of babes You drive some of Your with deepest messages home.

Open my eyes, sharpen these ears that I may lean not into my own understanding but defer all things…ALL things to You Lord!

Go here to enjoy others on this

Multitude Monday 

Mulitude Monday - On Canton Road

Like many Monday's the day began with a list.

After traveling for over two weeks, just getting my luggage unpacked yesterday (I am the only one who does that...right?) and with this event less than 2 weeks away my TD list was pretty substantial.

With coffee in one hand and list in the other, I was off and running. After several errands around town I had done all the damage I could do and headed home to continue working there.

But God had other plans.

As I drove down the road the Holy Spirit gently stirred within me urging me to make a left into an area restaurant parking. The message was clear, go in and ask for food - soup in particular for our event.

I admit that the thought crossed my mind that maybe I had sent myself the message, but I quickly tossed that thinking aside recognising the familiar voice of my Comforter. Besides, I was ready to go home, I was sure this was not my idea.

Once inside, I asked to speak to the manager. Someone went to get him while I chatted with the hostess.

Once the manager, Carlos arrived we moved to another quieter location. As quickly as possible I introduced myself and began sharing about the event, where it would be held, McDowell County when this young man told me he was also a member of my church and knew about the need in West Virginia. He went on to say their restaurant, The Marietta Fish Market would be supporting this event....what did we need? Soup, bread, what?

I began crying and praising God. Not because I was surprised that God was once again paving our way for this project.

No, this was yet another God Stop moments.

The tears and praise came from realising at that

very moment...off Canton Highway...

God's Spirit stirred me into making a left and not going on home.

And this time...I listened and was so blessed in sharing this very intimate moment with my Father.

Dear Lord, may I never forget, go the other way or take a single God Stop for granted.

#112) A God Stop on Canton Road

To enjoy others on this Multitude Monday go here

Old-Fashioned Pure Religion

Here it is...the Good Lord willing, another Multitude Monday.

No need to look far, as I am surrounded by great gifts and an abundance of blessings with no apparent end in sight.

#106) This week officially begins an event called Loveloud09. My family and I were blessed to take part in this local community activity last year. I say 'officially' because the message of Loveloud '08 continued long after the 3 day event ended last October.

For my family, Loveloud has become a favorite new word in our vocabulary. We just love to Love Loud!

Take a look, here's why

LOVELOUD 2009 from Dallas White on Vimeo.

This year (due to plans made before LoveLoud 09 was scheduled), we discovered we would not be able to take part in the official event.

All who know me will attest to how sad this has made me.

Despite the fact that it took me a solid week to recover last year, I could hardly wait to go at it again in 2009. Glutten for pain I am!

Want to hear something really neat?

This would be #107)

Some of my precious family in the faith have let me know they will be Lovin a little Louder for me...in my absence this year. I know these folks well and they will do a far better job than I ever have at being the hands and feet of Jesus this week to those need.

They will indeed do it BIG and Loud!

So for all my FBCW peeps, thank you for setting such an amazing example. With whole hearted love, through what you DO and not by what you say alone.

"Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea what they look like. " James 1: 22-24

I love you guys! You will be in my prayers this entire week. I'm looking forward to hearing how God blesses as you Love Loud this October weekend!

Soooo this cool Monday in Georgia, I find myself gushing with gratitude for gifts more abundant than this wretched gal would ever deserve.



#108) Cold snaps that turn a Hotlanta fall into something more like my hometown back in Missouri.

#109) Sunday's at church with my family and friends. I missed being there yesterday...savored the message online...even still...not the same.

Makes me all the more grateful for the privilege.

and blessing of...

#110 ) Old-Fashioned Pure Religion

Would that each week began so well!

Miami Vice to the Hill Country

#105) Socks

Cool temps and rain greet us once again this day. Still cleaning up the mess from flooding 3 weeks ago and with every moment I am reminded of how blessed we are.

The inconveniences involved in clean up and repair pale in comparison to those Georgian neighbors who lost homes and lives. For our part there was nothing that was lost or damaged that could not be replaced, repaired or done without. Not true for many others in our community.

This rain and chill in the air remind me of some other neighbors, just over the mountains and east of here in McDowell County West Virginia.

A flock member whose family hails from McDowell, shared with us the need children of this community have for socks. All too frequently large numbers of children have shoes to wear but no socks, all winter long.

These kids are NOT attempting to bring Crocket and Tubbs - Miami Vice fashions to the hill country...no, socks are just not at the top of their families list of priorities.

McDowell County has already had their frost this season. The average snowfall for Iaeger, WV runs between 45 and 59 inches a season...all without socks.

Needless to say (but when has that ever stopped me) we are collecting children's socks along with blankets and wraps. We hope to be able to stuff each pair with Christmas treats and personal messages of love and hope.

So on this chilly rainy Monday I am ever so grateful for socks, may I never take them for granted again.

How about you?

You Never Change

It is late on Monday , yet I am no less grateful, maybe more so as I reflect on God's mercy, goodness and grace, especially over these last few days.

This last weekend after more than 4 years I returned to the waters where my baby girl took her last breath and went to be with Jesus.

Throughout the years I have went as far as the shore allowed, but never went so far to put a boat in the water and make my way to that sight.

As a family, we had shared such good times on this lake, I could not fathom how I could sail across these waves or fish her depths without howling my loss to all who might hear.

It was not so.

God is so good!

He met me there on those shores, in our boat and all the day long.

He gave me a song in the morning and songs throughout the day.

That day became a day of celebration...a celebration of my God, His love and His faithfulness.

116. Thank you Lord, You never change!

"I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth." Psalm 108:3-5

New Year

111. Back pack: check.

112. Snack Pack with water: check

113. Bag of treasured stone: check

114. Pocket Dictionary: check

115. Snap shot marking the first day of school...priceless!!

On Teeth Pulling and Visits from the Tooth Fairy

My baby grand pulled her first tooth last night. Normally one might say ‘lost’ her first tooth, but in our case that would be inaccurate. Miss Kyra lost her first tooth when she was barely one year old.

Our first grandchild walked early, learned to run shortly thereafter and did her best to keep her us on our toes. Keep in mind her Pawpaw and I had not chased toddlers for nearly 3 decades. We were grossly out of step, often hustling to keep pace with this spry baby child.

Kyra had always been good about staying with us as we loaded her in and out of high chairs, slings, strollers or car seats. We were grateful she was such a good listener, following our instructions…until the day she didn’t.

One morning Mr. B and I headed out with our baby grand in tow. We sat the girl child down long enough to ready her car seat and had no more turned our heads than the little thing darted off. Away she ran toward the back deck and up the stairs she bound as fast as her little legs would take her.

Pawpaw and I bolted to her rescue only to arrive a step too late. We watched in that slow motion kind of way as she laughed then smiled broadly while tumbling head first down the stairs. Because we were one step behind I caught her mid cartwheel. Unfortunately, by this time, she bumped one step too many with her first flip.

We originally thought she busted her lip because of all the blood. On closer inspection we saw a space in her lower front tooth area and believed she had knocked her tooth to one side. Once we cleaned her mouth and got a good look we realized Kyra was missing a chomper.


With a bit of looking we discovered the entire baby tooth (root and all) had popped out in one piece during the fall. There was no other injury to her, not even a busted lip, just her very long baby tooth laying on the step. I‘ve always believed it was that open smile as she fell which spared her more harm and allowed that ‘little bite’ to jump out, damaging nothing else. A very odd accident.

Having heard marvelous things pediatric dentist could do with lost teeth; we put the tooth in a glass of milk and called her dentist. Much to our disappointment the dentist told us not to bother, as it would be far too traumatic to put the tooth back in with no guarantee of it surviving.

The Pawpaw man and I were guilt stricken. How did we allow one of our baby grands to break?

Kyra has been oblivious to the loss. Her playmates assume she is ahead of them on teeth pulling and visits from the tooth fairy.

When asked she will happily tell you how she ran off as a baby and lost the tooth when she bounced down some stairs. As for Pawpaw and me? We cringe at the memory and have never been more delighted recently to see her permanent tooth finally make an appearance. Within days of her new growth an adjacent tooth started loosening and it’s removal has been a work in progress.

Last night Kyra lost her second tooth. As our little gal examined her prize and the gap left in it’s wake, she grabbed her chiclet, snuggled up close, looked me in the eye and ask,

“Will you still love me the same way now that I’m missing a tooth?”

Surprised, I assured her, “Of course I will and I will love you more. Losing teeth are signs your growing older. In your lifetime there has never been a day pass that I have not loved you more - teeth in or out that much will never change.” I was immediately given a wonderful hug and toothy-less smile. I am most blessed!

So on that looong note I continue my list of all that I am grateful for.

105. Teeth (see above)

106. Spending the day fishing with the family, returning home with nothing but wind blown hair and a sore face from an all day smile.
107. Text messages from my children - how many ways can we tell someone we love them?

108. The baby grands on conference calls, my how they are growing up! 109. The prayers of righteous women

110. Songs from my youth that bring me face to face with my Savior

Don’t stop here, run over to Ann’s and discover more writers who contribute to Multitude Monday.

Waking in the Darkness of Early Morning

Thanks to Ann of Holy Experience I'm encouraged to continue listing the many things this Georgia gal is grateful for.

101. The smell...I said smell of freshly laundered bedding, oh what I have been missing all these years!

102. A weekends cool respite in the middle of a Hot-lanta summer

103. The chorus of Cicadas echoing from the creek, their songs reminding me of Joel 2:25 . I am in awe.

104. Waking in the darkness of early morning at the gentle prompting of my Heavenly Father,

for this and so much more, I am grateful.

How about you. what are you grateful for this day?