30 Hour Famine

www.30hourfamine.org

Not A Fun Post

Coming here for some small talk? Sorry. The picture above hit me hard. It's taken in Mukjar, Sudan, the Darfur region. It's a guy named Ibrahim standing over a grave where 25 of his friends were killed, many axed to death. Meanwhile, here I am in my comfortable house complaining that I have to wait nine months for a new episode of LOST to air.

200,000, maybe 400,00, humans have been killed in Darfur. Millions are homeless. The second picture below is a photo of a rather young displaced villager. Is that child even alive as I type this? Yet, I get feelings of indignation if I have to eat cereal one night for dinner, not over the Darfur clamity. Just yesterday I didn't even put that in my top ten things that are bothering me. Why?

When I studied history at Cal State Fullerton I shook my head in judgement when I read about how "we" just sat around as the Holocaust took place. Truth is, we're living through another moment like that now. Ethnic cleansing, genocide, violence, disease, starvation, they're all present. Even as you read this post, this catastrophic humanitarian crisis continues.

Learn more at sites like ENOUGH: The project to abolish genocide + mass atrocities, CARE, or the Save Darfur Coalition.

But, hey, aren't DVR's just the coolest thing ever?

One Verse

Want to make a difference for only $24? If so, you should check out One Verse. I learned about this program at junior high winter camp in February. This program is through the Seed Company which is affiliated with Wycliffe Bible Translators. One Verse is an accelerated Bible translation program. They are trying to get Bible translation projects started in every language on the globe. If this Holy Week makes you think about the gift of grace as it does for me, you should check out One Verse and think about sponsoring a verse.

Mexico Update

As most of you know, last month, Chrisy and Max, went to Mexico to help build a house. They both said that it was a really good experience and a lot of work to boot. Chrisy really thanks those of you who prayed for this trip and prayed for me at home with the other three kids. She also appreciates the donations that some of you gave for the building supplies. I know a lot of you were wondering about more of the specifics of the trip. I want to direct you to the Project Mexico website. You will need to click on the link to the post that says "Oct 20-22, 2006" and you can read all about the details. That October 20-22 trip is the one Chrisy and Max were on so you can read about it there. Also, there is a link to more pictures from that trip. As you can see, both Chrisy and Max are in the photo above as well. Again, I really encourage you to click on the link provided and read about the trip. This ministry really is worth supporting. The ministry as a whole built 5 homes in 3 days! Gracias a Dios!

Project Mexico

Tomorrow morning Chrisy and Max leave at 5 a.m. to go south of the border. They're going to be part of what my church calls "Project Mexico" which means they're going down on Friday to help build a home for a family. They'll hand the keys over on Sunday and return that same evening. I've never done it and it blows my mind to think about what can be done on a single weekend. It's a huge blessing to the folks receiving the home.

Our friend, Jon Hall, is the guy who heads up this ministry at Canyon Hills Church. He's done this a bunch of times. This is the first Project Mexico trip for both Chrisy and Max. I think Chrisy desires more of this kind of contributing to the world ever since her trip to South Africa and I think the entire experience will be good for Max. If you want to read a good post that describes what they'll be in for, you can read this one, PROJECT MEXICO: THE HOMES, on Jon Hall's blog. I mean, seriously, check out what he wrote because it's a great piece of descriptive writing, very vivid.

You should ask Chrisy and Max about the trip if you get a chance.

Journey of the Soul

Oh, this is good. You've got to go to Fraserworld and read Sean Fraser's summary of the entire Road Trip experience. Two Week Journey of the Soul can be found on their "whatznew?" page. Be sure not to miss the wonderful collage of photos.

For those of you that won't click, two things strike me about the Journey of the Soul update. First, there is the issue of our calling. Sean writes: "Such a call is not to remove the struggles of life which form us as God intends, but instead to distance ourselves from the hectic life that gives us excuses we create for NOT living according to God's call." Not having read this comment, this very issue is something we spoke about in Epicenter just yesterday with the junior highers at Canyon Hills Church. In short, Jesus spoke of only one priority. "Priority" was not a puralized word when he spoke of it. For Christ it was the "Kingdom of God" that seemed to be the focus. We may not know what we are "called" to career wise, or where God is "calling" us to live, but, as Christians, the Kingdom of God is our call. Ironically, it's something I have been thinking about and then I just read a new post Road Trip -Part 2 on the Taylor Family's blog and this is something Mike Taylor mentions in that excellent update. It's very intriguing.

Back to the Fraser's update. The second thing that stood out for me is the question: "Will they have the faith and conviction to allow such change to infect the lives they're systemically used to in Southern California?" That is the sixty-four thousand dollar question isn't it? Chrisy already briefly broached this subject with me via a very brief e-mail. She said there were things she really wants to do differently. She said she was scared that she may fail, but she wants to try. Then she told me they spoke of this certainty while they were in South Africa. She said that the group told her, you do it, you mess-up, and you do over again. And again. And again. I don't know what these "changes" are. I haven't heard yet. I'm excited.

The word "call" was used in the Fraser's post, Chrisy spoke of "changes" whereas in my junior high group we talked of a "priority" in life. Jesus talked about God's Kingdom being the goal, the focus. I don't know if this is at all on target for what has happened in the hearts of those who spent two weeks in South Africa, but the questions I have been asking myself are such as these: "How do I make God THE priority when I'm setting the dinner table with my kids? How do I make God THE priority in a staff meeting at work? How do I make God THE priority when a neighbor's dog takes a dump on my lawn? How do I make God THE priority when my daughter asks for cereal, I serve it, and she says she doesn't want it? How do I make God THE priority when anything difficult happens?" I'm anxious to talk with Chrisy about what is going on in her heart.

Listening to Chrisy "talk" in her e-mails, reading the Fraser's update, reading the Taylor's post, thinking about my own mistakes, what came to mind was Paul's writing in Philippians. Here is what he said . . . .

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 3:12-14

That is essentially saying you make this choice to live according to God's call, you mess-up, you ask for forgiveness, you forget it, you do it again. And again. And again. You just don't forget the original goal, that thing God said to you there in your soul. God's expressed calling, that primary priority for our lives never changes, regardless of external circumstances.

I hope you will read both the Taylor Family Adventure update as well as the Fraserworld update. They'll give you a better understanding of what it was like for Chrisy these past two weeks. That will help hold you over until you get a chance to talk to her.

Well, as I type this my wife is in route from Switzerland and about to land in New York. I will be seeing her at LAX in about 9 hours. I'm looking forward to the ride home from the airport. That will be our own little one-hour journey of the souls.

First Full Day in South Africa

It felt really good to turn the calendar over to a new month today. It's nice to see a "1" there in the box so now I can clearly see it's only 15 days until Chrisy comes home.

I got an e-mail from Chrisy today. She said she was very excited because they were off on their first outing today. Afterall, this is their first full day in South Africa. She also told me that she had slept really well on Sunday night and felt much better.

On their agenda today was the commissioning of the Road Trip. I also believe their first outing today was city tour of Pretoria (also known as Tshwane) which sould be very interesting and informative. The photo I've included is a random shot of Pretoria that I found. I am very anxious to hear what exactly the commissioning involved.

Some of you have asked me, "What exactly will Chrisy be doing there?" Here's a quick rundown of their proposed schedule while they are there:

Monday, May 1--Road Trip Commissing and Pretoria City Tour
Tuesday, May 2--Cradle of Humankind Sterkfontein Caves and Timelines
Wednesday, May 3--Soshonguve Township Tour and Home of Joy
Thursday, May 4--Home of Joy Service Project
Friday, May 5--Home of Joy Service Project
Saturday, May 6--Hartebeespoort Dam and Souvenior Shopping
Sunday, May 7--Beulah Township Church and Community Braai

Monday, May 8--Pangani Service/Work Project and Tutela Service Project
Tuesday, May 9--Pangani Service/Work Project and Tutela Service Project
Wednesday, May 10--Apartheid Museum and Soweto Township Tour
Thursday, May 11--Pilanesburg Game Reserve and Camp Out
Friday, May 12--Pilanesburg Game Reserve and Community Game Night at Pangani
Saturday, May 13--Championship Soccer Game and Celebration Dinner
Sunday, May 14--Commissioning and Leave for U.S.A. (Chrisy's plane takes off at 7:30 p.m.)

Of course, I don't know what all of these things mean. I just took them off the Fraserworld website. I look forward to hearing more about all this just like you.

Finally, if you're reading this I ask that you would please lift my wife up in prayer. Please pray that she really meets God on this trip and that he will reveal his will to her and that she can see herself as he sees her. Pray for me and my family. You can pray that I have a tireless energy please.

Chrisy's in South Africa!

That's a photo of Chrisy's arrival at the Johannesburg's airport on Sunday morning, April 30th. Sean Fraser is the guy on the left in the "church lady" dress (don't ask, it's a long story, and what's done at Canyon Hills Church, stays at Canyon Hills Church, unless of course it goes to South Africa). From left to right, the two women between Sean and Chrisy are Lisa Jones and Maya Bowe.

I got a call from Chrisy this morning before church at 8:00 a.m., that's 5:00 p.m. Sunday evening in South Africa. She told me that their journey was long, but good. They had a braai or South African barbecue with the NieuCommunities staff. Chrisy and her friends were very tired and looking forward to going to sleep tonight. But, they sure look great in the photo, alert and pretty after flying around the world for two days! I was extremely happy to know my wife is there, safe and sound. She said Pangani, the CRM property in Pretoria is quite beautiful. It's a hundred year old homestead restored as a coffeehouse. I cannot tell you how pumped I am about this trip for Chrisy. I think the aforementioned organizations behind this mission are amazing. I know from first-hand experience that the guy heading this up, Rob Yackley, is a spectacular speaker that has a way for connecting people to God. While in South Africa, in addition to Rob and his wife, Chrisy and the others from Canyon Hills Church will be in community with Sean and Debbie Fraser as well as Mike and Lorie Taylor. If you really want to be a part of Chrisy's journey, I encourage you to click on all the links in this post. You should really check out Sean and Debbie's website, Fraserworld, especially the "whatznew?" page. They've already put up a really cool collage of photos from the first day. It includes pictures of the braai. You can see the collage by clicking here. Additionally, you should have a look at the Taylor Family Adventure as they've had some excellent posts that will give you a taste of what's in store for Chrisy over the next two weeks. It's excellent stuff.

A couple people have asked about mail. Remember it's a short trip. If you want to send a letter, card, or note of encouragement to Chrisy while she is there, time is of the esscence. If you wait too long, it will arrive after she leaves. If you send it out in the next couple of days, she should get it before she departs on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14. Here's the mailing address if you are interested:

Chrisy Lynd
c/o Pangani
106 Emily Hobhouse Ave.
Pretoria North 0182
South Africa

Again, Chrisy and really appreciate all the support you have given us in regard to this trip.

Have fun clicking on the links and checking out all the details.

Thank You For A Life

My wife, Chrisy is going to South Africa for a short term mission. She leaves April 28 and returns May 15. Seventeen days without her. I just received the terrific new Kris Kristofferson album, THIS OLD ROAD, for my birthday. Track 10 laid me out! It's called "Thank You For A Life" and I wish I had written it for Chrisy. I print these lyrics in tribute to the love of my life:

THANK YOU FOR A LIFE

Thank you for a life that I'd call happy
Overlooking all that we've been through
When it comes to loving I've been lucky
Everything I am I owe to you

Thank you for the little girls you gave me
Thank you for them bouncing baby boys
Thank you for the sadness
That you saved me from the madness, baby
All I'm crying now are tears of joy

Thank you for that burning sun that's rising
Golden in the air that smells so sweet
Thank you for that empty far horizon
That opens to a new eternity

Thank you for a life that I'd call happy
Overlooking all that we've been through
When it comes to loving I've been lucky
Everything I am I owe to you

--Kris Kristofferson

(New West Records, 2006)